Vianden.

"All soldiers depart, for the expedition led by the queen! Everyone shows off your bravery and pride!"

The army from the newly established Saxon faction headed up south with around 3,000 troops total.

A steady thumping sound comes from the armored boots of the neatly organized ranks as they advanced.

However, the expressions of the soldiers and the citizens sending them off were lackluster compared to that gallant marching form.

More so than being unwilling, they looked as if something was worrying them.

"How long as it been since Saxon has gathered 3,000 for an expedition? They are very heroic-looking though……"

"Their equipment and formation are way more impressive than before. Almost as if the army is entirely different……"

Everyone’s thoughts become unified.

"Are we really going to fight Laurent de Ghislain?"

Ghislain since long before Margrave Laurent de Ghislain had gone to war countless of times with the adjacent nation Dioral.

In the battle, it was not uncommon for them to mobilize armed citizens in the hundreds of thousands.

It was evident to everyone that no matter how weak the catastrophe made them, they were not an opponent a mere three thousand soldiers can do anything against.

The anxious stares of everyone were focused in the middle of the dispatch of troops, on the young countess who made such a decision.

Selena, riding on top of a white horse, was only looking to the north with unclouded eyes.

***

Dijon. Chevin castle. 

Margrave Etienne de Chevin was listening to his subordinate’s report.

"The execution of those insurgents is finished. Unfortunately we couldn’t get any useful information, but we made it public that they were the traitors from Doucy."

Etienne de Chevin threw his pen uninterestedly on the desk.

His expression wasn’t exactly one of dissatisfaction.

"Hmph, it must be Lothair de Doucy’s cheap revenge, though there is no proof."

Not too long ago, the intelligence received a tip that a plan to assassinate Etienne was ongoing.

"I expected Lothair to respond but this is just pathetic."

Etienne was prepared for some form of retaliation after his own assassination plan failed, but he swiftly dealt with it, successfully arresting all the suspicious people before anything could be done.

Being the ruler of such an unfriendly region, he had a high ability to maintain public order.

After that, a harsh interrogation was conducted until half of the suspects ended up dying, however Etienne could not find any proof linking the individuals to Lothair de Doucy. None of them knew anything.

"Our plan was one step short of killing Lothair, while his shoddy attempt was foiled before preparations were even made. As expected, he’s just a musclehead who knows how to fight and this is all he can muster."

"That’s exactly right, our failure was because the assassins were incompetent. Your Excellency’s plan was perfect."

The subordinate gave praise without a moment’s delay and was met with a satisfied nod from Etienne.

"Either way, we have to think about the next plan. If we remove that troublesome man, then――"

At that moment, noisy footsteps could be heard in the corridor, which made Etienne rest his elbow on the desk and lowered his eyebrows in annoyance.

"Your Excellency, it’s terrible!"

"You’re too loud. I told you to stay calm when you move."

It didn’t take long for Etienne’s tone to raise after he received the report.

"There was a raid on the warehouse in Patena? What’s the damage!?"

"15 guards and 4 dock workers died!"

"I don’t care about that! What happened to the cargo bound for the capital!?"

Etienne grabbed the subordinate’s collar.

"Well, the attackers scattered the cargo all over the city, making it impossible to recover…… half a year’s worth of construction funds for our faction have…… it’s all been lost."

The subordinate turned his eyes away as he finished his report.

"How dare he…… how dare he, how dare!"

Etienne flew into a rage, wiping away all the documents, writing instruments, and the cup off his desk.

"That Lothair, he’s done it now! I’ll kill him! I’ll definitely kill him!!"

Etienne slammed his desk furiously, then eventually can down.

"Your Excellency……?"

The subordinate inquired anxiously.

"Kill him…… kill that unpleasant brat this instant!!"

"With all due respect, the next assassination plan is still in the preparation stage. Defences have heightened since the last attack so taking him out isn’t that easy…… besides, acting carelessly may create more chances to screw up and if the Marquis’s spies catch our tail, it may mean a loss for Your Excellency!"

"Then aim for his daughter! The royal palace won’t butt in for a tiny girl!"

"U-understood!"

Thus the fight below the surface continued.

***

Colmar. The great mansion of the Doucy family.

"Damn Etienne, he crossed the line he shouldn’t cross."

Lothair passed the letter to Viscount Antoine.

He didn’t expect to hear about the operation’s success from somebody besides Hiro and company.

The letter was written by Claire the merchant, telling him “Margrave Etienne de Chevin  seems to be indignant after learning about Patena burning down and may take extreme measures. Be especially careful with your daughter and loved ones”, to give him advance warning.

There was more written in the letter, though it was of less importance to him at this point.

He didn’t care if Etienne wanted to kill him, but targeting his close families? What a disgusting guy.

"In the latter half of the letter, it says “it’s fine to continue doing things under the table, but aggravating the situation any more would warrant attention."

Once Viscount Antoine finished reading the letter, he set it on fire and turned it into ash.

It’s not a letter which should be left lying around.

"As we discussed previously, we will strengthen the security on the mansion and also increase the number of guards."

That wasn’t good enough for him. Defending and waiting for the enemy’s approach didn’t fit his personality.

If he was being targeted, he wouldn’t mind sitting duck while waiting for the opponent to make a move, but when his families were in danger, he ended up being worried and unable to sleep at night.

Viscount Antoine said, "That man, Hiro had met me and proposed an idea."

The agitated Lothair calmed down and stared at his remaining vassal. 

"Lady Clarice had been staying with him. So, it's worth a shot."

"That man.." Lothair had a complicated feeling about the man who recently became close to his daughter. If his faction was not in ruin, he would chase that man away from his daughter but he didn't do anything because of his family's very desperate circumstances.

***

A house in University of Orlais. (Hiro's Point of View)

"That would be getting our priorities backwards. I’d like if you used your head more." Claire protested. Lately, she barely left our side for fear of her safety.

I know it’s a reckless plan, still there are other ways to tell me.

I grabbed Myla, who was trying to listen in, and pulled her cheeks.

They’re smooth and all, but it feels like they’re lacking in elasticity compared to Suzy.

"What are you doing!?"

The way she only protests verbally is the same as Jill. I’ll keep doing it.

"However I do understand that you want to settle things in one fell swoop. Let me make some amendments and I’ll come back with a new plan." Claire said.

With that, she left the room. This was difficult without my mastermind, Cass. 

"Hn? Did Claire accept my plan?"

"My cheeks are going to stretch." Myla said as I kept rubbing my cheeck on her cheek.

Now that I think about it, Claire didn’t exactly ignore the things I said.

Even though she made snide remarks and did things I didn’t tell him to do, she still followed my instructions.

"Looking at it that way, she’s quite the serious girl. She can be really irritating at times though……"

"Hau…… haauu." Myla moaned.

Regardless, I had to get ready now.