Chapter 350: Loyalty

It was lucky of you that I arrived here before Gordon huh.

Said William to Henrick who is currently hanging his head in front of him.

Following Henricks retreat, Gordon who had been restraining General Harnischs army was on his way back to Wismar.

If nothing is done, he will eventually get caught between Leo and Harnisch.

Henricks defeat was an event that affected their whole war situation.

Soon, Gordon will arrive in Wismar.

Henrick who was brought back to Wismar like a criminal was waiting for his arrival but the moment Gordon arrived, it would be his end.

However, Henrick still looked at William as if he was trying to snarl at him.

Seeing such Henrick, William sighed.

William was working on the supply transportation in the Dominion.

Two Chivalrous Thieves are rampaging in the Dominions territory.

The first one is an archer named Vermillion, the Chivalrous Thief that has long been battling against the corrupted aristocrats of the Dominion. Due to the presence of this thief, the nobles of the Dominion can not move as they pleased.

However, that alone did not hinder their supply transportation.

There is another thief who actively targeting their supply convoy.

What is more troublesome is that this new thief has not even shown his figure.

What they could grasp was that he is an expert archer who can wipe out their whole convoy without even the need to show up at the scene.

Due to the success of this unnamed archer, the nobles of the Dominion became reluctant in matters involving military supplies. As a result, the United Kingdom is having a hard time delivering supply through the Dominion.

William has threatened those nobles in an easy-to-understand way and promised them that he will take care of the thieves in exchange for their facilitation of the supply transport.

That was what William had to do eventually but he knew that if he left the frontline, Leo would be freed to move as he pleased. Thats why he didnt do it sooner.

And it was proved that his fear was not unfounded.

Hearing of Henricks defeat, William rushed back to Wismar.

Thanks to that, he arrived a little earlier than Gordon and he can now talk to Henrick before Gordon arrives.

..Dont you have anything to say to me? Prince Henrick.

For disrespecting you. I am trulysorry.

I dont care about the disrespect. What I want to hear is what you have learned from your defeat.

..Ididnt want you to have all the creditit was my mistake.

Thats not a mistake. I am a person from another country. As a member of the Imperial Family who sided with Gordon, it is not a mistake to try to eliminate me. That was an option. But you did not have something that was absolutely needed to pull it off. Do you know what that is?

is it experience..

Henrick timidly murmured.

In response, William shook his head.

You lack the objective eyes to look at yourself. If you can look at yourself objectively, you will be able to look at others in the same way. If you can see others objectively then you can objectively assess the situation. Your choice to alienate me was a mistake. No, the choice to alienate me itself was not a mistake but it was the situation you chose to do it in. You saw Leonards attack coming but you chose to send me away because you were being overconfident. You are not as excellent as you would like to think.

I, I never!

The fact that you still cant accept your defeat now is the proof. A good general can learn from their failure and defeat.

Henrick couldnt honestly accept those words because he is well aware of it in his heart.

Henrick sent William away because his pride did not allow him to lose to Leo. To top it off, he was not cautious against Leo because his pride told him that he is superior.

William understands that the underlying problem here was Henricks high self-esteem.

II!

When a commander ran away, it meant that he had abandoned his soldiers. As long as soldiers are punished for deserting, the commander will also have to be punished.

No wayplease help me!

How about you start by presenting me some benefits of helping you then?

I, Ima member of the Imperial Family! From the United Kingdoms point of view, I should be easy to use!

You are aware that you are the one responsible for this huge defeat right? I dont feel like its worth the trouble to help you here just because you seem easy to use.

No..I..I..

You have no track record. You have no power. No experience, no skill. The only thing you can be proud of is your blood. The fact that it was the only thing you brought up when you were cornered so far proved my point.

When William struck the reality in front of him, Henricks shoulders drooped down.

He desperately tries to come up with an argument but he couldnt think of any.

Then he finally realized.

It is as William said.

I.am not worthy of the Imperial Family..

The Adler is excellent. You carry their blood but you do not have the readiness to learn. Those who cannot grasp their own strength will never be strong.

Henrick is not incompetent enough to not be worthy of his bloodline.

However, the person he chose to compare himself to was just too bad a match.

Unnecessary overreaching can only be harmful.

Each person has things they are good at.

As long as a person understands that, they can stand up again.

I will save your life. Stay by my side and learn. If you value the lives of the soldiers who died because of you then do not waste this mistake.

You are..going to help me

I do not want my best friend to end his younger brothers life with his own hand. Besides..do you think you can trust a general who can cut down his own younger brother?

After telling Henrick to leave everything to him, William left the room.

Shortly after, Gordon arrived at Wismar

His destination is the room where Henrick is.

A sword was held in his hand.

HENRICK!! DO YOU HAVE A LAST WORD!!

Gordon, who kicked the door and entered the room, roared at Henrick.

In response, Henrick rubbed his forehead on the floor and apologized.

I am sorryeverythingwas my fault.

Exactly! Give me your head! I will cut it off and show it to the whole army!

Gordon said and lifted his sword up.

However, William grabbed his arm.

Stop, Gordon.

Why are you stopping me!?

If you cut him down now the generals will be wary of you. Dont do it.

The whole headquarters fled without giving any command to the army you know!? If I dont punish the generals who ran away with him, how can I face the soldiers they abandoned on the frontline! It will only set a bad example!

Prince Henrick is only a commander in name! There were generals who poisoned his ears! I am the original commander of that front! It was those generals that sent me away to secure their own achievements! If you kill Prince Henrick here, you will have to kill all of them too right!?

Then I will just cut them all down! I dont need fools who cant even read the situation!

Is this the time where you can say that!? You have a decisive battle with Leonard waiting for you right!? Right now you should forgive them and give them a chance to make up for their mistake!

Why are you going so far for Henrick? Did your country order you to protect him!?

Gordon has no doubt in his friendship with William.

However, he does not fully trust the United Kingdom which is Williams home country.

He already expected them to try using Henrick to take his place.

However.

If anyone tries to usurp you then I will kill my father! I came here for you! Do not mistake it! I am protecting Prince Henrick to protect you and your army!

William and Gordons eyes intensely locked and they glared at each other for a while.

The tense atmosphere dominated the room and the soldiers standing nearby couldnt move.

At that moment that felt like an eternity, Henrick continued to rub his head against the floor.

He knows that if Gordon swings his sword down, his head will part from his body. However, Henrick had no choice but to leave everything to William.

Then.

..do you not feel bitter at all?

You think I value my bitterness more than your victory?

..fine. I will do it your way. I will spare Henrick.

Saying so, Gordon lowered his hand.

However, their problem still remains.

Im fine with giving them a second chance but are you going to let those generals off the hook?

Punishment is still necessary. I want to have the Horsvath house take the blame but..is that fine with you? Duke.

William asks Rolf who was standing outside the room.

To that question, Rolf reverently bowed his head.

Please do, our humble house is at Your Highnesss command.

Apparently, it was your eldest son, Gied who advised Henrick to withdraw. No matter what kind of punishment awaits him, you have no objection, right? Of course, you will not be able to remain in your current position either.

It was my sons blunder. Naturally, I accept all responsibilities.

Hearing Rolf, William frowns.

William didnt like Rolf in the first place since he can not fathom his real intention.

Even though his son is at risk here, he doesnt even protest.

He can not take a liking to such a person at all.

Everyone, leave. I want to talk with Gordon alone.

William dismissed everyone including Henrick and Rolf.

He then speaks to Gordon.

Did you see how he was?

He didnt even look like he was enduring it.

His face was saying that he was willing to see his son get executed. At worst, he might use that as a reason for betraying us.

Then what do you have in mind? If we do not kill Henrick then, killing Gied here is the second-best option.

Not necessary. You dont need to use only his head to boost morale after all.

Saying so, William quietly touched his sword.

Gordon gathered up the army stationed in Wismar.

He then stood on a podium and began giving a speech to his entire army.

As youve heard, our army failed to restrain Leonard. In other words, we were defeated!

Gordon who never admits defeat is telling his men that theyve lost a battle.

The soldiers started making some noises at that but Gordon continued without minding them.

I know the cause of our defeat! It was due to my younger brother, Henrick! Despite being the commander, he chose to listen to cowardly advice! Thats why I came here intending to kill him! It is only natural! If I think about the soldiers who lost their lives, even if he is my family, his sin is unforgivable!

However, Gordon continues.

Something wrapped in cloth was held in his hand.

Removing the cloth, Gordon raised the object up for everyone to see.

It was an arm.

When I was about to cut Henricks head,! Gied von Horsvath, his aide, cut off his own arm! He said that he wanted me to delay the punishment! He begged me to give Henrick a second chance! A son of a noble offered me his arm in exchange for Henricks life! I know that this arm is not nearly enough to compensate for Henricks defeat! However! I decided to give Henrick a second chance! Why!? It was because of the loyalty Gied has shown!! I too shall swear! To all of you here! I will put on a fight that is worthy of Gieds loyalty! We will win this war without fail!! No longer shall we suffer a defeat again!!

In response to Gordons words, the entire army cheers.

They all cheer the name of Gied.

However, the truth is often disappointing.

To make my brother out to be the prime example of a loyal subject and raise the morale of the whole armyshould I say that it is as expected of His Highness?

A mansion in Wismar.

Inside a room in that mansion.

There, Reiner speaks to William.

Gied was sleeping on the bed in that room.

Doctors and maids are attending to him.

Since he got his arm lopped off earlier and was bleeding profusely, his life is still slightly in danger.

The reason for that was Gied crying and thrashing around so much that the doctor couldnt treat him immediately.

Gied, of course, did not agree to Williams proposal. After all, Gied is not someone that could willingly offer his arm for someone else.

However, William cut off Gieds arm without any hesitation.

For William, Gieds will is of no concern.

Every soldier at Henricks headquarters is now incorporated into Williams force and they will not spread unnecessary rumors about what happened.

For their own sake, the generals who know the truth of what happened would desperately do their best in the next battle. After all, the purpose of this was not to raise morale alone. It was also a warning.

Even when your brothers life is in danger, you are still quite carefree huh?

He is a failure of a brother after all. I dont mind even if he dies you know. I was raised by my father but he was spoiled by my mother all his life. I thought that he would eventually commit a blunder someday. My father seemed to expect a little from him though.

I see. So thats why I can never read both you or your father huh?

William said so as he glared at Reiner.

He couldnt think that Rolf would expect something from Gied at all.

And from both of their reactions, William arrived at one conclusion.

You expected Gied to fail right? But Duke Horsvath is still an important figure in Gordons faction. You knew that we wouldnt take his life. Thats why you are so carefree about this.

Duke Horsvath is the leader of the nobles of Gordons faction.

Many nobles have joined Gordons faction because of him.

Unlike Henrick, He is someone that Gordon can not simply cut off.

And after he had made Gied into the symbol of a loyal subject, he can not demote Rolf into an idle position either.

An untrustworthy subordinate that can not be removed.

Because they knew that, the Horsvath house has no need to panic.

If that is truly the case..what will you do about it?

If you betray usI will kill you.

William pulled out his sword at a speed that Reiners eyes couldnt follow and put it at Reiners neck.

Even if its Reiner, his face still cramped up and cold sweat started running down his back.

Satisfied with that expression, William sheathed his sword and walked past Reiner.

In our battle against Leonard, I will leave the vanguard to the Horsvath house. So do your best. No one would object when the Horsvath house is so loyal after all.

Im honored.

If they might betray then just use everything they have to offer first.

Understanding Williams intention, Reiner glared at Williams back as he left.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep