In reality, Emilia had no reason to be on the frontlines from the very beginning.
From the military perspective, Emilia was not the type of lord who could be considered a warlord. Although the Empire's Duchess held a high position of power, even in her most influential territory, Nul, Emilia played more of a role as the host and mediator of the Nul City Council. She was seen as extremely talented in domestic and foreign affairs, but when it came to military matters, she was lacking.
Her victory over Tamu Khan had earned her great prestige, but everyone, even the dwarves, knew that the military was commanded by Nul's military forces and the Black Lady of Nul, Elsphes von Draken, and that the core combat strength was provided by the Knight King, Ryan. All Emilia had done was stand on the city walls with her son, little Frederick, to inspire the troops' morale.
Therefore, it was only natural for the dwarves to rate her military ability as 2. Emilia's military skills were limited to basic knowledge she had picked up over the years from Sulia. She had a good understanding, but there was nothing extraordinary about it.
So, when Emilia received Ryan's love letter in Nul, she was surprised. Ryan, of all people, was writing a love letter to her?
This was completely out of character for him!
Let's not even talk about love letters. She had been with Ryan for many years, from her teenage years to her twenties, but Ryan was always either off fighting wars, managing internal affairs, or dealing with those two witches, his maids, or spending time with Sulia. If Emilia hadn't finally made up her mind to break through the barrier before she left, Ryan might never have touched her.
Excited, Emilia opened the letter, but after reading a few lines, she pursed her lips in dissatisfaction.
It lacked flavor.
What did she mean by "lacked flavor"?
In simpler terms, it was not passionate enough, not emotional enough. Ryan's letter felt shallow. Emilia wanted something more intense, something bolder.
She read it again and understood.
This wasn't a love letter!
It was clearly an official letter! Ryan was using a love letter as an excuse to scold her for the slow progress of the Imperial Southern Army. "We've already reached Herzig, but we can't advance further due to lack of troops. We've bought you so much time, yet you're still dragging your feet!"
Emilia put the letter down and thought for a moment. She made a decision—she would go to the frontlines herself.
The mobilization and organization of the Southern Army hadn't taken long. The real issue lay in two things: first, who would command the army? Was it Marshal Helberg of Rick or Grand Marshal Erstein of Nul?
This point had caused an impasse between the Brunnwick and Nul sides, which naturally slowed the army's movement.
The second problem was logistics. The Southern Empire's logistical resources were already being used to support the war in the North. Now, they would need to supply the Southern Army as well, which meant the major courts of the Empire, particularly the key financial regions and large cities, would have to cough up the funds. Who would pay, how much, and how to allocate it were complicated political issues. This involved not just the Empire's political situation but also infighting among the various court factions and the battles between merchant guilds and unions. Procuring military supplies was like a massive, juicy pie.
Annoying, right? Complicated, right? Boring, right?
But that's politics.
All the issues were resolved when Emilia personally arrived at the frontlines. The Duchess declared herself the nominal commander and appointed Marshal Kurt Helberg as the actual commander.
Neither Rick's people nor Nul had any objections to this arrangement.
Next, Emilia used her personal prestige and influence to guarantee large amounts of supplies from the major merchant guilds and noble families of Tarabheim. What had previously been a drawn-out dispute over logistics was quickly resolved.
Everyone was impressed by the Duchess's methods, and the army departed smoothly.
As Emilia stepped out of the ship's cabin, her regal presence and graceful demeanor immediately put pressure on Veronica. The sight of the two hundred Nul Ironclad soldiers, all wearing the finest armor and weapons produced in Nul's military factories and dwarven workshops, spoke volumes about their glorious history, achievements, and fighting strength.
In addition, there was a personal guard of more than five hundred Blackstone Guards, a private military unit under the Duchess's command. They were highly paid and held to strict standards, with recruits selected from among Nul's great swordsmen. Only a few out of every ten were able to pass the intense selection process.
Looking at the more than 800 soldiers, Veronica realized just how powerful Emilia was. She was now the most powerful woman in the Empire.
The Speaker of the Assembly opened her mouth but hesitated. She wasn't sure whether to call Emilia by her familiar title or by her full name, Aimanoli.
"Call me Emilia, Veronica," the Duchess said, observing the Speaker's dilemma with amusement. "Ryan calls me that, too."
"W-welcome, Duchess Emilia," Veronica managed to force out a smile.
Emilia didn't move forward but stayed where she was, standing still at the dock. Veronica's expression grew awkward.
A new rival had arrived!
How could she stand still?
As Ryan's representative, Veronica had no choice but to approach Emilia and bow. "We are honored to welcome you, Your Grace. Your support is crucial for us."
"No need for thanks, Veronica. This is what we should do," Emilia replied with a smile and graciously accepted Veronica's greeting. She then took Veronica's hand, signaling they should move together.
Veronica's face showed clear signs of frustration. She knew she could not compete with Emilia and had to yield.
Damn it!
"It seems that at least Herzig is still safe for now," Marshal Helberg observed the situation in the city, nodding. "Time is short, so let's move quickly!"
"Move with urgency!" Grand Marshal Erstein also gave his order.
"Understood!"
Out of trust in Emilia, Veronica and the veteran guards quickly checked the supplies and military funds. Once everything was confirmed, they accepted the materials.
At that moment, the Human Alliance forces arrived at Herzig's gates. Knight King Ryan, Elector Boris, and Elector Edbrand, along with Morgiana and Regent Lawn, had all arrived.
"Welcome, welcome, Emilia," Ryan said, opening his arms for a big hug. "You came in person?"
"Not a welcome?" Emilia smiled at Ryan. "Wasn't it you who couldn't wait to send me a love letter, hoping I would come to reunite with you?"
Laughter erupted from the crowd. Elector Boris teasingly added, "Brother, you already have two kids, and you're still doing this? Aren't you embarrassed? Truly, no shame!"
"Hahahaha!" The crowd laughed, but Morgiana's face looked very displeased.
Veronica's expression was one of forced, jealous smiles.
After all, it was she who had bought Emilia back in Marlinburg!
"Uh… yes, it was my idea to invite you," Ryan said with an apologetic smile, nodding towards Helberg and the others behind Emilia. He quietly asked, "How many troops did you bring?"
"Not many, just three or four thousand," Emilia shook her head. "These are the best troops we could send. The Rick Guards, the Great Sword Corps of Karon Fortress, the Brunnwick Honor Guard, the Nul Ironclad Army, the Blackstone Guards, and two other elite regiments are all here. The rest will arrive in the next two days."
"Not enough," Ryan sighed. "We have no clear understanding of the situation in the Ostern territory. Every extra troop helps."
"The main force will take time to arrive, my dear," Emilia signaled an elderly gentleman to step forward. "This is Mr. Old Krupp. You should know him. It was his Krupp Trading Company that donated money and supplies during Tamu Khan's invasion and helped us through that crisis."
"It is an honor to meet you again, Your Majesty Knight King," the elderly gentleman said with a bow, wearing a top hat and an exquisite black-and-gold suit. "I bring aid from the South. To fight against Chaos, we must unite."
Ryan nodded slightly. This was Old Krupp, the famous head of the Nul Krupp Trading Company and now the wealthiest man in Nul. His fortune was estimated to be worth hundreds of thousands of gold marks, rivaling Schultz's wealth.
His rise had been made possible by the invasion of Tamu Khan eight years ago. During the crisis in Nul, despite some forced motivations, Old Krupp was the one who donated the most money and showed the most steadfast resistance against Chaos. To protect his fortune, he nearly emptied his company's coffers.
After the war, the Krupp Trading Company became the biggest winner. Nul's nobles supported him, Duchess Aimanoli appreciated him, and after numerous dealings with Ryan, the Knight Kingdom's nobility now turned to Krupp for cannons, the famous "Krupp Cannons." According to Sulia's statistics, the Knight Kingdom had ordered 648 cannons from the Krupp Trading Company over the years.
Ryan found it amusing. This elderly man had gained wealth through political opportunism and taking risks, and now he had become Nul's wealthiest man and the largest arms dealer in the Old World.
Today, he was the overall supplier for this war's logistics.
As previously mentioned, this position was incredibly lucrative. Ryan knew that all the major merchants in the Empire, including those from Marlinburg
and Rick, had already started competing for military contracts.
"You've really outdone yourself," Ryan said with a laugh. "Alright, now let's proceed with our plan."
With the arrival of Emilia, the military situation began to take shape. The combined strength of the Blackstone Guards, the Nul Ironclads, and the Southern troops bolstered the human forces against the dangers looming in the south.
______
(≧◡≦) ♡ Support me and read 20 chapters ahead – patreon.com/INNIT
For every 50 Power Stones, one extra chapter will be released on Saturday.