NOVPUBClaude rubbed his ear with his pinky and asked again, “War? You mean the kind where people fight with swords and shields in big battles?”
“Exactly. It’s time to start preparing for war. Oh, and don’t forget, the development of the estate needs to continue as quickly as possible. We don’t have much time left,” Ghislain replied.
Claude’s mouth hung open in disbelief. This was madness. War preparations weren’t child’s play, and how could they develop the estate and prepare for war at the same time? Yet, he had to ask why Ghislain was making such a ridiculous statement.
“Why the sudden rush to prepare for war? And why are we short on time?” Claude asked, confusion evident in his voice.
Ghislain sighed inwardly. How do I explain this? He couldn’t just say he knew the future—that would make him sound crazy. Instead, he had to plant seeds of concern and guide them to the conclusion naturally, starting with the most immediate and undeniable threat.
“As you all know, Count Desmond is still after us,” Ghislain began.
The retainers’ faces darkened at the mention of Desmond. Even those who had joined after the war at Ferdiem knew the broad details. They were in a precarious position with a powerful lord like Desmond holding a grudge.
But Claude, who had joined the estate later, shook his head, unfazed. “I thought about that too, but the situation has changed.”
“Changed how?” Ghislain asked.
“We’re now officially aligned with the Crown Prince’s faction. Even with his full strength, it would be risky for Desmond to attack us. And with his forces weakened, there’s no way he’d start a war. It’s too risky for him,” Claude explained, his voice filled with confidence.
As Claude spoke, the retainers' expressions lightened, clinging to the hope that Desmond wouldn’t attack while they strengthened their forces under the protection of the Crown Prince. Ghislain, however, smiled knowingly.
“And what if Count Desmond ignores the Crown Prince and launches an attack with the forces he has left? Could we stop him?” Ghislain asked.
Claude’s confident expression faltered. “We... wouldn’t be able to stop him, no.”
The only reason they had won before was because of Ghislain’s clever traps. Trying the same tactics again wouldn’t work. They’d be doomed if they faced Desmond head-on.
“That’s right. We can’t stop him. So what would you do if he attacked with reckless abandon?” Ghislain pressed.
Claude straightened up, still trying to remain logical. “For him to attack us, he’d have to gather all his remaining troops, leaving his own estate vulnerable. That’s when Count Rayfold would attack from the rear. Desmond isn’t foolish enough to ignore that risk, so we have plenty of time to strengthen ourselves.”
Claude’s reasoning made sense. If Desmond overextended himself, the opportunistic Count Rayfold would strike. Desmond wasn’t ignorant of this, so there was no immediate danger—at least on the surface. However, Claude wasn’t aware of the true situation.
Ghislain crossed his arms and glanced around at his retainers before continuing, “Well, I have more to say on that. Lowell, bring it.”
Lowell, sensing the tension, quickly fetched a stack of papers. Ghislain handed them to Claude.
“Before leaving for the capital, I asked Lowell to gather information on Desmond’s movements. Take a look.”
Claude scanned the documents. Although Fenris’s intelligence network wasn’t the best, Lowell had gathered reports from merchants and commoners passing through Desmond’s territory. Even those sparse rumors were enough to reveal Desmond’s intentions.
It was all too blatant.
“Mass recruitment and training... large purchases of medicinal herbs... increased production of bows and arrows... hiring of freelance knights...”
The flow of money and resources in Desmond’s territory was highly suspicious, but one thing stood out above the rest—Desmond was buying large quantities of iron ore from the neighboring Cavaldy County.
“Iron ore? This much?”
Cavaldy was known for its high-quality iron ore, a strategic resource that wasn’t easily sold, even for the right price. Yet, Desmond had secured a massive supply.
“What could he need all this for...?”
Claude’s mind raced. In war, food and weapons were the most important resources. Iron ore, essential for crafting and maintaining weapons, was being stockpiled in excessive quantities. It was far beyond what was needed to replenish his forces.
Desmond’s other actions also seemed extreme. Pouring so much money and manpower into preparations would strain the day-to-day operation of his estate. 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘱𝘶𝑏.𝑐𝘰𝑚
“Is he seriously... preparing for war?”
It was undeniable. Desmond was gearing up for a full-scale conflict. Though his target wasn’t clear, they couldn’t rule out the possibility that Fenris was in his sights.
Ghislain watched as Claude’s expression stiffened, then asked with a sly smile, “Well? It’s a bit uncomfortable, isn’t it?”
Claude could only nod. Even if they were part of the Crown Prince’s faction, help wouldn’t arrive immediately if war broke out. And if Desmond attacked recklessly, negotiating after the fact would be difficult for the Crown Prince’s faction too.
“Yes... it seems war might actually be on the horizon,” Claude admitted.
The rest of the retainers, hearing this, turned pale. It seemed that Fenris couldn’t go a day without facing some disaster. The mere thought was exhausting.
“At this point, it would be easier if we just let everything collapse. That way, we wouldn’t have to deal with this mess!” one of them thought grimly.
Seeing their dejection, Ghislain clicked his tongue in frustration. This defeatist attitude wouldn’t help anyone. But, amid the somber atmosphere, Claude remained resolute.
“The new settlers will be arriving soon. Before that, we must stabilize the estate as much as possible. Balancing war preparations with development will inevitably slow us down.”
Claude, despite his background as a scholar, was deeply invested in the success of Fenris. He saw the potential for personal achievement in transforming a struggling estate into a powerful region.
If I can turn this land into a great estate... I’ll make a name for myself in history, Claude thought.
He then offered a suggestion. “What if we stationed some of Marquis Branford’s soldiers here? Even a small contingent would send a message. It would be a clear signal that this land is under his protection. Desmond wouldn’t dare attack then.”
The retainers nodded in agreement. Having Branford’s troops stationed in Fenris would act as a powerful deterrent. Attacking a territory with Branford’s soldiers would be the same as challenging the marquis directly.
Claude continued, “Ordinarily, allowing foreign troops to be stationed in one’s land would be humiliating. But since Marquis Branford is Lord Ghislain’s patron, it’s perfectly justifiable.”
Once again, the retainers nodded. It was a reasonable, safe, and effective solution.
Even Belinda and Kaor, who usually voiced objections, remained silent in agreement.
Ghislain, however, smiled bitterly as he surveyed the room.
If I were like most other lords, I would take Claude’s suggestion without hesitation. It’s the safest course of action.
But there was one major problem—Duke Delphine, the most powerful figure in the kingdom, was backing Desmond. Keeping this fact hidden would only delay the inevitable.
After thinking it over, Ghislain decided it was time to reveal the truth. Everyone needed to understand the real threat they were facing.
“Desmond isn’t acting alone,” Ghislain said gravely.
Claude, not catching on, joked, “Oh, right. He’s married now. Heard his wife is a real beauty. Power really does get you the best, huh?”
Ghislain rolled his eyes. “Not that. I’m talking about Duke Delphine. Desmond is acting on Delphine’s orders.”
At that, both Claude and the retainers froze. The name “Duke Delphine” struck terror into their hearts. Known for his ruthlessness, he was the most powerful noble in the kingdom.
If Desmond was acting under Delphine’s orders, the Fenris estate was as good as doomed.
One of the retainers finally spoke, his voice shaking, “That’s impossible! Why would a northern lord like Desmond bend to a southern duke? It doesn’t make any sense!”
“Do you have any proof of this?” another asked.
Ghislain was about to explain when Claude, piecing things together, murmured, “Wait... it could be true. If Desmond is pretending to be neutral, but in reality acting as Delphine’s puppet...”
Ghislain nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly. That’s the ploy Duke Delphine has been working on for years. Claude, you’ve got it.”
The realization sent chills down Claude’s spine. The purchases of iron, the recruitment of soldiers, everything suddenly made sense. Desmond wasn’t simply rebuilding his forces—he was preparing for something bigger, and Delphine was backing him.
If Duke Delphine was involved, then even having Branford’s soldiers wouldn’t be enough. The Crown Prince’s faction wouldn’t risk an all-out war with Delphine over the small Fenris estate.
“We can’t rely solely on external help. We’ll need to defend ourselves,” Claude said, his face pale with worry.
Seeing the dread spread through the room, Ghislain decided to brighten the mood with a determined tone. “Delphine’s involvement isn’t the immediate issue. What matters now is Desmond. We all understand that war is inevitable, right? So let’s start planning how we’re going to defend ourselves.”
The retainers exchanged glances, none of them daring to speak. They were woefully underprepared for war, with barely any trained soldiers or knights.
Claude finally asked the question on everyone’s mind. “When do you think Desmond will strike?”
“He won’t move for at least six months,” Ghislain replied. “His forces are still weakened, and he’ll need time to rebuild. Plus, he’s got his hands full with Amelia’s rebellion.”
Claude hesitated, then asked, “Is half a year really enough time to prepare for war? We won’t even finish training the new recruits by then.”
“So what do you suggest?” Ghislain asked.
“If war becomes unavoidable... we should run,” Claude said bluntly.
Before Ghislain could respond, Belinda interjected, “I agree. If war breaks out, we should retreat. But there’s no need to run just yet.”
Everyone turned to her in confusion. Hadn’t they just agreed that war was inevitable?
Smiling confidently, Belinda raised her chin. “Why bother with a drawn-out war? If we just cut off Count Desmond’s head, the problem’s solved, right? I’m good at that. Give me a few days, and I’ll get it done.”
Her casual suggestion of assassinating Desmond startled everyone in the room, including Kaor.
“What? Me? Why do I have to get involved?” Kaor asked, alarmed.
“You and the mercenaries can create a distraction. Cause a ruckus near the castle while I slip in and take care of Desmond. Simple,” Belinda said matter-of-factly.
“You’re insane! You’re basically asking us to die!” Kaor retorted.
“If your sacrifice prevents a war, it’s a noble death! And you love fighting anyway!” Belinda argued.
“Not fights like that!” Kaor snapped.
As the two bickered, Gillian stepped forward with a serious expression.
“Lord Ghislain, if war is inevitable, let me lead the mercenaries. I’ll delay the enemy’s advance as much as possible, buying you time to strengthen our forces and seek help from the Crown Prince.”
“And how do you plan to delay them?” Ghislain asked.
“I’ll target their supply lines—raid the caravans delivering their war supplies. Without food and weapons, their preparations will slow down. And if they divert forces to hunt me down, it’ll delay them even more. Leave it to me.”
Ghislain chuckled at Gillian’s proposal. He had employed similar tactics in his past life. There was something about mercenaries that made them think alike.
“It’s a good plan, but it’ll paint you as a bandit. I won’t have my people branded as criminals,” Ghislain said, shrugging.
Both Belinda and Gillian’s ideas were admirable, if risky. But he couldn’t let them sacrifice themselves.
Kaor, who had remained quiet, simply shrugged and said, “If they attack, I’ll fight. Put me in front, but you’ll have to pay me extra.”
“Good old reliable Kaor,” Ghislain laughed, shaking his head at the simplicity of Kaor’s mindset.
While the others were discussing these dangerous ideas, Claude asked again, “Are you sure you won’t consider fleeing?”
“No,” Ghislain answered firmly.
Claude sighed. “Then the best option is to fortify the estate. We should start building defenses immediately.”
“Fortifications? You want to hold out in a siege?” Ghislain asked, intrigued.
“Yes. Our greatest asset is our vast food supply. If we build strong enough defenses, we can outlast Desmond’s forces in a siege until reinforcements from the Crown Prince arrive.”
Gillian frowned and asked, “But even with fortifications, we’ll need soldiers to man them. We’re short on troops.”
“We can request reinforcements from Ferdiem. We can also push the recruits harder in training. No one wants to die, so they’ll do whatever it takes to be ready.”
The retainers nodded in agreement. It was the most practical and least risky plan.
Ghislain also nodded. “Alright, let’s proceed with that. Begin stockpiling supplies and fortifying the estate. We need to be ready for anything.”
Although Ghislain appeared to accept Claude’s plan, inwardly, he had other thoughts.
Everyone’s on edge now. I’ll keep them like this for a while.
Claude’s suggestion was the safest course of action for the current situation. But Ghislain knew it wouldn’t be enough to win against Duke Delphine in the long run.
To survive, they’d need to go beyond the expected. They’d need to do the unimaginable.
If we wait for the enemy to strike, we’re doomed. This time, I’ll strike first.
Ghislain wasn’t one to sit idly by and wait for disaster. Soon, the perfect opportunity would present itself. When it did, he would make sure to deal Desmond a devastating blow.
