3 bar menu

Volume 3 Chapter 2 Part 3

Serge raised a surprised voice.

「I want to force the agitated Falvis and Clovis to reveal their true intentions. If the rulers of Falvis and Clovis are going to be against us, then we can subjugate them, and if it turns out that the are going to be on the same side as the Fantasia Union, then we can simply invite them to the Lord’s Conference with us. 」

Because if they are are going to participate in the Lord’s Conference of the Fantasia Union, they will never be able to go back to the Factory Alliance.

「And what are you going to do if it turns out that they will not be willing to cooperate or bow down to the Fantasia Union? 」

Milza asked with a grin.

「Then we will have no choice but to take their Crests and their territories from them by force. 」

Siluca answered calmly.

「Since the enemy is still in a state of unrest, then we should be able to settle things in a few days. Above all, if we pass through Falvis and Clovis, we can go to Halusia without having to resort to the dangerous sea route. 」

「So you mean you choose to fight rather than go by sea? 」

Edokia said in amazement.

「I hate ships, if I am to be honest. They rock, they get wet, and they sink. 」

Siluca said while smiling brightly.

「If Falvis and Clovis become territories allied with the Fantasia Union, then Vultava, Ozer and others will surely follow suit. And if this region unites as one, it will become the largest force on the continent. 」

Hearing Siluca’s words, all the Lords turned their gazes to Vilar all at once.

「Lord Vilar, could it be… could it be that you are aiming to become Emperor?! 」

Solon asked without beating around the bush.

「Of course not. I simply do not wish to see Artuk being destroyed by Waldrind, but in order to ensure its safety, I cannot focus only on defending it. 」

Villar tapped his finger on the round table that all the Lords were sitting at.

「I do not know what the outcome of that will be… 」

Solon quietly closed his eyes.

「… but this is surely going to be a spectacle of grand proportions. 」

Siluca secretly hoped that this situation would not turn out to be like one of Solon’s plays, in which the tragedy that befalls the characters was nothing but a pretext to liberate them from reality so that they could venture into the ideal world.

「I understand. In that case, I guess I will simply have to invite everyone to my Palace on another occasion. 」

The Immoral Queen said while flashing everyone with a girlish smile.

「If that is what brother’s decision is going to be, then I will obey it unconditionally. 」

The Count of Regalia had an expression as if nothing had happened.

「I guess I cannot have any objections about it either. 」

Lasik murmured with satisfaction.

「Thank you very much for agreeing with me. 」

Vilar bowed lightly to the other Lords.
「If everything has been decided, then let us go and take the countries of Falvis and Clovis together with us as presents for the Lord’s Conference. 」

* * *
March 27, 2013 of the Continental Callendar.

After joining together into a single army in Selvis at the castle belonging to Lassic David, Artuk and its neighboring countries began marching towards Clovis and Falvis. Prior to the march of te giant army that counted up to thirty thousand soldiers in total, messengers were sent to the Kings of Falvis and Clovis, demanding the two rulers to join the Fantasia Union as well. However, at the current moment, neither of the two kinds have yet to send an official reply to the demand.

「I guess they must be pretty confused as to what this is all about. 」

When the report from the Mage who has been dispatched as a messenger was conveyed to him, Vilar Constance, the Earl of Artuk laughed coldly while advancing his horse forward.

「I think so too. 」

Laura, the Head Mage who was riding her own horse right next to Vilar nodded her head affirmatively. Siluca, who followed with Theo behind them, had the same idea.

(They probably do not wish to fight us, but at the same time they must be too afraid to actually go and break away from the Factory Alliance.)

The Lords of Falvis and Clovis were all conquered and made a part of the Factory Alliance by Waldrind during the time of Jurgen Kraische’s reign. Together with Selvis, they were once all united under one ruler, so whenever the invasions have come knocking at their doors, the independent Lords united in order to resist the threat presented by the foreign enemies, battles against whom were always hard and especially gruesome.

Forty years have passed since then, but the memories of that battle are still being handed down to the new generation of people in both kingdoms in order to keep the memories alive, which made the regions of Falvis and Clovis into the ones that know more about the terror that can be brought about by the Heavy Knights of Waldrind than anyone else.

Even when the head of the Kraische family changed from Matthias to Jurgen, the Lords of the three countries have chosen subordination first and foremost, thinking that this is going to be the best possible option for them. After 「The Tragedy of the Grand Cathedral」all of them have become independent, but deep down in their hearts they all knew that they will have to eventually submit themselves to Marine Kraische. Even after Waldrind was defeated by Artuk in the battle of Selvis, the Heavy Knights of Waldrind, who are said to be the strongest on the entire continent, were still alive and well.

Moreover, alliances are tolerant when the enemy surrenders, but they are severe if a Lord to whom they belonged has defected from their ranks once already, so it is really a small wonder that they were now being as cautious as they could possibly be.

「Be that as it may, the deadline that we have given them for answering our demands has passed, and we cannot allow ourselves to go any easier on them than we already did. 」

When Vilar said so, he raised his right hand to signal his forces to halt their advance, and then he gathered the main Lords from the army around him.

When the Lords were finally all together, Laura brushed off her beautiful blonde hair aside and stepped forward.

「The plan of action is going to be as follows: Lord Lassic is going to invade Falvis together with his forces, and the main force og the joint army is going to be focusing on invading Clovis, as it was decided during yesterday’s war council. The purpose of the both invasions that we are going to be conducting now is to establish what are the true intentions of the rulers of Falvis and Clovis. If they announce that they wish to stay with the Factory Alliance, then we are going to fight them, and if they decide to join our side, then we will settle the matter diplomatically. Should we encounter any of the independent Lords of Falvis and Clovis wishing to join us, they should be included into the army’s main force effective immediately. 」

At Laura’s words, the gathered monarchs silently nodded in agreement.

「Theo and Siluca, please act together with Lord Lassic in this battle. 」

Vilar turned to Theo and issued his orders for him and Siluca.

「Understood. 」

Theo bowed respectfully.

Although Lassic is entrusted with capturing Falvis, his forces are overwhelmingly small compared to the main force heading for Clovis. That is why Theo and Siluca were supposed to go with Lassic, to act as a boost for his troops. Vilar must have predicted that Theo’s presence would be enough to increase the morale of both the current King of Selvis and his men, and that is why he gave them this assignment.
「Is it okay if I go with Lassic too? It smells more like war where he is going. 」

Milza made an offer to Vilar.

「Do as you please. 」

Vilar simply laughed and nodded.

(Ugh, again!)

In her mind, Siluca was disgusted at Milza’s attitude, but other than that, she had no reason to object him doing whatever he wanted.

「Are you going to go with your soldiers? 」

Lassic asked the prince of Dartania.

「No, I will be the only one coming with you, but rest assured that I am going to claim at least one of the castles we are going to encounter along the way for myself. 」