Chapter 74

Chapter 74

Chapter 74

During that period, an emissary from the British rebel faction who had penetrated the imperial domains presented himself with the goal of negotiating the release of Philip. Despite this, the compensation requested for his liberation did not consist of precious metals or fortune.

They required provisions and weaponry, essential resources to sustain hostilities.

“My, what a misfortune, Count.”

Lady Scarlet expressed herself with irony upon learning of the conditions the British independence side was imposing to return Philip.

War supplies.

Yielding to such requests would imply acknowledging failure in the conflict. It meant providing the opposing side, whose warlike momentum was already faltering, with the elements required to prolong the combat.

However, if they chose to abandon Philip, considered the disgrace of the Brandenburgs, the distinguished lineage of the Counts of Brandenburg would find its end at that very instant.

Furthermore, even if they managed to capture the Holy Maiden, they lacked certainty that the fruit they planned to plant within her would manage to prosper. For that reason, Philip, even being a fool devoid of gifts, remained alive, and not due to any bond of paternal affection that persisted.

If they resolved to protect the family offspring by renouncing the war resources to recover Philip, the total responsibility for the failure of the campaign would fall upon the Sacred Knight. The entirety of the Empire would blame him openly.

It represented the worst of crossroads.

“……”

The Sacred Knight pressed his lips with such intensity that blood flowed. At that precise moment…

“Deliver the payment and recover Lord Philip.”

Dale intervened in the conversation, causing the Sacred Knight to doubt his own ears for an instant.

“What have you expressed?”

“It seems you are weighing the continuity of your lineage against the burden of defeat.”

Dale’s words struck deep, demonstrating a total understanding of the Sacred Knight’s thoughts.

“However, there exists an alternative to rescue Lord Philip without losing this conflict.”

“What… what do you mean?”

The strategic capabilities that Dale had previously exhibited were indisputable, even to the eyes of the Sacred Knight.

“Speak at once.”

Thus, the Sacred Knight demanded an explanation.

“Oh, I am afraid I will not do that.”

Dale, instead, let out a laugh charged with coldness.

“After all, you pushed me aside to take credit for the entirety of the triumph.”

“!…”

“Does it not seem like a highly brazen attitude to you?”

The Sacred Knight’s countenance became severe.

“State your demands.”

The situation did not allow for trifles. Despite being only a twelve-year-old child, the Sacred Knight saw himself forced to attend to the demands of the Black Prince.

“Grant me two commitments.”

“What are those promises that you require?”

“In the first place, in every future confrontation and maneuver, you will abide by my directives unquestionably.”

In other words, formally designate Dale as the highest military authority in this campaign.

“In the second place, the fate of the prisoners who fall into our hands during this campaign will remain entirely under my discretion.”

“Ha!”

The Sacred Knight let out a laugh full of disbelief. How did a tender child intend to propose such audacity to a veteran of combat?

“How dare you, a mere boy, exceed your attributions…!”

Everything possessed a limit. No matter how gifted the eldest descendant of the Saxons might be, such excessive pretensions were inadmissible.

“Do you not experience fear?”

Dale continued with his speech, showing total composure.

“Are you not afraid of the possibility that the house of Brandenburg might become extinct in oblivion, carrying the exclusive authorship of the fall?”

Demonstrating again that he read the deep motivations of the Sacred Knight.

“Ah, members of the nobility turn out to be highly calculating and petty beings.”

“……”

“Even those who today acclaim you as the supreme paladin of the Empire will turn their backs on you with mockery at the slightest stumble.”

It was an accurate strike.

“However, there is no reason for worry.”

“For what reason should I not worry?”

“If you consent to my proposal, I also assume the payment of the corresponding cost.”

The cost.

“Even if my proposal is ratified and this campaign concludes in failure.”

The subsequent statements did not give margin for lightness, not even for the Sacred Knight.

“I offer my heart as a guarantee.”

His own vital organ. A deathly silence dominated the space.

“Oh, and that is not all.”

“…”

“Along with my heart, I will carry the total culpability for the failure in this struggle.”

The dishonor of the fall would not belong to the Sacred Knight, but Dale would take it upon himself. He was putting his own life and reputation at stake. Not even Lady Scarlet found reason for mockery in Dale’s proposals.

“……”

For the first time, her mocking gesture vanished in front of Dale.

“The scholars of the White Tower are in the vicinity, is that correct?”

“Do not tell me you intend to…”

It was precisely that. The mystical restriction spell of the White Tower, known as Geass (the Bond of Oaths).

“What is your resolution?”

If victory was not achieved, Dale of Saxony would carry the weight of the failure, surrendering his own heart.

“What is the motive for taking things to such an extreme?”

“Because I possess the certainty of winning.”

He manifested himself fully convinced, without a shadow of hesitation.

“And what retribution do you obtain from all this?”

“I will claim the glory of the victory exclusively.”

Dale declared.

“It will not figure as the triumph of the Count of Brandenburg, but as the feat of the Black Prince.”

“……”

A part of reality.

“However, regardless of the outcome, the Count will obtain a benefit.”

Dale added.

“If we emerge victorious, you will ensure the return of Lord Philip unharmed and you will remain exempt from reproaches for the fall.”

Even in the face of defeat, the outlook did not worsen for him. They would obtain the return of the Count’s firstborn without damage, and Dale would carry the weight of the adverse outcome. A display of immense audacity.

“Do you really possess the capacity to win?”

Half of his host had already been lost due to Philip’s errors. Even though the Empire counted on formidable combatants of the stature of the Sacred Knight or Lady Scarlet.

The opposing faction likewise possessed its own figures of immense power.

The Holy Maiden Aurelia and the combative hosts of the former British Kingdom that backed her. Such warriors had refused to submit to imperial oppression, joining the ranks of the resistance.

Within that group stood out Thomas Becket, Archbishop of the British Isles and a high-ranking member belonging to the Seventh Circle of the White Tower.

Under such a panorama, even achieving the rescue of Philip and providing a large quantity of supplies, not even the Sacred Knight could ensure victory.

“Do you really consider it feasible to obtain victory in these circumstances?”

“There exists no impediment to achieving it.”

Facing that same scenario, Dale offered his heart and the entire guilt of the failure as an offering for the Geass. He maintained a blind faith in the triumph.

An individual destined to transform into the greatest danger to the Empire in the times to come was committing his own existence.

Sure of concretizing what seemed unrealizable.

Just as Dale explained, it constituted a pact where both success and failure reported utilities to the nobleman.

“I accept your conditions.”

For the Count of Brandenburg, there existed no foundations to dismiss the offer.

If Dale truly consolidated that almost unreachable victory, even if the recognition of the victory corresponded only to the Black Prince.

He cast aside the future consequences that such an action might unleash.

Moments later.

With the purpose of liberating the detained Philip and effecting the delivery of what was demanded, the new highest military authority of the Empire headed toward the site of mediation arranged by the insurgents.

Toward the core of the rival forces, where the redeemer of the people awaited, the Holy Maiden Aurelia.

“Prince Dale of Saxony.”

She presented herself as a warrior of great distinction and nobility.

Her resplendent snow-toned armor shone with intensity, while her silky blonde hair swayed slightly with the air. A sword was sheltered in a cover adorned with gold embroidery, disposed at her side.

Her beauty and distinction were such that it was difficult to associate her with a humble origin, surpassing in elegance the descendants of the aristocratic houses. The heir to a crown? A sovereign of an empire? None of that resulted accurate.

There existed a single ideal term to define her.

“The Holy Maiden (La Pucelle)…”

Dale pronounced in a whisper barely audible. However, the sensation of being in a lethargy, subjugated by her bearing, resulted ephemeral.

He recovered his composure with speed and performed a bow.

“My respects to the Holy Maiden Aurelia.”

“It results striking to perceive that a member of the Empire confers upon me the title of Holy Maiden.”

Aurelia expressed, showing certain strangeness.

“It is an unforeseen fact.”

“Because this confrontation seeks to validate your assertions, Lady Aurelia.”

Dale replied with a distant tone.

“Until it is determined which faction sheds its last drop of blood, there exist no motives to discredit your words.”

Attributing to her the total authorship for the bloody confrontations that occurred on the island.

“……”

For a brief lapse, the Holy Maiden Aurelia kept silent.

“Are you disposed to satisfy our demands?”

“Do you have the determination to advance with direction to Reims?”

Dale inquired in response.

“By misfortune, it is impossible for me to give answer to that question, Prince.”

“To take Reims again, to carry out there the investiture of Charles VII as monarch…”

Dale added.

“What are your subsequent plans?”

Maintaining control of the dialogue.

“Such resolution competes strictly to the designs of His Majesty.”

Aurelia maintained.

“I am no more than a servant charged with executing the sacred messages of the Sixtine Sisters.”

“Given that you ensure acting under celestial mandates, I possess a question for you.”

“I listen to you, continue.”

Dale inclined his face slightly, exhibiting bewilderment.

“For what motive would the supreme deity show interest in the minor conflicts of the kingdoms of this world?”

“……”

“Even in the face of the fall of the domain belonging to her own blood relation, she opted for silence.”

After a momentary pause, he continued serenely.

“What element makes the Kingdom of Britannia so singular?”

Aurelia’s countenance became highly severe.

“Does an empire not constitute simply another sovereignty that experiences its rise and subsequent decadence like so many others?”

However, Dale’s daring did not represent only an injury toward Aurelia’s devotion. It constituted a serious questioning of the dogmas shared by both the empire and the resistance.

“Once you complete the consecration of Charles VII according to divine designs, at whose orders will you submit, Lady Aurelia?” Dale inquired sharply. “Will you adopt the mandates of the brand new sovereign of Britannia, Charles VII, as if they were divine directives?”

“Reflection does not enter into my attributions,” she replied, defining herself merely as the instrument of divinity and the redeemer of her people, whose quality resided exclusively in the fulfillment of her duty.

“You are mistaken, Lady Aurelia, it corresponds to you to reflect.”

“Let us conclude this sterile dialogue,” Aurelia cut off sharply. The purpose of this encounter was limited to pact the return of Prince Philip. She did not intend to get tangled in Dale’s provocations.

“Oh, do not worry, the elements of the rescue are ready,” declared Dale exhibiting a grimace of complicity.

“At this height, it represents a minor matter.”

“To what do you refer with that it is something minor?” Aurelia demanded to know.

Dale manifested: “The historical seat of Britannia, the site where traditionally the monarchs received the crown…”

Reims. The definitive goal of the hosts of the British independence. Upon mentioning the denomination of the city, Dale sketched a smile.

“I have the purpose of delivering Reims to you, Holy Maiden, Lady Aurelia.”

“!…”

Despite carrying the Geass sealed in his own chest, testimony of his total responsibility over the previous setbacks.

Chapter 74