WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: Abood

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◈ Friedrich's Battlefield

Chapter 115: Interlude Farce

Julius Novakia returned alive to the royal capital of Cēsis, accompanied by six royal knights.

Upon his arrival, he collapsed from sheer exhaustion. After some rest and his first proper meal in a long while, he presented himself to report to King Childebert of Arelia.

In the audience hall of his family’s own castle, before the throne that had once belonged to his father but was now occupied by the invader, Julius bowed his head.

He reported his father’s death, and confessed that he alone had fled back. Enduring humiliation that tore at him like rending flesh, he nevertheless recounted the details with precision.

“I see. So Lord Oscar is dead. From the sound of it, his end was a warrior’s end, splendid in its way.”

The words that Childebert murmured carried no tone of admiration, but neither did they carry scorn. It was the voice of one simply accepting fact.

“…And his son, that would be you, survived.”

The words fell from above, but Julius did not move. Kneeling on one knee, head bowed, he pressed his emotions deep down into the pit of his heart.

“Raise your face, son of Oscar Novakia.”

At the command, Julius silently lifted his face.

He forced his expression to remain still, but upon seeing it, Childebert laughed.

“You regret it, don’t you. You are ashamed. That is only natural… If you wish to honor your father’s death, do not forget those feelings. Make them your sustenance and live. To go on living, that is your battle.”

“…Yes. My father told me the same.”

When Julius replied, Childebert gave a short, derisive laugh through his nose and rose to his feet.

“Now then, as for the fate of this land of Novakia… It is true, you fought well. Well enough that your king fell in battle. But failure is still failure. It does not change the fact that you failed to carry out the role I gave you.”

As Childebert spoke and stepped forward, Julius stiffened.

What would become of Novakia’s future? What would become of this land’s peace, purchased with the lives of his father and the warriors?

“To those under my protection, I, as king, shall show mercy. But mercy does not necessarily mean indulgence… My decision is made.

“The House of Novakia will be allowed to continue. You will be granted the rank of duke, and entrusted with the governance of this land’s internal affairs. This is solely out of respect for the valor of your late father, Oscar Novakia.”

“However, you must abandon all hope regarding taxes. For the next three years only, I will reduce them heavily compared to the other conquered lands. After that, the so-called heavy taxes you conquered people complain of will be imposed.”

“By then, you are to rebuild society, restore the land ravaged by our forces and those of Edelstein, so that you can endure taxation and shoulder the burden of defending the frontier.”

“…I offer my deepest gratitude for this merciful treatment.”

Three years. In exchange for the deaths of his father and the warriors, what Julius had gained was a mere three years.

It would be enough. So he told himself inwardly, bowing his head deeply once more.

“A humble attitude. Good. Then as of this moment, the Kingdom of Novakia is no more. This land is now the Novakia Province of the Kingdom of Arelia. You, as my representative, shall govern it as Duke of Novakia. From this moment forth, that is your title.”

As he spoke, Childebert turned toward the retainers assembled beside the throne.

“The matter is settled. We have witnessed the end of Novakia. As for governance, all that I, as king, must personally attend to here is complete, is it not?”

“Just so, Your Majesty,” replied the highest-ranking court noble among the civil officials accompanying the royal campaign, bowing with formal deference.

“Then I have no further business in this place… Angelo!”

“Yes, sir.”

Marquis Angelo Mozzetti, newly raised to the king’s circle of close retainers for his recent merits in battle, answered at once when his name was called.

“To you I entrust, in addition to the Myurei region, command over the garrison stationed in this land. I grant you the authority to conscript from among the people of Novakia. See to the maintenance of order, and ensure the defense of the southern and eastern borders. For now, it will suffice that you maintain the present state of affairs.”

“By your will, I shall carry out the duty without fail.”

Childebert answered Angelo’s salute with a casual raise of his hand, then left the audience hall.

“We return to my castle.”

With his retainers in tow, Childebert departed, leaving behind only Julius and the Novakia household’s direct vassals.

“…Your Highness.”

“Do not call me that. I am no longer crown prince. If you must address me, call me Duke.”

To the aged retainer who approached, Julius replied in a hard voice.

“Reality is reality. We must accept it… But this will not be the end.”

Clenching his fist tightly, Julius fixed his gaze on the empty throne.

It was what everyone must be thinking, that Novakia was finished. Its proud king was dead, its once-formidable army destroyed, and never again would this land command presence upon the stage of history.

Here, in his ruined homeland, he had been reduced to a pitiful ruler—head of a fallen royal line, governing internal affairs as a puppet of the invaders.

All that filled his heart now was humiliation. Yet his life had been spared. And so long as it endured, a future would still come to this land.

The outcome of the struggle for the western continent was still unknown. He himself would likely have no power to choose that outcome, nor to interfere with its course.

Even so, he must not abandon the fight to bring even a fragment of a better future to this land. He did not yet know how that battle should be fought, but he had to resolve himself to keep fighting.

That, at the very least, would be an offering to the warriors who had fallen—a single, meager act of atonement.

・・・・・・

With the forces of the Kingdom of Novakia swept aside, the northern frontier of the Kingdom of Edelstein no longer faced any threat.

Subsequent intelligence confirmed that the Kingdom of Novakia had been formally annexed into the Kingdom of Arelia, and that King Childebert of Arelia, leading his elite host, had begun his return to the capital, Saint Victoire.

Only the bare minimum of troops required for maintaining order and defending the eastern and southern borders remained in Novakia. In response, the defense of the northern frontier was entrusted to a force built around the Albrecht Regiment, while the Ferdinand Regiment returned to the capital at Sankt Waltrude.

“—I see. I had already heard from the couriers of the plan’s outline and the outcome of the battle, but I had not realized the victory was so splendid.”

Soon after his own return, Regimental Commander Matthias ascended to the castle and gave Crown Princess Claudia a full report of the battle on the northern frontier. Hearing it, Claudia spoke with clear admiration.

“This was surely a victory made possible by Lord Eisenhut’s skillful command. He not only directed his own regiment but also managed the noble levies and the conscripts with precision. Truly, it was a brilliant performance.”

“When Lord Eisenhut returns, the royal house must convey its praise directly to him… And you too deserve to be commended. Friedrich Hosenfeld.”

Having said this, Claudia shifted her gaze from Matthias, with whom she had been speaking, to Friedrich who stood behind him.

“I have heard that the strategy of the scorched-earth campaign, devised with an eye toward a possible future reconciliation with the Kingdom of Novakia, was yours. This complete victory, and the peace now resting upon our northern frontier, are in no small part the result of your efforts.”

“…I am honored by your words. But I merely offered one proposal as a staff officer under my foster father.”

It was true that he had devised the plan, and that he had taken part in its execution as a line officer. But the overall coordination had been the work of Matthias, the regimental commander. Without his foster father’s masterful direction, the scorched-earth campaign could not have been carried out with such speed and efficiency.

For that reason, Friedrich maintained a humble stance. Perhaps finding that demeanor pleasing, Claudia smiled warmly.

“With every campaign, you add to your achievements and prove yourself ever more a general of wisdom. To see a young talent like you growing into the successor of a hero gladdens me as crown princess, heir to this kingdom.”

“Your Highness is far too kind.”

Friedrich bowed politely, and Claudia, returning the nod, shifted her gaze back to Matthias.

“The enemy’s strength remaining in the Novakia region is slight. The elite troops of the Arelia Kingdom have withdrawn to their capital with their king, and it seems the forces that had swung around through Loire are also beginning to pull back.”

“Their greater concern will be facing the Rigald Empire to the east, rather than us to the south, so Edelstein may consider the northern threat to be removed for the time being…”

“Because Novakia’s western frontier collapsed with such unexpected speed, you were forced into an unforeseen campaign against a former ally. You and your men have borne much hardship.”

“No, Your Highness. It is our duty to fight in whatever manner is required to defend the kingdom.”

“Reassuring words. You of the royal army are truly the pride of both the crown and the realm.”

Matthias replied with exemplary bearing and speech, and Claudia, satisfied, continued.

“The situation has returned to its former balance. Having mustered even forces that should never have been moved, and undertaken such a large operation against Novakia, the Arelia Kingdom will not be able to launch another battle at once.”

“Our kingdom will seize this opportunity to prepare for the decisive war by mobilizing the fullest measure of our strength… Not only the royal army, but the territorial levies as well will be assembled.”

“The western lords are ordered to keep their troops constantly ready for movement, and the eastern lords instructed to prepare reinforcements. For the mustering of militia, additional supplies are being transported and stockpiled.”

“Transport units are already in motion. And to avoid repeating the mistakes of Novakia, counterintelligence will be strengthened, agents are being increased, tasked with gathering information not only in the main cities of Loire, but widely along the roads as well.”

The preparations Claudia described were, for the sake of a single battle, on a scale unprecedented in the history of the Kingdom of Edelstein. It could be said that no greater measures were possible.

“In addition, we have secured a pledge of support from the Empire. The imperial house has replied that once King Childebert shows signs of leading another campaign in person, they will dispatch as many reinforcements as possible.”

“…To gain such a pledge from the Empire cannot have been easy. As expected of Your Highness, the crown princess. An achievement most fitting for the next sovereign.”

When Matthias said this with solemn courtesy, Claudia gave a faint, wry smile.

“For now, I must entrust the battles at the front lines to men such as you. I have only done what must be done from my own station.”

In truth, securing the Empire’s pledge of support through nothing more than envoys and messenger hawks within such a limited time had been no easy task.

Detailed explanations had been sent of how they intended to prepare for the decisive battle, persuading them that the Kingdom of Edelstein had more than sufficient chance of victory, and convincing them of the benefit in keeping a western ally alive.

As a result, even the reluctant Rigald imperial house had stirred, and though they were presently focused on conflicts along their eastern border, this time they resolved to intervene in the western struggle with real force.

In these past months, while their northern neighbor fell and fighting raged along that border, Claudia had waged her own kind of battle. Political negotiations carried out with Crown Prince Edwin and, behind him, the Emperor himself.

“Until now, as the defending side and with our nation far inferior in strength, we were forced time and again into reacting late. But that patience will soon come to an end. Our kingdom will face the decisive battle with every preparation made.”

“We will halt King Childebert’s campaign, and crush his host. Or else strike down the barbarian conqueror himself, and end his depredations. We will not meet the same fate as the Kingdom of Novakia—”

At that moment, the doors of the audience chamber burst open without warning, cutting off Claudia’s words.

A knight stumbled inside as if tumbling forward, then dropped to one knee and spoke.

“Your Highness, Crown Princess! An urgent report by hawk! …Roughly two thousand soldiers of the Arelia Kingdom, including the ‘Armor of the King,’ have descended upon the Beiral Plain! With no time to prepare, Fort Arnsberg has been surrounded!”

The report was one no one in the room had anticipated. Friedrich, Claudia, even Matthias—all were struck with shock.

“…Impossible.”

How could it be? Friedrich’s quiet murmur carried sharply in the audience chamber, silent under the weight of astonishment.

Footnotes:

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