“Yes, I’ll be there.” I replied from my room and headed to the bathroom.

  “The water temperature is just right. I think this bathtub is still big enough for the three of us to soak together,” Nate said when she saw me enter the bathroom.

  “I don’t think Princess Bertha would want to bathe together with us,” I replied and invited Nate to soak first.

  “Who says I don’t want to!” Princess Bertha’s protesting voice rang out.

  The red-haired woman undressed and joined us in the bath.

  “The culture of your country that I like the most is how much you value hot water,” Bertha said blissfully as she immersed herself.

  Seeing Nate pressed close to me, Bertha slowly shifted and took position on my left, while Nate was on my right. I wrapped both of my arms around them.

  “I’m going to recharge my energy,” I joked.

  After soaking for quite some time, I ended it and quickly changed clothes. I asked Nate to prepare a simple breakfast for me. Bertha, not wanting to lose, followed Nate along. I suppose this rivalry between them was a good thing.

  When I went down to the second floor, Laode was there, speaking with Lord Verzhina. Their expressions were very serious.

  “What’s going on?” I asked Laode.

  “Your Majesty Ezia, good morning,” Laode replied.

  “Get straight to the point,” I said, patting Laode on the shoulder.

  “Lord Bari, Sir Valde, Lord Jasper, and Lord Hilxa are refusing to enter Gratels Plain unless they are with you. General Vidin requests that you come there immediately and lead your forces,” Laode said, handing me a still-sealed letter.

  “Is that really so?” I asked in surprise. What are they thinking? My business in this council hasn’t even finished yet.

  I opened the letter, and it was indeed a request from General Vidin for me to come there immediately, exactly as Laode had said.

  “Verzhina, do you think I should go there, or stay with you for the council?” I asked Verzhina, handing him the letter.

  “Your Majesty should go there,” Verzhina said firmly. “As for the council, I believe I can handle it.”

  “Please protect Princess Bertha. She has a plan to ensure her own safety. Talk to her, follow her plan, and help her,” I instructed Verzhina.

  “Understood,” Verzhina replied.

  I then headed to the kitchen located on the third floor at the back. The kitchen was connected to the dining room and near the royal chamber in the White Palace. Strange, isn’t it? Ask my father, who designed this place.

  I think it’s because my father often went to the kitchen late at night to snack, so he renovated the third floor of the White Palace—bedrooms in the front, kitchen in the back.

  In the dining room, I saw Bertha already sitting and waiting, while Nate was cooking together with the servants. I noticed that Bertha’s right hand seemed to have a burn.

  “Let me guess, you tried to help but failed?” I asked, sitting beside her.

  Bertha nodded in disappointment.

  Well, that’s understandable. When would a noble ever go into the kitchen to cook?

  “I feel like I’ve lost to Nate…” Bertha said softly.

  “You can ask Nate to teach you. I can cook as well,” I replied, leaning back in my chair.

  “You can cook?” Bertha asked, slightly surprised.

  “Yes. My mother left me long ago. Before I met Nate, I always cooked for myself, because the only things on my father’s mind were playing with the military and tending to my mother’s grave,” I answered, glancing at her.

  “And then I appeared, and my duty to accompany Ezia began,” Nate chimed in, carrying a tray with three plates of food.

  Today’s meal was sunny-side-up eggs, wheat porridge, sliced meat, and simply boiled vegetables. Only after Nate sat down did I begin leading our breakfast. After finishing, I finally spoke my intention.

  “Nate, I’ve been requested by General Vidin to go to Gratels Plain immediately. Lord Bari and the others refuse to enter Gratels Plain without me,” I said while carrying the dirty plates to the kitchen.

  “Your Majesty, allow me,” a servant said, trying to take the plates from me.

  “No, I can clean them myself,” I replied, placing them in the sink and washing them.

  Meanwhile, Nate poured warm tea from the teapot into three empty cups in front of us.

  “I’ll come along… and I also want us to visit my father’s grave,” Nate replied as she sat back down.

  After washing the dishes, I sat between them.

  “Alright. Princess Bertha, I’ll be taking my leave. It might be a week, a month, or even a year in battle. But I promise I’ll return as soon as I can.”

  I turned my seat toward Princess Bertha and held both of her hands.

  “Be c-careful…” Princess Bertha replied.

  “You too. I hope you succeed in protecting yourself. I’ve informed Lord Verzhina to help you. For the rest, you can coordinate with him regarding your plan,” I replied.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “Whatever the outcome later, you may stay here, even if in the end your father casts you out of the royal family.”

  “Come on, Nate, let’s go!”

  I finished my glass of warm tea and then left the White Palace toward the fortress stables. If I remembered correctly, my horse was there from yesterday. Nate’s horse should be there as well.

  Nate walked beside me, and I held her hand until we reached my residence near the fortress. Nate then excused herself to fetch our supply bags, while I hurried to retrieve both of our horses.

  Of course, I was helped by the stable hands. Because of my height, I had some trouble handling two horses at once…

  Especially since my horse is quite large, you know.

  Nate returned and handed me my supply bag, carrying her own as well. With Nate’s help and the stable hands leading my horse, I was finally able to mount. Nate, being slightly taller than I, mounted her horse with ease.

  The two of us then urged our horses onward toward where the 1st Regiment of Skradings was stationed. The road from Skalu City to Junek was, fortunately, paved with stone and well-maintained, so there was no need for Nate and me to worry about riding at full speed.

  Upon arriving in Junek City, I returned to my mansion and checked on Zima, informing her that I wouldn’t be back for at least a week or possibly more than a month. Zima understood and saw me off.

  I also wasn’t worried about bandits. The garrisons of each city, along with their police, conducted daily patrols to deal with bandits outside the cities.

  Twelve hours later, we finally arrived—right at the hill where I had achieved my first victory. A supply depot building had already been erected, while the wooden fort was still under construction. I decided to rest here for a bit to let our horses recover.

  From the highest point of the hill, I used my spyglass to observe the movements of my forces. They weren’t far from this hill, positioned at a location called Gratels Pass on the map. I could see my kingdom’s banner flying alongside the Alestrian banner over the camp they had established.

  “I think resting for three hours is enough for our horses,” Nate said as she stood beside me. “In the end, I’ll be returning to my homeland again…”

  “I hope the village I came from still exists,” Nate murmured.

  “Aren’t your people nomads?” I asked in surprise, tilting my head.

  “Some still live as nomads like Lord Bari, others have settled down. There are many kinds,” Nate replied, resting her head on my shoulder.

  “After you see my father’s grave, let’s get married. You’ve already fulfilled all the requirements according to my customs,” Nate added shyly.

  “Yes, let’s,” I said, gripping her hand and enjoying the scenery before us.

  Perhaps because I was still tired, I closed my eyes and took a short nap.

  “Here, use my thigh as a pillow.”

  I felt Nate’s gentle hands on my shoulders as she carefully placed my head on her lap. My eyes closed, enjoying the sensation of her fingers slowly massaging my head, gradually guiding me into a deep sleep.

  “Ezia, wake up…”

  I heard Nate’s soft voice waking me. When I opened my eyes, it was already evening. My short nap had ended. I stretched as I stood up and tidied my clothes, then extended my hand to help Nate stand as well.

  The foreman overseeing the construction of the wooden fort greeted us and escorted us on our way. After riding for half an hour, we arrived at our army camp.

  “Welcome, Your Majesty!” General Vidin immediately greeted me upon seeing my arrival. The old man’s expression brightened.

  “General Vidin,” I greeted him with a bow.

  “I’m getting a headache dealing with your officers’ behavior…” he complained.

  “I’ll deal with them myself,” I replied, releasing General Vidin from our embrace. “Prepare to cross Gratels Pass, General Vidin.”

  I then headed to my command tent and found only Bari and Jasper there.

  “Your Majesty! You’ve finally arrived. How was the council?” Bari asked cheerfully.

  “It was absolute chaos,” I replied, hugging Bari. “Fortunately, everything is under control. Let’s prepare our forces to cross Gratels Pass.”

  “Understood!” Bari and Jasper replied.

  They both immediately left the command tent. Outside, I saw Valde talking with Alestrian soldiers who wielded hand cannons as their primary weapons. If I recalled correctly, the Alestrian army already possessed firearms.

  Their cavalry units were equipped with pistols, and half of their infantry were armed with hand cannons as their main weapons, which they would discharge once and then switch to conventional weapons.

  This meant I could use them to my advantage, right?

  Alestrian military technology was indeed very advanced. Along with the Republic of Doujhe, they were among the strongest due to their mastery of firearms. However, once all nations caught up technologically, the balance of power would inevitably change.

  “My lord, you’ve arrived?” Valde asked while weighing the hand cannon in his hands. “This weapon, my lord, can change the course of battle. No matter how thick the armor, it can penetrate it…”

  “Yes, I know. I have one as well,” I said, showing the pistol at my belt. “This is a gift from Princess Bertha.”

  “May I hold it?” Valde asked as he walked beside me. “I think I can replicate it…”

  That word made my ears perk up. Wait—Valde could replicate it and manufacture it? In the game’s original route, my country had to cooperate with and be trampled by Alestria first before they would teach us and open weapon factories here.

  “You may,” I said, handing my pistol to Valde.

  “This is the same type used by Alestrian cavalry. I once fought against Alestria; their cavalry attacks were extremely effective—charging on horseback, firing this weapon, then retreating. After that, they’d switch to their swords and cut down the scattered enemy infantry.”

  Valde went on at length about the weapon.

  “When this war is over, may I conduct experiments?” Valde asked. “I’m certain this can improve our military technology.”

  “You may,” I replied. “But for now, let’s prepare our forces to cross Gratels Pass.”

  “Yes, my lord!” Valde looked enthusiastic.

  The next two days were spent mobilizing our forces to cross Gratels Pass. Lord Bari and our cavalry crossed first, followed by the supply wagons, then our infantry.

  On the morning of the third day, we had all successfully crossed Gratels Pass. The valley flanked by hills was now behind us—a place where I thought I might eventually need to build a stone fort as a border defense.

  “Finally! We're coming back to our land!” Lord Bari shouted.

  All of my soldiers from the Gratels people cheered. Nate, seeing the vast grasslands of her homeland, smiled to herself.

  “My memories of my homeland are very poor… being chased by Rajian troops before reaching Skradings with my mother…” Nate whispered to me. A tears start to coming down from her eyes.

  “Then let’s replace those memories with our victory in reclaiming this place,” I replied, kissing Nate’s cheek.

  The two cavalry scouts I had dispatched returned and reported that no Rajian forces were visible. Of course, I already knew that our major battle would take place at Anejkuch—a new Rajian Empire settlement in Gratels Plain.

  There, we would face the 1st Regiment of Anxian, the 2nd Regiment of Narixian, and the 4th Regiment of Erkush.

  Three against two.

  In the original story, I won by playing defensively and frequently raiding enemy supply lines while our main force sheltered behind trench constructions and raised earthworks to defend against Rajian attacks. Now, with Alestria’s presence, I suspected the story would change once again.

  Unfortunately, near Anejkuch, there would be no high ground—the terrain was flatter than a pancake. Only the Aneshka River would split the battlefield.

  “Oh, maybe we could play defensively using the water…” I thought hard.

  “Your Majesty! I request permission to raid the Rajian-built settlement on our land!” Lord Bari approached me with fiery enthusiasm.

  I looked at General Vidin beside me, silently asking for his opinion. Even though I was king here, his seniority and combat experience far surpassed mine.

  “It’s fine—in fact, it’s good,” General Vidin replied, reading my glance. “But don’t let greed for plunder take over. Discipline yourselves, soldiers. The spoils will be collected and distributed evenly later.”

  I think I finally understood the real reason they had refused to cross Gratels Pass. General Vidin placed great emphasis on discipline, while Bari and our cavalry were indeed less disciplined than the Alestrian troops.

  “It’s fine, Bari. Do it. Just don’t let the plunder make you careless.”