"Don't forget, if this plan is carried out, the thousand cavalrymen who accompany the Queen and Princess will be in a life-or-death situation, perhaps even in greater danger. Since all of you are so loyal to Tristain, why don't you volunteer to be bait alongside the Queen and Princess?"
The medieval world is nauseating in this regard. The so-called nobility and commoners, though both are human beings, live in two entirely different worlds. It's like no one even cares about the fate of those thousand cavalrymen in Wood's plan, mainly because most of them are commoners.
"This is outrageous… absolutely outrageous!"
"As expected of a commoner. Even when dressed in noble attire, they still lack any sense of noble honor."
Wood's words infuriated the gathered nobles, causing them to glare at him with disdain.
But while most of the nobles were busy denouncing Wood, Princess Henrietta, who was standing beside the Queen of Tristain, stepped forward to support Wood. She even declared that if it was for the sake of Tristain, she would willingly serve as bait to draw the enemy's forces.
"Henrietta, I am the Queen of Tristain. It should be me who acts as the bait. If I don't return from this, and if by some miracle Tristain survives, you will be the new Queen."
As the Queen of Tristain and Princess Henrietta were having a heartwarming mother-daughter moment, Wood once again interrupted with his characteristic bluntness.
"Your Majesty, Princess Henrietta, there's no need to argue. As I mentioned earlier, if the plan is to succeed, you both need to serve as bait. Only by doing so can we draw away a significant portion of their forces."
Hearing Wood's words, several nobles drew their swords or brandished their wands.
"You insolent wretch! I'll have you slain this very day!"
"Indeed, if we undertake such an action, what honor as nobles would we have left?"
Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, many of the Tristain nobles began to suspect that Wood was a spy sent by Albion to trick them into sending the Queen and Princess to their deaths, thereby securing Albion's victory without a fight.
"Enough! Sir Wood proposed this plan for the good of Tristain. Given the overwhelming disparity in numbers, if we do not take risks, Tristain has no hope of victory.
Therefore, I have decided to accept Sir Wood's proposal and act as bait alongside Princess Henrietta to give Tristain a chance at victory."
The Queen's decision sparked fierce reactions from the nobles, who passionately urged her to abandon this dangerous course of action. However, the Queen remained resolute, declaring that the plan would be set into motion that very night.
With the Queen's mind made up, the nobles realized there was no changing the outcome. They could only glare at Wood with eyes full of contempt, as if he were a traitor.
Wood, however, remained unfazed by their looks. He had expected that the Queen would ultimately agree to the plan. After all, in a straightforward battle, Tristain had no chance of winning. Better to take a gamble for survival than to wait for inevitable defeat.
That night, Marshal Gramont assembled a thousand cavalrymen, and the Queen of Tristain and Princess Henrietta donned their armor, ready for the mission.
The Queen herself delivered a rare speech to the gathered soldiers, promising rewards for their service. However, the soldiers, knowing that the mission was nearly suicidal, remained somber.
Given the importance of protecting the Queen and Princess, Marshal Gramont had spared no effort, ensuring that these thousand cavalrymen were among the best in Tristain's army. Nearly a third of them were nobles capable of using magic.
Unlike the older, more jaded nobles, these young, spirited knights were genuinely willing to die for honor.
"Sir Wood, I know this mission is extremely dangerous. If the worst comes to pass, I ask that you ensure Princess Henrietta's safety. I understand that this may be a heavy burden, but I believe in your strength."
Before the mission began, the Queen personally spoke to Wood, asking him to protect Henrietta if necessary. Wood's combat prowess was well-known, and while it might be unrealistic to expect him to defeat an entire army, there was hope that he could at least protect one person.
Later, as the group rode forward under the cover of darkness, Henrietta discreetly approached Wood, away from the Queen's sight. What she asked of Wood caused him to smile wryly.
Henrietta's request was similar to the Queen's, but with a different focus. Henrietta insisted that her mother, the Queen, was the true ruler of Tristain. Tristain could survive without a princess, but it could not afford to lose its Queen. Thus, for the first time, Henrietta issued a direct command to her familiar: if things went wrong, Wood was to protect the Queen at all costs.
Wood and his companions did not deliberately conceal their movements, knowing that Albion's scouts would likely find them regardless. The route had already been planned, and with the noise generated by nearly a thousand cavalrymen, it wouldn't take much for Albion to notice.
The true commander of the Albion forces, although technically the Kingdom's marshal, was actually Sheffield, the "Myoznitnirn," or "Mind of God." The zombie-like Prince Wales sat lifelessly on the throne, while Sheffield's "Ring of Andvari" glowed faintly on her finger.
Albion's marshal didn't understand why Prince Wales had suddenly decided to attack Tristain, a nation with whom they had always had friendly relations. But given the favorable situation, the marshal believed it wouldn't hurt to let the Queen of Tristain and Princess Henrietta escape. After all, they had a marriage agreement between Henrietta and Wales. Being overly brutal could damage their reputation, even if they conquered Tristain.
Unfortunately, despite the marshal's reasonable arguments, Prince Wales stubbornly insisted on pursuing the Tristain royal family. Unable to understand why the once-gentle Prince had become so ruthless, the marshal left in frustration.
Note: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 200+ at patreon.com/Betek.