Chapter 20: Civil War Era- The Battlefield of Lafayette (1)
As soon as the autumn harvest ended, King Louis declared a large-scale traitors suppression and began mobilizing a massive army from the capital Lumière, initiating a march to the south.
In response, the former First Prince's faction too set out with their soldiers.
A strategic meeting was convened at Charolles, a central kingdom stronghold situated roughly between the southern Duchy of Lafayette and the eastern Duchy of Lorraine.
The atmosphere of the meeting was not just bleak; it was downright despairing.
"Are you certain their forces exceed 20,000?"
Everyone's expressions turned blue at the question of Christophe de Lorraine, the Duke of Lorraine, leader of the faction.
"Could there have been some mistake? The forces we faced before the plague were far fewer. Even if they have secured the north, money doesn't just appear out of thin air. How could they possibly muster such an army?"
Count Pelford, a close aide of Duke Lorraine, spoke up, but my father, Duke Lafayette, responded nonchalantly.
"The cross-verification is complete. Unless the spies and scouts were hallucinating, the numbers are accurate."
A heavy silence fell.
After the plague caused severe damage, the northern lords lost their influence.
Even after mustering all available troops, our forces barely surpassed 10,000.
This situation is baffling to me too.
Even before my return, King Louis had launched an offensive to eradicate the remnants of the First Prince's faction, but his forces were only slightly more than ours.
Therefore, it was possible to somehow hold them off even without the Blue Knights, and it was possible to reconcile with King Louis, who realized that the revolution, which had been dismissed as a simple revolt by the common people, was a bigger problem than he thought.
But now, they are attacking with more than double our forces.
Could it be because of the Blue Knight, the Duke is still alive?
While the Duke's survival might alert them, would the nobles who hesitated even when my victory seemed certain suddenly double their forces?
This wasn't just a territorial dispute with a neighboring domain; this scale of war couldn't be managed by simply conscripting peasants.
Feeding, clothing, and arming such a force would cost a fortune. Where could those who had just endured a lengthy civil war find such funds?
Had these cursed ones engaged in large-scale slave trading with Abyss Corporation?
"The disparity in forces is too great, isn't it? At this rate, it might be better to retreat and prepare for a defensive battle..."
"Their domains in the north remain intact, while ours would be pillaged one by one as we retreat to our deaths. If we pull back now, we'll be defeated in detail."
Amidst the confusion, new information came in.
"The enemy has divided their army into three and is advancing. About 6,000 troops led by Duke Orléans are moving towards Troyes, 4,000 under Duke Brittany towards Berry, and approximately 10,000 troops led by King Louis are heading this way."
"Are they planning to strike at our base?"
A heavy sigh filled the room.
The enemy forces advancing east towards Troyes were clearly targeting Duke Lorraine's domain.
The problem was...
"4,000 towards Berry?"
The Duke furrowed his brow.
Towards Berry, in the southwest, the only relevant base of the First Prince's faction was the distant Duchy of Lafayette.
It was understandable to pressure the core and main force, Duke Lorraine, with 6,000 troops, but Lafayette was already positioned to confront the main force of King Louis marching south. Why send as many as 4,000 troops in a direction where nobody else but Lafayette was involved?
Duke Lorraine's domain was in the east. In terms of military strength, most of the forces were invested in Lafayette and other southern families, while the troops facing Duke Lorraine were more of a token presence for deterrence.
"It seems King Louis intends to prioritize defeating Lafayette and the southern families first."
Count Lionel from a neighboring domain spoke heavily.
It was clear. But why?
Although it was important to avoid being captured by the revolutionary army, the reason I stopped the Duke from trying to enthrone Eris was to avoid a situation that needlessly attracted King Louis' attention.
The Blue Knight's reputation is indeed formidable, but why would they scatter their forces to specifically spite Lafayette, when it's clear that Duke Lorraine leads the faction?
"...We must also divide our forces."
When the Duke opened his mouth, the Duke Lorraine spoke quickly before he could say anything else.
"The enemy heading to my domain is not a small number either. 6,000 strong, led by Duke Orléans. My forces must confront them."
A frown naturally formed.
Duke Lorraine and his faction, the eastern lords, have an army of 5,000.
Granted, it's slightly less than Duke Orléans' force, but why take half of our already limited resources, when the enemy is focusing most of their strength in the south?
Before my regression, when I was a Duke, we weren't in such a dire situation. So the impression was that they were just arrogant high-ranking nobles, but as soon as we were pushed into a corner, their true colors were shamefully revealed.
The Duke's earlier words about them being 'incompetent pigs' suddenly resonate with stark clarity.
"If you do that, the south will collapse entirely!"
Count Lionel of the neighboring Lafayette domain was the first to object -
"If we are annihilated, you, Duke, will not be spared either."
As the Duke coldly spoke, Duke Lorraine wiped the sweat from his plump face with a handkerchief.
"Losing our domains is equally disastrous. We can't resolve the fundamental problem of being outnumbered and overpowered. Fine, I will send 1,000 men to the south. I trust the 'Blue Knight' Duke will manage somehow with that."
Now the enemy marching to the south numbers 14,000, and our forces to defend it are just 6,000.
Even with the Blue Knight, can we overcome such a disadvantage?
"Fine, then with 2,000, we'll stop Duke Brittany, and the rest will confront King Louis -"
"Wait!"
The Duke, interrupted by Duke Lorraine, furrowed his brows, but Lorraine did not stop.
"I risk my domain to lend a fifth of my precious forces, and you plan to send a third of your already insufficient army just to defend your domain?"
"And what do you suggest?"
"Even the 'Blue Knight' can't defeat 10,000, including the king's elite troops, with just 4,000. If the battle is unwinnable, wouldn't it be better to lead all my forces and seek victory in the east?"
The Duke's face turned crimson with anger at Duke Lorraine's absurd suggestion.
I think I understand the source of the Duke's frustration now.
Seriously, this pig-headed Duke Lorraine...
So, if he takes all 5,000, does he really think he can beat Orléans' 6,000?
"Ah, but Duke. If the Duchy of Lafayette falls, it will inevitably lead to the collapse of other neighboring domains in the south. We can't just ignore their southern advance."
Count Lionel, our neighbor, added his voice, recognizing that our fall would endanger them too. But Duke Lorraine was even more astonishing than I thought.
"Of course. I'm not saying we should completely ignore it. We're all in a dangerous situation, so let's share the risk equitably, shall we? I'm taking a risk to help you by sending 1,000 of my troops. So, why doesn't the Duke delay the southern advance with just 1,000 as well?"
Is he seriously suggesting that, worried about being unable to hold off 10,000 with 4,000, we should try with just 1,000?
"The plains of the Berry region lead to forested areas near the Duke's territory. The enemy's advance won't be quick. A small force can hold them back while we achieve victory in the central and eastern fronts."
Duke Lorraine's words are just a facade; his intentions are clear.
If the breach happens, it's the Duchy of Lafayette that suffers, and it's completely irrelevant to Lorraine's domain, located in the opposite direction.
On the other hand, if our central forces collapsed, King Louis’ main army could threaten Duke Lorraine when necessary.
The Duke is seething with anger, but without Duke Lorraine's troops, we have no other option.
The thought of having fought alongside such people against the revolutionaries before my regression is utterly horrifying. I definitely refuse to do it again.
"Then who will command the 1,000 in the west to counter Duke Brittany's 4,000?"
At best, one can only hope to minimize casualties and buy time, facing a high probability of being overwhelmed by superior forces.
The Duchy of Lafayette is under threat, but apart from the 'Blue Knight', no one else can stand against the king's army, which is twice our size. The Duke was ruled out from the start.
Naturally, no one wanted to step into such a position, and that's when I spoke up.
"I will go."
***
I half-listened to the empty praises about being the son of the Blue Knight and the promising new star who defeated the House of Mirbo, and then stepped outside.
Why Lafayette has become the prime target is beyond me, but what's done is done.
Now, I have no choice but to use the resources I'd gathered in preparation for the revolution.
I pulled out a distinctively colored arrow from the quiver on my back.
Since my sword would quickly deplete its divine power without Eris, I had prepared this arrow as a surprise tactic.
Eris had blessed it over several days before the campaign, and its overflowing sanctity seemed to stabilize my mind.
"What are you thinking?"
Turning around, I saw the Duke had followed me out.
"It's about protecting our domain, isn't it? Someone forced into an obviously losing position won't fight effectively. It's better that I take command and lead the fight."
The Duke looked at me quietly, then smiled with a strange satisfaction.
"Indeed, you've grown well. You have truly become worthy of the name Lafayette."
Ah, I see.
Since the last meeting, I've been wary of the Duke causing trouble, but he has remained almost entirely secluded, showing no particular action.
Then, it seemed, the Duke had reached his own conclusion. Unable to control me, he decided to just think of me as a son he could be proud of.
I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.
"Your Excellency, may I ask you a question?"
"What is it?"
"Weren’t you aware that Gaston and I are skilled enough to easily overpower ordinary knights?"
The Duke didn’t answer.
His silence was a more certain reply than any words.
"A man who could recognize the sword of a royal guard at a glance surely couldn’t have failed to distinguish our skills. Why then? Did you view Gaston and my swordsmanship as so trivial as to be worthless in your eyes?"
That couldn’t be the case. After becoming Duke, he held a knightly tournament every year until the year I first entered the competition, selecting the top contenders as knights for the battlefield.
Gaston, and even I before my regression, weren’t inferior to them.
"To you, was I not a beloved son but rather a rival threatening your position, Your Excellency?"
"...Yes. You're right, Pierre. But now I realize. A lion’s offspring can't be a mere cat. Trying to suppress it -"
"Then just treat me as you have up to now, Your Excellency."
"..."
"I didn't grow up nurtured by your support. The person standing here today is like a weed that grew despite your best efforts to trample it."
I wasted time under the Duke's cold disdain and contempt, and it wasn't until after the revolution broke out, after experiencing all sorts of trials and nearly losing my head at the guillotine, that I reached this point.
A position I could only reach through the miracle of returning to a past that should have been impossible.
The original me took too long to break free from his influence, and the shadow of the Duke, who died pointlessly from a plague, loomed over my entire life.
After all the hardships and the miracle that brought me here, how can the man who's been nothing but a hindrance, claim to be a father and take pride in it?
"So, don't try to include me in your vanity now, Your Excellency. I may be a Lafayette, but I am not your Lafayette. I am the rival who grew unyielding, contrary to your wishes."
"Hmph, your arrogance knows no bounds. You think you are complete without the name of Lafayette?"
"Yes, Your Excellency. And I intend to prove it."
Abandoned cards? Just buying time? Don't kid yourself.
In the late stages of the war against the revolutionaries, I faced situations far more desperate than this.
With the resources I have now, I can't afford to lose face in a battle that feels like a prelude to the revolution.
"So, instead of showing an unbecoming concern for your son, display the might befitting the 'Blue Knight', Your Excellency. Because I am determined to win."
"Ha, I hope your arrogance is matched by your performance."
"Isn’t this arrogance something I received from your Excellency? You, after all, should live up to your reputation as the kingdom's strongest knight."
Before my return, I never had the chance to prove my worth on the same battlefield as the Duke.
I left the Duke with fire in his eyes.
"If you fail to do so, Your Excellency, I’ll make sure that when people hear the name Lafayette, they think of me, not the 'Blue Knight'."
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