The Forgotten Field - Chapter 165

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 165
He had never been a man of robust constitution. Last autumn, when I last saw him, he had visibly recovered his health, yet there was no guarantee that misfortune had not befallen him in the interim. I soothed the burning sensation in my chest with potent wine.
“Your Excellency!”
How long had I been standing in the cold mountain breeze? A familiar voice reached my ears from afar. As I turned my head, I spotted Edrick Lubon crossing the mountain gorge slowly on horseback and narrowed my eyes. The man approached the palisade through the checkpoint and called out in his characteristic cheerful voice, lifting his head.
“Congratulations on the victory, Your Excellency. Thanks to you, the Imperial Army should be able to occupy the central regions of Balto with ease.”
“What is the current situation of the Imperial forces?”
“The main force has advanced past the Southern Plains and reached the doorstep of Amasek, the rebels’ stronghold. At this pace, we should be able to capture Blodar Keep, where the Heimdal Family is entrenched, within three or four months.”
I took another sip of wine and gave the Knight a light nod.
“Come inside. I have one errand for you.”
The man, who had been looking up at me with curious eyes, dismounted and entered between the camp gates. I descended the watchtower stairs and gestured for him to follow.
The man led his horse and followed me, asking,
“What task do you wish to assign me?”
“Go to the Capital and deliver a letter for me.”
I spoke matter-of-factly as I entered the tent, passing through the resting cavalry warriors of House Sierkan. The man, stopping at the entrance, made a displeased expression.
“Another letter? Everyone seems to think I’m some kind of messenger.”
“It is a letter for His Majesty the Emperor. I cannot entrust it to just anyone.”
I replied offhandedly and pulled out a chair to sit at the desk set up inside the military tent. The Knight, who had tied his horse outside and entered, scratched the back of his head and grumbled.
“The main force has already submitted a battle report. Is there a particular reason Your Excellency wishes to send a separate report?”
“What I intend to send is no mere battle report.”
I unfolded a clean parchment and fixed it with a paperweight, then picked up a quill pen.
“I intend to request that His Majesty propose negotiations with the Northern Noble Alliance.”
Edrick furrowed his brow as though he could not comprehend.
“This is nearly a won war. Is there truly a reason for His Majesty to extend his hand first at this juncture?”
“That is precisely why I must extend my hand first now.”
I dipped the quill in ink and continued writing the letter in flowing script as I added,
“If we do not intend to exterminate the Balto people entirely, the wisest course is to show magnanimity when victory is assured. If we propose to punish only the instigators of rebellion and overlook the rest, they will naturally turn their backs on the Heimdal Family.”
“However, if we forgive the rebels so easily, the dignity of the Empire may be compromised. Other lords might harbor treacherous thoughts afterward….”
“A prolonged war will only deepen resentment toward the Empire. The northerners have already witnessed their castles and lands soaked in blood by the Imperial Army. If we do not show clemency now, they will remain the Empire’s enemies forever.”
I completed the letter in an instant and poured melted red wax onto the envelope. Edrick Lubon, who had been silently watching, rubbed the back of his neck and sighed.
“I understand what you are saying. However, when the Crown Prince learns of this, there will be chaos. He is already raging about annihilating all the rebels….”
“Then it is best the Crown Prince does not know.”
I pressed my seal onto the letter and handed it to him. Only then did Edrick Lubon realize he had been tasked with delivering a secret letter without the knowledge of the Imperial Army’s commander-in-chief, and his face paled. He spoke as though groaning.
“You know I am already out of favor with the Crown Prince. You could send a messenger from House Sierkan, so why me….”
“If a messenger from the Grand Ducal House moves in times like these, all eyes will turn toward us. But it is perfectly natural for the Imperial Guard to meet with His Majesty. This negotiation must appear to stem entirely from His Majesty’s own will.”
The Knight, unable to find words to counter, merely moved his lips and reluctantly accepted the letter. A heavy sigh escaped from him.
“If the day comes when I am forced to leave the Knight Order due to the Crown Prince’s pressure, Your Excellency must take me in.”
I made no reply and merely gestured with my chin for him to leave. Then the man, who had been wearing a sullen expression, suddenly broke into a mischievous smile.
“Very well. If Your Excellency has no intention of taking me in, I shall ask the Grand Duchess instead.”
This time I paused in preparing a new letter for my retainers and turned to look at him. The man shrugged and added,
“When I saw her before, she said she would employ me as a guard knight if I had nowhere else to go.”
“Ha, when did that happen?”
Barcas shook his head as though the notion were absurd.
“Taking a casual remark at face value… You’re more naive than you appear.”
“You said it wasn’t mere flattery, sir.”
The man retorted with indignation.
“It was only two months ago. You saw how pitiful my situation was, running back and forth with letters, and suggested I become your escort instead…”
“You met my wife two months ago?”
The man, who had been speaking without caution, flinched and stiffened his shoulders. After studying his expression for a moment, he mumbled defensively.
“I had to visit Kalmor regarding the conscription of craftsmen some time ago. It was merely a chance encounter then.”
“How could you have chanced upon my wife, who stays within the castle?”
At the probing question, an aggrieved expression crossed the man’s face. He countered as though the matter were absurd.
“Who said she stays only within the castle? She has a wolf the size of a stallion with her—how could such a thing be possible otherwise? It seems she goes outside the castle almost daily because of that beast. I encountered her in a field south of Laedgo Castle.”
Barcas narrowed his brow.
Now that he thought about it, roughly four months ago, he had received a letter from her requesting permission to venture outside with the wolf. He had granted it on the condition that she bring a substantial escort.
Truthfully, he had not wanted her to set foot beyond the castle walls, but he could not bring himself to ignore the first letter she had ever sent him.
‘I thought she would merely go out once or twice for a change of scenery…’
As I felt my nerves sharpen, I became aware of Edrick Lubon’s gaze fixed upon me. I shot him a piercing look.
“What is it?”
“Nothing… I was merely impressed that you permitted her to raise a magical beast, sir.”
I was about to protest that I had not explicitly permitted it, but I closed my mouth. It amounted to tacit approval, after all.
He leaned his shoulders against the back of the chair and ran his fingers through his hair somewhat roughly.
When he first received word that she had begun raising a Dire Wolf pup, his intention had been to have it disposed of immediately. Regardless of its youth, a magical beast remained a magical beast. He had harbored no thought of allowing such a dangerous creature near her.
Yet the moment he saw her cradling the small creature and basking in the summer sunlight, he could only turn away without a word.
The woman who had always seemed tormented since losing her child was smiling as though truly happy.
As he recalled the bitter sensation he had felt upon witnessing that sight, a bitter taste rose in his throat. With his absence, she had truly become well.
Barcas, who had been dwelling on that fact anew, asked while concealing his bitterness.
“Did my wife appear to be in good health?”
“She looked splendid, sir.”
Edrick spoke brightly.
“Even during her time at the Imperial Palace, I have no memory of seeing her with such vitality. It is clear that the magical beast is bringing her happiness.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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