Chapter 245: Queen Leila’s Resolve (2)

“......”

Even in a situation where she thought she was going to go crazy from hunger, Claudia quickly spun her thoughts. Why was she offering a deal like this? What was her purpose?

Since Claudia had no idea what was going on outside, she had no way of knowing what Leila was thinking. In fact, she couldn’t help but think that the offer Leila was making her right now was a trap that would cause her to fall into even greater despair. 

‘There’s no way that spiteful bitch would forgive me without a reason. There must be some… other reason.’

No matter how hard she thought about it, Claudia couldn’t help but be suspicious about Leila’s offer. But the problem was…

“Answer quickly.”

“Guh…”

No matter how wary and suspicious she was, Claudia’s current situation was so bad that she couldn’t reject the offer. In all honesty, Claudia was currently in a position where she was even willing to grasp at straws. Eventually, she clenched her teeth.

“What… do I have to do?”

Leila smiled faintly when Claudia accepted her offer.

“You only have to do what you do best.”

With this, Leila finished the very last thing she could do in preparation for the war.

***

When the Lester Kingdom’s capital was only a day away, Siegfried received a secret and urgent message. He read its contents, and then…

“It failed.”

That’s all he said as he crumpled up the message. 

Jake spoke up when he saw Siegfried frowning,

“Sir, are you saying the Queen decided not to escape?”

“Yeah. They tried their best to cause her to escape, but she chose to defend the capital.”

“What a pity.”

“Shall I call the Ghost Group 11 and 12, sir?”

“No, keep them standing by for now.”

While Siegfried had quickly advanced, he had also made plans just in case Queen Leila fled the capital.

The Ghost Group 11 and 12. Originally, there had only been 10 groups, but at David’s request, he had created two more groups specializing in assassination and intelligence gathering. That was the Ghost Groups 11 and 12. They were Siegfried’s hidden blade that worked on manipulating public sentiment or handled political opposition within the Republic rather than fighting on the battlefield. 

They had been sent out first and placed along the routes where Queen Leila might escape. If Queen Leila led the royal family and escaped, then the spies that had been hidden in the country would find out and they would have been able to capture them.

If Siegfried was able to capture Milton’s family, then there would be no need for him to go to the capital. He was sure that Milton Forrest’s weakness was his family.

It was normal for monarchs to turn away from their families for the sake of their country, but Milton was different. After seeing the way Milton treated his children when Siegfried was at the capital, he was convinced that Milton Forrest could never be a heartless father who put his country before his family. 

‘If only I had known about his weakness earlier. I’d have used it in so many different ways.’

It was a pity to be thinking about it now, but it was useless to be thinking about the past.

“We’ll be bringing down the Lester Kingdom’s capital with a frontal attack. Order the army to advance.”

“Yes, sir!”

Now, he could only grab onto his last chance with brute strength.

***

The 80,000 Republican soldiers led by Siegfried arrived at the outer walls of the Lester Kingdom’s capital.

“Is that the Republican Army?”

“Where’s Siegfried?”

“Damn, there’s no way we can see from here.”

“What do you mean? Isn’t he under that fancy flag over there?”

On the brink of war, the soldiers on the walls murmured anxiously. No matter how determined they were, they couldn’t help but feel anxious when a battle was about to break out.

That was why Duke Palan, who was in charge of protecting the capital, had placed the Northern Knights among the militia. But even he was doubtful whether this would be enough to calm them down and raise their morale. In the worst-case scenario, the Northern Knights may even have to urge the militia to fight. 

On top of that, Siegfried was a man who had always been good at hitting his enemy’s weak points. 

“Let’s shake up the civilians.”

Having said that, Siegfried surrounded the capital with soldiers and headed towards the wall himself, alone. And then…

“I am Siegfried, the Fuhrer of the Republic!”

He shouted loudly so that all the soldiers on the wall could hear him.

“That’s Siegfried?”

“The Fuhrer of the Republic?”

“The one who fought countless wars against the Grand Duke…”

The people on the walls were very noisy. 

The people of the Lester kingdom looked at Milton as a hero and considered him to be much better than Siegfried. But because they regarded Milton so highly, his rival Siegfried held a lot of pressure for them. Whatever else they may say, wasn’t Siegfried still alive after encountering Milton in countless wars? 

After revealing his presence to the soldiers on the walls, Siegfried continued to speak.

“Your determination to hold weapons and stand on the walls and face us is very impressive. However!”

Siegfried cut himself off before continuing in a firm voice.

“Your determination and good faith are only being used to shore up the authority of the monarch!”

Siegfried continued to shout towards the wall.

“Even if you bleed as you fight to protect the walls, nothing will change. There will always be nobles above you and royalty above them. Do you have any reason to shed your blood to protect a bleak future where nothing will change?”

Siegfried spread out his arms and shouted confidently at them.

“Immediately open the gates and surrender! Our Republic is on the side of the people. I will guarantee your lives and promise you a better future!!”

Siegfried’s words rattled the soldiers. For the soldiers who were under immense pressure from the stress of war, Siegfried saying that he would guarantee their lives was a very strong temptation. 

“Be brave! Free yourselves! Stop being a slave to the monarch and be a true free man!”

To be more blunt, Siegfried was truly a remarkable character. He had come out alone and with a sweet tongue, had managed to grab the people’s hearts, but it wasn’t just because of his eloquence.[1] It was because his words and actions overflowed with charisma. 

But, he wasn’t the only remarkable person in this world.

“Don’t be swayed by a shameless hypocrite like him!”

Queen Leila appeared at the walls dressed in armor and wearing a sword at her waist. 

“......’

Siegfried’s face contorted.

He had heard the report, but it was true, Queen Leila really was fully armed and had instigated the people. And now, she was standing on the walls as well.

She pointed a finger at him as spoke.

“Who was it that desperately sought our help when the Republic was in danger of being destroyed by the Empire?! Who was it that knelt down and begged my husband to send reinforcements?!”

Queen Leila’s words not only rattled the soldiers on the walls, but shook the Republican Army as well.

“What is she saying?”

“His Excellency knelt down and begged?”

“There’s… no way.”

Siegfried clenched his teeth as he heard the Republican soldiers’ murmurs.

‘That fucking bitch…’

Leila was mixing in exaggerated lies with the truth. But because it seemed highly credible, it was very effective.

She continued to talk to him.

“Despite the kindness and favor our country has shown you, you dare point the blade of betrayal at us? Have some shame, you’re not better than a beast!”

Queen Leila’s words were sharper and deadlier than a Master’s blade.

Siegfried quickly grasped the situation and responded.

“Don’t confuse things for the people with false propaganda! Leila von Lester! You are the evil ruler that the Republic has been aiming to defeat for a long tim…”

“You talk too much.”

Queen Leila interrupted Siegfried with a faint smile. Then, she continued.

“That’s always the case with dishonest people.”

For a moment, Siegfried flinched. Then, he realized something. 

‘I can’t argue with that vixen.’

There was no possibility of him winning an argument.

“There’s no room for compromise. Leila von Lester! You will have to pay for your arrogance!”

“Try it!”

Even before Leila finished talking, Siegfried raised his hand. Then…

“All troops, charge!”

“Wahhhh!!”

“Long live the Republic!”

“Long live Fuhrer Siegfried!”

Having finished preparing the siege, the Republic began their attack. 

***

Puk! Puk!

An arrow flew and struck the shield in front of Queen Leila. 

“Your Majesty, it’s dangerous up on the walls. You must go down.”

Her escort recommended that she descend from the wall, but Leila shook her head.

“Me being on the walls is playing a big role in the soldiers’ morale.”

“That’s… but…”

“Enough. I trust you. I’ll do my part, so you focus on yours.”

At Leila’s firm command, her escorts spoke with determination.

“We will protect you, Your Majesty.”

Then the captain of her escort guards spoke.

“Hold up the kite shields and protect Her Majesty from all sides. Make sure the shields are in three layers.”

“Yes, sir!”

Now that Leila wasn’t hiding her existence, it was obvious that the Republican soldiers would focus on her. 

‘If you’re going to come, then come!’

‘We will definitely protect her.’

Her escort guards were determined and focused on their duties. Without stepping over their dead bodies, none of the Republicans would touch a single strand of Leila’s hair.

***

“Is that a siege escalade? For the first time, I’m resenting the Grand Duke for creating that.”

Duke Palan muttered to himself as he watched the Republican Army rolling an escalade forward.

Originally designed and created by Milton, it had been recognized for its utility and was now a common weapon on the continent. 

‘It nullifies the height of the walls, so it makes things difficult.’

Thinking that, Duke Palan turned to give instructions to the Northern Knights.

“Focus the knights wherever the ladder touches. The Republican Masters may come up, so focus on defense and report their position immediately!”

Duke Palan was sure that now the enemy had mobilized the siege escalade, the enemy soldiers would soon be up on the walls, and had given the best possible instructions based on that assumption. But then…

“Master, please listen to me for a moment.”

“Tommy, what is it?”

The person speaking to Duke Palan was a member of the Northern Knights, Tommy. He had originally been Milton’s knight, but now, Tommy was a member of the Northern Knights with Rick. When Milton had left for the expedition, both of them had suffered from an infectious pneumonia, so the two of them had been left behind. 

Now, Tommy was speaking to Duke Palan.

“There is a way to neutralize the enemy’s siege escalade, sir.”

“What?”

“My Lord once told me about its weakness and how to respond to it… Rick and I mobilized the men, just in case, sir.”

“Truly?”

“Yes, sir. What it is…”

“Do it!”

“...Sir?”

“I don’t have the time to leisurely listen to your explanation. If there’s a way, then immediately go do it!”

“Yes, sir!”

Duke Palan knew Tommy wasn’t someone to talk nonsense. And if Milton Forrest, a war genius and the creator of the siege escalade, said there was a way to respond to it, then it was definitely worth a try. 

1. This sentence was adjusted, but has the same meaning. Originally, it used an idiom, 세 치 혀, which is a short tongue and in this situation means that the person can talk really well.