Back at the castle of Maust, I tried to gather information about the province of Nagouri.


    In my free time I tried to think as much as possible about how to fight the Lentlands.


    This thinking was more effective when I was resting in my wife''s room than when I was engaged in government affairs. This is because I can detach myself from the political affairs.


    In addition, only I and a few other men are allowed to enter the room where my wife is. It''s like a small palace.


    "Master, you''re staring at the map again..."


    Serafina said this to me as I was spreading out a map on the table.


    "It can''t be helped. It''s going to be a war of unprecedented scale.


    This will be the first time for me to lead a province and fight an opponent of the same rank.


    If you fail, you will face destruction.


    "It can''t be helped, Serafina, you must be patient.


    Then Raviara brought me a cup of tea. Raviara is in a position where she doesn''t have to do this kind of servant''s work, but she has always been very attentive to this kind of thing.


    "Both of you are getting a little fuller, aren''t you? If possible, I would like to destroy the Lentlands before the baby is born.


    "Mr. Arsrod, you are more enthusiastic than ever."


    Raviara said as she made me a cup of tea.


    "But, how hard can it be to take over one of the prefectures in a few months?


    "Yes. Even Oda Nobunaga said it took him a long time to take the neighboring country of Mino."


    "Oda Nobunaga?　Do you mean your profession?"


    "Oh, ...... never mind what you just said."


    I try not to let on too much that I am having a conversation with Oda Nobunaga. Most people would find it hard to believe.


    "I''m serious. "I''m serious," he says, "or I''d have to think about both the kids and the war. But I think I have a plan."


    I''ll put a check mark on the map of Nagouri Province.


    I''ll make sure we have the upper hand before they do.


    "If it were true, I would do more for the Master, but I can''t do anything right now because the baby is too important.


    "That goes for Raviara, too."


    They looked at each other and said, "Hey.


    I feel that Serafina and Raviara are getting closer to each other lately. Maybe it''s because they are in a closer position.


    "But, Master ......, I''m also a little bit devoted to you," she said.


    For some reason, Serafina said, with a hint of bitterness in her voice.


    "I know. I know you''ve been looking out for me. You''re a saint to me, just like your profession."


    "No, it''s something more specific. Raviara, please."


    With that said, Laviala left the room. What in the world?


    Then Laviala came back with a girl. She was about fifteen years old. She had beautiful pink hair.


    Her dress was too gorgeous for a lady-in-waiting of Serafina. She must be of a very high rank.


    "I believe this is the first time we''ve met, sir."


    Her voice was beautiful, as if a bell had rung.


    "Which one of you is the daughter?　If there had been a vassal as beautiful as you, word would have soon gotten around."


    "My name is Fleur, sister of Meisel Uge."


    Ah, the sister of the Lord of Beigaoka Castle.


    "I was a hostage of the Lentlands until two years ago. So I should be able to tell you a little about what''s going on.


    "That would be great. I would be very much interested in learning more about you.


    Yes, I intend to do so.


    I thought he was really polite. Perhaps she is reserved because she is a princess of an exiled country.


    Serafina came between Fleur and me.


    "When the daughter of the Ooge family was sent to me, I thought that she would be able to help the master," she said. First of all, she is very smart and I trust her heart."


    Fleur put her hand on her chest. It was a gesture of oath.


    "I would like to repay you for the kindness you have shown me by leaving me the House of Uige. Besides, I am sure that my brother will be on the front lines in the next battle against House Lentland. I want to make sure that the war will be a good one for him. I will tell you everything I can for that purpose.


    Thank you very much for your concern. Now, may I ask you a few questions right away?


    Yes, anything.


    "The Lentlands will be preparing for war, so when should we attack?"


    He asked the question in a deliberate test.


    "I thought it would be good if it coincided with the wheat harvest. The number of soldiers we can recruit will be decreasing. Especially in the south of Nagouri, the farmlands are fertile, and it will be a while before they can be manned. However, the land is not suitable for defense because of its size.


    Well, you certainly speak the language easily.


    So, what do you think is the reason why the enemy has not attacked?


    "There are several possibilities. First of all, they are only interested in defending their own province. As yet, they have not taken Nagouri itself at all.


    It''s possible. It has always been the case that when you have a large area of land, you can become conservative.


    "Secondly, because they want to avoid fighting in the province of Fordonia. Soldiers who collect peasants do not like to travel far. And if they have to go all the way to the next province, it could be demoralizing."


    That''s part of it. That''s why I wanted to prepare professional soldiers. The SS is a preparation for that. If we have an army that can fight in any season, we can attack when the enemy wants to avoid war.


    "Finally, we might be able to lure the Count from the start and beat him."


    Fleur''s fingers crawled over some of the forts on the map.


    "The forts in the enemy''s province are all to the north. If we attack this far and the Fordonellians suffer a heavy defeat, it will be very difficult for them to escape. There is even a fear that the army will collapse in the meantime.


    "Mr. Fleur, you are a truly intelligent man."


    Perhaps he was a hostage, but he was also a person who was supposed to inform his home country of the situation in the Nagourish province. He is not just a bird in a basket.


    This may have been a bigger gain for the general than we thought.