Saving What Is Worth Saving (3)

***

- - Lunan Remnants POV - -

Castle Voltaire.

To the southwest of Lunan is Aquitania.

The territory on the way from Lunan Castle to Aquitania was none other than Voltaire.

The situation was such that the war had not yet reached Voltaire Castle.

The territories in the north were already in the hands of Visigoth, and many of the lords of the neighbouring lands had fled, but the lords of Voltaire had kept their gates tightly closed.

The reason for this was simple: he had declared his intention to defend this territory while drinking with his vassals, and it had become a disaster.

If he had been an unprincipled man, he would have been able to pretend that such a thing never happened, but Voltaire was extremely indecisive.

He could not say that he wanted to run away in front of his vassals, who were moved by his love for the country.

"As you said, my lord, even if it means dying, we will die here. Death on the run is too miserable!" <Noble >

His words included a sneer at the king who had died a miserable death while on the run.

Of course, every time his vassals made such comments without knowing how he felt, it drove him crazy.

"That's true..." <Lord Voltaire>

Without alcohol in his system, Voltaire is just a small man.

"Rumors are spreading that His Majesty was caught and beheaded while on the run. It seems that many refugees have seen the scene, and the people are already in turmoil." <Noble >

Many of the refugees who fled the Lunan capital passed through Voltaire Castle, fleeing for the one place they felt they'd be safe, in Julius's territory of Aquitania.

Needless to say, rumours naturally spread along with them.

Duke Fran is far from being a commander who commits massacres.

He was not particularly likely to mess with civilians.

Well, there was no great connection between that and the evacuation of Lunan's people.

Many of them were worried that they might be enslaved if they became Visigoth's citizens.

Or worse being forcibly conscripted into its army.

It is normal to want to live in your home country.

"It's all right for the lords to flee. Don't stop them. We cannot stop those who flee for fear of Visigoth." <Lord Voltaire>

Voltaire had ordered this in order to leave some room for escape.

"Yes, sir!" <Voltaire Soldier>

The more he did so, the more the vassals responded with fighting spirit.

That's when it happened.

Dust began to rise from the distance, and soon cavalry was seen coming towards the castle of Voltaire.

"Sir! The enemy!" <Retainer >

A retainer shouted in surprise.

Lord Voltaire sighed inwardly in astonishment.

He had been seriously considering whether or not to flee, but now he could only assume that he would die fighting.

What is the point of having vassals who do not propose to flee, but instead have the will to fight?

You useless bastards!

He thought inwardly.

"Close all the gates now! Hurry!" <Lord Voltaire>

"I'll protect you with my life! Close the gates now! We will defend this land with our own hands!" <Retainer >

What are you talking about?

Go ahead and argue that it's better to run away now.

No matter how indecisive Voltaire was, his life still came first.

There's no need to protect his pride until this last moment.

That's right.

What does it matter if he defended his pride?

Voltaire made a firm decision in his mind and said.

"This is it." <Lord Voltaire>

"Sir...!" <Retainer >

"They're charging at us at such a terrifying rate, we'd better...run." <Lord Voltaire>

"If we close the gates, we'll have a definite advantage against cavalry! Wouldn't it be more dangerous to go out there?" <Retainer >

"Well...that's true! I'm not asking you to run away, you bastard. If I wanted to, I would have run away by now. I'll stop them. All right, come on!" <Lord Voltaire>

"That's...! Sir!" <Retainer >

"What is it now?" <Lord Voltaire>

It was then that the vassal turned his head.

For they could see the colours of the military uniforms as the cavalry moved forward.

"It's black! It's black!" <Vassal >

"What's black?" <Lord Voltaire>

"It's a black uniform. They're not from Visigoth!" <Vassal >

"Allies?  Do we have any of those? Why are they heading this way?" <Lord Voltaire>

Voltaire shook his head.

However, from what he saw, he was sure that it was a black uniform.

The Lunan Kingdom's forces typically used varying shades of blue, perhaps it was a really dark blue that looked black from afar?

However, the reported situation on the front line was that they were losing battle after battle.

There was no way that cavalry could come to support them.

Mostly because Lunan didn't have any cavalry forces, their speciality was infantry just like Visigoth.

"Well, that's it!" <Lord Voltaire>

"What is it, sir?" <Retainer >

It's a distraction.

"Visigoth's army is trying to deceive us by wearing another nation's uniforms. Do not open the gate. Do  open the gate!" <Lord Voltaire>

"Oh, I see. That's a good possibility." <Retainer >

The vassals nodded in agreement at Voltaire's words.

The gates of the castle were re-closed, and they were ready for battle.

"Get the archers ready now, we're going to smash those Visigoth bastards who are trying to cheat us!" <Lord Voltaire>

And so the vassals finished preparing for the rain of arrows.

"But...if they're really on our side...?" <Lord Voltaire>

"Huh?" <Retainer >

Lord Voltaire's indecision broke out again.

"It's..." <Retainer >

"I could be an irresponsible lord who killed his allies!" <Lord Voltaire>

The vassals looked at each other at Voltaire's words.

"So, what do we do now...?" <Retainer >

"Stand by for now. Let's see what happens first." <Lord Voltaire>

"Archers, stand by!" <Retainers >

At Voltaire's words, the castle fell silent.

Finally, the cavalry arrived in front of the castle gate.

It was the Iron Cavalry wearing new black military uniforms with the Aquitania coat of arms engraved on them.

At the front of the cavalry, which had stopped in front of the castle gate, stood Zeff and Hero Elheat who was still wearing his bloody Lunan uniform, his men were riding behind Julius's riders sharing the horses aside from the few who rode their own steeds.

"Who are you? Who do you belong to?" <Retainer >

Voltaire's vassal asked from the top of the castle gate.

"Count Voltaire? It's been a long time. My name is Elheat. Open the gate, please! We've come a long way and we've injured who need to rest for while myself included." <Hero Elheat>

"My God! Lord Elheat! It's His Excellency!" <Lord Voltaire>

Voltaire immediately noticed Elheat and shouted.

"Open the gate now! Thank God!" <Lord Voltaire>

He let out a sigh of relief.

The count had no idea how Elheat got here but he would follow him.

Thinking he had a good excuse, Voltaire jumped down from the castle gate to greet Elheat.

"Zeff, are you sure that Count Julius asked you to meet him here?" <Elheat >

Zeff nodded in response to Elheat's question.

It was pretty rude, but then again, that's what Elheat was to Zeff, only Miri, and Julius could get him to speak much.

Elheat's didn't mind, of course.

It didn't matter what he did as long as he was truly loyal.

Elheat was also a man who did not care about such things.

As evidenced by how he didn't take offence to his speechless opponent in the Visigoth High Command.

"He told me to wait here, that's all. He told me to wait, so I'll wait here even if I die!" <Zeff >

Elheat rather laughed at that sight.

Of course, it was because he liked Zeff.

He'd spent years in the military but had never come across a youngster like Zeff who he'd want nothing more than to take under his wing as a disciple.

"Your Excellency!" <Lord Voltaire>

Needless to say, Lord Voltaire rushed in, and from that moment on, the actual commander of Voltaire Castle was Hero Elheat.