As I admired Fleur, Serafina stood blocking the map.


    "Master, this is my room. Do you know that?"


    "Oh, I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to be so blunt. I''m sorry, I''m sorry."


    "That''s not what I meant. ....... If it''s a military meeting, I think Fleur''s room would be better."


    Serafina glanced at Raviara.


    "Yes, Raviara, I think it would be good for you to do so as well. ......"


    Raviara said, also with a downcast look on her face.


    Looking at their faces, I guessed their intention.


    If I, the owner of the castle, am going to a woman''s room in the castle, then that''s what I''m going to do.


    "I''m very tired of talking too long, and I''d like to take the rest of the day off. I don''t know what''s going on in the province of Nagouri, shouldn''t I talk to Fleur?"


    Serafina''s face looked sad, even though she said so with her mouth.


    Probably, Seraphina herself had chosen Fleur as my wife. I had not kept an additional chambermaid for the sake of Seraphina and Raviara.


    "If it is not too much trouble for Fleur, I would like to ask you a few more questions.


    I have no objection.


    Fleur replied quietly, as if by example of a noble princess.


    "Then let''s talk a little more about where we should attack.


    He moved around the room and asked one more question.


    "Am I correct in assuming that your brother knows about this?　I don''t want to offend your brother in any way."


    "I told you before we separated that I had no reason to object to your marrying into the Count''s family. I have also asked the Count''s wife about the night-night stand.


    "Well, let''s fall for Serafina''s trick, shall we?"


    I held Fleur in my arms.


    I soon discovered that Fleur was devoted and healthy. She must have been born to a small lord and had thought long and hard about how to protect her family''s lands.


    "Fleur, the House of Uige will be safe as long as you follow me. I promise you that."


    Yes, please take good care of my family.


    He must have lived for many years thinking that the fate of his family rested on his little shoulders. Fleur''s expression is a little hard.


    I put my hand on her cheek.


    "You should look more happy. You may think of yourself as a princess in exile, but there is no one here who would blame you for smiling."


    "Thank you. I haven''t heard such kind words from you in many years. ......"


    Fleur laughed with a slightly awkward expression on her face, perhaps a little less anxious than she had been in the past.


    "Yes, you''re cute that way."


    I stroked Fleur''s hair and held her close to my chest.


    A few days later, I made Fleur my official concubine.


    I was the first to do so.


    The plan to attack the province of Nagouri is ready.


    "First, we will take the fortress of Saura deep inside the enemy territory with an advance force. It is a valley land with mountains looming over it. We will have a decisive battle near there."


    I sent out the order for conscription to the whole province, and even before the troops were assembled, we headed north with only the SS and a few others.


    On the way, we entered the castle of Kitagaoka, which was ruled by Noen. This is the northernmost point of my province.


    "I see that you have a very small number of people. ....... I thought that since you were going to attack a neighboring prefecture, you would come with your entire army. ......


    Noen seemed a little taken aback.


    "They''re going to use this place as a base for their army. We don''t need a large army to take down a small fort. If we take our time, they will send out a rearguard.


    That''s where a lot of troops come in. First of all, the fort must be taken down.


    Meisel Wujer, the second-in-command of Kitagaoka Castle, was also present.


    "Thank you for paying attention to my sister.


    Seeing the spirit in his face, it was clear that he was committed to the revival of his family. I could feel his determination to achieve success in the war.


    "Thanks to your sister, I have your support. We will win this battle. You will join the advance guard. Noen alone is enough here.


    With about 700 men, we invaded Nagouri Province.


    On the way, we captured several enemy forts.


    All of them were small and nearly open, meant only to prevent the invasion of the small lords of northern Fordonia. Some of them were completely empty.


    It is not surprising that the original forts had no ability to stop us. A force with a single province was not supposed to be there.


    The problem is that the forts have not been repaired or remodeled.


    So, it seems that the enemy does not have the intention to prevent us in the corners of their territory.


    As we were advancing, the latecomers and others joined me, bringing our total number to about 1,000 men.


    We then dropped the fortress of Saura, located deep in the center of Nagouri. It was a fort on top of a small mountain, but here, too, the enemy fled without much fighting.


    From this point on, it was serious business.


    I held a war council with the SS.


    "After crossing a few more passes, we will enter the plains of the northern part of Nagouri Province. Then we can hit the enemy''s stronghold, the castle of Morcala, at once."


    Morkara Castle is a port town facing the sea. The northern part of the Nagouri province is bordered by the sea, so there are many ports.


    "However, there are a number of forts before we pass through this pass. Obviously, the density and number of forts are far greater than ever before. They seem to be undergoing extensive renovation work. You know what this means."


    Rayon of the White Eagle Corps, Orcus of the Red Bear Corps, and others nodded their heads.


    "So the enemy intends to isolate us here and destroy us. If the enemy can get around the back of this fort, it will be a pincer attack.


    "Rayon is right. This kind of strategy has been used here in the past.


    "If we try to force our way forward, each of us will be exhausted at the fort, and when we are tired and on the plain, their main force will hit us. Even if we run behind them, they can wait for us as long as they can get around our detachment.


    Olks said, holding his face in his hands.


    "That''s what I mean. Well, I guess the enemy thought there would be a lot more men packed into this fort."


    It is the kind of land where a large army would have nowhere to run. So, we intentionally sent many of them to the rear. This would allow us to destroy the enemy''s detachment.


    I''m thinking and acting accordingly. We will destroy them at once.


    --You''re getting very enthusiastic. Well, it''s not like their castle is inland. It''s easier than attacking Mino.


    Maybe you''re right. I''ll destroy their neighbors faster than you!


    I told Oda Nobunaga.