Chapter 91

On this day, in the imperial capital, a grand ceremony for the dispatch of troops was being held in the vast plaza in front of the palace.

The entire capital was decorated, and a military band in uniform performed a grand parade.

This is my first deployment.

"I'm sorry, Aisha. I'm counting on you, and on you all."

My father, who was apologizing in front of the palace, was giving me as much authority as possible.

Furthermore, he personally gave a sword to Helcof, who was already retired, granting him the authority to fight independently, and made special arrangements for Ict, the palace guard, to accompany me.

This was a significant special arrangement, made possible only with the decision of my father and the permission of the Marquis Strategos, and the intervention of the dukes, who usually obstruct such matters.

"Aisha-sama..."

I heard a sobbing voice and saw Harty, my nursemaid, waving among the people seeing me off, separate from the general public.

She had come all the way from the countryside to see me off.

We had been exchanging letters even after I left, but I had still caused her a lot of worry.

When there was an attempted assassination, I had to calm her down through letters, as she had planned to come to the capital alone.

After all, Harty was pregnant with her new husband's child at the time.

Beside Harty, who was sending me off with tears, her husband stood supporting her slender shoulders.

While I felt reassured, I also felt guilty that our last meeting had not been a happy one.

But since I've decided to do this, I'll aim to return with a smile.

I mustered my resolve and started walking to depart.

"In other words, the sword given to Helcof carries the same authority as the emperor. No general can restrict Helcof's actions while he holds that sword."

In the parade carriage in the capital, I was reconfirming important matters.

This carriage would also be used for the journey, so it wasn't an open one.

The windows were made of high-transparency glass, but I took advantage of the fact that no one could hear me, waving to the crowd while continuing my discussion with Wearrel.

"Granting horses to the two of them also symbolizes the authority to act independently."

Wearrel was traveling with me in the carriage, but Helcof and Ict were riding horses on either side of it.

Incidentally, Nomariola also came along.

Officially, she was my caretaker, but since the army had prepared personnel and my father had also arranged for additional help, it would have been fine for her to stay behind.

My younger sister had become lively and was worried about me heading to the battlefield.

At her request, Nomariola insisted on accompanying me.

Therefore, she was traveling in a separate carriage with my personal staff.

"Isn't this overkill? Don't you think the army, or rather the generals, might feel that they should be in charge?"

"This is a deployment with a prince. We can only hope they understand their duties and perform them well."

This parade was planned by my father to show that I was not being exiled.

To convince my father, who was pretending to be reluctant, the dukes had to push their privileges through the military.

I hoped this wouldn't cause friction in the field.

"To return quickly, we should avoid friction with the army. So, let's review the army's structure."

Wearrel, who wasn't familiar with the military, was learning along with me, with Helcof's guidance.

"Formally, the commander of the corps is Aisha-sama, but in reality, it is General Rokopios Vagelis of the army."

The general we met when the deployment was decided was a blue-furred rat anthropomorph.

Well, no... Honestly, is it really a rat?

Capybaras are the largest rodents, but why is this capybara anthropomorph as bulky as Helcof?

And his eyes are subtly intimidating, and while capybaras are usually associated with relaxation in hot springs, this one was anything but relaxing.

"Do you understand the general's direct command unit?"

"The headquarters, with its own attached unit, can be thought of as a guard. There are also regiments composed of infantry, cavalry, tank units, magic battalions, and support battalions."

"Yes, that's correct. In terms of scale, it's a division, but it includes a guard regiment centered around Aisha-sama and an independent support battalion."

There are also units responsible for reconnaissance, communications, and medical support, and the band performing in the parade.

Including non-combatants, the total number is about ten thousand.

Formally, I was at the top of this hierarchy.

...Emotionally, it's a heavy burden.

"Let's just leave it to General Vagelis."

I have no experience or track record.

It would be better to leave it to the professionals.

"According to Helcof, General Vagelis is not one to use unconventional tactics. He is of a similar age and has fought alongside him before."

"What about his relationship with the nobility? Sefira."

When I called out, a light orb appeared in a position not visible from the window.

"His wife is a baron's daughter. The baron, who lives in the capital, is the manager of the emperor's second wardrobe."

"Sorry, is that an important position?"

"Aisha-sama, a position that allows one to be involved in the emperor's daily life means that one has the ability to influence the emperor's decisions. Even if the rank is low, it is not a position to be underestimated."

Wearrel, who is unfamiliar with the military, is a former teacher and a person who served a marquis.

He shouldn't be familiar with palace duties.

Such information came out because he was looking out for me.

I'm grateful to have Wearrel as my aide, even though I'm still unaccustomed to the noble society as a prince.

"So, is General Vagelis also on board with this? If he was against it, he would have tried to use his father-in-law to get out of it."

However, he didn't seem that way.

During our meeting, he was indifferent and not even businesslike.

He wasn't being rude, but his entire demeanor indicated he had no intention of being friendly.

"The conflict in the remote area is low in terms of merit. Suppressing it would take a lot of time, and the distance is a burden. Moreover, simply defeating the enemy would only cause resentment among the locals. It's a difficult battle with little reward, and the general is complaining that the effort is not worth the evaluation."

Sefira, who has no qualms about saying difficult things, revealed the inner thoughts of General Vagelis, who criticized this deployment.

"When did you eavesdrop on that? That's not okay. You shouldn't trample on someone's personal matters like that."

"It's information that benefits the master."

"No, I already knew about his dissatisfaction from our meeting. If I act unnaturally the next time I see him, what will I do? It's not right to invade someone's privacy like that. If you heard it by chance, you should keep it to yourself."

Sefira, floating with a dissatisfied look, still seems to be insensitive to human sensitivities.

"I'll ask for help when I need it."

"Information is only useful when obtained in advance."

Is Sefira in a rebellious phase?

"Aisha-sama."

"What is it, Wearrel?"

Wearrel, sitting across from me, glanced at Sefira and covered his mouth.

"Perhaps you want to be praised for your actions on Aisha-sama's behalf."

"Really?"

"Seeking a correction to an evaluation below expectations."

Breaking down what Sefira was saying, it seems Wearrel's interpretation was correct.

"I see, you've started thinking about such things. Thank you. I understand that you're thinking of me."

When I rephrased it, Sefira stopped talking.

"Oh, Aisha-sama. We're leaving the capital."

Wearrel pointed to the window, where the outside had darkened and we had entered a stone structure.

This was the gate of the outer wall that protected the capital.

I am now leaving the capital for the first time.

"I wish I could have left with more excitement."

This experience was far less thrilling than when I first left the palace for the capital.

Now, I'm only worried about whether I can do it well, and I can't enjoy the new experience.

"Ah, is the preparation enough?"

Thinking ahead, I'm worried if the preparations are sufficient.

But there's no turning back now.

I pressed my chest, which was beating wildly, and squinted at the light signaling that we had passed through the gate.

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Next: March and the General 2