This is a fort of the Oltomere Empire built in the Kingdom of Zaruda.
This fort, built at the foot of a mountain range that stretches along the borderline, is the most important base of the Oltomere Empire's invasion of Zaruda.
　In a room in the fort, Shardina was listening to Celia's report while lying down on the sofa.

''The supplies and troops gathered at Fort Notis should reach the expected number in another month or so. That's all I have to report regarding the state of our supplies.

　Celia cut off her words once she read out the numbers on the white paper document.
　Fort Notis is a collection point for the supplies gathered from within Oltmere.
　From there, they would be brought into Zaruda domestic through roads built to undulate through the valley of the mountainous region.

Good........it looks like we're finally going to be able to get this done....

　Shardina shook her head with a sigh, her formidable brow clouding.
　The eastern invasion, which took years of time and an enormous amount of effort.
　That first battle against the Kingdom of Zaruda was a tumultuous beginning.
　For Shardina, who had thought that the war would be settled within six months, no matter how long from the start of the war, this past year is a cursed year where unexpected circumstances are often repeated.
　After consuming almost the same number of knights while defeating General Belhareth in the battle on the Notis Plains, Shardina stopped the march of his main forces to find out the movements of Ernesgula, who had invaded the northern borders of the Zaruda Kingdom.
　Wary of the great power Ernest Gura's spear, dividing the army into two groups, the main force and the invasion force, was itself a natural decision for a commander in charge of the army.
　Looking back now, Shardina doesn't think that her decision at that time was wrong.
　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to find a way to make it work, but the fact is that Shardina's decision was one of the reasons why the attack on the Kingdom of Zaruda was protracted as a result.
　After the battle on the Notis Plain, if I had had the entire army to annihilate the defeated army of the Zaruda Kingdom without a moment's pause, I would have been able to capture the capital city of Peripheria and proceed with the capture of the Roselia Kingdom by now....　

Now we can finally get rid of that annoying man...　

　And then, thinking of the main reason why this battle lasted so long, Shardina muttered, biting her carefully trimmed thumbnail.
　It was one of the vices that Shardina possessed that came out when she was frustrated.

'You mean Joshua Berhares,'

That man is putting us all out of commission.

　After his father, General Belhareth, was balled up on the Notis Plains, Joshua retreated with the surviving soldiers.
　Although the number of casualties of the troops was the same, the victory was still Shardina's since General Berhares, the supreme commander of Zaruda's side, had been killed in battle.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　For Shardina, it's natural to be confident of victory when she's striking out against General Berhares, who is said to be the guardian god of the country.
　In fact, there was no one in the Kingdom of Zaruda who could boast of fame and achievement comparable to the late General Belhareth.　
　However, the invasion battle, which was supposed to be a grass-cutter, was met with a counterattack from the Zaruda side, which fought under the command of Joshua Berhares, and failed due to no small amount of sacrifice on the contrary.
　Even though they were unable to increase the number of troops in the invasion force to prepare for Elnesgulla, the force was prepared enough to invade deep inside Zaruda, defeating the defeated army, whose general had died in battle and whose chain of command was in disarray.
　It was defeated by Joshua Belhareth.
　Perhaps it should be complimented not on Shardina's stupidity, but on Joshua's masterful command of the mountainous terrain - the ravines and the winding city roads with poor visibility - which he used well to launch a surprise attack on the pursuing troops.
　And Joshua's skill in leading the defensive battle, coupled with the fame of his father, the late General Belhareth, attracts the hearts of the Zaruda nobles who are working hard to protect their country and their lands.
　As a hero of the country's salvation.......　
　This is the moment when the third son of the snobbish man leapt onto the front stage.

''I've pulled out a group of knights from the west who are strong in mountain warfare on a temporary basis. From now on, I won't let Joshua Belhareth do as he has done in the past.''　

　In warfare, the more men you have, the better.
　That in itself is correct, but it's not necessarily the case that it is always the right answer on every battlefield.
　The steep mountains and deep forests that cut through the land of the Kingdom of Zaruda were a disadvantage for a commander unfamiliar with the land to operate a large army.
　Furthermore, the full-body metal armor worn by the knights, while exceptionally powerful on the plains, is nothing more than a burden that wastes energy in the mountainous regions with their highs and lows.　
　But with a map based on information gathered from the locals, who have spent countless hours gathering information from the locals, and the knights who specialize in fighting unjust wars scattered across the vast territory of the Oltomere Empire, victory is possible.
　Because as long as the terrain and the quality of the troops are evenly matched, the only factor left to decide victory or defeat is the number of troops.
(And if the turnover of the Zaruda nobles goes forward, a strategic victory is certain.......all that remains is for me to make no mistakes. It's enough for me to get away from my prey right in front of me once...)
　Carelessness, pride, conceit....
　Shardina knows that a momentary lapse in judgment can lead a winner to a loser.
　Strategic victories only account for ninety-nine percent of victories. A tactical victory was essential to ensure a hundred percent certainty of victory.

''Also, a letter from His Majesty in the imperial capital to His Highness Shardina is confusing...''

　As Shardina drifted through a sea of thoughts, Celia took out a letter from inside her pocket.

''Father.........you're urging me to attack Zaruda quickly anyway, right?''

　With a sigh, Shardina raised her body from lying on the couch.
　All the letters that had been delivered once a week for the past year, using a fast horse and a bird, were the same.
(Your father is in a hurry... though I can't help but understand your feelings...)
　Naturally, there are limits to both national strength and mobilized troops.
　Even if that wasn't the case, they were still fighting over the western border with Ernest Gura.
　It was natural to want to end the war quickly.

''Give me a loan,''

　Celia handed over the letter in silence.

'Chi,'

　Shardina's face clouded up as she peeled off the seal of the letter and poured over the sentence from the emperor, and a small tongue click escaped from her shapely lips.
　An act that was disproportionate to Shardina, who was the First Princess of the Empire on a daily basis and tried to act with grace and elegance.
(Doesn't sound like a very good story...)
　Celia's heart flutters in her chest.

'You should read it too...'

Are you sure?

　While answering that, Celia took the letter that was presented to her.
(I see........just as it should be........)
　Celia's expression was equally cloudy as she skimmed through the letter.

''The Northern Vixen. You've finally made your move........''

　A sigh escaped Celia's mouth when she saw the words "Elnesgulla Army Moving".

''It seems that the second line is still only stationed near the border of Zaruda, though...''

　Since the beginning of the war, we had predicted that this time would come at some point.
　But more than a year has passed since the battle on the Notis Plains, and the timing is too bad for them to start making moves again at this time.

It's not a good time to be a part of this," he said, "but just as the division of Zaruda into north and south is just around the corner, why is it that things aren't going as planned?

　It's as if the God of Fate hates the rise of the Oltmere Empire, a bad coincidence.
　Probably, Ernest Gura must have released a large number of secret agents into the Kingdom of Zaruda to monitor Shardina's movements.　

''Isn't it possible that this time it's just a sham too?　A year ago, Ernesgula did indeed declare war on both Oltmere and Mist, but they still only occupied the northern border towns and showed no signs of moving south. If they were going to intervene aggressively, they would have moved a year ago.

Do you mean to tell me that Elnesgulla has no intention of moving south?

　Celia nodded at Shardina's question.
　After the battle of the Notis Plains, Ernesgura had broken through the borders of the Kingdom of Zaruda and occupied several cities in the northwest.
　However, for the past year, the Elnesgoura army has remained stationed in the cities they have occupied and has not made any moves.
　They are still not moving from the northwest, playing the emissaries on Zaruda's side of the line as they see fit.

'A year ago. His Highness halted his army's advance on the news of our participation in Elnesgoula. I suspect that this time, too, it's a bluff to delay our invasion.

Even if you did, it doesn't change the fact that we'll have to come up with something to deal with.

　The trouble with this problem is that even if you are bluffing, you just have to be prepared.
　There is no way to stop Elnesgulla's army from moving south with no preparations in place.
　And just because Ernesgula does not have the intention of moving south now, we can't guarantee that it won't happen again in the future.
　Shardina sent an emissary at the stage when Ernest Gura broke through the border line and proposed the partition and occupation of the Kingdom of Zaruda with no avail, but after all, they have been turned away without an island to attach to.
　Under such circumstances, we cannot proceed with the capture of the capital, Peripheria, exposing our defenseless flanks.

"What do you intend to do?

　At Celia's words, Shardina wrinkled her brow and fell silent.
(Waiting for the troops to arrive, dragging Joshua Belhareth out into the field and winning there... and then dividing the north and south in one breath when the morale on the Zaruda side is lowered... short term.
　What came to Shardina's mind was a return to the measures she had devised before the war began.
　A northern power that cannot even be dragged into negotiations.
　I'm not going to be able to get my hands on any of them, and I'm not going to be able to occupy the Kingdom of Zaruda, no matter how many years it takes to do so.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on.

''Call Sudo back from Roselia. As soon as the troops transferring in from the west are finished moving, we'll set up a game. Also, this is for your father........

　Celia's eyes widened at the contents of the letter that was offered to her.　　

'You wish to summon Lord Rolf?'

　The commander of the Kingsguard, known as the "Emperor's Shield".
　He is one of the Emperor's most trusted aides, and is in charge of the Emperor's personal protection.
　The only time Rolf goes to the front lines is when the Emperor himself goes to the battlefield.



You think Zaruda's side will go out to cut off the rear?

　Shardina nodded wordlessly in response to Celia's question.
　If Shardina's soldiers were to advance to the front line and this frontal base was dropped, Oltomere's generals would be cut off from their home country and isolated.
　It is very difficult to believe that such a gamble is possible considering the quality of the commanders and the remaining troops on the Zaruda side, but Shardina aimed for perfection.

''I'm not going to ask you to move the Kingsguard. I'm going to ask you to take only your entourage and protect this fort. I'm sorry, but you'll have to convince your father that we'll never lose the next battle.

　At the firm determination contained in Shardina's words, Celia nodded wordlessly and turned on her heel and left the room.

''Yes........I can never lose.......''

　Shardina whispered the same words once more in a small voice as if to confirm her own determination, and stared at the eastern sky outside the window.


　Amidst the intersection of various speculations, the battle for the survival of the Zaruda Kingdom was getting closer by the minute.......