Strategy Meeting
"Effective immediately, I am assuming the position of Acting Sovereign and will take command of the Kingdom."
I announced this to the gathered nobles in the audience chamber.
The report of the Kingdom Army’s defeat had already arrived, and everyone must have anticipated that I would become the proxy. There was no confusion.
"Understood! From this moment on, we will follow the Princess’s command."
"I too will obey."
The nobles, including the remaining ministers, knelt before me.
"This delegation of royal authority is being executed in accordance with the wartime provisions of the Royal Succession Act, and is not a usurpation of the throne. Therefore, should my father or elder brother return, I will relinquish my authority regardless of my own will. If I were to resist, consider me a traitor."
I made it clear that this was by no means a coup. This way, if either my father or elder brother returned, my authority would automatically be voided.
"Now, let us begin the war council."
At the Prime Minister’s words, the remaining military officers, left behind to protect the capital, stepped forward and began briefing us on the current situation.
"The Kingdom Army’s main forces are presently entrenched at the border fortress. However, supplies have been delivered in excess, and even with the current personnel, they can hold out for half a year without issue.
Additionally, Arland has nearly complete control of the skies, and aerial supply lines are secure. As long as resupply continues, the fortress can be defended for years."
"And what of the fortress barrier?"
"The barrier has not wavered under the Empire’s full assault. It remains sturdy. There have been no fatalities in the defense thus far."
The noble’s question was answered by the officer. Indeed, the fortress barrier is strong. It’s unlikely to be breached—unless the enemy brings in an elite magic corps from the Magic Kingdom. The Empire’s sorcerers aren’t strong enough to continuously cast high-tier spells. They have numbers, but not enough power to be a serious threat even with thousands of lower and mid-tier spells.
Moreover, supply drops from airships haven’t suffered any damage. Supplies are lowered from above the fortress via cranes and containers. The airships gain altitude to fly above the barrier and are not attacked once within it.
The cranes are used because the fortress lacks the space for the airships to land, already crowded with numerous containers.
Empty containers are now being repurposed as temporary barracks.
"Additionally, our armed airships currently maintain overwhelming superiority against the Imperial fleet. We’ve taken no losses, and the Imperial airships have suffered devastating damage.
As for overland supply lines, the Elven army is still active. However, due to the Empire reinforcing its escort units after surrounding the fortress, the supply lines have not been fully severed.
The Empire has also begun redeploying units for supply line protection and for the assault and looting of the capital."
"As for the looting units, we’re currently conducting delaying battles in the city of Count Yale’s domain to give time for all citizens along the invasion route to evacuate to the capital.
Ah, Unit 201 has done a splendid job. If not for them, the civilians would’ve suffered heavily."
The nobles relaxed slightly upon hearing from the Prime Minister that the people were safe. After all, a “Sorry we let your people die horribly ♡” doesn’t exactly fly.
Unit 201 has been conducting mobile delaying actions across various regions. However, the Prime Minister’s report is off. What they’re actually doing is striking back. My detailed reports tell me they’ve seized supplies from looting units, lured and annihilated several enemy squads—running wild, really. Objectively, they look more like the looters.
Naturally, I just told them, “As long as you don’t forget the objective, do as you please.” There’s no stopping that captain anyway.
"However... having our main force trapped in the fortress is a blow. We don’t have the troops for a counterattack... Princess, I believe it’s time we invoke the Ancient Covenant."
"Absolutely not!"
The Ancient Covenant. It was established when Arland was founded, agreed upon by the original Four Dukes—and later the Mixed-Blood Marquis, making it Five Lords.
It’s a mad pact: if the kingdom is on the brink of destruction due to foreign invasion, all citizens are to be mobilized as soldiers and sent to the battlefield.
This is not the same as a modern total war mobilization, where most citizens are sent to factories or logistical support. This is every man, woman, and child sent directly to the front lines.
Only the King or Acting Sovereign can invoke it.
"If we do that, the kingdom’s finances will collapse without question."
"Before that happens, the kingdom itself will be destroyed! I understand that you cherish the people, Princess. But if we prioritize that and let the nation fall, all will be lost. Please decide!"
The Prime Minister looked at me with a serious face. He’s right. But he doesn’t understand what I’m really thinking about.
"Even if we invoke the Ancient Covenant, throw the people into battle, and win—Arland will still perish.
Not from internal collapse or the Empire. It’s the silence from the Central Nations Alliance that’s unnatural. Especially the Imperial State. There’s no way they’d ignore a war involving Arland."
That’s what I’m worried about. Even if we drive the Empire back, Arland won’t survive what comes next. We must consider the possibility of a war against the Imperial State.
I continued speaking.
"If the Empire is acting without the Imperial State, then it’s a solo action. But if a bleeding Arland is left exposed, the Imperial State will undoubtedly move to destroy us.
Therefore, we must conduct this war with the next step in mind."
"Still... we must first eliminate the immediate threat of the Empire..."
About half the nobles nodded at the Prime Minister’s remark. They’re right—the immediate danger must be dealt with.
"I have a counterattack strategy. I propose an operation of terror and awe."
A plan to truly frighten the Empire. The Empire once feared my great-grandmother excessively. This will make them believe she’s returned.
"The Imperial army surrounding the fortress will be lured onto the nearby plains and dealt a crippling blow that prevents any further combat. If over half a million soldiers die, they’ll fear me."
The bait to lure them out will be a runaway magic furnace attached to explosive stones, dropped from above. The explosion won’t cause contamination. And even if it does, I’ll just absorb all the mana—problem solved. Naturally, the bait is me.
"Please wait! If that's the case, then Her Highness could—!"
"This is already decided.
If we succeed in repelling the Imperial Army, we’ll use the fortress troops to take out the unit heading for the capital.
At the same time, I’ll mobilize the troops under my command to annihilate the border fortress at Granzur. That way, the forces invading the royal capital will lose their supply line, and even if they try to retreat, they’ll starve to death.
Then we’ll launch a surprise aerial attack on the Imperial Capital. We’ll bomb it from the air. We’ll engrave into the souls of the Empire’s people that Arland possesses the power to strike down any defensive line and attack their capital."
If this operation succeeds, about a million Imperial soldiers will die. Naturally, if they take that much damage, the Empire will be unable to continue the invasion.
"And if the plan fails, we’ll set up a defensive line at the capital and initiate Operation Grisaille. That’s classified, but suffice it to say that the Empire will disappear from this world."
Operation Grisaille isn’t something that merely violates humanitarian standards—it's far worse. I have no intention of explaining it in detail to them. It will be done under my full responsibility.
The room fell completely silent.
"I see. If Her Highness, the one they’re after, appears on the battlefield... the Empire might go all out to capture her. But still, there’s no need for it to be Your Highness specifically... and with the fortress’s barrier, wouldn’t that be sufficient?"
"No good. I ran the numbers on the barrier's strength—there’s an 8% chance the entire garrison would be wiped out. If we shift the blast zone to the nearby plains, we can reduce that to 3%. But doing that would lessen the damage to the Imperial Army. Their magic corps could probably intercept it. Besides, I might survive."
The odds are low, but if I’m lucky, I might be able to escape into the Treasury. Not that I know if that’s even possible in the middle of a battle.
And the reason I’m going is to take out the magic corps first. If they fall, the Imperial Army will lose its shield. That will increase their casualties.
"Only 8%! That’s good enough, isn’t it?"
"Think about it the other way—8 times out of 100, everyone dies. I can’t take that chance. Father and Big brother are in that fortress."
I can’t afford to lose those two. The one with even a sliver of a chance—I—should be the one to go.
"But what about defending the capital...?"
One of the nobles muttered with unease.
"The capital already has seven large magic furnaces. Its defensive power is absolute. The troops heading for it are, at most, 400 to 500 thousand. It won’t fall."
Even if the Magic Kingdom sent their entire magic corps, the capital wouldn’t fall. It was built that way. So there’s no problem.
Also, we’ve kept a 20-inch gun in place. There’s only one, but it’s inside the barrier, so it can strike unilaterally.
"... Understood. There’s certainly a chance this could stop the Imperial invasion. But if Your Highness is lost, the soldiers’ morale will collapse. What happens if the Imperial State moves in then?"
The Prime Minister asked the question.
"Arland possesses the strength to destroy nations. They won’t invade us so easily. If the Empire disappears, they’ll likely become wary of us, and during that time, I pray that Father and Big brother will rebuild the army. If not, we’ll simply carry out the Operation Grisaille and annihilate them.
Alicia, contact the air force base immediately. Have them dispatch three bombers to the capital. We might need them to transport cargo."
For the Imperial State to attack Arland, they’d have to go through Imperial territory. They’d experience hell. I don’t think they have any countermeasures in this world.
"Y-yes!"
Alicia rushed off to make the call. I had a clone already building a temporary runway, so there shouldn’t be a problem. Though it’s only a runway.
Still, of course, there were those who opposed it.
"This is troubling. We can’t have the future of our nation decided by such vague matters."
The pigs from the Noble Council barged in. I know your sons are colluding with the Empire. I was planning to detain you all here and dissolve the Noble Council by force. Actually, you weren’t even summoned to this meeting...
"... What exactly are you trying to say?"
"Oh, how frightening. With a glare like that, my body trembles.
Now, now, there are other options, aren’t there? Peace talks, for example—peace talks!"
"You think the Empire would agree to peace in this situation?"
How stupid can you be?
"Actually, we’ve prepared a peace proposal through our own channels."
One of the councilmen handed a paper with the terms to the Prime Minister. He glanced at it, shook his head, and passed it to me.
The terms of peace were as follows:
- Cede part of Arland’s territory and become a vassal state.
- Pay reparations equal to ten years of Arland’s tax revenue.
- Hand me over and conduct politics under the oversight of officials dispatched by the Empire.
- Surrender all non-human races.
- Annually pay a tribute equal to 20% of tax revenue.
"Hmm. Personally, I’d call this not peace but surrender."
"And what else would you call surrender, if not this?"
As the Prime Minister and I both looked exasperated, the others must have picked up on the gist of the terms. They glared at the councilmen like they might kill them on the spot. The knights were even gripping their sword hilts.
"If we agree, Arland can continue to exist!"
"Fool! Handing over the people of Arland is no different than abandoning the nation’s very purpose for existing!"
At the Prime Minister’s words, those around clenched their fists at last, and the knights drew their swords. Ah, these guys are dead, aren’t they? Also, just what route did they use to connect with the Empire? The Noble Council has no diplomatic authority.
All I could do was sigh. Also, why are they even in the castle? Who let them in...? Wait a minute. I don’t recall ever authorizing them to be here. Right now, only those who work in the castle should be allowed inside.
Just as I thought that—
A siren began to blare throughout the castle.
What do you think about this chapter?
