Chapter 62: Townsperson A Receives Word of War

After falling for the decoy and losing track of Ana, I made my way back to the Royal Capital, dragging the surviving knights who’d been guarding the carriage with me.

Maybe it was the rigid armor they wore, but the bullets hadn't fully penetrated or had simply hit non-vital areas. About half of them were still breathing.

I’d killed my fair share of bandits back when I took that subjugation quest to rank up to C-rank. I’d even cut them down with a sword instead of a gun. Killing wasn't new to me. So, this wasn't exactly my first time getting blood on my hands, and I didn't see any problem with killing the bastards who’d kidnapped a duke’s daughter.

As it turned out, the man who had actually taken Ana was among the survivors. He was a soldier dispatched from the Est Empire.

A low-level grunt, apparently. He spilled everything the moment the interrogators got a hold of him. The rest of the knights were Est imperial soldiers as well. They’d even set it up so that if I hadn't intervened, bandits would have "attacked" the carriage and everyone would have vanished without a trace.

Of course, the Crown Prince played the "I know nothing" card, feigning total ignorance. But there’s no doubt he was the one who pulled the strings. Thanks to the testimony from the anti-Crown Prince Faction at the Academy, it was officially established that the Crown Prince had been accompanied by this soldier and that he had ordered Ana into that carriage.

However, the official ruling was that His Highness had no idea the man was an imperial soldier.

To my utter shock, even the forged royal command was hand-waved away. They pushed some nonsensical logic that it was merely a "provisional document" and settled on a light sentence of house arrest. Since he’s still allowed to attend classes at the Academy, he basically got off scot-free.

Essentially, the excuse was this: the Crown Prince ordered Anastasia to the palace, but enemy agents infiltrated the escort, resulting in her accidental kidnapping. Therefore, both the Crown Prince and Anastasia were "victims."

If they play fast and loose like this, the Great Seal won't be worth the wax it's stamped in. I have to wonder what the King is thinking.

Like father, like son, I suppose.

As for my own actions, I was cleared of all charges since I’d technically stopped foreign soldiers from abducting a high-ranking noble on domestic soil. I knew The Duke had pulled some strings behind the scenes to make that happen. I expressed my deepest thanks to him and apologized for my earlier outburst; he was generous enough to grant me a pardon.

The Duke, however, wasn't taking this lying down. He launched a formal protest against the Royal Family, demanding the Crown Prince be disinherited. He declared that until Ana was returned safely, he wouldn't lift a finger to help the crown. He told me he intends to leave the Royal Capital shortly.

That might be the highest level of protest a noble can make. No, rather than a protest, this feels more like...

Regardless, the Kingdom responded by tightening border inspections. The search for Ana continues, but her whereabouts remain a complete mystery.

Looking back, I realize how arrogant I’d become.

Because I was able to destroy the Scenario exactly according to my eight-year plan; because Amy and her cronies hadn't meddled with us for over six months; and above all, because I’d actually won Ana’s love.

In the midst of that accomplishment and fulfillment, I’d completely forgotten that this was a castle built on sand, perched on a razor-thin balance. Just because I’d hoarded every item and event from the game, just because I’d crushed every possibility of Amy becoming a Saint... none of that guaranteed this country would be safe!

Claiming there was nothing I could do in this situation was just a pathetic excuse. I should have looked for what I could do. I should have been moving to reduce the possibility of the capital being overrun, even by a fraction of a percent!

It’s my fault for procrastinating on the things that actually mattered—the things I really should have been thinking about.

Dammit! Dammit all!

I should have taken Ana to her father’s house by force that day. If I had, none of this would have happened! But because I was an idiot, she’s gone. If only I hadn't said those things to Amy! If only I’d told Ana to keep the Fairy Hairpin hidden! If only I’d been more careful about the Crown Prince's movements from the start!

But it’s all too late. I have no idea how they smuggled her out. With zero clues, searching blindly is useless. If that’s the case, the next thing I have to do is...!

On the other side of the border, the Est Empire declared war on the Sentlaren Kingdom that same day, launching an invasion across the provisional eastern border. Their pretext was that their soldiers had been "harmed" and that their "trust was betrayed" when their peaceful proposal for a political marriage to Ana was met with violence within the Sentlaren Kingdom.

However, considering the declaration of war arrived the moment Ana was kidnapped, and they began the invasion the second the document was delivered, it was undoubtedly a meticulously prepared operation.

To make matters worse, the Westadale Kingdom to the west quickly declared a policy of non-interference. While Westadale and Sentlaren are allied against the United Kingdom of Northorne, they have no such treaty regarding the Est Empire or the Zaus Kingdom. Usually, they would support us with supplies during conflicts, but this time, we could expect nothing.

On the morning after the international stage shifted so violently, the students of the Higher Academy were gathered in the auditorium.

Personally, I didn't want to be anywhere near the place, but The Duke had persuaded me to stay. I couldn't afford to go rogue and run wild anymore.

Amy approached me, her voice dripping with exaggerated mockery.

"That's too bad, isn't it? The bridal carriage of your precious Lady Anastasia being attacked by ruffians? And after this, she’ll be cruelly raped and sold off. Oh, the poor thing."

"How do you know that?"

I glared at her with enough intensity to kill, but she didn't even flinch.

"Isn't it obvious? She’s the Villainess. She gets dumped by her fiancé, gets raped and sold, then falls and becomes a Dark Knight to come back for revenge. Then we defeat her for the happy ending. That’s how it’s decided. Right? You know it too, don't you? After you spent so much time getting in my way."

"...You scum."

"Hehe. The howling of a loser sounds so sweet. You aren't even a mob character. You're just a foreign object that doesn't belong in this world, so why don't you hurry up and exit the stage?"

I had no comeback. This disaster was the result of my own foolishness.

But not yet. It’s too early to give up. It hasn't been confirmed that Ana is dead.

As I struggled with my thoughts, the Headmaster took the stage alongside a knight.

"I have sad news today. As some of you may know, the Est Empire has once again launched a unilateral war of aggression against our Sentlaren Kingdom. War is a tragedy. Those sacrificed are always the weak and innocent, and this must be a heavy burden for you, the future leaders of our people. However..."

The Headmaster was long-winded as usual.

But in the game, a knight never stood with him, and the invasion only happened after the internal strife. Back then, the Villainess—driven to despair and darkness—would take advantage of the chaos to lead the enemy's charge. It was a blitzkrieg made possible only by her intimate knowledge of Sentlaren’s defenses.

I couldn't imagine Ana betraying us like the Villainess in the game. Her family is still alive. I'm still here. Margaret and Isabella are here. No matter how much that shitty prince framed her, she wouldn't help an invasion.

Right as I was following that train of thought, a voice cut through the air.

"That's just... too much! Why can't everyone just get along? I'm sure if we just talked, we could understand each other!"

Amy shouted the lines, ripping them straight from the game and interrupting the Headmaster's speech.

Wait, were the lines really that cringy? I thought they were at least a little better, but my memory is getting fuzzy.

Amy had tears welling in her eyes, her face set in a "tragic heroine" mask. Taken at face value, she certainly looked the part; the Crown Prince and Leo were already nodding along in earnest.

However, the Headmaster simply cleared his throat and addressed her with an admonishing tone.

"Yes. Dialogue is important, but only if the other party is actually willing to talk. Furthermore, I do not permit speaking out of turn. Is that clear?"

"Eh?"

Amy looked genuinely shocked, but I didn't care. She’d clearly been aiming for a specific scene from the game—one where the Crown Prince and his circle take the stage to preach love and peace while the students cheer.

But the Scenario was broken a long time ago. The Crown Prince's social standing is far weaker now than it was in the game. The opposition is larger, and everyone knows the war started because he messed up. There was no way the scene would play out like the game.

This wasn't something that could be fixed with "game logic." The Est Empire wanted our land, and the idiot prince gave them the perfect excuse to launch a pre-planned invasion. That was the reality of it.

"Now then, as you can gather, our country is transitioning to a wartime footing. The Academy will be closed until next spring. Please prepare to return to your families."

"Wait, what? What do you mean?" Amy tried to protest again despite the warning, but the Headmaster ignored her.

"Furthermore, I have an announcement regarding student mobilization. The Knight Order Leader has joined us today from the palace. Sir, if you would."

The Headmaster stepped back, passing the baton to the Knight Order Leader.