Chapter 205

“That’s impossible. We can’t deploy the Imperial Army based on unverified information, and it’s also undesirable to set a precedent of the Imperial Army indirectly involving itself in a civil war. It would leave future imperial descendants with grounds to misuse the Imperial Army.”

After listening to Leopold’s story, Georg flatly refused.

His answer was so firm that there seemed to be no room for negotiation, but it didn’t seem to break Leopold’s resolve.

“Are you saying that if the invasion is confirmed, you would allow the deployment of the 1st Legion?”

“That’s a secondary issue. The important part is the Imperial Army’s involvement in the civil war. If the 60,000-strong Imperial Army clashes with itself, the Empire will be shattered. Therefore, this is an act of treason against the Empire that absolutely cannot be tolerated.”

He wasn’t wrong.

In terms of sheer numbers, a single legion of the Imperial Army is as large as the combined forces of three electorates. And there are four such legions.

If they were to turn their swords against their own people, the face of the Empire would change drastically.

Either the Emperor, who holds supreme command over the Imperial Army, would achieve centralization with overwhelming force… or, as Georg said, the legions would clash and the Empire would disintegrate.

“You said it can’t be tolerated… Then what if another legion intervenes in the civil war and takes a side? Will you suppress them, leave them be, or take the opposite side?”

Unlike when dealing with Duver, Leopold remained calm throughout.

If there are those who respond well to threats, there are also those who don’t. Georg was clearly the latter.

“You called intervening in the civil war an act of treason. Then, leaving it be would mean condoning treason, which would be neglecting your duty. If you take the opposite side, the 1st Legion would also be actively involved in the civil war… meaning you too would be contributing to the shattering of the Empire. So, will you choose to suppress them?”

“…I suppose so.”

Georg reluctantly answered after some hesitation.

As if he had been waiting for this, Leopold smiled and continued his questioning.

“Is that so? But what if the ones you’re suppressing are those who are fighting against external enemies of the Empire? Wouldn’t suppressing them be aiding the enemy, which would also be treason against the Empire?”

“…Did Duver agree to head north?”

Georg asked, sounding somewhat surprised.

His expression remained as stiff as a statue, but there was a subtle hint of displeasure in his tone when he mentioned Duver’s name.

It seemed the two legion commanders weren’t exactly on friendly terms.

Well, it’s no surprise that the rigid and principled Georg wouldn’t get along with someone like Duver.

“That’s right. The 2nd Legion will soon head to the Faelun territory. To prepare for the ‘Great Invasion,’ you see. So now, will you declare them traitors and suppress them? The knights who are stepping forward to protect the Empire against the beastmen?”

Georg remained silent for a while.

The principles of neutrality and defending the homeland must have been clashing in his mind.

Both are undoubtedly significant beliefs that cannot be compromised.

Of course, Leopold didn’t seem inclined to let Georg come to his own conclusion.

If, after much deliberation, Georg decided on neutrality, it would create an insurmountable obstacle.

“I understand your dilemma. How could I doubt your loyalty, dedicating yourself day and night to the peace and well-being of the Empire? You’re right, the Imperial Army intervening in a civil war is unacceptable… But this isn’t a civil war. It’s a suppression. I swear in the name of Elpinel, as Leopold Wittelsbach, the Imperial Prince, that the moment the witch Isabella is defeated, the whole truth will be revealed.”

Leopold declared firmly.

Swearing in his name, huh? Doesn’t the ownership of the name Leopold currently belong to me…?

“When that time comes, it will be clear to all that I did not act out of a lust for power, but to suppress the witch who assassinated the late Emperor and plunged the nation into chaos. If my oath is proven false… then you, leading the 1st Legion, can come to take the head of the villain who has lost the right to bear the name Wittelsbach. By then, my infamy would be sky-high, and who could stop you from marching to suppress me?”

“However…”

“Moreover, don’t you also feel uneasy about leaving the entire north to Duver? If Duver fails, the Empire will lose the 2nd Legion, and the north will belong to the beastmen. And not just the north. If the beastmen, growing in strength in the Faelun territory instead of the Sky Mountains, start moving south, how many Imperial citizens will become their prey?”

Georg couldn’t answer immediately.

He seemed to share the certainty that if the beastmen’s great invasion truly occurred, Duver alone wouldn’t be able to stop it.

Seeing Georg wavering, Leopold drove the point home.

“That’s not all. With the northern army having descended to the mainland, if you don’t head to Faelun, only Duver’s 2nd Legion will remain there… You know Duver better than I do. Can you guarantee he won’t wreak havoc on the people of Faelun? No, it’s worse than that. What if he fully occupies Faelun and, taking advantage of the Empire’s chaos, declares independence? Can you guarantee such a thing won’t happen?”

Leopold also mentioned Duver’s name…

When mentioning Georg, I didn’t miss the subtle discomfort he showed.

Georg distrusts and despises Duver.

So, it was only natural to think that Duver might act that way.

“It’s just a hypothetical, but… the only person I know who can monitor and prepare to prevent such an event is Georg, the commander of the 1st Legion. Not for my sake, but for the northerners, and further, for all the people of the Empire, I hope you make a wise decision.”

After hesitating for a while, Georg eventually nodded.

“I hope I won’t have to sever the bloodline of Empress Anna with my own hands.”

It was a heavy threat, but Leopold didn’t care and just laughed.

This meant that the 1st Legion had also agreed to dispatch troops.

—

“Surprising. I thought he was a stubborn man who wouldn’t bend his will.”

“That’s how principled people are. They set conflicting principles against each other, and once they find a suitable reason for one, they have no choice but to choose it. It’s not that they’ve bent their will, but rather, they’ve chosen one of two options by their own will. In their own way.”

Seeing Leopold smirk, I honestly couldn’t hide my mixed feelings.

…If he was this competent, why didn’t he do better earlier?

Well, even back then, he was passive, so he must have handled negotiations skillfully.

Just look at how he managed to bring all three secular electors to his side… He must have been competent in this area from the start.

“Anyway, this settles the northern issue for now… The princess should go back and rest. We need to head east within two days at the latest. You’ve worked hard today.”

“All I did was glare, so it’s not much of a hardship. By the way, didn’t you call me Count Mediane earlier?”

Leopold stroked his chin and let out a thoughtful hum, as if he had been asked a difficult question.

…I wasn’t trying to pick a fight. I was just curious.

“Ah, that… Unfortunately, since the agreement with Ka’har has been nullified, the status of a foreign princess is no longer recognized within the Empire. So, officially, the princess is now Countess Mediane. With Ai-shan Gi-or becoming an enemy of the Empire, it’s problematic to keep using that title. Until Or-han dies, you’ll have to get used to being called Countess Mediane for a while.”

Is that so?

I don’t mind, but I wonder how Hersela will feel about it.

That woman’s life goal seemed to be exterminating her own relatives, so maybe she won’t care.

—

Once the legion commanders made their decision, the preparations for dispatching the 1st and 2nd Legions proceeded smoothly.

Surprisingly, there was little opposition from the knights or soldiers.

The 1st Legion probably trusted Georg’s judgment, and the 2nd Legion didn’t see the need to oppose what the 1st Legion had agreed to.

Thus, two legions, totaling 30,000 soldiers, 500 knights, and three masters were organized as the northern defense force.

The reason there were only three masters was that the Imperial Knight Order only had six masters.

Most of those who worked hard to become masters were often recruited by lords who offered better treatment than the Imperial Knight Order.

Even if they stayed in the central army instead of joining a lord’s army, they were usually assigned to the Royal Guard.

Of course, Leopold had a way around this.

There were eight masters in the Royal Guard.

Three of them remained under Ernst, one had died in the collapse of the Imperial Palace, but four were still left.

Leopold assigned all of them as escorts for the 2nd Prince Karl.

In fact, since Karl had relinquished all royal authority and left for the north, he was technically not a target for Royal Guard protection.

However, if Leopold were to die in battle, Karl would be the only remaining prince.

In that case, to continue the bloodline of Carolus, his succession rights would need to be restored, so no one could oppose the justification of sending escort knights in preparation for that.

Leopold’s escort was assigned to a master under Duke Bien, Persval, and unusually, Duver’s eldest son Pierre, who had been selected for the Royal Guard.

Since Pierre’s skills were far below Persval’s, the escort was more of a formality, essentially holding Duver hostage to prevent rash actions… but being selected for the Royal Guard despite his skills must be an honor for him, right?

Persval also seemed pleased to have a successor, as he was laughing while ordering dozens of rye bread from the chef.

—

The day before heading east.

I went to Freide’s group to explain what had happened and the upcoming schedule.

They needed to know too.