Translator: CinderTL
Corona Lands, Training Ground
This was where the church guards honed their martial skills. The ground was covered in thick sand, and worn training equipment and archery targets lined the perimeter.
Immediately after the ceremony, Gloria sought out Roland. She confessed that while the stigmata had granted her power, her lack of systematic combat training left her with raw energy she couldn't effectively wield.
Therefore, she earnestly requested Roland—the warrior she had witnessed defeat formidable enemies—to teach her combat techniques.
Roland naturally agreed.
Now, in the training ground, two figures moved in rapid, intersecting patterns.
Roland's movements were effortless and composed. He didn't even use any extraordinary power, relying solely on his martial arts and swordsmanship to easily parry or dodge Gloria's full-force attacks. His breathing remained steady, as if he were merely taking a morning stroll.
Gloria, on the other hand, was drenched in sweat, her breathing ragged. Each slash and thrust of her training longsword was executed with maximum force, yet Roland effortlessly neutralized them.
Occasionally, when she was deeply focused, the stigmata's glow flickered beneath her skin, but it couldn't bridge the vast gap in skill and experience.
"Duke's messenger... revealed they will arrive in the east within days," Gloria gasped, sweat trickling down her temples after Roland parried her thrust with a sidestep.
"He will... 'join forces' with Arno's army as planned."
Roland effortlessly blocked a powerful but clumsy vertical slash, using the momentum to throw his opponent off balance. "What exactly does he intend to do?" he asked, his voice calm in stark contrast to Gloria's ragged breathing.
Gloria stumbled, quickly regained her footing, and raised her sword again.
"He said... he'll wait for Duke Arno to engage the River Domain Nations' forces, when their attention is most divided..."
She feinted with a sudden move, then attempted a horizontal slash.
"Then, he'll lead his personal guard in a direct assault on Arno's main camp!"
This answer caused Roland's movements to freeze for the briefest moment.
He easily retreated half a step, letting the blade narrowly miss his chest, his voice filled with incredulous surprise.
"A direct assault? So... crude and straightforward?"
He even forgot to continue his attack, blurting out, "What exactly did you promise him to make him so devoted? To adopt such a reckless plan without hesitation?"
Gloria seized the opportunity to catch her breath. Leaning on her sword, her chest rose and fell slightly as she lifted her head to meet Roland's gaze, her eyes calm and frank.
"I promised that after the mission succeeds, Duke Arno will permanently retain all his original territories, plus three of the wealthiest trading towns along the eastern frontier, and..."
She paused, then stated clearly, "Recognition of his hereditary title as 'Grand Duke of the West,' granting him near-independent authority over taxation and military recruitment."
Roland's brow furrowed slightly at this.
The price was undeniably steep, essentially handing over nearly a quarter of the kingdom's vital resources to an equally powerful duke.
After a moment of silence, he refrained from pressing his attack and instead posed a crucial question.
"A very generous offer, Your Highness, but forgive my bluntness. You are currently... not King Monen's publicly acknowledged heir. Why would Duke Arno so readily believe you can deliver on such an extraordinary promise?"
Sweat soaked Gloria's golden hair, yet her gaze remained remarkably clear and sharp, radiating a cold, pragmatic realism.
"He will," she declared with unwavering certainty.
"Because he understands perfectly well that once the righteous cause of 'purging the nation's traitors' is established, and those lands and powers are firmly in his grasp, reclaiming them would become virtually impossible."
"Even if my royal father returns, facing a fait accompli, he would likely refrain from forcibly reclaiming the territory to maintain the kingdom's stability. That would mean another war."
She steadied her breathing and continued her calm analysis, demonstrating a profound understanding of the power dynamics at play.
"Even in the worst-case scenario, if my royal father insists on reclaiming some authority, he would inevitably need to offer Duke compensation of equal value from elsewhere to secure the Western Territory's loyalty and stability."
"For Duke, this is a win-win situation. He will either receive everything I've promised or equivalent compensation from the King himself."
Roland carefully considered her words, forced to admit that Gloria's assessment of Duke's psychology and the political landscape was remarkably accurate.
This calculation, based on practical interests and the balance of power, was far more persuasive than any empty oath.
"A cunning calculation, but..."
He parried her slightly weakened attack.
"Such promises would effectively shatter the kingdom's power balance that your royal father has painstakingly maintained for years. When he returns from the Northlands to face a Grand Duke of the West with unprecedentedly expanded authority and near-independence... how will you answer for his accusations?"
Gloria's movements paused momentarily.
She took a deep breath, sweat dripping from her jaw, but her gaze remained unwavering, radiating a resolute clarity.
"I will bear all the consequences and guilt alone."
Her voice was soft yet carried an undeniable firmness.
"Yes, granting such immense benefits to an archduke will disrupt the current balance."
"But compared to Duke Arno's forbidden dabbling in the abyss, his slaughter of innocent commoners, and his willingness to plunge the entire kingdom into war for personal gain, the price I pay is merely cutting away flesh to heal a wound—a necessary sacrifice to prevent a far greater catastrophe that would utterly destroy the kingdom."
She tightened her grip on her sword hilt, her eyes burning as she met Roland's gaze, her words heavy with unwavering conviction.
"Temporary imbalances can be corrected, the foundations of order rebuilt. But if Arno is allowed to continue, the Golden Valley Kingdom will lose far more than territory and tax revenue—it will lose its soul and its future."
"Faced with two evils, I chose what I believe is the lesser harm, the road that will inflict the least damage on the kingdom, even if it means bearing all the responsibility myself."
Her words struck the ground with resounding force.
Roland stared at her, seeing in her weary yet upright posture a burden of responsibility and courage far beyond her years.
"I understand," he finally said slowly, resuming his defensive stance.
"Now, setting aside these heavy burdens, what are your personal plans after all this is over?"
Gloria took a deep breath, raised her training sword once more, and the resolute light in her eyes burned even brighter.
"I intend to join Duke at the front lines and personally participate in Arno's execution. Only by witnessing his downfall with my own eyes can I find peace."
Roland shook his head, his training sword effortlessly deflecting her renewed attack. His voice remained calm as he analyzed the situation.
"This plan is flawed, Your Highness."
"Even if Arno fully trusts Duke, the success of the surprise attack remains uncertain. And even if we crush his army, Arno himself is a transcendent of unfathomable strength, likely wielding dangerous abyss powers. Should he choose to escape amidst the chaos, it would hardly be difficult for him."
Gloria's attack faltered slightly at his words. She frowned in thought for a moment, forced to admit the greater thoroughness of Roland's assessment.
"Then, according to you, how can we ensure absolute certainty?"
Roland paused, meeting her gaze directly.
"When we meet Duke, we can provide him with a token that clearly proves your identity and authorization. This will allow him to act under the righteous banner of 'By order of the Imperial Princess, purging the nation's traitors,' maximizing public support and seizing the initiative."
"After that, we can borrow a unit of absolutely loyal elite troops from him. Instead of engaging in the main battle, they will lie in ambush along Arno's most likely escape route. Even if we fail to kill him outright, we can cripple his remaining forces, severely diminishing his chances of regrouping."
He paused, lowering his voice to add another crucial consideration.
"Furthermore, Your Highness, we must not forget that Arno is not the sole architect of this conspiracy."
"Crown Prince Lucius... He may appear foolish and incompetent, but I believe it's impossible for him to have remained secure under King Monen's watchful gaze for so long—even entrusted with governing the nation during the king's absence from the royal capital—through mere luck. He is far more complex than he seems. We must remain vigilant against any actions he might take in the final moments."
Gloria fell silent for a moment, slowly sheathing her sword and nodding.
"You're right, Lord Roland. I hadn't considered that. We'll proceed as you suggest."
The two discussed the details further.
Just as they finalized their plan to depart at dawn the next day to rendezvous with the Duke's vanguard, an extremely faint yet unmistakably unnatural footstep echoed from the shadows at the edge of the training ground, shattering the surrounding silence.
(End of the Chapter)
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