The governess stepped inside, dressed in a lacy white gown, her bare legs catching the lantern light.
"My prince," she spoke flirtatiously, her eyes catching Aldren's. "I had not the time to asketh you earlier amidst the banquet," her voice rose to a stoic ceremonial sound, "Hath the emperor yet awakened?"
He lowered his gaze back to the map. "No, my father is still bedridden."
With a worried look, she approached the table, placing her hand over the map. "I see. Then have you been sent by the various ministers of state affairs, or had it been your personal will to come and save this Gate of yours?"
"Right, the state minister urged me to liberate the north, but also—" He paused. "I did not wish for Jouragend to fall."
"Liberate? Forgive me, Erion—" She sternly looked at him. "Aldren, Prince Aldren, forgive me, but you have barely mustered ten thousand troops, or am I mistaken? Are there any reinforcements on the way?"
He sighed, sliding his hand around the map. "You are correct, Governess Julienne. I have brought fifteen thousand with me, most of whom are cavalry units." He glanced at a gray-haired man and a bearded individual at his side, his lieutenant, Sir Luthar. "When will Xeon's army arrive, Luthar?"
He grasped the hilt of his sword. "Couriers arrived just earlier. Xeon's army is currently at Castle Burghease, about seventy jules south from us. They should arrive in three to four days."
"Xeon?" Julienne asked. "Whose army is it?"
He turned back to her. "Mine. Ser Xeon is one of my recently appointed generals. He is moving the rest of my army—mostly archers and footmen—towards us. As I was in haste, the elite foot units and most of the cavalry followed after."
Her eyes lit up. "I see! So there are reinforcements after all! Liberating the north with anything less than eighty or so thousand would be close to impossible."
"Ten thousand. Ten thousand, Governess."
"Pardon?"
"The number Xeon is commanding: eight thousand levies, about five hundred personal cavalry guards, and the rest are trained archers—"
He was abruptly stopped by Julienne. "Healers? Offensive and defensive mages? Destructive?"
He shook his head.
"Wh-What about you then? Did you bring any mages in the main army?"
He shook his head again.
One of the officers spoke up as Julienne leaned against the table, holding her head. "Not only do we not have any healers, mages, or any sort of forces capable of taking castles, but this rain will also heavily hinder us with our usually superior mounts. Your Royal Highness, once more I urge you to send an emergency letter of help."
He glanced at him. "You have already said so earlier, but pray tell me, Glosienne, which in his right mind would send troops to an already failed entourage against barbarians?"
"I urge you to send a letter of urgency…" His voice slightly shook as it grew louder. "To your elder brother, His Royal Majesty Granbell Vermillion!!"
Every officer straightened at once. Aldren's fist struck the table, making it tremble.
"What did you just say?" His red eyes burned under the lantern light.
"The crown prince?" Julienne whispered.
Aldren snapped. "NO. He is not the crown prince."
The room went still. Rain hammered the roof.
"Do not call him that in my presence," he said, voice low and dangerous.
He stared straight at Glosienne. "Now—repeat it. Who?"
Luthar raised a hand, trying to intervene, but Glosienne did not back down.
"The crown prince.
Heir of Vermillion.
Your elder brother—Granbell Vel Vermillion."
He scoffed a bit. "Not that it matters if you do not," Aldren watched him with intent, unsure what his lieutenant meant. "For I already sent a courier to His Majesty concerning the issue at our hands hours ago. By tomorrow morning, he should be departing."
He did not hesitate. Aldren vaulted over the table in one fluid, furious motion. Julienne gasped, stumbled back, and fell against her maid, who caught her before she hit the floor. His blade flashed out, its edge pressing against Glosienne's throat before anyone could react.
"HOW DARE YOU!? IS THIS TREASON I'M HEARING?!"
His retinue of officers bowed quickly. "Have mercy, Your Royal Highness!!" Luthar pressed his fists together, bowing deeply. "Have mercy, my liege, for we are already short on men! Not to speak of the troubles it would stir with the nobles—I beg of you to take back your sword!"
Glosienne met Aldren's gaze without a shred of fear. "They call your brother the tyrant prince," he said coldly, "but perhaps the genes between the two of you are not so distant after all… my 'Royal Highness.'"
He smirked, leaning his throat closer to the blade.
Julienne's hands trembled as she pressed them to her mouth; she fell backward slightly again, catching herself against her maid, eyes wide. The other officers stiffened; some looked away, others swore under their breath, trembling, unsure whether to intervene or kneel.
Glosienne continued, voice dripping with mockery. "Do you think killing me will help you? Ignoring the truth will not get you the throne, my L—"
A flash of lightning illuminated Aldren's face, casting sharp shadows across his jaw as his eyes burned with rage
"C—C—"
Blood sprayed across his already crimson red collar as the blade opened Glosienne's waist.
He staggered backward, clutching the wound with both hands, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Y-You… actuall—"
His legs gave out. He collapsed onto the wet floorboards, blood pooling beneath him as the room fell into horrified silence.
Aldren's blade recoiled, and his eyes widened as a horrifying realization struck him. The officer who had angered him was slumped on the floor before him, blood gushing from a crimson wound across his abdomen.
Julienne let out a sharp gasp, stumbling back as her hands went to her mouth. "My—my prince…" she whispered, voice trembling, unable to look away. "You've changed.."
Aldren dropped his sword for the briefest moment, horror flashing across his features, before rage and control wrestled it back under his command. He had not intended this.
"Sending word to my brother… Not only is it humiliating but dangerous… Heavens have mercy, why do I have such undisciplined officers and commanders!? Do you not understand what will happen if our army gets crushed between the barbarians and… Him?!"
The room froze. Some officers recoiled, others fell to their knees, trembling, as the reality of what had just occurred settled like a heavy stone.
He sighed, looking down at his injured officer sparsely breathing "... Luthar, send him to the physicians…"
Julienne pressed her hand against her maid's arm for support to stand up.
Luthar helped him stand up, blood spilling down his body then he handed him over to the two nearest officers "To the physicians tent."
"Yes sire.."
Aldren meanwhile was already leaving the strategy room.
"Ser, what about the strategy? We haven't deci-" Aldren stopped him
"We will assess the terrain and decide strategy at first light. For now, get rest—there is nothing more to be done until then… And if my brother is truly on his way, then perhaps no strategy can save us anymore."
"B-"
With that the two of them, followed by Julienne and her maid left.