Virgin Knight Who Is the Frontier Lord in the Gender Switched World - Chapter 190

The establishment of peace between Her Highness Valiere and the Archbishop of Mainz was declared.

The conditions accepted by the Archbishop of Mainz are as follows:

• • Withdrawal of the inquisition against the Cologne Sect

• • Withdrawal of the accompanying seven demands

• • A full apology from the Archbishop of Mainz through an official document

• • Payment of a substantial amount of reparations as reconciliation money

• • Conversion of his daughter, Eugen von Mainz, to the Cologne Sect

• • Until the reparations are paid, Lady Eugen will be held hostage by Valiere’s forces

• • Full cooperation in admitting to the Pope that the inquisition against the Cologne Sect was a mistake

There were other minor conditions, but the seven mentioned above were the main terms of the settlement.

This was the maximum concession that both parties could accept.

Some mercenaries argued that they should march into the Archbishop of Mainz’s territory, seize properties and lands for Her Highness, and elevate her to become a new elector, with them as her supporting knights, hoping for further military achievements.

However, initiating a siege would not be easy, and a struggle over territorial control could take years.

Certainly, continuing to that extent without a significant cause or justification, especially while facing an inquisition, would lack both moral and legal grounds.

Firstly, there simply weren’t enough troops to invade the opponent’s territory.

Given the looming threat of Mongol invasion in the Gusten Empire, there was no time for such endeavors; everything would collapse in two years if not resolved sooner.

For Lord Faust von Polydoro, the goal was to ensure Lady Valiere’s safe arrival at the imperial capital.

Once the goal was achieved, it was necessary to report back to the capital without delay.

Further continuation of the war was out of the question.

“……”

In short, this must be where the conflict settles.

At the very least, the Archbishop of Mainz would no longer obey the Pope, and with her public apology and payment of reparations, it was sufficiently beneficial for Lady Valiere.

The Archbishop of Mainz’s side would have preferred if conditions 1 to 4 had been sufficient.

However, Martina negotiated additional terms, and it didn’t end there.

“Indeed, was Martina’s decision truly correct?”

I cannot say.

While it is commendable to have secured additional conditions, whether it was a clever move is debatable.

If the next heir to the Archbishop of Mainz, Eugen von Mainz, converts to the Cologne Sect and stands by Lady Valiere, it would be a powerful alliance.

At the very least, securing peace before the total annihilation of our forces cannot be called incompetence.

The issue is to what extent Eugen will seriously fulfill the conditions won by Martina’s threats.

He is unlikely to break the contract once made, but active cooperation differs from passive cooperation.

Yet, blaming Martina is also inappropriate.

Ending negotiations with conditions 1 to 4 would not have served as a clear retaliation against the Archbishop of Mainz, who had forced a conversion through the inquisition.

For those from “Valiere’s fallen,” who were pushed to the brink of losing their lives, property, and dignity, it was not enough.

It was necessary to achieve a clear victory that could be declared as having exacted revenge.

The clear victory was forcing a conversion on the one who imposed the inquisition.

“With our Lady Valiere, the enemy has clearly submitted.”

“…… Yes.”

Therefore, it seemed correct to conclude it this way.

Yes, this is right.

Indeed, this is how it should be.

Since Lady Valiere has completed her task, how to utilize the Archbishop of Mainz or Lady Eugen is something Anastasia-sama and Queen Katarina can handle, and no one would blame her.

Her Highness Valiere von Anhalt, facing over 6,000 knights of the Mainz Monastic Order, has triumphed brilliantly with her makeshift force of 3,000.

What remains now is to resolve the aftermath.

“……”

A fairy-like figure, small in stature, was sprawled on a makeshift bed.

Having concluded the peace negotiation terms with the Archbishop of Mainz, Lady Valiere had finally exhausted all her mental strength and collapsed.

Her spirit was utterly shattered.

She was not one of those who shine with a golden spirit every time she faces a difficulty.

She wished she was made of sapphire eyes, a ruby-decorated sword, and gold-covered skin so she could tear it off and distribute it to everyone.

The heart of Valiere von Anhalt was nothing but heavy lead.

A special kind of lead that not even a blast furnace could melt.

“…… Many people have died again. Among them, soldiers who had sworn their lifelong loyalty to me before the battle. But, there was nothing else I could do,” Lady Valiere muttered as if speaking to herself, as if seeking some response from me.

However, I had already explained everything before the war—that the death of Lady Valiere’s subordinates would bring no regrets.

Lady Valiere understood all that and went into battle with it in mind.

Therefore, there was no point in conversing further.

I remained silent, still the bucket-headed figure I always was.

“SABINE! SABINE VON WESPERMAN!!”

As if to break my silence, Lady Valiere cried out.

She sat up from the bed and called out only the name of her trusted aide.

“Are you calling for me, Lady Valiere?”

Sabine’s face was dirty with the soot of black powder from a musket.

Even the smell of sweat flowing from her body was enveloped in the scent of gunpowder.

It was thanks to her desperate command at the front lines that our thinly spread right wing held firm.

“As you know, peace has already been established. I have given orders to all forces not to disturb the Archbishop of Mainz’s mourning as they collect the remains from the battlefield.”

“Understood. What about our troops?”

“I intend to personally conduct the memorial services, but do they have any next of kin to claim their bodies?”

I asked, though I already expected the answer.

“They do not. Are you saying that you will claim them, Lady Valiere?”

“That’s my intention. Is it possible to bring all the remains back to Anhalt?”

“Unfortunately, we can only manage to bring back their locks of hair at most.”

“Then, at least that much. Sabine, I’m sorry to ask this while you’re tired, but please verify who all the deceased were. I would like to say a few words to commemorate them here.”

“Understood.”

Sabine, looking utterly exhausted yet smiling as if possessed by some unknown deity or demon, was more than willing to exhaust herself to the point of collapse for Lady Valiere. It seems that this is the only way she knows how to live now, as if she has found the one precious thing in her life in a state of madness.

“……”

I remained silent, still the bucket-headed figure I am.

I was beginning to understand Sabine von Wesperman, the madwoman. Princess Anastasia, Duchess Astarte, and Queen Katarina all understood as well. Sabine saw no value in anything or anyone outside her devotion to the young Lady Valiere and her close kin. Yet, everyone seems to be planning to use her as an assassin, plotting to kill the Pope.

…Will that really work?

How do they intend to use Sabine? No matter how I think about it, she is not likely to seriously listen to anyone but Lady Valiere.

I wonder what Princess Anastasia, who understands this point, is thinking. She is quite capable, so she will probably manage well.

“Faust.”

Lady Valiere called my name. It was not a soliloquy but a clear conversation directed at me. I could no longer call myself Biggus, and I must listen earnestly to her sincere words.

“What is it, Lady Valiere?”

“…Someday, as my fiancé, I will go to the Polydoro domain. If we create graves in the capital of Anhalt, I won’t be able to visit them properly. Please allow me to create a communal grave in the Polydoro domain for the soldiers who died in this campaign.”

“Of course, you shouldn’t hesitate.”

Since almost all the dead belonged to the same Cologne Sect, and they fought honorably in a holy war despite facing an inquisition, there should be no issue in memorializing them in my domain of Polydoro. The people of Polydoro would gladly construct such graves.

“And there is another request I have as the one who will govern Polydoro with you in the future, as your fiancée.”

“…?”

Lady Valiere looked at me with a serious expression, one of a ruler who has thought hard and reached a conclusion.

“As you heard earlier, these people have no one to claim their remains. They have no homeland to return to. Nothing. Nowhere to go. Those who became knights may survive in Anhalt. Perhaps traders and horse lenders will manage somehow. As traders who have amassed wealth, they might be able to set up shop somewhere. Everyone can gain citizenship in Anhalt and live.”

If only I could save everyone somehow.

But I know that’s absolutely impossible.

“However, I cannot save everyone. This campaign will end, and not everyone can be saved. The parade of hope moving forward will eventually end. That’s why I’ve been desperately thinking about how to save everyone who followed me.”

There is no such way.

I, Faust, know this. Everyone cannot be saved, which is why our ancestors sought a new land and established the domain of Polydoro.

“Such a dreamlike proposal is not possible.”

“……”

Lady Valiere bowed her head on the bed, pressing her forehead to the bed as I once did before Queen Liesenlotte, as if scraping her forehead on the floor.

“So, I have a request for you, Faust. You alone have the power to solve this. Only you, as the feudal lord and my fiancé of Polydoro, can save them. Please listen carefully to what I am about to say.”

The desperate plea from Lady Valiere meant something significant.

I did not understand and was merely perplexed.