Murcia
I’d always been too cautious for my own good. Father had scolded me countless times for it, and I’d never liked that part of myself.
But then Van suddenly left me in charge of a fortress, and now—of all things—His Majesty himself was here, entrusting me with directing the defense in a decisive battle. The pressure was enough to make me want to bolt. Never in my life had I felt this uneasy, but there was no running.
If only Yerinetta would hold back, I thought. If only they didn’t hammer us with some furious assault. By some grace, they didn’t. Instead, they tried a strategy that felt… odd.
“They’re coming!”
Dee’s shout rang out, followed seconds later by a quake and the thunder of explosions. Ventury and Panamera’s voices carried over the din, crisp and commanding.
“Mages—counterattack!”
“I’ll strike first! The rest of you, fire if you’re in range!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Ventury issued orders; Panamera unleashed fire magic first, and the others followed with ice, wind, and earth. More than a dozen spells arced toward the battery that had just opened fire on the fortress.
Cannons. Yerinetta’s latest weapon—the ones Van had warned us about. A single gun could rival a master of the four elements… perhaps even surpass one in the right hands.
The roar echoed again, and stone shattered in the distance. At the edge of sight, one of Van’s walls buckled under the impact. Those iron balls flew so fast they blurred from vision, and in only a few shots they could bring down stonework designed to withstand siege.
A wall patched by normal methods would fall in one strike if it were hit just right. Compared to the decades it takes to raise a mage of Ventury or Panamera’s caliber, the cannon was brutally efficient.
Even His Majesty’s expression began to darken as we drove the batteries off, only for them to return and fire again.
“…Your Majesty, the Yerinetta forces appear to be retreating,” Venturi reported.
His Majesty gave a short nod. “…Hmm. Should we march the whole army out? But if those cannons wait for us in the wrong terrain, the losses could be staggering.”
He muttered to himself, then raised his eyes to the nobles.
“What say you? Yerinetta looks to be buying time. If so, what are they gaining from it?”
The chamber hushed, then one by one the nobles spoke.
“Perhaps… they are producing more of those cannons.”
His Majesty frowned. “I’d heard they were imported from the central continent. Could they already have mastered the craft? If so, time is our enemy. Yet I can hardly believe such development would be so quick.”
His doubt silenced the room. Then another voice ventured in, nervous.
“They may intend to hold us here while striking from the coast—”
“Or perhaps they’ll move to retake Scudetto—”
“Foolishness. They can’t, not without retaking this ground first.”
The nobles squabbled. His Majesty lost interest quickly and turned to Panamera.
“You’ve been quiet, Viscountess. Do you have an opinion?”
Every gaze turned to her. My own throat would have locked tight under that weight, but Panamera only smiled, calm and sharp.
“I’ve considered Yerinetta’s course. Three possibilities: reinforcements or new weapons; a thrust from another front; or forming an allied army with another nation.”
The hall murmured. His Majesty alone stayed calm, nodding slightly. Then he turned—toward me.
“…Allied army. That would be a threat. Murcia, let us hear your thoughts.”
My heart froze. All eyes fell on me, even Panamera’s. She studied me as if testing my worth.
I gathered what scraps I could, but all my mind showed me were worst-case scenarios. Still, silence was not an option.
“…If… if an allied army is formed, the greatest danger is invasion on multiple fronts. Until now, our border knights could hold off two enemies with time. But if Yerinetta arms its allies with black spheres, the balance changes. And most of our strength is tied here in Murcia. They could pin us here, then move neighboring states to invade… for example, the Shelvia Union striking through Feltio lands…”
I let the nightmare spill into words.
“…Indeed,” His Majesty said, stroking his chin. “I dismissed Shelvia as weaker than both Scuderia and Yerinetta. But if they wielded cannons and spheres… they could threaten us. So—what do you propose? Leave only a garrison here and withdraw to Ceat?”
His tone was probing, testing. I straightened and forced out my answer.
“Sire… I cannot say which is correct. If we weaken our host here, the invasion may stall. But—if a single knightly order can be spared, send them to Seat. And dispatch Baron Van to Felthio territory. That would be safest.”
His Majesty’s smile deepened.
“Oh? You think Baron Van could deal with a Shelvia army armed with cannons and spheres. You trust him that much?”
The words leapt out of me before I could hesitate. “Of course. Even if two nations join, Van will hold them back.”
His Majesty threw his head back and laughed. “Ha! If you have such confidence, I’ll grant it. We’ll send Van. Perhaps with Viscountess Panamera, to represent our alliance.”
“I accept,” Panamera said immediately.
My breath caught. His Majesty had not only listened to me—he had acted. A short time ago, the thought would have been absurd. It almost felt like I was at the center of this council. My head swam with it.
As I sat there stunned, Panamera turned, her smile faint but sincere. “I underestimated you, Murcia. To look beyond your own battlefield, to anticipate the enemy’s moves—that is the mark of a commander. You have talent.”
Heat flooded my cheeks. I bowed my head quickly, ashamed of my boldness. Surely I’d overstepped. But His Majesty only looked pleased, already turning to set new orders for the war ahead.
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