Virgin Knight Who Is the Frontier Lord in the Gender Switched World - Chapter 239

I was reading a book.

I was carefully studying the content of “Guns, Cannons, and Knights”, contemplating various ideas.

I see now why Duke Temeraire is so eager for my stepdaughter to learn from it.

The girl who wrote this clearly has potential.

But—

“There’s not enough information.”

Indeed, if the question is whether this could defeat the Yeke Mongol Ulus, it’s still lacking something.

That’s the practicality of the plan.

No matter how skilled the Cologne Sect’s artillery may be, I can’t shake the feeling that it’s not quite enough to turn these ideals into reality.

The Holy Mothers of the Cologne Sect could certainly function as artillery.

The cannonballs I’ve heard of, called canister shots, are also promising.

If they function properly, they could easily decimate lines of infantry.

It’s revolutionary, to say the least.

But—

“The enemy is just too formidable.”

The Yeke Mongol Ulus is overwhelmingly powerful.

They won’t kindly line up to be shot at like well-behaved enemies.

Having conquered the mighty Feiron Dynasty, they must have absorbed its technology by now.

Their forces include highly trained mounted archers, capable of shooting from greater distances than musket range.

They possess revolutionary siege weapons, legions of heavy cavalry, and their infantry drawn from subject nations, all while maintaining a powerful supply line.

Who’s to say their soldiers are weaker than our knights?

We likely even lose in terms of the numbers we can muster.

It’s no good—there’s no way to win.

But I do wish to speak with Herma von Bösel at least once.

Her writings make me want to have a conversation with her.

Should I arrange a meeting?

Fortunately, I am currently with Valiere.

If I speak to Lord Faust von Polydoro, her attendant, perhaps he could make the introduction.

But—

“What am I thinking? Foolish.”

…There’s no point in giving Duchess Astarte false hopes.

There’s something more pressing to prioritize.

My goal is clear.

I need to determine whether Lord Faust von Polydoro is worthy of being my man.

That’s why I’m staying by Valiere’s side.

Yes, Valiere.

I want to see her next move.

I rise from my seat and leave the room.

With my attendant standing by the door, I head off to see her.

“Why are there skirmishes breaking out in the city!?”

“As expected, my lady. It is well within the anticipated range of outcomes, so there is no need for concern, Lady Valiere.”

It seems she’s busy, but I don’t mind.

With a gentle smile, I enter her office.

“Valiere, how are you? Is this the start of a conflict?”

“Y-Your Majesty! My apologies, this is an embarrassing situation—”

“No need to worry. If possible, I’d like to hear the full details.”

I glance to the side.

She seems to have been arguing with Amelia von Berlichingen, whose right arm is a prosthetic.

It’s obvious from her demeanor that she has no loyalty to me; she doesn’t even bother to look in my direction.

Her gaze is fixed solely on Valiere.

It’s as if nothing else matters to her.

“It appears that the rabble Valiere has gathered and the Landsknecht have begun a skirmish.”

“…Have you been listening in?”

“No, but it’s a situation anyone could predict.”

Valiere looks at me with a surprised expression, and I offer her a smile.

It’s obvious to anyone.

This outcome was inevitable.

“Empress Maxine had ordered the Landsknecht not to engage in battle within the city, yet…”

Valiere clenches her fists.

She did give the order, but I had suspected that the Landsknecht wouldn’t follow it.

“I certainly provided the Landsknecht with a reason not to fight, as an imperial command. I ordered them not to engage your forces. But, well, I figured most of them wouldn’t listen.”

The city council offered them money.

Moreover, their loyalty to me isn’t absolute.

There are several reasons why.

Valiere doesn’t seem to grasp the subtleties of the situation.

“It’s simply jealousy. The Landsknecht are jealous.”

“Jealous?”

Valiere didn’t seem to understand the primitive reasoning behind “I just don’t like them.”

I sighed, wondering if I should give her a lecture.

But before I could, Lady Amelia von Berlichingen spoke up.

“The Landsknecht are simply envious of your people.”

“What?”

Valiere’s voice was filled with disbelief.

She didn’t get it.

“I warned Lord Polydoro the other day that he was hated for the incident with Lord Reckenber’s death. I probably should have warned you too, Valiere.”

Valiere, who seemed far removed from such things as jealousy, was clearly troubled by this.

But she was no ruler who didn’t understand people’s hearts.

“They’re envious of my people? Just because I promised them some land in the Polydoro territory?”

“Of course, they’re envious.”

There’s a word for it—“fulfillment.”

The sense of purpose, value, and accomplishment one feels.

Valiere’s people have all dreamed of “building a new future alongside her.”

The parade she led to the imperial capital continues, in spirit, forever.

In comparison, what do the Landsknecht have left?

Nothing.

The women who were conscripted by Reckenber have no home to return to.

They’re lost, with nowhere to go.

“To them, Valiere’s people must be the ones they want to kill the most.”

They’re simply jealous.

Seeing people who talk about the future, laughing joyfully in the taverns, boasting that “we are Valiere’s people.”

To the Landsknecht, who have lost their leader Reckenber, and are now just drinking away their sorrows in the taverns, without a future or place, how must those people look?

How infuriating must they be?

I voiced this obvious truth.

“…”

“That’s the look of someone who never even considered it.”

She should have seen this coming.

Well, I won’t belittle her for it, though.

The fact that she didn’t foresee it speaks more to her flaws as a person than anything else.

“…We should pull our forces outside the castle. The dead have already begun to pile up.”

Valiere, her face pale, immediately thought of her subordinates’ safety.

Interesting, she’s saying something reasonable.

“Absolutely not, Your Highness. Let them kill each other as they wish.”

Lady Berlichingen immediately shot down Valiere’s suggestion.

Naturally.

“Why?”

“For Your Highness’s safety. If we pull the soldiers back now, hundreds of Landsknecht will gather and storm this mansion. The only reason things are kept to minor skirmishes now is that the forces in the capital are evenly matched.”

That’s how it is.

It can’t be helped.

“Is there no way to resolve this?”

“There is.”

The one who spoke was Sabine von Wesperman, Valiere’s closest confidante, with her broken arm in a sling.

“We simply need to hold Reckenber accountable. More specifically, the Reckenber family and Virendorf.”

“What do you mean?”

“They became lost because they lost their charismatic leader. So, give them a new one.”

Of course, that wouldn’t be Valiere herself.

“You mean to suggest that Queen Katarina should appoint Nina von Reckenber as the new leader of the Landsknecht?”

“Exactly.”

Sabine’s eyes sharpened, as if to say “that’s correct,” and she continued speaking, her gaze filled with confidence.

“Well, there’s no need to even suggest it. Queen Katarina surely understands that already. She’s likely consulting with Princess Anastasia as we speak.”

“Why haven’t they acted yet?”

Anhalt and Virendorf aren’t fools.

There’s only one reason they haven’t acted immediately.

“It’s a matter of timing. If Nina von Reckenber were to suddenly show up, claiming ‘I am Reckenber’s daughter!’… Well, that wouldn’t fly with the Landsknecht in their current disillusioned state. There’s not enough excitement. Not enough bloodshed. Not enough frenzy.”

“And?”

“Once the fighting reaches its boiling point, drench them in cold water, guarantee the future treatment of the Landsknecht, and then crown Nina von Reckenber as their new leader. That’s what Queen Katarina is waiting for.”

Disgusting.

Sure, I could see Katarina thinking along those lines, but I didn’t need Sabine to map it out so clearly.

I found Sabine von Wesperman’s presence unsettling, to put it simply.

“Vali-sama, the conflict between your people and the Landsknecht will only intensify. Prepare yourself.”

Why does a woman like her serve Valiere?

I couldn’t imagine ever wanting such a disturbing subordinate, and yet, someone as twisted as Sabine seemed devoted to her.

Perhaps this speaks to the sheer magnitude of Valiere’s charisma.

Fascinating.

“…I can’t stop it?”

“You cannot. It is a necessary sacrifice, and after all, your people are not fighting reluctantly. They’re killing each other because they want to. You need not worry. Don’t forget, they were originally half-bandits and half-mercenaries.”

Valiere clutched her stomach.

Is she unwell?

You should take care of your body, you know.

While I thought that, I opened my mouth, replacing the now-silent Valiere.

I had a question.

“I see. The fighting will certainly intensify—to the point where they’ll abandon knives and start using muskets. So, what is the cold water you plan to pour on their rage?”

Sabine answered curtly.

“Lord Faust von Polydoro.”

Of course, it all comes back to him.

I allowed myself a small smile at the thought of witnessing that man’s true worth on the battlefield.