Chapter 69 – Dialogue between Lantis and Karan

The messenger from Vilgard was named Karan. He was a man with a well-tanned complexion and a ruggedly handsome face. He had a very gentle demeanour and an easygoing atmosphere.

Lantis gave him a room and began to contemplate what was to come.

‘What…!? They’ve already occupied Katzbarie and Clostova…! And with such limited forces…! Katzbarie is one thing, but Clostova had more than twice the difference in strength…!’

Of course, Lantis had heard the stories of Vilgard defeating the Imperial Knights. But he had thought it might have been somewhat exaggerated and perhaps just luck.

He would have known it wasn’t luck if he had listened to detailed information from someone like Arloston and verified it.

However, he was preoccupied with defending his own domain and information about battles happening far away didn’t come easily.

‘Nevertheless, to think that in this era, a royal with such military talent would be born…!’

It was at this moment that Lantis found himself deeply interested in Vilgard once again.

Originally, he had intended to follow, harbouring no particularly negative views. Lantis asked Karan to tell him about Vilgard directly.

“So… the prince wasn’t just on the grasslands all this time, but living as a warrior in the Amatsuki Empire…!”

“Yes. And we fought the Empire head-on, ultimately escaping to the grasslands with the princess.”

“At that time, the Empire must have been held accountable for letting the prince and princess escape…! Haha, what a story! It’s incredible! Truly a heroic tale!”

Karan had also been told that he could share Vilgard’s circumstances if negotiations arose.

He noticed Lantis’s strong interest in Vilgard and carefully selected topics to keep him engaged.

“And to achieve a complete victory against over sixty thousand Imperial Knights…! I see, that’s why the Empire is taking a cautious approach toward the prince…!”

“Even now, there are comrades gathering every day who want to see a new empire under Prince Vilgard.”

“Oh, yes! I would definitely like to join that ranks…!”

Despite witnessing his mother’s murder right before his eyes and narrowly escaping the emperor’s purge, he rose to the Amatsuki Empire. Even though that land was also invaded by the Empire, he decided to rebel with the princess of the empire. He defeated the advancing imperial army and completely gained control of the lords’ alliance.

Furthermore, Vilgard’s youth as a prince was also significant. Nobles and subjects dissatisfied with the current Empire would support him.

“But Karan-Tono. As I mentioned before, I had originally intended to follow Prince Vilgard. However…”

“Yes. Diltrack Territory is unique and it’s understandable that communication is difficult. Prince Vilgard understands this as well.”

“I see…”

By declaring his allegiance to Vilgard, the lords’ alliance would disappear and a new Northern Empire would be formed. That was fine in itself but Lantis thought his own situation wouldn’t change.

He would continue to defend this land. While bandits frequently intruded, it was manageable. However, the threat of invasion from the south by the Imperial Army could be prevented. But Karan’s story was far from over.

“Now, Prince Vilgard is preparing to seize the Kamurakku territory.”

“What…!?”

Currently, the Silver Spear Knights led by Bandred Cruarde are stationed in the Kamurakku territory.

It’s a spear deeply embedded in the territories controlled by the former lords’ alliance. As long as this spear is not pulled out, the Diltrack Territory will remain a difficult place to travel to and from the east.

“…Can he really… do it?”

“At the very least, I have never seen Prince Vilgard engage in a battle he would lose. But it would be even more helpful if Lantis-Tono could cooperate…that’s what he says.”

Karan explains to Lantis what Vilgard is demanding. It’s something he’s currently doing and it wasn’t particularly difficult or outrageous.

“In essence… he wants us to keep the troops stationed in the Kamurakku territory?”

“Yes. The enemy has penetrated deep into our territory, but conversely, you could say they are in a position vulnerable to our counterattack.”

Vilgard had asked Lantis to keep the troops stationed at the border of his territory.

And when the battle begins, he wants them to cross the border at the timing he instructs and advance the army.

“The prince wants to see my loyalty. He wants us to advance without fear and cooperate in flanking.”

“Well… we won’t know for sure until the battle actually begins. Prince Vilgard usually plans his strategies deeply before launching an invasion but he’s also very adaptable once the battle starts.”

Arloston, the Knight Representative, of course understood that the Silver Spear Knights were vulnerable to flanking. However, he had not anticipated that the Lords’ Alliance, which was advancing negotiations with Vilgard, would coordinate and take action against the Silver Spear Knights.

Therefore, they had intended to continue functioning as the yoke dividing the east and west.

In reality, just their presence there alone would be a strong deterrent to the Lords’ Alliance. However, it was a different story for a unified Northern Empire.

“In any case, let us respond wholeheartedly to Prince Vilgard’s demands. Surely, being the prince he is, he understands the importance of this land and wouldn’t forcefully withdraw troops”

“Yes. Lantis-Tono, your understanding is appreciated by all of us in the Lords’ Alliance”

“The feeling is mutual. Our standard-bearer, whom we have awaited for over a decade. He is more than adequate to serve”

After all, Vilgard bore a grudge against the current emperor and had a strong determination to unify the empire. The Lords’ Alliance had no intention of unifying the empire; they were more like a gathering of nobles who wanted to secure their rights under the emperor’s recognition.

However, with Vilgard rallying such lords, they will be forced to transition into a new phase.

In other words, they became comrades with the shared goal of unifying the empire.

“By the way, if I may change the subject…does Lantis-Tono have a daughter?”

“………..? Yes, I do. Why do you ask?”

“Well, you see, Prince Vilgard is hoping to marry a new wife from a family closely associated with Lantis-Tono, if possible”

“I see… that makes sense”

Lantis realised upon Karan’s words.

Lantis understood now. By pledging allegiance to Vilgard, the Lords’ Alliance would be reorganised into the Northern Empire. And to solidify the unity with the lords supporting the Northern Empire, Vilgard intended to take a wife from a certain family.

However, Katzbarie and Clostova were rebellious territories, and there was no reason to take a wife from there. Linzent had deep connections without needing to resort to such actions. After all, it was his maternal family’s estate.

Excluding those options, the most prestigious noble who could provide a wife would be Lantis. It would be reasonable to arrange a marriage based on his lineage.

Karan had talked to Lantis until today and judged that it would be acceptable to marry a woman directly connected to Lantis, rather than just from a related family.

“It’s a very kind offer. However, my daughter actually already has a fiancé”

“I see…”

Lantis’s daughter was not yet an adult but she had already been betrothed to a noble from their domain. He was a major lord and adjustments between nobles under his domain’s protection were necessary.

While marrying Vilgard seemed attractive and could potentially dissolve the engagement, both his daughter and her fiancé already had feelings for each other. Considering factional adjustments, making a hasty decision was difficult.

“Oh, of course, Prince Vilgard has no intention of forcing anything. Please rest assured”

“Yes… well, it’s truly a generous offer…”

However, at this moment, there was only one woman in Lantis’s mind.

But her situation was a bit complicated. Therefore, he hesitated a bit but didn’t voice it out at this moment.