Chapter 0:
Commendation from Anhalt Kingdom
YOUR LATEST BATTLE WAS TRULY SPLENDID. I believe a word of praise is in order. This letter is more of a foreword, and I strongly recommend that you read it in its entirety.
Now then, surely you’re aware of the phrase “Campaign of Villendorf” flying around in recent times. My cousin, Duke Astarte, and I sought to defend the line. I don’t doubt that you may easily ascertain that you were called to join military service because you happened to be stationed at a nearby fort. You came to our aid.
It was a battle for the border between the savages of Villendorf and our Kingdom of Anhalt. It was the barbarians who chose to initiate the battle, and I’m rather certain that it was the minstrels who dubbed our campaign the aforementioned name.
It was truly a grisly war. The grim reaper’s scythe claimed heads without exception, taking the lives of knights and lower-ranking soldiers alike. It’s all the same to him, I’d imagine. While I’ve received the proper education any royal would, this was my first taste of true battle. I knew not how one should conduct oneself in war, and the trouble that I must have caused for others is not lost on me.
The House of Duke Astarte possesses a standing army, and they were promptly able to mobilize five hundred people, but that wasn’t nearly enough. The war proved disadvantageous for us. Even now, a small army of five hundred fighting against over a thousand barbarians seems like an impossible feat. Had this been a defensive battle, where we needed to hole ourselves up in a stronghold to maintain the line, perhaps my thoughts would be different. Unfortunately, I was out on the field, and this was my first battle. There wasn’t much I could do.
Looking back, I cannot understate how horrid the battle was. My aim was to avoid war, even if that meant redrawing the borders to benefit the savages. My mother, Queen Liesenlotte, even admitted that this was the best approach we had.
The issue, however, lies with Lord Reckenbell, the commander-in-chief lauded as the greatest hero of Villendorf. Not once did she try to negotiate with us. She gave us but a minuscule morsel to work with, refusing a peaceful compromise, much less a discussion regarding the border. What choice did I have?
As you may know, the brutal reality for nobles is that, once underestimated, one must carry that burden for life. We nobles shall lose all dignity. Fools and imbeciles who know nothing of society envision an impossibly idyllic scenario. They believe that if we concede, our foes will as well, thereby reaching a peaceful accord. But I shall be the first to tell you that no such logic exists in this world, no matter where you search. Reality is astonishingly cruel—should we concede an inch, it will simply be taken from us, and we shall come out of negotiations having lost a great deal while gaining nothing at all.
It matters not whether we win or lose. Truly, victory in that sense isn’t a concern. It was Lord Reckenbell who stormed into our territory to throw the first punch, and I shan’t be satisfied until I return the favor, squarely in her face.
With respect to your astute mind, I admit that by that point in the campaign, I had prepared for our army to lose, at the very least. My priorities lay elsewhere—my aim was to preserve the dignity of the Anhalt royal family. Indeed, I had initially planned to end the war as promptly as I could.
But you know the rest.
Thanks in no small part to your aid, Anhalt achieved victory in the Campaign of Villendorf. You’ve remained humble despite the praise showered upon you, but we cannot even begin negotiations without your presence, for it was you who took the head of Lord Reckenbell.
I was busy giving orders to headquarters, located a good distance away from the battlefield. As a person who’s supposed to stand above others, I can only state how embarrassing my actions are. I allowed Lord Reckenbell’s infiltration tactics to penetrate our defenses, and our main army was under attack. As such, I regret to state that I was unable to view your glorious moments personally, with my own eyes.
You may be assured, however, that Duke Astarte tells me the tales of your splendor every time she takes a breath. I can recite her words by heart. She remembers vividly your battle cry that echoed throughout the field as you defeated enemy soldiers and rushed straight into your foe’s main army.
“Sir Faust von Polidoro rushed solo into Villendorf’s headquarters! He challenged Lord Reckenbell to a duel, and after an onerous battle involving blades crashing hundreds of times, Sir Faust eked out a victory!” Duke Astarte tells me.
Your decisions after the battle were equally impressive. You respected Lord Reckenbell enough to preserve her dignity, and upon taking her head, you gently picked it back up to return it to her barbarians. Your actions are simply elegant.
Had you lopped off her head and sullied her dignity, only to return to our army, the barbarians of Villendorf would’ve seethed. I’m convinced that they would’ve risked life and limb to give chase, and in doing so would have lost not only their lives but their spirit as knights as well.
Propelled by rage and wrath, they would’ve done their utmost to ensure that not a single chunk of your flesh remained in this world. They boast great strength, and had they rushed us with every ounce of their strength, our chances of victory would have been immediately snuffed out. The head of Lord Reckenbell is simply that important to them. It speaks to her influence in Villendorf as well.
The defeat of Lord Reckenbell will be met with praises and criticisms, and discussions regarding it will surely continue for years to come. But perhaps this warning is redundant, for I’m certain that you know that best of all, as the one who personally ended her life. Yet I hope for your lenience, as I would like to be a touch repetitive with this warning.
Your actions have brought me immense pride. It goes without saying that I know your deeds are anything but calculating—your conduct is a display of your character, the person that you are. However, not everyone views things so simply. You’d best be aware of that.
Now then, I suppose I shall get down to business. Know this: My letter comes from a place of goodwill, and nothing more. I only wish to warn you as a friend who has braved the conflict of war by my side.
However, as I’ve previously touched upon, I found it imperative to provide an explanation through this letter which has been enclosed with a note of commendation from my mother. You’ve defeated Lord Reckenbell and have magnificently guided our nation to victory. And yet, all you’ve asked for as a reward is a paltry sum of money.
Personally, I was eager to pay you a more handsome amount, but I could only provide you with money through the campaign funds. I couldn’t give you much. My name of Anastasia will weep should I be thought of as a miser. Just the other day, I asked my mother Her Majesty to provide you with additional rewards. You fought in a losing battle and turned the tables to valiantly seize the victory for us. She has been informed that money isn’t nearly sufficient to express our gratitude.
To make up for it, the letter of commendation from the royal family has thus been enclosed. This isn’t a simple parchment that merely documents your feats in the Campaign of Villendorf—no, this is more akin to a contract between a master and a vassal. You may see this as a promissory note of sorts, acknowledging the debt of the royal family. Should you or your descendants fall into a predicament with the royal family, I ask that you please make use of this commendation letter.
This shall be your compensation for your feats in Anhalt. Just once, you may do as you wish; you can insolently step upon the head of your master should you so desire.
P.S. You’re my comrade in arms, but you also serve as the advisor to Valiele, my younger sister by blood. I suspect that you will serve as her assistant for her first battle as part of your military service this year. It’s far less troublesome than the Campaign of Villendorf, but I trust that you shall do your work well, fitting for your title as a knight.
To: Sir Faust von Polidoro
From: Anastasia von Anhalt, first heir to the throne of Anhalt Kingdom, and your comrade in arms during the Campaign of Villendorf