Chapter 147

The judge gasped, his mouth agape.

He was also a citizen of the capital and had heard plenty about Valenciaunos’ reckless behavior.

Seeing him flying into the church’s wall while on a wyvern, tossing the saint aside, felt like it might make him faint.

He was a judge.

One who witnessed all the filthy human scum and lawsuits of the Empire up close.

Nobles with money and power often had their reckless days in youth.

The kind of human hunting in the slums hadn’t even been part of that recklessness, giving a rough idea of its severity.

However, they never touched fellow nobles or clergy.

They acted against commoners or the impoverished because they were confident they would be safe from harm.

Valenciaunos had beheaded the high noble Duke Purioaito and assaulted his daughter before placing himself in the Dukedom, kidnapped the saint, and stepped inside the church’s wall on a wyvern that the church loathed.

This was… genuinely insane.

It was something that could make one suspect brain damage.

He had appeared a bit more restrained here.

Since the area was filled with sword experts who had the blood of elves and ogres in them.

He was not an oblivious person.

Knowing the tangled emotions and circumstances behind it, he still delivered a thorough judgment according to the law to eliminate grounds for those human weapons to raise objections.

His only mistake was not understanding that rural lords would use feelings as justification.

No matter how high-ranking he was, once he slapped them, it was obvious a duel challenge would follow.

Dueling was instituted to prevent situations like just now from happening.

It warned those with power and money not to belittle others too easily or they’d end up with a blade in their back.

The baron who received the slap bowed his head and said,

“Yes, Your Highness. I will clearly convey this to them.”

“!?”

The judge suspected his own eyes and ears.

‘It’s acceptable… No. This was a splendid judgment.’

Tenitia thought as she stood behind Valenciaunos.

The baron families and knight families of the central region had been following the emperor since the establishment of the Empire.

Her family also had an heirloom from their founder, a goblet used to toast with the first emperor of the Empire.

The nobles were proud and had a deep history; they reacted to even trivial matters based not on practicality but pride.

What mattered in the verdict was not the contents but whether accepting it would harm their pride.

Valenciaunos was a member of the imperial family and inherited the platinum hair and deep golden eyes distinctive of royalty. He wore an authoritative outfit and took on a high-handed demeanor and was regarded as one of the trusted generals of Empress Jeilliris.

He was someone worthy of respect for the barons and knights who had served the imperial family for hundreds of years.

It wasn’t about the importance of the farm or the waterwheel; it was about whether that guy would yield or not.

The issue was that a fight stemming from pride wouldn’t easily stop.

‘Someone should have intervened by now.’

‘If only someone had forcibly separated them.’

Tenitia had often received similar requests during her academy days.

‘I’m going to challenge that guy to a duel tomorrow, but I don’t truly want to fight. If the mood gets too heated, can you step in?’

Of course, she never obliged.

‘How dare they play games with the sacred duel?’

In any case, Valenciaunos and that baron felt the same way.

‘My knights in my territory wouldn’t accept this situation.’

Looking back at what was said earlier, it was not about him not being convinced, but that his knights wouldn’t accept it.

In other words, the baron needed an excuse to convince his knights.

‘The prince slapped my face while saying something unreasonable.’

That would allow him to return home and say this.

Tenitia also had little interest in strategic thinking, nor was it her specialty.

She solely desired trials, battles, and honor that would leave her name in history.

‘If I can save His Highness Valenciaunos from all the repercussions of his actions, it might be enough to make a mark in history.’

For this reason, Tenitia had some insight regarding honor and face.

‘…In the end, he bore the crest again this time.’

Valenciaunos then called the two barons to sit as he gazed at the baron he had slapped.

‘Must’ve hurt quite a bit, huh?’

Ever since that commendation, sometimes he struggled to control his strength.

Having consumed ‘Hwajeong’ didn’t help either.

He had almost fallen off several times on the way here.

‘Still, judging by his expression, it seems like he was satisfied with the outcome.’

He knew better than anyone that uniting the internal factions was a matter of external threats.

Listening to what was said, it seemed his knights were displeased that the baron hadn’t advised the imperial family to raise the grain purchasing price.

If the baron returned after being slapped by the duke, the knights would turn back toward the baron and begin cursing him again.

‘The best of the external threats are indeed those high-ranking individuals.’

For the emperor’s sake, may that splendid baron and knights be able to ascend to the capital peacefully this summer.

‘They say those who are cursed live long. Given that, I might be able to attain immortality.’

* * *

Ten days passed.

Valenciaunos moved from one baron territory to another, handling lawsuits between knights and between nobles, as well as those among nobles.

What he needed wasn’t justice but authority, and he was confident in the authority he wielded.

Clap!

“How dare a baron question my verdict, as a duke!”

Had he repeated that around thirty times?

The line of knights and barons that had been long finally ended.

“Your Highness Valenciaunos, is it over now?”

“One matter remains. While the lawsuits have concluded, the hunt is not finished yet.”

“The hunt, you say?”

Tenitia raised her eyebrows in confusion, and Valenciaunos moved to the tent set up on the hill.

“Sir Marsone said there have been green skins flowing in here.”

“Oh.”

She contorted her handsome face.

Green skins.

It referred to goblins and orcs collectively.

A few goblins could be handled by the youth of the village, but when a large horde of orcs appeared, even great lords might find themselves by the nape.

Due to their strong reproductive capabilities, they were a primary enemy for rural knights, and Tenitia harbored deep resentment toward green skins.

“Surely the damage wasn’t too severe?”

Valenciaunos nodded.

“The knights managed to ward them off in time. The problem is that they didn’t eradicate them; they only chased them away, leading the creatures to roam about, constantly raiding the area. It seems they’ve now taken a forest as a stronghold.”

Tenitia felt her indignation flame up inside her as she spoke.

“Are you planning to hunt them down? Please…”

This time, Valenciaunos also nodded.

“It feels like that’s why I came here in the first place. With three barons involved, it seems they ended up fighting over who would lead the operation, even though they all know that isn’t the point…”

“No, who leads the hunting operation is very important to the knights.”

“Now that you mention it, I feel like it’s the opposite of how it usually is.”

Valenciaunos laughed lazily and cheekily.

Tenitia recalled that his previous statement was something he often said and felt her face blush the same shade as her hair.

“Your Highness, please do not ridicule the knights.”

“Haha. Understood.”

Valenciaunos raised both hands.

Tenitia felt a bit bewildered and asked.

“Then will you be leading this operation, Your Highness?”

Valenciaunos shook his head.

“I’m planning to take charge of igniting the fires and driving them out with smoke. Someone else will lead the command.”

Though he didn’t mention it, there was someone he had in mind the moment he heard about the hunt.

She had talent, put in effort, had good fortune, and, most importantly, greatly enjoyed leading commands.

She must have been thirsty for it, so he needed to give her a chance to quench that thirst.

‘Jeilliris shows her true colors when moving alone. Someone is needed to take charge of the army.’

“Kiieeeek-!”

A distant wyvern’s cry echoed above the sky.

The barons and knights gathering around the tent looked up in alarm.

“Valenciaunos!”

A noble with lustrous golden hair and red eyes.

One of the eight survivors.

An officer and knight who had taught swordsmanship and tactics to Valenciaunos before his return.

It was Helena of the Golden Knights.

* * *

‘Do you want to lead the hunting operation?’

‘What?’

‘Three barons, 15 knights, up to 25 at most. Including trainees and vassals, cavalry units might reach 100. As for infantry, I’m not sure, but at least 1,000. Plus a royal fire mage. How’s that?’

Helena was taken aback by Valenciaunos’ proposal.

Her blazing red eyes flickered like a candle before the wind.

This might have been a subtle test.

Accepting would imply a desire for military power, which could be interpreted as treason, leading to her death.

Valenciaunos could very well be that kind of person.

However, the offer was far too enticing to refuse.

If she missed this opportunity, it might never come again.

She glanced at the wargaming models laid out on the map and the scorekeeping papers.

She didn’t want to cling to just this any longer.

It took 0.4 seconds for emotions and judgment to swirl.

‘I will do it.’

Now, Helena stood before three barons and 20 knights.

“Duke Valenciaunos will create smoke on the eastern side of the forest to drive the enemies out.”

She had never felt this joyful even when she first held a sword.

Her tightly bound blonde hair was adorned with a tiara studded with red jewels, and she wore sleek brass armor around her slender figure.

The heated voice didn’t even sound like her own.

“Baron Tuskien will face the enemy in the center, Baron Zhecer on the left, and Baron Haster on the right.”

“What about those trying to escape?”

“We’ll confront their main force with cavalry. The infantry will be divided into squads of 10 to hunt down those trying to flee, while the archers will provide fire from the hill.”

Young in age, her armor free of scratches, with flushed cheeks, and trembling hands filled with an emotion that was hard to tell, whether due to tension or excitement.

Naturally following were uneasy gazes and probing questions pointing out flaws.

Even that felt amiably lovely.

“They are unlikely to be able to be handled with just infantry against wolf riders or boar riders.”

“I’ll allocate two knights to the encirclement. Losing two from the main force shouldn’t be a big issue.”

“We also need to deal with the remaining rabble in the forest. In this case…”

“Of course, we’ll dismount. We’ll take our time and do it right. Duke Valenciaunos’s smoke should still be lingering, so make sure to prepare plenty of wet towels.”

“It would also be good if the soldiers’ weapons could be switched from spears to axes, if possible.”

“That’s a good suggestion. I’ll make sure to actively reflect it.”

Valenciaunos and Tenitia smiled as they watched Helena tangled up with the barons and knights, formulating the operation.

“I can’t imagine how you’ve endured until now.”

“A bird caged for its whole life tends to forget that it longs for the sky.”

Valenciaunos didn’t voice that this operation’s success or failure wouldn’t matter; Helena’s passion would only grow stronger.

Before the return, Helena would adapt strategies and tactics to create the best moves regardless of winning or losing.

Then they heard the sound of hooves from below the hill.

“There are knights. One seems to be late.”

Tenitia recognized his identity upon seeing him leading the rider.

And upon seeing the emblem sewn into that banner, she gasped.

“Father?”

It was a blend of joy and horror.

Valenciaunos had also seen that insignia before.

Three red eyes drawn against a black background.

It was the emblem of Tenitia’s family.

The knight who dismounted mere steps before the tent gazed at Tenitia, who was removing her helmet.

“Tenitia?”

Frantically removing his helmet revealed striking features that closely resembled Tenitia’s.

“Brother? Why hasn’t Father come…?”

The three barons had sent summons to all their vassal knights.

With two dukes present, they were obliged to show their utmost effort.

Failure to respond hinted at one of three meanings.

Treason, death, or a life-threatening injury that would mean living as a knight was impossible.

“He fell from his horse during battle… and lost consciousness.”

For all three of them, it was akin to a death sentence.