Chapter 65
Chapter 65 – Blitzkrieg
The Trevoir Kingdom is located east of the Brittany Federation . The Grants Principality is at its east, and Redgear in the south . Despite being a small country, it managed to remain stable by establishing a good relationship with the surrounding countries .
Its cities were beautiful; a testament to its riches .
And war finally reached it .
Although they received pressure to join the alliance to defend against Arcadia, the royal palace is still divided whether to go to war or to let Arcadia forces pass peacefully . This dispute is still ongoing .
The Trevoir Kingdom is a small country in which, unlike most other countries, the aristocrats hold the greatest power .
Despite the confusion, the King of Trevoir merely chose to keep watch silently .
[Your Majesty, we can still make it . Please send reinforcements to Brittany immediately]
[Are you out of your mind!? We can’t defeat the Arcadia Empire!]
[No, is it still possible to send help to both Brittany and Redgear at the same time?]
[If we lose, not only the king, but the whole aristocrat clans will also perish . ]
[No, the Thunder Emperor will surely pardon us if we surrender . But if we fight, we’ll die…]
[Pardon me!]
Several aristocrats looked on unpleasantly when the door was suddenly opened .
[You cur, do you know what we are currently doing here…]
[Pardon me! The Arcadia Empire forces are attacking!]
Everyone who is present were astonished by the news .
[The Brittany Federation has fallen . The Arcadia Empire’s forces are now in position to storm the palace!]
[I… . . impossible!?]
[You said Brittany Federation had fallen!? What is going on?!]
[Isn’t this going too fast?!]
In the middle of that uproar,
[So they’re here… it’s time for me to fulfill my duty as a king…]
King Louis said as he stood up .
Some of the aristocrats were already standing up and returning to their abode, probably plotting on how they would act in the future on the premise that Arcadia Empire won .
After declaring that the council is adjourned, Louis turned to his childhood friend Simon, who looked upset .
Both Louis and Simon were still in their twenties . Simon was the only person that Louis could entrust Trevoir Kingdom’s governing to .
Simon wasn’t born of nobility; he was a regular scholar recruited through normal means .
[Simon, apparently our dream has come to an end . I wish for the day that we can change the country and uproot those aristocrats away… but this is it . ]
Loius laughed in sadness, but Simon quickly denied .
[Your Majesty, everything is not set in stone yet . According to the information I’ve gathered, the opposing forces are led by Ares Schwarzer . Allow me to go to negotiate with him so that our beautiful Trevoir will remain as it is]
Simon then continued .
[I may not return alive . Your Majesty, please do your best for Trevoir if that really comes to pass…]
Simon said so with a strong resolve .
Louis looked on .
[In that case, I will also do my duty . Summon the aristocrats once more; I’ll announce our surrender…]
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Ares oversaw the scenery of Trevoir Palace and the city around it from above horseback .
[It’s such a beautiful city . I wish that I don’t have to sack it if I could . ]
[That’ll depend on the other side . ]
The knight Vulcas then mentioned .
[There has been a lot of aristocrats trying to reach out to us since earlier . Perhaps in secret]
In that, Ares could only feel complicated .
[Against orders, they already went to seek their own reprieve . Despite ruling the land for generations as aristocrats… none of them actually care for the country nor its people . ]
[Reporting!]
Ares turned around at the sudden report .
[A messenger from King Louis of Trevoir has come]
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[…speak of the devil . Well, shall we see what he has to say?]
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Even surrounded by the soldiers of the Black Legion, this person remained unmoved and calm, which somewhat sparked a little of Ares’ admiration .
(That’s a face of someone prepared to die . There is actually someone like that in this country, huh?)
It was Simon who appeared as the messenger .
[Thank you for receiving me . I’m here to convey my King’s intention to the Arcadia Empire’s forces . ]
Simon said so as I handed over Louis’ letter to Ares .
Ares read it, then handed it over to Vulcas . Vulcas was surprised upon reading the content of the letter .
[Surrender without a fight… . ?]
He looked at Simon who had a sad look on his face .
[Yes, that was my King’s response… unfortunate as it is, we have no troops to rival yours . ]
Simon continued without missing a beat .
[However, it is only under some conditions…]
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After Simon left, there were only Ares, Vulcas and Sigurd remained inside the tent .
[They’ll take responsibility with their lives . But in exchange, they want us to refrain from using violence and destruction to take over Trevoir…huh?]
[I have nothing to say but brilliant . ]
Sigurd was perplexed by Ares’ remark .
[Let’s march in to the palace for now . We’ve received permission from the King himself after all]
Ares took out a piece of paper from his notebook . Seeing that, Vulcas immediately spoke his mind .
[… . can I ask a question?]
[What is it?]
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Ares turned around in response to Vulcas’ question .
[The letter from His Majesty and then this blitz attack…same goes with Brittany…Ares-sama seems to have anticipated everything in advance . Just when was this strategy set up?]
[Before I left the Capital . ]
[This time everything went as planned . Well, there were deviations, but we managed to come up with different solutions . So all is well . ]
[…]
Ares’ reply caused Vulcas to feel upset . In other words, what happened up until now, and those letters had nothing to do with the Emperor . It was probably all written by this young man himself .
[…can I ask another question?]
[If it’s something I can answer, sure . ]
[Ares-sama, how many copies of His Majesty’s letter does Ares-sama still have?]
[I did ask His Majesty to write some]
[!? How come…]
[Uーn, that is something I can’t tell . ]
[Then… change of topic . What will happen to Prince Carlos and Archduke Saxon who are currently advancing?]
[Ah, those two won’t be able to breach Redgear . ]
[They are about to attack Redgear’s two great fortresses which were built specifically to defend against Arcadia . In addition to that, those fortresses are manned by famous generals such as Gold Tiger General Zion and Silver Bear General Garn . And more than that is Princess Liliana the Silver Princess Knight . Her presence is like a strategic weapon in itself . She can’t be ignored so easily . ]
[But…if given enough time . ]
[If they have time, then they probably could do something . Those two are Arcadia’s greatest generals . Eventually they’ll breach the fortress and march to the capital… however . ]
Ares laughed at the end .
[I would’ve already taken the capital before that . ]
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Inside Trevoir Palace
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Ares was standing before the upset King Louis and many other aristocrats to accept their surrender .
[Well then, I will convey His Majesty’s decree . ]
Vulcas who was standing on the side opened and read Emperor Sephiros’ handwritten letter with strict and serious tone .
[Trevoir will be part of Holy Arcadia Empire, and the King of Trevoir, Louis Trevoir, henceforth, will be the Earl of Trevoir . Trevoir is to continue administrative works as is . ]
Everyone present was astonished upon hearing that Louis will still be holding the position of Trevoir’s de facto leader .
[The official papers will be given once we return to the royal capital . However, this decree can also serve as a valid formal grant, therefore cannot be attested against . ]
Ares added to silence the astonished aristocrats .
When Vulcas saw Emperor Sephiros’ handwriting, he couldn’t his surprise as well . How many more letters does this man have? Moreover, how come His Majesty allowed such a thing?
Keeping that question to himself, coughing once, Vulcas continued to read .
[Regarding Trevoir’s aristocrats… we guarantee that they can keep their property and wealth . However, their land will be confiscated . All aristocrats will be appointed baronet, and be stationed in the Arcadia Empire]
Hearing that decree, the aristocrats present were silent at first, but soon started to raise their voice .
[N-no way! I’m a duke in Trevoir! There is no way I can accept being demoted to baronet!]
[Land confiscation, you say!? Does Arcadia Empire not know about courtesy between aristocrats!?]
[This lord cannot accept that condition!]
Complaints started to fly one after another and soon the hall became too chaotic . Seeing this, Ares then said .
[Then do you want to fight for it?]
The hall which was noisy and chaotic gradually quieted down after Ares’s words .
[This place is but a small country . In Arcadia, you’re already fortunate enough to be considered as baronet . Know your place . ]
[The confiscation is against courtesy, you said? You’ve surrendered . We have no obligation to show any courtesy to you . This is us already giving you preferential treatment by letting you keep your property . ]
[And more than anything!]
Ares refuted the aristocrats’ argument one by one and added a decisive statement .
[If you don’t accept, then it’s fine . Just prepare to have your clan completely erased from the face of the continent!]
No one dared to counter argument Ares after that .
And from that day onward, the Trevoir Kingdom became Trevoir County . The aristocrats did not dare to rebel . Three days later, they packed their belongings and headed to the Arcadia Royal Capital .