Tigre’s proclamation also reached Valentina in the capital. Then again, if one considered the distance from Pardu to Silesia, one could easily describe her skill in information gathering as outstanding. For anyone else, it’d have likely taken another two or three days to learn of this.
And even Valentina couldn’t resist feeling shocked by this proclamation. She was also surprised about the news of Eugene’s death, but compared to Tigre’s candidacy as next king, this was nothing more than a sideshow.
──I guess I should put on a little act before departing.
On this day Valentina’s preparations for departure had been completed. Her large army, which what had been dubbed as Valentina Army, numbered 12,000 troops in total, consisting of 3,000 Osterode soldiers, 7,000 soldiers of the former Adelaiyda forces, and 2,000 soldiers of the western lords following her. It was scheduled for them to leave the capital tomorrow morning. And according to the information Valentina had obtained, the enemy, who had amassed in Pardu, now numbered something close to 10,000 soldiers. Of course, this was just an assumption since she didn’t actually know the real state of the enemy army. Plus, the circumstances might also change while she was heading for Pardu.
When noon had passed, Valentina held a war council as First Prince Aide. However, she called the various commanders to the audience hall instead of a meeting room. And when the commanders entered the audience hall, they all had their breath taken away.
But that was only natural since Valentina was calmly standing next to the throne which had been empty for a long time now. In her hand she held her scythe with its ominous form.
While exchanging looks amongst each other due to this sight, the commanders formed a line at a place slightly separated from the throne. Before long, all of them had assembled, and Valentina took out a parchment.
“The other day, this kind of proclamation was sent out from Pardu.”
Valentina dispassionately read out Tigre’s proclamation. Her listeners couldn’t believe their ears or bluntly showed their bewilderment on their faces, but Valentina assured them that she definitely hadn’t made it up.
Within the ensuing chaos and confusion spreading within the hall, only she remained calm and collected.
“It is extremely regrettable that the Earl of Pardu has passed away. But, what is even more regrettable is him having endorsed a foreigner to become the next king of Zhcted. I wonder just where his loyalty towards the royal family has vanished to.” Valentina shifted her head slightly, facing the empty throne. “After His Majesty King Viktor passed away, His Highness Ruslan became the master of this throne. All of you should remember that His Highness talked about obeying the mourning period during the winter, before holding the coronation ceremony once spring would arrive.”
She averted her face from the throne, and let her eyes wander across the commanders with a gaze that might as well be called frosty. What the commanders sensed from her look was cold rage.
“Tigrevurmud Vorn might be a hero in Brune. But, does he really have the qualification to demand Zhcted’s throne? While it may be true that the Earl of Pardu and four Vanadis have approved of him, is it truly the right conduct?” Valentina asked, just to clearly answer her own question in the next moment, “No. Based on morality and bloodline, His Highness Ruslan alone has the right to become the throne’s owner. We shall fight in order to prevent an outlaw from snatching his throne away. In order to protect the capital’s residents and Zhcted’s lands from the hands of an evil enemy. I expect all of you, as commanders of an army division and as soldiers, to exert all your power.”
Each and every of her words was calm and definitely not loud. But the tone of her voice certainly reached their ears, even as they were standing a distance away, and deeply touched their hearts.
At this moment, Valentina Glinka Estes was doubtlessly an aide standing next to the lord of the throne and the guardian of the capital who would resolutely oppose all enemies.
Vigorous cheers washed over her from the commanders. Those shouts overlapped manifold, turning into angry roars. After waiting for them to settle down, Valentina spoke up once more. This time it concerned military matters. She informed them that the army would depart tomorrow and gave them the details of which route they’d take to Pardu.
“There are concerns that Brune will send reinforcements if we pointlessly give the enemy too much time. We should crush a criminal like Tigrevurmud Vorn at once.”
She didn’t tell them, but Valentina had another reason for hurrying the battle. Since she didn’t know how long Elen and the others would remain unable to use their draconic tools, she had to slay all of them as quickly as possible.
And then, after reviewing the armaments and states of the soldiers under the various commanders, Valentina told them once more that they’d depart tomorrow morning, and ended the war council. One commander after the other left the audience hall.
In the end, only Valentina remained.
Without moving from the empty throne’s side, a monologue teeming with her determination oozed out of her mouth when it was just her in the audience hall.
“──I won’t hand it over.”
A faint tinge of passion dyed her voice. Tigre’s proclamation had been surprising, but Valentina believed it to be a golden opportunity for her. After all, she had been given the chance to publicly take down Tigre. On top of that, she’d be able to clean up all the Vanadis backing him, too.
Not even the slightest flickering could be spotted in the fighting spirit fiercely burning deep in her violet eyes.
‘It took me a long time, and I had to create a path littered with corpses while shedding lots of blood.
When this battle was over, the empty throne should welcome her as its new owner.
◎
One group of soldiers after the other arrived in Litomysl, the base of Arma Zirnitra, from Leitmeritz and Olmutz. The morale of the soldiers was further boosted by the prospect of Mila, who led a joint force of a little less than 3,000 soldiers from Leitmeritz and Olmutz, arriving tomorrow or the day after.
The people of Pardu were also burning with a fierce desire to avenge their lord. For them, Eugene was a lord of whom they could be proud. In addition, with the wife of Eugene, Marina, having clearly shown her will to support Tigre on all accounts, the people heavily inclined towards cooperating with Arma Zirnitra.
But then again, it wasn’t as though everything was going smoothly. One example for this would be many of the neighboring lords sending responses that they wouldn’t assist Arma Zirnitra, even while sympathizing with Marina and stating that they’d pray to the gods for Eugene’s soul to rest in peace.
Tigre consoled Marina, who felt quite sorry about it, by telling her, “This much is plenty.”
In reality, he was already happy about them affirming that they wouldn’t become his enemies. Moreover, a part of Tigre felt that he’d be taking advantage of their pity towards Marina, and that would be inexcusable in the first place.
However, Tigre also managed to reunite with someone unexpected. At a time when noon was just around the corner, he came back to Eugene’s mansion after strolling through the town of Litomysl together with Gaspal and a few acquaintances among Leitmeritz’s soldiers, just to find a man and woman standing in front of the mansion.
Tigre unintentionally cried out their names in surprise.
“Your Highness Regin! Lord Mashas!”
He couldn’t say anything beyond that because Regin immediately ran over and tightly hugged him without a care that they were in public. Brune’s princess put her arms around Tigre’s neck and for a while didn’t show any signs of letting go.
Tigre looked at Mashas, implicitly asking him for help, but the elderly earl with his short and stout build shook his head, silently telling the youth to accept his fate.
At this time, Elen was out scouting with the cavalry and Lim had gone to Leitmeritz’s army camp in order to manage the soldiers. Thus, you might call this a fortunate coincidence for Tigre and Regin.
Gaspal tried to take a dignified attitude as befitting for a young noble, but once Mashas clapped his shoulder, Gaspal’s expression relaxed and he hugged his father’s shoulders. Father and son rejoiced over being safe and sound.
It was obvious at a glance that Regin and Mashas were wearing travel clothes. Their thick overcoats, gloves, and leather boots were dirty and had many smaller scratches, showing that they went through a long journey. Regin was carrying a hat with a broad visor while a sword was affixed to Mashas’s waist.
Tigre borrowed a guest room by asking Marina, and led the two there after having their overcoats dusted off.
The guest room sported a table with two chairs on either side in its center. They sat down so that Regin and Mashas were facing Tigre.
“Why are you two in a place like this?”
“That’s my line!” Regin barked back in response to Tigre’s simple question, unable to hide her anger.
With her happiness and delight over their reunion having abated, another emotion had apparently taken center stage.
“Do you remember what I had asked you when I ordered you to become the representative of the delegation?” She asked with an extremely disgruntled look that wouldn’t allow any ambiguity.
Tigre somehow managed to answer despite being overwhelmed by Regin, “Umm, inform them of our victory in the war, thank them for having dispatched troops to support us, hand over the gifts, promise them friendship…”
“Indeed,” confirmed Regin with a smile, but rage was still flickering within her blue eyes. “On my way here, I heard that you pronounced your candidacy as next king of Zhcted.”
“…Would you be willing to listen to my side of the story first?”
Tigre had no choice but to earnestly beg here while prostrating himself. After all, it was correct that he had overstayed his visit in Zhcted, gone way beyond his station, and moved around as he pleased.
Marina bringing some beverage for them at that very moment was his salvation. Regin corrected her posture, and accepted the cup with fruit water while smiling. As soon as Marina left, she stared at Tigre again, the rage gleaming within reignited.
Tigre regretted that he didn’t have Gaspal join the meeting. After he finished his reunion with Mashas, he disappeared somewhere with the soldiers of Leitmeritz. Tigre was sure that he had foreseen that things would turn out like this.
“It’s going to be a long story,” with that as a preface, Tigre began to explain while holding his cup with fruit water.
It was still autumn when Tigre and the others had left Brune, so he had been in Zhcted for less than half a year. But, lots of things had happened during that short period of time. Hearing about Ganelon, Regin blinked in surprise, gazing at Tigre while dumbstruck.
“Certainly, many strange incidents took place in Brune as well. Even though I had the priests offer prayers to the gods, it showed no effect, so I worried what I should do about it, but…”
The story about Tigre having recovered the kingdom’s treasured sword Durandal delighted Regin quite a bit, but her face immediately darkened when she heard about Eugene’s passing.
“I see. The Earl of Pardu has…”
Once Tigre finished his explanation, Regin asked him with a serious expression, “Do you truly intend to become the king of Zhcted?”
Tigre nodded.
In no time, Regin hurled the next question at him, “What are you going to do about Brune?”
Being able to immediately answer stemmed from Tigre having anticipated that question.
“If Your Highness permits, I will try my utmost to wear the crown of both countries.”
This was something he’d devised on the day he decided to become king of Zhcted.
“What…!” Mashas cried out with his gray beard trembling after having silently listened so far out of consideration towards Regin.
Regin also stared at Tigre, dumbstruck once more. After the room was dominated by silence for five breaths, Regina finally pulled herself together, asking, “Why?”
“Because people dear to me live in both countries,” replied Tigre while squarely taking on Regin’s stabbing look.
He wouldn’t be able to concern himself with Alsace as king of Zhcted since Alsace belonged to Brune. But, for Tigre it was impossible to part with Alsace. Having said that, it’d also be out of the question to steal it with military might.
It was then that Tigre had recalled Foumar who was also known as 『Northern Sea Baron』. According to legends, he had served three countries, being granted peerage and land by each. Hence, Tigre thought that it might be possible to reign over two countries if one could serve three. Without either of the two annexing the other.
“I’m a greedy man.” Without even noticing that he had used a casual, more arrogant way of referring to himself while addressing the princess, Tigre continued with a calm expression, “I want to keep those I cherish by my side. I want to be able to help them if something happens to them. The people living in my birthplace Alsace, Lord Mashas’s Aude, Viscount Augre’s Territoire, and of course Nice are all important to me. It’s the same in Zhcted as well.”
Regin frowned because she had understood that Tigre was serious about this. If anyone other than Tigre had spouted such lines, she’d have curtly rejected them. But, Regin had been saved twice by this youth. The first time in Agnes, and the second time in the royal palace of Nice. And him saving the kingdom from danger wasn’t limited to just once or twice.
And yet, Regin deliberately responded harshly, “You make it sound easy, but do you really believe that you’ll be able to pull this off?”
“I don’t know.”
Disappointment washed over Regin’s face due to his answer.
Tigre resumed with a gentle tone, “But, I feel like trying. Won’t you lend me your strength to that end?”
Regin bated her breath lightly, staring at Tigre full of surprise.
“The words just now… Can you repeat them once more?”
Due to her request, Tigre racked his brain whether he had said something bad, but Regin’s eyes were gleaming as if she was expecting something. He assumed that it might not be anything bad after all, and repeated the words he had said just moments ago.
Regin crossed her hands in front of her chest and smiled at Tigre, “It’s the first time for you to ask me for help.”
“I beg your pardon…” Tigre lowered his head.
Considering it closely, asking a princess for help could be regarded as disrespectful. Although Tigre had been asked by her to become king, he was still no more than an earl at present.
But, Regin shook her head, “I’m happy. I feel like I’m finally able to stand close to you, although I can’t say yet that I’m standing at your side. Until now, I’ve been always watching your back.”
“Something like that…,” Tigre started to say, but swallowed his words.
She might be right, he reassessed. It didn’t change the fact that Regin was someone important to Tigre, but unlike Elen or Mila, she naturally didn’t fight next to him. This makes only sense since Regin is no warrior, but it might have been a source of frustration for her. No, I think it’s safe to say that it must have vexed her.
“If I were to become king of Brune…” Tigre spun his words for her sake while thinking, “You’d become my wife. But, I’m still very inexperienced as a ruler. I can’t say anything as grandiose as let’s support each other. Therefore, please stand next to me instead of saying that you’re close to me.”
Without answering, Regin stood up from her chair and looked at Mashas.
“Earl Rodant, make sure to keep your eyes shut until I tell you otherwise.”
“Should I step outside for a bit?”
Guessing what Regin was about to do, the elderly Earl displayed some tactfulness.
“No, that would take it too far. We have many important matters to discuss, after all.”
“As you wish,” Mashas answered solemnly and closed his eyes.
After confirming as much, Regin went around the table, planting herself next to Tigre.
“Please stand up, Tigre.”
Tigre looked up to Regin with a baffled expression.
I don’t believe that she’s taken my words literally, but still, what is she planning?
Even while confused, Tigre followed her demand, standing up. At that moment, Regin stood on her tiptoes in order to stretch herself, and pressed a kiss on Tigre’s left cheek.
“I took the liberty of immediately performing one act that would be expected of a wife.”
Looking at Regin who smiled like a child that succeeded in a prank, Tigre responded with a kiss on her left cheek. And then he noticed that she had called him “Tigre.”
After they waited for Mashas to open his eyes in an unnatural manner, the three resumed their discussion. Regin explained why Mashas and her had come here. Hearing that they had spurred on their horses during this season with the sole desire to tell him about the various things she had learned after investigating Saint-Groel, Tigre became dumbfounded. They told him that they joined the soldiers after hearing that many were heading for Pardu, once they arrived in Leitmeritz. As they didn’t know about Eugene’s death back then, they had planned to meet with him and request his cooperation. According to Regin, they had seen Tigre’s proclamation on the way to Pardu.
Tigre suffered a shock when he heard that a temple of Tir Na Fal was hidden deeper inside Saint-Groel. But, at the same time, it made sense to him. The demons having shown up on that land and Ganelon having ruled that land; all of it had a reason.
While showing him her right palm, Regin said with a puzzled look, “A crest shone on this palm until I exited Saint-Groel.”
“That might be a legacy of Ganelon,” Tigre stated humbly while remembering his battle against Ganelon.
Back when the goddess descended into his own body, just to be devoured by Ganelon right after, several scenes had flashed through Tigre’s mind as if he was watching them from someone else’s point of view. Tigre believed those to have been parts of Ganelon’s past. The Ganelon from back then had said that he lent his strength for the sake of the founding king, Charles.
“Tigre, what are you going to do about the bow that connects Tir Na Fal and you?”
“I’ll keep using it as my weapon and heirloom of the Vorn family,” replied Tigre without any hesitation. “I’m aware that Ganelon made the Founding King Charles throw it away. I know only too well just how dangerous it is. But, without the Black Bow, I wouldn’t be where I’m right now. Seeing how I’ve been using the powers of the Black Bow up to this point, it’d be ungrateful to simply throw it away. Instead, it’d be proper to pass on as much as I know about it to the next generation.”
“The 『King of Magic Archery』, huh…?” Mashas muttered thoughtfully, and then fixed his eyes on Regin. “Your Highness, I trust Tigre. He’ll create a new legend of the 『King of Magic Archery』, different from the one being talked about right now. It might be handed down as a tale related to the Black Bow.”
Regin sighed lightly. But, the stir of hope and nervousness had been born in her heart.
‘Brune has shunned archery until now. This young man with his Black Bow might change that perception. I’m sure Brune will be able to take a step forward thanks to that. It might be a difficult path to tread. And it might be accompanied by bloodshed. But, there’s merit in going through with it.
Regin stared at Tigre with a smile, nodding. It was proof of her acknowledgment.
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