Chapter 115: Ursula’s Pursuit part 2
Ursula’s head cleared. She weighed the board. Lord Corinth’s power was real. Could the Cecilio Kingdom beat him at full tilt?
Unlikely.
As Lord Protector he could call up the border lords to counter any Cecilio thrust. Add to that the invisible hand that had plucked her out and smashed her center of gravity—she saw no path to victory. Prince Rouge talked a big rearmament for conquest, but nobody said he had real combat chops. One-on-one, he couldn’t stand to this man.
Then I do the obvious: join the stronger side.
Her royal blood had value. Her lands lay close to Gantz. And she’d always loathed Rouge. Lord Corinth was considerably young for his position, true—but if you wanted a capable hero, younger was often better.
「I’d like one of my men brought here. If they see me well, they’ll calm down.」
Ria nodded. 「Elna, fetch one of her officers. Someone steady.」
So Ria carries real weight among them, Ursula noted.
「Princess! I am delighted to see that you are well!」
The man they brought before Ursula was Achim, an old retainer—harmless at a glance, loyal to the bone, not the clever sort. In this moment, that kind of plain man reassured more than a sharp one. Ursula took the chair and faced him across the table.
「Achim, I’m fine. Tell them all that. My face is healed—thanks to their magic. I’m being treated well. For my sake, tell everyone to stand down. And make sure Roberta doesn’t do anything foolish.」
「Y-Yes, my lady. Right away.」
Anything else?
She chose her dagger.
「Achim—tell them this too: I’ll live under Lord Corinth’s protection and lean on his mercy.」
Achim startled, then nodded hard.
「As you command.」
‘Live under my protection and lean on my mercy’—Rouge’s favorite line for breaking women; his last warning before cruelty. Ursula loathed it, and her people knew it. Use that phrase here and every retainer would hear the message: I’m done with Rouge. I’m choosing Lord Corinth—for real. It also floated the possibility of marriage. From here on, her men would rub less raw against Corinth’s.
Achim left. Lord Corinth stepped in as if he’d been waiting outside to give her privacy.
Arrogant on the field; polite in private, she adjusted her impression. A man with manners could be reasoned with. Hope edged in.
「All right, Countess Ursula Dopner. Have you settled yourself?」
「I am. Thank you.」
He took the chair across from her.
「Then tell me why troops of the Cecilio Kingdom were attacking the royal garrison guarding King Amado’s gold mine on Belta soil.」
Ursula told it straight. Her territory lay close enough to reach Belta quickly by cutting through unclaimed wilds. Prince Rouge had tasked her with scouting the frontier and laying groundwork for an invasion. He’d also told her the mine held an Artifact. When word of turmoil happening around Gantz arrived, she gambled: border watch would be thin—time to snatch the prize.
「How did word of the turmoil in Gantz reach you?」
「The Commercial Guild’s network doesn’t cover just Belta—it blankets the continent. It’s common for staff to bring notable news to nearby lords. You grease those palms in advance.」
Lord Corinth nodded in understanding. 「Go on.」
She’d sent an advance party and led the main body herself to be sure. The mine was already empty. She then decided to take the Artifact anyway—as her way out from under Rouge.
「Hold up. What are you to Crown Prince Rouge? You sounded… familiar earlier.」
「By blood we’re cousins. Close kin. My claim of royal blood isn’t a lie. My father was a royal brother ennobled as the border earl; I’m his daughter and sole heir. But Rouge is a man who assumes everything bends to his will. He is next in line; I cannot ignore his orders. Since my parents’ deaths, I’ve been used as a convenient piece. Every time he speaks to me, my stomach turns.」
「Got it. So how does the Artifact let you cut loose?」
「The Guinea Alchemin is the very proof of a state. Joined to royal blood it legitimizes rule. In other words: if I, of royal blood, hold the Guinea Alchemin, any powerful man who marries me gains the right to call himself king. Upheaval at my choosing. It means I choose my partner freely.」
「So you want Cecilio Kingdom’s throne? Or are you eyeing Belta too?」
「Even with royal blood and the Guinea Alchemin, my position is worse than Rouge’s within Cecilio. It would be hard to gather enough support there. Thus I judged it best to ally with a suitable power within Belta. The threat of Cecilio’s invasion is real—I am a living witness. If I lend my hand to a Belta lord who opposes Cecilio, we can field a force to stand against Rouge.」
「Understood. You’re looking for a partner in Belta.」
「No—I’m looking for a husband who will make me queen. Take me, and with luck you’ll take Belta and Cecilio.」
Lord Corinth folded his arms and thought. Ursula began to worry. She had expected a quick yes from such an ambitious man. She was beautiful and royal; she wasn’t used to hearing no.
「Sorry for the wait.」
At that moment, two girls entered the tent—mirror images—twins, probably. Ursula had never seen two people so similar to each other, and they were beautiful to boot—gold hair, blue eyes, young and luminous. Ursula’s confidence flickered. Ria was stunning too. From her look, she’d just realized barging into this harem would take work.
「I can accept you having multiple wives, Lord Corinth,」 Ursula offered, hedging fast.
「Ursula, which do you want—freedom from Prince Rouge, or to be queen? If it’s the former, we can work together. If the latter, we have a problem.」
So—the queen’s seat was spoken for, or he wouldn’t break faith with his king to hand it out. Either way, Ria let out a tiny breath beside Elna.
「My wish is the former. Becoming queen is only a means to break from Rouge. But to confront Rouge, I must become a ruler; and to become a ruler, the latter becomes necessary—my blood’s legitimacy, that is.」
「Understood. I more or less understand your situation. If you join me, I can grant you and your people protection.」
「I recognize your ability, Lord Corinth. I don’t understand, though, why you won’t take the short road if it’s right there. Is there some obstacle to our marriage?」
Ria stirred, caught herself when Elna touched her elbow. So, Ursula judged, Ria is close to his wife in all but name. Decorum says don’t talk marriage over the wife’s shoulder.
「We have a plan. I won’t lay all of it out to someone who isn’t yet an ally.」
「Fair.」
Ria finally stepped in. 「Alan, do we need her?」
It was a clean question—one Ursula clearly wanted answered.
「Ria, we’re still short on people, desperately so. We know we can’t coexist with Crown Prince Rouge. And it doesn’t seem she’s lying. A high-born who knows Rouge from the inside and wants out? That’s useful. Her soldiers are disciplined and loyal. I like partnering with people like that.」
「You’re right… and I don’t think she lied,」 Ria said, voice trailing off—not over strategy, but the marriage angle.
Ursula raised her chin. 「Then what about this? We join hands. Lord Corinth protects me from Rouge and other threats. I become your comrade—no, I take shelter under you and swear loyalty. Marriage can wait until it’s necessary. If you require it, I will comply. Let’s keep the option open so when we need that move, we can make it.」
Ria started to speak; Elna squeezed her arm again. She subsided.
「All right. Our aim isn’t merely the unification of Belta. We intend to subdue Cecilio as well. If you’ll lend us your strength without stint, I’ll grant you protection. One condition: you and your people relocate to Ares—the city we’ve built in the Great Demon Forest. So long as you remain in Cecilio, even I can’t promise to shield you.」
「The Great Demon Forest… troublesome, but better than living under Rouge’s nose. My people must not starve. When you conquer Cecilio, you’ll help rebuild my lands. On those terms, I’ll obey.」
「Done.」
Lord Corinth offered his hand.
「What is that?」
「A custom from my homeland. When you swear an oath, you clasp hands.」
「Then let this be the sign—we’re joined.」
Lord Corinth and Ursula clasped hands.
「On my honor, I grant protection to my loyal ally, Countess Ursula Dopner, and to her people.」
She answered without hesitation. 「And I swear to Goddess Luminas that I shall not betray Lord Corinth, but serve faithfully beneath his protection.」
Light flared along Ursula’s skin as she swore. Ria, Elna, Serena, and Sharon watched, expressions… complicated.
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