TOPWL 249

“It was ready faster than I expected.”

“We split the forces into an advance unit and a follow up unit. Since they’re gathering from various regions, it takes time to wait until everyone assembles. We’ll send the follow up unit later, mainly cavalry.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“No need. As allies, it’s only natural that we do this.”

Darham spoke with an awkward smile.

“However, there is one issue. We’re preparing as much food as possible, but since everything was done in a hurry, it seems it may fall short compared to the number of soldiers.”

“That should be fine. We have enough supplies on our side.”

It had taken less time than expected to secure the capital, so Yudit’s side still had a considerable amount of military provisions. Darham looked relieved when he heard Yudit’s words.

“I can’t promise every meal will be filling, but I’ll make sure no one goes hungry.”

“Thank you. I hate to ask, but quite a few of the soldiers follow a vegetarian diet for religious reasons, so meals centered on vegetables rather than meat would be appreciated.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Is there any other information I should hear?”

“Nothing for now. If anything comes up, I’ll pass it on immediately.”

After exchanging farewells, Darham hurried off, looking busy.

“I kept you for too long. I hope you get plenty of rest as well, Commander.”

“Get some good rest too, Noban.”

After finishing the conversation and returning to the room, Yudit sat on the bed and quietly ran his hand over the sheets. Lying alone on the bed he had shared with Khalid until just a few days ago made him feel strangely lonely. As if he were trying to comfort Yudit , Ru reacted at that moment.

“Are you trying to comfort me?”

Yudit stroked his belly, which was growing rounder by the day. People said prenatal talking was good, so he spoke to the child every day, and those conversations ended up comforting Yudit instead. Lying on his side, he gently caressed his belly and whispered.

“You must be curious about the world outside, but could you come out just a little later? I want to show you only a peaceful world.”

If his water broke on the battlefield, it would be a real problem. As if he understood Yudit’s words, the baby wriggled inside his belly.

***

Yudit woke up near dawn. It was before the guard even knocked on the door. The baby was quiet, probably still asleep. Then someone knocked on Yudit’s door.

“Come in.”

He thought it would be Shane, but unexpectedly Edmond and Garen opened the door and entered.

“We came to help you put on your armor.”

Even inside a carriage, there was no telling what might happen, so he needed to wear at least light armor. The armor, modified for a pregnant body, put almost no strain on his belly and was relatively comfortable. After his body grew heavier, even putting on armor had become difficult, so he needed someone’s help.

“All right. Please.”

Edmond took the armor from Garen and helped him put it on. While watching Edmond tie the straps, Yudit spoke.

“You’ve gotten taller.”

His once chubby cheeks had slimmed down quite a bit, and his body now had an appropriate amount of muscle. Before, anyone would have taken him for a squire, but now, though still a rookie, he looked like a proper knight. Edmond straightened his shoulders for no reason and replied.

“I’ve grown a lot.”

Edmond spoke in a solemn voice. He tried to act mature, but in moments like this, he still felt a bit young. Yudit chuckled and let him attend to him.

“Wouldn’t it be better for you to go back now?”

At Yudit’s words, Edmond turned his head around. Perhaps he realized they were too close and their eyes had met, because he quickly averted his gaze, but then he spoke.

“Do you dislike me?”

“No, it’s not that. But it won’t be [stolen content]easy to travel from the Empire back to your territory. I think you’ve trained enough by now, so…”

“It isn’t enough.”

“Hm?”

“After coming out into the world, I realized just how lacking I was. And whether it’s people or meat, you grow bigger when you move around in a wide place. I’ll stay by your side, Commander.”

“Hmm…”

When Yudit hesitated, Edmond seemed to grow anxious and leaned in. His face came so near that Yudit could see the fine fuzz on his skin, and he took a step back.

“Was there something lacking in how I served you? If so, I’ll fix it.”

“No, it’s not that. Unexpectedly… well, you’re doing even better than I expected. But your father must be waiting.”

Yudit didn’t feel good about it. It was bad enough that he had brought the only son who would inherit his territory to the battlefield, and now it felt like he was dragging him into factional struggles as well.

“No. My father has always said I was someone who hadn’t fully grown yet.”

“He said you were someone who hadn’t fully grown…”

Edmond glared at Garen when the latter chimed in from the side.

“He said I hadn’t fully grown yet. Anyway… back [unauthorized copy]then, I didn’t know what he meant. But now that I’ve been with Your Highness, I understand how lacking I am. So until I’m fully grown, I’ll stay with you. Ten years, or even twenty!”

“Twenty years is a bit much… Besides, in ten years you’d be thirty.”

“A man’s life starts at thirty.”

His way with words had definitely improved. Yudit turned to Garen, who had a gloomy face beside them, and asked,

“Garen, do you think the same? Do you want to keep staying by my side?”

“Uh, I… ugh.”

Garen frowned for a moment. Edmond must have pulled a trick.

“Of course Garen will stay with me. We were raised on the same milk, so we’re practically brothers. Garen and I will share life and death together.”

“Is that really how you feel, Garen?”

Garen nodded with a sad expression.

“Honestly, ten years does feel a bit long… no, it feels about right. I learned a lot here, and it’s true that young master has matured a lot too… Ow! If you permit it, I want to keep following you.”

“All right, if that’s the case… If you ever change your mind, tell me first. I’ll try my best to be considerate.”

“You don’t need to be considerate. We’ll protect you, Your Highness.”

“Good. Having you here puts my mind at ease.”

Edmond bit his lip when he saw Yudit’s smile.

“I’ll finish the final preparations and head out, so go on ahead.”

“Is there anything we can help with?”

Garen asked in a gentle tone that didn’t match his large build. Yudit smiled and shook his head.

“No. I’ll be out within five minutes.”

“Yes, understood.”

Just as the two were about to turn and leave, Yudit belatedly remembered a conversation he had once had with Khalid.

“Oh, Edmond.”

“Yes.”

“Do you happen to know Duke Khalid?”

“No. I’m not close with him.”

Yudit held back a laugh when he heard Edmond’s blunt, almost arrogant voice.

“He asked me to pass something on to you before.”

“What was it?”

“He said, ‘No matter how hard you try, it’s useless…’ I think that’s how it went. Why do you think he said that to you? Do you have any idea?”

Edmond was shocked. There couldn’t have been that many points of contact between Khalid and Edmond, so Yudit was curious why he would say something like that. But Edmond shook his head.

“No, I have no idea.”

“Really? Then why would Khalid say something like that… Anyway, all right. I’ll head out as soon as I’m done preparing.”

“…Yes.”

With a somewhat dejected expression, Edmond went out the door. Thinking that he would have to ask Khalid later why he said that, Yudit began to tidy his belongings.

***

“…will lead us to victory. Soldiers. Fight for freedom!”

“Wooooaaah!”

At Darham’s words, tens of thousands of gathered soldiers roared. The thunderous sound was enough to make Yudit’s ears ring. Just in case, he glanced down at his belly, but the child was still quiet, as if sleeping.

The phrase “fight for freedom” clearly had a powerful effect. If they had been conscripted as a vassal state, morale wouldn’t have been this high. Yudit thought again that promising an alliance had been the right decision.

After he finished his speech, Darham walked toward Yudit. Dressed in royal attire and standing beneath the sunlight, he looked like the very image of a capable young king.

Yudit could understand why the nobles of the Gotha Kingdom were scrambling to push their children toward him, even before he had accomplished any major deeds. He had heard that marriage proposals were coming in so fast it was overwhelming. The man himself, though, seemed filled only with the desire to finish everything quickly and run to his lover.

Darham extended his hand to Yudit first.

“I wish you good fortune.”

“Thank you for your wishes.”

Yudit said that as he took Darham’s hand. It was the beginning of the final battle.