Guardian (6)
There is a long, wide river running along the road from the rear to Whitefield. This is the route for sending supplies from the rear to the front.
The problem was that this waterway was occupied by monsters.
Because of this, all supplies that had to go to Whitefield were cut off. The movement of wounded soldiers was also blocked.
There have been several attempts to retake the waterway from the rear but without success.
This was because the Allied forces were busy moving on ships with clear limits to their movements, while the enemy flew freely through the air and attacked.
It wasn't a fight where they were evenly matched in the first place.
A week had passed since contact with Whitefield had been lost. The Third War had already ended.
The Emperor took the problem seriously and convened a meeting to discuss countermeasures, but no effective solution was found.
A few days later, a messenger arrived ordering me to enter the palace.
***
I pressed my temples together as I watched the scenery passing by meaninglessly inside the carriage.
My head feels like it's going to explode. I haven't been able to sleep for days.
"Do you have a headache again, Miss?"
"....little."
"Oh my, you couldn't sleep last night either? What should I do if it keeps happening?"
"Do you have any headache medicine?"
"Of course I brought it. I'll give it to you as soon as we arrive at the palace."
I mentioned headache medicine on purpose, even though I knew it wouldn't help much. It would make Nadia worry less for a while.
"I will wake you up when we arrive at the palace, so please close your eyes. Your eyes are red as if they are going to bleed right now."
Unable to resist Nadia's urging, I closed my eyes. The dull, dull pain that had been bothering me all along began to subside a little.
My sleeplessness has continued since the day I confirmed that Whitefield was isolated.
'Do I sleep two hours a day?"
I was so tired that I almost fainted, so I lay in bed and couldn't sleep because all sorts of thoughts kept coming to my mind.
"..."
I couldn't hold it in for a moment and opened my eyes again. I don't know why. Why do I feel so anxious when I have my eyes closed?
"Miss, we've arrived."
"Yes, let's get off."
"I can't see the chief steward yet. It's cold, so please come down when the chief steward arrives. I'll get some water. You should take some medicine."
"Ah... Yes."
Nadia ran out of the carriage, and a moment later Baba came up to the window.
"Do you have anything to say?"
When I opened the window, he looked at me blankly...
"Why is your face like that?"
I laughed. It was so messed up that even Baba noticed.
I instinctively touched my cheek. It seemed a little rough.
"Is it because I can't sleep?"
My insomnia was no secret in the mansion. The lights in my bedroom were on even at dawn, so the employees couldn't help but notice.
"If you're that worried, go yourself."
"Where?"
"Don't you want to go to WhitefieId? Don't you want to make sure the little Duke is safe? That's why you can't sleep."
How did you know I missed Ian?
I thought I didn't show it as much as possible, but I guess my feelings were overflowing without me even realizing it. Even Baba noticed.
"Don't waste time here. Go and see for yourself."
The heart is like a chimney.
I smiled bitterly and shook my head.
"How can that be? If I go, I'll just be a nuisance."
Baba was leaning his arms against the windowsill in a bad posture.
"If you look closely, the master seems to have the good child disease."
"A good child disease?"
"You can't do anything on your own. You always think of others first, and if you feel like you're going to cause them any harm, you give up right away. Like a child with an obsession with being good."
Because I knew what the consequences of my selfish actions would be. I couldn't just throw away the second chance that I had been given by heaven.
"Think about the consequences later and just do it. It's okay to do whatever you want once in a while."
"...How can I help if I go there?"
"Why did you go to such lengths to help? Do you owe them something?"
Baba shrugged his shoulders as if he didn't understand. His brown hair blew naturally in the winter wind.
"Yeah, what can a master do on the battlefield? You're a nuisance. There will be people who curse you, as King if he's come to the Princess's outing."
"..."
"But what can I do? You've done so much for them so far. Even if it's uncomfortable, just bear with it."
I really wanted to do as Baba said. I couldn't sleep because I wanted to leave for Whitefield right away.
"But it's too dangerous for a woman to go alone..."
"Why are you alone? There's a dog here who will protect his master no matter what."
Baba pointed at himself with his finger. Seeing him, the hope that had been buried rose up.
Yeah, wouldn't it be okay if it was with Baba?
"Will you go with me?"
"Then I'm going to send the master alone? It'll be much more fun there than here, right?"
"By any chance. Nadia..."
"She can't."
"Well, that's right, it's hard to protect both of us."
"No, it doesn't matter if there are two or one. I don't want to protect her."
"..."
The two are still not on good terms. Nadia returned while they were silent.
"What are you doing here?"
"Can't you see? I'm talking to the young lady because I'm worried that she might get bored."
"Hmm..."
Nadia looked at Baba with suspicious eyes and held out a glass of water.
"Miss, here. Take your medicine."
As I was swallowing the medicine with water, Baba's posture suddenly became polite.
Behind him, the Emperor's attendant was approaching with frequent steps.
"Sorry I'm late, Lady Astrod."
"It's okay. We just got here too."
"Well, that's fortunate. Should we go now? His Majesty is waiting."
The place the chamberlain guided me to was not the audience room, but the Emperor's office.
The Emperor, who had been checking the documents with his characteristically expressionless face, raised his head.
He had been in meetings all night for several days, and there were shadows under his deep-set eyes.
"I heard from our knight commander that the highest-level monster can take your form."
"I'm sorry. Your Majesty."
"Why would that be your fault? It's my fault for not thinking that far ahead."
The Emperor sighed softly.
"To be honest, there's no way to get that news to Whitefield. Even the supply line has been cut off by the monsters."
"I know."
"There was an opinion that we should first support the rear with troops and attack the monsters... What do you think?"
"When do you gather your troops and when do you send them? Whitefield is in a desperate situation right now. I think this method is taking too long."
"Yeah, that's pathetic."
The Emperor threw down the documents with a sharp expression. He handed over the crater he was holding to him, who was pressing hard on the corner of his eyes.
"I have a method in mind, even if it is only a little bit. I brought it here in case it might be of help..."
"The last person in charge."
When the chamberlain received the crater from me and handed it to the Emperor, the Emperor unfolded the rolled-up paper...
It was a sketch that was completed with the help of experts and Hugh after several days of planning.
"What kind of device is it? Is it installed on a ship?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
That device was conceived solely for my survival.
Because if I don't do something, I feel like I'll be drowned by all the thoughts that surge in like a tidal wave.
The Emperor, who had been asking questions several times since then, nodded.
"The problem is the materials. This kind of high-quality oil is not used on the battlefield. Furthermore, it would take a lot of time to prepare it like this..."
"I am sorry to say this, but I have already sent a message to the nearest territory to Whitefield. A carriage carrying the blueprints and high-quality fuel will arrive at the rear in about four days."
"Did you know in advance that White Field would be isolated?"
"I'm sorry. Your Majesty."
The Emperor laughed hollowly.
"While I was wasting my time listening to such nonsense as if it were a solution, you were quickly preparing a response. You should have at least given me a heads-up."
"I will gladly accept the punishment for acting without permission."
"Don't take it to heart, I was just throwing a tantrum because I was upset. Who can stop the steps of the 'first walker'?"
"..."
"Whew, now I can finally sleep comfortably."
The Emperor felt relieved that the supply route had already been reclaimed.
That's right. You have the misconception that I have the power to see the future and come up with solutions in advance. It was I who caused that misunderstanding.
"By the way, I owe you another debt. I don't know what I can give you to repay it."
A moment of caution passed through the Emperor's eyes.
He already owed me his life. And now that I have helped him this time, he is wary of what I might ask for in the future.
I lowered my heavy eyes.
"I have one wish."
"Tell me."
"I heard that the fastest horse in the empire belongs to the imperial family. Could you... bestow it upon me?"
"Speak?"
"There were some shortcomings in the design, so I made some revisions... I need to communicate this information to the rear quickly."
"Then wouldn't it be more advantageous to use the messenger service? If it's the messenger service, it will arrive in less than five days."
"... I was worried that it might be too big and heavy to hang on the pole..."
"Exactly?"
The Emperor was puzzled but did not ask questions. If he could pay for his life debt with a horse, it would be a profitable deal for him.
"It is a benefactor's request, so I must grant it. I will send the horse to the Marquis' mansion."
"No. Send me to the outer perimeter guard post of the capital by noon tomorrow."
"I will do so."
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