Dumped After My Engagement: Becoming a Military Noblewoman

Chapter 103

Speaking of the western Kingdom of Srelan, it is a nation renowned for its exceptional economic and military power.

This country repeatedly waged wars and exerted its dominance on a daily basis, but due to taking a legitimate queen from another nation rather than their own, internal strife over the throne emerged, significantly diminishing their might over the past few decades.

In the Kingdom of Srelan, where strength is valued over bloodline or faction, a queen is not recognized, and only direct male descendants are granted the right to inherit the throne. To become king and gain immense wealth and power, individual ability and achievements are required, so each competes in their area of expertise.

I've heard that both the previous and current generations of brothers openly vied for the throne, but the next generation is different.

Some work behind the scenes to place their own elder brother on the throne, while others leave the country on their own to gather information. Furthermore, to escape the conflict between the queen, who is a princess of another nation, and the concubine from a powerful domestic noble family, weaker concubines have their young sons renounce their inheritance rights, resulting in the throne dispute becoming a one-on-one battle between the First Prince and the Third Prince.

The First Prince, whose mother is a princess of an allied nation and the queen of Srelan, leverages connections and support from his mother's homeland, exerting influence in trade and diplomacy.

In contrast, the Third Prince, Dick Aalkvist, whose mother is a prominent noble of Srelan and stands at the pinnacle of the largest faction, has steadily taken control of military affairs since before reaching adulthood by utilizing the power of his mother's Marquis family.

However, unlike trade and diplomacy, which are glamorous and yield visible results, military achievements take time to manifest and are gritty and unglamorous. While the First Prince is praised by nobles and commoners alike as an exceptional prince, Dick has quietly spent his time on the battlefield.

——Waiting for the right opportunity.

'A messenger has arrived from the Kingdom of Russell.'

Having returned after resolving a dispute with the eastern nation of Dolce, Dick visited the king's office to report on the matter and looked at his father with a puzzled expression. Normally, this man exuded vitality and a dignified aura, but now, with one hand on his forehead and his eyes tightly shut, he muttered in a weary voice.

Even if it were Dolce, they should have been avoiding conflict with Russell... or so Dick thought, searching his memory for anything that might have happened recently, only to doubt his ears at the words that followed.

'Nils has been captured near the border, it seems.'

Being captured must mean that Nils did something wrong.

Despite the ongoing dispute over mining rights among the three nations, where showing any weakness is unacceptable, the fact that a close confidant of the First Prince, who handles diplomacy, has been detained is more exasperating than surprising.

'Apparently, he made contact with a student from the Military School and committed an assault, so he was detained. The student sustained minor injuries, one of Nils' guards was killed, and two were injured. Although he broke the law, since Nils is royalty, he is being confined in a room as a guest.'

Thinking that this incident could deal a blow to the First Prince's faction and temporarily silence Nils, who schemes behind the scenes, Dick widened his eyes at the mention of the Military School.

'......A student from the Military School, could it be...'

'It seems he made contact with Silvio and Severi.'

Contact? If one of Nils' guards was killed, that means there was combat. Besides, it's hard to believe that cunning man would approach Silvio without a specific purpose.

Realizing that his precious younger brother's life was targeted, Dick felt the snap of his rationality.

From there, Dick's actions were swift.

Silencing the queen, who became half-frantic upon learning her son was detained in another country, and suppressing the First Prince, who insisted on retrieving him personally with sound reasoning, it was decided that Dick would go to retrieve Nils as the representative of Srelan.

'There's a chance they might use Nils as a hostage to demand the mine.'

If a student from the Military School had died, it would be different, but this is an internal conflict on our side, and it happened in the forest separating the two nations. While some form of compensation might be demanded, it's unlikely they would demand the mine.

However, there's a possibility they might demand the mine. Since nothing is absolute, these words are meant to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

It would be perfect to deliver another blow by suggesting that trading the mine for a prince who has withdrawn from the succession race is out of the question and that abandoning him should also be considered.

'I'll do my utmost to ensure that doesn't happen. However, to prevent such an incident from occurring again, Nils should be made to reflect on his actions.'

At Dick's suggestion that Nils should stay in that country for a few months, the king nodded, while beside him stood the queen, her face pale, and the First Prince, glaring with anger.

Despite feeling angrier than both of them, Dick didn't let it show on his face and, with a provocative smile, made a proposal that would be humiliating for Nils.

"Is it already time to pick him up......? That was surprisingly quick."

Thinking it might have been better to lock him up for a year or two instead of just the winter, Dick gazed at the town called Taurus through the carriage window.

Early in the morning, as the town gates opened, Taurus, which he entered for the first time, was devoid of people, with all the shops closed, making it utterly uninteresting.

However, this place is a stronghold protecting the Kingdom of Russell, home to the impregnable Ransheen Fortress.

Suppressing the rising excitement within him, Dick narrowed his eyes in the direction of the Military School.

"Is my mischievous little brother here?"

Silvio often spent time not in the prince's palace within the royal palace but in a mansion owned by his mother's Marquis family. He claimed the prince's palace was boring and he hated studying, so he frequently stayed at his grandfather's mansion, though that likely wasn't the real reason. After all, it's impossible to live peacefully with relatives nearby who are targeting your life.

"His boldness surpasses even mine."

Without letting even his mother or brother notice, Silvio left the country and, using Srelan operatives hidden in Russell, enrolled in the Military School. Until an inquiry came from the school, no one had any idea, and his grandfather, who had been persuaded by his beloved grandson to assist, was severely scolded by his mother.

At that time, the movements of the First Prince's faction were suspicious, so it was deemed a good opportunity to place Silvio in Russell.

However, it was a mistake to assume that the other princes, who usually had no contact with Silvio, wouldn't find out.

After all, one of Nils' pawns at the Military School discovered Silvio.

——Knock, knock.

The coachman lightly tapped the carriage to signal that they had arrived at the gates of Ransheen Fortress.

From here, they would likely inspect the inside of the carriage, wait for a while, and then enter to confront Nils.

"Was it Celestia Rotisch?"

Nils' idea of targeting the Military School's training exercises was clever, and with a pawn in the position of an instructor, failure should have been impossible. Yet, the plan failed, and he ended up in jail, so where did his scheme go wrong?

A girl named Celestia, who acted alongside Silvio and Severi.

The granddaughter of the renowned Fildé Rotish and a daughter of a Count family.

I heard that this young lady went so far as to get injured to save my precious brother and his friend.

A noble young lady, no less.

Even my strong-willed, queen-like mother was astonished when she heard the details of the incident—it was that extraordinary.

This time, I intend to express gratitude to the young lady for saving my brother and apologize for what Nils did, but...

"Should I prepare to be punched in the face or stomach a few times?"

As a child, Dick had once seen Fildé wielding a sword on the battlefield from a distance. Still vividly remembering Fildé's figure from that time, Dick gently rubbed his stomach while imagining the yet-unseen Celestia.

※※※

"I've come to pick you up, Brother Nils. Unfortunately, you look surprisingly well."

Since I requested that he be treated as a criminal rather than a guest, Nils, the Second Prince of Srelan, was held in the underground dungeon of Ransheen Fortress.

Though I had hoped he'd at least be exhausted, if not crying and wailing, Dick shrugged as he looked at Nils, who seemed perfectly fine both physically and mentally.

"I've been treated quite comfortably."

"That's good to hear. I was pained by not being able to come for you sooner."

"I expect nothing from an incompetent like you, so there's no need to feel pained."

Emerging from the opened cell, Nils spoke in a flat tone, throwing out a sarcastic remark while patting Dick's shoulder as he stood near the door, then proceeding toward the stairs.

Even though he'll likely be reprimanded by the First Prince upon returning to Srelan, Nils showed no signs of anxiety or irritation, maintaining a cool demeanor as if nothing had happened.

It's only natural to suspect something is up when such a shady man, whose thoughts are impossible to read, is this quiet. Keeping a close watch on Nils' movements, Dick called out, "Wait."

"Brother Nils. What did you just put in your chest pocket...?"

Nils, who should have emerged from the cell with nothing but himself, naturally slipped something he held in his right hand into his chest pocket. Suspecting he was up to something, Dick demanded to see it, a decision he would later regret.

"Just some hair."

"......A lock of hair?"

"It's a precious memory, so I decided to take it with me."

As Nils tenderly stroked the silver hair, the soldiers around them grimaced, but Dick, unable to comprehend this, could only find it creepy.

"If you try to take this from me, I have my own plans, you know?"

"Do as you please."

Tired of it all, Dick waved his hand dismissively at Nils, telling him to hurry up and go, while covering his face with one hand.

Knowing Nils Aalkvist to be a man with an abnormal level of obsession and aware of the fate of those who catch his interest, Dick exhaled deeply, very deeply.

Though it was dark and not entirely clear, the hair in Nils' hand was silver. As far as Dick knew, there was only one person with such a rare hair color, but there's no way that person would willingly give their hair...

If that's the case, could it be, in the worst possible scenario, that the hair belongs to the young lady who is said to be in this town?

"......Tch, that damn bastard. It can't be the young lady's hair, can it?"

The words Dick growled out did not reach Nils, who was climbing the stairs with light steps, and quietly faded away in the dark underground dungeon.