Yet, it wasn’t as though Arma Zirnitra had that much leeway either. Once they confirmed the retreat of Osterode’s army, Leitmeritz’s army stopped. The soldiers had reached their limit, unable to move any longer. The same applied to Olmutz’s army which had crushed the enemy’s right wing and on top of that joined the furious, frontal assault of the central unit. It was a victory that offset their previous defeat more than plentifully, but their bodies couldn’t keep up with their delight, and one soldier after the other collapsed on the spot. For some of them the exhaustion and accumulated injuries were so severe that they died then and there.
Polesia’s army didn’t want to let their commander Sofy try to force herself, and the western lords’ army feared the might of Osterode’s army, and thus both refrained from pursuing the Valentina army.
For this reason Arma Zirnitra allowed the enemy to retreat. Still, it didn’t change the fact of them having won. Tigre and Mashas smiled at each other, and after leaving the command of the central unit to the elderly earl, Tigre rode his horse to Polesia’s army. Sofy greeted Tigre with a smile. Both dismounted and faced each other. Sofy’s body was plastered with bandages so as to cover the wound inflicted by Valentina. It made it painful for Tigre to look at her. But, seeing her smile sweetly, Tigre put on a smile as well.
“So, you’re going to become…king of Zhcted, huh?”
“That’s the plan,” Tigre answered confidently as Sofy looked at him with her head slightly tilted to the side.
He was also completely exhausted, but compared to Sofy who had come all the way here while leading an army, his level of fatigue was trivial. Considering it like that, he straightened his back and puffed out his chest.
“It might not be necessary to explicitly spell it out, but please let me ask you once more to lend me your strength.”
Her response was a gentle hug and the following words: “As long as you keep your promise to take me on a little trip after all of this is over.”
Tigre nodded while feeling Sofy’s warmth.
This spelled the end of the 「Battle of Zamberk」. But, it didn’t mean that everything had ended at that point.
◎
Taking several days, Valentina returned to Silesia, but she didn’t have the gates closed at once. She knew it would only cause the capital’s residents to worry. Besides, it was indispensable for her to keep flaunting her composure to the palace’s people and the lords.
What could possibly be called fortunate was the fact of nothing having changed in the capital since her departure. Lines of those wishing to enter or leave Silesia formed on either side of the gate, and once she passed through the gate, she was greeted by a city as lively and flourishing as ever. After thanking her soldiers for accompanying her, promising compensation to the wounded, and telling her army to break up for the sake of resting up, Valentina entered the palace. The bureaucrats ran up to her, showering Valentina with words of consolation. Valentina thanked all of them with a smile, before asking them to gather the main personnel of Zhcted’s government in the council room.
When the bureaucrats asked her about the purpose of the meeting, Valentina replied, “We are going to perform His Highness Ruslan’s coronation.”
The Vanadis, including herself, being able to act as they pleased stemmed from the absence of a king. Once Ruslan ascended the throne, all Vanadis would be compelled to fall under his rule. After all, they were Vanadis. No matter how much Tigre vied for becoming the next king, he wouldn’t be a legitimate king.
However, Valentina explained it to the bureaucrats as follows: “The Vanadis have taken action on their own accord, instigating a part of the lords and sowing anxiety among the populace. I believe we have no other choice but to do this in order to give the people a peace of mind and get the lords to understand that His Highness is the legitimate king.”
Then again, Valentina was unable to hold absolute confidence when it came to Tigre. The act of a foreigner naming himself king and being supported by several Vanadis was unprecedented in Zhcted’s history.
──I must also consider the possibility of the Vanadis not obeying Ruslan. Even if it means braving danger at such a time, I’ll transfer into Arma Zirnitra’s camp with Ezendeis’s power, abduct Regin or slay Tigre. Regin would serve as a fine tool for negotiations, and as long as Tigre is gone, the united front of the Vanadis is going to fall apart.
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