The Germania Empire's Army, which has made the City of Spike fall, is advancing toward the royal capital along the highway, looting the villages of Viscount Oracle's domain.
After the villagers have evacuated along with their food and fodder, "nymph poison" has been casually planted in the villages' wells.
It would be nice if we could reduce the strength of the enemy even a little but that is only a comforting thought.
Meanwhile, we were having our final strategy meeting for the decisive battle in the brand new royal castle as the repairs had finally been completed.
「With that, Marquis Danavan will be the commander in chief while Viscount Ortholet will be the front line commander and the second in command.」
Lyle-sensei is explaining the lineup for the campaign against the Germania Empire in a brisk voice.
Marquis Danavan's face was pale with nervousness while Viscount Oracle was listening calmly.
You wouldn't notice who's the real commander in chief and second in command.
Garan, the mercenary leader, who is in charge of the front line, will be the first to hit the enemy, is also given simple instructions by sensei and he only replies with "oh". He is quite a powerful and dynamic man.
In the back of the operation's room, outside the mosquito net is Marquis Pipin Nant Burgund, who is attending on behalf of the local nobles in the south.
He doesn't hide his discontent as he rubs his long black beard on his long chin.
Pipin is a very unusual-looking old man. His chin looks like the tip of a French bread and I can't help but stare at him in amazement.
Even with such a weird face, he must be a prestigious noble since he is the one representing all local nobles in the south. He's also wearing a splendid armor.
Still, that's one hell of a chin. It's so sharp that if he suddenly flew away, he'd be mistaken for a missile.
「Hero-dono, is there something on my face?」
I must have looked at his chin too much.
Of course, I wouldn't say something like "your chin" or the nobles in the south might have revolted on the spot.
「Chin…I mean, I'm delighted that Marquis Pipin has come to support us.」
「Well, our Burgund Family is a family of the former chief vassal of Founding King Renz. It is only natural for us to come to your aid if the kingdom is in crisis.」
His face looks funny and his mouth is saying good things but he is not someone that can be trusted.
Sensei said that 500 cavalry knights of the local nobles led by Marquis Pipin and his first and second corps, with a total of 2500, can't be counted as allies.
They will probably surrender or flee if the situation turns bad so we can only have them stay quiet in the royal capital at best.
We should already be thankful that they did not turn against us seeing the Empire's huge army.
At the end of the strategy meeting, Lyle-sensei called Princess Silhouette.
Princess Silhouette, dressed in a pure white silk dress and crimson cape decorated with gold thread, stood before everyone.
Next to the princess is Lyle-sensei's father, the prime minister. Given the situation, they threw away their father and child discord.
「Then, let's evaluate the coronation of Princess Silhouette as the queen of Silesie.」
「What did you say?!」
Marquis Pipin, who had been listening silently in the last row and looked dissatisfied with that arrangement, stood up in surprise.
「What is it, Marquis Pipin? Do you have any objections?」
「We won't let that happen! We, the local lords, will never agree to the princess' coronation! I will not permit that selfishness.」
「The biggest crisis of the country is happening. A powerful army is marching towards the capital as we speak. This is the best time to crown the princess to a queen in order to unite the people. Marquis Pipin, are you sure with what you are saying?」
「...that, ugh.」
Marquis Pipin breaks out in a cold sweat and busily rubs his beard.
He realized that if he said anything bad here, they would be considered as traitors immediately.
Marquis Pipin and his 500 knights, all of whom are members of famous local noble families, are in the royal castle.
If they were deemed treacherous here, the walls of the royal capital would immediately become a wall around them.
I'm sure even Germania wouldn't expect that we would bring up the queen's coronation at this point of time.
If the local nobles turned against us, it would trouble the royal army. Therefore, no one would expect that both the regent and the prime minister's factions would force the coronation of the queen now.
「I, the prime minister, and Hero Takeru-dono, as well as all military people of Silesie, are demanding the coronation of her highness Princess Silhouette as queen. Does Marquis Pipin have a just cause to oppose this?」
「I, don't….」
Even though we are asking for a just cause, the two great families, Burgund and Aquitaine, who were vassals of the founding King Renz, find it more convenient if the royal family's power is not yet decided.
For example, if the empire appoints someone from the Blanc family, a branch of the royal family where Brynie was, to be the new king, it would not be advantageous for them.
The weird-looking Marquis Pipin is a shrewd man or else he won't be the representative of the south nobles.
He thinks that it would be better if the kingdom wins but he also thinks we will lose.