Chapter 85
The eldest son of King Zeurasia, Zelando, had apparently never managed to beat his younger brother, Ural, in a tactical battle played on a board. Losing over and over had gradually eroded Zelando's confidence.
Ural's entourage had begun hinting that Ural might be better suited to become the next king, while even Zelando's entourage started making remarks favoring Ural, leaving Zelando thoroughly dejected.
Ural, meanwhile, had grown as arrogant as you can see.
Still, among boys of roughly the same age, never winning even once feels rather odd.
Some seemed to share that thought. Looking around, Wickhart, Ryuzel, and Frein in particular wore expressions that suggested they weren't entirely convinced.
Well, whatever. It wasn't really my place to stick my nose into that.
"However, that may mean Prince Ural has a talent for command," Ryuzel said, voicing the concern all the same.
Still, I didn't get that impression.
"Talent notwithstanding, Prince Ural's opponents are Granz-sama and Rapiria-sama. Even if their commander were incompetent, they wouldn't be easy opponents to defeat, would they?" Frein said.
"Roa-dono, what sort of strategy do you have in mind?" Wickhart asked as he looked at me, but in fact, I'd already decided.
"If our opponent isn't Rays-sama, I don't think it'll be all that difficult..."
As I explained my plan, Prince Zelando was the most surprised. "Can we win with something that simple...?" His eyes widened.
"Well, I think we can. I'll think of a way to handle things if we fail, just in case."
"It is simple, certainly, but if it succeeds, the effect will be tremendous," Frein said in agreement. The others nodded as well, so that settled it.
Come to think of it, Rays-sama had said this would be good experience for Prince Zelando, too. In that case, we might as well...
When I asked Zelando to take on a certain role, Prince Zelando's eyes opened even wider. He looked around uncertainly, then, seemingly encouraged by Lufa's smile, said, "I'll do it."
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"You're late! Have you lost your nerve?"
At the training ground, Ural had taken up a position on the eastern high ground and was shouting irritably.
The agreed-upon time had long since passed, but Roa's unit still hadn't arrived.
Even when he shouted, "Hey! What's going on?!" Rays remained silent. Granz and Rapiria merely stared at Ural in silence.
"Go find out what's happening!" Ural ordered one of his entourage, rather than Granz or Rapiria. Just as the follower hurried to leave the command tent, hoofbeats sounded.
When Ural heard them, he rushed out of the command tent and saw Roa's unit riding toward the western position, circling around Ural's main camp.
"Prince Ural, this is our chance," one of his entourage whispered.
"Are you saying we should attack? But they haven't even taken up position yet?"
"However, we made no agreement to wait for them to take up position this time. Didn't you say so yourself, Prince Ural? You said there would be no rules, just as on a battlefield. Besides, I don't think we have any grounds to complain to those people after they arrived late."
"You're right. Very well! We'll crush them before they can finish preparing! Granz, order Rapiria to sortie!"
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Shortly after Prince Ural ordered the sortie, Wickhart watched the unit departing from the eastern position and said, "Just as expected."
"Then, Dick, give the signal."
"Sure thing!"
Following my instructions, Dick waved Ryuzel's unit flag broadly from side to side twice while on horseback. He repeated the gesture three times.
"But, Roa-sama, aren't you going to decide on a banner emblem?" Nelfia, who was playing the role of an observer, asked while watching Dick wave the flag.
..."I suppose we do need one after all."
"You do. This is a company of the renowned Tenth Knight Order, after all."
I'd vaguely thought one might be necessary too, but I had put off deciding because it felt somehow embarrassing.
"But unlike Frein, I don't have a family crest."
"Ryuzel-sama doesn't either, does he? Ryuzel-sama?"
"That's right. Since my unit was the cavalry, I decided on a horseshoe and lightning from the start. You should choose whatever you like, Roa."
"Hmm. I'll give it some thought."
"I'd like you to decide before we depart for Kitsal Fortress, if possible."
"You mean by the day after tomorrow or so? Isn't that far too little time?"
"Actually, I changed my mind after Nelfia pointed it out. I'm starting to feel that not having a unit flag is a little undignified."
"But even if I come up with something, won't it be too late to finish it before we depart?"
"Oh, then leave it to me. If you decide today, I can gather the seamstresses in the royal palace and have it ready in time," Nelfia said, but wouldn't that just mean I had even less time to think?
"You'll be free after this anyway, won't you? This farce looks like it's about to end, too."
"No, I'm not free, you know? It's right before we set out!"
I denied Nelfia's words, if only for form's sake. Still, it did seem as though I had time to spare.
After all, the battle was already all but decided before my eyes.