I Became King by Following My Little Sister's Advice. Now the Princess I Forced to Marry Is Giving Me Death Stares, What Should I Do? - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: The Battle of Roicardan Plains – Part 1

In the center of the continent, two nations, the Kingdom of Aidron and the Kingdom of Zelos, had been long-time enemies.

They had clashed many times over territory, but none of these battles had ever reached a definitive conclusion.

However, all things must come to an end eventually.

The battle that occurred on this day was to be the final war for both countries.

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The story goes back to one year before Van became king.

On the Roicardan Plains, near the border of both kingdoms. 

The Aidron army was positioned to the south, and the Zelos army to the north, staring each other down.

The number of soldiers from both countries was about the same.

If they clashed head-on, both sides would suffer great losses. 

Because of this, neither could move recklessly. 

The first to act would be the one to lose. So, they continued their standoff, waiting for the right moment.

“Chargeeeeeeeeee!”

The Aidron army in the south was the first to reach its limit.

Crown Prince Eirick of Aidron, the commander, ordered his troops to charge. 

This was Eirick’s first battle, his debut as a commander. 

For him, it was also a chance to prove himself as the crown prince.

Filled with enthusiasm, he became impatient.

“”Rraaaahhhhhhhhhh!””

The soldiers had no choice but to follow the orders of their commander, Crown Prince Eirick. 

They charged across the plains toward the Zelos army’s position.

“Now! Fireeeeeee!”

However, this was exactly what the Zelos army had been waiting for. A massive volley of arrows was released from their position, raining down on the Aidron soldiers.

“Ahhhhhhhhh!”

“This is impossible… Can their arrows reach from this distance?”

The Aidron army was unaware that the Zelos army had developed a new type of crossbow through research. 

These crossbows, enhanced with wind magic, had double the range of regular ones. This allowed the Zelos army to attack from a distance outside of Aidron’s expectation. 

The longer range made the crossbows heavier and slower to move, so they had been waiting for Aidron to make the first move.

“Alright… The enemy is breaking! Now is our chance for victory!”

The one who shouted was the commander of the Zelos army, Crown Prince Lott Zelos.

He was a year younger than Crown Prince Eirick of Aidron but was clearly a more capable leader. 

Seizing the moment, he ordered his troops to charge and personally rode his horse to the front lines.

“Don’t let this opportunity pass you by! We must crush Aidron’s army at once!”

“”Yaaaaaaaah!””

Led by their brave prince, the Zelos army launched a full-scale charge. 

They attacked the Aidron soldiers, who were caught off guard and shaken by the rain of arrows.

“Ugh… Fight back! Hold your ground!”

“Don’t let them through! Prince Eirick is just ahead!”

The Aidron army desperately tried to resist. 

The frontline commanders managed to calm their soldiers and attempted to fend off the charging Zelos troops.

The battle’s beginning was a clear victory for the Zelos army. 

However, the war had only just started. 

Despite the significant losses from the arrows and the charge, the outcome was still undecided. 

There was still a chance for a comeback.

“Ah… uhhhhhhhhh!”

But then, something unexpected happened for both the Aidron and Zelos armies.

At the main camp of the Aidron army, set up on the southern side of the plains, Crown Prince Eirick suddenly mounted his horse and fled the battlefield.

Seeing his troops fall into the trap and the enemy closing in, he panicked and ran away in fear.

“Y-Your Highness! Please wait, Your Highness!”

An officer ran after him. This man, General Mortega Black, had been assigned by the king to support Eirick on his first battlefield.

As an experienced general, he was effectively leading the Aidron army in place of the inexperienced crown prince.

“Where are you going? The battle has just begun!”

“Shut up! The enemy is so close! What if I get killed?”

Eirick yelled angrily at Black, who was trying to stop him.

“I’m leaving the army to you! I’m heading back to the capital! Do not let the enemy through. Die here as a decoy!”

“What…!”

“Hurry! Run! Run nowwwwww!”

Eirick fled the battlefield with a few close aides.

To reiterate, the battle was far from over. Although the Aidron army had fallen into a trap and suffered significant losses, the final outcome was still uncertain. 

The enemy wasn’t close enough to immediately threaten the main camp. 

Despite this, Eirick panicked and abandoned his troops, causing deep disappointment.

“Look, the crown prince has fled!”

“What… What should we do now?”

Black wasn’t the only one disheartened by Eirick’s retreat.

The soldiers fighting at the front also noticed their commander’s escape, deepening their own despair.

“We’ve lost! Let’s run!”

“I can’t take this anymore… Fall back!”

“Hey, wait! There’s no order to retreat!”

“Fight, don’t run!”

The commanders tried to stop the chaos, but it was too late. With their supreme commander fleeing the battlefield, it was inevitable.

“Damn it… There’s no choice! That spoiled brat!”

Black cursed Eirick under his breath, an unacceptable thing to say about royalty, and turned his horse toward the battlefield.

If the army fell apart now, the Zelos army would surge into their territory. He had to inflict enough damage to prevent them from advancing, even if it cost his life.

“THIS WILL BE MY FINAL STAND… ALL SOLDIERS, FOLLOW MEEEEE!”

General Mortega Black, the protector of the Aidron Kingdom, met his end on this battlefield. 

But in exchange, the Aidron army avoided complete collapse. 

Moreover, he bought time for a man who would change the course of the battle.

“…Advance. Let’s go.”

Van Arlengs. 

At that time, he was just a commander leading a unit. 

He was not yet the hero he would become, later known as the “Ogre of the Roicardan Plains.” 

Amid the chaos, Van calmly led his troops forward.