Chapter 110
Although the Kingdom of Paris, which now shared a wide border with us after receiving La Tredo, could become a potential threat in the future,
"...Huh."
"What does it say?"
"They say they have absolutely no intention of fighting with us."
Perhaps they had seen the completely submissive attitude of the Esperian Kingdom, they sent an envoy to us first to express that they had no intention of war.
In fact, we could confirm that they were withdrawing troops from their border with us.
If the Kingdom of Paris didn't move, the Kingdom of San Bastian wouldn't be a problem for a while either.
"...With this, I declare that a peace treaty has been concluded between the Dragonian Empire and the Esperian Kingdom."
We concluded the negotiations without much worry.
"We will transport it to Rainesberg by the last Wednesday of each quarter."
"The route must be the central route passing through the Ceres Gate, Adense, and Mannzheim."
"Understood."
After that, we coordinated the details for implementing the treaty, and,
"We will prepare and send the initial payment amount and the responsible persons by tomorrow morning."
"Hmm."
As we finalized the payment schedule for the reparations, the Esperian Kingdom expedition was thus concluded for now.
***
-Rumble.
The next day.
The gates of Ordova Castle opened, and several carriages appeared in a row.
The carriages passed between the Red Dragon Corps soldiers lined up along the road and stopped right in front of my tent.
"The responsible persons are in the first three carriages. The carriages behind are carrying the reparations, land documents, contracts, and so on."
Emilio, who was at the front, handed me documents with detailed contents along with a brief introduction.
"Adjutant Anna. Please inspect the reparations carriages."
"Yes, General."
As the reparations weren't the main objective, I passed the reparation-related documents to Anna and headed towards the carriages carrying the various noble hostages.
"How is their condition?"
"We've restrained them in preparation for any possible resistance."
"...Hmm. Sancho Gonzales. Is he in this carriage?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Hmm."
Perhaps as a form of courtesy, Sancho was using quite a large carriage alone.
I'm not sure why they're showing courtesy when they're sending him as a hostage, but Emilio didn't seem to care about such things.
-Click.
Wondering if they might have sent someone else instead, I opened the carriage door to check the face of the person inside.
"..."
Inside, Sancho was sitting quietly with wooden handcuffs on.
Although his build was relatively small, his grizzled beard and hair reminded me of Gerhart's face, who would be struggling in the south now.
As it was a face I had seen several times in the game, it wasn't difficult to recognize.
Although he didn't seem to have been treated poorly, as his clothes and hair were neat, his face was clouded with worry.
Given that he had always appeared dignified in the game, such an appearance was strangely unfamiliar.
-Thud.
Whether for persuasion or simple conversation, I planned to talk to him separately later.
I nodded once and closed the carriage door again.
After waiting for a moment, Anna, who had finished the inspection, approached me.
"The reparations carriages?"
"They match the list. There don't seem to be any missing items."
I looked at Emilio, who was fiddling with his monocle.
"Good. Count Emilio Silva. Now, the peace treaty has been firmly implemented."
"...I hope our peace will last long."
Without answering, I silently extended my hand and shook hands with Emilio.
"I'll be taking my leave now."
"Hmm."
Emilio left our camp, and,
"We will withdraw as well."
"Yes."
We also prepared to withdraw, disengaging from combat readiness.
***
Although I'd like to move all the troops to the south, we lack the forces to defend the western territories we've acquired.
No matter how much the Kingdom of Paris has pulled back their troops, if we completely empty out, there's a high possibility they'll exploit that gap.
Although our side of the Ceres Gate walls has largely collapsed, the walls on the kingdom's side are still intact, so the Red Dragon Corps will wait at the Ceres Gate until defense forces arrive to replace the 5th Corps, which had less than half remaining.
I plan to move to the south via the capital with just a few people including myself.
As we need to move quickly, we can't afford to take it easy, so.
After instructing to move to the Ceres Gate,
-Click.
"..."
Wanting to have a conversation until we arrive, I got into the carriage carrying Sancho alone.
Sancho's eyebrows twitched as he saw me getting into the carriage.
His eyes were observing me, moving minutely at a level that couldn't be noticed unless looked at carefully.
"I am Viktor, the Corps Commander of the Red Dragon Corps."
I sat down opposite him and calmly attempted to introduce myself, composing my expression.
"...I'm Sancho Gonzales."
His attitude was gruff, but he didn't completely refuse the introduction.
"First, I'll remove your handcuffs."
"..."
"Would you prefer to leave them on?"
"Do as you please."
This was a good sign.
I took out the key I had prepared in advance and unlocked the handcuffs that were binding his wrists.
After briefly rotating and touching his freed wrists, he slightly raised his head and met my eyes.
"Do you have any questions? You look like you have a lot you want to ask."
"Is that so?"
"I am also your spoils of war, am I not? If it's a question that doesn't go against national interests, I'm willing to answer."
He spat out self-deprecating words as if mocking.
Judging by his words about being spoils of war, he might know that I had demanded his custody.
Or he might just be lamenting his situation of being sold as a hostage.
"By national interests, do you mean the Esperian Kingdom?"
"I think it's a question that doesn't need to be asked, but yes, that's right."
"Hmm..."
His attitude seemed to faintly exude anger, yet also appeared detached.
As he's not a general without human aspects, he's probably consciously suppressing his emotions.
"Did you expect it?"
"Hmm?"
"From the defeat until now... this whole process, I mean."
"..."
Thinking it might be okay to start probing now.
In his silence, I continued speaking.
"Then, how do you feel? Since you seem to have expected it, there might not be much agitation, but don't you have some kind of sentiment?"
"..."
"For example, disliking the nobles who sold you out. Or resenting the king who couldn't make decisions in important situations."
"Are you hoping to hear me say I hate the Esperian Kingdom? If so, I'm sorry to disappoint you."
"No. That's not it."
"...?"
The corners of his mouth, which had risen as if containing a sneer, fell again.
"Everyone knows that you have devoted yourself to the Esperian Kingdom for a long time. However, the kingdom's nobles handed you over to us using the two defeats as an excuse."
"...What are you trying to say?"
Although the words I'm saying now are also preparation for an attempt at persuasion, I continued to show emotion to make him feel this conversation as a personal one.
"I heard that you advocated for negotiation with us even before the Ceres Gate fell. Have you ever thought about this? What if the nobles had been united from the beginning and dealt with things well, if they had listened to your words well?"
"..."
"You know well that nobles are always people who chase after benefits, but still, didn't you hope, at least once, that they might make a choice for the country? How do you feel now that your expectations have turned into certainty, and then disappointment?"
He frowned.
"...Can you tell me the main point?"
"This is the main point. It's true that I was impressed by the strategies and tactics you used on the battlefield, and I do want to use this opportunity to persuade you to join the empire, but..."
"..."
"I also know that it's realistically difficult. I don't have time, and your integrity is also famous. Rather than making a futile attempt at persuasion, I want to satisfy my personal curiosity."
I am much younger than him, who is in his later years, and I would look like a young officer in his eyes.
I thought it would be more advantageous to open his heart if I appeared somewhat emotional and honest rather than cold and rational.
"...Hmm."
"I can guess because I've experienced a similar situation, but the circumstances are different and people are different. I just wanted to hear your thoughts, there's no other intention."
"...I see. You were also from the Rus Kingdom."
"That's right."
Moreover, as if he had investigated about me, knowing my origins,
"Although I haven't been in the military for long, I can proudly say that I did my best for the Rus Kingdom. Until the royal guard entered my tent to arrest me, I thought so."
"..."
"I refused the order to directly conquer the Rus Kingdom, but I was disgusted by the sight of nobles only looking after their own interests even when the country was in crisis. Power, money, honor. Things that are of no importance once your head is cut off."
So that emotions could be contagious.
I spoke with gradually more force in my voice to make my words sound close to the lamentations of a betrayed general.
"What do you think?"
"..."
At the question that returned to the beginning, unlike before, Sancho didn't respond immediately.
He had been observing my face the whole time I was speaking, and now he covered his mouth with one hand while tapping his leg with the fingers of the other hand.
"..."
After pondering for a while, he,
"...You are young."
He briefly uttered a single comment, signaling the success of my method.