The Main Family Is About to Die Out, so I, from a Branch Family, Am a Seed Provider (WN): Chapter 29

 

Episode 29: During the Expedition to the Imperial Capital

 Jubelia Castle, Imperial Territory.

 It is the most important castle among the seven castles that the empire built along its borders.

 It is one of the few castles with mountainous terrain on its back from the relatively flat lands of the Imperial Domain, and the small mountain ranges to the north and south of the mountain range make it a natural strategic location.

 The castle is surrounded by a double-enclosed wall, and the only entrance to the fortress is by a moat filled by the nearby Lucok River, which flows through the fortress.

 A famous general from the Principality's army who attacked this castle once said, "It is easy to defend, but attacking it is difficult," before leaving the castle.

 At the top of the majestic white castle at the center of the fortress, which seemed to pierce through the heavens, the kingdom banner fluttered in the evening sky as the wind blew.

"Your Highness Lim, first of all, I congratulate you."

"Yes."

 Awe-stricken voices echoed in the hall where the scars of war still remain.

 It has already been two weeks since the start of the invasion to the Empire, which was titled the Imperial Expedition.

 We, the Kingdom Army, kicked out the Imperial soldiers who were on the frontlines in the initial battle, and then brought down Jubelia Castle, which was our first target.

 We had expected it to take a month to reach this point, but the kingdom Army, with no enemies in sight and a string of victories, was reaching this point at breakneck speed.

 ......Well, most of the enemies had fled without a fight because of the overwhelming number of 75,000. I guess they are fast, but I am worried about their lack of resistance, even though they are our enemies.

 The only resistance that was seen was from a guy from the Empire who was holed up in the fortress at the beginning, stalling for time, and the commander was a blond-haired, handsome guy about my age, judging from his decapitated head.

 I have only one complaint to make about such a fragile empire, and that is that there is so little resistance and the speed of our invasion is so fast that our supply forces cannot keep up with it.

 I really wish they would stop saying, "Brought us food, weapons, ammunition, etc." when we go to a fort or town that has been reported to be occupied, only to find that the main force is already stationed in the next occupied area.

 We finally caught up with them at Jubelia Castle, a former imperial territory.

"(Armes.)"

"(Yes.)"

 While General Vuerg Be'mond, one of the Kingdom's five great nobles and the actual commander of the mission, was giving his compliments. While I, who was at the end of the table, secretly called Armes, who was standing by my side.

"(Return to Gruve City first. Maybe this castle will be the main camp. Send as many supplies as you can from Gruve City before the 70,000 troops settle down.)"

"(Yes!)"

 After giving Armes instruction, I responded with a smile to the corrective gaze of disrespect directed at me by Viscount Bibluz, who was next to me. By the way, he is a rootless nobleman, and his faction is the Be'mond family, the commander (according to the young lady).

 To be honest, if I could just relax on the frontlines, I'd be happy to listen to the five noble generals, but as the person in charge of the supply lines of a large army, I really want to get back to work as soon as possible.

".........Again, this time, the fall of the castle is due to the authority of His Majesty the King and His Highness the Prince."

"That's enough."

 Prince Lim, the general, sitting on the throne, held out his right hand to control them, and then he straightened his posture and looked around at the nobles spread out on either side of him, standing erect and immobile.

 Seeing that behavior, the nobles present, including myself, adjusted our appearance and waited for Prince Lim's words, which were quite different from what I was expecting.

"I'll tell you what. I can't get over how bloody this place is."

"Yes?" 

 I couldn't help but let out a questioning voice, but fortunately, Prince Lim apparently didn't hear me. The person next to me stared at me again, though.

 In the midst of all this, Prince Lim turned to the knight who was standing by his side.

"I'll rest while the castle is being taken care of. Guide me to the main camp outside."

 With these words, he stood up from the throne, swayed his blue cloak, and gallantly left the place where the scars of the battle still remained.

"...It smells like iron rust, if you ask me."

 The old hall became quiet after the prince's abrupt departure. Amidst all this, a voice from somewhere called out to the crowd, and similar voices could be heard here and there.

"Then, shall we do the same?"

 In the midst of the buzzing atmosphere, the head of the Fregrance family, who was positioned near the top of the table, muttered in a dignified voice.......

 The nobles who had gathered were told to disperse by the house of Fregrance and the house of Be'mond, and each of them left the hall with a knight at their side.

 I guess I should be happy that I have more time to spare, but that prince may have grown up sheltered more than I thought...... I'm sure we can't blame him since he is a decorated general, but even so, he is a bit unreliable for a man who will eventually become the head of the country. Well, he is a bit eccentric and unreliable to begin with.

 I think I'm forgetting something due to the continuous victories, but this is still an enemy territory, so it would be better to be inside the castle than outside. It's a place where a battle was fought a while ago, so it's only natural to smell blood, but he didn't like it, so he left the room.

"What are you doing."

"Eh?"

 I was lost in thought, staring at Prince Lim after he left, when the head of the Fregrance family approached me.

"Go back to Viscount Fabian as soon as possible. It would be unbecoming for the commander of a unit to be so carefree in a place like this."

"Y-yes."

 So says the head of the family, clad in gaudily decorated armor. Perhaps it was my imagination, but he looked somewhat irritated.

"And you didn't need to come out to the frontlines. Just leave the transportation to those below you."

"No, that's impossible."

"What?"

 When I immediately responded to his order, he glared at me. No, I'm scared, so please don't look at me with such an angry face.

 There is a reason why I said it was impossible in the first place. To be honest, if I had been assigned to the supply force, I would not have wanted to be on the frontlines, but that is not the case for a lowly noble from a branch of a branch family.

"I came here because I was ordered to take the place of Viscount Fabian, who was in charge of the supply force. Perhaps it will be the same in the future."

 That rootless noble, I guess he's really bothered that he wasn't assigned to the frontlines in this war, because he's been pushing me to take on all the troublesome roles related to supply.

 Moreover, the last time the head of the main family criticize me due to the troubles I caused, he was very angry as he tried to bring me, the stallion, pinned to the wall, saying that it was against the family's interests.

 Therefore, I am a part of the central noble, not the Fregrance family, and no matter how much the head of the Fregrance family thinks of me and tells me not to come to the frontlines, Viscount Fabian would order me to go with a nonchalant look on his face.

 In short, I have to listen to the orders of that rootless nobleman who is not my direct superior, and I have to come to the frontlines even if I don't want to come.

"...Tch, that rootless noble."

 The head of the family clicked his tongue briefly, ridiculing and belittling him. Well, I understand the temptation to speak ill of him. However, it was the master himself who decided to bring him on his own faction, and I hope he will reflect on that.

 It is always those of us on the bottom who suffer.

"Well, that's all right. More importantly, how's Ritia-ta... cough*, I'm sorry. Is Riitia doing well?"

 Hey, you were just about to call her "Ritia-tan," you stupid parent. Are you sorry for what you did?

 I nodded my head in silence because I couldn't say such a thing in a public place, and if I did, I would be slashed immediately.

"When I say she's fine, I mean she's fine."

 At my vague reply, the head of the family gave me a suspicious look.

"However, she had a slight fever, so if it got worse..."

"...I'll be counting on you."

 I was about to say, "Why don't you send her back", when the head of the family said it with a face as if he was biting a bitter bug.

 Although the young lady's health itself has not been bad over the past few days, I have a feeling that she is approaching her limit.

 When she tried to sleep with me the other night and got a no from me due to the redness of her face that looked like she still had a fever even though it had been quite a while, she was in perfect health except for that. Yesterday, though, she looked slightly pale.

 The only saving grace is that her appetite hasn't waned that much.

 Well, I wonder how long she could keep that up. Glass, her maid, is still having a hard time because of the girl's day, so I might as well take this opportunity to force them both to go home.　

 And this morning, Elfie decided that it would be a good idea to bring them both home. It's no wonder she is the pride of our family, a knight who has fought in many battles. I am simply amazed at her keen eyesight.

 ......And I haven't told anyone about this yet, but Lady Ritia has been very sweet to me lately.

 There were glimpses of that when we had sex in Royal Capital, but this time she's showing it openly.

"I'll endure not to have sex. But if we just sleep together, can I stay next to you?"

 The night before yesterday. I slept with the young lady who said that, and she was so sweet and sticky under the covers, hugging me tightly.

"Bring her to a doctor before you go back."

"Yes, I will."

 The doctor is scheduled to come this evening without being told. The young lady didn't like it though, saying "I told you I'm fine".

 I was about to go back, but the head of the main family, as if remembering it.

"And you, stay with me for a while."

"Eh?"