I Don’t Need a Guillotine for My Revolution

Chapter 151: Krafte War - The Vanguard

Nancy, Lorraine.

The morale of the Southern Army, which had retreated to Nancy immediately after its first engagement with the Krafte Army, was extremely low.

It was already shocking and terrifying that the defense line, which had been built along the river, had been breached in a single blow, but the fact that Damien De Millbeau and his 'Mirbeau Line,' which had been so effective in the war against the Empire, had collapsed so easily further added to the dismay.

In particular, as the Southern Army, having witnessed the might of the Krafte Army firsthand, began to spread their accounts, the morale of the entire Revolutionary Army was shaken.

Louis d'Aquitaine sat on one side of the barracks, brooding over his feeling of powerlessness, lost in a daze.

-I understand since it’s your first time, but if you let every little thing get to you like this, you won’t last long in this business. I’m going for a walk to clear my head.

Sergeant Durand had said so, acting as if nothing had happened as he went outside.

But Louis just couldn't bring himself to do that.

He knew the enemy was formidable, and he understood that they had been caught off guard.

But he had striven to become a mage to help his sister, and to assist Marquis Lafayette, whom his sister loved so dearly.He had even been considered talented at the Magic Tower, and his grades were excellent. Graduating early was not something anyone could do.

The sage had tried to dissuade him, but Louis had secretly held a sliver of confidence that he would be helpful.

But reality was cruel.

No matter how hard he struggled, his contribution on the vast battlefield was minimal.

While his allies were being ruthlessly defeated, Louis's only achievement was to destroy a few pontoon bridges and slightly delay the enemy's river crossing.

"Haaaah…"

Just as a deep sigh escaped his lips, a familiar voice came from outside.

“Second Lieutenant Aquitaine, may I come in for a moment?”

“Ah, y-yes!”

Louis shot to his feet and saluted the entering major.

Giselle Davi gave a cursory return salute and gestured for him to be at ease.

Then she looked intently at Louis's face and let out a smirk.

“It seems it was quite a shock after all.”

“Ah, well…”

Louis looked sheepish.

“Did you come because of me? I’m sorry.”

Giselle Davi grinned and replied.

“I came because of Second Lieutenant Aquitaine, but there’s no need to be sorry. I was ordered to come anyway. A certain general was nagging me so much, saying our precious mage-nim shouldn't lose his morale.”

“Hahaha…”

As Louis let out a small laugh, Giselle also smiled and said.

“Don't worry too much. Defeat can always happen on the battlefield, and in the last battle, Second Lieutenant Aquitaine performed sufficiently.”

“Is that so…”

“In fact, I’d like to praise you, Second Lieutenant.”

“Pardon?”

“Since it was your first real battle, to have performed your duty without panicking on a battlefield where people are dying and bullets and cannonballs are flying, that alone deserves praise.”

“…Is that so.”

Louis answered bitterly.

Did the higher-ups not have high expectations for a young master who was sheltered and educated at the Magic Tower in the first place?

No, it’s not surprising.

The first time Louis d’Aquitaine saw someone die was at eight years old.

It was the sight of his mother and her vassals being executed before his eyes.

From then on, he couldn't sleep properly for almost a month, and for several years afterward, it would appear as a nightmare whenever he was about to forget.

If he hadn't had that experience, would he have disgraced himself even more on the battlefield?

As Louis was lost in thought, a small bottle was thrust before his eyes.

“Uh, Major Davi?”

“Drink up, it's honey water. It might not be much for a young master from a noble family, but it's quite a luxury on the battlefield, so be grateful.”

“Ah, th-thank you.”

Louis drank the beverage, which was still lukewarm as if freshly heated and poured for him.

He felt a little calmer as the sweetness spread in his mouth and the smooth, warm liquid went down his throat.

“…I think I feel a little better.”

Giselle smirked and replied.

“If you're feeling a bit better, don't just mope around here. Go take a look around the command tent. You're a high-value asset who gets special treatment, so you don't have any duties in peacetime, do you?”

“Special treatment, is it? Is that why you speak to me with honorifics?”

“Well, yes. Even as a second lieutenant, a high-ranking mage who graduated from the Magic Tower is a valuable asset in the army, and on top of that, you're the young master of the Aquitaine family.”

Louis hesitated for a moment, then said.

“I don't really want such special treatment…”

“Is that so? Then shall I treat you like a second lieutenant?”

At Giselle's immediate change of tone, Louis gave a slightly dazed nod, and Giselle grinned and slapped him on the back with a resounding thwack

“Ugh?!”

“Why are you acting like the world's against you, you who received a luxurious education thanks to Countess Aquitaine! Get up, Second Lieutenant!”

“Y-yes, ma’am!”

As Louis instinctively shot to his feet, Giselle grabbed his shoulders with both hands and straightened them with a crack.

“Uwaaargh!?”

“Shoulders back! Head up, straighten your back! If you want to be treated like a soldier, act like a soldier!”

“Y-yes, yes, ma’am! I understand!”

As Louis, startled, corrected his posture, Giselle looked him up and down, nodded, and said.

“Good, that’s better. Keep that up from now on, Second Lieutenant. Don't be all hunched over and miserable.”

“Yes, I understand…”

“Look at you, losing your steam already! Not enough?”

“Y-yes, I understand!”

As Louis reflexively corrected his posture and answered vigorously, Giselle finally smirked, patted his shoulder, and opened her mouth.

“Whatever you may think, Second Lieutenant, your abilities are quite useful. General Millbeau has some expectations, and you were of help to him in the last battle. I’m sure there will be many requests for you in the future.”

As Louis swallowed dryly, Giselle continued.

“But don't be too anxious. We won't ask for more than you can do, because feeling pressured by responsibility and shrinking back is worse than doing nothing at all. Still, if you're worried, you can come to me anytime. Aside from General Millbeau chewing me out, I'll take good care of you personally.”

“Th-thank you. Um…”

“Yes?”

“I was just thinking you’re very good at handling people.”

Giselle blinked and answered.

“I have a lot of younger siblings. I used to have an older sister…”

Louis, realizing his blunder, shut his mouth.

But Giselle, after a moment's hesitation, answered nonchalantly.

“She wasn't the type to abandon her younger siblings and run away, but she suddenly disappeared. So I’ve had a lot of practice taking care of kids. Still, I was lucky… no.”

Giselle seemed to choose her words for a moment, then grinned and replied.

“Maybe it was thanks to my sister, but thankfully, we never had to worry about going hungry. So don't make that face, Second Lieutenant. It's a pretty common story in a commoner's family.”

“Ah, well. I wasn’t feeling pity or anything.”

“Of course you weren't. If you had, I would have hit you one more time.”

Watching Giselle speak so lightly and without a second thought, Louis could only give a bitter smile.

*

Nancy’s Revolutionary Army Headquarters.

The Revolutionary Army, dispersed across various locations, including forces that had retreated from the Alsace front, was gathering under my command.

I looked at Damien De Millbeau, who had retreated from Alsace and was now standing before me, swallowing nervously, before opening my mouth.

“Count Damien De Millbeau.”

“Y-yes! Your Excellency, Marquis Lafayette!”

“Southern Army Commander.”

“Yes…”

“…Officer in charge of the Alsace defense.”

“…”

I deliberately paused before speaking.

“Do you have anything to say?”

“M-my apologies, Your Excellency the Marquis. But in that situation, I had no choice but to act to save my subordinates. If I had fought the Krafte Army there, my troops would have been annihilated before reinforcements could arrive—”

“Ah, your judgment was excellent.”

Hearing my words, color returned to Damien's face.

“Thanks to you, your army preserved its strength, and we are planning a decisive battle against Krafte.”

“A-a decisive battle…”

Seeing Damien suddenly shrink back again, I let out a smirk.

“We could opt for defensive urban warfare, but our forces are too large for that, and the enemy has many howitzers. The damage to the city would naturally be severe, so it's a heavy burden to decide upon before we've even engaged.”

“A-a very wise statement, Your Excellency, Marquis Lafayette.”

“However, since the so-called ‘Master of Defense’ was routed without a proper fight in the first battle, the morale of the Revolutionary Army is extremely low. So, about that.”

At the name ‘Master of Defense,’ which he would normally boast of, Damien hunched his shoulders, then looked puzzled at my next words and questioned me.

“Pardon?”

“Someone else will explain the next part to you.”

“Y-yes?”

While Damien was bewildered, the other door opened and a person in a familiar white robe entered.

“H-hiiiik, Y-Y-Y-Y-Your Majesty the Queen!”

Damien, more terrified than he had ever been in front of me, prostrated himself on the floor.

Seeing him behave like that when Eris wasn't a particularly authoritarian queen, I wondered if Damien really had a fear of women…

No, to be precise, was he afraid of Christine and Eris?

“Before the battle, I will personally conduct a ceremony to bless Count Milbeau and the Southern Army.”

At Eris's clear voice, Damien replied without even lifting his head.

“A-an honor, an honor it is. The soldiers will be delighted…”

“And I will stand in the vanguard with your army, Count.”

“P-pardon?!”

Damien shot his head up in terror, his face as if the world had ended.

To be honest, I had a similar expression when I first heard it, so for once, I wanted to sympathize with Damien.

Eris walked with light steps to Damien and extended her hand to him.

As Damien, his face almost soulless, took Eris's hand, she naturally pulled him to his feet.

Even though Eris was looking up at him, it created the illusion that Damien was bowing his head from below.

“Just in case, I would like to ask, Your Lordship truly retreated to save the lives of your soldiers and protect Francia, correct?”

“Y-yes, Your Majesty.”

“You swear it to God?”

“I swear it, Your Majesty!”

Eris pushed back the hood of her robe.

A cascade of long, silver hair fell, and Eris, with a mischievous twinkle in her violet eyes, smiled kindly and opened her mouth.

“That’s a relief. If Your Lordship had retreated out of cowardice, I was worried I might have to perform a ‘penance therapy’ again before we set out together.”

Damien started to hiccup, trembling like a leaf.

Penance therapy?

Ah, that… whipping?

“I can trust you and set out with you, right? Your Lordship will gladly stand in the vanguard with me for this country and for victory, won’t you?”

“O-o-of course, Your Majesty! I, Damien De Millbeau, will devote my life and exert all my abilities for Your Majesty the Queen and Francia!”

The voice of Damien De Millbeau, shouting more desperately than ever, was filled not with the will to fight, but rather with a determination for survival.

Hearing Damien's reply, Eris smiled, her violet eyes twinkling, then turned to me and said,

“This should solve the problem with the soldiers’ morale, don’t you think?”

Ah, what a headache.

Right.

Even if the enemy were the Demon King's Army instead of the Krafte Army, no army could abandon the battle and flee while the Saintess Queen was performing miracles on the frontline.

I put my hand to my forehead and replied,

“Yes, Your Majesty. The soldiers’ morale problem will be solved. Instead, there's the minor problem of the National Assembly grabbing me by the scruff of my neck and shaking me.”

At my words, Eris smiled brightly and replied,

“I believe you’ll take care of that somehow, Marquis-nim. Since you’re my supporter.”

…She was always playful, but seeing her change like this, it seems I’ve raised our Saintess wrong.

I glanced at Damien, who looked as if his soul was about to leave his body, let out a deep sigh, and replied,

“There can be no question. As you are the Queen to whom I have sworn my loyalty, I must take responsibility.”

Hearing my reply, Eris’s violet eyes sparkled as she answered energetically,

“Good. Let’s definitely win, us! I don’t want to lose to that Great King, of all people!”

It seems our Queen's morale is the highest in the Revolutionary Army…

What choice do we have when the queen who should be protected above all else insists on holding the vanguard?

The army, the generals, the commander, we’ll all have to hold on with grit and sheer will.