Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Against all odds, they managed to defend their position against the dreaded “Black Prince” and recaptured Reims without the need to shed a single drop of blood.

This triumph was an achievement that was entirely due to the actions of the Holy Maiden, Aurelia. Even Dale chose to hand over the capital of the kingdom in her name.

“The Holy Maiden has taken back the capital!”

“Incredible!”

“The compassion and blessing of the Goddess Sisters accompany the Holy Maiden!”

“The Goddess is on our side!”

The inhabitants of Reims, and even the British independence militias, cheered the name of the Holy Maiden, Aurelia, with fervor, casting aside Charles VII, who was the legitimate heir to the British crown.

“These… these people…!”

What must have been Charles VII’s internal reaction to such a scenario?

“I am the chosen one, I am the one who must rule this kingdom!”

Despite his internal claims, no one seemed to care about Charles VII, the legal successor of the British royal dynasty. It was the Holy Maiden, Aurelia, who managed to unite and command the British independence rebels in the face of imperial oppression, also counting on the backing of the ancient heroes of the kingdom who supported her cause.

Charles VII only had the opportunity to be crowned monarch due to the support that the Holy Maiden Aurelia provided him. There was no other reason.

Seen another way…

—What would happen if the Holy Maiden decided that Charles VII was no longer the one fit to wear the crown?

For an instant, Charles VII contemplated himself as a puppet that moved only under the strings of the Holy Maiden.

To think that the faithful emissary of the Goddess could have hidden intentions or political ambitions seemed incoherent. However, that did not change reality.

At the end of the day, society chooses to believe what suits it.

The British independence militias took definitive control of their capital and, a short time later, Thomas Becket, a seventh-circle white mage who also held the office of archbishop, led the coronation ceremony.

Through the anointing with holy oil performed by the clergyman, it was formally proclaimed that the true monarch of Britannia had taken the throne.

For the empire, the rival no longer consisted of a disorganized group of British insurgents. From that moment on, they had to contend against the “British Royal Army,” a force backed by knights, aura masters, and the seventh-circle white mages who faithfully followed the Holy Maiden.

The outcome of the armed conflict seemed to be near.

The time had come to banish the imperial forces from their last stronghold in the British region.

The imperial domains in the British region. The final stronghold that remained under the command of the governor of the empire, Burgundy.

“You, piece of useless incompetent…!”

Faced with the accumulation of unfavorable reports for the imperial forces, Philip vented his fury by pointing directly at Dale.

“How did you think to surrender Reims without putting up a fight? What were you trying to achieve with that?”

His words harshly questioned Dale’s capabilities.

“Your lack of tactical knowledge is so alarming that it leaves me speechless!”

“Do you really think so?”

Dale remained silent and appeared completely indifferent, as if the complaint did not deserve the slightest attention.

“It is evident that you lack the skills to command this campaign…”

Upon noticing Dale’s silence, Philip gained courage and tried to continue with his complaint. Or at least that was his intention.

Snap!

A dry crack resonated in the room and a burst of fire erupted suddenly. Directly from Philip’s mouth.

“Mmmph, mmmph!”

The flames devoured Philip’s tongue.

“If you continue to utter nonsense, I will incinerate that pig’s tongue of yours.”

Lady Scarlet, the respected high-ranking elder belonging to the Red Tower, stated in a cold tone. Despite the scene, none of those present were moved by Philip’s pain.

Neither the Black Prince, nor Lady Scarlet, nor Cardinal Nikolai, nor the governor of Burgundy. Nor was Philip’s progenitor, the Holy Knight Count of Brandenburg.

Initially, the Holy Knight experienced the same indignation as Philip upon learning of Dale’s decision to surrender Reims.

However, after retreating to Burgundy, the empire’s final stronghold, carrying with him the astonishing account of the neutral combat between the Black Prince and the Holy Maiden on the bridge of Reims… Dale’s serenity took on a new meaning.

“Just as I assured you, I will be the one to guide us to victory in this conflict.”

Dale had staked his own heart in this game in case of failure. Knowing this, how could he manage to appear so calm and confident?

“Does a strategy for victory truly exist?”

“It is impossible to overthrow that which does not possess existence…”

Dale made a gesture of affirmation with his head at the Holy Knight’s doubt.

“However, that which does exist, can be destroyed.”

His countenance reflected absolute conviction, as if the fate of the campaign had already been decided by his own actions.

The Count of Brandenburg did not allow himself to show joy.

He could only visualize how the renown of the “Black Prince” would spread with force through the corners of the empire once the triumph was achieved.

Despite Philip’s grave mistake that reduced the imperial troops by half, the empire’s army, even while cornered, would manage to subdue the “British Kingdom” to consolidate its success.

There was no other alternative.

The soul of the Holy Knight remained bound by a geas that forced him to obey Dale’s directives in every future strategic movement and to delegate the management of prisoners of war to him.

Every armed confrontation leaves scars in its wake. Even the independence side, despite its success, experienced the consequences.

In fact, having achieved victory with such a small contingent represented a true prodigy.

Had they not managed the capture of Philip and the control of a substantial shipment of resources just before exhausting their offensive capacity, the march would have frozen.

Managing to arrest Philip, taking control of the impregnable structure of Belfort, and recovering the capital, Reims, without shedding blood… all that seemed like a true divine intervention.

However, things did not go beyond that.

Wars are sustained based on economic resources.

In those days, King Charles VII of Britannia was immersed in great restlessness.

He was worried about the figure of the Holy Maiden, whose influence put his authority at risk by taking refuge in the mandate of the Goddess. Likewise, he was overwhelmed to see how the funds destined to sustain the independence revolution were about to run out.

Financing the revelations and plans of the Holy Maiden ended up emptying the royal coffers.

“It is essential to march towards the imperial zone of Burgundy to evict them definitively.”

Despite the economic difficulties, the Holy Maiden Aurelia did not change her stance.

Guided by divine mandates, she did not intend to stop until she cleared the island of Britannia of imperial influence, managing to recover the port area of Dover, the original site where the empire began its landing, until the entire region was under the flag of the kingdom. Her determination was unwavering.

That impetus represented enormous pressure for Charles VII.

“However, Holy Maiden, is the domain that remains for the empire not already insignificant?”

To be frank, the king felt exhausted by the conflict.

“Due to the constant clashes, the kingdom’s funds have dissipated.”

Clearly, this claim left out the sums destined for the “sovereign’s private pleasures.”

“Is the void in the coffers not a direct consequence of your own excesses, Your Majesty?”

Aurelia was not unaware of the reality of the situation.

“I request that you stop the construction of the ‘new royal palace’ that you have ordered and allocate that capital to the maintenance of the troops.”

Upon hearing the Holy Maiden’s direct claim, Charles VII experienced an intense internal sensation.

Fear.

“—Starting the construction of a new residence at this moment represents an unnecessary expense, just as you yourself have suggested, Your Majesty.”

A girl of humble origin, a peasant, showing boldness in giving instructions to the sovereign without the slightest hesitation. And to top it off, the inhabitants of Britannia supported her blindly.

“How does she have the courage to…?”

A monarch bowing to the descendant of a plowman!

“What a lack of respect for the crown!”

“…I apologize if my words were impertinent.”

Faced with Charles’s shouts, the Holy Maiden simply lowered her head and proceeded to withdraw from the place.

“A simple country girl dares to defy me, she dares…”

Charles VII expressed between his teeth as he watched her leave, with a tone of voice that denoted deep frustration and dishonor.

After a while, the plans that Dale had orchestrated in the shadows began to manifest their effects.

An emissary of the empire arrived in Reims, the recently established seat of power of Britannia.

It was Dale of Saxony, the highest military authority of the imperial troops.

In one of the rooms of the royal precinct in the capital of Britannia.

It was not the Holy Maiden Aurelia who was in charge of attending to the imperial delegate, Dale. Instead, King Charles VII of Britannia attended the meeting.

Dale had expressly requested an exclusive meeting with whoever held the “supreme command” of the military campaign.

“Our nation seeks to establish peace.”

Sitting at the table, Dale expressed himself by stating the official position of the empire.

“True peace?”

“An alternative to end our disputes without the need for more casualties, acting intelligently.”

Dale continued with his proposal.

“After the recent military setbacks, our empire lacks the means to sustain this war campaign.”

“Does that not demonstrate that the divinity of the Goddess supports our nation?”

“Without a doubt.”

Dale nodded solemnly, validating the comment.

“It is unfeasible for the imperial forces to continue to pose a danger to Britannia.”

His words were equivalent to accepting that the unfavorable outcome was inevitable.

“For this reason, we come to propose a ‘ceasefire pact for an indefinite period’ directly to King Charles.”

“A pact of indefinite truce?”

That did not mean the formal conclusion of hostilities.

“I ask you to understand this as a measure to preserve the honor and status of the Empire.”

Dale showed a calm smile, conveying absolute confidence.

“An indefinite suspension pact, as you propose…”

Analyzing it well, Dale’s proposal was consistent. By posing it under the scheme of a truce without an expiration date, the Empire avoided granting formal diplomatic recognition to the emancipation of the Kingdom of Britannia. However, as long as said treaty remained in force, Britannia would enjoy total autonomy on the real level.

Charles evaluated the landscape in detail.

“However, there is a factor that makes me suspicious,” he finally stated, showing prudence.

“You are referring to the influence of the Holy Maiden Aurelia, I suppose,” Dale intervened, anticipating his words.

The Holy Maiden Aurelia: the figure who managed to gather the fighters of a devastated homeland and became the symbol of their emancipation.

—Do you have full certainty in her? —Dale questioned.

“I feel a deep appreciation for the work of the Holy Maiden, a feeling that words barely manage to cover,” stated Charles VII, showing firmness. “She represents an invaluable pillar for our people.”

Charles preferred to protect what he truly thought, aware of the enormous impact that Aurelia’s figure projected before society.

—Do you truly hold that position? —Dale insisted, using a distant nuance.

“The only reason why you managed to occupy the throne, Your Majesty, is because she consented to it,” added Dale, demonstrating that he deciphered Charles’s concerns.

“What would happen if she changed her mind?” confronted Dale.

“I maintain complete certainty in her rectitude,” asserted Charles, seeking to project a security that did not manage to disturb his interlocutor.

“It is precisely that matter that brings me here,” pointed out Dale, proceeding to remove a document from his clothing.

It was correspondence kept under strict secrecy.

“What does this mean?” demanded Charles.

“Archbishop Thomas chose voluntarily to position himself as the ‘Defender of the Holy Maiden,’ turning his back on the White Tower,” detailed Dale. Thomas Becket, a veteran of high hierarchy within the White Tower and possessor of the seventh-circle white magic, took the resolution to support the emancipation process of his native land, Britannia.

“The imperial forces intercepted Cardinal Nikolai at the moment he intended to have this correspondence delivered to Archbishop Thomas.”

“What are you saying?” exclaimed Charles, agitated.

“I suggest you check its content,” invited Dale, handing him the paper. Charles VII took it, showing suspicion.

—… (fragment) The moment in which the heritage of the Goddess is consolidated with pride on the soil of Britannia is near.

After finishing the reading, Charles remained mute from the shock.

“This… this…”

—Just as you read it —assured Dale.

The suspicions that had been disturbing Charles’s mind finally made sense.

“The definitive purpose of the Holy Maiden has no relation to the autonomy of the Kingdom of Britannia.”

“It cannot be true…”

“Using the intrigues of the White Tower as a facade, her true goal is to restore the theocratic regime of the nation of the Goddess.”

At that instant, the doubts that haunted Charles’s head found a logical explanation.

“In other words, Archbishop Thomas never betrayed the ideals of the White Tower.”

The explanation behind why Thomas, a high-ranking member of the White Tower, proclaimed himself a follower of the Holy Maiden was exposed.

“Because the White Tower never kept real loyalty to the Empire at any time.”

Cardinal Nikolai of the White Tower, who had joined the ranks of the Imperial Army, operated jointly with Archbishop Thomas.

“The triumphs of the British independence militias do not correspond to an ‘intervention of the Goddess,’ but rather represent the consequence of an internal plot in the ranks of the Imperial Army,” determined Dale.

“Therefore, once the Holy Maiden manages to eradicate the presence of the Empire from these lands, the following landscape is evident.”

Charles VII did not know how to respond.

“With the Empire out of the way, the next target of expulsion for the Holy Maiden will be you yourself, Your Majesty.”

In reality, Dale’s analysis fit the facts. The amazing triumphs attributed to the Holy Maiden were not the exclusive fruit of her capabilities.

They were due to the maneuvers behind the scenes executed by the White Tower, whose main interest was centered on reviving a theocratic model. Only at that moment did Charles manage to decipher the background.

—What is your position on the matter, Your Majesty? —Dale inquired.

“……”

“Our nation only pursues stability and peace.”

That sounded like a highly shrewd and calculating approach.

“Would it not be profitable for both states to collaborate mutually to ensure peace?”

For Charles, whose judgment was distorted by suspicions and mistrust, the proposal was too tempting to let pass.

Chapter 78