Chapter 36: Revolution Era - Insignificant Life
I was initially puzzled by the sudden kneeling of Damien de Mirbo, but upon
reflecting on his situation, I began to understand.
The Count Mirbo family held the southernmost territory among King Louis’s
factions, located just above the lands of Duke Lafayette and Count Aquitaine.
In such a scenario, the vassals of King Louis, spread across the south and
northwest, had been wiped out in the battle against me. Consequently, their
lordships, leaderless after the death of their lords, were unable to withstand
the revolution and crumbled.
The only territory that remained intact was that of the Duke of Orléans', but
I had just received news that even Orléans had fallen to the revolutionary
forces led by Raphael Ballian.
Having fled to the territory of Duke Lorraine, once a part of the old First
Prince’s faction, King Louis was now isolated in enemy territory, abandoned
and merely awaiting foreign reinforcements. As for Mirbo, he was now utterly
forsaken.
Although it’s somewhat awkward to say this, since I had extorted Damien for
initial funding, Mirbo’s plight is indeed a tragedy.
“But why come to Lafayette, not Aquitaine? It’s awkward to say this myself,
but am I not the enemy of the Count Mirbo family?”
If surrender was inevitable, wouldn’t it have been better to side with
Christine, who, at least nominally, remained neutral during the civil war,
instead of me, who had fought throughout and even killed the previous Count of
Mirbo and his eldest son?
That was my thought, but upon hearing Aquitaine’s name, Damien’s face turned
ashen.
What’s going on?
“...You must be unaware, having moved directly to the Nivernais Plains, my
lord. The Countess of Aquitaine, what she did...”
I only knew that I had profited handsomely from the spoils Christine shared,
unaware of her actions.
Shivering, Damien began to speak.
“At first, I intended to gather the defeated southern army in the Mirbo
territory. However, the Countess of Aquitaine did not pursue our forces but
instead seized the roads and nearby villages, releasing her cavalry.”
Ah.
She secured the paths and assembly points in advance, scattering their forces
with her cavalry.
With the royal army in disarray, having lost its leaders and unfamiliar with
the terrain, Aquitaine, who had traversed these lands for trade and knew the
geography well, had taken the advantage.
It’s easy to imagine the state they were in.
A hastily retreating army wouldn’t have bothered to take along supplies or
camp equipment, so, starved and wandering, they would inevitably end up
captured by Aquitaine’s forces.
It seems Christine is quite adept in military logistics, or perhaps her aides
are exceptionally competent.
That was as far as my thoughts went, but the story didn’t end there.
“The Countess of Aquitaine blockaded all roads to Bergerac, the capital of
Mirbo County, and after disarming the prisoners she captured, she sent them
all to me.”
“...”
“It wasn’t a siege, so I couldn’t refuse entry to the King’s soldiers, but
with the roads blockaded, it was impossible to acquire supplies.”
...Morale was already at rock bottom, and having been stripped of their
weapons, they couldn’t fight. It was unlikely that the royal army, who had
come on this expedition, had any loyalty to the Mirbo family.
If they were blockaded and starved in such a situation, it would have put
pressure on the allies they had saved to surrender.
While I was inwardly shaking my head at this, Damien, trembling with anger,
said,
“In the end, I surrendered. It wasn’t until I had scraped together every last
penny from my territory that the Countess of Aquitaine withdrew. And yet,
during her occupation, she bought supplies from each village with actual
money, can you believe it?”
“Hahaha....”
A masterpiece indeed. If Christine had simply plundered the Mirbo territory,
she would have gained wealth but also incurred their wrath, and Damien might
have retained some control over his land.
But here, the lord collects taxes without providing protection, while the
invading forces actually pay fair prices for supplies?
Even if that money was extorted from their own lord, it naturally leads to
thoughts like, ‘Life was better when our lord was being exploited.’
And with the capital in the midst of a revolution, it’s clear what the people
of Mirbo County must be thinking.
“Only after all this did I hear of King Louis’s crushing defeat. Damn it, had
I known, I wouldn’t have let the royal army or anyone into the city...!”
Damien, so consumed by rage he seemed to forget my presence, clenched his
teeth in fury.
What should this be called? A tree that gives generously?
As I was contemplating this, Damien turned his fiercely gleaming eyes towards
me, making me flinch.
“My respected Duke.”
“Since when have you held me in such high esteem?”
“The Countess of Aquitaine, that woman is undoubtedly a witch. So cunning and
despicable...”
Damien, who had been fervently ranting, caught a glimpse of my expression and
hastily adjusted his tone.
“...She is indeed a very beautiful lady. Her glossy black hair, and those
wise, deep eyes, so calm and composed...”
As he spoke in haste, Damien noticed my increasingly displeased expression,
stuttered, then smiled sternly before continuing.
“She is indeed worthy to be an ally of someone like Duke Lafayette.
To think I once dared to oppose you, with such a person under your command,
reflects the folly of my past.”
Now that’s more like it. He does have some sense, doesn’t he?
After all, that’s probably why he was acting as the lord despite having an
eldest son.
So, to conclude.
Damien is ruined now, isn’t he?
Completely isolated, his army in tatters, and his territory’s funds plundered.
And due to Christine’s clearly intentional actions, any attempt to hastily
conscript troops or collect taxes could trigger a rebellion in his territory.
He’s effectively bound hand and foot.
And if he does nothing, whether the revolutionaries who toppled the Duke of
Orléans march south, or Christine or I march north, he’s stuck in the middle
and doomed. That must be why he’s come to me.
Damien looked at me with shimmering eyes full of expectation, groveling.
“Though I was once a ruthless man who plundered neighboring territories, I
have been inspired by you, my lord, and have become a new person. If you would
take me in, I swear to serve you with all my loyalty!”
...Wasn’t it Eris’s whipping that inspired him?
I looked at Damien’s unconvincing face and fell into thought.
While Damien’s past actions do make me wary, the revolutionary government’s
current review includes a clause stating that nobles cannot be prosecuted for
crimes committed prior to joining the republic.
So, by granting him immunity and adding the County of Mirbo to the mix, I
might win favor with the republic and gain something more.
Moreover, there’s a shortage of capable commanders in the revolutionary army,
and with the departure of Count Lionel from my faction, there’s no one else
suitable to lead large-scale field operations.
Christine briefly crossed my mind, but I dismissed the thought. She’s adept at
psychological warfare and, judging from Damien’s words, seems to have the
makings of a commander.
However, the idea of putting her in the middle of a battlefield, amidst flying
bullets, is absolutely out of the question.
Eventually, I smiled and extended my hand to Damien.
“As the Duke of Lafayette, I gladly welcome you, Count Damien de Mirbo.”
“Such generosity, even to a former enemy! Your Grace, you are indeed more
fitting to be my master than King Louis himself! As your vassal, I will offer
my complete loy-”
“Ah, I don’t need a vassal.”
“Excuse me?”
“Just the territory will suffice. Keep your title as Count, and there’s no
need for a pledge of allegiance. We’re going to be in the same boat with the
republic anyway.”
Damien froze for about five seconds before letting out a scream like a wail.
“Whaaaaat?!”
That’s why you should have understood the situation before trying to make a
deal, Mr. Generous Tree.
Anyway, if he didn’t shake my hand now, he’d have nothing left but to await
his inevitable demise.
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