With the end of the strategy meeting, Marquis Trauss went to rebuke his student, Viscount Sabian.

“Randol, why do you have such little flexibility my boy?”

“I simply did what was required of me as part of the command staff.”

“Tsk, there are more tactful ways of going about stating your opinion, are there not? You are well aware of His Highness Prince Skyt’s temperament, yet you don’t know when to back down.”

Viscount Sabian sighed at his teacher’s reprimand.

“Sir, do you really intend to serve a prince like that as your lord? One glance is enough to know he has the dispositions of both a tyrant and a despot.”

“Watch your tongue.”

Marquis Trauss chided his disciple sternly.

“His Highness Prince Skyt von Lester has the legitimate blood of the king running through him.  Now that the Second Prince Byron has been tainted with his vision of a Republic, Prince Skyt is the only heir currently left for the throne. Past the question of right and wrong, it is our duty as loyal vassals of the kingdom to follow him.”

“……”

“If His Highness has aspects where he may be somewhat lacking, it is our role as loyal servants to fill in those gaps by this side. Burn that duty into your mind.”

“……”

“Boy, where is your answer?”

Viscount Sabian responded reluctantly at his teacher’s pressing.

“I understand, Master.”

Yet no matter which way Viscount Sabian thought about this, the state would simply be unable to function properly with the First Prince at the helm on the throne.

***

Having captured a Northern stronghold in a day, the First Prince’s royalist army advanced right away to the next fortress...