"Your Highness, are you really okay with letting her go like that?" Alice asked hesitantly.
"I said that no matter what she said, she would be forgiven. As a member of the royal family, I must keep my word," Leon replied.
"That being said, I didn't expect her to actually dare say something like that. She's a very brave woman."
Asuna also let out a sigh.
Normally, even if the royal family claims not to mind, no one would dare to say such a thing directly. People would usually be even more respectful and cautious not to say anything wrong.
So, regarding Eula's recent statement...
They could only conclude that this girl was truly bold.
"Alright, alright~ Nothing more to see here. It's time to move on. If we take too long, we won't have much fun."
There was nothing left for them to do in Mondstadt.
From now on, all that was left was to let Jean lead the city. Leon believed that the noble and resolute Jean could transform this half-ruined city into something beautiful.
Of course, he wasn't heartless.
The [Knights of Favonius] had been given to her as a gift. Well, although she was originally the one who founded the order, it had now been officially handed over to her.
[Anyway, I already have enough cards in my hand.]
Leon glanced at the two women standing beside him:
Asuna and Alice.
They were the leaders of the two strongest knight orders in Palettia—the Knights of the Blood Alliance and the Knights of Integrity.
Although this might be just the icing on the cake for Leon, it could also help expand his influence within Palettia.
He would return to visit Mondstadt later. Well, most of the time, it would probably be at night… to feast on a certain pair of sisters and satisfy his hungry stomach.
"Everything's settled—now let's head to the battlefield!"
Leon said excitedly.
Esdeath was probably wreaking havoc on the border right now. If he arrived too late, he'd miss all the action.
The Lawrence family had sold secrets to three small nations. While adding a bit of land didn't even represent a fifth of the Magic Kingdom, for Leon, who aspired to conquer the world, the entire world had to belong to him!
"We've already executed all the corrupt nobles here. Let's head to the battlefield," Leon declared.
"Yes, it's never boring following Your Highness."
"Yeah... ever since I started following His Highness, my life has definitely become more complicated."
Asuna and Alice exchanged looks and gave a bitter smile.
This prince—who had not a single ounce of normality or honesty—was bound to make their lives extraordinary and unforgettable as long as they remained by his side.
---
At the battlefield on the border.
"Looks like Esdeath is doing well."
The battle was in full swing.
Leon didn't bother to join the fight immediately.
Because Esdeath looked genuinely delighted, laughing boldly as she swung her sword and cast magic, slaughtering enemies without leaving a trace behind.
If he charged in now and stole some of her prey, Leon figured she'd be annoyed with him.
So he decided to wait just a little longer.
It wouldn't take long anyway.
Asuna: "Wow..."
Alice: "Wow..."
The two knights, along with their respective squads, stood not too far from the battlefield, watching the fight with Leon. However, aside from Leon, everyone looked terrified.
Esdeath: "Hahahaha~! Who's next!? Who else can satisfy me!? Who can resist my conquest!?"
The Ice Queen had been on the frontlines since the night before.
And yet, despite the fatigue, she looked radiant and full of energy.
Her beautiful, domineering figure was like that of a beast—elegant yet deadly in the eyes of her enemies.
At first, the enemy still had the courage to raise their weapons against her, but now... Esdeath was galloping across the battlefield on horseback, sword in hand, laughing and pursuing tens of thousands.
As Leon had predicted:
There was no need to wait long.
After just half an hour, not a single enemy was left standing.
"Hmm? Your Highness, when did you arrive?"
[...Esdeath, your shy and innocent face is truly touching, but it doesn't move me one bit when you're drenched in blood.]
Leon first washed her from head to toe using water magic, then took a towel from his storage and tossed it to her.
The Ice Queen's pristine white military uniform was now stained deep red, and with the backdrop of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, Leon could only say that it somehow suited her perfectly.
Not even hell could make her look ugly.
Esdeath, soaked in blood, possessed a different kind of allure. She was clearly a woman made for war. Placing her on the battlefield was like putting a lion back into the wild.
"How goes the war?"
"A total of 150,000 enemies were eliminated, with none escaping."
"Excellent. With your current accomplishments, you can definitely be promoted again," Leon said with satisfaction.
"Now, the enemy has already reached our doorstep. In that case, we must return the favor, don't you think? Let's march and strike back."
Leon said it as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
His words made the surrounding soldiers and knights flinch slightly in fear, but Esdeath took a deep breath and then looked visibly excited to charge again.
She thought the same way.
As expected, she and Leon were the perfect match.
"The entire army will rest for three hours—eat and sleep during this time, and then we march! When this battle ends, you will not only be soldiers who protected your homes and your kingdom, but also heroes who conquered new lands!!"
"Ohhhhhhh!!!" xN
As soon as those words were spoken, the soldiers and knights were fired up.
Everyone felt their blood boiling. They raised their weapons high, shouting and cheering in unison.
No further speeches were needed. The mere mention of defending their homeland and conquering new lands was enough to ignite their fighting spirit.
Even Esdeath was visibly surprised. She hadn't expected Leon to boost morale so effectively with just a few words.
She stared at him in mild amazement.
But he just shrugged and said:
"Don't look at me like that. For any real man in the world, those words are more than enough to make them fight with all their heart."
"Really? That's impressive."
After three hours, everyone had recovered.
As for the soldiers' injuries, Leon had used the most advanced wide-area healing magic. Now, aside from minor wounds, even severe injuries—like lost limbs—had been completely restored.
Seeing that, the troops' morale soared even higher.
The 150,000 soldiers Esdeath had slaughtered earlier had been the combined might of three smaller nations.
So, the upcoming battle against Lepn would be straightforward and brutal.
"We'll march in three groups. Esdeath, you take the central force. Asuna and Alice will take the smaller ones together. I'll handle the major force myself."
Leon pointed his sword into the distance and shouted:
"Remember—do not kill the elderly, the weak, women, or children. Other than that, do whatever you must. Until the enemy king surrenders, we'll hold our sword to his neck!"
"Yes, Your Highness!!!" xN
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."