This was clearly a place to vent his frustrations. Adam's shoulders were stiff, as if he had never experienced anything like this before, unable to move up or down. I grabbed his shoulder and gently pushed him to the side.
When I stepped forward in front of the soldiers, making a lot of noise with my footsteps, they were all startled and gasped in surprise.
"Oh!"
“Your, Your Highness, the Grand Duchess!”
“What does that mean?”
The soldiers waved their hands hastily or lowered their heads. It wasn't a good thing to vent discontent in the military.
As morale began to decline, it also affected the battle. That's why the soldiers' faces turned pale, as if something terrible had happened.
“It’s nothing. We have no complaints about our family...”
"That's not what I meant. I just want to know the details."
Only then did the soldiers exchange glances, making eye contact with one another. One of them stepped forward and spoke.
"I've heard that the imperial troops are treated better in the main building and the southern wing, where they reside. They even use sturdier bedding, and the meat they receive after the expedition is said to be of better quality. They're even given alcohol."
“They said they provided alcohol?”
Alcohol is crucial in war, but it's not provided at such a crucial time. It's absurd to keep soldiers drunk when the demons might resurface at any moment.
There were limits and rules to treatment. Discriminating against soldiers was equally dangerous. What good could come from demoralizing one side?
“I think they thought it was okay after confirming that the giant demon was already dead.”
“That’s nonsense!”
Adam, standing nearby, raised his face and shouted. Adam was still a boy, but having grown up observing his upright father, he knew how to discern right from wrong.
"Even though the giant demon is dead, there are already countless casualties. And there's no guarantee it's the only one. Drinking alcohol at a time like this? It's impossible for either the payer or the receiver!"
Adam blushed and turned his head away, embarrassed by the shout he'd made without realizing it. However, the soldiers seemed to admire Adam's unexpected side. I, too, found Adam admirable.
“You’re right. That can’t happen.”
After speaking to Adam, I turned to the soldiers. They averted their eyes or lowered their heads under my stern gaze.
As I took a step towards the soldiers in the silence, the sound of my heels rang out sharply.
“Is it true that the Imperial Family did not issue it only to the Imperial Army, but that Count Merlin issued it to all the armies except Winsley’s?”
To my question, the soldier nodded firmly as if to say yes.
"Yes, that's right. I'm worried you might be angry, but let me just say this: Alcohol is one thing, but the slightest discrepancy in the way we're treated is causing discontent among the other soldiers."
“I’ll check.”
The soldiers looked relieved at my words. I spoke sternly to them.
"But you mustn't let me see you complaining about the military again. There will be no next time. Next time, you must make a formal complaint. Margrave Winsley is not the kind of person to retaliate for such a reason. And even if you did, the Winsleys wouldn't remain silent."
I was confident in that statement. My father had always been an upright man. So, he would certainly listen to even a simple soldier's story, as long as it had logic.
But even if such a father stumbled, he had Ruin and Adam. I believed those two children would do well.
And Father, Ruin, and Adam had built up a trust among the soldiers. That trust created a solemn atmosphere among the soldiers. They remained silent for a while, then one by one, they answered with determined expressions.
“Yes, I will keep that in mind!”
The soldiers soon dispersed in unison. It was hoped they would relay the day's events to the other soldiers.
I stood with my arms crossed and looked sharply at the place where the soldiers were chattering.
When we look at the four armies together, this matter goes beyond simply providing alcohol.
Someone was deliberately isolating and demoralizing our Winsley County. And when I recalled the events of my past life, it was clearly connected to the accusations of treason leveled against the Count of Winsley.
If the Count of Winsley had committed treason without any incident, the Emperor would undoubtedly be puzzled. The people would also shake their heads in disbelief, and public sentiment would undoubtedly be shaken.
But what if the Count of Winsley's loyalty was never repaid? What if they were treated coldly and ignored?
Morale may begin to decline, starting with the lowest ranks. The loyalty of the entire army may falter, even if it's not the Count of Winsley himself.
The Emperor would be terrified. What if the Earldom of Winsley were to become helpless? What if they were to be unable to defend the border? And what if the Crown Prince were to extend a helping hand to the Earldom of Winsley?
So if the Earldom of Winsley begins to show loyalty to the Crown Prince rather than the royal family...
The suspicious Emperor's thoughts would surely flow here, and rather than help Count Winsley to rise again, he would go off to find his next loyal dog.
“I guess I should talk to Count Merlin first.”
After much thought, I opened my mouth. But Adam didn't give me a clear answer, so I raised my head and looked at the boy. Adam's expression was somewhat discomfited.
"What's the matter?"
Adam said, kicking the floor with his foot.
“Sometimes I think my older sister should have been the successor.”
I kept my mouth shut, not knowing what to say.
The succession to the Earldom of Winsley was decided shortly after my marriage. My father was both my father and the Margrave of Winsley. They needed an heir who would live solely for the Winsley family.
If I had accepted someone as my husband but not acquired the status of 'wife', my father might have given me the position of successor.
But in my previous life, I gave up that position because of my love for Kaiser, and in this life, I gave up that position because of my love for my family.
"Don't say that. That position belongs only to someone who lives solely for the Earldom of Winsley and is prepared to protect the border for the rest of their lives. I ran away like a coward."
“No!”
Adam let out a loud noise without realizing it, then bowed his head and apologized.
"Sorry for yelling. But our whole family knew you didn't run away. And this incident confirms it. Look, we came to the East to help, and this is how we're being treated. How did you know our family was under threat?"
I looked at Adam with moved eyes.
“Adam, you’re all grown up.”
“What are you talking about! I’ve been growing up for a long time!”
I stroked Adam's head. His fine blond hair was tousled.
"Thank you for your consideration. But it was my choice to give up the heir. I will live for the Count of Winsley differently. I hope you understand me and support Ruin."
Adam still frowned as if he was sorry, but soon nodded in agreement.
“...Yes. I’ll do as you say.”
I patted Adam on the back and said.
"Then, I'll go meet Count Merlin. You make sure the soldiers are not sulking or complaining. I'm here to take care of it, so everything will be fine."
“Yes, I got it.”
Adam nodded with a certain confidence. I couldn't help but smile, unable to hide my pride.
As my brother and I faced each other and smiled comfortably, someone burst into the building. Judging by the armor and emblem they were wearing, they were low-ranking soldiers of the imperial palace.
“The demons are advancing all the way to the lake!”
As soon as we heard that, we prepared to go. The situation was so urgent that we didn't need to make any major preparations. However, that was the case...
“Are you saying that these are the only soldiers prepared?”
My father looked around and spoke in a rare, angry voice. Adam glanced at me, but I kept my head upright and looked straight ahead.
“If the soldiers are drunk, their actions cannot be quick.”
“What? Are you drunk?”
“I was just about to find out more and report back, but I heard that the soldiers of the Imperial Army, Marquis Eriant, and Count Sasha were given alcohol.”
“What! The war isn’t even over yet!”
My father shouted, seemingly furious, causing the faces of the knights standing close behind him to turn pale. However, since it was before the battle, he suppressed his anger and returned to his composure.
"We've always fought alone on the frontier. We can fight without any other armies. Do you understand?"
"Yes!"
So we set out earlier than the other forces. If we had left any later, the villages near the lake would have been vulnerable. We had to hurry and stop them before the other forces arrived.
Fortunately, the demons that came near the lake were fewer in number than in the first subjugation, so it didn't take too long to deal with them.
However, the number of dead and wounded was far greater than in the first punitive expedition. While Winsley's veteran force was only slightly dented, the situation was different for the soldiers of the other camps.
The soldiers who went into battle before they could even sober up were helpless and defeated despite the small number of demons.
When dealing with demons, not a single mistake was tolerated. Even when conscious, a lapse in concentration was the end.
The second expedition ended in victory, but it was a victory steeped in blood. The result was nothing more or less than recapturing the lake. The soldiers couldn't cheer, and countless stretchers were carried in and out of the battlefield.
After the second expedition, a small memorial service was held in one corner of the northern building. Naturally, this time there was no alcohol involved.
However, after the memorial service, there was a commotion in the training ground where two soldiers got into a fight.
Normally, I would have just thought it was a fight that broke out in a tense situation, but since one soldier was from the Count of Winsley's family and the other was from the Count of Sasha's family, things got a bit escalated.
'Didn't they drink? They couldn't drink.'
It turns out that Sasha's soldier said this, and that's what made Winsley's soldier angry and attack him.
Sasha and I, the officer in charge of the military unit, were summoned to the scene. After shaking hands, we decided to each take our soldiers. Before turning away from the officer in charge, I opened my mouth.
"If it were me, I'd send home every soldier who drank, regardless of whether alcohol was provided or not. I'm not inexperienced enough to think that simply filling the numbers is all that matters."
And it was only a matter of seconds before my words to the military commander reached my father's ears.
When I stepped forward in front of the soldiers, making a lot of noise with my footsteps, they were all startled and gasped in surprise.
"Oh!"
“Your, Your Highness, the Grand Duchess!”
“What does that mean?”
The soldiers waved their hands hastily or lowered their heads. It wasn't a good thing to vent discontent in the military.
As morale began to decline, it also affected the battle. That's why the soldiers' faces turned pale, as if something terrible had happened.
“It’s nothing. We have no complaints about our family...”
"That's not what I meant. I just want to know the details."
Only then did the soldiers exchange glances, making eye contact with one another. One of them stepped forward and spoke.
"I've heard that the imperial troops are treated better in the main building and the southern wing, where they reside. They even use sturdier bedding, and the meat they receive after the expedition is said to be of better quality. They're even given alcohol."
“They said they provided alcohol?”
Alcohol is crucial in war, but it's not provided at such a crucial time. It's absurd to keep soldiers drunk when the demons might resurface at any moment.
There were limits and rules to treatment. Discriminating against soldiers was equally dangerous. What good could come from demoralizing one side?
“I think they thought it was okay after confirming that the giant demon was already dead.”
“That’s nonsense!”
Adam, standing nearby, raised his face and shouted. Adam was still a boy, but having grown up observing his upright father, he knew how to discern right from wrong.
"Even though the giant demon is dead, there are already countless casualties. And there's no guarantee it's the only one. Drinking alcohol at a time like this? It's impossible for either the payer or the receiver!"
Adam blushed and turned his head away, embarrassed by the shout he'd made without realizing it. However, the soldiers seemed to admire Adam's unexpected side. I, too, found Adam admirable.
“You’re right. That can’t happen.”
After speaking to Adam, I turned to the soldiers. They averted their eyes or lowered their heads under my stern gaze.
As I took a step towards the soldiers in the silence, the sound of my heels rang out sharply.
“Is it true that the Imperial Family did not issue it only to the Imperial Army, but that Count Merlin issued it to all the armies except Winsley’s?”
To my question, the soldier nodded firmly as if to say yes.
"Yes, that's right. I'm worried you might be angry, but let me just say this: Alcohol is one thing, but the slightest discrepancy in the way we're treated is causing discontent among the other soldiers."
“I’ll check.”
The soldiers looked relieved at my words. I spoke sternly to them.
"But you mustn't let me see you complaining about the military again. There will be no next time. Next time, you must make a formal complaint. Margrave Winsley is not the kind of person to retaliate for such a reason. And even if you did, the Winsleys wouldn't remain silent."
I was confident in that statement. My father had always been an upright man. So, he would certainly listen to even a simple soldier's story, as long as it had logic.
But even if such a father stumbled, he had Ruin and Adam. I believed those two children would do well.
And Father, Ruin, and Adam had built up a trust among the soldiers. That trust created a solemn atmosphere among the soldiers. They remained silent for a while, then one by one, they answered with determined expressions.
“Yes, I will keep that in mind!”
The soldiers soon dispersed in unison. It was hoped they would relay the day's events to the other soldiers.
I stood with my arms crossed and looked sharply at the place where the soldiers were chattering.
When we look at the four armies together, this matter goes beyond simply providing alcohol.
Someone was deliberately isolating and demoralizing our Winsley County. And when I recalled the events of my past life, it was clearly connected to the accusations of treason leveled against the Count of Winsley.
If the Count of Winsley had committed treason without any incident, the Emperor would undoubtedly be puzzled. The people would also shake their heads in disbelief, and public sentiment would undoubtedly be shaken.
But what if the Count of Winsley's loyalty was never repaid? What if they were treated coldly and ignored?
Morale may begin to decline, starting with the lowest ranks. The loyalty of the entire army may falter, even if it's not the Count of Winsley himself.
The Emperor would be terrified. What if the Earldom of Winsley were to become helpless? What if they were to be unable to defend the border? And what if the Crown Prince were to extend a helping hand to the Earldom of Winsley?
So if the Earldom of Winsley begins to show loyalty to the Crown Prince rather than the royal family...
The suspicious Emperor's thoughts would surely flow here, and rather than help Count Winsley to rise again, he would go off to find his next loyal dog.
“I guess I should talk to Count Merlin first.”
After much thought, I opened my mouth. But Adam didn't give me a clear answer, so I raised my head and looked at the boy. Adam's expression was somewhat discomfited.
"What's the matter?"
Adam said, kicking the floor with his foot.
“Sometimes I think my older sister should have been the successor.”
I kept my mouth shut, not knowing what to say.
The succession to the Earldom of Winsley was decided shortly after my marriage. My father was both my father and the Margrave of Winsley. They needed an heir who would live solely for the Winsley family.
If I had accepted someone as my husband but not acquired the status of 'wife', my father might have given me the position of successor.
But in my previous life, I gave up that position because of my love for Kaiser, and in this life, I gave up that position because of my love for my family.
"Don't say that. That position belongs only to someone who lives solely for the Earldom of Winsley and is prepared to protect the border for the rest of their lives. I ran away like a coward."
“No!”
Adam let out a loud noise without realizing it, then bowed his head and apologized.
"Sorry for yelling. But our whole family knew you didn't run away. And this incident confirms it. Look, we came to the East to help, and this is how we're being treated. How did you know our family was under threat?"
I looked at Adam with moved eyes.
“Adam, you’re all grown up.”
“What are you talking about! I’ve been growing up for a long time!”
I stroked Adam's head. His fine blond hair was tousled.
"Thank you for your consideration. But it was my choice to give up the heir. I will live for the Count of Winsley differently. I hope you understand me and support Ruin."
Adam still frowned as if he was sorry, but soon nodded in agreement.
“...Yes. I’ll do as you say.”
I patted Adam on the back and said.
"Then, I'll go meet Count Merlin. You make sure the soldiers are not sulking or complaining. I'm here to take care of it, so everything will be fine."
“Yes, I got it.”
Adam nodded with a certain confidence. I couldn't help but smile, unable to hide my pride.
As my brother and I faced each other and smiled comfortably, someone burst into the building. Judging by the armor and emblem they were wearing, they were low-ranking soldiers of the imperial palace.
“The demons are advancing all the way to the lake!”
As soon as we heard that, we prepared to go. The situation was so urgent that we didn't need to make any major preparations. However, that was the case...
“Are you saying that these are the only soldiers prepared?”
My father looked around and spoke in a rare, angry voice. Adam glanced at me, but I kept my head upright and looked straight ahead.
“If the soldiers are drunk, their actions cannot be quick.”
“What? Are you drunk?”
“I was just about to find out more and report back, but I heard that the soldiers of the Imperial Army, Marquis Eriant, and Count Sasha were given alcohol.”
“What! The war isn’t even over yet!”
My father shouted, seemingly furious, causing the faces of the knights standing close behind him to turn pale. However, since it was before the battle, he suppressed his anger and returned to his composure.
"We've always fought alone on the frontier. We can fight without any other armies. Do you understand?"
"Yes!"
So we set out earlier than the other forces. If we had left any later, the villages near the lake would have been vulnerable. We had to hurry and stop them before the other forces arrived.
Fortunately, the demons that came near the lake were fewer in number than in the first subjugation, so it didn't take too long to deal with them.
However, the number of dead and wounded was far greater than in the first punitive expedition. While Winsley's veteran force was only slightly dented, the situation was different for the soldiers of the other camps.
The soldiers who went into battle before they could even sober up were helpless and defeated despite the small number of demons.
When dealing with demons, not a single mistake was tolerated. Even when conscious, a lapse in concentration was the end.
The second expedition ended in victory, but it was a victory steeped in blood. The result was nothing more or less than recapturing the lake. The soldiers couldn't cheer, and countless stretchers were carried in and out of the battlefield.
***
After the second expedition, a small memorial service was held in one corner of the northern building. Naturally, this time there was no alcohol involved.
However, after the memorial service, there was a commotion in the training ground where two soldiers got into a fight.
Normally, I would have just thought it was a fight that broke out in a tense situation, but since one soldier was from the Count of Winsley's family and the other was from the Count of Sasha's family, things got a bit escalated.
'Didn't they drink? They couldn't drink.'
It turns out that Sasha's soldier said this, and that's what made Winsley's soldier angry and attack him.
Sasha and I, the officer in charge of the military unit, were summoned to the scene. After shaking hands, we decided to each take our soldiers. Before turning away from the officer in charge, I opened my mouth.
"If it were me, I'd send home every soldier who drank, regardless of whether alcohol was provided or not. I'm not inexperienced enough to think that simply filling the numbers is all that matters."
And it was only a matter of seconds before my words to the military commander reached my father's ears.
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