Prince Robert’s words were almost prophetic. As he had predicted, Sir Enceladus and Sir Dione, Saturn’s envoys, spent an enjoyable time with Prince Frederick. Both parties concealed their true intentions perfectly, presenting themselves as less competent than they truly were.

Sir Dione, with a cheerful expression, remarked,

“It’s surprising how different the personalities of the two princes are.”

Prince Frederick, wearing a displeased look, responded,

“Of course, we are. We have different mothers… You must not have heard. Robert is illegitimate. He wasn’t born of a proper marriage. Our bloodlines differ, and that determines everything. Don’t you agree?”

Sir Dione nodded in agreement.

“Indeed. From birth, we are endowed by the divine with different qualities. Compared to Saturn, Uranus appears too indulgent. I can’t fathom how even bourgeois folks are allowed to frequent the royal palace so freely. At this rate, the bourgeoisie might soon meddle in politics.”

Prince Frederick chimed in,

“Exactly my point. Robert may think he can gloss over his lineage with the support of the bourgeoisie, but that defies order. It’s bound to fail. When I become emperor, I won’t let bourgeois riffraff come and go from the palace.”

Sir Enceladus watched silently as the two conversed. Sir Dione, with a tone of subtle coaxing, led Prince Frederick into candidly revealing his inner thoughts without reservation.

As anticipated, Prince Frederick had a sociable and friendly disposition, unlike Prince Robert. Even with Sir Dione, who had been viewed with suspicion in the capital, he engaged in a congenial dialogue.

Sir Dione, adopting a regretful tone, commented,

“I didn’t stay long in the capital, but from what I’ve heard, most people seem to side with Prince Robert.”

Prince Frederick, his face darkening, said,

“Yes, it’s utterly absurd.”

Sir Dione then offered,

“Could we possibly extend some assistance?”

Prince Frederick sighed and replied,

“That won’t be possible. There are already factions suspecting me of colluding with Saturn because of the Umbriel raid. If I were to accept help, it would confirm their suspicions. They’d label me a traitor, claiming I’m inviting the enemy nation to aid me in my quest for the throne. Just thinking about the backlash is frightening.”

At the sudden chill in Prince Frederick’s gaze, Sir Dione faltered and exchanged glances with Sir Enceladus.

What’s with this sudden shift after playing the fool all along?

Noticing their exchanged looks, Prince Frederick pretended not to see.

Why are there so many who treat me like an idiot? Too many to count who will regret it.

Sir Enceladus smiled and remarked,

“Yet you still decided to accompany us?”

“Yes. At times when suspicion is at its peak, doing something—anything—helps dispel doubt. Let’s hope we cross the Titania mountain range without incident,” Frederick said, glancing around the carriage.

“This is my first time in the north. The capital is nearing spring, but it’s quite chilly here. Saturn must be much colder than Uranus. Is that why you keep coming south of Titania? No matter how foolish I may be, I wouldn’t stoop to seeking Saturn’s help. I trust you’ll take it as mere banter from your side.”

Sir Enceladus remarked,

“Uranus has indeed offered a wealth of fascinating experiences.”

“Is that so? I hope Uranus surpasses your expectations,” Frederick said with a smirk.

As Sir Enceladus observed, he began to suspect they had underestimated Uranus. The ease with which Oberon and Cressida had succumbed to their persuasion now seemed suspiciously unnatural.

The situation in Uranus, as observed firsthand, was far better than the reports had suggested. The capital was bustling, and the mingling of social classes had increased, with nobles begrudgingly accepting the rise of the bourgeoisie.

Sir Enceladus gritted his teeth.

Did they deliberately distort the information to incite war? I’ve been deceived again. Curse you, Methone.

The Uranus emperor, though appearing inactive, had maintained firm control over nobles, bourgeoisie, and even the princes. The fervent competition between the two princes to prove their capabilities was a stark contrast to Saturn’s younger king during his days as a prince.

Everything had been too easy. The queen mother of Saturn left no rivals standing.

Even the Cressida and the empress, initially presumed to resort to ruthless tactics, seemed more cautious, mindful of public opinion than expected.

Even Prince Frederick, deemed less capable than Prince Robert, displayed a clear awareness of his role as a prince of Uranus.

Sir Enceladus grew increasingly anxious. His prior assumptions about Uranus, based on intelligence reports, were proving inaccurate.

Methone, Saturn’s priest, had confidently assured the king that Uranus was in disarray due to a collapsing social order and that further chaos would make victory in war straightforward.

Now deep in thought, Sir Enceladus gazed out of the window as the terrain grew mountainous, signaling their approach to the Titania mountain range.

Sir Dione turned to Prince Frederick and said…

“So, this must be your first visit to Ariel. Have you heard the news about the salt mine there? Even though Ariel broke off her engagement with Prince Robert, she’s fortunate to have found a new livelihood.”

“Oh! The salt mine. I hear it’s just been developed, so there hasn’t been much progress in the estate’s development yet. However, they’ve received an enormous budget in the past. They claim they’re forming a knight order, but I’ve heard it’s still far from complete. Sir Enceladus of the Titan Knight probably wouldn’t even consider it a proper knight order.”

Sir Enceladus replied modestly

“Well… I’ve heard the knight order is still in its infancy. Even Sir Gareth said it was premature.”

Prince Frederick spoke with an awkward expression.

“So, you’ve met Sir Gareth? I haven’t had the chance to meet him yet. Considering I broke off my engagement with Lady Gareth, I wonder if Sir Gareth might harbor some resentment towards me. Honestly, I’m starting to feel a little apprehensive.”

Sir Dione exaggerated his surprise as he responded.

“Are you afraid of Sir Gareth?”

Prince Frederick chuckled awkwardly.

“Afraid might not be the right word. It’s more… how should I put it? Hmm… Gareth and I just don’t get along. Our personalities clash.”

“I see…”

Sir Enceladus and Sir Dione exchanged a knowing glance. They had discovered something useful.

It was clear that despite Ariel’s broken engagement with Prince Robert, they were still cooperating as neighbors on the border. Moreover, the appearance of Prince Frederick, who found Sir Gareth difficult to deal with, was a significant development.

‘If Sir Gareth, Prince Frederick, and the Marquis of Ariel are all together in Ariel…’

If Prince Frederick were to suddenly die—or even face a threat—what would happen? Cressida would seize the opportunity without hesitation.

Sir Enceladus smiled.

‘I’ll stir up a storm and cross the Titania Mountains.’

Prince Frederick pretended not to notice the exchange of glances between the two. He thought to himself,

‘Why are they so blatantly obvious about their intentions right in front of me? Do they think I’m that easy to fool? Maybe Isabelle was right—there are far too many people underestimating me.’

***

At the same time, in Ariel, Sir Gareth and Sophia were in the middle of a tense discussion.

“So, you’re saying you won’t do it?” Sophia asked.

Sir Gareth scoffed.

“They won’t fall for it. Do you think they’re fools?”

“The plan is designed with the expectation that they won’t fall for it. The whole point is to exploit the fact that Ariel had to resort to such a desperate strategy.”

“Even so, they won’t be deceived. With me here, there’s no need to resort to such trickery.”

“If there’s even a teaspoon’s worth of a chance to tip the scales in our favor, Ariel will take it. We’ll do whatever it takes to minimize the damage to Ariel.”

“The goal is a decisive victory, isn’t it?”

“Of course, but I’m talking about minimizing casualties. Ariel doesn’t have a large population. Every single life is precious. Surely, the lives of your subordinates are just as important. Think about it—if this ‘desperate strategy’ could save even one of your men, wouldn’t it be worth trying?”

Sir Gareth fell silent at her words. After staring at the Titania Mountains for a long time, he finally spoke.

“Alright, Lady Sophia. I’ll go along with your plan. If it saves lives, even with this wretched method, I’ll do it.”

“Thank you, Sir Gareth. It’s not that I don’t trust you. It’s just that war is irreversible, and we must try everything we can.”

Sir Gareth agreed with her reasoning. As Sophia returned to the castle, he thought to himself,

‘Not bad at all. Really. For someone who’s never been in a war, she’s remarkably thorough.’

***

Sophia returned to the encampment and reported to the Marquis of Ariel

“Sir Gareth agreed, though he did call it a wretched plan.”

Jack smirked.

“It’s not exactly a brilliant strategy, is it?”

Sophia agreed.

“It’s not brilliant, but war isn’t glamorous. It’s only glamorous in books.”

The Marquis of Ariel understood Jack’s sentiment but shared Sophia’s perspective. If this method could save even one life, it was worth it.

Preparations for the operation began. Sophia also added an extra layer of training to the planned operations, focusing on evacuation drills and rear-guard exercises.

Sophia suggested,

“Wouldn’t it seem more desperate if the elderly, women, and children were included in the mix?”

Even those not participating in the war were mobilized to assist in the evacuation efforts.

***

The entire estate was tense with the looming prospect of war. The residents participated actively in the training, knowing the stakes were high.

With the Marquis’s leadership, the estate and its people were beginning to thrive after enduring harsh conditions for so long. Their land was too valuable to abandon now.

Sophia addressed the estate’s residents during their training.

“If this matter is resolved well, better days will surely come.”

They believed Sophia’s words because the Ariel family had never deceived them before.

Even as the training progressed, Sir Gareth and Sophia frequently clashed over strategic issues.

The Marquis of Ariel and Alex focused primarily on combat training and reconnaissance in the mountains, while Sophia was responsible for organizing evacuation plans and defenses for the rear.

It was crucial for the estate’s residents to see the Ariel family standing alongside them—both on the frontlines and in the rear.

The people of Ariel took this as a matter of course. Sir Gareth admired this spirit of Ariel but disliked interference in his duties.

In particular, Sophia constantly challenged Sir Gareth.

She had her reasons.

“If conflicts arise between Father, Alex, and Sir Gareth, it could escalate into an issue between the Ariel and Gareth families. A feud between families must be avoided. It’s much cleaner to keep it as a personal dispute.”

Perhaps because Sophia was a woman, Sir Gareth had always yielded a step, dismissing any tensions as a matter of Sophia’s personality rather than an issue between the families.

Sophia actively used this preconception to her advantage. Whenever she had something to discuss with Sir Gareth, she took the lead in negotiations herself.

Eventually, Sir Gareth began to respond with sharp critiques directed at Sophia.