88 - The Bride of the Great Lord is a Warrior from Hell
The Grand Duke's Bride is a Warrior from Hell 88
What Alisha and Daisy were doing reminded her of when they were little, playing and praising each other as 'Bbyong Bbyong' Princess and 'Byorong Byorong' Princess.
But Alisha was talking about a business that would raise Daisy's family, who had become nobles.
"Lady... um, Alisha."
Daisy habitually tried to call her Lady Alisha.
Alisha looked like she had heard something she shouldn't have.
Her face looked like she had been betrayed, so Daisy changed her words.
Alisha, who had clearly been teasing Daisy, suddenly became serious.
At the same time, she lowered her voice and said.
"It's okay, just stay still."
Soon after, the window opened.
An intruder covered in black cloth from head to toe entered through the study window on the third floor.
"Lady Alisha."
"Who is it?"
"The Master sent me. Urgent news from Baden. Yesterday, Princess Josefina Lirin had a duel with Gregory Barker."
The agent, whose face was covered, made almost no sound despite his large size.
Daisy was surprised by the appearance of the intruder, but thanks to Alisha's warning, she remained silent.
"The result?"
Alisha said calmly to the agent.
"Gregory Barker was defeated. Not just defeated, but completely defeated. Princess Josefina made it impossible for Gregory Barker to use both knees again. We need to examine the prognosis, but it is said that it will be difficult for him to walk again. And she also cut off his right hand. Gregory Barker will never be able to hold a sword again."
At the agent's words, Alisha unknowingly let out a soft word.
"What..."
She knew that Gregory Barker was a mediocre swordsman.
She expected Josefina to be a much better swordsman than rumored, as she grew up loved by the Imperial Family, but the result was too overwhelming.
"Count Barker has declared war on the Lirin Ducal Family. The Lirin Ducal Family has not yet issued a formal statement. The Imperial Family seems to be taking a neutral stance."
The agent finished his report and bowed his head.
"What did Barker do so well that he declared war? He's still shameless. 'I, Count of Echeveria, Lord of Ludern, Alisha Rosette Reine, unconditionally support Princess Josefina Lirin.' I'll write a letter to Princess Josefina soon, so please spread the word to the nobles. I'll leave Reine before evening."
Alisha spoke to the agent and got up.
"I'll come back for the next report in three hours. I'll find you wherever you are. Do you have any other orders?"
"See you later. Daisy, let's talk about your business later. Pack my bags."
Alisha said, touching Daisy's hand, who was surprised and stopped.
"Yes, Alisha. I'll be ready to leave within 20 minutes. Shouldn't we tell the Head of the family?"
"I have to tell him and leave right away."
"I'll escort you."
When Daisy opened the study door and looked back, the agent had disappeared and the window was quietly closed.
Alisha suddenly barged into the Head of the family's office.
"Brother, I'm going to Baden now! Ah, pretend you don't know, Brother. Pretend it has nothing to do with you. Bye!"
Felix blankly stared at Alisha, who only said what she wanted to say and left.
"...What don't I know?"
He asked belatedly, but there was no one to answer him.
Alisha decided to prepare and left the Marquis's residence in less than 30 minutes.
Two hours later, she left Marquis Rein's territory.
The next day, Alisha sent letters to Reikart and Josefina through Juan, who came to pick her up.
Before that evening, it was known that Alisha Lane had decided to unconditionally support Princess Josefina Lirin.
Beyond the Imperial Capital, the entire Empire showed signs of being divided into Count Barker and Duke Lirin's sides.
Count Barker's vassals and Duke Lirin's vassals confronted each other.
Meanwhile, the Imperial Family and all the Imperial Family members declared neutrality.
Alisha headed to Imperial Capital Baden calmly.
She moved without delay, but not too hastily.
She took a moment to relax just before reaching Baden.
Since there would be no time to turn her eyes away from the moment she entered the Imperial Capital, she stopped the carriage at the place called the last village and the first village.
She decided to have a short free time.
It could be said to be the last rest before the decisive battle.
"It's been a while, Lady Alisha."
Debi, a maid from the Empress Palace, approached the resting party and greeted them.
Alisha immediately recognized her, as she had often visited Ludern.
"It's been a while."
"There is someone who wants to see the Lady. The Lady must go alone. There is not much time."
Debi got straight to the point without returning the greeting.
"Alisha."
Daisy tried to intervene between Debi and Alisha.
It already sounded like she was going to lecture her about etiquette and rules.
"Daisy, I'm okay. Shall we go?"
Alisha followed Debi without arguing.
She had considered the possibility that the Empress or the Imperial Family would send a message.
Alisha trusted herself and didn't think Debi was the type to bring a dangerous person, but she simply took precautions.
'If there's a loud noise where I go, come.'
It was a word she gave to the captain of the guard, but in reality, it was a word to Ren, who was next to her.
Debi walked leisurely, considering she got straight to the point as soon as they met.
She took Alisha to a quiet villa.
"Please forgive my rudeness, Lady."
"Don't mention it."
The villa was built on a low mountain.
A well-maintained pond.
The villa, with its subtle blue light, had a refined atmosphere.
Was there a place like this here? The door of the mansion, which had a surprising level of perfection, opened.
"This is the place, please come in."
The inside of the mansion was even more impressive.
The lush blue carpet, where her feet sank deep, looked glossy and shiny.
Debi opened the pure white door and raised her voice.
"Count of Echeveria. Lord of Ludern. Alisha Reine has arrived. Lady, pay your respects. It is His Majesty the Emperor."
At Debi's shout, Alisha slowly entered.
The narrow room was circular.
Paintings hung along the walls, and a seat of honor was prepared on one side of the room.
"Your Majesty the Emperor, I greet the honorable one."
Alisha paid her respects in a daze.
Since Debi came, she thought it would probably be the Empress.
She thought it might be a member of the Imperial Family who couldn't send their errand runner externally, but she didn't expect the Emperor to appear.
"Count."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Alisha lowered her face deeply.
"I'm sorry to call you to such a humble place. There are many things to talk about, but time is short, so let's exchange only the necessary words. What is the Count's plan?"
The Emperor demanded a plan from Alisha with a confident attitude.
The Imperial Family and the Imperial Family members declared neutrality.
It was the conclusion of the Imperial Family and the Imperial Family members, but in reality, it would be the Emperor's order.
"I am sorry. I understand that Your Majesty has declared neutrality. Why is someone who has taken a neutral stance asking about any plans?"
Alisha expressed her question innocently like a pure child.
"Count. I have chosen neutrality. Leon 3rd, the Emperor of the Empire, has chosen neutrality in the fight between nobles. However, Leonhardt Renat Luca will support his beloved niece. I believe that is a sufficient answer. So, what is the Count's plan? I hope you didn't come and declare unconditional support for Josefina to society without a plan."
The Emperor was embarrassed in front of her, but he didn't even twitch an eyebrow.
He even smiled faintly.
"Your Majesty, please forgive my foolishness. I thought the situation might have changed while coming here from Reine. I didn't realize..."
Alisha tried to say it again as if she didn't know.
The Emperor waved his hand.
"The Lirin Ducal Family will declare war on the Barker County tonight. Also, they will announce the annulment of the engagement between Josefina Lirin and Gregory Barker. The Imperial Family has decided to allow Lirin and Barker to duel outside the Imperial Family's territory. We have allowed duels between knights even within the Imperial Capital, as long as they do not harm civilians and facilities."
The Emperor quickly said what he knew.
Alisha understood that the Imperial Family had presented more lenient standards than during the war between Reine and Barker in the past.
It was difficult to erase the bitterness, but it was fortunate.
"Your Majesty, if Princess Josefina allows it, Ludern will protect the Princess's safety. If the Lirin Ducal Family comes to protect Josefina, Ludern will gladly accept their entry as well."
Alisha's words meant that the area around Ludern would become a battlefield.
The Emperor frowned, distorting his beautiful face.
"Count."
Alisha impudently refused the Emperor's call and continued speaking.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Please listen to me. Ludern has advised the residents of nearby villages to enter, according to the Lord of Ludern's orders. Ludern knights personally visited houses with underground shelters to check their defenses. Those who could not confirm their identity and had difficulty entering Ludern were given temporary relocation expenses and living expenses to stay in Baden for a while. Currently, people are gathered in Ludern, and the surroundings are empty. The process of collecting items that could be requisitioned by the enemy has also been completed. This is the current situation."
Ludern was ready for war.
It was a very quick move, even if it had been planned in advance.
"Good, continue."
The Emperor spoke as if he were receiving a report from an official at a government affairs meeting.
"The battle is planned to take place on the Gali Plain next to Ludern. Ludern plans to complete preparations for a siege before the war."
"What is needed for the siege?"
"Everything has been secured."
Alisha said without hesitation.
The Emperor nodded his head to his heart's content and then expressed his dissatisfaction.
"A battle on the Gali Plain. The nobles will be fighting in the Imperial Palace's front yard."
Alisha retorted to the absolute being's grumbling with a confident face.
"I am deeply sorry, Your Majesty. However, I do not expect generosity from the Barker County. I do not expect recognition either. Even if the Lirin Ducal Family's front line is lengthened, the Ducal Family's knights will show an excellent attitude, thinking of the Duke and Princess Josefina. If we fight closer to Lirin's base to shorten Lirin's front line, Barker will move while committing all sorts of atrocities."
The Emperor nodded at Alisha's words.
He gestured as if to tell her to continue speaking.
"If Barker damages the civilians while moving, Barker's reputation will also fall, but the honor of Lirin, the opponent of the fight, will also be damaged. Barker will aim for that and act even more arbitrarily."
In the past, the war between Reine and Barker took place near the Reine territory.
At that time, the Reine Marquisate and Alisha's honor fell to an irreparable state because of the atrocities committed by those hired by the Barker County.
Alisha was pained by the knights who lost their lives or died in the fight, but she felt guilty whenever she heard about those who were caught up in the fight for no reason and died without knowing why.
"How do you think the strength of both sides will be, Count?"
"I'm sorry..."
The Emperor frowned at Alisha's apology and made a fuss.
"No. I shouldn't expect that much from the Count who just arrived in front of Baden. Barker has 40 knights from the family, and 20 knights added from vassal and helper families, so at least 60 knights. Barker has secured 500 infantry mercenaries by releasing Barker's cash, and plans to recruit about 500 more. The existing Barker family soldiers are at least 300 to 400, so generously 1500. Lirin cannot use the navy due to the Imperial Family's disapproval."