WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS
Translator: Abood
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Friedrich's Battlefield
Chapter 70: A Certain Girl’s Vengeance (1)
Some time had passed since the withdrawal from the Bachstein Duchy. Cecilia Fargiere traveled from her stronghold in the eastern capital, Toulouse, to the royal capital of the Kingdom of Arelia, Saint-Victoire.
Saint-Victoire served as the kingdom’s heart, as it is situated near the center of what was once the Kingdom of Arelia’s territory, and now lies somewhat westward within its current borders. With Arelia’s expanding power, its population had continued to grow steadily, and it was already said to be nearing a hundred thousand.
South of this thriving city stood the royal castle, residence of the Arelian royal family. Befitting the home of a great nation’s rulers, its walls and halls were still undergoing expansion. Cecilia entered the castle, accompanied by Knight Celestan.
“Lady Fargiere. We’ve been expecting you.”
“…Why, if it isn’t Prince Emmanuel.”
Greeting her was Prince Emmanuel Arelia, the king’s younger brother and current chancellor, a position created to govern the expanding Arelian Kingdom. Cecilia’s eyes widened slightly at the sight of him.
“Your Highness has come personally to greet someone like me?”
“You are the cornerstone of the Arelian army in the east and the individual His Majesty is watching most closely. It’s only proper that the royal family welcomes you with due courtesy… Besides, while I do serve as chancellor, I’m not so busy when it comes to day-to-day work. Once I lay down the broader direction, the capable bureaucrats take care of the rest. It’s more or less an honorary position His Majesty appointed me to.”
Though Emmanuel spoke with a gentle expression, he was no ordinary man.
His build was slender, and he wasn’t particularly tall. Cecilia had heard that he had been sickly as a child. Yet he was renowned for his brilliance, particularly in the realm of domestic affairs, where he had demonstrated considerable ability.
He was the one who devised and implemented the policy of creating a divide between the former ruling classes and the populace in the conquered nations, concentrating wealth in the capital. That system of governance had originated with none other than Emmanuel himself.
“Now then, let us go. The arrangements for the meeting are complete.”
With only brief pleasantries exchanged, Cecilia followed Emmanuel as he guided her.
Their destination was the most prestigious of the rooms used by the king for audiences with his vassals. Cecilia, having been shown in ahead of time to wait, rose to her feet when her liege arrived shortly after. She went down on one knee in accordance with noble protocol.
“Your Majesty. Cecilia Fargiere, Countess of Fargiere, has come at your command.”
“Well done, Lady Fargiere. There’s no need for such stiff formality. You may raise your head.”
With permission granted, Cecilia looked up at her current sovereign.
King Childebert Arelia of the Kingdom of Arelia. Even past the age of forty, he retained the powerful physique of his youth, now clad in resplendent garments befitting the ruler of a vast kingdom. With the presence of a true conqueror, he looked down upon Cecilia.
“I have read the report. You’ve done well this time... It seems it was quite difficult as well.”
There was no trace of anger on Childebert's face as he began to speak, but there was a touch of irony in both his smile and his words.
“It is deeply regrettable that I have once again failed to carry out the invasion of the Kingdom of Edelstein and have caused Your Majesty distress. I have no excuse.”
Cecilia responded with an unusually solemn expression, bowing her head.
The battle on the northern plains last year had been, without room for denial, a defeat for the Kingdom of Arelia. It was King Childebert who had approved the strategy Cecilia had proposed, but the blame for a loss on the battlefield still fell upon the commander.
And now, this most recent incursion through the Duchy of Bachstein. The responsibility for the failed plan lay with Duke Ernst Bachstein, but it was Cecilia who had passed the plan on to Childebert, deeming it promising enough to warrant royal attention.
There would inevitably be those who now saw Cecilia as a general who had suffered two consecutive defeats. She had no grounds to object to Childebert’s irony.
“Have you heard how things ended on the Edelstein side?”
“Yes. I have been informed that all of the main conspirators were executed by beheading. It is said that King Sigismund Edelstein himself stood before the people and personally beheaded Prince Konrad.”
“So it seems. With a display of composure and dignity, Sigismund proved his authority remains intact, and by judging even his own son with unwavering severity, he preserved the prestige of both himself and the royal house. To resolve the entire affair through sheer presentation… one has to admit, it’s impressive. Having such a wise enemy monarch is truly a nuisance. If only he’d just keel over already, it would make things so much easier.”
Childebert said with a smile.
The reputation of Sigismund Edelstein was higher even compared to the rulers of the countries conquered by the Kingdom of Arelia so far. And now, the Edelstein Kingdom under his rule stood as the most troublesome enemy Childebert had ever faced.
That was why Childebert had agreed to the Duke of Bachstein’s proposal. The plan was to use the duke’s family to replace King Edelstein’s head with a puppet controlled by them, to make the king subordinate for the time being, and then eventually seize the entire kingdom. However, even that plan had failed.
“Now I’ve come to realize once again, the Edelstein Kingdom is formidable. Their military system is refined, their officers and soldiers strong, and the Crown Princess was quick to muster troops. On top of that, Sigismund is still alive… Even if we use similar tactics as before, it won’t be easy to break them. It’s best to build up strength, prepare thoroughly, and achieve victory head-on. What do you think?”
“Your Majesty’s words are precisely correct.”
Since voicing any objection here would only weaken her position and worsen the king’s impression of her, Cecillia gave a safe, agreeable response.
“I see. Then, for now, we shall reset and start anew. Count Fargiere, I order you to conquer the Kingdom of Novakia. Regarding the Edelstein Kingdom, maintain the current state until the appropriate time.”
For the first time, a trace of emotion appeared on Cecillia’s face. A mixture of frustration and impatience.
Seeing that, Childebert raised an eyebrow in amusement.
“You seem dissatisfied.”
“N-no, I would never be dissatisfied with an order from Your Majesty.”
Childebert didn’t seem to believe Cecillia’s words, but he showed no sign of offense.
“I understand what you desire. But the Arelia royal family has its own circumstances. Support for the royal house and my path of conquest both depend on victory. Do you understand what that means?”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
The peace of the nation cannot be maintained by the royal family alone. It is inevitably influenced by the feelings of nobles and commoners living there. Just as Sigismund had to appear in the public eye to maintain the prestige of the Edelstein royal family, Childebert too has a dignity he must protect.
Currently, the military power and Childebert’s ambitious vision uphold the Arelia royal family’s influence. Supporting them are hawkish nobles who welcome the kingdom’s expansion. This structure naturally formed over the aggressive expansion from the previous king’s era onward.
These hawks serve as a reliable backing as long as they are obeyed, but to keep their loyalty, they must be given what they want.
Namely, the victories of the Arelia royal family. They must continue to take pride in serving a victorious and strong monarch, and they must be satisfied.
To maintain this backing, the Arelia royal family cannot afford to show weakness. That is why, soon after conquering the Kingdom of Myurei, they acted again and further displayed their territorial ambitions toward the east.
Once action is taken, results must be shown. If within a few years neither the Edelstein Kingdom nor the Novakia Kingdom is conquered, Childebert will be seen as having lost momentum, will be looked down upon by the hawkish nobles, and his authority will waver.
Given the recent consecutive failures in the strategy to conquer the Edelstein Kingdom, further failure must be avoided. Putting genuine effort into conquering the weaker Novakia Kingdom first is a reasonable course of action.
As the one responsible for this situation, Cecillia has no grounds to object.
“Take Novakia, then focus on the conquest of Edelstein. Plan accordingly on that premise. If you do, the opportunity to avenge your family’s enemies will surely come again.”
“I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s mercy. Next time, I will surely bring you a great victory.”
Bowing respectfully, Cecillia received a nod from Childebert.
“That will do. I believe you will meet my expectations—to rule the entire Ludna continent. For that, your talent is necessary. If I am to continue favoring you in front of the other nobles, you must keep demonstrating achievements worthy of it, Cecillia.”
The Ludna continent—to bring all of it under the Arelia royal family’s control. Childebert truly harbored such an ambition.
Footnotes:
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