Chapter 124
“Icarus-nim!”
Everyone turned and saw a lovely figure with gleaming light blue hair and beautiful eyes.
Icarus turned to Charles and smiled. “Thank you for addressing me, my lady.”
Charles’s heels clattered against the floor as she ran to Icarus and held the latter’s hands.
“Oh, it’s nothing. You’ve been really helpful, Icarus-nim.”
“Yes, that’s the reason I’m here.”
Charles smiled at that. “I really appreciate it. Would you like for us to give you a briefing about the situation?
“No, I’m already aware.”
“What do you mean…”
Icarus’ smile deepened, and he enthusiastically replied, “Do not be concerned, my lady. I have countermeasures.”
“So—” Charles was about to ask for more information.
However, Baron Ashbal seemed like he didn’t want to hear what Icarus had to say as he loudly grumbled in disapproval. “What can a fresh graduate like you do to help us?”
“Watch your mouth, Lord Ashbal.” Charles glared at the man.
At that, Baron Ashbal stood up. He looked like he had enough as he said angrily, “He’s nothing but an ignorant child with no real-world experience just yet. Moreover, how much could a commoner know about our family?”
“Baron Ashbal!” Charles raised her voice.
“I’m just getting started, my lady!” Baron Ashbal also raised his voice without avoiding Charles’ glare. “In the first place, this… Icarus is an outsider and we don’t even know whether Icarus is a man or a woman. Perfect timing now that you’re here, let me ask you a question: are you really a man, Icarus?”
“How is that necessary, Lord Ashbal? Are you saying that only men should be strategists?”
“That’s right, my lady.”
“...!” Charles’ eyes widened at that response.
“Baron Ashbal!” Cox stepped forward. There was a furious look on his face as he said, “Our lady is a woman as well! What kind of disrespect is this?!”
“Count Cox…” Baron Ashbal was clearly relaxed, despite the difference in their rank. “I’m not the only one with the same sentiments, can you not see the other vassals?”
“What?”
Cox stiffened at Baron Ashbal’s words.
Baron Ashbal was right. He wasn’t the only one. For some reason, the majority of the vassals here had ‘displeasure’ written on their faces.
“My lady, I do not have the right to judge your actions, but I will be honest.” Baron Ashbal stared in Charles’ direction and said, “My lady, you have always ignored family affairs before, no? It was only after the lord has fallen that you start coming here to throw random rocks at us, may I ask why?”
“What nonsense are you talking about?! Our lord has been handling the internal affairs of our family while my lady had to stay outside to find allies to assist our family. Are you really that blind for what she has done to the family so far?”
“Effort with no results is a waste of time…” muttered Baron Ashbal.
“What?” Cox stared angrily at Baron Ashbal.
“At the end of the day, not a single family came to our aid! Now, tell me: what contribution did our so-called lady make to the family?”
“Ashbal!”
“I’m right here, Count Cox! It would not be surprising to see the Pontier Family declaring bankruptcy come tomorrow, and there is no way I will tolerate having a woman, not to mention such an incompetent woman rule us!”
“You…!” Cox angrily stomped his way toward Baron Ashbal and raised his right hand up, obviously to slap the latter.
“Enough.”
Cox came to a halt the moment Charles’ voice registered in his ears.
“Please, stop. Surely you understand that internal strife will only help them further their plans?”
“My lady.”
“Does anyone else share Baron Ashbal’s views?”
“...”
None of the vassals spoke, but their expressions said it all.
‘I already knew that they are harboring such feelings…’?Charles inwardly muttered.
At that, Charles announced. “Since all of you are of the same mind, then I shall withdraw from the front lines.”
“My lady!” Cox shouted, taken aback.
“I appreciate the thoughts, Count Cox, but I’m fine. I don’t want to be a burden who contributes nothing but internal strife.”
“Then…” Cox was about to speak, but he ended up biting his lips.
He couldn’t help it. Especially after seeing Charles silently shaking her head.
Moreover, it was the first time Cox saw such a sad look on Charles’ face.
“Damn it…” Cox cursed under his breath, but he still lowered his head.
“That’s it, then.” Charles smiled slightly and turned around.
“Please wait, my lady.”
“...?”
Charles came to a halt upon hearing a voice behind her.
“Icarus-nim.”
“Please trust me, my lady.” Icarus smiled at Charles before looking at Baron Ashbal.
“Did you say your name is Baron Ashbal?”
“Yes.” Baron Ashbal scowled.
Icarus turned around and swept his gaze across the vassals.
“I heard what you said. I didn’t hear everything, but it’s enough.”
“What are you trying to say?” asked Baron Ashbal.
“You’re correct. Efforts with no results are a waste of time. If we were in peaceful times, such efforts could serve as cornerstones for future progress. However, we are currently at war. We’re in a war where losing means losing everything we have.”
“Seems like you have an idea,” said Baron Ashbal with a disdainful smile.
Icarus ignored that and continued. “However, you did something wrong. You should have praised Lady Charles because she deserves it. She gathered more reliable allies than anyone else despite the Pontier Family’s difficult situation.”
“...?” Baron Ashbal frowned. He looked like he had no idea what Icarus was talking about.
At that, Icarus boldly lifted her thumb and pointed it backward—at herself.
“The reliable allies I’m talking about is us.”
Baron Ashbal smiled in disdain once more as he scoffed. “How ridiculous! Who do you think you—”
However, Icarus interrupted him and spoke as if he didn’t care about Baron Ashbal’s feelings.
“We should be able to produce enough food to feed seventy percent of the population. In other words, we should be able to hold out for much longer if we disregarded the people and used the supplies for the soldiers.”
“What are you saying, Icarus-nim?” Charles asked in disbelief.
Everyone looked at Icarus with wide eyes as she casually said to disregard the people living in the territory.
“Unfortunately…” Icarus’ momentarily flashed with light as he continued. “They would never let us do such a thing. The longer this war goes on, the more expensive it would be for them. If I were in Marquis Crombell’s shoes, I would definitely not let this war become a war of attrition.”
“Are you saying that we have to abandon our people? What are—” Baron Ashbal started.
However, Icarus interrupted him once more. “No! The pieces are already falling into place for them, so they would still have the advantage even if we fed our people or not. There’s a high chance that he’ll lure us into a decisive battle to end the war and not drag it out.”
All of a sudden, a loud voice echoed outside.
“There’s trouble!”
“...!” Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at the door.
A messenger burst through the door while carrying a red flag with the Pontier family crest.
“What’s going on?” asked Cox.
The messenger kneeled and exclaimed. “Marquis Crombell is gathering his army in front of Aiden Gorge! The numbers are estimated to be over thirty thousand!”
“Thirty thousand…!”
The vassals exclaimed in awe.
Marquis Crombell had around fifty thousand soldiers in his territory.
At any given time, ten thousand soldiers would be stationed at the headquarters, so it was reasonable to assume that thirty thousand troops were the most Marquis Crombell could deploy.
“Why?”
Icarus had just said that there was a high chance Marquis Crombell would make his move anytime soon, and it quickly came true. The vassals turned to Icarus.
Icarus swept his gaze across them with a smile and said, “Nothing will change even if we accept their offer.”
“Wait, what are you talking about?”
A vassal asked.
Icarus responded with a wider smile, “If we take the lead, they’ll wipe out our army with their overwhelming force. Even if we don’t take the lead to attack them, we still have to gather our forces to defend ourselves.”
The vassal who posed the previous question seemed even more confused.
Icarus noticed that, so he explained, “What will they gain by making us gather our forces? Aiden Gorge is definitely a natural fortress. There is no better place to defend from in a siege war than in Aiden Gorge. In that case, why are they gathering there?”
“Naturally, it would make sense for them to gather there if this weren’t a siege war, but I’m pretty sure they’re after something else,” said Icarus.
“What are you trying to say?”
“This is what I’m saying! Their true objective is…!” Icarus exclaimed before unfurling the enormous, rolled-up map he was carrying in one of his hands onto the table.
“A two-front operation.”
“...!” The vassals’ eyes widened upon seeing the location highlighted in bright red on the map.
Baron Ashbal also started trembling when he saw that. He looked like he would pass out anytime soon as he quivered in irritation and shouted, “This is ridiculous! It is physically impossible for them to cross the Dennis River! Even a skilled knight would get instantly swept—”
“Calm down. I know a few methods that they could use. But now that I have shown you a glimpse of my abilities…” Icarus interrupted Baron Ashbal and started walking toward an empty seat. She sat down and calmly put her hands together before saying, “Shall we become a bit more respectful and speak in earnest?”
Charles and her vassals could only stare blankly at Icarus, who had just established her domain.
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