Journey to the Capital (5)

"How are the men faring these days? Did they are able to cope up with the transition of becoming a legion?" Constance asks.

The transition of becoming a legionnaire from an ordinary garrison troop in the border is very quick and huge, that the men might have been overwhelmed of the rapid happenings.

"The men are fine commander, they are even happy of the change, they see it as a promotion, they can receive six times the salary than being just a regular soldier."

Sir Baltik proudly exclaims. It is clear to everyone that they're genuinely happy as the soldiers with Sir Baltik are also smiling. All men are happy if their salaries increase, especially if it is like what happened, six times, that is a very huge increase for them who are accustomed to the wages of a regular soldier.

Princess Tessia smiles hearing that the soldiers have been properly compensated for their achievements and effort. It is not easy what these soldiers have done, and the glory they have given to the empire can't be only by money so the promotion into a legion army is just.

"That's good. There could be no better news than the men are fine and happy."

"Thank you, commander."

"By the way Sir Baltik, why did you come here early in the morning?"

"It's because His Imperial Majesty the Emperor ordered me that when you arrive here, you must quickly travel back to the capital, especially Her Imperial Highness. There is something urgent you and Her Imperial Highness need to take care of in the capital."

"Something urgent?... Princess, did you know anything about this?"

Constance looks towards the princess to see if she knows anything what Sir Baltik means.

"None of what I remember Lord Arignon." Princess Tessia replied. "When Sir Baltik told me earlier, even I was confused of what grandfather means."

"If I may speak Your Imperial Highness... commander... it might be of what is happening in the mainland and the capital." Sir Baltik interrupt Constance and Princess Tessia, as the two have really no idea of what the reason is.

"You can speak Sir Baltik." Princess Tessia replied immediately. She is curious why the emperor asks them to come urgently into the capital.

"We heard from the merchants coming from the western kingdoms that the three kingdoms in the west would send a mediating delegation regarding the war in the Nors Peninsula. And they ask commander's presence in the meeting." Sir Baltik said seriously.

"Those western bastards, they really have nothing to do rather than interfere in the empire's affairs." Sir Emile commented, as a Frankian and had served in the Kingdom of Frankias once, he is bitter that the kingdom is still interfering in another state.

Sir Emile is clenching his fist, the one he is now serving is now being dragged by the western kingdoms and the imperial central government in their struggles and conflicts.

"That is troubling for you Lord Arignon." Princess Tessia added. "Why would the west be concern of the happenings of the barbarians in the north, they are even grabbing a lot of lands and colonies overseas."

"The western kingdoms have always feared the empire, every time the empire made a move, they would try their best to undermine and stop it, it is not that different from what they were doing in the past."

Sir Markus knows that this would be an inevitability if they won in the northern campaign. The empire is already a huge power, and any expansion would be a big problem for them.

Constance is silently listening to the conversation, being called by the western kingdom is alarming. The three nations see the Margravate as a threat and rival as they are the only one in the Aquintanian empire who was able to successfully find and establish a colony in the far east.

"Lord Arignon, what do you think?"

"Hmmm..." Constance is still thinking what they should do, but he knows that they can only do one thing in the meantime. "Let us go and meet them in the capital, I can't really avoid as I am the one who lead and command the army in the campaign."

Constance added, "if anything, this might be able to give us an opportunity if we can navigate through it properly."

"You can bring us in the capital commander, the legion is ready to follow your command."

Everyone is shocked by what Sir Baltik has just said. What he had just said is tantamount to a rebellion or treason, and what more is that the princess is present in the conversation.

"Idiot, you want to start a rebellion."

"Ehhh... not the whole legion, just one diovori would be enough to serve as his guard."

"That is still the same, the legions are not allowed to enter the capital, it would only agitate the nobles and factions in the capital."

Sir Markus and Sir Emile scolded Sir Baltik for what he had just said. Even one diovori is already a thousand-armed men and marching into the capital with that would bring more trouble than safety for them.

"Thank you for the offer, Sir Baltik."

Constance is happy inside that the men in the 21st legion is still loyal and willing to serve and help him even if he is not their commander anymore.

"Commander."

"But it is better if only us would go in the capital Sir Baltik... I'm sure that we would not be harm in the capital, so you don't need to worry for our safety there."

"If you say so commander. Just remember if you need help, the legion is just here to answer your call."

"Thank you Sir Baltik."

"Oh, there is another important thing I had to tell everyone here, especially to Your Imperial highness..." Sir Baltik said in serious tone.

"His Imperial Highness Grand Prince William is here in the peninsula, there are rumors that instead the eighth and fourteenth legion under His Imperial Highness Grand Prince Alexander, he is only leading the eighth while the fourteenth would go to His Imperial Highness Grand Prince William."

"What!"

Everyone is shocked by the bombshell that Sir Baltik had just said, especially Princess Tessia whose face becomes pale.

'It seems something happened in the capital for this to happen.'

Constance senses that the struggle in the capital becomes more intense than before.

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