Hearing this new and significant information, Michael’s eyes sharpened.
"How many reinforcements are expected to arrive here?" he asked.
Randolph, as if waiting for the question, responded confidently. "Oh, there’s no need to worry about that. With a commander of your caliber here and our current forces more than sufficient, additional troops would only create confusion in the chain of command. So, I declined reinforcements for this location. Elonia’s crown prince has brought adequate guards as well."
Michael’s composure nearly cracked at the prince’s astonishingly shortsighted decision. Who in their right mind would reject reinforcements during a war, all for the sake of hoarding credit?
Suppressing his rising frustration, Michael took a deep breath before speaking in an even tone.
"Avoiding confusion in command is important, Your Highness. However, additional reinforcements could provide strategic flexibility. We could launch offensives on other fronts or provide support where needed."
Randolph’s eyebrows twitched in surprise. He hadn’t expected this response but quickly dismissed it, stubbornly clinging to his perspective.
"I disagree. More troops aren’t always the answer. Haven’t you yourself achieved decisive victories with fewer forces? A well-coordinated army under unified leadership is what truly matters."
Internally, Michael sighed. He now understood the prince’s reasoning. It wasn’t just shortsightedness—it was an attempt to consolidate control and claim credit.
If that was the case, Michael knew there was only one course of action. He needed to steer the conversation toward ensuring clear military authority, preferably under his own command.
"In that case, to maximize efficiency, I suggest we clarify the command structure. Perhaps we should convene a military meeting to formalize the chain of command," Michael proposed.
Randolph’s expression shifted subtly as he studied Michael. The prince’s original plan had been to enlist Michael’s support in securing supreme command for himself. But before he could even broach the subject, Michael had maneuvered the discussion in a different direction.
Still, Randolph couldn’t openly oppose the idea. After all, who else but the crown prince could assume the role of supreme commander? The Elonia crown prince, though a guest, was too preoccupied with securing a marriage alliance for his sister to challenge Randolph’s authority. The other generals and nobles were similarly unthreatening. And Michael, despite his accomplishments, was still merely a count.
Nodding, Randolph instructed his attendant to summon the generals and nobles for a meeting.
Michael watched silently, sensing the inevitable confrontation over command that lay ahead.
Under Crown Prince Randolph’s initiative, another military meeting was convened. This time, both Crown Princes of Rania and Elonia were present. The meeting was largely orchestrated by Randolph’s efforts to secure the position of supreme commander.
Elonia’s Crown Prince Edward hesitated at the door of the meeting room, unable to hide his nerves. His neatly tailored uniform only accentuated his youthful features, making him appear even younger than his 15 years.
You can do this. Don’t be afraid. Be strong! he thought, recalling the encouraging smile of his twin sister, Princess Charlotte. Yet, the memory provided little comfort.
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After taking a deep breath, Edward finally opened the door to the meeting room. The assembled figures turned their attention to him.
Two seats of honor had been prepared for the crown princes. The weight of sitting in one of those seats felt overwhelming to Edward as he took cautious steps inside. Randolph was already seated, exuding confidence.
Edward glanced at Randolph and attempted to mimic his composed expression, but the effort proved futile. His anxiety remained evident.
Behind Randolph stood his trusted advisor, Duke Capone, while Duke Ethan, Edward’s mentor and advisor, took his place behind the younger prince.
Michael, now recognized as a key figure for the Rania side, sat next to the seats of honor. Opposite him was Count Demonic, representing Elonia.
Randolph made a subtle gesture toward General Louis, one of his closest allies. However, Louis, known for his lack of perceptiveness, seemed content to sit beside Michael instead of closer to Randolph.
Leaning back in his chair, Randolph addressed Duke Capone with a question. Though Randolph already knew the answer, it was necessary to revisit the topic for the benefit of the others present.
"What’s the status of the reinforcements?"
Surveying the room briefly, Duke Capone responded in a calm tone.
"Your Highness, the reinforcements from the Radiant Holy Kingdom have already arrived at East Fortress. The Celeste Empire’s forces are expected to gather at Kent Fortress within three days. Meanwhile, allied troops from various kingdoms are en route to Broad Fortress, though it will take about a week for all the reinforcements to assemble."
Edward listened intently, but his thoughts were muddled, as if ink had spilled across his mind. He found himself glancing at Count Michael, whom he deeply admired.
While Randolph occasionally disparaged Michael as arrogant, Edward couldn’t see anything but greatness in him.
Michael, unaware of Edward’s admiration, sighed inwardly. The distribution of reinforcements across various fortresses left little hope for additional troops being sent to Orlando Fortress.
"So, it’s safe to assume there will be no reinforcements sent to Orlando Fortress. What about the Pamir Imperial Army? When are they expected to arrive?" Michael asked.
"They should gather within three days at the latest. According to the scouts, the number of tribes joining them is steadily increasing," Capone replied.
As Michael suspected, news of his victories had led the tribal forces to abandon isolated actions. They were now organizing for a large-scale assault.
After a moment of silence, Michael spoke. "I suggest we strengthen our defenses starting today. You’ve all heard about the assassin who infiltrated my quarters last night. In addition to enhancing the security of key figures, I propose increasing our reconnaissance forces. We need to broaden our surveillance efforts."
The room collectively nodded in agreement. Taking the opportunity to steer the discussion, Randolph raised his voice to draw attention.
"With the arrival of the Imperial Army, it’s time to establish a clear command structure," he declared, his voice rising to command the room’s focus.
"We’ve been operating without a unified front so far, but the situation has changed. As the Crown Prince of Rania, I am ready to take on the role of supreme commander and lead us on the frontlines."
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