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The constant drum of footsteps made the Lion King laugh out loud.
“You’re like an onion. Peeling a layer just reveals another one1.” He shook his head.
Joshua was on foot and he still outpaced the Wilhelm Knights’ steeds. It still felt like he was pacing himself.
“Hah. At this rate, we’ll reach southern Avalon in less than a week. Normally it’d take fifteen days.” Leo de Gran’s thoughts were decidely less mad than their speed. “But more importantly… Why did the Lion King come with us?”
“Huh?” The Lion King returned Leo’s look. “What, you wanted to have fun by yourself and make me take care of the mess afterward?”
“That’s not what I mea—”
“But we’ve known each other for a long time, haven’t we? Let’s not let this get between us. Sometimes I need to see things for myself—and if I find my replacement at the same time, so much the better. That’s why I gave him the tile.” The Lion King glanced at Leo de Grans and smiled bitterly when he didn’t reply. “Also, consider how we’re going to cross the border. Unlike him, we’re uninvited guests.”
“I don’t have time for that.”
“What?”
“I’m too busy chasing after the king.”
The Lion King stared dumbly at him.
Now that I think about it, he’s usually like this. And with all his nagging… You’ve got a lot to deal with, little king.
The Lion King offered up a quiet prayer for Joshua’s future.
They ran far, far away from Fendra Castle.
“Ahhh, hahhh…”
“Young Lady, there! Once we’re past that field of reeds, we won’t be far from where the horses are tied.”
At Baron Ashval’s words, the group’s faces lit up. It consisted of the Baron, three knights, Verdot, Icarus, Charles, and a few others. It was far from ideal, considering how many people were after the Pontier family’s neck.
“Everyone… stay strong. It’s just… a little trek… nothing much.”
“Young Lady…” It was clear that Charles was struggling, but she was more worried about the rest of the group. They watched her with pitying eyes.
Except for one.
“Something’s off.” Icarus’s blue eyes shook with pain, and they were just as tired as Charles’s.
The reed field was an excellent place to set a trap. From their perspective, it promised death as much as it promised salvation. If the enemy was indeed hiding there, the Pontiers were doomed.
I can’t believe a veteran like Baron Ashval doesn’t know such elementary stra— Icarus’s expression collapsed.
“Baron Ashval. Let me ask you a question: did you really see Sir Cain’s end?”
Charles stopped playing with her feet, took a deep, shaky breath, and stood up. There were many traitors, but the death of Cain, an outsider, rested solely on her shoulders.
“What kind of question is that?” Baron Ashval shot back. “Does it matter?”
“Yes, it does matter,” Icarus firmly replied. “Besides, why did you think I was a traitor when Sir Cain and I had nothing to gain from helping this family.”
“Icarus,” Charles began. “That’s—”
Baron Ashval abruptly stopped in front of Charles with a scowl. The rest of the group stopped when they heard the rasp of his sword leaving its sheathe.
“If we’re going to waste time like this, I’ll cut off your head.” He shot Icarus a venomous glare. “You asked if it was important? You think your words matter? Look around you—the same family you helped is falling apart. We have every reason to suspect you and your kind.”
Charles clenched her fist.
“That just means we need to be more open,” Icarus insisted.
“What?”
“I don’t think Sir Cain is dead. The man I know wouldn’t waste his life like that, in a place like that.”
“What nonsense is this?” Baron Ashval laughed. “He’s gone. He’s a real knight, unlike you. If he hadn’t given up his life, none of the knights of Pontier, including me, would have—”
“Would have died.”
“You’re—?!”
“We would’ve died together. You said he gave his life for you? You’re not our master. And Sir Cain? He hasn’t so much as held a woman’s hand in his life. You think he’s going to lay down his life for someone who’s not his master? Never.”
“Wha—”
“I-Icarus?”
“It’s obvious, isn’t it?” Icarus asked the stunned group. “Especially when we’re talking about Baron Ashval. Don’t you remember all the times he talked about bad luck?”
Now, even some of the knights spoke up.
“It was odd, even accounting for Count Cox’s betrayal. No one in the family saw any signs of sabotage before the castle burned.”
“And…” Icarus’s eyes bored into Baron Ashval. “Baron Ashval should have been the first to notice a threat to the patriarch’s safety. The idea that he didn’t notice anything is patently ridiculous. And you didn’t even get reprimanded, did you?”
“This isn’t—”
Icarus decisively cut off Verdot. “Pendra Castle sits at the deepest part of the basin. It’s strange how so many of the vassals safely evacuated when the enemy came over the Dennis River… unless you take into account that over half of them were traitors.”
“I know the territory like the back of my hand. I know the routes the enemy doesn’t.” Baron Ashval confidently replied.
“Then why did you pick this route? Unless you’re an idiot—”
“This bastard!” The Baron’s face reddened.
“D-Do you… suspect him of being a traitor?”
Icarus nodded. “As you can see, there are no rules against having more than one kind of traitor. If there are enemies hiding in the reeds, we’re in serious trouble. Ah…” Icarus turned to the group. “Isn’t it strange how quiet it is? It’s about time the enemy caught up.”
Doubt began to creep in.
“Now that I think about it…”
Baron Ashval’s eyes darted back and forth nervously. Icarus didn’t miss it. The others’ eyes widened as Icarus stepped toward the Baron in spite of his naked steel.
“If you’re so sure, you should go first.”
“What?”
“If you’re close to A-Class, you ought to be able to crush anyone hiding in the reeds, right?”
Baron Ashval froze.
“…Heh. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!” A low laugh slipped between his teeth as he clutched his face.
“B-Baron Ashval?”
“Alright. I went through so much trouble to see the Young Lady’s sad face one more time.” He whipped a magic flare out of his clothes and tossed it into the air.
There was a swish and a boom, and then the reed field rippled with movement. No less than 200 knights in silver full-plate armor emerged.
“The 3rd Knights—?”
“Baron Glen and the 4th Knights—”
Charles’s three accompanying knights couldn’t believe their eyes.
“Are you crazy?” one of them shouted at Baron Ashval. “Aren’t you ashamed of turning your back on your family? Do you value your life above your honor?”
“You’re welcome to join us.”
“Ha!” The knight holding the supplied snorted. “We will do the right thing, even if it costs us our lives.2”
“They said I would keep my job under Marquis Crombell. Also, it costs a lot of money to move. And honor? Is it honorable to drown in a sinking ship? Would you build a monument for the ship’s dog?” The Baron smirked. “History is written by the victors.3 When the war is over, you people will be remembered as incompetent losers.”
“Don’t try to rationalize your craven behavior!”
Icarus frowned as she watched them rage. It was now clear that there was another reason why the Pontier family collapsed so quickly.
The entire family is fucked up. Maybe their merchant origins are why so many of them have a screw loose.
“Yes, you’re right. As a leader, that’s the last thing I’m worried about.” The Baron smiled strangely. “If you really think that way, then die for your ideals.” His sword hummed as aura ensconced it. The three knights were quick to draw their blades in response.
“This is wrong…” Charles looked like a husk of the woman she once was, and Icarus was desperately searching for options. Not only did they need to deal with Baron Ashval, they then had to escape the iron wall of knights around him.
They were in a bad spot, that much was certain.
“Can you find a way?”
“Y-Young Lady?” Icarus was surprised to find Charles’s hand resting on Icarus’s4 shoulder.
“It’s okay now, Icarus. I’m sorry for getting you involved in all this.”
Icarus felt a tight knot of worry grow; and, soon enough, that fear was realized.
“Get rid of them.”
Charles stepped forward. “If the point is to take the Pontier name, then my father and I are enough, right?”
“Young Lady, I don’t leave loose ends behind.”
“But if you do… I’ll marry that boy Gehog.”
“Young Lady?!” Icarus shouted.
The Baron eyed her suspiciously. “Are you serious?”
“I think Marquis Crombell will be more than happy with this arrangement. But you must guarantee their safety.”
This way, Marquis Crombell would absorb the remaining Pontier family forces rather than deal with annoying reactionary rebellions.
“Young Lady, I’d rather die fighting!”
“Our lives are not important!”
“Your life is worth more to me than anything else.” Charles smiled sadly. “In the past, when I was an immature ruler, you helped me greatly. Now, allow me to ease your burdens a little in my own way.”
Verdot shut his eyes and turned his head away.
“I applaud the Princess for her bravery,” the Baron said
“How dare you—!”
“Enough! Enough of this.”
“Young Lady.” The knights stilled, allowing Baron Ashval to approach.
“AHAHAHAHAH!” Baron Ashval roared with unrestrained laughter. He stretched out his hand to Charles. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Princess—or should I say, Duchess.”
Charles squeezed her eyes shut.
They bragged about how smart I was… but why can’t I think of anything…? Icarus suffered in silence.
Verdot looked defeated. The knights looked ready to fight, but everyone knew it was over.
And then came the screaming.
“Wha-What?”
“Take your hands off her, asshole!”
A roar cracked through the sky, carrying a familiar voice.
He was alive.
Icarus’s cheeks were wet with tears.
“This… This idiot…!”
EDN: Like an ogre. ↩️
TLN: ME LIKEY LIKEY ↩️
TLN: Fuck that in a lot of sense ↩️
EDN: I apologize for how awkward this sounds, but I couldn’t figure out a better way to maintain the quantum uncertainty of Schrodinger’s naughty bits. ↩️