How come you expect so much of me?!
On the inside, Claus was panicking. With Liam giving him that look of anticipation, the knight couldn’t exactly say that he had no ideas.
Although Liam had decided against them, Tia and Marie had offered him ideas, albeit tactics that would get Liam labeled a coward. Anyone sensible would hesitate to suggest such strategies to their lord, but Liam had asked for ideas, so they’d given them. Claus knew that it wouldn’t be fair to abstain when those two had spoken up. Maybe their display of loyalty influenced him somewhat too.
Should I just say something that Lord Liam definitely won’t do? What sort of strategy would he not use? He said he would allow a degree of sacrifice, so will he not mind military casualties? Something that would affect his reputation, then…?
Claus made up his mind and proceeded to offer a strategy he was certain Liam wouldn’t employ. “What if we abandoned the fight for Planet Charlot?”
“What?” Liam looked at him dubiously.
Tia’s and Marie’s eyes grew cold.
Until this conflict, Liam had been undefeated. Marring that perfect record would be unacceptable to them, and that was what Claus was counting on. “We’ll abandon the war between the baron and viscount and focus solely on the succession conflict.”
Liam didn’t look happy about what he was hearing, but his eyes signaled Claus to continue anyway.
“The enemy is targeting Baron Glynn’s home planet,” Claus said. “If they take it and capture the baron, we’ll lose the war—but we could challenge the foe to a final battle afterward.”
The idea, which Claus came up with even as he explained it, was to gather the enemy forces in one place and take them all out at once. It essentially combined Tia’s and Marie’s plans into one. Claus only got the idea from listening to them, and he hadn’t given it much thought either. He’d suggested it assuming that Liam would turn it down, and that the other two would caution him against it as well.
Unexpectedly, though, Liam immediately expressed interest in Claus’s idea. “I see… Well, if it’s Baron Glynn’s planet, who cares what happens to it? We can use this as an excuse to get rid of him too.”
When Liam seemingly wanted to use his strategy, Claus was surprised. Huh? Why does he like it?
He tried to tell Liam that it would be better to forget that plan after all, but Marie beat him to it. “Please wait! If we do that, people will doubt your capabilities, Lord Liam! And you’ll be raked over the coals for failing to protect Baron Glynn. Even if we later prove that he was a traitor, on the surface, it’ll still look like we lost the war!”
Tia was against it too. “Lord Liam, it’s easy enough to attack an enemy fleet that has its guard down after a victory, but if you continue a fight after the opponents have reached a conclusion, you’ll be perceived as struggling pointlessly. Even if we’re victorious in the end, it’ll still damage your reputation.”
Both women were worried about Liam’s reputation, but he stood and applauded Claus nonetheless. “I knew I could count on you, Claus. That’s a great strategy that fulfills our objective and gets rid of a traitor. We’ll go with it.”
For a moment, Claus was speechless. Then he simply said, “Are you serious, sir?” Are you insane?! Do you realize what kind of a hit your reputation will take if you do this?!
Liam grinned, amused. “I was just thinking that I didn’t want to give Baron Glynn any more of our profits. Okay—let’s nail down the specifics of this right away. Marion, I’m going to have to sequester you for a bit, since you heard all this.”
Marion would have to be confined as a security measure, since she’d been privy to their plans for the war.
She raised both hands obediently, a resigned look on her face. “Yeah, I didn’t think I’d get away after hearing all that. When the war’s over, you’ll let me go, right? Oh—and if you could make my prison guards cute girls, I’d appreciate it. I did what you asked of me, so I deserve special treatment!”
“I’ll let you go once the war’s over. You’ll have to make do without the cute girls, though.”
“Cheapskate!”
Claus felt like he’d done something terrible. “Are you sure about this, sir? It won’t be a laudable way to win. Baron Glynn may be a traitor, but if he dies, we’ll lose. I know I suggested this, but it’ll damage your reputation, Lord Liam. I can’t recommend this strategy.”
Liam gave Claus a daring smile. “It’s fine with me. If we can win through a mere hit to my reputation, I’ll use your strategy gladly. I told you—some degree of sacrifice is fine.”
Wh-why is this happening?!
All the blood drained from Claus’s face. He hadn’t expected Liam’s reputation to be among the things on the table as a “degree of sacrifice.” For better or worse, Liam was a singular presence within the Empire. As such, there was much to gain through his reputation, yet now he wanted to end the war quickly, even if he had to sacrifice that reputation.
Claus had underestimated Liam.
This is a disaster!
Spreading his arms wide, Liam declaimed, “Now, let’s settle this fight with Calvin, shall we?”
✦ ✦ ✦
When Liam left the room, Marie chased after him. They were on the Argos, so he was walking alone, unaccompanied by guards.
“Lord Liam!” Marie shouted toward his back. “I’d like to ask you something!”
Liam stopped and sighed, responding without turning around. “What is it?”
Understanding that Liam didn’t want her to look at his face, Marie knelt, though she knew he couldn’t see her. “It’s about what you said earlier. When you commanded us to end the war within two years, was that—”
Liam cut her off. “I just don’t want a stupid war like this dragging on forever.”
It appeared that Liam—who still had his back to her—didn’t intend to tell Marie what he was truly thinking. Still, his feelings got through to her.
Why was he so eager to win the war quickly, even going as far as sacrificing his reputation for it? Marie had realized the answer to that question. Tears welled in her eyes as she gazed up at her lord’s back.
If the war ended in the next two years, Liam could marry Rosetta as originally planned. Marie had assumed that the wedding was already canceled, but what if preparations were actually already underway on their home planet, and that was why Liam was being so particular about the timing? The way Liam was acting convinced Marie of this.
“You don’t need to answer,” she told him. “I swear that I’ll bring you victory, no matter how difficult the battles awaiting us, Lord Liam.”
All Marie had done was pledge to bring him victory, but the passion behind her words made Liam turn his head. When he peered back at her, his face was faintly red, as if he were embarrassed. The unusual expression on his face made Marie blink in surprise.
“You’re fond of Rosetta, aren’t you?” he asked. “You seem pretty motivated… Why don’t you command the army instead of Tia?”
When she heard this, Marie snapped out of her reverie and focused. “Are you sure, sir?”
“You’ll have command over everyone—even me. It seems like things will end faster that way.” Having said all he wished to, Liam walked off.
Watching him go, Marie bowed her head. “You have my gratitude, my lord.”