Novel All
Chapter 532
Chapter 532
Chapter 532: A Good Subject
Upon receiving the information that the castle had been seized, Marcel quickly abandoned the fort and began to take control of the port town where Al and the others were. He had to secure the port, or else he would lose his escape route.
Once he had taken control of the port town, he explained to the nobles who had followed him what they should do next. They had followed Marcel because they trusted him. They wanted to do everything they could.
However...
"Barnabas-sama has arrived."
"Finally... Bring him in."
Marcel showed a mix of disgust and anger. He had already received the whole story.
"Oh! Ambassador Marcel! I thought I was going to die! I did my best too!"
"I've heard the story."
"Is that so! That little girl called Blue Seagull was so insolent..."
Barnaba couldn't finish his sentence. Marcel glared at him with a look like a demon.
"Uh, um..."
"Little girl? Insolent? You, of all people, dare to disrespect Blue Seagull. That's laughable. She is an envoy appointed by the Emperor. The Empire doesn't have the luxury to send incompetents to other countries in a situation where war with the Kingdom is imminent. She was chosen because there is confidence that she can fulfill her mission. She has also achieved significant results. Despite her arrival in the capital, you foolishly let her into the castle... The word 'foolish' suits you! You should have stayed quiet, but you unnecessarily interfered! If she's a little girl, you're less than a baby!"
"W-w-wait... Isn't that too disrespectful?!"
"Is there any courtesy that I owe you?! It would be better to bow my head to a bug! The Duke in the capital was our lifeline! The navy didn't betray us because the Duke was in our hands, and you just let him be recaptured! Despite explaining this much, why can't you understand? If we lose the capital, we lose!"
Marcel kicked a nearby chair in anger. The chair flew near Barnabas, who collapsed in fear. Marcel's anger was that intense.
"Um, please calm down..."
"Calm down? I am calm. The fact that I haven't killed you yet is proof of that. Because we need a parting gift for the nobles!"
"A p-parting gift...? You're not going to abandon me, are you?!"
"Of course! If there's any merit in being associated with you, explain it to me! It was you and your father who ruined every strategy we thought was the best! Who would support a man who couldn't fulfill the simple task of keeping everyone away from the Duke, and who couldn't recapture the castle and ran away?! Our power has already collapsed! You have nothing!"
With that, Marcel signaled to a nearby soldier with his eyes. The soldier, as if he understood, arrested Barnabas.
"W-wait! Ambassador Marcel! I'm still a useful person!"
"The value of a person is determined by others, not by yourself. You must have been dazzled by her reputation as a beautiful woman and invited her to the castle. Underestimating the opponent and being deceived by charm. You're such a big fool that you can't be saved! The only value you have now is to be presented before the Duke as a gift from the nobles!"
With that said, Marcel ordered the soldier to take him away. But he stopped him immediately.
"Wait, there's something I need to say."
"Ambassador Marcel! I'll change my ways! So please!"
"There was a point I should thank you for. You wonderfully lost the capital like an idiot. Thanks to you, I didn't have to resort to the cowardly tactic of taking the Duke as a hostage. I'll thank you for that. Well done."
"Wait! Ambassador Marcel! Ambassador Marcel!!"
Barnabas was finally taken away. In place of Barnabas, another person appeared in Marcel's room.
"Your Highness, we've successfully interfered with the Duchy's navy."
"You've worked hard, Milne."
There was the blonde dancer, Milne. She reported her successful mission, but her face was not bright.
"I beg your pardon... Because I failed to stop Rondine, your highness' plans have been ruined..."
"It was impossible to stop Rondine with a small group. You did well to buy us some time. It was my fault for not making the most of it. My apologies."
"Please don't say such a thing... Even though I used a method you dislike, I still failed..."
"I was the one who used you. I have no complaints about the method. Don't feel responsible. It was always a long shot. You did well. You bought us time, and dealt a significant blow to Rondine and the Duchy's navy. That's enough."
With those words, Marcel comforted Milne.
Even so, Milne's face was somber, but she knew Marcel would be annoyed by further apologies, so she quietly stepped back.
"Lord Marcel, the ship is ready."
"I understand. I'll be right there."
While saying that, Marcel, for some reason, turned towards the desk.
There was a piece of paper prepared on it.
"A letter?"
"Yes. The mere body of Barnabas is weak as a parting gift. I'm going to write a letter to Arnold."
"Do you need to go that far for the nobles of the Duchy?"
"No matter where they're from, they followed me. I will take care of them till the end."
With that said, Marcel recorded certain information in the letter.
Then he was about to put down his pen, but he added a few more things at the end and sealed it.
"Now, entrust this to the nobles. If they hand it to Arnold, they'll surely be pardoned."
"Understood."
Lizette called one of her subordinates nearby, handed the letter, and dispatched them urgently.
As soon as Marcel's preparations were done, the ship would set sail.
"Now, let's go home. To the kingdom."
With those words, Marcel, with Lizette and Milne, boarded the ship.
"A letter for me?"
A week after seizing the capital.
The nobles of the Duke's army who had taken control of the port town restrained Barnabas and offered to surrender.
What the nobles presented was a letter addressed to me.
"From the ambassador of the kingdom?"
"It seems so."
At a glance, there was no magical presence.
It's probably not a trap.
Cautiously, I opened it, and inside was some interesting information.
"He's a meticulous guy, really."
"Is this... a weakness of the nobles...?"
"Yes. And it's the weakness of the frontier nobles."
What was written in Marcel's letter were the weaknesses of the nobles who sided with the Duke.
There were big weaknesses and small ones.
For Marcel, who had finished the fight in the Albatro Duchy, this information had served its purpose.
Given that even if he lured betrayal with this, the situation wouldn't turn around, he retreated to the kingdom.
But for the Duke, this information was beneficial.
In this incident, the Duke would be wary of the power held by the nobles.
However, the frontier nobles would persistently claim their achievements. This information could be used to counter that.
If the frontier nobles can't be suppressed, they will only replace the position of Duke Pastore.
This information is much more valuable than Barnabas's body.
"So, with this, you mean to pardon the nobles?"
"That's what it means. It's easy to execute everyone, but that would only strengthen the power of the frontier nobles. Blame everything on Duke Pastore and Barnabas, and use this information to suppress the others. That's the best strategy for the Duke. The fact that he entrusted this to me means he wants me to explain it."
Marcel is no longer in this land.
There's no one to protect the surrendered nobles.
Marcel protected them by giving me this information.
If I explain, the Duke would understand.
The frontier nobles won't be satisfied with just Duke Pastore and Barnabas, they will push the Duke.
With this information, the Duke can counter even that push.
He put unnecessary things to good use.
As I thought that, I noticed a bit of text after a small gap.
"I admit your victory this time.
You did well.
However, don't forget.
You had the Blue Seagull, a collaborator equivalent to an army of ten thousand.
You're smart, so you must know what would've happened without her.
I'd like to say that she's wasted on you, but that would be the same as the other fools.
My pride won't allow that.
So, I'll leave you with these words.
You have a good subject, Prince Arnold.
We will settle this another time.
Commander-in-chief of the Royal Army, Third Prince Ansem de Perlant."
"Well, what do you know..."
"What does it say?"
"Well... According to him, your contribution is the reason for our victory this time."
"He really hates losing, doesn't he? This Ambassador Marcel."
"No... His name is Ansem de Perlant. The third prince of the kingdom."
Upon saying this, Finne's eyes widened in surprise.
I handed the letter to Finne and looked out at the sea, letting out a sigh.
"I'd like to hope that there won't be a next time..."
Leaving those words behind, I started walking with Finne.
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