89 - The Bride of the Great Lord is a Warrior from Hell
The Grand Duke's Bride is a Warrior of Hell 89
Count Barker had used gold to fill the ranks with mercenaries even during the war with Reine in the past.
With Barker's financial power, he could gather up to 2,000 infantrymen.
"What is the maximum number of knights that can be moved from Ririn Island at once?"
Alisha did not express dissatisfaction with the restrictions imposed by the Imperial Family.
"50 knights. There are more than 350 knights on Ririn Island, but not all knights can leave the island. Even if we leave only the minimum number of personnel, Ririn can mobilize a maximum of 150 knights. If the advance team moves out tonight, they will all arrive in about five days. We should consider this the end of the forces that can come from Ririn. Moreover, Ririn is at a much greater disadvantage compared to Barker, with a longer front line."
The Emperor's face, as he spoke fluently, was almost hateful.
So, what is your plan?
What the Emperor was saying was clear.
"I dislike infantry."
At Alisha's words, the Emperor gave her a look as if he were looking at a righteous and naive child.
"Count."
"In the end, the infantry and boy soldiers who go to the battlefield are going to die for 5 gold coins per life. One knight does the work of at least five infantrymen."
"You cannot wage war with cavalry alone."
The Emperor said in a soothing tone.
"I will manage somehow."
Alisha stubbornly said.
The Emperor, who seemed to be thinking about something, frowned.
"When do you intend to end the war?"
It was a threatening question.
"Two weeks. I will end it within that time."
Alisha said calmly to the harsh question.
Considering the time to gather troops, the plan was to end the actual fighting within a week.
The Emperor's expression scattered strangely.
"Count. The war you are about to wage is not child's play. Count Barker demanded from the Ririn Ducal House, as a condition of negotiation, a document acknowledging defeat and compensation of 10% of the profits Ririn earns from Ispiae. He plans to claim the compensation for the next 20 years."
Alisha carelessly added her thoughts.
"The Barker family is as shameless as an iron mask."
The Emperor's face as he looked at Alisha was as if he were looking at a madman.
Alisha's attitude, not even considering the possibility of losing, was not normal.
"Alright, what do you need, Count?"
The Emperor said with a resigned face.
"Military provisions."
Alisha quickly replied, and the Emperor responded as soon as he heard the words.
"There is a military warehouse in Denverra, next to Ludern."
The Imperial Family and the Imperial Family declared neutrality.
"……."
Alisha had answered the question, but she did not expect to receive anything.
"I do not know how the Count will wage war. I will give you 200 of my hidden cavalry guarding the Denverra military warehouse. Use it as a small addition."
With the Emperor's cavalry, one knight could handle twenty infantrymen.
"I am honored."
Alisha unknowingly expressed her gratitude politely.
Adding the troops from Ririn and the troops given by the Emperor, it seemed that they could compete evenly with Barker even if they fought a real war.
"I must go now. The Count must have suffered from coming from the far north, so rest here, though it is humble. It would be better to reveal yourself after the Duke of Ririn declares war on the Barker County and criticism of Barker increases."
The Emperor said as he came down from the head seat.
Alisha stepped aside and paid her respects.
"I am impressed by Your Majesty's benevolent words."
Alisha conveyed her heartfelt gratitude.
"Count, I am impressed by the lady's benevolence. Thank you for protecting Eleanor, the Empress. You have saved her several times. I look forward to seeing you at the Imperial Palace. Then."
The Emperor left as quickly as he had appeared.
"……."
Alisha thought that the Emperor's last words of gratitude might have been the true purpose of the visit, rather than the enormous things he had given her.
Regardless of her feelings, Alisha had suddenly gained a force that threatened a kingdom.
Alisha took her group to a cozy detached palace.
She simply told them that it would be the last rest before the battle, so everyone should rest comfortably and prepare to move non-stop from tomorrow.
The group, exhausted from the long journey, rejoiced at the comfortable rest.
Seeing that, she thought it was fortunate that they could take such a rest.
Alisha also took her time.
Hee-heeing!
Alisha, who had been staring blankly at the sunset, reached out for her weapon at the unfamiliar sound of a horse's snort.
But no emergency occurred.
"Alisha, Marquis Kain Istevna has arrived."
Daisy announced the visit of Kain Istevna, who had become a Marquis.
The Emperor had promoted him to Marquis as a birthday present for Count Istevna.
The man who had become Marquis Istevna got along well with anyone, slept well anywhere, and boasted a cheerful personality.
"I greet Marquis Istevna."
"Count? Lady Alisha? Which do you prefer?"
Marquis Istevna laughed casually, like his personality.
"Lady is enough."
"Is that so? Well, since you are Pauline's friend, it might be better to call you Lady Alisha. Pauline said she wanted to see Lady Alisha, so I came to see you instead."
Marquis Istevna's words were confusing.
"I see."
Alisha smoothly brushed aside the confusing tone of the Imperial Family.
"I have many friends, but all of them are a little crazy. They are people who want to go to a life-threatening war. It is known that Lady Alisha will soon be at war, so they asked me to introduce them to you. Here, take this."
Alisha accepted the letters of introduction for knight orders and mercenary groups that Marquis Istevna handed her.
Seeing the pile of introductions, she was dumbfounded.
"……."
Marquis Istevna's words that he had many friends were not an exaggeration.
Each knight order and mercenary group was one that she had heard of at least once.
If she wrote down all the names on the introductions, she could make a huge list.
"Josefina is spoiled because she grew up being pampered, and she is extravagant and has a bad personality, but she is not a bad kid."
"Yes……."
Alisha was holding introductions to forces that could destroy a kingdom in her hands.
Marquis Istevna, who had brought them, was complaining with a cheerful face.
"Ah, Lady Alisha. As you know, my older brother is very wary of you. But Pauline wants you to be the godmother of the twins. I would be grateful if you could tell Pauline that you cannot. These days, I am being logically defeated by Pauline every evening and being snubbed every night. What is so important about a godmother? Anyway, I will go now."
Alisha stared blankly at Marquis Istevna, who had appeared out of nowhere and disappeared abruptly.
In any case, Alisha's forces had become enough to overthrow a kingdom.
"I could win even if I fought a real war……."
Alisha muttered, looking at the darkening sky.
Alisha and her group, who had rested well overnight, entered Baden.
Alisha, who saw Marquis Lennox and Princess Anri's group at the entrance of the Imperial Capital, immediately noticed.
Additional troops.
Alisha got out of the carriage and greeted the Marquis and Princess, who were riding horses.
"Marquis Lennox, Princess Anri. It is an honor to see such noble people. I did not expect to see you in a place like this."
Alisha said, feigning ignorance.
"Lady Alisha, we meet in places like this."
Princess Anri replied with an awkward attitude.
"Lady Alisha. I am sorry for conveying my greetings so late after you went through a difficult time. It is absurd, but some of the knight orders under me suddenly deserted, so I came out to take a look for a while. They say they are running away from home at this late age?"
"Marquis Lennox, did your knights do that too? My knights too. A knight order running away from home, what kind of strange story is that?"
The stories prepared by Marquis Lennox and Princess Anri were too poor.
"Hahaha. It is a funny story, sister. It was nice to meet Lady Alisha. Then, let's see each other next time."
"See you later, Lady. We are neutral."
Marquis Lennox turned his horse's head, and Princess Anri winked and also turned her horse's head and left.
It seemed that the two Imperial Family members, who had appeared and disappeared like the wind, knew the whereabouts of the runaway knights well.
"You are not being very sincere. If a knight order runs away from home, it is desertion……."
Alisha said to herself and headed to the carriage.
Now, Alisha had forces that could threaten the Empire.
"Should I just start a real war?"
With the forces she had now, she could expect an easy victory.
"Go to Ludern."
Alisha, who had boarded the carriage, said.
Soon, the group headed quickly to Ludern.
The gates of Ludern opened.
Josefina, who was at the head, rode her horse into Ludern.
Twenty escort knights followed right behind her.
In the square of Ludern, knights were lined up to welcome Josefina's group.
The advance team from Ririn and the knights from Denverra welcomed them by banging the ground with the spears in their hands!
Josefina had come riding a horse while wearing a dress.
Her face and clothes were a mess with dust.
Josefina calmly looked around at the knights who were welcoming her and then got off her horse.
Alisha, who had been standing at the entrance of the hall, stepped outside.
Josefina turned her gaze towards Alisha, who was approaching, and slowly paid her respects.
It seemed that she had been wearing the dress while riding the horse for this moment.
"Lady Alisha, I am grateful for your grace."
Alisha also stopped and paid her respects.
"Lady Josefina, welcome to Ludern."
Alisha personally prepared a warm towel and handed it to the dusty Josefina.
"Thank you."
Josefina received the towel and wiped her face.
The Barker County declared war on the Ririn Ducal House and tried to detain Josefina.
Josefina and her escort knights were exhausted from chasing and fighting for several days.
"Welcome, Princess."
The Imperial Family and the Imperial Family outwardly maintained strict neutrality in the war between the Duke of Ririn and Count Barker.
With the Imperial Family's declaration of neutrality, many nobles in Imperial Capital Baden chose neutrality or silence.
Josefina, who had moved around all of Baden like her own home since she was born, faced cold indifference for the first time.
Also, she was on the run.
To those who sided with Count Barker, Josefina was a tempting prey.
She was not surprised that those who wanted to be on good terms with the Barker family were following her with their eyes turned, as she had expected.
However, the cold indifference was unfamiliar to Josefina, who was the daughter of the Duke and Duchess and the niece of the Emperor, and had only heard flattery all her life.
Only Alisha was actively reaching out to her.
"I do not know what to say."
Josefina said in a tired voice.
Her delicate eyebrows trembled uneasily.
Alisha personally wiped Josefina's hands with a warm towel.
Josefina's hands, which had been gripping the reins tightly while on the run, were a mess.
The warm towel melted away not only the dust but also the fatigue.
After the warm towel, she was given a coolly dampened towel.
The service that she had naturally received until a few days ago had now become an extravagant treatment that was difficult to receive.
"Rest first, and let's have dinner together in the evening."
Alisha's voice sounded softer than anything else to Josefina's ears.
"Okay."
Josefina answered without hesitation to the kind offer.
Dinner in Ludern started late.
Alisha gathered Josefina's escort knights and the knights who had arrived earlier in the large dining hall to enjoy a banquet.
She generously distributed food to the villagers who were temporarily staying in Ludern.
Ludern, which was always quiet, was bustling as if it were having a festival.