Prince Takt's airship permitted her a comfortable place to watch her lands pass by. Mirellia's vassals sat at her side in the high-backed seats covered in leather. The belt that held them in place was uncomfortable, but after five hours of travel, it had become almost unnoticeable.
They were advancing to the capital and this wondrous new device, one of a fleet of hundred, was supposedly going to allow Mirellia to take back her capital.
It was an impressive machine.
Driven by strange magic. The weapons on it were sure to be formidable, and it could take an army a fair distance. They had covered the distance from Priares, her neighbouring country, to the Central Territory within hours and would be in the capital within minutes.
Victory was sure to be theirs under normal circumstances.
The fleet of Airships combined with the absurd levels that the Prince and his harem wielded would have been enough to crush any nation. It was unnerving to realize the power Faubrey had been holding back for years.
It wasn't likely to be enough.
Malty, or whatever she was, was not someone to underestimate.
The Queen was concerned about the cost and the aftermath, even if she succeeded. Prince Takt would take his due, but that would be the least of her problems. Malty would not take the conquest of her centre of power lightly. The Heroes she had deceived would not kneel to Mirellia or Takt without a fight.
Worse, the Bow and Spear Heroes had proven to exceed the power of both the Heroes she had expected to wield.
The Shield was out of her grasp if the plan she had thrown together at the last moment failed. She cursed the Prince in her mind. Takt had interrupted her plans to capture him, and the Sword was too weak to be of use.
A glare from the window disrupted her thoughts.
The light of the sun outside was portentous, the rising sun dyeing everything red.
Mirellia found it fitting.
No matter who won today's battle, Melromarc would bleed for years.
It was galling to have the country she had to spend the last two decades building up crumble so easily. Her greatest allies dead. The Cane in the hands of her rebellious daughter.
Her only hope?
A lustful, impatient idiot who had seen fit to toss aside her careful plans.
She supposed that it was lucky that Nellisen was wise enough to see that taking the capital was a better move. The draconic woman, who was the dominant force in his harem had restrained Takt.
Mirellia could not allow Malty to have the Castle as a fallback position.
The Queen placed the wine glass she had been sipping for the past hour and turned to the Aotatsu who was sitting opposite to Mirellia, "Representative Nellisen," she said, unwilling to risk insulting the woman who was past level 140 and the de-facto ruler of Shieldfreeden, "What is our strategy regarding the barrier?"
Her vassals leaned forward. The new, young Lord Roma ceased his drinking and listened. Her other allies, the pathetic leftovers that had survived Malty's purges also
The barrier had been an unpleasant surprise to learn about. Her informants had spoken about Malty setting it up, but they knew nothing else. Suspicions among her spies were that it would be similar to the barriers Malty had set up around the various towns and villages, but her mages had been quick to shoot down that idea.
A city-wide barrier had to differ from smaller-scale ones. Generally, the mana consumed by such barriers was so high that even the simplest of barriers showed some esoteric effects. Like a simple Shield Barrier proving to reflect damage or absorb damage and release it as a kinetic strike.
It depended on the Mage who set it up. Give that said mage was a Hero and all bets were off. There was absolutely no consensus about what the barrier could do other than an agreement that a Fire-Element component was likely due to Malty's powerful affinity for it.
Information that was only one step above useless.
So, naturally, the Prince had elected not to say anything about the barrier. The arrogant fool had smirked and mocked her instead.
The reports of her demi-human army and the barrier had been the major reason why she didn't want to attempt the assault at this moment. The other was her concern about the reactions of Siltvelt and the other rivals of Melromarc. They would sense weakness should she fail to eliminate Malty swiftly, a prolonged civil war would be inevitable
There was no point ruling over a Kingdom soon to be torn apart by warring factions. Even permitting Malty to rule was a better option.
"Such a lack of trust," said the smiling woman, fangs visible, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. Takt will not fail and no barrier will stop him."
"Your words are comforting," lied Mirellia with a gentle smile, "I am simply worried about what further harm this possessed entity could have done. The idea of falling to such a being is worrying."
"Understandable, but our weapons and warriors are not something you should underestimate. The barrier will be destroyed and your capital will be reclaimed as long as you keep the faith."
Nellisen was polite but useless. Mirellia was frustrated. The Queen studied the solitary cloud floating outside the airship's window. Well aware, that she was unlikely to get anything more than empty platitudes. She had some cards to play, the Prince had been disappointed when he had learned that she hadn't summoned the Sword Hero to her. Mirellia had been glad that she had sent Melty to him.
At least, her daughter would be safer than she was, both in failure and success.
It was after a long minute of watching the green plains, lit by the rising sun, later that she said, "I pray that we succeed."
An honest statement, one of the few she had uttered since yesterday. Takt interrupting her meeting with her allies and then telling them that he was going to attack hadn't left her with many choices.
The Prince was bad, but Malty was more dangerous.
Takt wanted to use her.
Her firstborn wanted Mirellia and Melty dead.