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Chapter 574
Chapter 574
Chapter 574: Ansem's Thoughts
"Word has it that the Holy Maiden has headed to the northern city clusters. What will you do, Prince Ansem? If you head north now, you might be able to take back the Holy Maiden."
In the royal army's headquarters, upon hearing Barand's words, Ansem sighs softly.
"Do you still fixate on Leticia?"
"We once fought together. She is a hero of the kingdom. If we can take her back, we should. We can reclaim the moral high ground from the Empire."
"It's too late to take back Leticia. The Empire's moral high ground won't disappear. In the Empire's eyes, we are cowards who betrayed the Holy Maiden. They've built up that image of our kingdom. They won't waver."
"If we portray it as her being forced to cooperate with the Empire"
"Enough."
Ansem tells Barand quietly. Noticing the change in his tone, Barand falls silent.
"It was our kingdom that used the hero who saved our country as a pawn. Accept it. It's not Leticia's fault that she left the kingdom. It's the kingdom's fault. Telling her to come back when we need her after discarding her when we don't... It's still better to be called a coward than to do that."
Ansem mumbles as if spitting out his words. Being called a coward was a humiliation to Ansem. Yet he had accepted being called a coward. He was aware that he had done something deserving of that.
It was easy to think he was not involved. Indeed, it was the crown prince who planned it, not Ansem. However, they were under the same flag. They were the same kind under the banner of the kingdom. He was complicit by not being able to stop it. Ansem thought so.
"My apologies... But if we leave it be, the northern city clusters will"
"Leave them be. I don't trust people enough to think there won't be anyone who would defect. It's not unforeseen."
"But...! If we leave things as they are, we'll be outflanked from the north!"
"They won't flank us. They'll make us think that they will make the northern city clusters defect and flank us. That's all the Empire will do."
"H-how can you be so sure...?"
"If they're leading the defected northern city clusters, they need to make the one who made them defect their symbol. It seems that Leonard is treating Leticia as his fiance. He won't do such a thing."
"Fiance."
When he used that word, Ansem grimaced.
A hero who saved the kingdom. A user of the Four Sacred Treasures.
While he was lying in bed, Leticia brilliantly saved the kingdom. Even towards him who couldn't do anything, Leticia always treated him with respect.
Many people left Ansem and went under Leticia, but she didn't become arrogant and always thought only about the kingdom.
To tell the unvarnished truth... he thought she was a desirable woman.
If he had a chance to recover and sit on the kingdom's throne one day...
He wanted Leticia to be by his side.
He had imagined that many times.
But when he became able to move, Leticia was no longer in the kingdom.
It was Leonard, the prince of the Empire, who saved Leticia in her plight. From the cowardly scheme of the kingdom, Leonard brilliantly rescued Leticia and offered her a place by his side, which she had lost.
Regarding that, Ansem was deeply grateful from the bottom of his heart. It goes without saying that if Leticia had been sacrificed like that, every day would have been filled with regret.
When Leticia really needed help, he couldn't do anything.
It can't be helped that he wasn't chosen.
However...
"Leticia might want to lead... but Leonard will never allow it. There's the fact that the Empire is raising the cause for the Holy Maiden and the king, but... I don't think he'll allow his fiance to actively fight against her homeland."
If it were him, he wouldn't allow it.
Even if it's a decisive move, if it only improves the war situation a little...
There's no way it could be allowed.
"But, if Leonard is aiming for victory at all costs..."
"If that's the case, we'll deal with it then. It's not that big of a problem. Don't worry. But... Leonard is Arnold's younger brother. They seem to get along well. Seeing his elder brother, there's no way he would grow up to be small-minded. I don't know much about Leonard. But I know a lot about Leticia. The man Leticia chose to be her partner is Leonard. And his brother Arnold and I clashed on the battlefield. We were enemies aiming for each other's lives. I know him much better than a casual friend. That's why I understand. Leonard won't expose someone important to him to danger for a temporary advantage. If he does... then he's not my enemy."
With that, Ansem started reading the reports sent from the front, as if to say that the discussion was over.
Deciding that it was futile to continue, Barand also bowed silently and left the tent.
After seeing him off, Ansem called out his aide's name after a brief pause.
"Milene."
"Yes, Your Highness?"
Appearing quietly was the blonde dancer, Milene. An expert in espionage, Milene was Ansem's eyes and ears during this war.
Ansem, who called out Milene, quietly instructed.
"I want you to spread a rumor among the Imperial Army."
"What kind of rumor?"
"That the Kingdoms Royal Army is targeting the Holy Maiden Leticia. Make sure it reaches Leonard. Can you do that?"
"I can, but wouldn't Leonard not let the Holy Lady stand on the front lines...?"
"Just because he won't doesn't mean it's fun to leave things be. Let him panic and be unsettled. It's not an unfounded rumor. They will have no choice but to believe it."
"Are you worried that the Crown Prince is targeting Lady Leticia?"
"It's also a precaution against that. I don't think anything will happen since Amsberg is guarding her, but Leticia is not part of our plan. It would only be detrimental to forcibly take her. We should have Leonard firmly protect her."
"That sounds like you, Your Highness."
Ansem didn't respond to Milene's words. Acknowledging, Milene disappeared.
Alone in the command tent, Ansem heaved a deep sigh.
"If he were a small man, I would still have had a chance... But to think my rival would be Arnold's brother. I always have the worst luck."
Ansem hated being disgraceful.
Obsessing over one woman was disgraceful in Ansem's view.
Especially if she had already chosen to stand beside another man.
He should respectfully step back.
That was Ansem's ideal.
But, people have emotions.
No matter how much they should act a certain way, emotions do not easily obey.
"Is it too childish to think that I at least can't afford to lose on the battlefield?"
Smiling wryly, Ansem began to read through the report.
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