Afternoon of January 3, 2814 in the Western Continental Calendar


　In a room in the castle of the royal capital, Peripheria, two men and a woman were meeting each other.
　One is an elderly woman with a gentle smile on her face.
　Despite her unparalleled achievement and ability as a warrior, the atmosphere she radiates is calm and warm.
(This one will always be the same...)
　Seeing the figure of Elena carrying the teacup elegantly in her hand to her mouth, Grahart muttered in his mind.
　The first time Grahart saw [Roselia's White God of War] was when he was still just joining the knightly order.
　Even back then, many knights were charmed by her friendly personality, but her charm has not diminished even as she approaches old age.
　Apparently, the beauty of one's appearance declines with age, but the human charm is refined with age.

'And what did you think of it?　How does it feel to actually see him with your own eyes?

　It's a good thing that you're able to get the most out of your time.
　Considering the difference in accomplishments and experience between the two of them, Graharto himself felt flurried, but he said what he felt while smiling bitterly at Elena, who did not try to change her language no matter how many times he asked.

''With all due respect to Elena-sama, I honestly can't make a judgment on this,''

　Despite his hesitation, Grahart clearly said what he felt.

''It's true that he personally seems to have strong self-control, but again, the number of troops he is leading is too small. I don't think it's very likely that he'll be able to influence the outcome of the battle... and...''

　Grahart closed his mouth once, as if choosing his words.

'Besides, the troops leading them are young, and many of them are women... right?

　When she says this, Elena smiles innocently, like a child at a successful prank.

'Did you know?'

　Surprise spread across Grahart's face.

'No, from a distance earlier.

Did you just say that?

　Perhaps he had seen Grahart leading Ryoma and the others to the encampment from somewhere.

'I was hoping to have a word with the boy before our afternoon audience, though...'

''It can't be helped. His Majesty had high hopes for reinforcements from Roselia as well... and besides, if we let Mikoshiba-dono and Elena-sama meet first, we don't know what accusations the peace faction will come up with.

　The situation that the Kingdom of Zaruda is in is not one that can be optimistic.
　The country has been fighting the invasion of the Oltomere Empire alone for nearly a year, and the mood of war weariness is spreading among the generals as well.
　The fields in the farming villages near the front have been burned to the ground, the men in the prime of life have been drafted into the peasant army, and the remaining women and children have no choice but to seek shelter in the nearby cities.
　And, unable to receive adequate protection from their lords, more and more of them are selling themselves into slavery due to the hardships of life.
　The national power of the Kingdom of Zaruda is beginning to visibly decline.
　That's why now is the last opportunity 《chance》 left for the Kingdom of Zaruda.
　Now, with the support of both Roselia and Mist, a decisive battle is possible to strike the domestic strength at once.
　Of course, this is a gamble for the survival of the country, but it's a gamble worth taking.
　At least that's what the people who want the survival of the Zaruda Kingdom, including the King and others from Grahart on down, think.

I understand what you're thinking, but you can't deny the claims of the peacemakers from your mind.

　Sensitive to the faint flicker of emotion that Grahart showed when he said the word "peacemaker," Elena spoke to him in the tone of a mother chiding her child.

'But!'

Okay?　The peacemakers are not traitors. They are thinking in their own way and trying to do what is best for this country and for His Majesty Julianus. Even if it's not the same way as yours, what you want is the same... right?

(Well, that's the biggest problem with their non-malicious ideas...)
　Elena chuckled in her mind at her words.
　Because she knew that good intentions were the most dangerous poison that could undermine a country.
　Nevertheless, if she didn't leave Grahardt to chide him here, he would try to achieve his own justice by force.
　Unity of will by force of arms.
　It may be a sure and correct choice, but it's the last resort to take after all possibilities have been crushed.

'Of course ... the survival of the Kingdom of Zaruda.

　Grahart, who doesn't know Elena's heart like that, replies in a squeezing voice.

''Even if it becomes a vassal state of the Oltmere Empire, as long as the Zaruda royal family survives, I think that's one of the options.......of course, the cost is great, but it's better than losing everything. Isn't it natural that there are people who think that way?　　　　　
''........Is that all right with Elena-sama?''

　Hearing the words he didn't want to hear from the mouth of Elena, who was inwardly feeling close to worship, Grahart's face was twisted in anguish.

''What do you think I've come all the way to this country to lead an army for?''

　The moment those words were released from Elena's mouth, the air in the room froze.
　Nothing has changed, not even the glare in her eyes or her expression.
　Just a gentle smile on her face.
　And yet, Grahart's body trembled with fear.

''I said something stupid I'm sorry.

　I will not sit back and watch the Kingdom of Zaruda being absorbed by the Oltmere Empire.
　If I could tacitly accept it, I wouldn't appoint Elena Steiner as a reinforcement general.
　Nevertheless, Elena does not change her face and utters further words to strike down Grahart.

"Well, I am after all an old man who has retired, so I suppose you can't blame me for feeling uneasy.

'Oh, you heard me...'

　It was a tirade that he'd unleashed when he first met Ryoma to see his attitude, but Grahart hadn't even imagined that it had been in Elena's ear.
　The air was as awkward as the air he had heard outside the door when he was talking about his boss's innuendo with his colleagues in the bathroom, and the air was as awkward as the air he had heard outside the door.

'Yes, I may be old, but I still have good eyes and ears.

You're kidding...

　The eyes and ears here are probably not referring to Elena's bodily functions.
　It is absolutely impossible to say that Elena was in that place.
　If so, then Elena has a source of information within the Kingdom of Zaruda.
(The scary one...)
　Many people call Elena Steiner [Roselia's White God of War], but her real fearsomeness isn't her military tactics and intelligence on the battlefield.
　No one knows what kind of means she uses to obtain it, but she has the power to gather the various information of the continent under her control.
　From the diverse and miscellaneous information gathered in this way, she can extract what she wants and formulate a hypothesis.
　On the battlefield, she certainly exudes a dignity that makes her a god of war, but that's just one aspect of her.　
　Grahart removed his gaze from Elena and looked down.

''Yes, I was joking ... of course.

　Elena laughed while hiding her mouth in a funny way as she laughed at Grahart, who froze with his mouth open as if he was dumbfounded by those words.

''Poor man........''

You can't control the reins on that boy if you're this surprised?

Do you think so?

　At Elena's words, Grahart asked, narrowing his eyes.
　'He's not so perceptive that I don't know what that boy here is indicating.

'Yes, I'd say he's one of the most ferocious rough horses I've ever seen.

Rough horse...?

Though the head is the snake or the scorpion, at least.

　As a character criticism, Grahart felt that it was largely contradictory.　
　Rough horse.
　It is true that this criticism is not hard to understand.
　Mikoshiba Ryoma's physique is certainly striking.
　His face seemed calm and good-natured, but he could imagine that people might change on the battlefield like Elena did.
　However, when it came to snakes and scorpions, it was hard to imagine it from Ryouma's face at that time.

''Grahart, you can't underestimate that boy. Unless you want her to be eaten up.

I don't see how that's a criticism of an ally.

　Elena's tone of voice sounded as if she were arguing with an enemy general or a domestic political opponent.
　But Elena shook her head quietly at Grahart's words.　

'Don't get me wrong, Grahart. I trust her, and she trusts me. But you are neither friend nor foe to her yet, Grahart. Therefore, you should be grateful to her and honestly ask for her help before she perceives you as an enemy and takes everything you have.

''Truly ... if that one is as powerful as Elena-sama said ... then ... surely ...

　Silence reigns in the room.

'Good, because soon you're going to understand, even if you don't want to, that everyone in this country....

　Elena smiles quietly.
　Thinking of the young viper turning its fangs....