Chapter 252
"Ugh, I'm sleepy..."
"In the end, we barely found anyone even after searching all night..."
"You knew that already, didn't you? The important people made a beeline for the throne room."
The rank-and-file soldiers weren't allowed to rest.
Exhausted from searching all night, the soldiers were worn out.
"Are we heading to the throne room today?"
"Sure. We've subdued almost everywhere else."
"But I heard the throne room is being defended by the Commander of the Imperial Guard. What good are the likes of us going to be?"
"...It means we're being sent to die."
One soldier's words darkened the faces of the many soldiers gathered there.
Amid this, a voice of doubt rose from among them.
"I didn't join this rebellion to die..."
"Me neither... I only joined because General Estman was taking part... I had no choice..."
"Stop. If the others hear you, it'll cause trouble."
"But..."
I understood how they felt.
They hadn't actively joined the rebellion. It was simply easier to follow along because their superiors had joined it.
Besides, if they refused, they probably wouldn't have lived.
The rank-and-file soldiers had no choice.
And they had begun to question the rebellion. After all, there was nothing to show for it.
If they'd managed to secure many hostages, they would have realized they held the advantage. But every last hostage had escaped.
The easiest way to bring people together was to produce results. When there were results, most complaints could be silenced.
But when there were no results, discord began to spread.
Especially in a cobbled-together group like this.
"This is something I heard, but—"
I couldn't let that discord pass me by.
I had slipped into their midst without arousing suspicion and began speaking in a low voice.
The soldiers, sleep-deprived and mentally worn down by the extraordinary circumstances of a rebellion, listened to me without even questioning my presence.
"Apparently General Estman was forced into joining the rebellion after being threatened."
"I knew it..."
"The general was on the Emperor's side, after all... I figured it was something like that."
"That's not the only problem. Apparently, the princes aren't happy with the general's attitude. Word is, he'll be executed if the rebellion succeeds. What'll happen to us then...?"
"What!? The general!?"
"That isn't beyond possibility..."
"If the general is gone, will they send us to serve under another general...?"
"We'll be treated like outsiders... They'll send us straight to the front lines..."
Their anxiety spilled out all at once.
Seeing that, I murmured with a grin.
"At least we'd like to know what the general thinks."
"That's right! We're the general's soldiers!"
"He hasn't shown his face even once since the rebellion began!"
"If only we could hear his voice, we'd feel reassured..."
After stoking their anxiety further, I moved away from them.
This was no longer someone else's concern.
The discussion would continue whether I was there or not.
This was how I had been spreading rumors here and there.
That fabricated story was probably not far from the truth.
General Estman was highly trusted by the soldiers, and Father trusted him greatly as well.
I couldn't believe that a man renowned for his character like General Estman would side with Gordon for no reason.
"Well... Stir them up this much, and the soldiers' attention will turn to the general."
As I spoke, I headed for the castle's lower levels.
That was where General Estman would be.
However, there were also many officers in the castle's lower levels. If they spotted a suspicious-looking soldier, they'd stop me immediately.
So I changed my appearance with illusion magic.
I'd have preferred not to use it, but it couldn't be helped.
"I really don't like doing this... Turning into a woman."
As I said this, I used illusion magic to take on Zandra's appearance.
Then, mimicking Zandra's walk, I infiltrated the castle's lower levels.
An officer noticed me and saluted.
"Princess Zandra. Shouldn't you be dealing with the hostages?"
"The soldiers aren't moving properly. Where is the general?"
"There are quite a few generals, but..."
"General Estman, obviously! How can you not know that!?"
"Eek! I-I'm sorry! General Estman is confined to a room!"
"Bring him here!"
"Th-that... well... he's injured, and if the soldiers caught sight of him, they might panic..."
"Are you telling me to go there myself? You have some nerve. Are you saying you can't even obey me? There are plenty of people who could take your place!"
With that, I moved my right hand slightly.
The officer, realizing I was about to use magic, immediately agreed and ran off.
My angry shout brought the officers in the lower levels running, but no one complained.
They knew what would happen if they displeased Zandra.
Before long, several soldiers carried General Estman in on a stretcher.
Why was he brought in on a stretcher?
Because his left leg was gone.
At the sight, many of the officers averted their gaze. They were probably the general's subordinates.
"W-we've brought him..."
"What a sorry state you're in, General Estman."
"Like uncle, like niece, Princess Zandra. It seems even the exalted blood of the imperial family couldn't cleanse the blood of rebels..."
"What did you say...?"
"If you're going to kill me, then kill me..."
If I killed General Estman here, his subordinates would surely all rise up at once.
That must have been his intention.
He wanted to strike back at them at least once. I could sense it.
So I grabbed the general by the collar and pulled him toward me.
"You want to die, do you...? If you want to die that badly, shall I grant your wish?"
"His Majesty's greatest mistake was leaving behind children like you and Prince Gordon..."
Hearing that, I pulled General Estman even closer.
Then I whispered in his ear.
"If I said I could save you, would you help me?"
"...Who are you?"
"Grau, a wandering strategist."
"...The strategist who aided Count Zimmel... You need my help...?"
"It would be better than nothing."
"Very well..."
"This will hurt a little. Play along."
"I don't care... Do it."
With that, I released the general's collar and struck near the wound on his left leg.
"Gaaahhh!!!!"
"Don't give me that lip! Do you want something to happen to your soldiers!?"
"I-I don't care what happens to me... The soldiers... please, please..."
"Hmph! You should have acted that way from the start! Take him to his room! I have questions for him!!"
With that, I had General Estman taken to his room.
Those around me who appeared to be General Estman's subordinates glared at me with a trace of murderous intent.
A good sign.
Not every soldier in the castle was under General Estman's command.
However, nearly all the soldiers stationed near the front lines, close to the throne room, were under General Estman's command.
The reason was that General Estman had originally been responsible for defending the castle, and there was concern that stationing them in the lower levels might provoke a rebellion.
I would make that concern a reality. If General Estman's forces rose in rebellion, it would make what I was looking for easier to find and provide support for Alida and the others.
Though General Estman's soldiers probably weren't guarding the pedestal of the celestial sphere, simply ensuring that no one could interfere would still make things much easier.
With that thought, I entered the room.