Han Ji-hyuk asked,

“Should I contact the troops of Egritz?”

“Why?”

“Well, we need to organize the Western Army. Didn’t you plan to bring Egritz under the Western Army?”

“Absolutely not.”

Erilot said sharply.

Han Ji-hyuk frowned, saying “Huh?” as he knitted his brows.

Erilot put down her juice glass and said,

“The Western Army is officially part of the royal forces.”

In other words, Han Ji-hyuk’s suggestion was basically, ‘Give Egritz to the emperor.’

Han Ji-hyuk nodded.

“True. Once it becomes the imperial army, you can’t retire at will. You can’t call them up when needed.”

“Besides, after retirement, they can’t join another noble family.”

Because they could leak palace information to that family.

“So what’s the plan?”

This term’s Western Army was known to be terrible.

It was rated worse than the Southern Army, which was influenced heavily by the Central Army Marshal.

“What are you going to do with those knights?”

Erilot smiled grimly.

“So, we have to take them from other armies.”

“You really are ruthless.”

Erilot shrugged.

Han Ji-hyuk glanced at her and chuckled.

“If you win the year-end festival this time, the knights might be tempted.”

“Yeah, the ranks of other marshal armies are already fixed, but the Western Army will be newly formed, so there’s a chance to climb higher.”

“And the Duke of Astra’s support will be there too?”

“Right.”

“So that’s why your grandfather caused a scene at the party.”

“That wasn’t the only reason...”

Erilot and Han Ji-hyuk exchanged sly smiles.

Anyway, the capital would be noisy about ‘the Duke of Astra’s anger at the Western Army.’

To Erilot’s advantage.

And the child’s prediction was spot on.

The entire empire was abuzz with talk about the marshal armies.

The palace.

Nobles gathered and talked about the year-end party incident.

“I heard the Western Army Marshal was humiliated.”

“Not only the Western Army Marshal’s disgrace. The Central Army Marshal’s reputation also took a hit.”

“The Duke Chateau Briand is furious about his daughter’s damaged face...”

“What will happen with the year-end festival then?”

Other groups also talked about the year-end party.

Count Langro entered the hallway and cleared his throat.

The expression on Duke Chateau Briand’s face was stiff.

People quickly closed their mouths and dispersed.

‘Those mouths...’

Count Langro nervously tried to speak while watching the duke’s mood.

“Don’t worry too much.”

“Even the central tower is gossiping about the year-end party?”

“Well... that’s how busybodies are. They never miss a chance to talk ill about others.”

“Damn it.”

As they reached the passage leading to the emperor’s palace,

The Western Army Marshal’s father, Marquis Delpre, hurried over.

“Du-Duke Chateau Briand...!”

Marquis Delpre looked anxious, but Duke Chateau Briand ignored him completely.

Count Langro eyed the duke’s mood and asked Marquis Delpre,

“What brings you here, Your Grace?”

“I contacted Duke Chateau Briand several times, but got no response...”

“He’s a very busy man. He’ll contact you later, so please wait for the next chance.”

“But—”

“Your Grace.”

Count Langro pulled Marquis Delpre’s arm and lowered his voice sharply.

“You should leave now.”

“But—”

“The duke is very displeased. Trying to fix this might make things worse, so please be cautious.”

“...”

Marquis Delpre glanced at Duke Chateau Briand and, with a troubled look, withdrew.

“Well, I hope your private meeting with His Majesty goes well today.”

“You—”

When the duke opened his mouth, Marquis Delpre’s face brightened.

“Yes, Duke Chateau Briand!”

“You should teach your child properly.”

“...Yes?”

“If she’s foolish, she should at least know how to behave.”

“...”

“It’s your fault for raising your daughter so ignorantly.”

Duke Chateau Briand passed by Marquis Delpre coldly.

Left alone in the hallway, the marquis clenched his fists tightly.

‘How well have I raised my child...!’

Marquis Delpre recalled the conversation with his daughter.

“What on earth did you do—!”

“...”

“What are you going to do now? Do you even realize what you did to the family?”

“...”

“Lost favor with the Duke of Astra, angered Duke Chateau Briand... Damn it! What should I do—”

“...Open the door...”

“...What?”

“It was for the family’s sake!”

The daughter sobbed silently, unable to speak.

“What...?”

“I didn’t want to offend the Astra family! But Silin insisted...”

“What are you talking about?”

“Silin said...”

“She said that as long as Erilot Astra is around, we won’t be able to laugh like before. And Duke Chateau Briand might not see father like before...”

“So you did that to Erilot Astra?!”

“What else could I do? If I didn’t obey Silin, my family would be in trouble!”

“You...”

“Besides, my older brother is about to graduate and be commissioned, and my younger brother is about to be knighted...”

“...”

“If I didn’t follow Silin’s wishes, Duke Chateau Briand wouldn’t have given seats to my brothers. It was the same last time.”

“...”

“Do you think I wanted to say those things to innocent Erilot Astra?!”

The daughter lay down crying, barely breathing.

Her older and younger brothers were speechless.

Her wife...

“Don’t cry, Rika. It’s all mother’s fault. It’s all because the parents are lacking...!”

She hugged her daughter and cried with her.

‘How dare they crush my daughter like that?’

Who else is to blame for all this?

He wanted to endure it for the family’s sake, but couldn’t tolerate his daughter being treated as ignorant.

Just then, an aide approached.

“Are you returning to the mansion?”

“No.”

“Well then...”

“Contact Duke Astra. She should still be in the capital.”

“How should I convey the message?”

“Tell her we must meet today no matter what—even if I have to grab her by the hem.”

“Yes?! Your Grace...!”

Auras of hostility stirred around Marquis Delpre.

‘Chateau Briand will never let this go.’

.

.

At the emperor’s office.

Duke Chateau Briand’s expression was completely different from before.

Bowing his head, he said,

“My apologies, Your Majesty.”

The emperor, who was rolling up parchment, glanced at him.

“The honor of the imperial army has been tarnished, Duke.”

“My daughter takes full responsibility.”

The emperor put down the papers and removed his glasses.

“The Western Army Marshal was not wrong.”

“...”

“Powerful forces must be under the palace’s control, naturally.”

“...”

“But because of this, the busybodies are spreading nonsense.”

It was revealed that the Western Army Marshal was countering Erilot.

And that the Western Army Marshal was a loyal follower of Central Army Marshal Silin.

In other words, Central Army Marshal was countering Erilot.

“You’d better not expect much from this year’s year-end festival.”

“Your Majesty...!”

Duke Chateau Briand flinched and raised his head.

The year-end festival was practically the Chateau Briand family’s award ceremony.

A nominal competition held to give awards to the pro-emperor faction.

So the emperor had unfair challenges assigned to Silin for years.

Count Langro thought,

‘If the emperor assigns another favorable challenge to the Central Army Marshal this time, rumors will spread again.’

That the emperor interfered in the marshals’ fight, or something like that.

Duke Chateau Briand said in a troubled tone,

“Your Majesty, if Erilot Astra wins under these circumstances, things could get even more complicated.”

“Her influence in the marshal armies would increase. Maybe surpassing the Central Army Marshal.”

“Yes, Astra’s child would hold one pillar of the imperial army.”

“It’s only a problem if she isn’t the winner.”

“Yes...?”

The emperor’s lips twisted into a crooked smile.

A few days later.

The year-end festival challenge was announced.

Han Ji-hyuk, who had looked over the imperial palace letter with me, murmured,

“Ghouls to be exterminated in the new imperial tomb?”

The letter said something like ‘The emperor carefully decided this challenge for a fair competition.’

I burst out laughing.

“Fair~?”

What a joke!

Last year’s challenge was archery among the marshals.

The year before was chess.

‘But this time, a hunt?’

I just became a marshal.

I haven’t even met the Western Army yet, but I’m supposed to do well in a military contest?

‘Besides, the Western Army hardly has any holy knights who are good against ghouls.’

Most of the special knights are in the Central Army or Sebastia’s Eastern Army.

So much for fairness.

I gritted my teeth.

‘Should I turn everything upside down?’

I got worked up but tried to calm myself.

‘I can’t rely on family power or Lagon this time.’

If I keep playing the same cards, I’ll just look ridiculous.

‘They’ll mock me, saying Erilot Astra uses her dragon or grandfather only when she’s in a bad mood.’

Han Ji-hyuk frowned.

“This one might be hard for you, even.”

“Hard it is.”

“Then why not give up?”

“Can’t do that.”

I clenched my fists.

‘There’s so much to gain at the year-end festival.’

Han Ji-hyuk frowned.

“What will you do then?”

“I’ll take the Western Army and win.”

“...Well, good luck. I’ll cheer for you.”

Han Ji-hyuk snorted.

“You might fail this time.”

“Go ahead and hold a funeral for my defeat.”

When I glared at him, Han Ji-hyuk shrugged.

Then he lightly pinched my nose and smiled teasingly.

“If you need Egritz, just say.”

“No way. (Absolutely not.)”

I narrowed my eyes and swatted his hand away.

‘Just wait and see.’

No matter how bad the Western Army’s reputation is, it’s still the imperial army.

They can’t be useless.

Besides, I’m experienced in strategizing under disadvantageous conditions. This is nothing.

“Ten days left until the challenge day, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll make the Western Army decent by then.”

I clenched both fists tightly.

‘Should I give up?’

The next day, when I entered the Western Army barracks, I felt a fierce urge to quit.

It was supposed to be training day.

But...

‘Where’s everyone training?’

Two were lying flat out.

One was reading a book in the shade.

A few were gathered, swapping crude jokes.

It was a total mess.

‘What is this?’

On the grass lay a man with light brown hair, stroking the hair of a maid sitting beside him.

Not just sitting—

“Please don’t do that. He’s angry, you know.”

“You’re the only one.”

“No way. Then who was the guy Nancy went on a date with?”

“Well, I don’t know.”

“Again with the vague answers... No way I’ll let this go this time.”

“Then you can’t get mad when I make a cute angry face.”

“No, no~.”

The man got up.

The maid, although clearly upset, puckered her lips with a “Tch...”

The two slowly grew closer.

“Oh, it’s too bright here~ There are people~”

“But I only see you.”

“But still~”

“No one else—”

“What are you doing?”

I spoke, and the two startled.

The maid hesitated, and the man frowned, waving his hand dismissively.

He didn’t even look my way.

“Don’t interfere and leave.”

“What are you doing?”

“Don’t you see? Get lost.”

“No way.”

“This is real.”

Only then did the man frown and turn toward me.

His light brown hair shone in the sunlight.

Eyes with soft lines.

A sharp nose.

Full lips perfectly suited to his face.

If it were Yuhye-min’s world, he’d have been bombarded with agency cards the moment he stepped onto the street.

‘Completely idol material.’

If he was with Han Ji-hyuk’s group, they would have made a fortune.

The man glanced me up and down.

“What are you?”

He seemed shocked to see a kid at the barracks.

“Who are you?”

“Who do you think?”

“What kind of idiot brought a kid to the training ground?”

“There’s even an idiot who doesn’t recognize their superior, so bringing a kid is just another idiot move.”

“...Superior?”

“Yeah, superior.”

The maid sprang up like a coiled spring.

“Are you... the Western Army Marshal?!”

She was so surprised her voice cracked.

Only then did the man stand.

People startled by the commotion turned to look this way.

Meanwhile, a tall man in his early twenties ran at incredible speed.

“W-Western Marshal!”

Judging by his outfit, he seemed to be # Nоvеlight # the Western Army’s commanding general.

“No notice, what’s going on here? I was going to arrange greetings gradually. Ah, but first—”

“Yeah, first knock his head.”

My dad said, in situations like this, take out the top guy first.

“And you too, troublemaker.”