"To Your Majesty,
This is your loyal henchman, Kimal. My territory is under attack. My first instinct is to protect my family as lately I feel the divines' wise god Aprasius's gaze over me warning me of the imminent danger. After sending my family off through an escape passage, I take priority of my duties as lord.
I don't know the identity of the attackers, but I swear on my honor that I will do my utmost best to resist. My wild guess is that Count Urden has finally learned of my connection to you, your majesty. While I feel that it is wrongful to guess at these circumstances, I am afraid that my chances of survival are minimal.
I woke up at the commotion of fire on my manor before the 'attack' happened. From there, it snowballs from bad to worse as archers pin us and my soldiers in my manor. I wrote this letter in a panic after I learn of my desperate situation. Most often, it tempts me to just escape with my family, but I cannot disgrace you by doing that.
The attackers have mysterious means. They can summon fire that will cling to stone, and even the Douse Potion you gifted me finds it hard to negate the flames. I can only ask your majesty to be careful. I made my own moves at your convenience your majesty, and I hope that this will be of use to you.
The Urden estate is in possession of a master alchemist, and his name is Pial. This must be the 'defector' of the empire that you speak of, your majesty. The Urden estate is also gathering nobles from the various families of the Fendra Province in three weeks' time. I believe Count Urden is up to something. I suggest you bring a sizable army to sweep the traitorous nobles all at once.
Sincerely, Kimal Jeremy."
After reading his dear friend's letter, Mareichi immediately sets off to Fendra Province with a sizable army in tow. His court official finds his behavior erratic as he didn't even give them any explanation. Mareichi has his considerations too aware of the prying eyes of spies.
Greenhorn King.
Mareichi is aware of how his people call him behind his back. In his Kingdom, this might as well be treason via slander and is punishable by death, however, Mareichi is not such a tyrannical King. He knows that there is a process to things.
On the first day of his rule, Mareichi employs iron blood methods to purge the corruption in the Kingdom, however, he missed one— the Urdens.
With a hasty march, Mareichi arrives at the Fendra Province as soon as possible. Following that is a steady procession while circumnavigating Larson Mountain. By sunrise, he arrives at the Jeremy state only to see its ruins.
Mareichi swears that Count Urden shall die, and incarcerate all of their bloodlines as the picture of ruins of the Jeremy estate fills his view. "This is too tragic." He scrunches his forehead as the smell of blood and burns reaches his nose.
Soldiers on foot come to a formation as they march forward with momentum in the desolate streets of the Jeremy estate. They check on what remains of the buildings, cinders, and the genocide.
It is not just lately that Mareichi decides to march as an army. Having his soldiers on horseback to spread the message to various territories, Mareichi decides to cut the tumor on his Kingdom with dedication finally and completely.
This is also part of the process. If Mareichi wishes to be King, he has to do this cleanly and without loose strings that others might use against him.
The cavalry, an important part of the army suddenly becomes messengers for Mareichi's decree leaking with a desire for blood. To all of the Fendra aristocrats, Mareichi declares the Urdens as rebellious and has harmful intentions for the throne.
Aristocrats of the Fendra Kingdom are not to interfere lest they share the brand of traitors too with the Urden estate. This is the King's command. The faster Mareichi suppresses the Urden count, the easier it will be for him to settle the aftermath.
"What a pity…"
Inside the manor of Jeremy estate is the dead Kimal, his trusted friend. Mareichi glances at the Urden insignia lying on the dead Kimal's chest as if mocking him. It is as if the insignia is taunting him, of how much carefree he is… especially lately since striking a good deal with the Allied Kingdoms under the unknowing gaze of the empire.
"Of course… It is not just the throne that I will be inheriting but also the dissatisfactions of the aristocracy that is piling up since my father's rule." Mareichi bitterly recalls information about the Urden nobility.
Taking a second look at it, Mareichi realizes that the Urdens really have a motive for rebellion. Their dissatisfaction with the late royalty is growing more malicious every day. Though Mareichi is not to blame for that, as royalty, he is not entirely blameless.
On top of that, the Urdens truly have the capital to spearhead a change in the regime as long as they have the support of a duke's justification. "That old coot Duke Yornas is playing with fire." Mareichi knows better not to trust the Urdens though.
Mareichi looks around at the ruins of Jeremy estate.
Dead soldiers lie everywhere. Mareichi has no time to bury all of the dead and has to move on now if he wants to get a hold of the Count as soon as possible. News of Mareichi's arrival from the border should have long alerted Count Urden who should now be making 'preparation' to receive him.
Riding on his horse, he leads a five thousand army of average standards. Mareichi doesn't plan to commit, but that might change according to the situation. First, he will need to hear the Count's explanation, and from there… he shall decide on what moves to make next.
To be more precise, by what method to employ to guarantee the destruction of the Urden estate?
Coming to the Fendra Province is not an easy journey as Mareichi has to cross two and a half provinces. It takes over a month for him to reach the Jeremy estate, and it has been three weeks since he receives Kimal's letter. Even with all haste, he cannot save his old friend Kimal
While on horseback, Mareichi's mind keeps on coming back to the ruins of Jeremy estate. His inspection of the ruins is only cursory, yet he is able to discern a lot of information at a glance. All of the dead soldiers have an arrow or two which suggests impressive marksmanship. Mareichi tries to restructure the events of the battle in his mind.
Since there are chars and burns everywhere, the fire must have played a big role. There must be a new technology at play not to mention the ridiculous firepower of the arrows that manage to pierce crude iron armor. And to add, also the walls.
Mareichi starts thinking. Can refined iron armor withstand that?
Looking at his bodyguard also on horseback to his left, Mareichi commands him to get a detailed account of the attack on Jeremy estate. "Have some soldiers search for a Lady Jeremy, wife of Baron Jeremy. She should be alive and is resting in another village of this barony. Go."
Quickly, the bodyguard calls to a cavalry soldier to bring a plus one and search for the one Lady Jeremy.
To Mareichi's right is his royal general whose mind is somewhere else. "General Bardano, What is it?"
"Your majesty," With a careful tone, Bardano voices his suspicion. "Are we really fighting the Urdens? No matter how I look at it… I feel that the empire has a hand in this…"
Mareichi nods as he also has the same suspicion. "I feel the same. The way the Urden insignia was placed like that is too deliberate. Moreover, when it comes to 'new things', the empire has always been the continent's pioneer. That's why we must hear Count Galen's words, and dive into the heart of the matter."
The truth is… the empire is innocent.
But the young King and royal general don't know that.
To the public eye, the empire and the Beyronald Kingdom must have an amicable relationship, but that is only on the surface. Mareichi knows this as the Beyronald Kingdom is in danger of being swallowed up since the late King's rule.
Mareichi is scheming lots of countermeasures so far, and keeping the 'Urdens' alive is just another necessity for him. Mareichi doesn't want to attack the Urdens yet, but now it has come to this, he should do his job properly.
The plan is initially to have Kimal watch out for Urden, and while at it, use Kimal's territory as a foothold to attack the Urden estate once the Urdens are fat enough. Mareichi knows that a third-party traitorous imperial bigshot is scheming to fund the Urdens with imperial tech via a 'defector' alchemist so that the Urden can make an uprising.
Mareichi doesn't know the goal of this nameless traitor of the empire, but he is willing to take advantage of this information.
It is funny how corruption is so rampant in the Empire when its Emperor is quite a famous character possessing great benevolence, pity, and generosity to all. Such a leader must be easy to manipulate.
Despite that, the Empire remains strong under the guise of righteousness.
Mareichi is waiting for the Urdens to get fat enough so that his own royal army can gobble up the imperial technology after suppressing the Urden estate. It has its risks, but one that Mareichi is willing to take. Alas, that is impossible now.
"I really am… still a greenhorn, eh?" He indignantly tells himself. "And here I fancy myself to be actually a genius." For Mareichi to quickly admit to what he lacks is another way to highlight his abilities.
Though no matter how much of a genius he really is… It is fact that he is still a greenhorn.