187

It wasn't just the high-ranking nobles of the prince and duke factions who were embarrassed by Giselle's actions.

Some people were worried about direct damage, not just being flustered.

These were the nobles who believed in Rosalind and invested huge sums of money in her hierarchy.

"War! What will happen to cosmetics production then?"

"If Baron Fenris loses, we'll lose all the money we've invested!"

"Cosmetics technology will definitely end up in the hands of artisans!"

They had no choice but to gather together every day and vent their concerns about the current situation.

There was no other way to do it, as the Marquis of Branford had strict orders that no one should interfere.

They complained to Rosaline in frustration, but she was just as confused about the situation as they were.

'Ugh, war! Starting a war in this situation! Are you crazy?'

In fact, Rosalind was the most crazy of all of them here.

They confidently gathered investors, but ended up on the verge of failure.

Aside from the financial loss, it was truly a maddening and shocking thing to do, as not only the author's authority but even his own credibility was at stake.

Even Meriel, who had invested more money than anyone else, spoke to Rosalind with concern every day.

"What should we do? If Baron Fenris loses, the loss will be enormous."

"… … I have to pray that we win."

"Didn't you say you won a war once before? So you think you'll win this time too? My gut says so."

In fact, it was more of a wish than a hunch, but neither of them could bring themselves to point that out.

"… … Haa, honestly, I don't know."

Rosalind shook her head with a complicated expression.

Based on known information, Count Cavaldi is far superior in objective power and reputation.

I had heard rumors that Giselle had sold food to buy troops, but it was hard to believe that it was enough to defeat Count Cavaldi.

Mary continued speaking with a worried expression.

"We can somehow survive by stockpiling food, but not the other nobles. We have to appease them for now until we get the results."

"That's right. Otherwise there'll be chaos."

Both of them were partly responsible for the current situation, as they had been promoting it to the public and actively attracting investors.

The number of nobles who invested in cosmetics was quite large, so the two had no choice but to attend the 'investment victims' gathering' under the pretext of a banquet every day.

I would have liked to just give up and run away right then and there, but I had no choice because if the two of them hid or avoided each other, it would definitely be the end for them.

But the authority of the two people was strong, so no one was able to get angry openly yet.

They just gathered in small groups in a corner of the banquet hall and poured out their worries.

"What should I do? I put in 3,000 gold! If Baron Fenris loses, we're in big trouble!"

"Just think of it as not my money. That makes me feel better."

"That's because it's not really my money!"

"...yes?"

While there were people who were just stamping their feet because they had borrowed other people's money, there were also people who still could not give up hope.

"Do we really get an answer if we just worry like this? Let's have hope and be strong!"

"That's right! Let's all do it together! Yup!"

"car!"

"zero!"

"It seems like we're all screwed, even though it's just a little too late… … ."

Of course, there were some people who emptied their hearts.

"Come on, don't worry too much. That's all bad for your health. With a calm mind, look back on your home and your daily life, and realize how precious the things you used to enjoy were… ."

"shut up."

"What? What did you just say!"

Wow!

The arguments between those who had emptied their hearts and those who were angry were endless.

Bottles and glasses of alcohol flew all over the banquet hall.

Then, flames began to break out in one corner of the banquet hall, either because someone had started the fire or because it was simply caused by a falling candle.

"Fire! Fire!"

"Everyone get out! There's a fire!"

A nobleman who still hadn't come to his senses asked.

"Is this good news?"

"There's a fire! Wake up!"

This kind of chaos continued every day, and it was driving Meriel and Rosalind crazy.

After much thought, Rosalind finally asked Marielle with a serious expression.

"Do you have any cash left?"

"What? I used up all my money on food! I don't have any more money!"

Rosalind shook her head and said as Marielle freaked out.

"No, I'm not saying to invest more… … . I'm just going to buy a few capable people and send them to the battlefield."

"Why? Are you trying to assassinate Count Cavaldi? Would that work?"

"No, that's not it. If we're going to lose the war, we should at least bring Baron Fenris back immediately. If possible, send a priest along as well."

"I can somehow find a useful mercenary… … but won't it be difficult to find a priest?"

The temple, like the pagoda, cannot participate in war, because it is a doctrine apart from the law.

Even the temple dedicated to the Goddess of War only permitted fights against pagans and evildoers.

To begin with, the number of priests who could use divine power was very small, so in rural areas there were only a few evangelists who could spread the doctrine without any priests.

Rosalind continued, biting her lip.

"That's why I asked if they had any cash. I thought they'd accept it if I gave them some as a donation and told them to wrap it up like I found it on the street."

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"Hmm, okay. I guess it would work if I cried… … But wouldn't it be difficult if the Marquis found out?"

"So… … . We'll watch the situation and if it looks like the Baron is going to lose or it's going to be dangerous, we'll save him."

During a war, you cannot intervene. However, if the war is over, priests can intervene on humanitarian grounds.

Even though it is a trick that only nobles can use.

"We are not directly intervening in the war. We are simply… … . We are simply rescuing the nobles who lost the war. Even if Baron Fenris does not surrender, we can act on his behalf."

Rosalind first planned to send some decent people to save Giselle's life by keeping in mind the possibility of her defeat.

If the situation is dangerous, you can first save Giselle and then declare unconditional surrender as her guardian. If you sell the name of the Marquis of Branford, Count Cavaldi will not rush in without thinking.

'Yeah, maybe it's better that way. Why don't we just live with the Marquis? Maybe as a son-in-law… … Oh my, what am I thinking right now?'

I have no intention of marrying such a weirdo, but I will be able to acquire cosmetics skills anyway.

Besides that, considering the authority of the Marquis, his own credit and reputation, and the damage that would be done to the upper class, he had to save Jisel no matter what.

Meriel also understood Rosalind's meaning. It was like covering one's eyes and pretending not to know, but if the timing was right, mediation could be possible under the pretext that the war was over.

"Yeah, yeah. But to do that, you'd have to hire really capable people, and that would cost a lot of money. And you'd have to hire priests too. They all said they wouldn't accept anything other than cash."

Since it's a dangerous job, it's obvious that you'll have to pay in cash, because you have to be able to get out at any time.

There, priests always preferred cash for fear of being unfairly punished and being the subject of gossip.

Although Meriel pointed it out carefully, Rosalind, who had made up her mind, did not waver at all.

"We have to come up with something. If Baron Fenris dies, we'll really suffer even greater losses."

"Okay. I'll try to be as flexible as possible."

So the two of them pooled their money together and sent ten rescue and assassination(?) experts and one priest to the battlefield.

With the earnest request to be careful and intervene.

* * *

Count Cavaldi ground his teeth as he read the proclamation of war tied to the arrow.

The justification for war put forward by Giselle was simple.

― I will reclaim my 'precious' oppressed subjects and punish Count Cavaldi.

Among the former residents of the Digald County, there were quite a few who fled because they could not withstand the tyranny of the lord.

As soon as Giselle took possession of Fenris, he politely requested the surrounding lords to return the fugitives.

Of course, the lords ignored them. The workers came rolling in on their own, so who would return them?

They refused to repatriate, making excuses such as "I don't understand it," "I don't know about it," and "It never happened."

Count Cavaldi was also capturing all the people who were running away from the surrounding area and making them work in the iron mines.

Since they were criminals who had left the territory without permission, there was no hesitation in treating them like slaves, whether they lived or died.

But I never thought I'd use that as an excuse.

"You insolent brat, how dare you bring up something like this as an excuse! Do you think I looked that ridiculous?"

I forgot about it because Jiselle had never protested or requested anything since then. I just thought it was just how it was for a weakling and let it slide.

But now that I look back, it seems that he had already created an excuse to start a war with the surrounding lords at any time.

"Did you anticipate and request something like this? No, that would be ridiculous. You probably made up some kind of excuse because you thought it was a good opportunity."

Count Cavaldi tried to calm his anger.

At first I was terrified when I saw the army, but in reality the situation wasn't that bad.

Since they started the fight first, if we push them away and occupy Fenris, we can easily obtain food.

Of course, going out to fight was a bit burdensome because of the number of opponents. If you confront them head-on, you can't guarantee that you'll win, and even if you do win, it'll only be a victory with scars.

But it was the same for the other person too.

"That guy knows that too, so he's probably just surrounding them and not trying to siege them."

Fenris's army didn't even bring siege weapons.

Because if the Cavaldi army, including its powerful armed men, fights along the walls, the other side cannot guarantee victory either.

So it was clear that they were just going to surround us and hope that we would run out of food and starve to death.

That was precisely why Count Cavaldi was angry.

I wasn't worried about losing the war. I never thought I would lose.

It was just a hurt pride. The very fact that such a guy thought he could beat him was an unbearable humiliation to him.

"That bloody bastard who wasn't even born when I ascended to the throne… … is trying to plot against me with such shallow tricks!"

How low must one have looked upon oneself to think of just waiting without any siege weapons?

"Ugh… … I'll have to repay this humiliation properly. Even to that bastard's father."

Count Cavaldi's eyes became gloomy and sunken.

He was planning to trample on Ferdium, using his sin of raising his successor poorly as an excuse. He had to show an example of what would happen if he were made fun of.

Although the soldiers' morale was dropping day by day because everyone was starving, he had no doubts about his victory.

"Earl Desmond will make his move as soon as he hears news from our territory."

Although he has neglected the Cavaldi estate this time, Earl Desmond can never abandon it, because if he does, he will not be able to properly obtain iron ore.

Besides, the Duke's family must have also entered into negotiations with the prince's faction.

Count Cavaldi was convinced that the royalists would never have permitted this.

"You idiot. You've built up a bit of fame lately, so you're just doing pathetic things. Do you really think you can beat me with that kind of method?"

He was a powerful man in the North, a nobleman protected by the Duke's family, and had an inseparable relationship with the great lord Desmond.

So isn't it that even the high-ranking nobles of the royalist faction are unable to touch him without permission?

But it was clear that the crazy guy didn't know that and was just blinded by the immediate profits.

"You only know how to gamble, you know nothing about politics or war."

All he had to do was wait. When Desmond's reinforcements arrived, he could easily destroy them.

It was clear that the pro-prince faction would not be able to interfere since the Duke's family would protect them.

"Your luck ends here. I will definitely, definitely make you and your father shed tears of blood."

Count Cavaldi waited, suppressing his anger.

He vowed that he would kill that bastard with his own hands.

* * *

While Count Cavaldi gnashed his teeth and waited for reinforcements, the atmosphere in Fenris' army became more and more relaxed.

In particular, the knights had arrogant expressions and even boasted.

"Ah, I thought I'd loosen up a bit this time. Are you afraid of my sword that has mastered mana?"

"Those guys are stuck in the castle and won't come out. Aren't they just like a bunch of tails? Well, we're pretty strong. Hehe."

"If I just wait like this, I'll win, right? This is totally awesome! Hahahaha!"

The enemies have no food and cannot last long. Even if they wanted to come out to fight, we have more troops.

It was clear that he was in a situation where he was at a loss and just worried.

As such facts came out naturally from the knights' mouths, a relaxed atmosphere spread among the soldiers.

The soldiers who had been suddenly dragged in and were tense also brightened with relief.

Winning a war without fighting? I absolutely cannot stand that.

"Wow, our lord has really picked a good time."

"I've heard rumors that he's a strange lord, but isn't he actually a very smart person?"

"That's right! He's an incredibly talented person who won the war without even fighting!"

I can't help but get compliments since I don't have to fight. My body feels comfortable, so it's great.

There, the commander-in-chief, Claude, was sending supplies without fail, so the ships did not starve.

"We can fight this war as many times as we want!"

The soldiers were busy praising Giselle every day.

The dwarves and wizards who were forcibly brought here also enjoyed their leisure time, resting comfortably in the tent.

"Oh, what is it? I got scared for nothing. If this is what it's going to be like, then why did we bring you here?"

"If they surrender, we'll see what we can do."

"Oh my, it feels so good to finally be able to rest and not have to work. Isn't it?"

The dwarves and wizards, suddenly freed from their excessive work, burst into laughter.

After resting comfortably for a few days, I even started to think that the battlefield was pretty nice.

While everyone was living happily and contentedly, Jiselle, who had been looking at the enemy castle for several days, suddenly gave a new order.

"From now on, we will dig a tunnel."

At those words, the same question arose in everyone's mind.

'Why? We'd win even if we just stayed still, so why would you do something like that?'

It seems like the cycle of nonsense has returned.

The lord began to announce another strange plan.