Chapter 22

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: The Most Important Piece
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#22

Whees was the only one left out of the exchange of knowing glances. Frustrated, he tapped the Grand General on the shoulder, and Walter, covering his flushed face with a palm, explained.

“The Duke's greatest weapon is Portmeier Harbor. It's adjacent to the strait, making it easy to operate ships and move swiftly to the vicinity of the capital.”

“I know that much.”

“And most smuggled goods are traded on board ships.”

Whees, who had been blinking, finally let out a gasp, his face a mask of surprise.

“Then, then that, Portmeier! At the harbor in the Duke's domain! On the ships…!”

“Correct. Her Majesty is suggesting that hidden soldiers are being transported by ship. The troops moving by land are a diversion to confuse us, while the real force is likely being moved by sea.”

A myriad of emotions flickered across Whees's previously impassive face.

Surprise, bewilderment, and confusion passed in turn, finally settling into a dark shadow.

“If that's true, isn't this no time to be so relaxed?”

“No. There's no need to be anxious. The Duke is aiming for the coronation, so we just need to move in time for that.”

Lucy said in a nonchalant tone, pouting her lips. She nibbled on her upper and lower lips alternately with her front teeth before turning her gaze to Walter.

Walter met her gaze, his hands clasped together.

The skin under Lucy's languidly open eyes was darker than usual. He'd thought she was up to something in her study every night recently; it seemed she hadn't been sleeping properly.

Seeing her fatigued appearance, his heart ached for some reason. Walter took off the outer coat he was wearing and wrapped it around Lucy.

Draping the large military uniform over her unusually thin frame only emphasized her frail image. 'I wish she would get some proper sleep,' Walter thought to himself as he spoke.

“I understand the Duke's movements. I will handle restraining him, so Your Majesty should get some rest.”

“No. That won't do… It would be a loss of face to leave everything to the Grand General.”

Lucy closed her eyes, resting her fists on her knees and her chin on top of them. Just as Walter reached out, thinking she might have fallen asleep, her eyes shot open and she lifted her head.

“The Duke will try to drag me down before the coronation. Also, a banquet needs a star, so the Duke will surely come to the palace that day. That is when I will step forward and capture him.”

“You, Your Majesty?”

“Yes. I alone will defend the palace. The Grand General has somewhere else to be.”

How could she defend the palace without her key military power?

Walter was taken aback by the ridiculous suggestion, but Lucy simply touched the corner of her mouth, a cryptic smile on her lips.

Then, she added in a confident tone.

“Walter, you are to take the most important piece in this operation and bring it to me. That key will be the core of Duke Kill's downfall.”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

A faint mist rose from the earth after the autumn rain.

At the end of the season, when the temperature difference between day and night was at its peak, the red evening sun dyed the castle walls yellow.

White cloths were draped along the paths connecting the capital and the palace.

The royal flags, emblazoned with a black eagle, fluttered alongside the white cloths, and blue ribbons heralding the new monarch's coronation adorned them.

The faces of the servants bustling through the gardens were etched with urgency. Looking down at the busy people, Lucy took a deep breath and chose her words.

“The coronation is finally tomorrow. Seeing all the preparations is making it feel real.”

Walter, who was pulling on leather gloves, adjusted his attire and looked up.

“Are you nervous?”

“It's a matter of life and death, so I'd be lying if I said no. I just hope the plan goes well.”

Walter let out a faint, deflated laugh.

“It feels strange to hear you sound so vulnerable, you who are always so confident in front of others.”

“How can I live my whole life bluffing? I have to be able to vent a little, at least in front of someone I'm comfortable with.”

Unlike Lucy, who seemed unfazed, Walter did not hide his bitter expression.

“If you're worried, why not call off the plan, even now? The operation you proposed is quite intriguing, but it has too many uncertain elements.”

“What's the worst that can happen if I'm caught? I'll just die. Besides, if you do your part properly, there's nothing to worry about, so don't be concerned.”

Walter sighed instead of replying.

Lucy seemed unaware that such remarks only heightened his anxiety. Knowing it was useless to say more, Walter silently hurried his preparations for departure.

Over his simple attire of trousers, a shirt, gloves, and boots, he put on a fur garment, and over that, another thick outer coat reinforced with water buffalo hide.

After weaving cloth into a chain to create a strange shape, he bound his body tightly with that chain. Finally, he pulled on a fur hat, completing the look of a northern nomad.

Lucy narrowed her eyes, looking up at him with a serious expression.

It was strange to see the man who had wandered Pomnos in relatively light clothing now standing there heavily armed against the cold.

“Your Majesty. It is Whees.”

With a knock, Whees entered the room, bringing with him a Raphi she had never seen before.

The Raphi who came with him was young, with brilliant blue feathers.

The Raphi, whose slightly downturned eyes were striking, seemed nervous, clicking his beak a few times before bowing politely to Lucy.

“It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. I am Napari Hoya, of the 8th Squad, Nuthatch Corps.”

The white feathers hanging like ornaments at the tips of his blue wings swayed slightly up and down with his movements. His gentle demeanor was a strange contrast to Whees's rather arrogant air.

Whees handed Napari a handcuff-like object he was holding in one hand. It was a single cuff, with a small weight-like object attached to the end.

Just as Lucy was about to ask what it was, the door opened again and Zen entered.

“Preparations are complete. Now, in accordance with the start of the operation…… *Sniff*.”

Zen, who had entered the room with a straight back and a gentlemanly demeanor, immediately stiffened his tail and let out a growl the moment he made eye contact with Whees.

Whees and Napari also tensed, glaring fiercely back at Zen.

“So one of the key figures in the operation was a Raphi. Don't tell me it was you, you fluffball?”

“Such elegant speech. I suppose your eloquence is bound to suffer from eating nothing but carcasses.”

“What did you say, you bastard?”

“Don't you dare say 'bastard' so rudely in front of Her Majesty, you son of a bitch.”

Every time the Lycans and the Raphi met, she was reminded that no phrase described their relationship better than 'cats and dogs.'

Walter waved a hand, dispelling the hostile atmosphere.

“I don't care if you two bicker when you're alone, but I will not tolerate such excessive language in front of Her Majesty.”

The two grumbled but obediently averted their gazes from each other. Walter secured his sword firmly and asked Zen.

“Are the troops deployed?”

“As you instructed, they are ready to advance through the secret passage. It's a groundbreaking operation, but is it really all right to reveal a royal secret passage to common soldiers?”

“Capturing the Duke is more important, so it's fine. Worry about security later; for now, focus on the mission.”

Finishing his words calmly, Walter turned his head slightly to look at Lucy.

Hesitation, worry, anxiety, and concern flickered across his eyes in succession. Walter masked his emotions with a stoic face before turning his gaze to Napari.

“Napari.”

“Yes, Grand General.”

“As instructed, you will go with me to the Duke's domain. We will go to the Duke's castle at dawn, complete our mission, and return to the capital before sunrise tomorrow. Zen.”

“Speak.”

“I am appointing you temporary commander of the Black Eagle Battalion. The rest of you will move according to the plan, but always remember that Her Majesty's safety is the top priority. Lastly, Whees.”

“Yes, Grand General.”

“Even if it means disobeying Her Majesty's orders, if you judge the situation to be dangerous, grab Her Majesty and flee immediately.”

After casually stating that it was permissible to refuse the monarch's command to her face, Walter extended a hand to Napari.

Napari fastened the cuff Whees had given him to his own ankle. Then, he threaded the weighted end of the cuff through the chains bound to Walter's body and secured it firmly.

Napari took the lead, heading for the terrace. With every step the two took, connected by the chain, there was a clinking, clanking sound of metal.

A heavy tension—the feeling that this was the beginning, that there was no turning back—weighed down on the soldiers' shoulders in the silence.

Napari, with a flushed face, glanced back at Walter once before stepping onto the terrace and finishing his preparations to take off.

“Your Majesty.”

Walter turned his head from the sky to look at Lucy. He wet his lips with his tongue, then continued in a slightly lower voice.

“I trust in Your Majesty's wisdom. Until the sword returns, I pray the scabbard remains whole.”

Walter then turned and pulled on the chain.

With a great flap of wings, Napari shot into the sky, and Walter's body, connected to him, rose into the air as well.

Beneath the sunset sky, the silhouettes of the two connected figures glowed faintly red. Soon, their forms became a dot before melting into the mountain's shadow.

Lucy, who had been silently watching them, turned away.

A smile touched her lips, one that felt somewhat mischievous. Lucy wiped the smile away, licking her lips with a ferocious expression.

“Well then, shall we begin the hunt?”