"What do you mean… this is your plan?"
General Arhim rose from his seat almost immediately, his reaction sharp but controlled. His gaze remained fixed on the map, as if weighing every detail of what had just been proposed.
"Sire," he continued, his voice steady, "have you devised war strategies before?"
For a brief moment, I didn't respond. Not because I had a clear answer, but because I didn't. This wasn't experience. It wasn't something I had lived through. It was knowledge gathered from elsewhere, fragments of understanding that I was now trying to apply in a situation far more real than anything I had imagined.
"You could say that," I replied.
Commander Lopel stepped forward slightly, his attention still on the map. He studied the positions again before speaking.
"If we proceed with this strategy, there is a possibility that it will work. But it carries risk." His eyes shifted toward Arhim. "General, can you handle it?"
Arhim remained silent for a moment, carefully reviewing the layout once more. When he finally spoke, his voice carried quiet certainty.
"If it comes to it, I will give my life to protect this kingdom. I can handle it."
His words were simple, but there was no hesitation in them. No doubt. Just resolve.
I looked at both of them. That level of conviction wasn't something that needed to be questioned. It was something that demanded a response.
"If this plan works," I said calmly, "then no one needs to die. I don't intend to win this by trading lives."
The room fell silent for a moment as the weight of that statement settled. I wasn't offering reassurance. I wasn't making a promise. I was defining the objective.
"That is what we aim for."
Rowan was the first to move, his expression steady but thoughtful. "If everything has been decided, then we should begin preparations."
Both Arhim and Lopel nodded in agreement. The discussion had reached its conclusion, not because the situation had become easier, but because the direction was now clear.
After some time, the room emptied. The generals left to prepare their forces, and the tension that had filled the space gradually faded into silence.
I stepped out onto the balcony. The air outside was colder, carrying a stillness that the room had not allowed. The capital stretched out below, quiet but not at ease. Lights flickered across the city, and for a moment, everything seemed distant.
"A lot has changed in a single day," I said quietly.
It wasn't a complaint. Just a fact.
I remained there for a while, letting the weight of everything settle.
Footsteps approached from behind.
"Your Highness."
Rowan.
"There is something you should know," he said. "Her Majesty the Queen and the Imperial Princess are on their way to the capital. They are expected to arrive within two days."
I turned slightly. "They weren't in the capital?"
"No," Rowan replied. "After King Leki's assassination, we relocated them to another city for their safety. But now, with your presence here, they are returning."
"I understand."
For a moment, I said nothing. Then I looked at him again.
"Rowan, I want to observe the plan from Hower."
His reaction was immediate. "Your Highness, that would be extremely dangerous. Your life would be at risk. And if the plan fails—"
"It won't," I said.
I didn't raise my voice, but the certainty was enough.
Rowan fell silent, studying me for a moment.
"I trust your judgment," I continued. "And I trust the people carrying it out."
A faint expression crossed his face, something that looked almost familiar to him.
"…Those words are very similar to King Leki's," he said quietly.
He exhaled, then nodded. "Very well. If that is your decision, then I will accompany you."
"Alright."
"Then I will make the necessary arrangements for your departure tomorrow."
I gave a small nod in response.
The decision had been made.
And now, there was no reason to delay it any further.
The next morning, with the first light of dawn, we set out.
Rowan, a small group of royal guards, and I left the capital without delay. Our destination was the city of Hower—the place where the future of Valenford… and my own future, would be decided.
According to Rowan, the journey normally took two days. But if we maintained a steady pace and avoided unnecessary stops, we could reach by nightfall.
So we moved without slowing down.
—
While we traveled toward Hower, events elsewhere were already in motion.
A royal carriage, heavily guarded, was making its way toward the capital.
Inside, a woman sat calmly, her posture composed, her gaze steady.
"It seems the new king has already moved toward Hower," she said. "And we are being asked to wait in the capital."
There was a faint hint of curiosity in her voice.
"This should be… interesting."
She was Queen Charol Valenford.
—
Across from her sat a young woman with blue eyes, quietly looking out the window. She had been silent the entire time.
Only after a brief pause did she speak.
"…Let's see."
Princess Elisa Valenford.
—
By the time we reached Hower, the sun had already begun to set.
The journey had been longer than expected. We passed through several small villages, took narrow mountain paths to shorten the distance, and stopped only when absolutely necessary. Fatigue had settled in, but no one mentioned it.
As we approached the city gates, my attention was drawn upward.
The walls were massive.
Higher than I expected.
The gate itself was reinforced, built to withstand more than just ordinary attacks.
For a moment, a thought crossed my mind.
If the guards misunderstood our arrival in the dark—
This could end badly.
—
But that didn't happen.
As soon as we reached the gates, they opened.
—
Inside, we were met immediately.
"Sire, welcome to Hower City."
General Arhim stood at the front, surrounded by soldiers who had already lowered their heads in respect.
It was still a strange feeling.
I told them to raise their heads.
Then I asked the only thing that mattered.
"Are we ready for tomorrow?"
Arhim didn't hesitate.
"Yes. Everything is prepared."
As we moved toward the castle, he continued briefing me.
Troop placements. Defensive positions. Expected movements.
Every detail was already in motion.
By the time we arrived, there was nothing left to adjust.
Only execution remained.
After reaching the castle, Arhim suggested that we take some rest. Rowan agreed, and I didn't argue. There was nothing more I could do at that moment.
We were escorted to our respective rooms.
A short while later, I was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
Tomorrow.
My first battlefield.
I had no experience commanding an army.
No real understanding of what would happen once things began.
Everything depended on Arhim… and Lopel.
I clenched my hand slightly.
If things went wrong—
There wouldn't be a second chance.
A knock broke the silence.....KNOCK.....KNOCK.....
"Come in." I said.
The door opened, and General Arhim stepped inside.
I immediately sat up.
He stood with his head slightly lowered.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Sire… I have a request."
"Go ahead."
He looked at me directly this time.
"Before the battle begins tomorrow… would you address the soldiers?"
"…Address them?"
"Yes," he said. "If you speak to them, their morale will rise. They will fight with greater resolve."
I paused for a moment.
I couldn't lead them in battle.
Not directly.
But—
"…Alright," I said.
"I'll do it."
A visible sense of relief crossed his face.
"Thank you, Sire. I am honored."
He lowered his head again.
"And… my apologies for disturbing you at this hour."
"It's fine."
With that, he turned and left the room.
The door closed.
And the silence returned.
Tomorrow—Everything begins.
Next day, I stood there for a moment, looking at the soldiers in front of me. Rows upon rows, armored, silent, waiting. Not for orders, but for direction.
"My name is Arin."
I spoke clearly, without raising my voice.
"Until a few days ago, I wasn't part of this world. I wasn't a king. I wasn't a commander. I was just someone living a normal life."
I paused briefly before continuing.
"I don't have years of battlefield experience. I don't have stories of past victories to stand on. But what I do have is the same thing all of you have right now."
I looked across them.
"I stand here in Valenford."
My tone shifted slightly.
"This kingdom is not the strongest. It is not the largest. And it has never been the easiest place to survive. But it has endured."
"For years, Valenford has stood surrounded by enemies. Pressured. Tested. Attacked. And yet, it still stands."
I let the silence settle.
"Do you know why?"
"Because of you."
"Because the people of this kingdom do not bend easily. Because they do not abandon what they believe in. Because when they are pushed, they stand their ground."
I let my gaze move across the formation.
"King Leki understood that. He knew the cost of every decision he made. He knew the risks. And even then, he refused to surrender. Not because it was easy, but because it was right."
"And today, that same choice stands in front of us."
I stepped forward slightly.
"Velkyria believes we will break. They believe we will surrender. They believe that without a king, this kingdom will fall."
I paused.
"They're wrong."
My voice remained steady, but firmer.
"We are not here to survive this war. We are here to end it."
"I don't intend to win by sacrificing you. I don't intend to throw lives away just to hold ground. We will fight, and we will win. Not because we are desperate, but because we are prepared."
I looked at them directly.
"This is not just my battle. This is not just the army's battle. This is Valenford's battle."
"And today, we show them exactly what that means."
"Stand your ground. Trust the plan. Trust each other."
"And when the time comes, crush them."
I raised my voice just enough to carry across every line.
"Are you with me?"
For a brief moment, everything was still.
Then the response came.
"YEAHHHH!"
The sound rose together, unified, echoing across the field.
And in that moment, their answer was clear.
The crowd's will made me realize that I was one of them.