I Became the Strategist the Monarchs Obsess Over

Chapter 42

Meanwhile, in Karl von Chronor's camp.

"Your Majesty! Duke! Lady Emilia has moved!"

At the words of Usami Akra, the strategist of Duke Chronor, Chronor was startled.

"Emilia! Are you saying Emilia is coming here?"

"No! She is attacking Raknar von Scone!"

"Hmm? So she's not coming toward us?"

"Yes! God has helped us! Lady Emilia is attacking Lord Raknar! If we strike Lady Emilia's rear, she will be attacked from front and back, suffering heavy damage! It's clear that damage will benefit us!"

"Hmm..."

The Duke hesitated, and Usami Akra was astonished to see him hesitate. Why would he hesitate? Isn't it only natural to act immediately when God has provided such a situation?

Meanwhile, Dorothea, who was watching the Duke from the side, said:

"Father... I hate war..."

"But if it must be done, it must be done."

"Does it really have to be?"

Dorothea displayed a meaningful expression. At that moment, Usami Akra sensed something ominous.

"What do you mean by that?"

"You said my sister attacked Raknar. Then isn't there no reason to go attack my sister? Let the rebels fight each other, and once the winner is decided, we can attack the remaining side."

At her words, Duke Chronor and Usami Akra spoke simultaneously.

"Oh ho!"

"Madness!"

Duke Chronor was intrigued by Dorothea's words, but Usami Akra considered it nothing more than madness. After all, once the battle is decided, the victor will unite all the rebel forces and attack Duke Chronor. How could they stop that?

"Dorothea is quite clever."

Chronor said that, but as the strategist, Usami Akra found it absurd.

"Your Majesty Chronor! That's unacceptable! Once the two rebel forces settle their ranks and unite, it will be too late! Right now, we must attack Lady Emilia and inflict significant damage so that she cannot move! If the three forces then engage in a prolonged standoff, the one to win will undoubtedly be Your Majesty Duke Chronor!"

"Hmm? Is that so?"

Chronor thought Usami Akra's words had merit. Although Duke Chronor was stubborn, he was not unintelligent and could understand Usami's reasoning. However...

"Father..."

Dorothea called Duke Chronor and embraced him. Chronor placed one hand around her back and said,

"What is it, my daughter?"

"Please don't go..."

At those words, Duke Chronor's resolve crumbled.

Duke Chronor dismissed Usami Akra once again. Having been dismissed multiple times since before, Usami Akra was finally enraged this time.

"To think the lord I have served all my life is such an incapable man... Yet, in his youth, he had some excellent qualities..."

When did it start? After his devastating defeat? Or was it after he became addicted to drugs? Duke Chronor had completely deteriorated. Thinking this, Usami Akra secretly left the castle with only a few subordinates.

-----

Meanwhile, in Emilia's camp.

"Lady Emilia."

"What is it?"

"Usami Akra has requested an audience."

"Usami Akra?"

Emilia couldn't help but feel startled. Usami Akra was Duke Chronor's strategist. Why would such a person...

"Is this a formal diplomatic envoy from Duke Chronor?"

"No, he only brought a few attendants. He doesn't seem like a formal envoy of any faction."

"Then..."

Emilia couldn't understand the current situation. Why would Usami Akra suddenly request an audience with her?

However, there seemed to be no harm in meeting him. Thinking this, Emilia immediately allowed Usami Akra in.

"Let him in."

Soon, Usami Akra appeared, his expression full of concern. He was the first to speak.

"Lady Emilia."

"Usami."

"The Duke has lost his sanity."

At those words, Emilia was reminded of something. Not long ago, her brother Rohan had come to her saying Duke Chronor had become an opium addict.

"Is it about the opium addiction?"

At Emilia's words, Usami's pupils dilated. How did Emilia know about the opium addiction, which was known only to the innermost circle? Here, Usami made a significant misunderstanding.

"Could it be that Lady Emilia..."

That misunderstanding was that Emilia had used Dorothea to turn Chronor into an opium addict. Of course, it was a misunderstanding.

"I didn't know Lady Emilia was capable of such strategy."

Emilia didn't bother correcting Usami's misunderstanding. After all, there was no harm in letting him believe it.

Usami Akra, appearing somewhat calmer than before, spoke.

"Lady Emilia, may I ask you something?"

"Yes."

"What is it that you ultimately wish to achieve through this battle?"

Emilia was asked this kind of question for the first time. But since she had always thought about it, she could answer without hesitation.

"The stability and victory of the North."

"Stability and victory?"

"The North has always been a land of invasions. Although the harsh climate and vast lands have rarely led to successful conquests, there have been countless invasion attempts. I will change that history. I will create a strong North that will never be invaded again."

"..."

Usami Akra thought. In his younger days, Duke Chronor had similar thoughts. He believed that uniting the fragmented North would prevent external powers from invading again.

But Duke Chronor failed. As he aged, he weakened and became a completely different person from his past self.

"Lady Emilia, the Duke also said something similar in the past. He spoke of uniting the fragmented North to prevent foreign invasions."

At Usami's words, Emilia quietly closed her eyes.

"Can you assure me, Lady Emilia, that you will not fall like the Duke?"

"..."

At those words, Emilia closed her eyes and thought for a moment before saying,

"I cannot guarantee it."

This was what she said.

At her words, Usami Akra briefly showed a disappointed expression, but what followed changed his thoughts entirely.

"But if I fall, I will hand over the leadership to my successor and never appear in the North again."

At her resolve, Usami Akra couldn't help but dream once more.

Usami Akra knelt on one knee before Emilia.

"I vow to never leave my lord's side and pledge unshakable loyalty."

As he spoke the knight's vow and knelt on one knee, Emilia remained silent for a moment, deep in thought.

"Will you accept my vow?"

Usami Akra's words carried sincerity. Reading that sincerity, Emilia soon said,

"I accept."

Thus, Duke Chronor's strategist became Emilia's strategist.

-----

After pledging allegiance to Emilia's camp, the first thing Usami Akra did was to propose a strategy for uniting the North.

"Looking at the current situation, uniting the North is only a matter of time. But the problem lies in what happens after unification. If the North becomes weakened by internal conflict after unification, foreign invasions will once again be a concern. So I have prepared a plan."

"What is it, Usami?"

"Raknar has many nobles under him. I've prepared letters for some of these nobles. These letters promise to give all of Raknar's territories to whoever kills him."

"..."

"The plan is already in motion. If Raknar dies, one of the three factions will be easily destroyed, which is advantageous. Even if the nobles receiving the orders fail, it will break the trust among the rebels, which is also advantageous. In fact, this plan was originally prepared for Duke Chronor... but under the current circumstances, I will use it for you, Lady Emilia."

However, Emilia said expressionlessly, her thoughts unreadable.

"I will not unify the North using that method."

"Pardon?"

"Unifying the North that way will likely lead to more rebellions. Rebellions shake the strength of a nation every time they occur. Therefore, I must create a situation where rebellions cannot arise at all."

"But... does such a method even exist in this world?"

Even if such a method existed, could someone as young and minimally equipped as Emilia come up with it?

But after hearing Emilia's words, Usami Akra could understand her reasoning.

It was because it was a method that only Emilia could have thought of.

"The answer is a frontal breakthrough."

"A frontal breakthrough?"

"By achieving an overwhelming victory against Raknar and my father, I will show the difference in caliber between the commanders. Once they realize that their opponents are overwhelmingly strong, the Rebel Army will no longer dare to rise in rebellion."

"Indeed."

This is a method that even a warrior like Emilia could have conceived. No, it is precisely because she is a warrior like Emilia that she could have thought of this method.

However, Usami Akra was puzzled.

Emilia is someone who defeated Dian de Balboa, who was considered the strongest swordsman in the worldview. That means Emilia can now be regarded as the strongest swordsman in the worldview.

However, in a war between armies, having strong individual combat power alone does not guarantee victory. Commanding ability is necessary.

Because of this, Usami Akra pondered.

Is this woman truly a rare genius who possesses not only combat power but also commanding ability, or is she merely someone with delusions of grandeur?

That would be revealed in the upcoming war.