Volume 4, Chapter 6: Hypocritical Alliance
Ⅰ
Twelfth City Nozan PersillaEsu rudo PalaceFront Court
「Is my memory hazy? I should have suspended you, Heavy Gold Officer Drake, correct?」
Showered in Cassandra’s icy gaze, Drake plainly said:
「Your memory is in order. Pardon my impudence because of this emergency.」
「Emergency? —Never mind, speak.」
Cassandra yawned and switched the way she crossed her legs seductively.
「A report from a messenger. Our Nozan Persilla army has been defeated by the Royal Army. The Commander, Heavy Silver Officer Arthur, was killed in action, and we lost more than 80% of our troops.」
This report arrived an hour ago. The news by the messenger from Fort Safa was accurate and terrible.
Cassandra stared at Drake in silence, then squeezed out her voice.
「What kind of joke is this?」
「Your Majesty, you know very well that I’m not the type who jokes.」
「… Even if we lose to the Royal Army, our opponent is still the Kingdom on their last legs— Right, the messenger must be mistaken, our elite army won’t lose!」
Her usual arrogance gone, Cassandra desperately denied the fact that the Nozan Persilla army lost. Drake shook his head silently and hurried the female courtier beside him to hand the box over to Cassandra.
The female courtier received the box with a troubled look, slowly walked up the steps and respectfully handed the box to Cassandra.
「… What’s this?」
Cassandra asked as she looked at the box on her lap.
「You will know when you open it.」
Cassandra hesitated, then timidly opened the box. She then threw the box away with a scream. When Arthur’s head rolled out of the fallen box, the female courtiers also screamed.
Arthur’s pale head rolled to Drake’s feet.
「Can you accept it now?」
「Why, why did we lose…」
Before facing reality, Cassandra conceded that they lost. Drake was relieved, as It was easier to speak to her now.
「You still don’t understand?」
「I’m asking you because I don’t!」
Cassandra grabbed a glass of wine and threw it at Drake. The glass hit Drake in the face, and a red liquid flowed from his forehead.
Seeing how upset Cassandra was, the courtiers started to panic.
「Then allow me to explain— The Royal Army is stronger than the Nozan Persilla Army. That’s all.」
After that simple explanation, Cassandra’s face scrowled even more.
「— Princess, I have warned you time and again, that attacking the Kingdom is very dangerous. If the Royal Army rides on their momentum and counterattacks, we will be powerless to resist.」
<TL: Sudden switch to Princess.>
Realizing what he was implying, the courtiers turned pale.
If the Royal Army wanted to control the Esu rudo palace, they needed to capture either Idora or Fort Safa. Normally, both places would be heavily guarded, but Arthur brought most of their forces out for his campaign.
A stubborn defence of the fort wouldn’t last long, and there was no hope of any reinforcement coming.
If Esu rudo fell, they would be fighting with their backs literally to the walls.
「Are you threatening me, the Queen?」
A dark hue covered Cassandra’s eyes.
「I’m just stating the facts.」
「Then request for reinforcements! The Third City can make it in time!」
Cassandra shouted hysterically.
「How do we ask for aid? We declare war on the Kingdom, lost, and they are counter attacking us. Please send help?」
「T-The Sutherland 13 Charter clearly states that a combined army will be organized against any invading forces. You should know that. There is no way they can turn that down.」
Seeing Cassandra suddenly gloating with a smile, Drake sighed deeply.
「If you really think so, why don’t you try asking for aid?」
「I’m ordering you to do it!」
「Even if you say that, I’m serving a suspension order right now…」
Cassandra screamed hysterically again and pointed at the entrance of the Front Court.
「I will lift your suspension orders, hurry up and go!!」
Drake bowed respectfully. After relaying some specific details, he left the Front Court alone.
(After experiencing this, the Princess will hopefully become more docile.)
His eyesore Arthur dying was an unexpected bonus, but the army losses were too serious. When Drake thought about rebuilding the army, he couldn’t help sighing as his sleeping hours would be drastically reduced.
「Right, I might as well host an urgent 13 Stars Council——」
The mumblings from Cassandra behind him made Drake speechless.