Chapter 32

Chapter 2 is from Rias' perspective.

Rias had warned the Crown Prince on numerous occasions.

"Your Highness, I cannot trust that person."

Each time he said this, the Crown Prince would wear a troubled smile.

"That person" referred to the son of the Marquis Marcel, who recently claimed to be the Crown Prince's closest confidant and had been acting rather tyrannically.

In the past, Rias had been the Crown Prince's closest friend, but after his father's early death and his succession to the dukedom earlier than expected, he became busier, and the time they spent together decreased.

As the distance between him and the Crown Prince grew, the attitudes of those around them changed. If things went well, money and power would start to shift in that direction. The son of Marquis Marcel's movements in this regard were unusually swift.

Rias wondered if he was plotting something nefarious as a member of the noble faction. He was concerned about how much the Crown Prince understood and how deeply he had formed a friendship with him. However, the Crown Prince was always reluctant to engage in such conversations.

He seemed to dislike the idea of measuring the distance between people based on the balance of power.

"Rias, you're amazing... I can't be like you."

Over time, this became the Crown Prince's catchphrase.

He had a gentle nature and always seemed to shrink back in the presence of the nobles. He much preferred reading poetry to studying imperial science or wielding a sword. He often retreated to his study as soon as classes ended.

The Crown Prince had said this, but his sensitivity and warmth were qualities Rias lacked. Because of this, the love he showed to his sister Cynthia was sure to fill her loneliness.

Therefore, Rias believed he would make a good king. Though he was too kind, the shortcomings could be compensated for by Rias as a vassal. Because the Crown Prince did not favor harshness, Rias believed he could take on a role in Pencilia.

Eventually, the neighboring country declared war, and Pencilia took on the role of the kingdom's vanguard.

The mission was to hold the fort until the main force arrived. Rias felt a sense of justice rather than fear, thinking that this would protect the kingdom—and secretly, the first princess he admired.

Pencilia was a family of soldiers, and he had been educated as such from a young age. Perhaps he grew up with death more present in his life than others.

Perhaps that was why Rias did not understand the Crown Prince's fear.

The main force, led by the Crown Prince, was sent out.

Rias was determined to help the Crown Prince achieve a solid record here. If he did, the nobles who had called him weak would surely be silenced.

Thinking that the first thing to do when the Crown Prince arrived would be to reorganize the troops, Rias was holding a military conference with his subordinates when a messenger burst into the room.

"The Crown Prince's reinforcements are... attacking the enemy camp!"

The messenger, pale-faced, said this.

"—What did you say?"

The fort had been under attack by the neighboring country a few days ago and was still under repair. The enemy camp was right in front of them, but they lacked both weapons and healthy soldiers. They needed to fortify and recover. The troops were exhausted.

"Has the main force arrived? When!?"

"Just now! The main force, under the name of the Crown Prince, ordered all the gates to be opened, passed through the fort, and immediately began attacking the enemy army!"

The messenger's voice was strained.

Rias felt a moment of darkness.

The enemy had powerful mages and siege weapons.

They had enough strength to take the fort, and even if the main force was numerically superior, it was not a battle they could win with numbers alone.

"Sir, let's go."

The experienced captain of Pencilia's knights tapped Rias on the shoulder.

They ran to the lookout platform, and everyone followed.

The sight of the enemy army left them speechless.

As the messenger had said, the main force was advancing at an incredible speed toward the enemy.

"—This can't be true."

"Oh, no. The magic array is... deploying..."

"Ah... No... They're... charging in..."

The shock might have delayed their judgment.

"Immediately, enter combat readiness!"

Rias found himself shouting.

It was almost a reflex.

"Those who can move, follow me!"

Since they were in a state of readiness, those who could fight were already equipped. Still, how much they could prepare in such a short time was uncertain.

"Sound the alarm. Take up your weapons! Join the main force and crush the enemy!"

Morale was low. Charging into the enemy camp with a disorganized force was suicidal. Still, there was no other choice.

"Rias, the archers can't move yet!"

"The infantry can move in half an hour."

"Sir, the magic unit hasn't replenished its mana!"

Rias couldn't judge what would happen by sending out an unorganized army.

The captain of the knights, who was standing next to him, had a stern face and drew his sword.

"…There's no other choice."

Rias nodded at the deep, heavy voice.

"Deploy in squadrons, starting with those who are ready!"

He mounted his horse and raised his sword.

"All units, target the Crown Prince in the main force. Charge!!"

He kicked his horse and charged.

The battlefield was a chaotic mess of explosions, fire, and smoke, the smell of blood and iron.

"—It's hell."

Someone muttered.

After a series of chaotic battles, Rias finally reached the Crown Prince. The main force was almost annihilated, and the Crown Prince was severely wounded, unable to move his legs. His attendants were gone, and the soldiers were fleeing in disarray.

"Your Highness! —Are you alright, Your Highness!!"

Why? No, is he even alive?

Thinking this, he lifted the Crown Prince, who was barely breathing.

"—Rias..."

"What happened!?"

Knowing there was no time for explanations, he still asked.

"I... I was no good after all..."

The enemy kept coming. They were barely holding them off, but it was only a matter of time.

"—We should retreat... for treatment..."

"It's too late. I don't feel any pain. Ah, when I die... Cynthia will... cry..."

"Your Highness won't die. I won't let you die!"

"Rias... take care of... Cynthia..."

The Crown Prince closed his eyes.

It happened so quickly.

From that point on, Rias barely remembered anything.

He fought mindlessly.

Thinking back, it was a battle filled with regret.

If he had been a more experienced warrior, he could have reorganized the forces, minimized casualties, and secured victory.

But in the end, it was just a matter of wearing each other down, and he barely managed to push through.

When the enemy finally began to retreat, there was not a single unharmed soldier left, and the number of corpses piled up covered the ground.

Because they had attacked without retreating, Pencilia suffered the greatest losses.

They lost most of the soldiers who had set out, regardless of their noble or commoner status.

Seeing so many familiar faces fall one after another, his emotions dulled.

With a small number of surviving soldiers, Rias calmly dealt with the aftermath.

They won the war, but the debt the Fandrago Kingdom incurred was significant.

Compensation for the noble soldiers who participated in the battle alone would likely bankrupt the royal family.

Pencilia also took on part of this debt.

As a ducal family and a long-standing relative of the royal family, this was a natural responsibility for Pencilia.

Fortunately, Pencilia had vast resources. They owned financial institutions, major mining sites, and large trading companies. With a long history, they could be considered a country in their own right.

For such a ducal family, the financial burden, while significant, was not insurmountable. They lent a large sum to the kingdom to help rebuild the country.

However, how the royal family would repay this debt to Pencilia was a matter of concern.

The royalist nobles gradually increased the pressure.

There was a risk that the royal family might be replaced.

Rias, who did not wish for this, was constantly troubled.

The internal post-war handling in Pencilia was extremely busy. He was still not fully accustomed to his duties as the head of the ducal family.

Rias left the negotiations with the royal family to his attendants.

"—We will welcome Princess Cynthia Osteranta Fandrago to Pencilia."

Upon hearing this report from the messenger who returned from the royal castle, Rias dropped the pen he was holding.

"…What did you say?"

"We will welcome the First Princess as the Duchess."

"Suddenly? What for?"

"It's about the compensation from the royal family."

The attendant continued as if it were natural.

"There's nothing unusual about it. Though she is young, our ducal family has a history of receiving princesses from the royal family. Given the age difference between you and the princess, this marriage would not be considered unnatural even without the recent war."

"Princess Cynthia and I..."

Shock, confusion, or perhaps.

The pain in his chest, which felt like a tight grip, was more of a fear than joy.

The young Rias seemed to be at the mercy of the surrounding circumstances.

It's like his first days on the job, so it's understandable.