During that time, there was a group proceeding south through the forest towards Apta.

They were a band of men on horseback. They all leaned over their horses, riding at a tremendous speed that cut through the wind.

Their numbers were probably over three hundred. Riding their horses at night, and what was more through the forest, it would be an impossible feat had they not been familiar with the terrain. ‘They’ had determined their route beforehand, even taking the time to chop down the obstructing trees in hopes that this moment would come.

“Yah!”

“Se!”

They wordlessly sped forward, only raising their voices so as to urge their horses on. The horses’ muscles pulsated and each time their backs bobbed up and down, the long-swords and spears hanging from their waists and placed onthe horses’ saddles struck their own armours with a ringing clang.

“Mmh?”

The rider in front suddenly lifted his lantern.

“Stop.”

Raising his voice, he pulled on his reins.

They were in an opening of trees that spread to open a circular plain. There, likewise hoisting their lamps upwards and standing in wait were several men. They were covered in hoods, and their real ident.i.ties were insurmisable from their attire.

“Who are you?” the leading horseman asked.

The men behind him brought their spears and guns to their hands. For a while, the horses’ rough breaths jarred their ears. And then,

“You are all Garberans, are you not?”

“What?!”

The group of hors.e.m.e.n grew agitated at suddenly being recognised. The leading man—Noue Salzantes—waved his hand and restrained their outbursts.

“And you men would be?”

“Salzantes-dono, we have been awaiting you,” one of the waiting men said, ignoring the question. “We expect you to understand our business here.”

“—”

Noue did not speak. His face was far superior to the average beauty's, his lips slightly pursed, and his expression emotionless. Lit dimly under the cover of the night, his appearance emitted an uncanny eeriness.

“Our respective enemies are one and the same.” The hooded man said in an emotionless voice. “If you would, allow us to accompany you.”

Riding the tide of pursuit, soldiers rushed out of Apta Fortress in succession.

Gunfire rained down furiously from the airs.h.i.+ps and battlements.

“Retreat to the forest! Then they won’t be able use their airs.h.i.+ps!”

While having his gunners provide cover, Natokk gradually pulled his troops back. The enemy infantry seemed to have their share of impressive warriors, though sadly they didn’t seem too familiar with working together. Engaging them while retreating didn’t prove difficult.

Mephius’ first prince, Gil Mephius—was it.

Natokk conjured the name of the enemy commander. A man whose name had recently spread across the four directions. But in a free-for-all fight, this was all he lived up to be. In the end he was nothing more than a sheltered, spoiled child. Compared to that, Natokk had countlessly roamed the battlefield. The number of life-or-death battles they each experienced were different.

As swords mingled with spears, blood shed, and bullets bored holes into the ground, the enemy forces pushed forward. So far everything was perfectly according to plan.

And then,

They’ve come.

Natokk’s expression turned to delight. Cries resounded north of Apta. The secondary force that had detoured north of Apta had finally begun the pincer attack. Drunk in conviction of their victory, he began to signal for a counterattack with a large swing of his hand.

“What?!”

It was only a matter of seconds before his delight became a shade of unrest.

From the north along the castle walls, a group of cavalry came riding. They were no ally of Natokk. The hoisted flag they were waving was, to think of all things, the Garberan emblem. They pa.s.sed the Mephius infantry, charging Natokk’s way. He went into a panic.

Impossible! Weren’t they supposed to have evacuated the day before yesterday?!

“Retreat!”

This was no time to get fl.u.s.tered. If they entered the forest, they could slow the airs.h.i.+ps and horses’ pursuit. Natokk’s main force, even under this situation, worked together and continued retreating to the forest. The Mephian infantry were hot on their heels.

“Commander, leave this to us.”

Several soldiers shouted determinedly and moved to block the enemy’s pursuit. A series of clashes rang immediately near Natokk. Biting his lips, he ordered the remaining soldiers to retreat.

I would’ve never thought they were in league with Garbera to this extent.

Mephius and Garbera had been warring for ten years. They may have been weary of war and thus formed an alliance, but their ties should have been anything but firm. To think that they would purposely make themselves seemingly withdraw and lay low. I was read, Natokk thought, grinding his teeth. That thought now materialised before his eyes.

“Halt!”

This time was an ambush in Natokk’s path of retreat. A party of gunners on high ground stood in a row, fixing their aim. The one who called them to halt was a man wearing an iron mask.

“Your reinforcements won’t come. We’ve shot down your cruiser. It seems they ran for their dear lives back to Taúlia, but it’s clear they won’t afford any soldiers for you.”

Natokk began to open his mouth, as if about to scream something. His aide, Shadam, took out his gun and began to aim at the masked man, as if lured by his commander’s force. The one to lower that hand, however, was Natokk himself.

“Commander!”

“—Leave it. His words aren’t lies.”

By knowing about the cruiser and the secondary force, the enemy had completely grasped their movements. Despite Natokk being completely convinced of his victory only a few minutes ago, he now felt like a trapped rat.

“We intended to snare the enemy into our trap—”

But instead, they were the ones snared before their very eyes. Natokk threw down his own weapons, and then spoke.

“I won’t ask anything for myself, who proclaimed war with you and advanced my troops against yours. I’m not asking much, but if you could, please be easy on my men.”

“Very well.”

The masked man nodded in a.s.sent.

Orba watched silently below him as the Zerdians who had surrendered their weapons were arrested. The one for whom everything had gone according to plan was not to them, but Orba.

At that time, an airs.h.i.+p carrying the Imperial Guard Gowen came. He was the one who handled the enemies approaching the east gate. Jumping down from the s.h.i.+p,

“It went as you predicted.”

“Yeah. A surprise attack immediately after Garbera had evacuated is the ideal timing. On the other hand, if they hadn’t come here, it would make the rumour that Ax Bazgan was aiming for Apta groundless.”

“So you read beyond the enemy’s reinforcements and strategy, huh.”

After a.n.a.lysing the information he gained from Zaj Haman, Orba predicted that if the enemy were to come attacking, it would be by pa.s.sing through the southern Tsaga Mines. They would undoubtedly load soldiers onto their cruiser and drop them by the forest to the south of Apta.

Orba had Krau and Pas.h.i.+r, who were familiar with its geographical features, re-inspect the area and create a detailed map. He had originally planned to lay the majority of his forces there in wait, but on the off chance the enemy advanced through a different route, the fortress would be wide open, not to mention there were no suitable places to lay such a large army in wait to start with.

So instead, with Orba himself in command, he left only a few dozen skilled shooters there. Using an airs.h.i.+p as messenger, Orba discovered the enemy was carrying soldiers with only a single cruiser; however, the enemy numbers were insufficient.

They’re going to carry soldiers here a second time.

Which in that case, naturally meant he could see through the enemy’s strategy. Orba gave them their instructions for the timing at which to shoot down the second transport.

Aiming for the the airs.h.i.+p silently traveling through the deep gorge, they bathed it in a furious volley on Orba’s single command. There was only a single location they could set their cannons, but the s.h.i.+p's armour would suredly need to be thinned to fully accommodate a cruiser filled with soldiers that could maintain the s.h.i.+p's weight and ether propulsion balanced. While it was indeed a large s.h.i.+p, at point-blank even bullets were effective.

Taúlia’s air carrier descended into chaos, their enemy unseen before them. It took all they could to open the gunports on the s.h.i.+p’s hull and return fire haphazardly. Firing from its decks and lower compartments, the carrier turned heel running back on the path they’d just come up.

Orba didn’t risk pursuit, and leading his men, immediately rushed back to Apta.

“...And expecting Noue’s reinforcements to come, you laid your forces in wait, huh.”

Gowen eyed him suspiciously in thought.

“It’s almost as if you two had arranged this. But it’s a fact you and Noue barely met in Apta.”

“If that could’ve happened, things would have gone more easily,” Orba said with a strangely boyish laugh. “But I knew he would likely be thinking of creating a debt of grat.i.tude for me. A man of Noue’s calibre should be aware of Ax Bazgan’s movements targeting Apta, and also understand what timing they would launch an attack.”

The seemingly excessive provisions he left Apta with was proof of that. They were making it seem that they were returning to Garbera, while actually concealing themselves in the forest waiting for Ax to move. That was why Orba sent his imperial guards to the road the Garberans used, had them wait for the most effective timing for a pincer move, then led them in.

“Noue’s calibre as a man aside, there’s no way you two are even that close.”

“Rumours, information, and lastly intuition.”

Gowen never stopped making his ‘I just don’t get it’ face.

Before long, the Garberan knights arrived. Leading them up front was, of course, Noue Salzantes. He swooped down from his horse and facing Orba, made a bow. Orba did the same, and then they descended off the high ground.

“Orba-dono is it. It has been since Solon—or so I would like to say, but you probably do not know me. I was cheering for you in the grand stadium, so I a.s.sumed us acquaintances against my better judgment.”

Cheering? Aren’t you mistaking it for cursing?

Prince Gil, and also the masked gladiator Orba. Both of whom were culprits that had torn his drawn-out plans asunder.

“However, this is...even I must take my hat off to you. I honestly wondered what you could do with your size of forces, but I would have never imagined you would make the enemy fall into your trap so magnificently.”

“It’s because we had the a.s.sistance of Lord Noue and the Garberan knights that we could make it happen.”

“As one whose movements were noticed, I can only see that as irony.”

“Wasn’t that because the prince’s belief in Sir Salzantes’ chivalrous spirit and faith in Garbera?” Orba added.

Ha! Gowen seemed to say silently on his face. After all, Orba was saying things he didn’t really mean.

“Mmnm,” Noue nodded. Whether it was because he was concealing his emotions, there was a trace of fatigue on his face. “Well, nevermind that. More importantly, I would like to request a meeting with the prince.”

“Acknowledged. Fellow knights as well, by all means head to Apta. Enjoy a night’s stay.”

“We shall take you up on that offer.”

Orba, saying he was ‘going to report to the prince’, hopped onto the airs.h.i.+p prepared behind him. After ordering the pilot, the plane gently took off.

In the forest below him, how many were injured and crouching, or worse, how many lay scattered dead? The fortress front gates were the same.

The number of Mephian casualties was greater than that of the defeated Zerdians.

“—”

Some sort of emotion bubbled out of him, and faster than it could form into words, Orba impa.s.sively swallowed it.

I knew it already.

The war slaves raising cries of victory—they were the infantry who launched themselves from the gates—and as these cheers reached Orba’s ears, Orba only stared straight ahead.

I knew it. That’s why I won’t say anything. I won’t make any excuses.

Orba, having temporarily returned to his room, borrowed the help of his page Dinn to become the ‘prince’ in form. He walked the fortress interior, his cape fluttering majestically.

“It’s his highness!”

“Prince Gil!”

Crossing a corridor opening towards the town districts, what he saw below were the citizens waving their hands and calling out his name, praising him for this victory.

Despite it being deep into the night, the succession of the sudden bombardment, enemy attack, and dramatic turnaround victory all happening without giving them any time to grasp the situation left the majority now wide awake.

Orba waved to them smilingly, and at the same time gave a sharp glare at the regular soldiers who dumbfoundedly looked his way.

“During the fighting, I didn’t even see a single one of the regular soldiers supposed to be on duty!”

Orba barked angrily at several of the regular soldiers nearby.

“Are those swords and guns you carry on your waists for decoration?! Then I might as well hang you bare naked together with them on the castle walls!!”

Leaving behind these words that sent the soldiers who heard them into a tremble, Orba headed towards the western spire.

There at the very top in a small room that formed the roof of the tower, Noue awaited.

Declaring himself to the official, Orba entered and Noue stood up to greet him.

He wore a slight expression of surprise that Gil had come unaccompanied.

“This way talking will be easier.” Orba said, understanding Noue’s surprise. “Would you like a drink?”

“No. If anything, I’ll have one after our talk.”

“I understand,” Orba nodded. He commanded the chamberlain attending to Noue to retire, and it was now only the two of them.

Both said nothing for some time. They were surrounded by four pillars at the corners and a railing lower enough that even the flickering town lights could be seen. Movements near the main gate were particularly striking.

There the townspeople had taken it upon themselves to a.s.sist in the repairs throughout the night.

Ahem, Noue Salzantes cleared his throat.

“Your highness, do you possess clairvoyance?”

“Well,” Orba began, shaking his head with a straight face, “Wouldn’t that be you, Lord Salzantes?”

“It shames me to say. To be honest, I admit to having somewhat of a power to see through things. However, it is hopelessly clouded before your highness. If you don’t mind me openly asking, after we departed from Apta, did you tail my unit?”

“Regarding that, you were also quite strict on the lookout. That was why I just left it to intuition.”

“Your intuition?”

“That you, Noue Salzantes, should be trying to earn my debt of grat.i.tude. That was also why you purposely didn’t disclose anything about Ax Bazgan.”

“Are you saying I would think to make your highness lower your guard?”

“Isn’t that the case?”

Orba said this easily, and without giving him any time to react, slipped into his bosom in a single fluid motion.

“You currently hold misgivings on the war that will occur with Ende in the near future. And the fact that the country of Arion will support them makes it all the more worrying. And in that situation, the allied country of Mephius will become an even more important existence than it is now. But my father, Guhl Mephius, also aims to get closer to Ende. For you, this is a grave crisis that will determine the life or death of your nation.”

“...”

All emotion vanished from Noue’s face. He brushed off the hair on his shoulders with his finger.

“Spending our time probing each others’ intentions would only be a waste. So I’ll say it openly. It’s because of that, Salzantes, that you laid low in the forest antic.i.p.ating Ax’s attack, and returned as reinforcements. It was all to deepen our personal friends.h.i.+p. Am I right?”

“...It is as you’ve discerned, I’m afraid .”

“And?”

Eh?

Noue’s face changed to mirror his thoughts. Orba tilted his head slightly to the side questioningly.

“And? Sure, thanks to Garbera’s reinforcements, Apta was safely defended. And in exchange, what is it that you want me to do?”

“We’d also like you to provide reinforcements for us.”

Noue said faintly irritated, further twiddling his hair. This conversation might in fact have been unbearable for him, as he was usually the one leading the conversations.

“We’d like to receive reinforcements. Or rather, should we go to war, we want a guarantee Mephius will send us reinforcements. If Mephius also joins the fray, Arion will realize it won’t be an easy battle and pull back for the time being. And also, this isn’t a problem for Garbera alone. If they’re able to effortlessly cut down Garbera, Arion will certainly advance its army on towards Mephius, the coastal nations, and even the western lands of Taúlia.”

“Mephius and Garbera. Even with our two countries against it, Arion will be a tough opponent. And if we add Ende on top of that.”

Ende and Arion were both countries who had inherited the sovereign’s lineage, but despite their diplomatic relations, they had never once put up a united front. There was a time in Ende’s history when it was called the Ende Empire, during which it had even crossed swords with Arion’s advance troops. As a result, even if they shared the same interests, it was hard for them to instantly strengthen their alliance. However,

“We received information that last year, the Arion royalty paid visit to Ende in secret. It is likely that it was around that time that Ende was about to form an alliance with us, Garbera. I believe their visit was a means to prevent that. However, now that our relations.h.i.+p with Ende has been reduced to a blank slate, I wouldn’t be too surprised if they were already preparing to form an alliance.”

Arion was a large nation with a long history that also bolstering a huge military force. To satisfy the ambitions and avarice of the current king’s hegemony, it had subjugated the small countries scattered throughout the east, and after many long years they finally defeated their longtime enemy in the northeast, the religious nation known as the Dytiann Holy Alliance. Having ended its eastern expedition, it was viewed unlikely they would take any large-scale military actions, but it was still more than capable of deploying sizable reinforcements to Ende.

Orba could understand Noue’s worries.

“I see now.”

Orba stroked his cheek with his finger. After losing the mask, it had practically become a habit, and occasionally he couldn’t help confirming the touch of his finger against his warm skin.

And he would, at critical moments like these play those hidden cards he kept in reserve when it came to dealing with someone with at least a bit of wisdom.

“A situation where you’re betting the fate of a country. Noue-dono, you’re a patriot. Just as the Ryucown I confronted was.”

“Your highness.”

“In order to protect it you’re willing to sacrifice anything. Even the life of a princess loved by her country and adored by all her subjects.”

Orba clearly understood from Noue’s gulp. He stood up from his seat, and turning his back to Noue, leaned against the railing.

“The princess may still be a Garberan. But in a matter of time she will be my wife. If it were then, Lord Noue, I wouldn’t have forgiven you. It would seem luck was on your side.”

“Y-Your highness.”

Turning around, Noue had his brows furrowed and appeared to be sending a look of disapproval his way instead. No, he really was. It was a fact Noue had spurred Zaat and the slaves in the Solon capital to aim for the princess’ life. And most likely, Noue should have admitted that Orba not only knew about that, but was the one who stopped it. Being aware of that, he still stood off against him in the Apta transfer and foolishly tried to gain his favour.

This guy, just how much of an idiot can he be?

Those feelings could be seen flas.h.i.+ng across his face. It was because everything they needed to hide had already been exposed, and they both knew it.

“I believe I did say we should try speaking openly, Lord Noue. I’m at a loss. I do like setting traps and outwitting those I deem enemies, but doing that to those I could affiliate in the future is not to my liking. Lord Noue, I won’t mind if you still want to continue that, but the both of us will earn very little from it.”

“Your highness, where are you heading?”

Noue stood up and asked as...o...b.. prepared to leave the room.

“If it’s time you need, I’ll give it to you. It’s fortunate Garbera hasn’t many forests that you can pa.s.s through without worry of the evening dew, so you should still have provisions left. If you’ll excuse me, I’m in a bit of a hurry.”

Forcing his exit, Orba descended from the tower.

What Orba who was now required to put up a front everyday revealed to Noue was only half what he meant. He didn’t believe he could negotiate without any decent preparations when facing an opponent as sharp as Noue.

The Garberan troops, of course, also can’t just stay here like this.

His thoughts never ceased as he climbed down the stairs. Even while smiling at the people who called out ‘Your Highness!’ to him, his mind had yet to depart from the battlefield.

Next, is how Ax will move. There’s no way he’ll stay back and sit tight, and the possibility they realized there’s no rear guard is high.

If he were in Ax’s position, what would be do? However, even as...o...b.. immersed himself in that thought, there was still another immediate problem he needed to settle.

The next day, Orba went out to do an inspection of the town and after checking over the repairs on the gates and southern batteries, he a.s.sembled the commanding officers in the fortress courtyard.

The regular soldiers that served Oubary and Odyne, Gowen and the Imperial Guards, and Pas.h.i.+r and the sword slaves.

Calling on the names of the soldiers who reaped merits in the battle last night, he directly handed them their reward. Of course, the majority were imperial guards and Pas.h.i.+r’s infantry whom Orba had given orders to beforehand.

“Next. Is there anyone else?” Orba said, looking at their faces. “Step up if there is.”

The regular soldiers averted their eyes seeming uncomfortable. The majority had either gone out to play and not come back on time, or had been stricken in fear by the enemy’s sudden attack, that none managed to crossed swords with the enemy.

“Your highness.”

Stepping in at that point was the imperial guard, Aeson.

“What is it? I’m sure I awarded you more than enough money.”

“No, these two here, Rinus and Bran. They are from the Black Armoured Division, but joined forces with us and have contributed greatly.”

“Really. I’ve remembered your names. I will tell how within General Oubary’s Black Armoured Division, you two are the bravest warriors.”

Orba broke into a big grin, and without an ounce of reluctance, handed the monetary recompense to the two who contrastingly advanced forward timidly and reluctantly. Strictly speaking, these two had also been about to go out on the town when Aeson called them to a stop. This too had been under Orba’s orders.

“Why go out of the way?”

s.h.i.+que asked, some thirty minutes later, in the prince’s private room.

“I mean, I do understand what you’re doing. You’re trying to make it seem the munificent prince measures value through performance. Especially those in the regular troops, seeing their own friends luckily taking part in the spoils, they would certainly think ‘Next time, that will be me’.”

“If you understand that much there shouldn’t be any problem, right?”

Orba currently held a late afternoon meal in his hand while stooped over a book spread open on the table.

“No, there should’ve been more effective ways. If you had also taught the regulars about the strategy, wouldn’t the battle have been just a bit easier, and the regulars moved by the prince’s abilities?”

“People exhibit their abilities strongest when putting their life on the line.”

Dinn, seeing Orba about to flip the page with his sauce-covered hands, uttered a sigh and moved to undertake the task in his stead.

“With only that, it won’t end with them growing desperate. Bitter and having lost face, they’ll put more effort into those sword-clasped hands and trigger-wrapped fingers, all so that they might get recognised the next time around.”

“You’ve become quite the tactician,” Gowen remarked sarcastically.

“About that,” Orba said, not directly responding to his remark, “I was only thinking that if things turned into a serious fight, I’d need to make the enemy cautious and at the same time spread that same caution, or an even greater one to our own men.”

Some time after, s.h.i.+que said to Gowen.

“It’s probably because Orba has a good nose.”

“A good nose?”

“How should I put it. If there are ten things happening in a given situation, there are those who might be able to see nine of them but are completely unable to imagine that last one. And then there are people who by seeing just two or three are able to foresee the remaining entirety. In Orba’s case, he foresees, or it might be more appropriate to say he instinctually sniffs them out. It’s something I often see from him. We’re always taken by surprise by the bold moves he makes, but in order to even make that single move, he pays extremely careful attention to everything around him and stores up information. And on top of that, he possesses a primal, or rather, characteristically sharp intuition. It’s easy to be mistaken because of his thoughtlessly excellent sword skills, but he was never someone destined to finish as a simple swordsman.”

“But you know,” Gowen said, crossing his big arms as he looked up at the sky, “I don’t feel it’s a good thing how his view is fixed at looking from above. That would make him the same as the other n.o.bles and imperials.”

“What are you saying, Mr. Commander-of-the-Imperial-Guards?” s.h.i.+que smiled revealing his white teeth. “I on the other hand am having fun. How far up will he, a mere gladiator, climb? Having the pleasure to watch it this close up is reason enough for me to tag along. What about you, Gowen-dono? Why did you choose to follow him?”

“Because I’m tired of raising sword slaves.”

Gowen spoke his true feelings, absent of any deceit.

“A view from above, huh. However, even if he’s aware of that, if he doesn’t attain it...only a world where he can get killed in his sleep awaits him.”

s.h.i.+que finished with a murmur afterwards, as if in soliloquy.

Amongst the Zerdians captured as prisoners of war, most of the soldiers were safely released, although of course, the commander, Natokk, and his adjutant, Shadam, were locked in the dungeon. Orba made no mention of giving them any special interrogation or torture. Except that he had just visited them once to provide food, and have a chat, almost as if done on a whim.

Natokk was vigilant, and spoke a little of Taúlia in what ways that would cause them no harm. Orba tried to also probe a glimpse of Taúlia’s governor-general’s character, but as for whether that yielded any results, he himself wasn’t quite sure.

Seems he’s a well-liked man.

Orba found it odd that in just under two hours of conversation, he was able to grasp a general understanding of the man. No matter how he saw it, Ax did not give off the feeling of a great man. If he remembered correctly, Zaj Haman also said the same.

“He is not a bad man. He is also loved by his people. It’s just, he wors.h.i.+ps the Jasch Bazgan who established Zer Tauran like a G.o.d — though I do admit the Taúlian feudal lords have been like that generation after generation — and he believes that Jasch’s influence, even now, flows through the entire west. I don’t know when, but Ax Bazgan aspires to one day raise a new country himself.”

“Do you know of anyone else from Taulia? The saying goes that there’s no loss to knowing.”

“You’re right.” Zaat nodded fervently. “Archduke Hergo, who a.s.sumes a position similar to adjutant, is already an old man. His adopted son, General Bouwen, is young and spirited, and rumours say he will inevitably marry Ax’s daughter, Esmena. But he is not so much that his name would sing tales through the wind. Hmmm. Only...”

“Only?”

“Ax’s strategist, Ravan Dol. He works as a dragon handler and is approaching his years, but I hear he’s considerably sharp minded. On the one occasion Taúlia was attacked by Mephius ten years ago and was on the verge of ruin, I’ve heard the one who issued an appeal to the other states at that time and provided them the strategy that drove away the Mephian army was Ravan Dol. Stories of his genius in taming dragons have also reached my ears.”

Ravan Dol.

It was common for the Western Tauran Provinces to, like Mephius, train dragons and employ them in battle. They weren’t brought along when Natokk performed the attack on Apta because it would hinder covert manoeuvring, but if their force had come from the front, then Ravan Dol’s personally trained dragon squadron would’ve likely appeared.

And, while going over this information from Zaj Haman with s.h.i.+que and Gowen, he elicited an unexpected response from an unexpected place.

Orba and the other two happened upon the dragoon training as they were talking, when the nearby Hou Ran who was checking the dragons’ condition spoke out.

“If it’s Ravan Dol then I know him,” she suddenly spoke.

“He was famous, even in the tribe I used to be in. A man said to be so great that he could make even a violent, wild dragon obey him in less than three days.”

Hou Ran was born of the western Mephian nomads. There was likely some Zerdian blood also mixed in. Orba was stricken at how he he hadn’t even considered asking Ran until now.

“He’s like a male Ran. Which of you is better?”

“Better or worse, I don’t know,” Ran said singingly. “Only, I’d like to see what those children are like by a man his calibre.”

Never dropping her smile, she was in unusually high spirits. At that moment, a dragoon fell sideways off his Tengo. His foot caught onto the stirrup, and Ran broke into a run towards them as the man continued to be dragged along by the dragon. With a stride that made it seem like she was walking on air, she went to the Tengo, whose mouth protruded outwards much like a bird, and touched the Tengo’s head, then moving to gently stroke its long neck. In the blink of an eye, the Tengo grew docile and stopped moving. The soldiers approached nervously and pulled out the dragoon’s foot.

“That little Ran.”

“What’s the matter, Gowen?”

“Looks like she’s burning with hostility.”

“That? It seems to me that she’s laughing though,” s.h.i.+que replied, surprised.

“I’ve finally understood it after being tied together as parent and daughter and living together,” Gowen said with a strangely bashful face that didn’t suit him. “That’s really an abundance of expressions. Or I should be saying that she never knew how to hide her emotions from the start. She only knows how to express them in a way that isn’t easy to understand.”

“Right...”

“Her eyes are honest. They never lie.”

“Rather the doting parent.”

s.h.i.+que said in a voice inaudible to Gowen, causing Orba to struggle to stifle his laugh.

However, s.h.i.+que completely changed the flow of the conversation, suddenly switching the brunt of it onto Orba.

“By the way, Orba, have you met with Princess Vileena recently?”

“What are you saying? More than recently, I spent breakfast at the table together with her just this morning. You were there too.”

“I’m not asking if you did as the crown prince Gil. I’m asking if you did as the gladiator, Orba.”

“......”

‘Is that even necessary?’ Orba seemed to ask silently. Strangely, s.h.i.+que rebuked him in an angry tone.

“You two share a relation where you once took hands and danced, right? Did you ever thank her for the medal you received at the gladiator tournament? But no, you haven’t even gone to greet her since Zaat’s rebellion. You should go see her now. It’s important to occasionally show your face as...o...b.. and give her the impression Orba and Gil aren’t one and the same.”

“Wait!”

Even as...o...b.. tried protesting, s.h.i.+que called over the page Dinn and told him to bring a change of clothes.

“Come on, go on, go on.” s.h.i.+que nudged him in the back. “The princess went to the airs.h.i.+p platform to watch the airs.h.i.+p squadron’s training not long ago. She should still be there. Go on, hurry now.”

In this way, Orba was pressured by s.h.i.+que and dressed into the guise of a gladiator, still unsatisfied.

It couldn’t be denied that he hadn’t really considered what s.h.i.+que pointed out. He also hadn’t given his thanks for the medal. If he had to say it, it felt awkward. That medal was the sign of friends.h.i.+p Vileena had given him.

Tch.

A former sword slave and a princess. The relative difference in status between the two went without saying. If a former sword slave continued ignoring a princess’ display of affection, it would foster unneeded suspicion.

s.h.i.+que you b.a.s.t.a.r.d, you planned this from the start, didn’t you.

With his face covered by an iron mask and his torso adorned in leather armour, he headed towards the place serving as the airs.h.i.+p platform. It was a location that led several meters higher than the highest parts of the Apta wall.

As...o...b.. walked there, his resentments towards s.h.i.+que quickly disappeared. The problems surrounding Orba, his difficulties, hadn’t decreased one bit. He gave so little weight to his own personal emotions that they were far off his list of priorities.

The matter with Noue Salzantes also held Orba in unease. It was currently a stopgap measure to buy him time, but it was a fact that he couldn’t keep hold it in place for long.

He didn’t need Gowen to tell him that he knew almost nothing about Noue.

But strangely enough, he held an odd sense of ‘trust’ towards him.

He’s a man who prioritises the welfare of his country first, even if he has to kill his own princess to do so. If he’s a man that resolute, then he should have no problem temporarily setting aside his own emotions.

When Orba found out Noue was trying to take advantage of even the princess’ life in the founding festival, he was furious. It was a fury that connected to Orba’s own past towards those selfish people in power.

At the same time, that very incident served as the founding basis of his ‘trust’ towards Noue. Orba hadn’t given it a single thought to the fact that these two conflicting emotions had the same cause.

On that note,

He had no definitive proof Noue would really accept his request. But by this point in time he had already set Ax aside and was thinking ‘ahead’. To achieve that end, it was imperative he have an open discussion with Noue Salzantes.

Vileena Owell sat above a flight of stairs not far off the dock where the s.h.i.+ps moored. She watched the silhouettes of the airs.h.i.+ps revolving around the high sky. The airs.h.i.+p unit’s practice, that could even be called a hastily prepared one, was held day after day without break.

Oh?

Noticing the imperial guard approaching her, she smiled.

“I haven’t seen you lately. Were you in the middle of some secret mission on the prince’s orders again?”

“That, isn’t it.”

Orba, nervous over how he needed to create as many distinct personal differences as possible between himself and the prince, could do nothing but offer a curt response.

“It’s not something you can tell me. Pay it no mind.”

Vileena said, s.h.i.+fting her eyes back towards the sky. Her feet dangled, swinging back and forth, and her face was vacant.

She feels strangely different.

Her defenceless pose rattled Orba even more. It was his first seeing the princess make such a face. When facing the ‘prince’, Vileena would more or less shroud herself with an intensity that could cut. And now there wasn’t a single trace of that. If he had to say it, he saw in her not a ‘princess’, but a mere fourteen, fifteen year old girl.

Now seemed like a bad time to bring up the medal, so Orba wordlessly stood beside her and also stared up at the sky.

The wind blew.

“Ah.”

A fluttering leaf had tangled in Vileena’s hair. Vileena also realizing this, began to reach her hand to the back of her head.

“Pardon.”

With that single word, he gently removed the leaf from her hair. The ends held a softness that seemed to melt into his hands, and in spite of that, he could feel the smoothness from the strands. Surprised by the sensation, Orba scolded himself.

I’m acting like a little boy who’s never known a woman.

“Thank you.”

Again, Vileena smiled innocently. It was one so defenceless, that had she made that face to ‘Prince Gil’ from the beginning, she would’ve impressed on Orba, who wasn’t well informed about royals and n.o.bles, that she was a ‘childish princess ignorant of the way of the world’, and completely fooled him.

“...Is there something weighing on your mind?”

“Does it seem that way to you?”

“Um, you seem strangely absentminded. It might be a bit impolite of me, but…”

“Don’t worry. It’s as you say. There have been too many things to think about here, and right now, I find this time where I don’t have to think about any of them strangely comforting. Although it might only be me running away.”

“No, it isn’t.” Orba denied.

He felt he could also understand it. He was also like that, driven into a busyness day after day enough to make his eyes spin. He would forget himself and obsess over his work, but occasionally in that single hour within the day, he turned his eyes away from the things he needed to think about to clear away all the troublesome things crammed in his head. He sometimes found that moment pleasant as if he was floating on clouds.

“You think and think about it, but many of the answers won’t come out. Then it gets to the point where it feels like you hit the dead end of a pathless labyrinth, but you can’t summon yourself to discard it, in fear it might in fact be very important. And when you wake up from a nap refreshed and re-explore the labyrinth, you’re surprised to discover a secret path at an unexpected spot and laugh, thinking ‘Oh, was it really this easy?’”

“I can relate,” Vileena strongly nodded. “However, Orba. This labyrinth is more endless, grave, and deeper than any I’ve encountered. Perhaps you might be able to answer it.”

“Go ahead, please ask away.”

“Then ask I shall. Orba, who am I?”

“Hah?”

The masked gladiator unintentionally gave an unrefined response. Vileena looked at him with slightly narrowed eyes.

“I’ve been thinking about it this whole time. Even when Ax Bazgan’s attack happened, the prince foresaw that, all while keeping it from me. The only thing he did was station the imperial guard s.h.i.+que near me so I could safely get away. I was infuriated that time. In the end, I was another one of the ‘enemy’ the prince needed to deceive, and I was mortified to discover ‘what’ the prince saw me as.”

“......”

“However,” Vileena took a breath, “I myself am also unable to come to an answer. It’s as if within me, there are a crowd of other mes. Which one is real? Or are they all fake? I don’t understand even that. How am I, who cannot find a hold of my own ‘self’, supposed to make others trust me?”

Nii-san.

Thoughts of his brother pa.s.sed his mind that moment, of how more than six years ago in their home village, they soaked in the pale moonlight and talked under the starry sky. Vileena lowered her head.

“I’ve been driven by shameful thoughts. I believed I was someone who could be a brave, decisive, able soldier, or even general. Just as my respected grandfather was. And here, I can’t even grasp my own self. Before, you had supposed it a labyrinth, but in my case, just where is the exit in that labyrinth packed with them, or rather, there are too many that I don’t know which to choose from. I also don’t have a destination—”

“Everyone, is like that.”

“Everyone?”

Orba’s voice had shook a little.

“What is our real self? Isn’t everyone unsure of that answer? Or maybe they don’t know if there even is an answer, as they live their everyday lives. No matter what kind of person they are—royals and n.o.bles, slaves made to take up their sword and kill another person they’ve never met so they can live another day, philosophers, religionists, farmers, merchants—everyone grieves through their own situations; and not knowing what to do with themselves, they dream that there exists a true calling for them. Who are they? Who will they be? Those are as many and endless as the stars that fill the sky, and an inexhaustive worry that persists indefinitely.”

“—”

“I’m afraid to say that doesn’t change for Princess Vileena either, and even a person stained in blood like me.”

“I’m embarra.s.sed.”

“Eh?”

As if he’d been woken from a dream, Orba directed a startled look over at Vileena. Her chin rested on her hands crossed above her lap.

“I’ve been going on thinking as if I was the only one in the middle of distress. But now that you mention it, yes, that might actually be the case. Everyone has their own doubts and feels lost. It’s because those are there that people seek direction and desire a relations.h.i.+p where they can support one another. I feel as if you’re always the one who ends up teaching me things.”

“No, you shouldn’t take my words that seriously. You’re over exaggerating.”

“Are you claiming you just happened to say that?” Vileena raised her eyes and stared his way indignantly. “That can’t possibly be. It’s because, Orba, you’re also lost and hold doubts that you’re saying this. But now my feelings have cleared a little. Everyone’s like this. Yes, grandfather, Theresia, you, and Gil Mephius as well.”

Orba said nothing further back to her. The things he said to the princess were nothing more than a retelling of his brother Roan’s words. However, actually speaking those words now had brought forth unspoken emotions, grief, and a bit of guilt.

At this moment, the airs.h.i.+p unit’s flying ended and it prepared for landing. The first and second made a smooth landing, but the third s.h.i.+p hadn’t properly balanced the ether emission levels to match its changing speed and it’s wing grazed the ground surface.

“Pull the left lever and press the pedal!”

Orba raised such a startlingly loud voice that Vileena stood up.

The part of the s.h.i.+p the const.i.tuting the wyvern’s feet grinded against the floor and barely finished the landing without cras.h.i.+ng.

The princess embarra.s.sedly smiled.

“Keep this a secret from the prince.”

Saying this, she broke into a dash towards the airs.h.i.+p without waiting for his reply.

“Noue-sama.”

Roger, commander of the Bronze Knight’s second cavalry, ran up to Noue Salzantes along the garden’s stone pavings.

“How long do you plan to stay here? We are at a situation where we don’t know when our homeland will open hostilities with Ende. If we don’t strengthen our defences at the border—”

“I’m aware of that.”

Noue stopped his feet and faced to watch the servants pruning the garden trees. Roger mimicked after him.

“Even without Mephius’ aid, we shall have Ende and Arion withdraw by our, the knight’s, power alone.”

“That may be.”

Noue also did not underrate his army’s power. If they mounted a defensive, they should hold out for some time even against Arion to a certain extent. There were other powers who wouldn’t so readily accept Arion’s expansion all the way to the centre of the continent, and they had the option of issuing an appeal to the northern coastal nations and forming an allied coalition.

However...

Garbera hadn’t yet recovered from the wounds it suffered from the ten year war and Ryucown’s rebellion. If possible, he wanted to settle this predicament before Arion came, or more precisely, before Ende advanced its army. For that, Mephius’ cooperation was required at all costs. In which case, rather than Guhl Mephius who sought to get closer to Ende, Prince Gil was by far the better negotiating partner. However,

In a way, more so than Guhl Mephius, he is a man I cannot see.

Just as...o...b.. feared, Noue was presently troubled over how far he should trust ‘Gil Mephius’.

While a master of wiles, his actions feel strangely immature when he engages from the front, or rather, it’s impossible not to sense his inexperience. That portion also bears semblance to Ryucown, but strangely enough, other than his burning ideals, I can feel little of anything bordering patriotism.

This is a serious matter, one which hinges Garbera’s survival. There is no way I can entrust that to a man I cannot see. Now then, where shall I p.r.i.c.k him from?

Strictly speaking, Orba had caused Noue to become exceedingly cautious. It was in this situation that Orba’s inexperience in interacting with ruling aristocrats served as his weak point.

“Oh?”

Raising his glance up over the gardener’s backs, Noue looked up at the sky. In the direction of the airs.h.i.+p platforms to the fortress’ eastern edge, several airs.h.i.+ps were flying in formation. It was likely a part of training, but what caught Noue’s eye was the rider in front. From here it was no more than a small dot, but there was no mistaking that figure.

“That is…”

After Roger said this, he broke into a smile. ‘Same as always,’ the smile evidently expressed..

The pair headed in the direction of the platforms. As surmised, hopping off one of the returning s.h.i.+ps was Vileena Owell. No matter how many times they had seen it, her pilot suit accentuated the curves on her body; it was not something fitting for an exalted lady. Young ones like Roger tended to turn away in embarra.s.sment. But Noue wasn’t one to fuss over attire. Noticing them, Vileena waved her hand and approached them.

“Salzantes-dono. How long do you intend on staying in Apta?”

“There is something of an issue I must straighten out first...yes, I would say either tomorrow or the day after.”

“I see. It must be tough.”

The princess responded cheerfully, wiping the sweat off her cheeks.

“It seems no matter where you go you will always be fond of the sky, princess.”

“Aah. I asked the impossible and borrowed a s.h.i.+p. I only intended to go for a short spree, but the soldiers were so insistent I lend my hand in their teaching that I happily did it.”

The Mephian airs.h.i.+p pilots all collapsed onto the ground in total exhaustion. Vileena was skilled enough to go head to head against Garbera’s world-boasted, finely trained pilots. Keeping up with the princess had likely taken their all.

“The sky is wonderful. Even as the lands are divided into countless countries, the world is tied together by a single sky even as the lands are divided into countless countries.”

Oh my.

Noue looked up at the same sky as the princess, but let out a chuckle in his mind.

How sentimental.

“Speaking of which, Noue,” Vileena called his name and hushed her voice, “how are things faring with Ende?”

“Honestly, things are looking unfavourable. Our messengers have also been turned away at the gates.”

“What did Prince Gil have to say?”

“That as well was somewhat...”

Noue tried to jest.

“My apologies,” Vileena lowered her eyes. “That person is always like that. He shows no interest in the things that concern others, but is surely thinking of something. I’d like you to have faith in that.”

“I would like to. However…”

“Do not fret. Whenever I feel as if I’m about to exceed my patience and decide it’s time to give his bottom a good hard kick, he has always begun to move, as if those feelings have been transmitted to him. And once he does, he moves quickly.”

“Haha.”

Noue was taken with heartwarming thoughts. The reason went without saying. And simultaneously…

She’s already completely taken the stance of Mephius.

Words like ‘my apologies’ and ‘I’d like you to have faith in that’.

However, Noue did understand the princess herself was impatient and frustrated with the prince.

And while being so, she could do naught but speak to Noue, who belonged to ‘another country’, in that way. He had previously seen it as sentimental, but if she had maintained a composed att.i.tude while suppressing those emotions, then it was proof the princess had become an adult.

“If anything, I wouldn’t mind really giving him a kick on his bottom. I’ll drag him by the heels before you and have him talk with you.”

“N-no. There’s no need to have you do such a thing.”

As Noue Salzantes exchanged words with Princess Vileena who at some point decided to take things into her own hands, he felt his heart brighten, strangely enough.

Why not. If he can speak openly, I’ll also lay my feelings bare. It’s a fact that nothing will progress by thinking of where to p.r.i.c.k him from the get-go.

Orba was at this time watching Vileena and Noue’s exchange at a distance.

Even if he could not read all of Noue’s changing emotions on his face, he knew.

Tonight, he’ll be coming.

And so, he effortlessly turned his eyes back towards the young girl calling to the pilots dismounting from their s.h.i.+ps..

I never got to mention the medal—

That night, as predicted, Orba and Noue talked once more sitting face-to-face in the room at the top of the tower.

Noue no longer hid anything. His request was for Mephius to once forthrightly raise its flags in Garberan lands. After resigning himself to some degree of humiliation, that is.

“For that, allow me to finish all the necessary preparations on Garbera’s end.”

“I look forward to it,” Orba said pulling his chin.

The talks progressed exceptionally fast. Promising to send reinforcements to Garbera was a simple task, but this was on his own accord. He risked incurring the emperor’s anger, more so than Fedom’s.

In preparation, Orba had sent airs.h.i.+ps on standby as messengers to Solon to spread news of how a group of reinforcements led by Noue Salzantes helped defend Apta. He was expecting this as the perfect justification for his sending reinforcements to Garbera.

If the emperor shows any reluctance towards it, it’ll increasingly fan anti-emperor sentiments. Fedom isn’t one to sit still and watch as this happens. He’ll definitely find a good opportunity and cover for me.

Were that to cripple Mephius or push Mephius into insurrection was of no concern to Orba.

But, before that can take place...

“First, we’ll have to settle Ax Bazgan. All of the soldiers I can mobilise are here. Which stands that as long as he isn’t pinned down, I won’t be able to move for Garbera.”

“Yes.”

“Wouldn’t it be hard for him to come in if both Garbera and Mephius send him notice?”

“I wonder about that. I’ve tried investigating the west in my own way. The battles in the west have settled to a calm during this year, but it seems to be beginning to erupt into strife again. And to note, their methods of fighting are completely different from before.”

“That would mean...”

“I don’t know the specific details, but I also have news that a new power has risen in the west. This power has begun to exert its influence and subdued countless cities and nomads. They’ve set up camp in the temple ruins of the former Zer Tauran, and are even calling for an allegiance between the small states.”

Orba was amazed. What he had just heard was also in Zaj Haman’s information, but Noue had in his own clever way devised a network through which to investigate this.

A man I can’t let my guard down against. If I ease up after becoming friends, I feel like he’ll even find out the colour of my morning p.o.o.p.

Unintentionally, ludicrous thoughts filled his head.

“It’s likely for that reason that Ax is rushed for time. Zer Tauran is a country established by the Bazgan House. Naturally, if the west is to be united again, he believes that one of Bazgan descent is most appropriate to fill that role. And then for a man to appear and name himself king in the temple ruins that symbolises Zer Tauran...If I were Ax, I would need to find a way to display my might to the other city-states.”

“However, if he were to point his sword at the Zerdians as he’s done until now, the new power might join the other towns and eliminate him.”

“Yes.”

“That’s why he aimed for Apta Fortress right when the foolish prince became keeper, huh.”

Orba folded his arms.

“If we were to say it the other way around, we can’t expect much cooperation from the west with it now in disarray. This could even be a chance for me...but I can’t imagine Ax is someone who would give up so half-heartedly.”

“So this would in fact require that we make Ax swear us his allegiance through force. Moreover, when the time comes we let them know both Mephius and Garbera have arranged to deploy reinforcements to aid them against the new threat in the west...”

“Through force...”

Orba raised one of his brows. That would mean a full out war with Taúlia. It would take time to crush them, not to forget that tomorrow or the day after, Noue’s troops would be pulling out.

“Surely you must have already thought of that.”

Noue said testingly. No, he was in fact testing Prince Gil. Even for Noue, there were few strategies he could think of that would make Taúlia fall in a matter of days, and they each held their accompanying risks. Would Prince Gil satisfy his expectations? Namely, was this man such that he had something Noue himself didn’t?

Gil Mephius stayed still, his arms folded and him standing. His glance coincidentally fell on the map laid out on the table, seldomly blinking.

Noue would not break be the one to break this silence Orba created.

Now, Oh arrogant, inexperienced, Gil Mephius. Won’t you surprise me? Won’t you teach me the vastness of the world?

Noue was trembling in excitement, waiting, just waiting for Gil to open his mouth.

The night was still long. Before, the soldier’s clamouring voices downstairs could be heard from far away, but now Apta had fallen dead silent. They were likely on strict guard.

“No,”

Gil—Orba shook his head.

“I won’t decide now. For the time being, why don’t Noue-dono and I send a notice to Ax with both our signatures. I would appreciate if you could stay in Apta until the response comes.”

“I cannot stay long. I can at best put it off another three days.”

“I don’t mind.”

Gil bluntly replied.

Is he being cautious against me? Or could it be...

As Noue obliged, he felt doubt and disappointment dye his chest in turn.