Three days later, it was finally time for us to set out on our expedition to subdue the bandits plaguing Sailbridge.
“Hugh…” Melza was standing in front of the gates outside the archduke’s residence, a worried look on her face.
“I’ll be back once we’ve completed the mission, Melza… Though I’ll visit every day, of course, once we reach Sailbridge.”
“I know, but I’ll still worry…,” she said, averting her gaze.
Once we reached Sailbridge, at least, I could come back to see her whenever she needed me. Hopefully that would help ease her anxiety and loneliness…
“Time to go, son,” said the archduke.
“Of course!”
“Hugh! Grandfather! Be careful!” Melza shouted. She kept waving and waving, and I turned back to wave at her more times than I can count.
“Ha-ha. We don’t usually get such a grand send-off just to fight a few bandits…” The archduke chuckled and stroked his beard.
“…I guess I’m just a lucky man,” I said.
Yes… It filled my heart with such joy to know I had a woman who cherished me so deeply. There could be no doubt about it—this seventh life had saved my soul.
“You’re a good rider, my boy,” the archduke remarked, changing the subject.
“Oh, yes. I used to take care of horses a lot during my fourth life…”
After deciding to hide my skill at swordplay and academics, I went out of my way to do a wide range of odd jobs for House Grenville. I let Molly boss me around, and eventually it was decided that I was good with animals, so I was assigned to serve as playmate for Anna’s pet monster. Needless to say, that didn’t end well…
“…I’m sorry to hear that,” the archduke murmured.
“It’s fine…”
An oppressive atmosphere settled over us as we joined the rest of the forces, who were already prepared to depart. That was when I noticed her.
…Huh?
“Professor Monica?!”
“Yes, Hugo.” She grinned. “I’ve received orders from His Grace to join the expedition. Good luck to us both.”
Slung over her shoulder was a massive broadsword longer than she was tall.
“If you don’t mind…why did you decide to join this expedition, Professor Monica?” I asked hesitantly.
We had set off for Sailbridge, and the officers—Professor Monica included—were riding alongside us.
“Oh, yes… Well, I owe His Grace a lot, so I was happy to oblige him. But when I heard one of my students would be going, I couldn’t refuse.”
“Oh… Thank you.”
✦ ✦ ✦
“Heh-heh. The archduke is the one who deserves your gratitude. I’ve never seen him bow his head and plead on anyone’s behalf before. He’s desperate to keep you safe, Hugo.”
Your Grace… Thank you.
“Yes,” I replied. “…I’ve nothing but gratitude for everything he’s done for me.”
“Hmm. Then you know what you’ve got to do.”
“Yes.”
Indeed… Defeating the bandits and ensuring everyone knew my name was the only way I could hope to repay his kindness.
“Hmm? What are you two whispering about?” The archduke, who was supposed to be leading the army as it moved out, approached Professor Monica and me with a puzzled look.
“Oh, Your Grace… Professor Monica was just fanning my excitement for the mission.”
“Ha-ha! I see. Don’t get too worked up, though, you hear?”
“Of course!” I answered, and the archduke flashed me a warm grin.
A moment later, a lone soldier came running up to our group.
“A report, Your Grace. According to our advance forces, the bandits were last seen near Sailbridge two weeks ago.”
“Oh? And what happened?”
“Nothing, as such. But it seems Viscount Sennett, who governs Sailbridge and the surrounding area, has been in contact with them.”
“Oh…?” The archduke’s eyes narrowed in suspicion as he listened to the report.
Based on that information, it was only natural to consider that the viscount may be collaborating with the bandits.
“Your Grace,” I interjected. “May I ask something…?”
“…What?”
“How did a viscount come to rule over such a strategically important location for the empire, right next to the border with the Kingdom of Orléans?”
While the two realms might have agreed to a truce since the last outbreak of hostilities, the Southenklein Empire and the Kingdom of Orléans remained enemies. As such, it would stand to reason that the king would place a higher-ranking noble with greater military prestige in charge of such a region, if not military forces under his direct control.
“Ha-ha. You’re a sharp one, my boy. Yes… Viscount Sennett is something of a sacrificial pawn, so to speak.”
“A sacrificial pawn?”
“Mmm.”
The archduke went on to explain that a third of the nobles stationed near the border, Viscount Sennett included, had defected from the Kingdom of Orléans during the previous war.
For that reason, if another war were to break out, those turncoat nobles would likely be targeted by the enemy first for their treachery.
“But their standing with the empire isn’t great, either. They aided us once before, but we can’t simply trust those with a history of betraying their liege lord. So during times of war, people like that are treated as expendable pawns. The brunt of the Imperial Army, waiting directly to their rear, can stay out of harm’s way while keeping a close eye on them.”
“I see…”
His explanation certainly made a good deal of sense. And yet, I wasn’t entirely satisfied.
“I’m a little surprised those turncoat nobles have accepted such a situation… If they changed sides during battle, I would think they might expect a reward more in line with the risk…”
“Hmm. They were permitted to keep their original territories, along with anything they managed to secure from the Kingdom of Orléans.”
“Oh… I see.”
In other words, the empire had permitted them to keep their original territories intact while at the same time encouraging them to add to their holdings however they saw fit… In that case, it wasn’t altogether surprising that they had accepted the risks inherent in remaining so close to the border.
“Though, if Viscount Sennett is involved with these bandits, his defection may well have been a ruse,” the archduke noted. “If that’s the case, we may be dealing with more than mere bandits…”
“You don’t mean…?!”
“Mmm.” The archduke nodded slowly. “They may be in the employ of the Kingdom of Orléans.”
Was he suggesting that Viscount Sennett allowed soldiers from the Kingdom of Orléans to infiltrate the empire masquerading as bandits? But why? To sow chaos?
“Well, well! It seems our little bandit hunt has become rather more complicated! But no matter—all the more opportunity for you to demonstrate your worth, my boy!” The archduke laughed heartily and patted me on the back, and Monica chuckled.
“Heh-heh… It seems I picked an interesting mission to tag along on.”
This was no laughing matter, as it concerned the security of the whole empire. Nevertheless, the archduke seemed unconcerned and was even prioritizing my personal growth.
In short order, he had become not only my mentor and role model…but a surrogate father.