WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: Abood

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Friedrich's Battlefield

Chapter 63: The Consequences of Rebellion (2)

“…So then, Duke Ernst Bachstein. And Prince Konrad Edelstein. How exactly do you plan to turn this around? Do you have some strategy in mind to recover from this?”

Cecilia tilted her head deliberately as she said this, her black hair swaying with the motion. Through the strands of her bangs, her crimson eyes locked onto Ernst and Konrad. A pleasant smile played at her lips, but her eyes held no trace of warmth.

“......”

“In our view, we would like to place our hopes in your strategic brilliance.”

It was Konrad who spoke, stepping in for the silent Ernst.

“My strategic brilliance, you say?”

“Yes. I’ve heard that three years ago, during the conquest of the Kingdom of Myurei, you played a key role by leading your forces with remarkable precision, defeating enemy units one after another. Your reputation as a brilliant tactician was cemented then. With that same talent, we’d like you to crush the enemy forces that have gathered here. If they’re all in one place, that only makes it the perfect opportunity to wipe them out in one stroke. If we seize victory here, there will be nothing left to stop us from advancing all the way to the royal capital.”

Cecilia blinked slightly in surprise as she listened to Konrad’s words.

Then after a short pause, she burst out laughing.

“Pff—hahahaha!”

“…Um, may I ask what you find so amusing?”

“Countess Fargiere. You're standing before His Highness the Prince. That was incredibly disrespectful.”

As Cecilia laughed, clutching her stomach, Konrad looked at her with confusion, while Ernst, unable to stay silent any longer, spoke up in irritation.

“Haha, no, my apologies. It’s just… your response was so utterly reliant on someone else’s efforts, I couldn’t help myself.”

Wiping the tears that had spilled from laughing too hard, Cecilia finally responded. Then, wiping away her laughing expression, she turned a cool gaze on the two men, her smile perfectly composed.

“Let me be perfectly clear. Absolutely out of the question.”

The weight of her words left both Ernst and Konrad momentarily speechless.

“To begin with, the moment you failed to take back Ostburg Fortress, this entire plan collapsed. I’ve just now heard the full account from Knight Celestan regarding how the fortress was lost… and I must say, the commander of your detachment made an astoundingly naive decision. If I had been in command, I would never have allowed a wagon convoy which was arriving unannounced with an enemy force nearby to enter the fortress without first verifying it. An unidentified transport unit like that should have been left outside the gates.”

Still wearing her pleasant smile, Cecilia continued to mercilessly pick apart the failures of the ducal army.

“Even if we generously overlook the loss of the fortress, your actions after that were equally foolish. Duke Bachstein, if I had been in your place, I would never have so recklessly mobilized the main force of your army just to attempt a prisoner rescue. I heard that Knight Celestan advised against it twice, and yet you ignored him and charged ahead anyway?”

“…I believe I already explained my reasoning. Given the nature of my domain's forces, making the choice to abandon the prisoners from the start was—”

“Yes, I understand. I understand that you felt you couldn’t. Which is exactly why, had I been in your position, I would have turned your soldiers’ sense of unity to my advantage.”

Ernst fell silent again, unable to grasp her meaning.

“Ordinary foot soldiers, most of whom lack even basic education, wouldn’t be able to suspect the enemy had set a trap. So I would have formed a small recovery unit consisting of maybe a few dozen men, and sent them in. Let them spring the trap. That way, you suffer minimal losses and still fail to recover the prisoners. Then, you fan the flames of hatred. Tell the soldiers that the enemy laid a cowardly ambush to kill their comrades and block their rescue effort. That way, all their anger would be directed at the enemy, not the ducal house. You would’ve preserved your main army and sacrificed the prisoners cleanly.”

“......”

Ernst and Konrad looked at Cecilia as if they were staring at something terrifying.

“In the same way, you could have stoked the hatred of the common people. Those who had lost friends, loved ones, and family among the dead, and used the preserved manpower of the ducal army’s main force to conscript fresh soldiers from among the population. Even if they were just militia, rallying them under the banner of vengeance would have boosted morale and brought in numbers. They could have become a passable fighting force... That’s what I would have done. But the choices you made were different. So, naturally, the results were different too.”

Cecilia paused there, then made an exaggerated gesture toward the rear, where the camp bustled with soldiers from the Arelian army and various noble domain forces.

“With the units stationed near the Elzass Corridor and the troops originally positioned to defend against Novakia, plus the elite forces I personally brought, we’ve assembled about twenty-five hundred troops.If the ducal army’s main force were still intact, and if you had gathered more men from the local populace, we might have reached a total force of five thousand, perhaps even close to six. The enemy’s estimated numbers are around four thousand. If we had properly used and burned through the militias, our army could have won a decisive battle without suffering significant losses. And if that had been the case, as His Highness said earlier, I would have had reason enough to lead the charge into that decisive battle myself.”

Once more, Cecilia turned back to Ernst and Konrad and gave a tired shake of her head, as if truly disappointed.

“But in this situation, it’s already over. The only reason His Majesty agreed to Duke Bachstein’s proposal in the first place was because the plan promised to subjugate your kingdom with minimal losses. The idea was to infiltrate a large force without alerting the Edelstein royal family, then advance straight to the undefended royal capital and castle and seize control in one swift move. Now that this plan has collapsed, there’s no longer any point in risking a pitched battle under unfavorable conditions. They call me a strategist, yes. But I’m no magician who can guarantee a miraculous turnaround. Why should I risk heavy casualties just to clean up after your blunders?”

“...Then your country intends to withdraw from this war?”

“Correct. I’ve been entrusted with the authority to make that decision by His Majesty himself. Duke Bachstein. Prince Konrad. I regret to say this, but your plan ends here. Your ability to persuade my king to agree to a plan that would have made the Edelstein Kingdom a vassal with minimal bloodshed was impressive, but in terms of war... you’ve been a disappointment.”

Ernst and Konrad exchanged glances at Cecilia’s words. Ernst gave a small shake of his head, while Konrad cast his eyes downward, frustration clear on his face.

Then, Ernst fixed Cecilia with a hard glare.

“If your people intend to withdraw, then so be it. We don’t have the power to stop you, or force your hand.”

“I’m relieved you understand. Incidentally, if it’s just the two of you, we may still consider granting you asylum in our country.

Once His Majesty ultimately claims victory over Edelstein, Prince Konrad could return as Governor-General serving in His Majesty’s name... and you, Duke Bachstein, could return at his side as his aide. What do you say?”

When Cecilia made her offer with a testing smile, the two men exchanged glances once more. This time, it was Konrad who spoke.

“We appreciate the offer… but we must decline.”

“...And yet, if you stay, won’t that mean certain death?”

Cecilia raised a single eyebrow and tilted her head, feigning innocence.

“Yes. You’re likely right, but when we took these actions, we did so fully prepared to die if we failed. What I sought was not mere wealth or influence, it was the Edelstein crown itself. Returning later, after this kingdom has fallen and become just another province under Arelia, only to serve as its administrator... that would mean nothing to me.”

Ernst then followed.

“And I am the head of House Bachstein. I made the decision to raise our banner in rebellion against the crown, dragging not just my retainers, but the entire army and citizenry of my domain into this. There is no world in which I could abandon all that and flee alone. If we are defeated, then as the head of my house, I must take responsibility for my actions. Besides... if I were to run now to save my own skin, I would taint the very ideals I claimed to stand for. I rose for the pride of the Lutetians, and if that’s what I stood for, then I must remain a proud Lutetian to the bitter end.”

Hearing their words, a flicker of softness passed through Cecilia’s expression.

“Truly admirable resolve, the both of you... Very well. In that case, this is where we part ways.”

Cecilia extended her hand, and the two men showed a brief look of surprise before responding. Konrad and Ernst each shook her hand.

“Celestan, order the entire army to prepare for retreat. Pack up the tents, gather the supplies, and seize all the materials stockpiled in this city.”

“Understood.”

Cecilia commanded the knight Celestan standing beside her. Upon hearing this, Konrad and Ernst’s eyes widened in shock.

“What did you say!?”

“What do you mean by that!?”

Despite their outbursts, Cecilia did not flinch. She turned back to them with a confident smile.

“If there’s something right in front of us to take, there’s no reason not to take it.”

“But those supplies were meant to be consumed during the advance on the royal capital. They are not to be handed over to those retreating to the Kingdom of Arelia!”

“I understand what you mean... but mobilizing 2,500 soldiers requires a considerable cost. Besides the forces here, units are being prepared back home for further reinforcements, and mercenaries and conscripts hastily summoned to reinforce the now-thinned Novakian border also require maintenance funds. Since these come from the people’s taxes, we must recover as much as possible.”

Cecilia paused her words, then showed a calm and friendly smile unlike any other.

“If that is something you find unacceptable, will you resist? If you intend to challenge us with fewer than three hundred troops of the Bachstein Duchy, that is your choice. Please, by all means, give it a try.”

“......”

Konrad and Ernst had no words to reply. Both understood in their minds that there was no way to stop the Arelian forces no matter what they did.

“Ah, I’ve thought of something good. Celestan, also have the troops retrieve anything valuable from the Bachstein family castle. The duchy will almost certainly be dissolved. They no longer need their assets. Rather than letting the Edelstein royal family seize them, it’s better for our army to take possession.”

“That is a wise idea, Your Grace. I will immediately order the units stationed at the castle and send reinforcements... By the way, I have one suggestion as well.”

“What is it? Please, do tell.”

“To deliver a further blow to the Edelstein royal family, how about burning as much farmland as possible within the duchy? Since many troops will be tied up preparing for retreat and seizing supplies, the personnel we can spare will be limited, but—”

“That’s an excellent idea. It’s currently the season when the autumn-sown wheat is ripe. It will surely burn well. If we burn the duchy’s farmland which is also the royal family’s granary, we can inflict maximum damage with minimal manpower. Proceed with that.”

“Understood, Your Grace.”

Before the flustered Konrad and dumbfounded Ernst, Cecilia and her group proceeded with their plans.

“Then, Prince Konrad, Duke Ernst Bachstein. We have work to attend to, so please excuse us.”

Cecilia gave an elegant bow and left, taking Knight Celestan with her.

Ernst instinctively reached for the sword at his waist as he glared at her departing back, but when the knights surrounding Cecilia showed signs of resistance, he reluctantly withdrew his hand from the hilt.

“Ernst…”

“...My deepest apologies, Your Highness. I was unable to offer you the throne.”

Ernst groaned with a trace of frustration.

In response, Konrad shook his head gently, a calm smile on his face.

“There’s no need to apologize. You did well. I... I am grateful to you.”

Hearing that, Ernst raised his head and met Konrad’s gaze.

“Ending one’s life without any challenge is far worse than ending it having failed while pursuing one’s ambitions. That’s what I believe. Without you, I wouldn’t have even dared to challenge. Thank you, Ernst.”

“...Those are too generous words, Your Highness.”

Ernst bowed quietly, and Konrad placed a hand on his shoulder.

“You are the head of the duchy. It will take time to settle your affairs. Once that is done... let us surrender together to my sister’s forces.”

Footnotes:

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