Chapter 116: Ursula’s Capture part 2
Ursula frowned at the mismatch in tone but seemed to grasp we were prioritizing care. The wounds were properly rinsed. Good. I muttered a fake chant to buy a few seconds, then—
「〈Heal〉」
Warm light wrapped her face. The torn skin knit; broken teeth and a bent nose restored.
「It’s like a gift straight from the goddess.」
Her voice trembled with something like awe.
She’s actually quite pretty, just like she said.
Long black hair, a neat, composed air, and a hard, forceful gaze—triple-sclera eyes that could pin a subordinate in place. She probably knew the power of that stare and favored a slight up-gaze to accentuate it.
Young—around twenty. Older than Ria, younger than Elna. A small mouth; overall a charming impression. Especially that bright cascade of white teeth. I’m honestly glad we’d fixed her face.
「Good. You do have a lovely face. It would’ve been a shame to leave it like that.」
Ria leaned in to take a closer look, apparently thinking the same. Ria’s beauty was classic; Ursula’s had an odd, striking cast—novel, maybe.
「Ria-sama, she’s a prisoner. Please don’t get too close.」
Elna gently reined Ria in.
「My thanks for the treatment, Lord Corinth—if I may call you that.」
She thanked me from beneath those long, fluttering lashes.
「Yes. I’m Alan Corinth—Margrave of the Belta Kingdom and its Lord Protector.」
It felt rude to loom over her, so I helped her sit and set her in the nearest chair.
「I’m resolved. I am Ursula Dopner, Countess of the Cecilio Kingdom. I surrender. Kill me or take me as you please—but spare as many of my soldiers as you can. On those terms I will not resist. I swear on my noble name to cooperate with you. And I am of royal blood. You’d profit more by making me your wife than by slighting me.」
The steel in her voice matched the woman who’d led five hundred cavalry into enemy land. This was the real Ursula.
Even so… do we look like a band of brutes? We have many women in the ranks, and I cleared the men out for her treatment.
I traded looks with Ria and Elna. They felt the same dissonance. Likely a cultural thing in Cecilio.
「Understood, Countess Ursula Dopner. I accept your surrender. As long as you follow instructions, your safety’s guaranteed, and I’ve already offered terms to your troops. A good number laid down arms the moment they heard you were captured. As for your future… we’ll talk it through.」
「My thanks—for accepting our surrender and for showing mercy to my men, Lord Corinth.」
Now that we had her formal surrender, the next order of business was to get her cleaned up and dressed. I excused myself.
The royal soldiers had already been sent ahead to Gantz. Kael had orders to receive them; no one would mistake their uniforms. Time to clear what I could here and now.
「First off—well done.」
I stepped out among the trees to meet Erwin—Artifact in hand. Selena and Sharon, who had guided him in with Gloria, flanked me while the drones oversaw the proceedings from the sky.
「Please confirm.」
Selena took the Artifact from Erwin.
「Selena, let Iris verify. Iris, any issues? Flag anything off.」
「Acknowledged.」
「Selena will take care of the artifact. Let’s talk on our end.」
「Yes—thank you.」
「Erwin, you delivered the Artifact and brought three viscounts over. For the record, Countess Ursula Dopner of Cecilio Kingdom has also just surrendered to me. I’ll credit you for that outcome too.」
Erwin’s smile said he heard me loud and clear. Time to stop treating him like the ‘bug who attacked Selena and Sharon’ and start treating him like a trusted subordinate.
「From here on, you’re formally my men. I swear on my name to protect you and your clan. You’ll get the housing and farmland in Ares I promised—and cash on top. I want you useful going forward. You didn’t just redeem yourselves with the Artifact—you grew our allies. If there’s a boon you want beyond money, name it.」
「If I may—beyond coin, I’d like to request the use of a dragon. Once.」
「Oh?」
「Your return to the capital on dragonback and your persuasion of King Amado… stunned us. In our trade, a move like that is unprecedented; our effectiveness would soar if we could use the sky to move and transmit information. Even now, we were able to wait here for your arrival thanks to the message the dragon brought. I want to execute that sort of stratagem once with my own hands.」
I don’t plan to hand Gloria over for a joyride. She wouldn’t be able to communicate with them anyway.
But we are planning to use wyverns for military purposes. Depending on the numbers we get, they might be better used for espionage than pure military.
「I can’t lend you the dragon. I’m the only one who can communicate with Gloria. But dragons can command wyverns. I’ve been meaning to start a wyvern-taming program. Busy schedule, haven’t gotten to it. Once we locate a promising flock, Gloria will fetch a few. Your clan can handle them. If you can break them, you’ll get your wish. How about I place wyvern husbandry entirely in your hands? I’ll provide land and funds.」
「Truly!?」
「Yes. I needed a manager. Wyverns might pay off more in intelligence than on the battlefield. You already understand their value from that angle—that’s rare. And a clan can share knowledge and grow talent better than an individual. I do want some for military use, though. Once you have numbers, allocate a portion to us.」
「Of course. We’ll treat them as entrusted by Your Excellency. With that knowledge, our clan’s craft will soar and surpass all rivals. Please—entrust the wyverns to us!」
「Iris, any objections?」
「None. Placing a living program with people who value it is safer than training new managers from scratch. We will, however, need to re-choose their housing site if they are to keep wyverns.」
「Then it’s settled. Your clan takes wyverns. That changes where you’ll live—we need an area suitable for husbandry. Until we pick, you’ll stay in town. I’ll grant you a manor—will that do?」
「Gladly.」
He was more excited than I expected. With our support—and with Iris and Gloria—this was doable.
「Selena, any issues with the Artifact?」
「None, Alan. Their work is more than acceptable.」
That last line sounded like Iris speaking through her.
「Good. We’re wrapped here. I’ll pay you after. Stay in Gantz for now. Once your people arrive, move to Ares. With luck, we’ll have the settlement site chosen by then. If you need an escort for the relocation, say the word.」
「At your command.」
「Book a discreet inn; we’ll cover the bill. Or I can have it arranged.」
「We’d rather not draw attention. Please arrange it.」
「Then return to Gantz with us. I’ll give you a letter—take it to the Commercial Guild and ask a woman named Karina to arrange lodging.」
「Is this Karina a relative of yours, Your Excellency?」
I considered. Karina-san treated me well, but she hadn’t sworn to me or anything.
「Let’s say she’s free, but under my protection. Mind your manners. Keep guarding the Artifact.」
「As you command.」
「Selena, Sharon—see Erwin safely in and smooth his path. If a paper or two will help, I’ll write them.」
「Understood.」
Leaving Erwin with them, I returned to the tent—just as one of Ursula’s retainers came out. A taciturn-looking man. Elna’s pick, clearly. She liked steady, unflashy types—occupational hazard of a bodyguard.
「I’m Alan Corinth, Lord Protector. Is your lady well?」
He jumped, nearly dropped to his knees.
「Forgive me, Your Excellency—!」
「No need to kneel. We sprung this on you.」
I watched his face. Plain, yes—but the eyes had edge.
「Your name?」
「Achim, sir.」
「Achim, pardon the interruption. I’ll see your lady now. We’re only discussing next steps. I will not harm her. You have my word.」
Some tension left his shoulders—tone carries a lot.
「Please, I beg you—look after the Princess.」
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