CH 104

To the decisive battleground.

Translated by SoundDestiny

Edited by Zil

As things have been decided. There was no one to stop Raidorl from going to Fortress Blaine. However, there was still a lot of wrangling over who should accompany him.

Angelica Ilkas was the one who insisted most strongly on going to Fortress Blaine.

“This is the perfect opportunity to avenge my family!　The emperor will be killed and beheaded!　I’ll caress and slash every last Imperial soldier ……!”

Angelica’s vengeful side comes forward again, and she insists with bloodshot eyes. She releases Sven from her plush embrace and clutches her beloved dagger in her right hand.

If she is taken before the Imperial army, there will be no duel and no peace. Raidorl can see that she will lose her mind and attack the Emperor and the Imperial Guard.

“………… Sven, please.”

“Eeeeee…..”

Raidorl gave a hopeless smile at Sven.

Sven looked up at his lord with a tired face, but did as he was ordered and went to restrain Angelica.

“Eee, Angelica-san? Would you like to stay with me?”

“!! I-I don’t care what Sven asks, this is my chance to avenge House Ilkas!”

“I don’t want to go because I’m scared, but I’m going to miss you, Angelica….”

“Ugh……”

Sven clasps his index fingers together in a squirming motion. The boy’s cheeks flush with embarrassment, and Angelica falls back, her heart pounding in her chest.

“But it’s not every day that an …… emperor comes to the front. If I miss it,……,I can’t leave Sven behind….and I can’t take him into a dangerous battlefield,……!”

Angelica struggles, holding her cheek and shaking her hair.

One more push and she will fall – Sven is sure of it and goes for the coup de grace.

“I wish you were here with me…..Onee-san?”

“Hauaaa….!”

Angelica’s body shakes as if it has been pierced by an electric shock.

She pulled Sven’s hand and hugged him, holding him squarely to her chest.

“Don’t worry…..! Onee-san is here for you! I’ll protect you……!”

“………… Wa, I’m so happy.”

He takes one look at Raidorl with a grudging look in his eyes, then resignedly accepts the embrace and nuzzles his face into the soft breast.

“……Okay, it’s settled. Angelica, you’ll stay here and protect the town.”

“Yes, sir! I’ll make sure Sven is safe!”

“…… Protect the town too, okay?”

Angelica assures him with a heart in her eyes, while Raidorl sighs.

He then turns his attention to Darren and Justy.

“My father, Bazel Garst, is at the fortress of Blaine, and I think it would be better for us if I were to accompany you.”

“I will also stay behind to help………in case Angelica should run off and need someone to stop her with force.”

“…… Please do so.”

It’s decided. Darren Garst was to accompany Raidorl to Fortress Blaine. As there was not much time before the appointed date for the duel, it was decided to march in small numbers.

Darren’s second-in-command, Saara Leifet, would lead the rest of the army and march behind him in case the peace was broken and the Empire had to fight again, regardless of the outcome of the duel.

Raidorl mounted his horse with an escort of about a hundred cavalrymen, and Darren rode alongside him.

“I have arranged for the towns and villages along the way to provide us with replacement horses and provisions. This will enable us to reach the fortress in the shortest possible time.”

“Well, then, let’s go and see the face of the greatest emperor on the continent!”

“Ha!”

Raidorl and co. rode to the fortress of Blaine, southwest of Calutris.

They took as few breaks as possible, ate as much as possible on horseback, and changed their tired horses several times on the way to the fortress.

Thanks to Darren’s efforts, Raidorl was able to arrive at the fortress two days before the pre-arranged date of the duel.

The last time he had been there, the fortress had been abuzz with excitement at the victory over the Empire, but now it was quiet. The appearance of the Emperor must have been a shock to the soldiers. Even the faces of the soldiers standing guard on the walls are somewhat shadowed.

“His Highness Raidorl is here! Open the gates!”

The guards shouted as soon as they saw Raidorl.

Raidorl led his guards through the gates and entered the fortress of Blaine for the first time in six months.