ch 19; Rats In The Hole

I never want things to escalate to this. Nor do I wish for the traitor to be one of the two only dukedom of our small kingdom. But what can I say when the circumstantial evidence pointed heavily to truth? 

 

"Haaaa…" 

 

Awoken in the middle of the night, I decided to stepped outside for a fresh air. 

 

Our convoy has stopped in quite an open area, on the high-hill, not long to our destination. Well, at least for me, it doesn't seem far. 

 

Thirty kilometers; if it's my old world, such distance would be easy to reach. Systematic roadmap and cars, which capable of blitzing through in an hour or less, as two catalyst for such incredible unchallenging travel. Compared to that product of modernity, here I only have a warhorse with good but limited stamina, two wheels carriage, and a zigzag route to avoid forests and other geological terrain unfit for the wheels. 

 

What could be done in mere hour in my modern old world, is taking days here. 

 

"S-salute!"

 

"Your Majesty—"

 

"At ease."

 

The two night guard were startled at my unexpected appearance, which would be fine if they aren't in the middle of playing games. It's always fazed me by the way, how the people in this world created a card game with high resemblance with poker. 

 

They were incredibly flustered, and naturally so. 

 

A night guard job demands focus on all times. It's a given, knowing if there are ambush, they would be the first to die. And caught slacking off by their superior? Nightmare. But these guys were caught by me, their escort target. There's a very real chance a tyrant would execute them on spot, with an excuse of fatal oversight. 

 

But at least I understand them. Boredom is normal. And I'm not so heartless to scold them because of that. 

 

"I'm going for a fresh air." 

 

I don't have to specify whether I wanted to be alone or not, because eventually, they'll tail me themself. They had to. That's their job, after all. 

 

With a stuttered understood, four of them began to disperse around me, in four cardinal direction. I don't mind, keeping my silence while walking. My head is too jumbled for a good sleep right now. Evidently, didn't I fail to thoroughly sleep and awoke in the middle of the night? That's how stressed I am. 

 

And the cause of my blood rush, is the traitor. 

 

There's only two dukedom in this nation, which dubbed as the two pillars of Vedora Kingdom. 

 

Dukedom of Vartlass, and Dukedom of Heinghram. 

 

If valued solely by their functionality, well, it's debatable whether they deserve the title of pillars. In the first place, most of their authority came from their dukedom title, while the two duke of current generation arguably isn't that great. 

 

They were, however, incredibly lucky and skilled on choosing sides. 

 

Why do you think there's only two dukedom that survived until the current administration? Is it because they have wealth beyond reason? No. An overwhelming military might? Even more unlikely. So, subtract those and what's left? Politics. 

 

I'm not so naive to fully believe they submit to me merely because of patriotism and nationality awaken in their veins. They're also a calculative merchant, weighing options and deemed me to be the best, currently. So yes, from the beginning, I've never truly accepted them. 

 

Betrayal is an option too, after all. If by betrayal they could obtain what they want, then betrayal it is. 

 

I, too, often plagued by such thoughts. I tried not to steer into such despicable path but the road of a monarch is not a leisure one. Option, in itself, is a luxury. Today, they show an obedient face in front of me. But how long would that last? Until I showed a crack? A weakness? 

 

However, if they would do such, then from the beginning, they're already traitorous, no? 

 

Ah, I don't know.  

 

Too complicated. Tsk. This is all because of that bastard. 

 

Duke Vartlass. 

 

Majority of my reform hinged on his Ministry of Justice but if the head suddenly gone, it would be hard to properly implement yesterday assembly's outcome. Just thinking about it is giving me headache. 

 

And the Empire. 

 

Ah, those bitches really pisses me off. 

 

One knight. Only one, frickin, knight. 

 

Are they really want to help me? Sure, they tried to compensate the lack of force by sending a lot of squires but please, compared to real knight, everyone knows they fall short. Because of that, I had to fill the team with allied knight from each noble house. Now I'm indebted to them. 

 

Nothing goes my way, man…

 

I'm literally thrown myself as a bait right now. An irresistible bait for whomever wants me dead. And who else desire such, if not the current enemy, those sons of bitches the separatist. If me and Ministry of Interior's calculations are correct, those rats has been planning this for quite a long time. 

 

If I had to estimate, probably since I've taken office. 

 

So yes, I'm confident they would attempt an assasination on my face. The problems are security. No matter how backwater this nation is, royal security is paramount. Won't be easily breached. And since taking the throne, I have never, even for once, roaming outside the capital. 

 

But now? I did. 

 

Internally, this is a top secret nationwide survey that aims to literally take a look on the governance of each noble domain. But those in the know, knows. I didn't goes outside my predetermined route. It's all planned, not random. Specifics location, at a certain time. 

 

And, different locations and timetable for each person. 

 

Duke Vartlass, Duke Heinghram, Marquis Henya, and Marquis Verdian. To these four, I opened the pandora box of potential chaos which would be caused by the separatist movement. I revealed a part where the Empire agreed to support me, by sending personnel, to cull these deviant elements from ground up. I packaged their support as 'necessary evil', as the Empire, per my story, did that to extract some unknown benefit. Could be leash, could be another thing entirely. 

 

Of course, I don't forget to subtly mention that the Empire wishes for 'peace', and the separatist are exactly the powder keg the Empire hates. And, it would be bad for them too, I also said. 

 

There's no way you would escape unscatched, isn't there? Obviously, chaos is not good for us, which just start to find stability. War would be a given, and knowing the nature of war, surely you wouldn't believe your territory would escape safely? Yes, so, here's my proposal. I'm going to randomly inspect each territory, undercover. Your role is easy. Just wait for me at a certain place, at a certain time, to supply me with your best combatant. Because the real motion, is raiding those bastards place. Of course, rewards would be given by merit, primarily because there are four total participant, right? 

 

—is what transpired in our private meetings. 

 

The talk about combatants are merely lip service, a ruse, but now I had to use them for real. All because the Empire only send one knight. 

 

The key here is the time and place. 

 

It's true that I told different place and time, but each one of them believe I only gave them one schedule. 

 

For Duke Heinghram, it's the city of Berev, three days ago. For Marquis Henya, it's the city of Harloom, four days ago. Both of them agreed to jump into the plan I've just told them and sent their combatants to the next destination, to create an illusion that the four of them truly given the same schedule. 

 

Not to brag, but I did quite confident that my preparation are thorough, and properly deceptive. 

 

That's why, when the canaries I planted in the next destination cried of emergency, as a lot of circumstantial evidence poured in, I doubt little of these cries as nonsense. Quite the opposite. I hardly suspect our canaries flowing out false information. It just that, what kind of monkey's paw is this? Yes, the rat finally bit the meticulous bait prepared but turns out, it's one of key personnel? 

 

The first time I heard it, I almost cursed out loud. 

 

No, come to think of it, didn't I openly cursed back then? Ah, whatever. 

 

This meant one thing; more work to do. For hell's sake. 

 

"Haaa…" one lucky thing is that, the allied knights and combatants pouring in proven to be an excellent decoy, a natural attention-grabber. Thanks to that, the key personnel from the Empire, disguised as mercenaries, could safely took their predetermined stations, ready for actions. 

 

…everything will be fine. At least I've already pinpointed the spy, only need to rooted him along with the separatist. 

 

Yes… all in all, this is surely a moment of victory. Strategic victory. 

 

I should just relax… 

 

***

 

"Y-Your Majesty!! WATCH OUT—!" 

 

SPLURTT

 

"Kuhukk—"

 

Looking at the face of this brave soldier that just tanked an arrow in front of me—there's only one thing going on in my mind. 

 

These crazy motherfuckers—!! 

 

I miscalculated. They don't want to simply assassinate me— 

 

"!!!"

 

"BALLISTAAAA!!!"

 

—they want war.