Chapter 111
After receiving Hardy's sword, we remained in the city for about two weeks to recover from our wounds and fatigue.
During that time, I decided to trust Hardy and formally recognize him as Cashew's governor.
Now that Cashew had grown more important, I could no longer leave Old Man Katan in place as acting governor. If Hardy betrayed me, I would be powerless, but even if he did not, an official governor would eventually be dispatched. I had no choice but to entrust the position to Hardy, whom I could trust at least somewhat.
Hardy had been sincere when he knelt and pledged to become my knight, and he was energetically carrying out his duties as governor.
He drew up plans to improve the roads and turn the temporary fort we had built in Gillier Valley into a permanent stronghold. He also promised to hire more reliable clerks and scribes, warning that the paperwork would soon outstrip our ability to process it. In addition, he joined the soldiers for training and exercises whenever he had time. As expected, he was every bit as capable as he appeared.
As for me, I left the public affairs to Hardy and negotiated alliances with several nobles Sonea-san had introduced me to.
Sonea-san had been right: the provincial lords were receptive, and some even leaped at the opportunity.
It seemed the Demon Army's threat was becoming serious in the north.
I had thought the remnants of the Demon Army were still in the west, so I never expected them to come from the north. They were moving faster than I had anticipated. Had something happened in the north?
Regardless of the circumstances, now that the enemy was on the move, we could no longer afford to sit back. Our preparations were complete, and we had the forces we needed. At last, the time had come to act.
I gathered the key people and held a meeting.
In addition to myself, there were Hardy, the governor; Vice Captain Demir, my adjutant; Al, who had officially been appointed captain of the Cashew garrison; Ray, the vice captain; Velli-sensei, my adviser; Quins-sensei, who had arranged our logistics and supplies; and Sonea-san, who had served as our intermediary in forming the alliances. We spread a map across the meeting room table.
"The Demon Army has finally been sighted in the north. Through the alliances we formed with the northern provincial lords, the Cashew garrison will respond to their calls for aid by dispatching reinforcements."
"So the Romelia Alliance is getting underway."
Ray said this with his fist clenched.
"What's that?"
"You don't know? That's what everyone calls it."
After they explained it to me, I made an awkward face. An alliance named after me was far too embarrassing.
"Do you dislike it?"
"No, I don't mind."
Honestly, I did dislike it, but I could not get hung up on every little thing. Besides, a name like that would never catch on anyway.
"More importantly, we are heading out to provide aid. Is that all right with everyone?"
It was a belated confirmation, but I asked anyway. Everyone nodded.
"We have received several requests for aid, but the closest territory to us is Kennett Domain."
I pointed to the map, then brought my finger back to Milet.
"First, we will head west along the highway, then turn north."
It was not the shortest route, but the roads were well maintained, so we should be able to march more quickly.
"Romelia-sama, if we take that route..."
Sonea-san looked at me. Among the territories we would pass through were Hardy's Dostora Domain and Sonea-san's Mikara Domain.
"There were several possible routes, but I was told this one would be the fastest."
I had no intention of taking a detour for the sake of either of them, but their territories lay to the northwest anyway, and we had no choice but to pass through them.
I did not intend to take a detour, but there was no reason to go out of our way to avoid them, either.
Besides, I hoped that passing through their territories would allow them to provide us with provisions and other supplies. It would also be convenient if we could resolve the friction between the two houses and form an alliance with both of them.
I was being greedy, but we might as well do everything we could.
"Once we begin heading north, we do not know when we might encounter the Demon Army. Stay alert and be prepared."
Everyone nodded. We might even be thrown into a battle the moment we encountered the enemy. Until now, we had only picked battles we were confident of winning, but that would no longer be possible.
"Leave it to us, Romelia-sama. My unit will serve as the vanguard and guide you."
Hardy stepped forward. Since his territory was nearby, he had brought along some of his own men from his domain as part of the knightly order under his command. He should know the area well, so I was counting on him.
"I will mediate our discussions with the lords whose territories we pass through."
Sonea-san volunteered.
I had thought invoking my father's name would be enough, but it would be better to negotiate amicably than force our way through. With Sonea-san, who was well connected in the frontier regions, the talks should proceed smoothly.
"Then we will depart tomorrow morning."
Everyone nodded at my words.
The next day, we left Milet as planned and headed west to leave Cashew. We followed the highway west for about two days before turning north.
Many old noble houses were scattered throughout the north. Looking back through their histories, many were older than my own house, which held a count's title, and some had helped establish the kingdom. Sonea-san's House Mikara was one such family.
For that reason, they believed that they had won their territories through their own efforts, and their loyalty to the count's house was weak.
Hardy's House Dostora, on the other hand, was an upstart noble house. Nobles sometimes granted land to favored retainers to strengthen their influence in the provinces. But because the practice was so blatant, such houses were not accepted locally and tended to become isolated.
House Dostora seemed to have handled matters well in that regard and possessed an influence that could not be ignored. Apparently, some provincial noble families survived thanks to House Dostora's support, and because the two of them were leading us, we had no trouble passing through their territories.
Our march proceeded smoothly, and we were only a few days from Kennett Domain, which had requested aid.
"Romelia-sama."
Sonea-san's voice came from slightly behind me as I rode my horse. When I turned around, I saw her leaning out of the carriage window.
"We are almost in Mikara Domain. Look, it's coming into view."
She reached through the window to point, and a peaceful rural landscape came into view beyond the hill.
Fields stretched across the flatlands, with wheat standing tall and swaying in the wind. Farmers were hard at work in the fields, while women washed clothes in a nearby stream.
It was not a particularly large village, but it was well maintained. The farmers looked healthy, too. Her mother must care about her people and govern them well.
"Was it your mother who governed this land, Sonea-san?"
"Yes. My father went to war against the Demon Army and lost his life on the battlefield a year ago. My mother has been managing the domain ever since."
"I see. That must be difficult."
Managing a domain as a woman must have been difficult. I understood that all too well; being a woman had held me back in many ways, too.
That made it easy to imagine how serious the matter with Hardy must have been for House Mikara.
If Hardy's marriage to Sonea-san had gone through, it would have resolved not only the dispute between the two houses but also House Mikara's succession problem.
"We are planning a modest welcoming banquet at the manor. We also intend to prepare a meal for all the soldiers, so please be sure to stop by."
I gratefully accepted Sonea-san's offer. Providing food for five hundred people would be difficult enough on its own.
It was a painful expense for House Mikara, but the family probably hoped to curry my favor in preparation for the Demon Army's arrival.
For our part, in two more days we would enter the region where the Demon Army was said to be. This was our last chance for a good rest. We should restore our strength and prepare for battle.