The Soldiers Who Protect the Royal Capital

Preparations proceeded at a speed that could only mean the Kingdom's acceptance had been assumed from the start.

The very next day, craftsmen from the Empire arrived at the Royal Capital and began working on areas that had remained untouched since the collapse.

I had wondered what to do at first, but honestly, this was just what we needed.

While there was the burden of coordination, they had essentially taken over the bulk of the work.

This meant homes for people forced into evacuation could be built all at once.

The Kingdom would cover material costs, while the Empire would pay the craftsmen's wages.

However, this was only for a limited time.

The problem was that we needed to be careful they didn't access any sensitive information.

But we didn't even have enough people for that at the moment.

"If the Secretary of Military Affairs and his faction had still been around, it would have taken at least a month just to debate whether to accept the Empire's proposal. We probably couldn't have won their approval anyway, so being able to decide immediately was probably good for our impression on them."

"That alone reveals quite a bit though. They may have already figured things out to some extent."

The major undertaking of rebuilding the Royal Capital was consuming resources, and on top of that, the Kingdom's governmental structure itself was on the verge of collapse.

The Empire had extended help at the best possible timing.

"The Empire's arrival seems to have distracted the soldiers from their agitation, at least temporarily. Let's get the explanation out of the way while things are still in flux."

At Lady Anatia's suggestion, the soldiers were gathered in one place.

This would inevitably leak to some of the Empire's people, but it was impossible to impose a gag order on all the soldiers anyway.

We'd have to accept that.

In the castle square that had also served as a refugee camp, the knights and soldiers of the Royal Capital were assembled.

It was difficult to gather everyone, so only those with captain ranks or official positions attended.

They would be briefed, then pass the information down the chain.

The gathered soldiers all looked somewhat anxious, and as soon as they assembled, they began sharing information with those around them.

They must have been feeling a strong sense of crisis too.

Princess Tianis had become somewhat haggard since then.

She was busy, but too many things had happened all at once.

It was a relief she hadn't had to kill Princess Yupe.

Any more stress and she might have collapsed.

"Silence."

Lady Anatia's voice rang across the square, and the murmuring gradually died down.

Confirming that it had become completely quiet, Lady Anatia gave a small nod.

"You will now receive words from Her Royal Highness Princess Tianis. Listen well."

"Everyone, you have worked hard."

When Princess Tianis began speaking, the soldiers straightened their posture.

"Many things have happened all at once. Many of you must be anxious, unable to grasp the situation. Some may have even believed groundless rumors. But still, you are all here. First, I want to thank you for that."

The soldiers listened with slight agitation.

"The peace of the Royal Capital—no, of the entire Kingdom—is maintained by your loyalty and dedication. Even if there were defectors, it is because all of you remained that no major chaos occurred."

The moment the word "defectors" came out, murmuring began to spread.

The Secretary of Military Affairs's faction had disappeared entirely.

Many must have thought "I knew it."

When Lady Anatia clapped her hands, quiet returned again.

"I do not intend to simply stand by doing nothing. Soon, the Alsarm Army led by Duke Baroba will arrive at the Royal Capital. When that happens, the capital's defenses will become stronger than ever before. Please endure until then."

Hearing that the Alsarm Army, said to be the Kingdom's most formidable force, was coming, the soldiers seemed to relax a little.

If something happened to the Royal Capital now, the weakened capital garrison would have to handle it.

That was probably what the soldiers were most anxious about.

"Was this not a coup by the Secretary of Military Affairs?!"

One of the soldiers—a woman—raised her voice.

She was young but stood with a confident, dignified bearing.

The guards and surrounding soldiers tried to quiet her, but she showed no sign of stopping.

The Imperial observers remained watching from the sidelines.

… If we're going to do this, we have to go all the way or the anxiety and dissatisfaction on the ground won't disappear.

A nation doesn't run on the convenience of its rulers alone.

"It is true that the Secretary of Military Affairs abandoned his duties. And he actually attacked both myself and the First Princess."

"I knew it…! Why are you leaving the Secretary of Military Affairs alone? You should send pursuit immediately. We don't know when they might attack the Royal Capital."

The murmuring spread rapidly.

"Silence. Silence!"

Even Lady Anatia's voice couldn't calm them now.

At this rate, who knew when the soldiers might surge toward Princess Tianis.

I whispered quietly to Alexia.

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, do it."

Alexia held her battle-axe in her right hand and a borrowed sword for guard duty in her left.

Then she channeled magic into both and struck them together above her head.

The sudden loud noise made the soldiers flinch and freeze.

It was the result of their training. When something happened, they immediately tried to assess the situation.

And their gazes gathered on Alexia.

"Why is that woman wearing a dress?"

"Is she Princess Tianis's guard?"

Various things were being said.

Even under public scrutiny, Alexia stood with dignity.

She must be used to it by now.

"Is that good enough?"

"Yes. Well done."

Princess Tianis cleared her throat and continued speaking.

She was forcing herself quite a bit to change her manner of speech.

"You there, soldier. What is your name?"

"I am Mani, Your Royal Highness."

"Mani. I'll remember that. Now, why we're not pursuing the Secretary of Military Affairs, was it? What they took with them was thirty percent of the military stationed in the capital. It's difficult to pursue them with the army remaining in the capital. We cannot leave the capital undefended."

"But if they were to besiege the capital—"

"We need only endure until the Alsarm Army arrives. Besides, the Secretary of Military Affairs's forces won't be coming."

"How can you know that?"

"Because they defected to the Church of the Sun God. I heard this from his own mouth."

Ideri whispered to a subordinate, who then departed.

This fact would soon be known throughout the Empire as well.

If we couldn't keep it hidden, better to just reveal it.

But first, we needed to convince the soldiers.