The Youngest Son of the Northern Grand Duke Wants to Break Off the Engagement

Zair received an urgent report and summoned his closest knights and advisors.

He had anticipated as much, but monsters had started to appear at various points on the front lines.

Moreover, the scale wasn't small, so he couldn't help feeling quite tense.

"This isn't normal. We've never seen them appear so broadly before...."

"The number of monsters keeps increasing. Is it possible someone is commanding them?"

"Undead and werewolves... Even golems and yetis are all closing in together. We should request reinforcements from the capital."

"......"

Zair calmly organized the opinions coming from all directions. Judging purely by the severity of the situation, it could erupt into war at any moment.

He had already sent letters to the capital and nearby regions, but it seemed certain that a support unit would take some time to arrive.

'Just as Uriel said. How far ahead did she see...?'

While Zair grieved over the situation, he instinctively considered countermeasures.

With their position on the front line, their options were limited.

Whether Uriel had predicted it or not, the authority of the Northern Grand Duke had become heavily tilted.

'Should I deploy Alter?'

Zair recalled Alter's words but couldn't make a hasty decision. Since it had started with the Frost Witch, the Frost Witch had to be the one to end it.

If Alter could truly reproduce the Frost Witch's magic power, ending the war quickly might be possible.

'If only we could buy some time...'

For now, their only option was to hold out as best they could until reinforcements arrived.

With only the front-line fortress and the northern army, they would inevitably suffer significant losses.

So, they needed to employ better methods to minimize casualties, no matter what.

'If things don't work out as planned, I can send him back then. For now, I'll keep him here, even if just for a while.'

* * *

Alter, after receiving a brief report on the situation at the front, went to find Brillie.

From his position, he couldn't leave the northern region until the monsters had been vanquished.

But since Brillie was entangled with the Illenat Ducal House, it would be better to send her back first if possible.

"... The monsters are invading?"

"Yes. We've already requested reinforcements, so it won't end as a small skirmish. It looks like we'll soon enter a state of war."

As soon as Brillie heard the explanation, her eyes turned serious.

Having participated in monster subjugation battles before, she could only respond solemnly.

Perhaps Alter had already made a firm decision.

"I... I think I should stay here. I am, after all, of ducal blood. I can't just leave like this, can I?"

"That's probably right. It's not that I don't understand."

"But you're different, Brillie. You're only engaged to me so far. Duke Illenat will be worried. Wouldn't it be better if you returned home, even if by yourself?"

Alter cautiously sounded out her feelings, trying to persuade her. But Brillie's eyes narrowed, and soon she revealed a resolute attitude.

"No. I'll stay by your side until the war is over."

"Brillie, Duke Illenat won't permit it."

"No matter what my father says, I won't return. Like I said before, I have to protect you, Alter."

"......"

Alter exchanged quiet glances with Brillie for a moment, then gave up. No matter what he said, Brillie's stubbornness would not yield.

It seemed he would have to send a letter to Duke Illenat and fight this war together with her.

"If you get hurt, I won't even be able to make an excuse to Duke Illenat. So..."

"I won't get hurt. I'll just cut down everything in my way."

Before coming to the northern region, Brillie had made sure to prepare her sword and armor.

Knowing that battle could break out anytime, she'd prepared as best she could.

Most importantly, her skills were far from mediocre, so she wasn't going to be taken down easily.

"I suppose I can't stop you any longer. But you must obey any order my father gives."

"Of course. He's the commander-in-chief of the northern army, after all."

"And... you must stay right by my side at all times. I have to protect you too, Brillie."

In this war, neither he nor Brillie could afford to be injured.

Also, considering they might have to retreat from the front, they didn't need to risk everything.

In the end, their goal was to regroup with the reinforcements and counterattack, defeating the enemy.

"Okay. I'll be ready then."

"I'll step out for a moment and return shortly."

Reluctantly, Alter left the room, still gripped by his worries. Brillie stayed put for a while, then slowly stood up.

'I've been through this already. There's nothing to fear. All I have to do is protect my fiancé.'

* * *

Rozandion started to muster the soldiers after receiving the urgent report.

The veteran knights confidently asserted that a large-scale war would break out.

Having spent their whole lives fighting monsters and defending the front, their words carried at least some credibility.

'We might end up retreating from the front line? Is it really that dangerous?'

Even Rozandion could not help but harbor doubts at those words.

In the history of the ducal house, there had not been many battles where they had retreated from the front.

Most enemies were annihilated before even reaching it, so it was nearly impossible to escape this particular dynamic.

'This is my chance. If I make a contribution here, maybe Father will change his mind a little.'

He could not allow the position of Northern Grand Duke to be stolen by his other siblings.

As the firstborn of the ducal house and commander of the northern army, he was more than qualified.

Not to mention, the Northern Grand Duke's closest knights all supported him, so the overall mood could only become set in stone.

'Märchen is a nuisance, but... I still have the advantage for now.'

He personally led the northern army, confronting monsters and barbarians. In contrast, Märchen only directed tactics and moved troops from the rear.

Soldiers naturally trusted the commander who led from the front, so their faith in him was inevitable.

'Alter hasn't learned the martial arts. A mage can't command the northern army.'

All soldiers in the northern army wielded spears and swords, and ranged weapons were limited to bows and crossbows.

Mages were rare in the north to begin with, and even if there were any, they couldn't be properly trained in these conditions.

Thus, the northern army distrusted mages and treated them as alien.

'So... unless it's me, no one else can be the Northern Grand Duke.'

Rozandion foresaw an unchanging future, simply waiting for it to be made official.

The next Northern Grand Duke was himself, commanding the northern army stationed at Goranmoche Fortress and the front lines.

Even if it took a few years, surely the answer would become clear soon enough.

'What could Alter possibly do? He's just a mage, after all....'

* * *

Brillie, fully armed, was accompanying Alter everywhere. Zair quietly watched and soon accepted it.

What could stop a strong person from volunteering to participate?

"Isn't she the youngest son's fiancé?"

"That's right. I heard she was awarded a title by the Emperor."

"Seems her swordsmanship is better than she looks?"

"I heard she was acknowledged by the Sword Saint and the Imperial Knight Captain..."

The closest knights and advisors whispered amongst themselves, glancing at Brillie.

Not only was she the ducal daughter, but soon she would be marrying the youngest son of the grand duke's house.

The Northern Grand Duke had received her as an honored guest, and her strength as a swordswoman had been proven.

That only made them more conscious of her, unable to help but watch her.

"Is it alright to just let her be?"

"She's not without reason—but would Duke Illenat really allow this?"

"But she has the skill. In that case, she won't be a hindrance."

"Still, even so...."

Sensing their mood, Alter slowly turned his gaze. Brillie was, in many ways, bound to stir up controversy.

Especially with their impending marriage, attention was focused on them even more.

"Brillie, aren't you cold?"

"I'm not. I've lined my armor with cloth."

"You'll have to stay on standby as much as possible. Unless we're retreating, you won't be outside the walls."

"I don't mind. As long as I can protect you, Alter, that's enough."

The Northern Grand Duke had not assigned Brillie any specific role or military position.

He had only requested her cooperation as a knight dispatched from the capital for this war.

Brillie accepted that request without hesitation, acting according to her own will.

"... Maybe it would have been better if I'd come alone."

"Why? Did you think I'd just stay put? I'd have come anyway. I can't hold back."

"Still, won't Duke Illenat try to stop you?"

"I won't give up over something like that. I can only feel at ease by staying close like this."

Brillie had already made up her mind, so she had no reason to hesitate. No one would be able to interfere with her and Alter's marriage now.

The crown prince was bothersome, but even he was just another obstacle to overcome.

"And aren't you the one who could become the Northern Grand Duke? Should the Northern Grand Duchess leave the north?"

"......"

Alter started to protest, but quickly closed his mouth. Nothing had been decided yet, but she was already trying to take responsibility.

It seemed it would be better for Brillie to inherit the ducal title instead.

'Still, life in the capital would be much more comfortable...'

* * *

By now, the front line was already engaged in battle with monsters.

The undead and werewolves had shown up in considerable force, and the golems and yetis displayed overwhelming destructive power.

If it were merely a matter of numbers, they might hold out, but faced with those intimidating attacks, the fortress walls trembled.

"They're swarming us."

"How are we supposed to stop that?"

The soldiers defending the first outer wall of Goranmoche Fortress could only sigh in despair.

The monsters were moving in towards the fortress.

Just the undead and werewolves would have been more than enough threat—could they really contend with the golems and yetis as well?

'If we can just take down the golems and yetis, we have a chance.'

Alter observed the two monsters, steadying the magic power within his body.

If they failed to defend the first outer wall, the homes of residents and soldiers would be destroyed.

If they only focused on the grand duke's house and the inner walls, they'd lose the people's confidence.

'Let's leave the undead and werewolves to the soldiers....'

"Are you sure about this? Isn't it a little dangerous here?"

Brillie expressed her concern but didn't suggest withdrawing.

Considering the symbolism and importance of Goranmoche Fortress, even the outer walls could not be surrendered.

Unless the fortress held, the front line could not be secured.

"Brillie, can you cut those things down?"

"I can, but... what are you going to do?"

"Let's find out how well our swords work first, then we can cut them down."

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
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