Chapter 188

Right after the battle in the town of Siel, Duke Orleans summoned a military council without taking even the slightest break and called for me and two Counts.

Under normal circumstances, the meeting should have been a discussion on the strategies for the upcoming war.

However, when I entered a bit late, I found Duke Orleans unleashing a torrent of insults at Count Izza and Count Ilerias, who were not even his direct vassals.

“You miserable fools, worse than these heathens! How could you make such a blunder without leaving your common sense behind?! Did I, Duke Orleans, the overall commander, ask you for something difficult? I simply told you to prepare for an ambush from enemy knights in the rear… so why did you abandon your positions!!!”

A short while later, the two accused Counts began to plead with expressions and voices that seemed to convey their injustice.

“As Your Majesty knows, unless Count Ilerias and I collaborate, our rear would inevitably be compromised. However, Count Ilerias’s desertion of the battle position caused this issue…”

“Our mission was to stop the knights’ charge, and my knights and I did our best to accomplish that task. So we attacked the charging knights of Count Architel in a line formation and pursued only because their momentum collapsed afterwards. This is not desertion…”

Seeing these adults, who should have been Counts instead of junior to mid-level civil servants bound to follow orders, making such excuses was so absurd that I barely swallowed a snort of laughter.

A duke like him would not curse the parents of a truly heinous criminal even in front of other nobles like me.

No, even if the target of his insults were Counts appointed directly by the Emperor, even if they had publicly humiliated his family and raided them… he could not insult them in that manner.

Because anyway, berating a noble possessing a title granted directly by the Emperor is tantamount to opposing the Emperor himself.

However, the overall commander of the Eastern Expeditionary Force holds a somewhat transcendent authority as the Emperor’s representative, and those two were practically confirmed criminals facing the death penalty for violating the commander’s orders.

In such circumstances, if those responsible for the defensive orders become blinded by military achievements and fail to fulfill their rear defense obligations, what would happen?

If any of my subordinates had committed such insanity, I would have personally ended them with my sword.

Duke Orleans, feeling somewhat similarly but unable to bring himself to execute a Count directly under the Emperor, continued to yell.

“Speak! Damn it, I!! I!! After this expedition, I will surely bring your insubordination before a military tribunal and put an end to your lineage!!”

Thus, I watched for about ten minutes as Duke Orleans unleashed a torrent of insults that were hard for a human mouth to contain on the two Counts.

“This battle, no, this war is not yet over. Your Imperial Majesty, please calm down and prepare for what comes next. The opportunity for a comeback still remains.”

While I said that a chance for a turnaround still existed, it was realistically impossible to change the tide of the war after sustaining such heavy losses.

After all, while I led a tactical retreat against the armies of Marquis Simon and Count Laureant leading to a nominal victory, Count Izza, Count Ilerias, and Duke Orleans’s forces had lost the momentum needed to recover due to the combined attacks of rear cavalry and front infantry.

However, to change the rigid atmosphere of merely chastising the two Counts, it was necessary to say something like this.

Upon hearing my words, Duke Orleans realized that continuing to be angry would amount to nothing, let out a heavy sigh, and spoke.

“Ha, as you said, the war is not over yet. Therefore, those miserable ones will inevitably be subjected to a military tribunal and stripped of their titles, leading to their execution, so there is no need to worry about them. Now then… let me explain the current status of each legion.”

As the Duke finished speaking, the two Counts turned pale as they grasped their dire situation.

In particular, Count Ilerias, who was responsible for the collapse of the rear, seemed so shocked that his eyes went blank for a moment.

Seeing that, I felt a hint of guilt as I realized I had somewhat guided their downfall.

Of course, I do not regret removing the fangs of a potential enemy in the form of a noble from the Eraline Empire.

A little while later, Duke Orleans received some documents from the Administrative Officer beside him and muttered while gritting his teeth.

“First, Count Ilerias’s army suffered 4,000 casualties with 2,000 missing, while Count Izza’s forces had 2,500 casualties and 1,000 missing. From my army of Orleans, there were 14,000 casualties with… 2,000 missing. Marquis Croilet… you have merely 1,800 casualties and less than 100 missing…”

Although the Duke’s final words seemed to mock me for having less damage to my troops, I could let that slide without much thought.

After all, unless I had openly betrayed them, it would be impossible to undermine the status of the deputy commander who had performed miraculously in a critical situation.

However, the relationship between the Duke and me had effectively ended at the point where Duke Orleans and the two Counts had made fools of themselves during this battle.

So, in response to his words, I spoke in a humble tone.

“When handling soldiers, one must always be prepared for the unexpected, mustn’t we? However, I trusted the two Counts, which is why I made thorough preparations in my legion alone.”

“True, those fools are at fault… but you and I have no blame in this matter. However, since the situation has progressed as it has, there’s nothing that can be done.”

No matter how much those two failed to follow the commands issued by the Duke, leading to a collapse of the army and the expedition’s failure, the Duke was ultimately just a defeated leader due to his subordinates’ blunders.

Thus, there is a high likelihood that I will be dragged to a military tribunal along with the two Counts.

Although I likely won’t be stripped of my titles and lands like Count Ilerias or Count Izza…

I may face hefty fines or partial confiscation of my land; seeing how desperate the Duke seemed to absolve himself of any blame…

He seemed keen on minimizing his punishment, but since I had made no mistakes in this war, I care not at all.

Therefore, I changed the subject to achieve what I was aiming for with him.

“Nevertheless, what is important is what we should do going forward, isn’t it? Currently, we have secured territory as far as Count Iris’s domain, but if we face the enemy’s counterattack, we may lose the lands we’ve occupied.”

With my words, the two Counts, who had lost all speaking rights due to their previous mistakes, could not utter a single word, and Duke Orleans responded in an aggrieved voice.

“If you are not mocking me… then you know, don’t you? At this rate, we will struggle just to defend the lands we’ve barely occupied, much less advance! No, we must return to our territory as quickly as possible and use the remaining serfs to prepare for their counterattack. Thus, I intend to order a retreat for all forces as your commander.”

Given that about half of the other forces had already collapsed, upon understanding our precarious situation, it was undoubtedly the right move for the Duke to proceed in this manner, considering the incoming army of Franche.

If Simon’s coalition were to regain momentum, they would occupy the lands of Counts Ilerias and Izza, then shortly thereafter advance into my domain to attack or strike Duke Orleans’s land.

If that were to happen, the losses from the war would already be severe, and the damage would worsen.

Moreover, His Imperial Majesty, seeing that my legion alone incurred fewer losses, would go to great lengths to punish me by any means, much like some petty king.

The Duke, as the current commander, would be doing everything in his power to execute the plan to eliminate the Croilet Marquess’s lineage…

However, thanks to the strategies I established, our forces have not suffered such significant losses, and we are still guarding our secret weapon.

Thus, under the condition that I alone would cover the rear in exchange for their retreat, I can lay the groundwork to advance to Count Iris’s territory by winning the battle against Marquis Simon…

Then, grabbing the chance to extend a hand of salvation to Count Ilerias and Count Izza, whose heads are on the line, I could take them under my command.

At that point, whether to make them vassals and spare their lives or permit only the survival of their family in exchange for their lands can be decided later.

“Very well. However, I believe it is still necessary for our forces to engage Franche’s coalition. Therefore, my legion, which has suffered fewer losses, shall hold them back. Demonstrating our resistance will surely please His Imperial Majesty, won’t it?”

Upon hearing my words, Duke Orleans, though facing a massive defeat in this expedition, seemed to feel a bit brighter at having accomplished one command given by the Emperor…

Perhaps realizing that if I lost, it would obscure the impression of a battle solely marked by the exploits of Marquis Croilet, thereby slightly softening his own disgrace as well…

And soon, he wore a truly regretful expression and commanded.

“Marquis SIEL von Croilet, as your commander, I command you to cover the army’s retreat. I thank you for your dedication.”

You thought you had outsmarted me, didn’t you? Yet, little did you know, it is the opposite…

May you enjoy your pleasant dreams, even if only for a moment.