CHAPTER XXXI.
Mylene Rapha Holfort was in a closed room with some of her advisors, among them was Malcolm Fou Framptom, and she was rightfully glaring at the man.
The Principality of Fanoss has just declared war on them.
They had already attacked Field territories and the Marquis had been forced to flee.
However the man still kept calm and collected.
"According to the Marquis Field report the Black Knight did not engage" the man stated as if that was of any importance when one of their most powerful frontier nobles wasn't defeated with relative ease.
"It is possible the Principality simply didn't deploy him!" one of the nobles from Frampton faction countered "With such overwhelming numbers even a knight as notorious as him may go unnoticed" he tried to make the absence of the most powerful knight in the continent irrelevant.
But Mylene knew what the Framptom and his minions were implying.
She knew about the ambush he set for Viscount Bartfort, her own spy reported him to be gravely injured with an eye missing. It did match with one of their scenarios.
This attack hinted at either Bartfort achieving a pyrrhic victory over the Black Knight in an absolutely ideal scenario or less likely the man barely escaping with his life.
However this hasty attack after how meticulous the Principality has been acting pointed at the loss of their greatest knight.
For once things are looking good.
This was not the scenario they have planned but it was much more than she had been hoping for!
She knew Framptom had some diplomatic connection with the Principality but she ignored the specific of any deal he achieved that made him look so calm and collected.
"For now we will send reinforcements to the border nobles," She said scanning the room for Gilbert Rapha Redgrave, the man was there with an aloof expression in his face, this matter had played entirely to her favor, however she had to praise his control, even the loss of his faction's beacon did was not enough to throw him off his center.
Even knowing it was futile she looked him in the eyes and ordered him "Lord Redgrave, you will be providing those reinforcements!"
The man smiled gently and nodded, he had no intention of sending a single ship, she was sure, and she could predict his next words easily, he would be leading his men himself, so he would try to leave the capital.
"Of course Mylene, I'll be leading my men myself"
Just as expected, but she wouldn't make it so easy for him "That won't be necessary, you are still needed here in the capital, we need you as a proxy with your House" she knew the Crown needed to keep the man close, they will eventually have to take him as a hostage to hopefully resolve this side of the conflict without anymore bloodshed.
"I'm afraid I'm the only one available to lead my House's troops, my father has fallen ill, you see, he is not a young man anymore" he insisted, that was a complete lie, they have many nobles able to command their fleet.
"How about your brother-in-law, I'm interested what the Pirate Bane can do against an organized army instead of a few pirates" she probed, if Gilbert gives an excuse to her he would be pretty much confirming her spy's information to be accurate.
"As talented as Leon is, he isn't experienced enough to lead a fleet this size, it's too soon for him" he said calmly, so the Viscount was out of commission for the foreseeable future, that was good.
"A shame, however I expect him to send his own troops too, he is a Viscount, and has duties to the kingdom!" She was calm but she made sure her intentions wouldn't be interpreted any other way than her demanding the man in the frontlines.
"As you Order Mylene" It was annoying that he stopped referring to her by her title, it was such a pitiful act of defiance but it really got under her skin.
0x0x0
Finley Fou Bartfort was out at night with her fiance, Ethan Fou Robson.
Much to her dismay, they were not out to do anything naughty, they needed to get out of the academy as soon as possible!
They were moving as stealthily as possible through one of the many gardens of the academy.
She has finally received the call she had expected since the first day she arrived here, it was time to get out before she could become a hostage.
"Oh my, sneaking in the middle of the night with your intended Lady Bartfort? How bold of you!" she cursed under her breath, that was Princess Erica's voice.
The Princess was sitting on a bench alongside her fiance Elijah Rapha Fraser and her followers, they were armed!
There was no way this was a coincidence!
Other than herself and Ethan only her followers knew about their plans.
She was forced to put her best smile on her face, she knew there was a possibility of being betrayed, Ethan made no attempt to abandon her and instead took a protective stance in front of her.
The children of the vassals of Redgrave House were incredibly unreliable, just like they betrayed big sis Angelica they have betrayed her now!
She could hear steps behind her, great, now they are surrounded!
"Lord Ethan, keep going, we will settle things with her Highness" turning around she saw four young men she was familiar with, they were Ethan followers!
At least his followers were reliable.
"I'm afraid all of you must stay" The princess' fiance said with finality while raising his hand, and apparently that was a signal for their followers to aim their weapons, each one of their enemies were wielding a carabin!
The situation was dire!
But she has never counted on either her own followers nor Ethan's!
Raising both hands as if she was surrendering, she instead covered her ears and then a hail of bullets rained on the princess' followers, she knew they were not dead, her brother Leon thought that killing children was a magnificent way to lose support in the war to come.
So he ordered Cleare to only shoot rubber bullets, a non lethal kind of ammunition.
Looking up she saw Cleare floating above her, the guns integrated on this Avatar smoking.
Looking around her she could see Ethan and his followers looking up as if they had seen a ghost, understandable, that was her first impression of Cleare as well, and back then she looked inoffensive and they just saw her dispatch a group of no less than a dozen armed students!
While the Princess' fiance looked terrorized, the princess herself was looking at Cleare as if she was recognizing her, which was impossible, as far as Finley knew, Cleare and her brother Luxion were the last of their kind.
"Now Princess Erica, would you like to visit my brother's territory? I've been told it's lovely this time of year!" She politely ordered her new prisoner.
"Lady Finley, this exceeds the bounds of your authority, Master has no plans to abduct royalty" Cleare's mechanical voice warned, that was the last thing she needed!
It was embarrassing to be rebuked by the familiar, it weakened her position and while her own image was not really that important in the grand scheme, she still felt mortified and she wanted to get it her way dammit!
"What is the matter, Lady Bartfort? That is quite the rebellious familiar you have!" Erica said, catching up to the fact that she may not be in as much danger as she first thought.
"You know Cleare, Nicks has two women, and so does Leon, and even that buffon Rutart has two women, but Colin only has Lady Atlee, don't you think it to be unfair?" After living with the Familiar for months she learned that she wanted her brothers to produce lots of children, and she doted on baby Gilbert a lot.
In truth, she knew the Familiar wanted her brothers to have lots of offspring for some reason, so it was only reasonable to appeal to that desire to get her to cooperate.
While she was trying to convince Cleare, the Princess naturally tried to escape, however Ethan was there and ordered her to not move.
"You know, your Highness, Coling is a really nice guy, you should at least give it a try" her beau said while aiming a scavenged weapon at the Princess, Finley almost forgot how well Ethan and her little brother got along with each other.
Just then an airship appeared out of nowhere right above them, that was one of Leon's ships, out of it came Lord Gilbert alongside his wife, blessing the saintess for their punctuality she greeted them with enthusiasm.
"Lord Gilbert, Lady Miriam" she curtsied, the man only nodded in acknowledgement, but then he turned his eyes to the Princess who visibly tensed.
"It's a shame we can't take you with us Erica, I've been told the Bartfort barony is lovely this time of year" Finley was feeling a bit conflicted with Gilbert right now, she felt enraged because he barely paid her any mind and instead focused on the princess, but at the same time she felt a slight amusement because he used the same phrase as her.
There were steps coming in a hurry, someone else was coming.
Daniel was supposed to join them as well, but it could be anyone!
A silhouette appeared in the gates of the garden, the shadow was holding some kind of polearm.
"Sorry I'm late, it was tough getting here." thank god it was Daniel.