Chapter 220: ???????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? (2)

Chapter 220: Alliance of Nobles (2)

“Is Parre really safe?”

One of the elf knights looked at the envoys with disdain and asked.

To be precise, although it was a place a bit far west even in the south of the Empire, away from the turmoil of war, the envoys also had something to say.

How could they know how the situation around here would change as they left their fiefdom, went around the mountain range, and headed south?

“It looks like those who covet merit have brought their troops here.”

Count Puakonyu murmured as he identified the enemy’s military. At best, it was a force of less than a thousand.

After the emperor had won a great victory, the feudal lords of the south would have shrivelled up, and the nobles under the emperor would naturally have been swaggering around the south.

Originally, war was more often a series of small forces attacking and occupying towns, rather than hundreds of thousands gathering in one place to fight. It was closer to a tedious land grab than something dramatic.

“Should we wait for the follow-up troops, or attack right away. . .”

“Let’s attack right away, Your Excellency!”

Johan was currently leading the vanguard of several hundred at the very front.

Behind them, the rest of the mercenaries and feudal lords of the Order faction followed, leading their troops separately.

To exert all their power, they had to wait for the whole army to gather, but the elf knights, as well as the mercenaries and centaurs, also wanted to attack immediately. And this was common. Whether nobles or commoners, they did not particularly want to share merit with others.

‘No. It seems the elf knights just want to charge recklessly.’

In fact, charging was not a bad judgement either. Johan’s vanguard consisted of some of the best warriors among the eastern tribes, and seasoned veterans among the mercenaries who were also well armed.

The fighting strength of the elf knights and the envoys was also considerable, so they were confident they could win even if they charged as they were. Giving the enemy little time to judge was also basic tactics. . .

“It looks like the enemy has noticed. They’ve started to retreat.”

“!”

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There were many nobles from traditional families under Cardirian, but there were also quite a few upstart nobles. They were mainly former mercenary captains who had rendered merit and received peerage.

The emperor employed far more troops than the strained finances could afford, and had to utilize various methods to pay their wages. One was conferring titles and certain rights.

Sir Torsten was one of them. Though to be precise, he was from a knightly family and worked as a mercenary captain before rising in status, other nobles didn’t care much about that fact. Mercenary captains and petty nobles looked much the same to them.

“Where did the relief troops come from? Could they be from Count Jarpen? I heard he doesn’t have any to spare??”

“I think you should retreat.”

“Damn it. We’re just about to take it. . .”

Sir Torsten looked at the castle walls with an expression full of regret. Originally, castles big and small were hard to capture swiftly, but Parre Castle was an exception. Its walls hadn’t been properly repaired since collapsing a few years prior.

Thanks to that, they could push relatively quickly, and the enemy was nearly beaten. . .

“Captain! Their numbers are smaller than expected! We can ignore them and push through! They probably can’t charge easily either!”

“And what if that’s just the vanguard?”

As the staff argued contradictory opinions noisily, Sir Torsten was getting a headache. Both sides had a point.

Reluctant to retreat after spending all that money, yet worried about the unknown reinforcements that could arrive anytime. . .

“The banners have been identified! It’s Count Yeats’ banner!”

“We retreat! Damn it! What’s that guy doing here?”

Upon learning which family the enemy banners belonged to, Sir Torsten made his decision instantly. His dilemma disappeared.

Some glory-hungry nobles and knights bragged about wanting to cross blades with Johan one day, but Sir Torsten didn’t have such lofty goals. He simply aimed to rise in status and wealth.

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“Is it a trap?”

Johan was puzzled. The opponent who had been aggressively trying to siege suddenly retreated, getting entangled and confused. The defenders along the city walls suddenly gained momentum and launched a counterattack.

Seeing them stumbling around like that even though they’re fine. . .

“We’ll find out if it’s a trap or not. Permission to advance!”

Euclyia shouted confidently. Johan nodded.

The centaurs would detour to the right to block the opponent’s escape route. Even if it was a trap, they would be able to get out immediately.

“We request permission to charge as well!”

Johan ignored the shout of the elf knights and waited. There didn’t seem to be any particular movement in the nearby forest either.

“It doesn’t look like a trap, does it?”

“It doesn’t seem so.”

‘He seems to have a lot on his mind to act like that.’

“Caccia-nim!”

The envoys were delighted to see Jarpen’s lineage. Other than looking a little tired, Caccia did not seem to have any other issues. It was natural since she was a precious hostage, but still it felt reassuring to see her in person.

“Your Excellency Count Yeats. You are the valiant knight who has visited the family fiefdom in the past.”

The envoy group was indebted to Johan so they sang his praises as much as possible. Even if they didn’t like it, they had to give compliments in this situation and with this debt, the flattery was inevitable.

Johan’s feats were exaggerated and the things he did for the Order were packaged as sacred devotion.

Seeing this, a dreamy look appeared on Caccia’s sullen face. Caccia looked at Johan with shining eyes and said,

“Sir Knight. You risked your life and honor to save me.”

“It wasn’t me but my subordinates who fought. . .”

The returning centaurs could be seen waving their hands behind, carrying two or three backpacks each on their backs.

Caccia held Johan’s hand, disregarding everything else.

“But it was Sir Knight who saved me.”

“If that is what my lady thinks, I can only feel honored. Hey, take Caccia-gong.”

At Johan’s gesture, the servants politely led Caccia away but Caccia shook off the servants’ hands and pressed a handkerchief into Johan’s hand. Then he walked away proudly.

Seeing this, the envoys’ expressions grew perplexed.

This. . .

Atmosphere. . .?

Suetlg whispered from the side.

“My friend, I think you’ve gotten yourself into big trouble.”

“I’m thinking the same thing right now, Your Excellency.”

Iselia, the only one who didn’t grasp the mood, cocked her head and asked.

“Isn’t it a handkerchief given as thanks and reward? When I was little, I also received one after saving a young maiden.”

“You should have looked into that maiden’s eyes. . . Were they the eyes of pure reward? They were the eyes of desire and longing!”

“Suetlg-nim. There are people from other families here too.”

The envoys pretended not to hear and awkwardly coughed. Suetlg waved his hand in irritation.

“Don’t pretend not to hear and come here. I don’t want things to get complicated so be honest with me. Who is Caccia-gong?”

“A kind and generous person.”

“That’s not what I’m asking right now.”

“. . .She likes tales of chivalry and courtly love and dreams about them.”

Suetlg and Johan understood the situation just from that and held their tongues. Despite being wrapped up in various stories and ballads, neither Suetlg nor Johan were the types to fall for such romance.

For noble ladies staying in castles, there were no more exciting partners than young and gallant knights.

Frankly put, it was just a fancy packaging for them to hook up when they were in heat.

The problem was that the nobles themselves were fooled by these stories made to trick others. The custom of swearing secret loyalty to an already married partner provided intense immersion and stimulation to knights and spouses alike.

Suetlg asked Johan.

“Isn’t she married to Duke Ulrike?”

“Yes.”

“Ulrike-gong is the power behind the Abner family?”

“That’s right.”

“Does Duke Ulrike happen to be the type to tolerate her wife openly having an affair with a nobleman?”

“. . .She’d kill them both.”

While it was customary not to care who hooked up with whom, that was only when it wasn’t public. Having an affair with a visiting count was a matter of face for Ulrike.

With his understanding of Ulrike’s temperament, the future was clearly laid out before Johan.

“Well, it’s fine. We just have to prevent her from approaching him.”

“. . .You still don’t know the blindness of love.”

Translation-(COMPLETED) - How to Live as a Wandering Knight