By the end of May, Imperial Year 422, the vast coalition army of the nobles arrived at the Maximilian family’s territory.
This allied force, including the Church’s Knight Order, militia conscripted along the way, bandits and brigands they had subdued and absorbed into their ranks, plus Ryan’s force of more than 3,000 men, totaled 38,000 troops.
Officially, however, they claimed to number 40,000.
For a time, tents stretched endlessly beyond the city walls.
Cooking smoke blanketed the sky.
The air pollution index rose by N percent.
The once-clean and refreshing countryside outside the city had been thoroughly ravaged by 40,000 people eating, drinking, sleeping, and relieving themselves.
The stench of sweat, bad breath, feet, and horse manure tormented the surrounding residents beyond endurance.
The Noble Council issued an official decree appointing Grand Duke Rheinland as supreme commander.
Grand Duke Rheinland then appointed Grand Duke Lorenburg as governor of logistics and supplies, Grand Duke Mecklenburg as commander of the left wing, and Grand Duke Tehran as commander of the right wing.
After only one day of rest, on June first—a day when children across the world, along with many adults who still considered themselves children, celebrated happily—these detestable nobles showed absolutely no respect for the elderly or affection for the young.
At the crack of dawn, they dragged old Lord Piedmont out to preside over the army’s collective morning prayer.
This absolutely had nothing to do with Alicia being dragged out of bed before sunrise and forced to attend the morning prayer gathering.
Absolutely nothing!
“Come on, Alicia, Lady Alicia!”
Ryan grabbed the half-asleep girl, who was mumbling something that sounded like either dream talk or curses, and vigorously shook her arm.
“It’s my fault. Dragging you out of bed was wrong.”
“I’ll treat you to pastries after it’s over.”
“Now hurry!”
“If we’re late, it’ll be a disaster!”
“If it’s such an important gathering, why do we have to assemble before sunrise?”
“Nobody’s even awake yet.”
“What meaning is there in praying at a time like this?”
The girl let out another long yawn.
“If the Goddess really exists, being disturbed this early in the morning by all of you…”
“I’d say she’s pretty kind if she doesn’t punish you for it.”
“Enough, enough.”
“Just make sure nobody hears you say that later.”
Ryan sighed helplessly and urged her onward once more.
The so-called legion-wide morning prayer was honestly rather boring.
It consisted of nothing more than lofty speeches and empty slogans meant to boost morale.
Summed up, the message was simple: pray for the Goddess’s blessing, kill plenty of enemies, and try not to get killed in return.
For someone like Alicia, however, who had only recently stepped into noble society and was still an unknown nobody, this was an extremely rare chance to show her face before the seasoned veterans of the aristocracy.
Unfortunately, Alicia had no interest whatsoever.
All she could think about was going back to sleep.
In the end, Ryan practically dragged her through introductions with several grand dukes who were on reasonably good terms with him, just so people would at least know there was someone named Alicia.
Since the army would depart that very morning, her planned nap afterward was completely ruined.
As for Blücher, he never came in the first place.
A down-and-out noble ranked lower than a dog.
Rather than embarrassing himself, he preferred staying home and making preparations.
During the gathering, Alicia clearly noticed that the surrounding nobles treated her fairly well.
There was no arrogance or contempt directed toward her.
Was it because of Ryan’s influence?
After the ceremony ended, she quietly voiced her question to him.
“Hah, that’s only part of the reason.”
Ryan reached out and lightly tapped her forehead.
“Take a look around.”
“More than half the nobles here are self-made upstarts.”
So-called upstart nobles referred to those who had risen during the Empire’s descent into chaos.
They gathered armed followers, seized territory, proclaimed themselves nobles, then later used every questionable method imaginable to obtain official noble certification from the Empire.
“The Empire doesn’t recognize those upstarts as hereditary nobles.”
“They also disappear rather quickly.”
“So they’ll do everything they can to curry favor with true great nobles.”
“The best outcome for them is marriage alliances, letting their family finally graft itself into the genuine noble circle.”
Ryan cautiously glanced around before lowering his voice.
“People like them don’t carry much weight.”
“In the eyes of legitimate hereditary great nobles, they’re nothing more than lackeys.”
“They’re second-rate.”
“But you’re different.”
“Me?”
The girl looked down at herself.
“What’s different about me?”
“I’m just a tiny little baroness.”
“Your title may be small…”
Halfway through speaking, Ryan’s gaze somehow drifted downward from her face.
…Not that small.
*Cough.*
Feeling slightly guilty, he hurriedly looked away, cleared his throat, and continued as though nothing had happened.
“But your title was earned through genuine merit.”
“I personally wrote a recommendation letter as a legitimate Imperial Grand Duke.”
“I even had someone rush the documents to the Imperial Capital by fast horse.”
“They were approved by the Senate and personally signed and sealed by His Majesty the Emperor.”
“You’re a genuine hereditary noble.”
“The value behind that is completely different.”
So that was how it was.
The girl pondered his explanation for a while.
The more she thought about it, the more she felt she owed Ryan yet another favor.
*’Great. At this rate, I’ll never finish repaying my boss.’*
*’Maybe next time I should just sing “If You Were Three Winters” for him.’*
The army was about to march.
According to the plan, the vanguard would depart first from the direction of Saxony City, while Ryan’s forces would follow alongside the main army.
Very little preparation time remained for Alicia.
There was only one place she wanted to go.
Little Damian’s home.
Perhaps because of the pressure before departure, she felt unusually restless.
Ever since Madam had entrusted Damian to her care, she had genuinely looked after the little boy.
Because of his age, however, there were many things she couldn’t teach him yet.
For now, she had only hired tutors to build his foundation.
After returning from this campaign, she might finally have real battlefield experience to teach from.
Reading military theory on paper was one thing.
Personally experiencing war was another.
She would have Blücher teach him as well.
Damian was a smart child.
Perhaps he really could become a military prodigy someday.
“Master, are you leaving for war?”
The little boy looked up at her.
His bright eyes struggled to suppress the emotions hidden within them.
His lips were pressed tightly together.
“Mm.”
The girl gently rubbed his head.
“This campaign is to completely crush the rebels and reclaim the Empire’s north.”
“It’s extremely important.”
“Will Master personally fight on the front lines?”
Without saying anything more, the little boy quietly tightened his grip on her sleeve.
“Mm.”
“Maybe.”
The girl lowered her gaze toward the tiny hand clutching her sleeve.
Warmth spread quietly through her heart.
Children really were simple.
Such undisguised concern made her feel as though an invisible thread had wrapped itself around her, firmly tying her to this place.
“Master…”
The little boy thought for a moment before speaking seriously.
“Aren’t you… bad at fighting?”
The girl’s smile froze.
“Master, if the enemy beats you up…”
“You have to run away with your head in your hands!”
What kind of assumption was that!?
Why was the premise that I’d lose!?
And why do I have to flee in panic!?
Is that even how that expression is supposed to be used?
Just what had his foundation tutor been teaching him?
Alicia felt something twitching violently at her temple as the veins on her forehead threatened to bulge.
“If something happens to you, Master…”
“And you can never teach me again…”
“Can’t you say something more auspicious!?”
The girl finally snapped.
She reached out, pinched the little boy’s cheeks, and gently stretched them from side to side.
Poor little Damian could only let out a series of muffled whimpers.
“Uuu…”
After thoroughly bullying the little boy by abusing her age advantage, the girl finally released him with complete satisfaction.
She planted both hands on her hips and proudly lifted her chin.
“Don’t worry, kid.”
“Your master is clever.”
“After what you just said, even if something really does happen to me…”
“I’ll come back as a ghost just to settle the score with you!”
With that, she bared her teeth and spread her hands like a vengeful spirit.
The little boy burst into cheerful laughter.
Most of the anxiety weighing on him disappeared with their playful exchange.
Watching him laugh, the girl couldn’t help smiling as well.
This time, however, her smile was noticeably gentler.
“All right.”
“I have to go.”
She lowered her head and carefully reminded him of several things.
Finally, she pinched Damian’s cheek one last time, straightened up, and walked out the door.
With the help of her attendants, she put on each piece of her prepared armor.
Helmet in hand, she climbed onto the city wall.
Outside the gates, the EDF’s 1,000 soldiers already stood in perfect formation.
The morning breeze swept across them, sending their black cloaks billowing together like dark waves rolling across a solemn sea.
Silent.
Orderly.
Loyal.
Even the surrounding nobles waiting nearby couldn’t help envying the imposing presence they radiated.
As for the 2,000 militia drawn up beside them, merely looking at those soldiers left them intimidated by the overwhelming aura of discipline.
Without anyone telling them to, they quietly straightened their posture and tried their best to imitate the professionals.
General Kratos silently nodded as he watched the militia.
Perhaps this had been the true purpose behind the name Alicia had given this force.
The Elite Training Legion.
Alicia slowly walked before her soldiers.
Andrew led Black Bass beside her, while Mosos followed silently on her other side as they waited for her to speak.
“Soldiers of the Elite Training Legion.”
The girl raised her voice with all the strength she could muster.
“I am honored to stand here with every one of you.”
“I believe all of you already know, more or less, where we are going.”
“We will pass through Saxony City and enter the Empire’s north, a land completely ravaged by war.”
“You all know what has happened there.”
“Those so-called Freedom Army soldiers…”
“They were once just like you.”
“They were farmers, woodcutters, and shepherds.”
She paused for a moment, sweeping her gaze across the soldiers’ faces.
“But remember this.”
“The moment they raised their weapons against us…”
“They became our enemies.”
“We are going to put an end to all of this.”
“We are going to stop the atrocities that have continued until today.”
“We are going to stop more farmland from being burned.”
“We are going to stop more hands that should be holding hoes from being forced to grip bloodstained pitchforks.”
“The grueling training.”
“The strict discipline.”
“Every drop of sweat you’ve shed…”
“It was all for this moment.”
“We will never allow this rebellion to spread.”
“So that those who sow the fields can wait peacefully for the harvest.”
“So that blacksmiths can strike their anvils on schedule.”
“So that mothers no longer have to cover their children’s ears in fear during the night…”
“We must first become the iron fist that crushes chaos.”
“Remain professional.”
“Remember your training.”
“Remember your discipline.”
“Show no mercy to the enemy.”
“But never slaughter prisoners who have laid down their weapons.”
“Show the greatest restraint and tolerance toward civilians.”
“Never forget.”
“Our strength exists to protect justice and order.”
“It is not meant to oppress the weak.”
Finally, she took a deep breath and raised her clenched right fist high into the air.
“Be the finest soldiers.”
“Remain loyal.”
“Uphold your honor.”
“Today, we fight for the civilians who have suffered.”
“And tomorrow…”
“We will make those rebels responsible for these atrocities answer for what they have done!”