WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: Abood

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◈ Friedrich's Battlefield

Chapter 86: Traces of the Ambush

The forces of the Kingdom of Arelia led by Marquis Robert Montesque had departed from the eastern capital of Toulouse, and were advancing toward the Beiral Plains.

This report, delivered to Arnsberg Fortress, was relayed the same day by messenger hawk to the rear lines, reaching Fort Lyon, located in the southwest of the royal domain.

Fort Lyon served as a key point in the kingdom's western defense. It connected the two western border plains with the royal capital, Sankt Waltrude, functioned as a critical supply hub, and was also home to the Albrecht Regiment. The Ferdinand Regiment, a rapid-response unit, was already stationed there in full readiness.

Now that the enemy’s destination was confirmed as the Beiral Plains, the Ferdinand Regiment departed from Fort Lyon. They were making their way toward Arnsberg Fortress via the southwestern road.

Arnsberg itself was already protected by the Hildegard Regiment and several thousand conscripts. With only about two thousand enemies approaching, there was virtually no chance of the fortress falling. The Ferdinand Regiment's mission was less about engaging in battle and more about showing up as reinforcements to prompt an early and full enemy withdrawal.

In the marching formation, Friedrich was positioned at the rearguard of the command unit, riding alongside Yurika. Just behind them, as usual, was Oliver's detachment.

"It’s kind of rough, isn’t it? The guy’s not young anymore, and here he is out on the borderlands pulling a dull show-of-force mission. Gotta feel for Marquis Montesque, even if he is the enemy."

It was Yarg who said this on horseback during the march.

"Back when I was still a rookie, people were already calling him a seasoned commander. That was over twenty years ago, he’s gotta be an old man by now."

"There probably aren’t many generals the Arelian royal family can rely on, whether in terms of skill or trust. Given that the Edelstein Kingdom has a full lineup of capable commanders, Arelia doesn’t have much choice but to station someone dependable on the border. I do feel bad for Marquis Montesque, but it can’t be helped."

Friedrich responded to Yarg’s comment with a wry smile.

The Kingdom of Arelia had grown through invasions of neighboring nations. Naturally, these conquests were carried out by force. Once the royal family of a targeted country had either been wiped out or brought into submission, their military forces were absorbed into Arelia’s army.

However, while manpower could be gathered, acquiring skilled generals proved far more difficult.

The conquered nations had their share of commanders, but many died in battle while resisting invasion. Others chose to take their own lives rather than serve their conquerors. It’s said that some, unwilling to live under Arelian rule, escaped across the sea alongside remnants of the nobility.

As a result, the number of capable officers Arelia gained from its campaigns was never very high. And even those who survived were still foreigners at heart—less trusted than hereditary Arelian generals. For this reason, the royal family typically stationed them far from their former homelands, assigning them to minor posts such as peacekeeping in the provinces.

There was one exception however, Countess Cecilia Fargiere.

Said to have willingly chosen to serve the Arelian crown, she somehow earned the king’s trust and was appointed a commander in the invasion of the Kingdom of Myurei. She went on to win battle after battle, proving both her loyalty and her capability to the Arelian royal house.

Why had the King of Arelia entrusted her with such a crucial role in the invasion of the Kingdom of Myurei?

There were many theories.

Some said she had given him a reason for her loyalty that earned his trust.

Others whispered cruder rumors that they had become lovers.

Friedrich believed the former.

Now, having become one of the king’s close advisors, Cecilia was focused on the direction of the Kingdom of Novakia.

And while King Kildebert of Arelia had personally led many of his previous campaigns as a general of unmatched ferocity, he could no longer leave the capital to take command on the front lines.

Given that, it was only natural that an important position, staring down the powerful Edelstein Kingdom, and to be given to a long-serving loyalist like Marquis Montesque.

“Typical of a paper empire built on conquest. Aside from their so-called Conqueror King, all they’ve got left are dusty old men and sellout youths from defeated nations.”

“I get where you’re coming from, but be careful how you phrase that once we reach Arnsberg. The Marquis Obsidian isn’t that far off in age from Montesque.”

Yarg waved his hand dismissively at that, as if to say, ‘yeah, yeah, I know.’

But the way he said it, it could easily be taken as calling even Hildegard Regiment Commander Joseph Obsidian an old man past his prime.

“Still, they’re taking forever to meet up, aren’t they?”

“…Yeah. If it’s this late, something unexpected must’ve happened.”

Yurika murmured, and Friedrich agreed.

They had already received a report from Arnsberg Fortress stating that Ambassador Christopher had chosen to remain at the fortress, and that only his family and attendants would be evacuated to the rear.

Their own unit had departed Fort Lyon the morning after receiving that report, and they were expected to reach Arnsberg Fortress by the end of the day.

And yet, they had still not encountered the imperial party that should have been traveling eastward along the same road.

If things had gone according to plan, they should have crossed paths yesterday.

Maybe the ambassador’s family had been delayed in departing Arnsberg for some reason.

Maybe they had stopped somewhere along the way.

Or perhaps there had been trouble with the carriage.

Whatever the case, not even a single messenger had been sent to report the delay.

That, more than anything, was strange.

・・・・・・

While such conversations were happening at the rear, at the head of the formation, Baron Eugen Stamitz, captain of the cavalry battalion, wore a similarly puzzled expression.

“How is it? Can you see anything?”

“…No, sir. Nothing in sight.”

Eugen had just reached the crest of a gentle mountain pass and turned to the young knight beside him, his adjutant. The knight, a full head taller than Eugen, rose slightly in the saddle to peer down the descending road ahead. Still, there was no sign of the imperial party.

“I see. Damn it, makes you wonder why I’m even leading the front right now.”

Normally, when a regiment is on the move, the front of the formation is led by an infantry company captain on horseback.

But this time, Eugen, as commander of the cavalry battalion, was personally leading a small unit at the front. That decision had come from Matthias, who reasoned that if they were going to encounter an imperial marchioness and her daughter, it would be best if someone of appropriate rank made first contact.

“Captain, shall we send out scouts?”

“Yeah… Under normal circumstances, sending scouts out onto a major road inside our own kingdom would be laughable. But given the situation, we don’t have that luxury. Send two riders ahead— No, wait.”

Eugen abruptly cut off his command to the adjutant and spurred his horse forward, riding ahead of the formation. The adjutant immediately followed, pulling on the reins to catch up. A few more riders, acting on their own judgment, followed behind the two.

“…Here. The carriage veered off the road. And the ground around here is strangely disturbed. Something happened.”

The road at this point was flanked on both sides by small woods. The ground had been cleared of weeds and stones, and the soil had been well-packed to prevent wagon ruts or mud.

But now, the tracks of a wagon moving west to east abruptly turned south, cutting into the forest, where no trail existed.

Worse, the ground in that area had been deliberately torn up—as if someone was trying to cover their tracks.

The adjutant dismounted, crouched down, and brushed the disturbed soil. He picked up a clump of dark red earth and brought it close to his face.

“…It’s blood.”

“Captain! Over here!”

Just as the adjutant looked up with a grim expression, a knight who had followed the wagon tracks into the woods called out loudly to Eugen.

“All units halt. Notify Lord Hosenfeld immediately. We’ve found signs of an attack on the road, most likely the imperial party.”

Exercising his authority as the lead officer, Eugen gave the order to halt the column and sent his adjutant running back with the report.

Then, he followed the knight’s voice into the woods.

After pushing through for a short while,

“…What in the…”

Eugen came upon the sight of the imperial carriage, cast aside and hidden among the trees—

—and numerous corpses lying around it.

・・・・・・

The entire Ferdinand Regiment had halted its march. Upon receiving the report, Matthias and his senior officers gathered at the site of the abandoned carriage.

“…It appears the imperial party was ambushed on the road, and the attackers then concealed the evidence in the forest. We’ve found ten bodies here: seven appear to be imperial knights, and the other three are likely attendants. 

In addition, there are three lightly armed infantry in unfamiliar garb, presumably the attackers. There’s no sign of the marchioness or her daughter. We’ve also found several dead horses, but the number doesn’t match up with the knights.”

Eugen, having investigated the surrounding area, reported the findings to Matthias.

“Then we assume the marchioness and her daughter barely escaped the ambush and fled into the woods on foot with the surviving knights?” Romilda offered.

“I’d like to believe that... but we can’t rule out the possibility that they were captured or killed, and their bodies taken away,” Bartolt replied.

It was hard to imagine a noblewoman and her daughter escaping from ambushers capable of killing seven imperial knights. Everyone had the same thought, and the worst began to creep into their minds.

Matthias remained expressionless, but the others were clearly grim.

Just then, one of the soldiers who had gone deeper into the forest to scout returned and saluted in front of Matthias and the others.

“While tracking the footprints, I found this shoe. I believe it may belong to the marchioness. I returned to report immediately.”

The soldier selected for scouting due to his upbringing in a hunter’s family, held out a single shoe. It was clearly for a woman, and judging by its elegant design, it belonged to someone of noble rank. Completely unsuited for walking through a forest.

“Can you tell how many people were fleeing, and how many were pursuing them?”

When Matthias asked, the soldier’s face grew tense.

“It’s difficult, given the season. We’re late into autumn now, and the forest floor is thick with fallen leaves. On top of that, there’s wind today. The gusts keep sweeping fresh leaves over the trail, hiding any traces. Just following a few steps was hard enough. With more time and a careful search, we might learn more.”

“…I see. Good work. Return to your unit for now.”

Dismissing the soldier, Matthias turned to scan the faces of his officers, Friedrich among them.

“We don’t have time to comb over every footprint. We don’t know how many fled or how many gave chase, but we’re moving quickly. Archers will search the forest interior. The cavalry will circle around, exit the forest from the west, and sweep the southern area.”

The officers listened to the orders in silence.

Many of the archers were originally from hunting families. With such men guiding them, searching a small forest wouldn’t pose much difficulty. And cavalry, of course, excelled in mobility which is ideal for sweeping the southern regions beyond the woods once they exited the forest.

“If the marchioness and her daughter escaped with any of their guards, they’ll likely try to reach a settlement. Search the surrounding villages and towns for any sightings. 

There’s a chance the search teams will encounter the attackers, so all units are to move strictly in platoons. The infantry will continue on with me toward Arnsberg Fortress. That is all. Move out.”

The battalion commanders quickly returned to their units to execute the orders.

Meanwhile, Matthias turned toward Friedrich and Gregor.

“Right now, I need as many swift, capable knights as possible. Take the regiment headquarters guard with you and join the cavalry. I’ll request support from Hildegard’s cavalry and join the search shortly after.”

“Yes, sir!”

Standing beside Gregor, Friedrich responded with a salute.

Footnotes: 

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