Preparations for War Pt.3

Michael Magna, Month 11, Day 14, Year A.F 652. The city of Ivern, Kingdom of Rosalia.

The morning breeze signified a good morning. Well, with everything coming together, there really is nothing I else I could think of.

The city was quite peaceful, certainly far removed from the army settled outside it's walls. Though it's a bit of bummer that I wasn't able to join the upcoming meeting regarding the military decisions.

But it's fine, I didn't come here to take part in the upcoming battle. Though the tea at least tasted nice, the soft scent as I sat here through the soft sounds of a waking city.

The door opens taking me out of my thoughts as I look up to see Prince Lenard enter with a smile. He spoke with a soft voice, "Apologies for the lateness, Sir Michael. The recent events has made me a bit busy."

I stood up then bowed to him in respect, "My Prince, it is my honor to have you in my presence."

He walks to the sofa in front of me, his smile remains as he sat.

"So, Sir Michael, I assume you must wonder why I called for you here today."

"Of course. My Prince." I replied as I sat back down.

He taps his fingers to the table in front of us as he takes out a few pieces of paper. "The recent reports I received from the capital has been enlightening. You had evacuated you wealth through the crisis." He eyes me suspiciously.

I cough a bit. I should have know that there was no way that amount of personnel and wealth could move without repercussions.

"That is actually quite a coincidence, My Prince. I already had my plans before, to leave the capital and move out my wealth. And with your marriage to Princess Eribeth, I believed that Alton could have been the next economic center of the Kingdom."

He eyes me for a few more moments, "I see. That is quite a coincidence then. Though there has been something that has been bugging me for a while."

"What is it? My Prince?" I ask him in confidence, knowing that I have thought of anything he could ask.

"Why did you have a mercenary company with you?" He spoke to me with a glare

A smile graces my features. "The recent increase in banditry has become quite a problem, something I'm sure you are aware of."

He scowls at me, showing that he wasn't aware of it. "Yes, I'm aware of such."

I nod, "It has gotten to a point where it has reduced the wealth flowing through the cities. And since no one seems to have done anything, I decide to do something about it."

He taps his chin in thought, "I see," He forces a smile to his face, "Then I thank you for such but it matters little now."

He lowers down the papers on his hand ,"You have saved me from capture, a fact which I wouldn't forget."

He leans back, he looks at me, expressionless, "Now, I would wish to reward you, so tell me what you want."

I smile in excitement and with the most foolish grin I can muster, I spoke to him, "I want to be given a village."

He looks to me in shock as he thinks about my words, "A village? Not a title of nobility nor a castle? Just a village?"

I give him a sheepish grin, hoping that would be enough to assuage his concerns. "Yes, I require no title nor position of power, My Prince. All I ask for is a village."

"Why?" His look of confusion was almost amusing.

I give him a nod, "I'm sure that anything more than that would bring trouble to you. And I'm sure that a small and simple village would be enough for me to create revenue."

He smiles at my words, "I see, then I shall give you one village in the west. Since Lord Allister would dominate the east, the west would at least give you a route in directly to the Iridian Principalities."

He intertwines his fingers with a smirk, "I hope that would be enough for you."

I bow to him, "It is, and I am more than thankful for this opportunity. My Prince."

He then took out a map, with all the villages, cities and castles depicted along with their names. I look to the west as he points to it. Specifying the village that shall go under my jurisdiction.

A few minutes pass, and with a few documents signed, he has officially given me the village. Deeming me as an official under his authority.

With that done, I stand up ready to leave, till he speaks out, "Oh, would you be leaving along with the mercenary company?"

I stop in my steps, "Yes? But if you wish for them to stay here, I'm sure they'll be more than happy for you to take their contract."

He shakes his head, "No, no, It's alright. I'm merely confused at how well they seem to do against those soldiers." He locks eye with me, "How well do you think they'll last against a demon knight contingent."

I give him a shrug, "I do not know, My Prince. But they'll probably hardly last, seeing that they are still human."

He thinks a bit before he looks up, "Quite right, then I have no plans on stopping you further. Though, remember that you'll always be welcome to join us once the battle ends."

I walk out the door before giving him a bow, "Thank you, My Prince. I shall help however I can."

I close the door behind me and give out a sigh of relief, It's quite good that he doesn't plan on involving me in the upcoming wars.

Well, it is understandable, since all officers in his army are demon nobility. Adding me in will just be asking for a fight.

I also have no military experience, something that would make such a move even less worth it. With such thoughts, I continue to walk towards the exit of the mansion.

The sounds of shouts enter my ears as I pass by a room. It seems they have started without him. It doesn't matter to me much, anyway. Thought it's quite a relief that he didn't buy Mary off of me, though it was his loss, so it mattered little to me.

I exit the mansion and made my way towards the carriage directly waiting for me. I step inside to see Madelaine watching me before she spoke, "So?"

The carriage moves forward as I sat in front of her with a smile, I replied, "He gave the village at west, one the closest one to the south."

She leans back in her seat, "That's great."

"It is, then again, anything near west would have done fine. Though it is dangerous to have the village so close to enemy territory."

She looks at me in confusion, "I'm sure you can have your army march there in no time."

"That's impossible. That much men moving is a cause for suspicion."

"Then what do you have planned?"

"It'll probably take a month, but I'll have them dispersed as they congregate towards a village. But maybe I could get more use of that by having them take fleeing families."

She chuckles, "Oh right, you plan to steal most of the people fleeing the countryside."

"What else could be the reason I'll even consider taking in a village?"

She shakes her head before she realizes something. "Oh right, what about A&M?"

"The infrastructure should be more than useful in directing fleeing families towards my more than welcoming village."

She smiles, "Its all coming together isnt it?"

"Yeah, all we need is for both armies to implode. Giving us a chance to rout them or at least take out the leading players."

"That'll be hard. Since Prince Lenard seems to have the upper hand. Especially with the increasing mobilization the Kingdom of Arasel seems to do."

I smile at her words, "Not exactly, since I've also gotten news from Bruncia. A fleet of twenty thousand seems to be headed toward Brieslin."

"Huh, how did you find that out?"

"The Merchants at the Iridian Principalities seem to have been commissioned to bring one of these armies."

She laughs, "Quite good news then. Let's hope those expected refugees could bridge the gap between your armies."

"Oh, I know they would. Since there is no way the capital would remain untouched from all theses fighting. and with their population in the hundreds of thousand. A more than accessible alternative would be obvious, with that Im sure a few thousand would be more than willing to defend their new home."

"I see, Let us hope youre right then."

I puff out my chest in pride, "Of course I am."

She softly punches me, "Dont get too overconfident now."

I reply to her, "Never."