This is truly troublesome.
That was Emperor Attila’s immediate reaction upon hearing the news that Admiral Blachnatt had occupied Evan Bacher and established it as his new garrison.
Ohad, who had risen from the Crown Prince’s butler to the Emperor’s chief steward, tilted his head in puzzlement.
Are you not pleased, Your Majesty? Your close friend has just achieved a great military success.
Attila signed the documents authorizing the dispatch of manpower and supplies to Evan Bacher, then set down his fountain pen.
Well, as emperor, I should say I am pleased. But he is always obsessing over military glory like some broken machine. It is not as if he is doing it for the title of Grand Duke. It is just that he acts so emotionless, and it is worrying.
Ohad, who had known Casar nearly as long as Attila had, tilted his head curiously.
Wasn’t Duke Blachnatt always like that? I don’t recall ever seeing him show emotion.
No, he wasn’t, Attila replied with a smile, though his expression remained troubled. He rose from his seat.
By the way, Le Demang has requested an audience again today, hasn’t it?
Yes. Come to think of it, it is about time.
How tiresome. We are not parrots.
Grumbling, Attila left his office and entered the audience hall wearing the perfectly composed, benevolent smile befitting an emperor.
During the reign of former Emperor Pobgen, commoners who had bought noble titles with money now behaved with respectable decorum, putting on quite the noble airs.
Attila raised his hand in acknowledgment, then sat at the head seat and scanned those who had come to request an audience. They were a group primarily composed of the Bakra class active in the capital, Le Demang. It supposedly meant tomorrow.
Though they claimed to be a charitable organization, in reality, it was an excellent means to strengthen their political influence and consolidate their standing within their social stratum.
After showering Attila with praise for his reign and lauding the continuous string of battlefield victories, they finally began to broach their main point.
Your Majesty, is it true that the Teshia Empire has sent an envoy?
What are your thoughts regarding Admiral Casar de Blachnatt’s refusal to accept a truce?
Isn’t it glaringly obvious why the war continues even though the original justification has vanished?
It is said the Blachnatt family’s military supply business is enjoying unprecedented prosperity. They are the ones benefiting most from this war.
They have occupied Evan Bacher, haven’t they? If the Blachnatts extend their railway all the way to Evan Bacher, might they not surpass even the Imperial Household in wealth before long?
Your Majesty, you must assert the dignity of the Imperial decree against the head of the Ten Great Houses, who clearly forgets his place and acts recklessly.
Attila nodded along, forcing a smile so intensely that a twitch appeared at the corner of his lips as he listened attentively.
Though publicly he concealed his personal friendship with Casar to maintain the image of mutual checks between the Ten Great Houses and the Imperial Household, moments like these occasionally left him utterly drained.
You people.
Sorry, but it was the Blachnatt family who funded my political endeavors since I was a penniless, orphaned prince.
Even I only heard the news this morning, yet you already know everything? The news about the occupation of Evan Bacher. I was considering releasing it as an evening extra, but it seems unnecessary now.
Huh? Ah, well.
Why? Has the Teshia Empire pressured you to go to Emperor Attila and demand he accept a truce?
He wanted to rebuke them outright, but he clearly saw that turning them into enemies would cause him serious trouble, so Attila quietly smiled.
It is good that your information is swift, but you would do well to learn when to reveal it and when not to. Of course, I shall always bestow boundless mercy and love upon my fellow Imperial subjects, but not everyone shares that sentiment, do they?
Yes?
If, as you claim, the wicked Admiral Blachnatt learns that battlefield intelligence is leaking, won’t he rage and hunt down spies with fire in his eyes?
Sorry, Casar.
In an instant, Attila had branded his friend a villain and secretly crossed his fingers. Still, his words seemed to have struck home, as the members of Le Demang exchanged uneasy glances, their faces pale.
Good. So keep checking each other, and keep your information to yourselves.
It is a fact well known to both you and me that the former Crown Prince has severed all cooperation with the Teshia Empire. However, it is equally true that I delegated full command of the Imperial Army to Admiral Blachnatt two years ago, at the outbreak of the Teshia War.
After all, the war began when Ezra allied with the Teshia Empire.
The foolish First Crown Prince had conspired with a foreign nation to usurp the throne he claimed had been stolen from him, and thanks to the Blachnatt faction’s early dominance, the war had consistently favored Farsade.
Thoroughly defeated by the Farsade Empire, the Teshia Empire quickly abandoned Prince Ezra. Yet Casar neither trusted this move nor showed any intention of ending the war.
Capture Ezra Ru La Farsade alive and deliver him before Casar de Blachnatt.
That was his clear condition, and the Teshia Empire pleaded desperately, claiming Ezra had already fled and could not be found.
Of course it wouldn’t work, because that wasn’t the sort of man Casar was. Although the prolonged, indecisive war wasn’t something Attila welcomed either, Ezra remained a ticking time bomb, hidden somewhere and plotting god knows what, so capturing him was indeed necessary.
After a brief pause, Attila spoke with a sorrowful smile.
But your opinion holds merit as well. Since I am in the difficult position of having to speak with two mouths, if you will firmly support the Imperial Household with patience and time, I shall soon present a wise solution to this issue.
You are insane, Scathach, because you are absolutely crazy!
Nemed, who had scolded her relentlessly just before she fell asleep last night, started berating Scathach again the moment he saw her this morning. Scathach pouted and piled onto her plate a total of three servings of omelet, hers and two others.
They provide lodging at the field hospital, and they say the compensation is extremely generous, proportional to how long you serve. So.
Who told you to go to such a dangerous place?
No, it is not like that. The field hospital in Evan Bacher uses existing buildings. It is large in scale and not that dangerous. And Farsade is winning, isn’t it?
With victory reports coming in daily, even Nemed couldn’t possibly be unaware of the news constantly circulating in the capital.
Where in the world is there a battlefield that isn’t dangerous? You are just trying to leave us because you feel guilty!
Nemed, stop it.
Orla, who had just followed Nemed out of the room while stretching, wrapped her arms tightly around her husband from behind.
The two had graduated from Mutton College together and married a few months ago. Orla, the youngest doctor at the hospital where Scathach had recently started working in Corbe, had fallen for Nemed the moment she saw him coming to greet Scathach.
She had suffered so much heartache at first, mistakenly believing Scathach and Nemed were a couple.
Neither Nemed, who cared for Scathach like a younger sister, nor gentle-hearted Orla had ever shown the slightest resentment toward Scathach living with them.
So Scathach resolved even more firmly that she must become independent, for their sake.
After deducting her monthly gratitude offering and living expenses sent to Payone Monastery from her salary, little remained, but if she sold the jewels left by her mother, Queen Ria, she could easily afford a shared apartment in Corbe.
It wasn’t that she had no intention of selling those jewels.
She simply couldn’t bring herself to recklessly dispose of gems her mother might have worn, even once. Thus, working at the field hospital seemed a good way to quickly save independence funds.
I already submitted my application, and as far as I know, it can’t be withdrawn. Since I am going anyway, why make it hard for me?
It is not making it hard. Sigh, fine. Did you pack your things properly?
Orla, standing behind Nemed, gave Scathach a light wink. It was always Orla’s role to gently intervene in Nemed’s affectionate scolding.
Thank you, Orla. Yes, I have packed everything, and I just need to not miss my ride.
I can’t live like this! Honestly, you are going to be the death of me.
Nemed grumbled irritably throughout breakfast, genuinely upset.
He had just scouted out a man at a Le Demang meeting, while attending as a junior lawyer under his senior partner, who seemed decent enough to be Scathach’s match.
There was no better gathering around these days than Le Demang.
That man seemed like a doctor, and quite wealthy too.
Scathach, if you are really set on becoming independent, marriage is also an option.
As soon as Nemed mentioned marriage, Scathach’s expression darkened. No matter how many times he insisted it wasn’t her fault, Scathach still seemed trapped in the nightmare from several years ago.
She had been so busy building walls against every man who approached her that romance had never even entered the picture.
I am not getting married. I have told you before.
Nemed. Scathach has already said no so many times, so why do you keep bringing up marriage? That is off-limits.
Orla shot Nemed a warning look, and the conversation at the table awkwardly came to a halt. Orla never asked Scathach what had happened or why she refused to marry.
She simply accepted Scathach’s stance without question.
But Orla, imagine having such a beautiful younger sister constantly say she won’t marry. Doesn’t it hurt? Even if you think of her as your sister, can you just let it go?
Nemed furrowed his brows intensely and tried communicating with Orla through eye contact, but Orla merely glared at him and placed a finger over her lips.
Haa. Fine. Your luggage must be heavy, so I will carry it to the carriage for you.
It is not heavy at all. They will just give me a couple of uniforms to rotate anyway.
Nemed watched disapprovingly as Scathach stubbornly refused his help, then picked up her suspiciously light bag and placed it behind his chair.
This isn’t something I will yield on. Orla, don’t you stop me either.
Alright, alright. Let us just eat. By the way, you even prepared breakfast on the morning you are leaving? I am sorry.
Orla smiled gently, her eyes crinkling, and Scathach couldn’t help but smile back. She always felt guilty toward Orla, who accepted her, a girl with no blood relation, as Nemed’s younger sister.
Scathach frowned repeatedly at Nemed, who had postponed his office duties just to see her off. Passersby kept glancing at her, captivated despite that expression.
Can a junior lawyer really afford to leave this late? If you get fired, I will really feel awful! Hurry up and go!
Sigh. No one would dare mistreat a nurse carelessly, but still, it is a place swarming with men. It doesn’t sit right with me.
Besides, the Blachnatt faction is stationed there. Do you even know that? Are you really okay?
Unable to bring up that man’s name, Nemed watched as Scathach gave him a reassuring grin.
Heh. Nemed. What are you worried about? Do you still think I am as naive as I was back then?
Whenever warned to be cautious around men, Scathach would act tough, insisting she wasn’t the naive fool she once was.
Completely unaware that, to onlookers, she still seemed burdened by the wounds of that time.
Right, you fool. So steel yourself.
I am not a fool.
Watching Scathach pout, Nemed sighed deeply, and before he knew it, they had arrived at the truck bound for the field hospital. Despite the generous pay and surprisingly safe conditions, apparently few had volunteered.
The seats bolted to the walls of the converted cargo bed stood empty, giving an oddly unsettling impression.
Ugh. Please, let her be safe. Please, let nothing happen. God, I beg you.
You are calling on God too?
Nemed gave Scathach’s head a light noogie, chuckling softly, then tossed her black cloth bag onto the truck.
A few nurses already seated turned curious eyes toward Nemed as he helped Scathach climb aboard.
Take care of yourself, don’t get hurt, and come straight back if it gets too hard.
Thank you, Nemed!
Seeing Scathach wave cheerfully with an innocent smile, Nemed blurted out in sudden frustration.
Don’t say goodbye like you are never coming back! It makes me anxious!
Huh? Then. Thank you! I will be back!
As thick smoke billowed from the truck headed to Evan Bacher’s field hospital and the engine started, Scathach hastily waved her hands. Apparently, she was the final passenger.
Only six people? Really? And all seem about Scathach’s age? Should we really be letting them go?
Nemed, hit full in the face by black exhaust, scowled and waved his arms vigorously, then quickly approached the man who had been checking the passenger list near the truck.
This is definitely the truck for nurses heading to Evan Bacher’s field hospital, right?
Yesss. Yes, it is.
Grabbing the man, who had answered distractedly while tapping the truck to signal departure, Nemed fired off questions like a machine gun.
Is there anything suspicious about this?
It is an official Imperial recruitment, right?
Are you really sure these six are all?
Is it safe?
It is nothing suspicious, as it is indeed from the Imperial Household. Yes, these six are all. As for safety, I can’t guarantee it, but international law prohibits attacking medical personnel and hospital buildings during wartime.
Even after seeing the man wave an Imperial insignia necklace, Nemed’s anxiety wouldn’t subside. He stood in place for a long while, hands clasped in prayer.
God, please bestow your blessings upon my sister Scathach’s future.