The Extra Wants To Live

"Well, I don't know. Maybe… I thought of him as family, just like my father did."

"I see."

"… … ."

Camilla finally realized that Carl understood her heart.

The emotionless young archduke was only able to fully understand Camilla's feelings after hearing her conclusion: 'She is sad that her parents were murdered and wants revenge.'

Carl, who lost his mother, who was everything to him, to his father, did not say that he understood Camilla's feelings. That sadness, that resentment, that pain—Carl really couldn't understand. Because Carl is not Camilla, and Camilla is not Carl. But the principle of its operation could be literally understood to the bone.

With logic based on reason before the heart, he was able to understand Camilla's actions, which were similar to his own: 'I will kill the guy who killed my parents.'

"Then, I will kill 'Leader Siana.'"

"… … ."

Camilla was a little taken aback by Carl's sudden declaration.

"The longer it stays like that, the worse it gets. It's not just a threat to Tumari."

Carl said so indifferently, and then he looked away from Camilla, who was looking up at him with her pretty hazel eyes wide open, and looked at the window, where the curtains were drawn and nothing could be seen.

"… ."

"… Hehe… ."

Camilla turned her head away and lightly kissed the nape of Carl's neck.

Camilla was very lovable when she showed this cute appearance occasionally. Although it was a decision that prioritized rational judgment, it was clear that Carl's feelings for Camilla were slightly hidden within it.

"Well, I've told you everything now."

Camilla put her arms around Carl's neck and hugged him, lifting her toes and bringing her lips close to Carl's.

"I gave you my all, shouldn't you accept it?"

"…."

As Carl turned his head, their lips brushed against each other.

"Go to Yusuf and tell him to send another letter to influence Azgoth, not me. Make sure to mention the existence of 'heresy.'"

"…."

Really? You came all the way here?

As Camilla glared, throwing her head back in disbelief, Carl grabbed her head with his large hand and pulled it tightly.

"Not now, but tomorrow."

"… ."

Is this something he does on purpose to tease her, or is this something she was born with?

Camilla glared at Carl with narrowed eyes, then pushed Carl down with incredible force.

"Don't forget, Carl."

Camilla pressed down on Carl with her strength and whispered, her black hair hanging down.

"I'm your first... not that skinny girl."

"I cannot make you empress without an official title."

"…. That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that I'm the first woman you've ever felt affection for. I'm not stupid enough to ask that of a man who's going to be the emperor."

"If that's the case."

Carl grabbed Camilla's arm and turned her over, burning with jealousy for Elke Gasto.

Camilla gave herself over to Carl coolly.

… … By the way, this young Grand Duke is really smart, but he doesn't know anything about women, so it's frustrating. Of course, Camilla, who had already found a place in Carl's heart, was very relieved and happy about that fact.

It was dark dawn the next day, just before sunrise, that Camilla left the castle of Bemale.

Carl slept a little later than usual. To be exact, he only slept for about an hour after Camilla left until the sun rose.

***

The meeting held at Bemale Castle took place in a somewhat chaotic atmosphere.

This was because Carl and Govan, the two pillars of the Laurel Union, approached the meeting with a strange attitude. It was clear that military action would be taken to deal with this threatening situation, but they appeared to be secretly postponing it, knowingly or unknowingly.

As a result, it was decided to deploy a large number of border troops to the Celle Mountains, centered around the Barony of Bemale. However, there were so many questionable aspects, and not only Carl but also Govan did not return to their own territories, so the lords were all hesitant and watched the situation closely, and their feet were tied.

.net

As the matter was at stake, troops were quickly deployed along the border with the Celle Mountains. However, as they were being manipulated by Carl and Govan, the number of troops gathered in Bemale had grown to be more than necessary. Just when everyone was starting to realize that something was amiss, a letter arrived from the Viscount, who was ruling Dabron in place of the absent Govan.

"… … Sultan Yusuf of Tumaria sent a letter to His Majesty the Emperor? Even using the Padishah's emblem?"

The situation in Tumaria, where a religious war had developed into a civil war, was made known, as was Yusuf, who was taking care of state affairs in place of the Padishah.

And such Yusuf sent a letter to Azgoth, the Emperor of the Hardion Empire, using the emblem of the Padishah who was 'still' alive. First, let us assume that Yusuf, who was near the Arbana River, managed to deliver the letter while avoiding the forces of the Quwa Haddad sect and other sultans.

But at this timing, in a situation where the Laurel Union's troops were overflowing in Bemale, located near the north of Dabron, the crossroads with Tumari, a letter from Sultan Yusuf, who was overseeing state affairs instead of the Padishah, was sent to the Emperor?

Everyone suspected Carl and Govan of secretly controlling the actions of the Laurel Union with their strange attitude, but there was no evidence. A few days later, a messenger arrived from Himmeln with surprising speed.

"Archduke Carl Feld Hardion, by the order of His Majesty the Great Emperor of the Hardion Empire, conquer your enemies with the fierce eyes and sharp claws of the imperial eagle, and step onto the tilted scales to right the broken balance."

The messenger who read Azgoth's message was not a mere soldier or knight, but a courtier in magnificent attire. The snobbish courtier ran so furiously that he became a mess of sweat and dust.

"Raise the banner bestowed by His Majesty the Great Emperor of the Hardion Empire in enemy territory. Plant laurel trees, as you have done so far, to show the grandeur of the Empire."

Carl accepted the flag bestowed upon him by Emperor Azgoth.

The border of the large red flag was adorned with gold tassels, and the flagpole was also made of sturdy steel and intricately crafted, trimmed with gold. After the Count Paladin carried out the formalities in a dignified and majestic manner, he finally placed the Emperor's message in a box held by a servant, closed it, and delivered it to Carl.

Carl stood proudly, holding the flag in his right hand and the box in his left, making himself clearly visible to everyone.

"Your Highness, I wish you good luck."

The Count Palatine, who had finally completed his mission, greeted Carl politely.

"Thank you for your hard work. I'll tell you what I said, so get some rest and then go back."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After handing the flag and box to Harmon, Carl shook hands with the Count Palatine.

The count of the palace, who had not even had time to ride a carriage and was riding a horse, was covered in sweat and dust and took the hand that Carl offered him first with a heavy heart. His Highness the Grand Duke took his hands off the Emperor's banner and the message to shake hands with the dirty-looking Count of the Palace. His head bowed down of its own accord like ripe wheat.

And then Carl came face to face with a slightly gloomy face, one he hadn't seen in a long time. Azgoth accepted Yusuf's deal and sent a master to show that he was serious.

"Master Jaren, it's been a while."

"… … Yes, Your Highness."

"You don't seem to be in the mood?"

"...no."

It was only natural to dispatch Jaren, who had already worked with Carl once and successfully completed a mission.

Jaren, who had been dispatched twice in a row with other Masters, and who had to be with His Excellency the Archduke Carl Felt Hardion, whom he found difficult to work with both times, tried hard to control his expression, but he could not hide his distorted and lifeless face and his spitting voice.

The Laurel Alliance, which had gathered in Bemale, left behind some of their troops and the sisterhood and priests of the Duren Church who had arrived in a hurry, and headed south toward Davron.

Since they couldn't send troops into the rugged Celle Mountains anyway, it was enough to block and kill the monsters that came out onto the plains. The soldiers of the Laurel Union gathered in Dabron advanced toward the endless wilderness.

In the wilderness that they had not tread for decades, the hearts of the veterans who had galloped to conquer this land in the past were burning brightly. And coincidentally, the Laurel Union began to operate according to its superficial intentions rather than its hidden intentions.

The eastern part of the empire had united as one for war and began to steadily support supplies, and the troops of the Laurel Union, who had no need to worry about the rear, were unstoppable. It's war.