WeTried Translations

Translator: Nemui

Editor: Nemui

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Friedrich's Battlefield

Chapter 186: Return

──────

With the death in battle of the enemy general Yorgos Caruna, victory and defeat were decided. The knights of the enemy main camp, having witnessed Yorgos's death, soon stopped resisting, and the other units were neutralized as well. The militia and rebel army fled in all directions, while the officers and soldiers who had come from the Ludia continent surrendered. One knight who had been Yorgos's close aide, perhaps because his loyalty was especially high, had a subordinate cut off his head and followed his lord in death.

The prisoners from the Ludia continent, who had suffered no small number of dead and wounded and had been reduced to fewer than four thousand in total, had no one to pay ransom and claim them. By the judgment of King Samuel Arelia, it was decided that they would be sentenced to forced labor for the time being in place of compensation.

The prisoners, now cheap labor, would be engaged in projects to pay reparations to the Kingdom of Edelstein within the Kingdom of Arelia, whose territory would shrink as each region became independent.

As for the future of the Caruna region, it was decided according to the original plan that a Carunan noble with blood ties to the Arelia royal family would be installed as the new king and the region made independent. The Faro region, or rather the future Grand Duchy of Faro, which had suffered great damage from Yorgos's army, had made a claim for compensation against the Caruna region, but that issue would be left for the two regions to dispute. In this way, at least for the time being, the Kingdom of Caruna and the Grand Duchy of Faro would not join hands to oppose the Kingdom of Arelia.

Thus, the prospects for postwar settlement in southern Arelia were established. Meanwhile, in the northern Muret region, perhaps judging that there was no longer any chance of victory, the rebel army surrendered to the forces of Duke Julius Novakia and Marquis Angelo Mosetti.

To encourage swift surrender and prevent further futile resistance afterward, the lives, property, and territories of the mountain nobles who led the rebellion were guaranteed under the name of King Samuel after their surrender. From now on, according to the original plan, the head of the old Muret royal family would become the new King of Muret, and coordination with the Arelia royal family would proceed toward independence.

After the rebellion ended this way, the suppression army led by Cecilia withdrew to Saint-Victoire, and the reinforcements from the Kingdom of Edelstein led by Friedrich accompanied them.

This was so they could receive thanks from the Kingdom of Arelia for the rescue. It also served the political purpose of showing the people the armies of Arelia and Edelstein triumphantly returning together, impressing upon society the arrival of a new age in which the two countries cooperated.

The Kingdom of Edelstein's dead in this deployment numbered about fifty. The Ferdinand Regiment had about twenty dead, and there were no casualties among the regiment leaders or among officers and soldiers close to Friedrich.

The Edelstein reinforcements that reached Saint-Victoire rested through the arrangements of the Arelia royal family. Friedrich was welcomed by Samuel at the royal castle and took part in political social occasions such as a dinner banquet.

After those events ended, Friedrich and his men set out on the return journey. They went east from Saint-Victoire and stopped along the way at Toulouse, the capital of the Loire region.

There stood the mansion of House Fargier. In one corner of the mansion was a grave containing the ashes of the family.

"..."

Friedrich offered flowers at that grave. Inside slept the previous Count Fargier, Gilbert, and his wife Felicity, Friedrich's parents by blood.

They were his birth parents, from whom he had unfortunately been separated by death when he was a baby, whose faces and voices he did not know, but who had loved and tried to protect him. He had no memories with them, and it was difficult for him to truly feel and love them as his parents. But he did feel gratitude.

That was why Friedrich wanted at least to visit their grave, offer flowers, and show his gratitude. There was no doubt that the person he was now existed as a result of their protection.

After finishing his quiet prayer, Friedrich stood and turned around.

"Lord Fargier. I thank you once again for giving me this opportunity."

At those words, Cecilia smiled and nodded.

"I am the one who should thank you. I am sure Father and Mother are glad that you came like this and showed them you grew up safely."

Friedrich returned a smile at Cecilia's words, and the two faced the grave. Before the grave beneath a large tree, illuminated by sunlight filtering through the leaves, a comfortable silence flowed. It was time for the four of them as parent and children, the first since Friedrich had been a baby.

"...Then I will go."

"Yes. I will see you to the front of the mansion."

Cecilia said this to Friedrich as he left the grave, and walked beside him.

The two walked without conversation and soon reached the front of the mansion. There, Friedrich mounted his beloved horse.

"Then, Lord Hosenfeld. Take care for the rest of your return journey. And please stay well."

"Thank you. You too, please stay well."

Friedrich was about to leave after saying that, but he turned back once more.

"Sometime, after the situation settles down further, please come to Sankt Waltrude as well. I will welcome you at my mansion."

"...May I?"

"Of course. You are my... sister by blood, after all."

Friedrich said this with a wry smile. From Cecilia's expression, he could tell that she understood it as a gesture of approach.

He faced forward again and this time left the mansion of House Fargier, and Cecilia, behind. He believed that someday, before too long, they would meet again.

......

The reinforcements from the Kingdom of Edelstein left Toulouse, crossed the Beiral Plains within a few days, and returned home.

The noble territorial forces and mercenaries were dismissed at Arnsberg fortress, and the Ferdinand Regiment advanced along the road to the royal capital, Sankt Waltrude. As usual, after about five days, they arrived at their home base, the royal capital.

When they passed through the gate, the cheers of the capital's residents welcomed them. Many people grandly celebrated and praised the triumphant return of the heroic Ferdinand Regiment.

Friedrich and his men passed through the cheers and entered Royal Army Headquarters. Waiting there were the small number of officers and soldiers of the regiment who, for one reason or another, had been unable to accompany the expedition.

At the front was Countess Yurika Hosenfeld, herself a member of the regiment. Friedrich's beloved spouse.

Friedrich ordered the regiment to rest for the time being, then approached Yurika. Yurika also walked toward Friedrich.

The two of them had always spent their days beside each other until now, but this time they had been apart for a long period for the first time, and now they were reunited. Smiles naturally appeared as they looked at each other.

"...I'm home, Yurika."

"Welcome back, Friedrich. I'm glad you're safe."

They suppressed the desire to embrace and, for now, only gently touched each other's hands as they exchanged words. The warmth of her fingers gave Friedrich the feeling that he had returned.

"Nothing changed here either. Cassandra was healthy the whole time. But she cried a few times because she wanted to see her father."

"I see. It seems I made her lonely... Once the postwar work is finished, I will have leave for a while. Let us spend time together as a family."

At Friedrich's words, Yurika nodded too.

This country, House Hosenfeld, and their beloved child. Each of them had protected what they had to protect in their own way. Having fulfilled his vow with Yurika, Friedrich returned like this to peace.

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried