Once preparations were in order, the next step was to exchange letters and set the battle schedule. Even in the war between Ăpinay and Euz, aside from small-scale raids, this process had clearly taken place.
For a long time, they clung to the romantic notion that battles arranged through proper procedure were honorable engagements befitting nobility. It might seem incomprehensible to modern eyes, but thatâs because assembling an army of lords was such a complex matter.
Of course, not everyone followed these procedures. People like the Count of Basel and me, who pursued practical advantage, didnât hesitate to launch surprise attacks. There were no absolute rules on the battlefield.
"That banner bears the crest of the Hildenberg family of Belfort."
The Hildenberg familyâs crest was fluttering in the wind; theyâd already established their camp. The Baschurten army was also present. Somehow, Iâd ended up being the last to arrive.
The Count of Belfort came from a warrior family and was a martial type of lord. His disposition was similar to my father-in-lawâs: resolute (neutral). With his thick, rough facial features, he gave off the air of a bold general.
After the counts exchanged pleasantries and caught up with each other, Count Belfortâs gaze turned to me. He reminded me of my father-in-law. The count, who was quite large in stature, asked after his daughterâs well-being.
"Your daughter is doing well in my territory, Count."
"Thatâs odd. Why is my daughter in your territory?"
"Your son-in-law brought her along for a vacation. But then the civil war suddenly broke out, and Michael was summoned to the duchyâs army, so my wife is looking after her now."
"Is that so? I apologize for the trouble sheâs been causing you."
With that, Count Belfort pulled out a silk pouch and placed it squarely in my hand. Whatâs this? I opened the pouch to find gleaming gold coins sparkling brightly.
"The Hildenberg family considers it shameful to impose on other families. She may be a married daughter, but sheâs been a burden on you, so Iâm simply paying compensation. Keep it."
He turned out to be a surprisingly generous count.
Refusing would have been an insult to the count, so I accepted.
Suddenly, my sister-in-lawâs value in my mind skyrocketed.
I should tell Michael to bring his wife over whenever he likes from now on.
Having received this much, she naturally deserved to be treated accordingly.
Count Euz, who had been watching from the side, seemed to find the whole thing absurd.
"Still wasting money on pointless things, I see."
"Itâs my familyâs policy, so stay out of it."
"Lord of Feuzen, show me how much this iron-headed count paid you."
I counted them. Twenty gold coins. My fortune had been 50 gold coins, and it had just jumped to 70 in an instant. It was such an unexpected windfall that I was cheering inside. Count Euz frowned.
"So youâve already recovered from the aftermath of the great war."
"Donât misunderstand. That was every last coin of my personal spending money."
"...A lord with an allowance. What is this world coming to?"
As it turned out, Count Belfort was currently pouring enormous sums into rebuilding his territory, which had been devastated in the great war. Instead of living lavishly, he used only a fixed monthly amount for personal expenses.
And heâd just handed all of it over to me as compensation.
It was also a matter of Hildenberg family pride.
"Belfort isnât what it used to be, I see. A mere 20 gold coins for an allowance."
The Count of Baschurten butted in. He was average in build but had a pronounced belly, and living up to his reputation as a lecher, the stench of his perfume was overwhelming. Count Belfort didnât even spare him a glance.
According to my Scouter, his disposition was lust (evil).
It matched my expectations without a shred of deviation.
"So youâre the famous Streit? Whether youâre truly a great knight as the rumors sayâwell, weâll see about that."
"He is a great knight, as the rumors say. Far better in a fight than that brat of yours, Baschurten."
It was Count Euz who fired back at the Count of Baschurten, who had been needling me. The Count of Baschurtenâs eyes turned hostile. Count Euz smirked and stared him down until the Count of Baschurten looked away first.
"Letâs see how long Euz can keep up such a fight against Burgundy."
"We in Euz are nothing like a brat who tried to surrender to Burgundy."
He tried to surrender to Burgundy during the great war?
A murderous glint flickered in the Count of Baschurtenâs eyes, but he brushed it off and walked away.
Count Euz merely snorted.
"The Count of Baschurten tried to surrender to Burgundy?"
"When the Burgundian forces couldnât advance due to Belfortâs fierce resistance and rerouted through Baschurten, he barely put up a fight and was ready to surrender. If the Count of Basel hadnât waged his guerrilla campaign, who knows what would have happened."
This was information I hadnât anticipated.
And ironically, the Count of Baschurten had been saved by what was now the enemy.
"Then why does he want to participate in this civil war?"
"Didnât I tell you? That manâs only goal is plunder."
Setting aside Count Euzâs contempt-laden criticism, I realized I needed to keep a close watch on the Count of Baschurten. If he had a track record of attempting to surrender, he couldnât be trusted as an ally on the battlefield.
He might turn out to be the biggest liability of all.
I formally reported our arrival to the Crown Prince. He was staggered when he saw the total troop count Iâd compiled. It was a lot, without a doubtâmore than the combined total from the Euz-Ăpinay war.
"This is the Western Lordsâ Armyâs total strength?"
"Itâs far more than I expected."
Euz Army: 515
Essenbach Army: 1,523
Belfort Army: 788
Baschurten Army: 327
Rosenheim Army: 850
Gale Knights: 58
The Western Lordsâ Army totaled 4,061 men.
And in Rosenheimâs case, it was a full mobilization, hence the high number.
This was thanks to the Grand Duke granting the Crown Prince mobilization authority over Rosenheim.
The sheer number of troops pouring out of Rosenheim and its seven villages was impressive. Hissen, which was defending the border, was excluded from the count. If we could hire mercenaries on top of this, the force would rival Essenbachâs in scale.
The problem was that if those fully mobilized troops suffered heavy casualties, Rosenheimâs future could be ruined. So I classified the Rosenheim forces as reserves.
"Your Highness, weâre already being put to the test. Be brave."
"I suppose I must. I boasted a great deal to Lily. I canât tuck tail and back down now."
And he also wanted to meet Vermeer again.
I could feel the Crown Princeâs solemn resolve.
The Rosenheim army became the Crown Princeâs direct command, with me in charge of operations. When I convened the strategy meeting, an awkward silence hung in the air. As Chief of Staff and operations officer, I opened with a greeting.
"On behalf of His Grace the Grand Duke and His Highness the Crown Prince, I extend my gratitude to the lords who have joined this war effort. Your dedication and loyalty to the Altringen name will be remembered throughout history."
All the counts except the Count of Baschurten nodded in agreement at my address. The Count of Baschurten, his eyes still full of displeasure as he looked at me, even yawned.
Count Euz promptly rebuked him.
"Count Baschurten. If youâre bored, why not go home?"
"I answered the Grand Dukeâs summons, not yours. You have no say in whether I stay or go."
"Then sit still and pay attention when the Chief of Staff, appointed by the Grand Duke himself, is speaking."
Having Count Euz handle him directly made things much easier.
The Count of Baschurten glared at Count Euz for a moment before turning his head away. The Crown Prince also fixed the Count of Baschurten with a notably displeased stare.
When their eyes met, the Count of Baschurten quietly averted his gaze. Defying the supreme commander would be too much even for him. The other counts were also glaring at the Count of Baschurten with open contempt.
After gauging the room, he lowered his head as if swallowing his frustration.
And yet, his mindset read: Cold and Calculating.