Record of Wortenia War: Volume 2

by Ryota Hori

  This was why Duke Gelhart didn’t ask the neutral faction’s nobles for much cooperation when he brought them over to his side, deciding all would be well so long as he ensured they wouldn’t turn against him. He knew asking for anything more would be pointless.

  Hence why this report made Duke Gelhart panic as much as he did. He’d thought they would simply lend their cooperation to the princess’s faction for form’s sake and nothing else, and wait for the storm of civil war to pass.

  “What do you mean...? They pledged allegiance to the princess’s faction out of a genuine desire to help? Who would even do that to start with...?”

  “Count Bergstone and Count Zeleph are the prime leaders; they are leading their forces and other small nobles’ armies into the castle.”

  Perhaps this was his just desserts for viewing them as insects he could crush at any time. Rage bubbled up from Duke Gelhart’s heart like black, adhesive pitch.

  “Grrr... Damn that Count Bergstone! Just how much does he intend to get in my way?! I should have done away with him before after all...”

  But the next moment, Duke Gelhart realized he was on the verge of overlooking a vital point, judging by how confused he was.

  “Wait, did you say the princess’s faction? They joined the princess’s faction, and not the knights’ faction?” Duke Gelhart stressed the point, which prompted his aide to nod with a hardened expression.

  “Yes. I doubted it myself, but I made multiple efforts to verify, and... They have definitely joined the princess’s faction, not the knights’ faction.”

  These two things may have sounded identical on the surface, but in truth, the difference was palpable. The knights’ faction certainly were backing Princess Lupis as their banner; however, they were only supporting her because on top of being the princess, she had served as captain of the royal guard for the last few years. There was no other reason for General Albrecht to be supporting her.

  The only ones who swore true fealty to the princess were, aside from the lowest ranking knights, the vice captain of the royal guard, Mikhail, and a scant number of others. The majority of middle-class knights, the ones commanding the units, were taken into Albrecht’s faction, and gathering so many of them granted the faction considerable influence.

  Princess Lupis was a mere figurehead for the knights’ faction.

  But what would happen now that nobles, however few, were offering their support to the princess? They had soldiers to match the size of their territories, and the financial resources to hire mercenaries.

  If Counts Bergstone and Zeleph were to bring all their neighboring nobles over to Princess Lupis’s side, she would be nearly four thousand soldiers strong. Of course, that wasn’t even a sixth of the forces under Duke Gelhart, leader of the nobles’ faction.

  Duke Gelhart had gathered an army of 2,500 from his own private fortune, and if he were to conscript the peasants from his vast territories, his forces alone would amount to 25,000 troops. Adding the nobles’ faction soldiers and mercenaries into the mix would bring that number to 65,000 troops.

  Meanwhile, General Albrecht commanded Rhoadseria’s six knight orders, which had 15,000 soldiers in all. Even if one excluded the forces that couldn’t be moved from national defense, he could still mobilize about 8,000 to 10,000 troops.

  The forces Princess Lupis had gathered at this point likely numbered 15,000 men when put together with the neutral faction’s troops, but since Albrecht’s forces also included knights capable of using thaumaturgy, he still held the advantage.

  The most disturbing part, however, was that the nobles had defected to the princess’s faction. Duke Gelhart had his aide leave, and sank deep into his chair, pondering things in a relaxed manner.

  Princess Lupis... Is she trying to reclaim power over the country from Albrecht?

  That thought surfaced in Duke Gelhart’s mind. It was the one conclusion he could come up with, judging from the actions of counts Bergstone and Zeleph. But he was forced to reject the idea.

  No... Impossible. Princess Lupis could never manage that...

  Duke Gelhart doubted the princess’s ability. She was currently twenty years old and had an amiable personality, lacking the haughtiness commonly found in royals. Her kindness, which placed the lives of the people first, as well as her beauty, bought her a truly immense amount of trust from the commoners.

  She had also served as captain of the royal guard for five years without any fault to her name, so one couldn’t claim she was impotent... At least, in terms of commanding the military.

  But perhaps that was natural, because Princess Lupis had no political experience. No matter her talents and disposition, she ought not to be capable of deftly handling something she had no experience with.

  If one of her associates was wise, things may have been different, but she had few supporters that were in any way worth mentioning, mainly the vice captain of the royal guard, Mikhail Vanash, and her personal aide Meltina Lecta. And Duke Gelhart was confident enough that, setting their martial prowess aside, they weren’t much graced with wisdom. Experienced as they may have been, they weren’t much help for managing the kingdom.

  In other words, Princess Lupis was utterly incapable of ruling over the Kingdom of Rhoadseria on her own.

  If Princess Lupis were to completely control either the military or political field, things may have been different... I suppose that’s why Albrecht backed her; to strengthen his own influence and authority.

  Duke Gelhart could easily understand General Albrecht’s way of thinking, since they were both the same type of person.

  Albrecht will likely abandon the princess within three years... After that, he’d likely have her secretly killed or imprisoned. Otherwise, he might have her as a mistress, given her beauty.

  Duke Gelhart himself wasn’t much fixated on the throne. He likely saw himself as a man who preferred substance over fame. Compared to him, General Albrecht was one to lust for both substance and fame. He made do with substance alone for the moment, but it was plainly visible he would one day wish to reach for fame. The fame of being Rhoadseria’s king...

  Well, if I win, she’ll be put to death, so it’s all the same to Princess Lupis no matter which way the wind blows...

  Having gained Princess Radine as a new banner to unite this kingdom under, Duke Gelhart saw Princess Lupis as nothing but an obstacle. Having two heirs to the throne would simply serve as a trigger to spark future conflict.

  That said, Duke Gelhart had his own doubts regarding Princess Radine’s authenticity as an heir. True, she had the late king’s silver hair, her physiognomy was similar enough to his, and she carried his will and testament, so one couldn’t easily assume she was an imposter.

  But as a tactician set on winning this conflict, Duke Gelhart couldn’t help but feel that there was something deliberate to Rhoadseria’s current state of affairs. The former king passes, and just as his heir is about to take the throne, an illegitimate child is discovered. The timing of it all was simply too suspicious.

  And still, Gelhart backed Princess Radine because he absolutely needed an heir to the royal bloodline as his banner if he was to oppose General Albrecht. If he were to oppose the knights’ faction while they backed Princess Lupis without a similar icon of his own, he would simply be branded a traitor. And if that were to happen, even his proteges from the nobles’ faction could turn their backs on him.

  Gelhart himself thought this was foolish, but having a greater cause was absolutely essential in war. Even a false, fabricated cause...

  Well, so be it. Even a fake princess will become a true one, so long as I acknowledge her as such... And if she does turn out to be fake, I can do away with her later.

  With that thought in mind, Duke Gelhart smiled. Now that he had a princess to use as his cause for the war, it all came down to military power, and the nobles’ faction held the numerical superiority. That fact wouldn’t be overturned by the princess’s faction taking in a few neutral nobles.r />
  The question is, what spurred the princess’s faction to make their move all of a sudden... Mikhail and Meltina aren’t that resourceful. Just who brought upon this change?

  His advantage remained strong, so he could ignore this, but the princess’s faction’s sudden machinations weren’t a development he saw as favorable.

  “Someone! Come here at once!”

  Having gathered his thoughts, Gelhart called to his aides in the adjacent room.

  “You called, milord?”

  “Yes. The movements of the princess’s faction have me quite concerned.”

  “Should we send over some spies?”

  “Yes. Money is no object here; I’ll need you to hire the most skilled people you can find.”

  The aide couldn’t hide his surprise. He was well aware his master was by no means an extravagant person with money.

  “And then, have them find out if the princess’s faction has gained some kind of new, wise advisor... If such a person exists, have them killed at once!”

  This was hardly a naive decision for Duke Gelhart, who had won many a conflict in the past. He made his way through by nipping potential obstacles in the bud and taking possession of authority.

  “As you wish.” The aide bowed his head respectfully and left the room again.

  “Anyone who gets in my way, no matter what, will be crushed under my foot!”

  Duke Gelhart was resolved to use any means to win, and gain the sweet fruit of power over this country...

  It had been half a month since Duke Gelhart’s aide ordered the investigation, on a certain afternoon. A man and a woman gazed at Ryoma’s back from an alleyway, as he marched through the streets of the capital Pireas.

  “So that’s our current target, then...?”

  “Yeah, he’s a novice mercenary. Can’t use any thaumaturgy yet. Not much of a challenge for you.”

  To avoid the eyes of others, the two wore robes and hoods to cover their faces, but judging from their voices, it was a young woman and a middle-aged man.

  “I wonder about that.” The woman directed a suspicious gaze at the man. “From the way he carries himself, he doesn’t look like a typical mook.”

  “You’re doubting my research?” The man seemed angry at having doubt cast over his work. “He definitely can’t use thaumaturgy, and he’s a rank E newbie. Check the guild yourself if you don’t believe me.”

  “You’re crazy skilled for your age, but I’ve got confidence in my own business, ya know? Still, you’re the chief’s successor. If you’re not happy with my methods, why not ask the chief to have someone else handle this for you?”

  He likely took a great deal of pride in his work; his eye narrowed to a slit and shone with a cold light.

  “I apologize. I didn’t mean it like that, and I’m sorry if my words offended you.” The woman bowed her head earnestly.

  A silence fell between the two for a moment.

  “Nah, I’m sorry... I said a bit too much myself.” The man murmured quiet words of apology, likely feeling his attitude was immature.

  “Don’t let it bother you. More importantly, what about those two with him?”

  The woman’s gaze fixed on Sara and Laura, who were walking beside Ryoma.

  “They’re a couple of former slaves. Evidently, they follow the kid wherever he goes. But they were both trained as war slaves, so they’re pretty capable. Watch out for them if you’re planning on taking him out.”

  “Understood. Thanks.”

  “Right, you can leave the itinerary to me. You’ll need to sneak in as soon as preparations are complete, so rest up at the inn for the time being.”

  Leaving those words in his wake, the man disappeared into the alley.

  “Ryoma Mikoshiba, huh...”

  Having been left alone, the woman whispered Ryoma’s name one more time before vanishing into the crowd.

  The cogs of the western continent’s history were once again shifting, with the young man named Ryoma Miksohiba as their axis. The sky was bright and free of clouds.

  This was Duke Gelhart’s castle, standing in the heart of the citadel city of Heraklion. Standing beneath the pale blue moonlight, a girl standing at the castle’s balcony looked up to the night sky, leaning against the guard rail. What thoughts filled her eyes with such sorrow?

  Grabbing the golden brooch dangling in the valley of her abundant breasts, the girl spoke the one question weighing down on her heart.

  “Who... am I?”

  That doubt came into being on that fateful day, and even months later, she hadn’t yet come up with the answer.

  No, there already was an answer by now. The cold, metallic sensation of the crown upon her head said all there was to say. But the girl’s heart couldn’t accept this answer so easily.

  This gemstone-inlaid tiara, resting between her carefully-combed silver locks. That dazzling splendor was a special privilege that no one, aside from this girl and Lupis Rhoadserians, were allowed to carry on their person in this Kingdom of Rhoadseria.

  I’m royalty...? This country’s... Rhoadseria’s ruler...?

  Every time that thought crossed her mind, a shiver rushed down her spine.

  She couldn’t deny she had once admired and dreamed of being a princess, as most girls do. She never knew her father’s face, and was bereft of her mother since before she could even remember herself. And so, the only thing an orphaned girl without a soul to care for her in this world was allowed to have was the freedom to dream.

  To dream of being an heir in some affluent family; to dream that her unfamiliar father still lived somewhere, and would someday come to pick her up; to dream that she would eat luxurious meals to her stomach’s content and wear dresses of silk.

  As she worked as a maid in the manor of a governor of a small agricultural village on the outskirts of the kingdom of Myest, the sole pleasure she had was dreaming.

  Until that day. The day those dreams ceased to be lovely, guileless phantasms and became reality.

  “Is this truly the right path?” That single small question rung ever so severely in her ears.

  No. It is not... At this rate, this kingdom will descend into war. All for the aim of making me its ruler.

  Much blood would be spilled and many lives would be lost, all for her sake. And she wasn’t staunch enough of a dreamer to not realize the gravity of it all.

  Honestly speaking, she truly believed it would be better if she were to simply disappear without a trace. Better for herself, and for the kingdom of Rhoadseria.

  I want to run away... But that man won’t allow it anymore.

  Alas, contrary to that desire to flee, she realized better than anyone that she was past the point of no return.

  Yes, that day. Since the moment that man visited the manor and spoke to her, there was only a single path she could walk down. Once Duke Gelhart, leader of the nobles’ faction, became her backer, she had lost the freedom to return.

  Not at this point. If she were to attempt to abdicate from this position, the responsibility of sowing the seeds of discord within the kingdom would fall entirely on her.

  She was born and raised as a commoner, and so she was familiar with just how selfish and uncaring those in power were better than she cared to ever know. And from her perspective, Duke Gelhart was the most typical model of a noble.

  That man will stop at nothing to protect himself and his family’s name...

  If the circumstances turned against him, Duke Gelhart would push all the responsibility onto her without a second’s thought to protect himself. And if he did, she would be left with no support and no means of resisting him.

  And it went without saying that the punishment for impersonating royalty was death.

  I suppose it’s pointless... The wisest move in this game, it seems, is not to play.

  However, while her mind understood this perfectly, her heart remained unconvinced.

  The girl’s name was Radine Rhoadserians. One of the two sole heirs t
o the kingdom of Rhoadseria.

  As the pressures of anxiety and duty bore down on her, Radine desperately sought a way she could strive on... a way that would allow her to survive.

  Chapter 3: The Ivory Goddess of War

  “I have great expectations for your loyalty and endeavors in the days to come.”

  Princess Lupis’s voice resonated clearly through the audience chamber, and all five men standing before the throne bowed their heads in unison.

  Usually, these men would come only for a courtesy visit and insist on maintaining a wait-and-see approach, but this occasion was different. They all came leading hundreds of soldiers conscripted in their territories and all the goods they could carry. More than anything, the fact they brought their families with them proved that they were serious when it came to the upcoming war.

  The neutral faction’s nobles were gathering under Princess Lupis. This was a sight that truly inspired many, to see a new dawn rising over the kingdom of Rhoadseria.

  In one room of the castle sat three men, pleasantly chatting as the warm afternoon sun streamed into the room. Two of them were clad in extravagant silk clothes that made it abundantly clear they were nobles, but the other one was a bulky young man clad in black clothes. As neat and clean as his appearance was, one could easily tell he wasn’t a noble.

  In this Earth’s hierarchical society, and especially in Rhoadseria where social status was strictly enforced, a commoner would rarely be allowed to share a seat among the aristocrats. But not only was he there, this young man even held the initiative in the conversation.

  “Everything seems to be going well for the time being.”

  While his words weren’t rude, his tone certainly wasn’t one a commoner would use when speaking to nobles. And despite that, the two nobles didn’t seem upset or angry at his words. They simply nodded at each other, smiles on their faces.