“It’s been a while, Karla-san.” (Elise)

“You too, Elise-san.” (Karla)

Finis.h.i.+ng the meeting with Margrave Breithilde and his retinue, we took the aforementioned Karla-jou with us at once and returned to our field encampment.

She has to be treated politely, but as Margrave Breithilde’s army hasn’t even a single woman with them, it was decided that we would look after her.

Although Margrave Breithilde said that she was the only woman, there were at least maids to take care of her after all.

Once we entered the tent within our field encampment, Elise, who healed the soldiers, came back alongside Wilma who served as her bodyguard.
And they both, being acquaintances, greeted each other.

“You were working as Supreme Commander Representative or such?” (Elise)

“Yes. Father isn’t conscious anymore. It won’t be strange for him to pa.s.s away any time now either.” (Karla)

Margrave Browig was after all in a condition where it wouldn’t be weird for him to die any time.

“Umm… That kind of information is…” (Wendelin)

“It’s meaningless to hide it at this point in time.” (Karla)

Apparently she has talked about it with Margrave Breithilde as well.
She also told him about her two elder brothers staying close to the sickbed of the almost dead Margrave Browig so that neither can steal a march on the other and that she became the Supreme Commander Representative thanks to that. [Owned by Infinite Novel Translations]

“However, this expedition…” (Wendelin)

“Both my elder brothers are involved in it.” (Karla)

When I was wondering whether it was just the eldest son’s, Philips’s, order since he is nothing more than a military man, it looks like the second son, Christoph, was partic.i.p.ating in it as well.

It appears that there’s an old strife for power between civil and military officials existing in the background of this quarrel between brothers.
To begin with, Christoph’s partic.i.p.ation was only natural since there won’t be any budget if the higher-ups in the financial affairs department, who support him, don’t give their permission.

“In other words, this time’s expedition is a compet.i.tion of the two?” (Wendelin)

“At first it was Philip-niisama acting on his own…” (Karla)

The whole matter began with Margrave Browig, whose health deteriorated since around a year ago, finally succ.u.mbing into a comatose state.
While having two sons, he fell into such state without deciding which of the two should become the successor.

“Philip-niisama and the retainers, who support him, are saying 『In the first place, it’s only proper for Philip-sama, who is the eldest son, to succeed the household. There’s no need for something like the lord’s testament』. Christoph-niisama and the retainers, who are backing him, objected with 『Christoph-sama is the child of Hildegard-sama who is the legal wife. If you follow the merit of lineage, it goes without saying that Christoph-sama is the proper successor』…” (Karla)

“Currently the territory is in chaos due to the polar positions of the two and the retainers supporting them”, Karla explained.
Especially after Margrave Browig fell into a comatose state the mansion turned into a stand-off so that either side won’t selfishly fake a testament after his death and send a succession announcement to the kingdom.

“Why didn’t Margrave Browig name a successor?” (Wendelin)

“It’s because he wasn’t able to deny the possibility of a civil war in case he chose either of them.” (Karla)

It was a disturbing story, but as both parties authorities are competing with each other, he expected one side to rebel if he chose the other side.

Since the future looks bleak for those like the young people as well, the discord naturally grew large.

“In addition, they have been excluded from the special procurements of the recent Savage Lands development.” (Karla)

“You are complaining to me about this matter as well, eh?” (Wendelin)

“No. I understand your reasons.” (Karla)

If they consider their frequent hara.s.sment towards Margrave Breithilde, they should know that they are in no position to complain about being excluded.

Therefore, in order to reduce their unhappiness, Philip and the retainers from the military side supporting him carried out the troop dispatch and the rear disturbance in the Knight Baumeister territory. This is the real situation of this time’s battle.

“Distracting from the internal mess with an external war, huh…? So, which side is the lead?” (Wendelin)

“Pretty much it’s Philip-niisama. His support from the military authorities is deep.” (Karla)

Speaking of the feudal army, which consists of people with distinguished military service, supporting Philip, the war should give them an advantage in the succession dispute, that hasn’t been decided with the family head in a coma, while suppressing the eastern n.o.bles by stealing concessions, even if it’s only few, from the southern n.o.bles.
Karla, who has looked after the unconscious Margrave Browig in his sickbed, apparently has heard about such plans from Philip.

“So, did the second son, Christoph, take an opposing stance to the troop dispatch?” (Wendelin)

“On the surface yes, but I can’t say that it’s necessarily like that.” (Karla)

Christoph, who has a strong backing from the retainers responsible for domestic affairs, has officially adopted a stance of being against the war this time as there are no benefits from it.
However, as it’s necessary to grant budget for sending out the feudal army, one can’t say that he is 100% against it either since they had been dispatched without a problem.

“That means, no matter the result it will become his achievement?” (Wendelin)

“Probably…” (Karla)

Since the supply has been carried out properly, he will say 『My achievement of logical support is large』 if they win the war and criticize 『That’s why I opposed it』 if they lose.

In order to be safe no matter on which side the coin drops, he will make insurances both ways.

“By the way, you are talking about it quite frankly, Karla-dono.” (Wendelin)

“Do you believe that I chose to serve as Supreme Commander Representative?” (Karla)

Just until one year ago she lived in the capital together with her mother while receiving only a small allowance from Margrave Browig because he was afraid of his legal wife if she entered the territory.

Even so, once they became free-loaders as they couldn’t go to the territory of Margrave Browig, they were treated as obvious nuisances by her grandfather and uncles.
Since she would only experience bad things if she stayed in that house, she frequented the church every day since her childhood and received education and teaching in archery there. Apparently she hunted in the capital’s outskirts in the remaining time.

“Nevertheless, I was suddenly summoned around one year ago.” (Karla)

It was because Margrave Browig’s health deteriorated and now that he entered his sickbed, he just acc.u.mulated stress due to the legal wife being noisy about nominating her darling second son, born by her, as successor quickly. Even her married elder sisters began to calculate how large the profit will become if they stick to either side and the crucial two successors didn’t leave the sickbed in reverse.

Margrave Browig, who saw that situation, was likely disappointed in his family for not worrying about his own physical condition in the least.
He called his beloved daughter, Karla, thinking that he 『sheltered』 her by having her live in the capital.

“His heart grew weak when he fell ill.” (Ina)

“That might be so…” (Karla)

Maybe it’s like Ina thinks, but Karla entered the Margraviate Browig territory, unable to decline since it was an order of the Margrave who is an important n.o.ble, and looked after him at his side.

“I was showered with sarcasm each time my two married elder sister-in-law-sama’s and my step-mother-sama, who is the legal wife, came.” (Karla)

Even though the one who called her was Margrave Browig, there were apparently many situations where she was verbally abused in a hysteric manner being called 『a female vulture scrounging the decaying flesh』 who came after he got close to death.

“That was terrible.”

“I doesn’t particularly matter to me though.” (Karla)

Judging from the story so far, Karla is likely a woman with a very strong feeling of independence.
She shouldn’t lose to such women if you consider her skill in archery and such, thus she simply ignored the hateful words of the legal wife and her elder step-sisters.

“How strong-willed…”

“That’s because I had barely the status of a n.o.ble until just a year ago.” (Karla)

Even though she was neglected until then, Margrave Browig, whose heart became weak with the sickness, called Karla with the selfish delusion of 『At the last moment I will reconcile with my daughter who was born by my lover in the capital before my death』.
From her point of view, it was likely a feeling that she wanted to finish it quickly, receive some reward and return to the capital.

“However, it didn’t go that conveniently, did it?” (Luise)

“No, it didn’t.” (Karla)

Just as Luise feared, Karla ended up getting dragged into the inheritance dispute of the Margrave Browig household.
The two elder brothers were kind to their far younger sister from a different mother, but that kindness was out of self-interest.

“I guess they told them 『If you support me in becoming the next Margrave Browig, Karla will marry your son』 or such.”

Either of her elder brother should have tried to gather support by saying such stuff to several influential retainers.
Certainly, it wasn’t such an unusual story either.

“If Karla-san became their wife, it would promise the rise of their households under the next feudal lord. Everyone probably partic.i.p.ated in the succession struggle frantically.” (Elise)

The rest is likely as Elise has said. [Owned by Infinite Novel Translations, support the translator]

Accordingly the top-bra.s.s of the feudal army, who made use of Karla as bait, made Philip’s idea of a troop dispatch reality.

“Philip-niisama planned the troop dispatch with the top bra.s.s of the feudal army, but he didn’t place himself as head of the army.” (Karla)

They were watching each other.

“When it was necessary to have someone from the household as Supreme Commander, I was there by chance. That’s how it went.” (Karla)

From Karla’s point of view there were likely parts where she thought that it somehow didn’t matter either way since it couldn’t be helped if she was inaugurated as mere figurehead of the feudal army or if she looked after her father on his sickbed.
Even when she was questioned by Margrave Breithilde and me, she honestly answered everything.

“You had no motivation, huh?” (Wendelin)

“Before that, my niisama’s are irresponsible.” (Karla)

Even though it would have been fine if they at least stood at the head of the army themselves, they forced that upon a young girl at the tender age of 16 because of the danger to be outwitted by their rival.
No matter how much I’m a decorative Supreme Commander, that’s wrong, right? Karla apparently thought.

“They entrusted it to you irresponsibly and the result is a tragedy…”

Even our side had casualties though it was very few. The casualties of Margrave Browig’s side has risen to close to 100 people.

If one considers the effort of managing them, one can’t say anything but 『The one in charge, come out immediately!』

“Since they have done something very absurd by violating the customs…”

Calling in even the reinforcements stationed in the rear, they planned a surprise attack while using real weapons.

Moreover, since it became a real war, it’s wrong to not aim for a complete victory as n.o.ble.

It was a reuse of stuff used by Browig’s army. In addition military officials were dispatched to cities, villages and territories of several n.o.bles in the vicinity to declare the occupation of those areas.

We decided to occupy since the situation is as it is, but it’s possible that we will be criticized by the kingdom’s government if we cause trouble for the residents by going there with the army.

If those injured parties appealed to the Browig household and the kingdom, it would be wrong for the kingdom’s government, which basically doesn’t approve of domestic wars, if they didn’t accuse Margrave Breithilde of having erred.
As there are such circ.u.mstances, Margrave Breithilde controlled his military forces while consulting with the cabinet ministers through the magic hand-held communication device.