The Courtesan

Chapter 77

KRON

Don’t tell me... this is how we lose Turia?

“Your highness, thank the gods you’re here! What do we do?!”

“I-Is Captain Plato still around?”

“He just left. His Majesty is back at the border! We’re doomed, your highness, doomed I say!”

With that statement, I realized panic was already spreading throughout the camp. We were facing imminent destruction without defense. I had to make a choice and a quick one.

“WE RETREAT! HEAD FOR THE BORDER! WE’LL HOLD THEM OFF WITH THE MAIN TROOPS! GET READY TO RETREAT!”

They sprang into action immediately. The captains directed the retreat while both I and Reid waited behind.

“Your highness, are we… going to die?”

“I don’t know. We can only pray we survive this. I just have to accept I have failed.”

I felt a strong arm on my shoulder. When I turned, it was like I saw an angel. Captain Plato was back.

“I was only gone for an hour. Why is the camp in such disarray?”

“Look at that.”

After he surveyed the problem, he frowned.

“Your highness, is this your first time facing war elephants?”

“Yes, it is my first time.”

“I see. Well, the spearheads of the western army were prepared specifically for this purpose. I suppose it is time for us to display our usefulness. Stop the retreat.”

“... Alright. I trust you. STOP THE RETREAT! CAPTAIN PLATO HAS RETURNED.”

“Your highness, may I offer valuable advice?”

“Yes please?”

“When someone offers you help when you’re in a bind, do not accept so easily. It shows you’re a weak leader.”

“... Yes sir.”

Captain Plato mounted his horse and summoned his troops to himself.

“What can we do to help?”

“Go back to the main camp. I’ll handle things here.”

“I can’t just leave you here.”

“I'd appreciate it if you weren’t a burden here, your highness. If anything does happen to me, please attend the wedding in my place. This is my last request.”

“I will not leave you here.”

“Reid, take your master away.”

“... Yes sir.”

Despite his small physique, Reid possessed great strength so pulling me away was a simple task for him. I could’ve simply fought against him but the truth was, my limbs wouldn’t move. I had to admit it. At that moment, facing imminent death, I was scared.

I don’t want to die.

When we got to where our horses were tied up, the elephants were very close. The ground shook so much, the horses almost got away. Getting on my horse, I got a clear view of what was happening.

The western army spearheads were arranged in multiple formations of small squads. They each held giant spears with strange contraptions on them. Captain Plat held a spear too but his was much smaller. His back looked heroic from where I stood.

I stood there, torn with the will to live and the will to fight. Unfortunately, the will to live won and I rode away with Reid. We reached the main camp and waited for the battle to end.

I waited endless hours for Captain Plato and the spearheads to return to the border. When Camilla saw how anxious I was, she offered to go check and I ignored her because of my anxiety. She went behind my back and came back with a limp body.

I rushed out to meet her, praying to the gods that she wasn’t holding a dead body. Camilla gave me a look of pity.

“He’s not dead, your highness. Stop acting like a woman who was almost widowed.”

I finally noticed it. Behind her were what remained of the spearheads. They were down to just 10 percent of their initial numbers. Their teeths were clenched and their wounds barely held together by soaked bandages. Reid possessed more senses than I did in that moment and came out with healers that would take care of them.

I waited a few hours more till I received word that Captain Plato was awake. I rushed to where he was resting. He looked like he had been expecting me.

“Greetings to his highness.”

“I feel too ashamed to accept your greeting.”

“Hold your head high. You did the right thing this time. A person should know when to fight and when to retreat.”

“I feel... no, know I could’ve done more.”

“I am just glad I can make it to the young lady’s wedding.”

“... She must be so lucky to have you.”

“No, the young lady hates my guts,” Plato said, laughing for the first time since I had met him. Of course, he couldn’t laugh for long and soon, he was coughing.

“What do you mean she hates you?”

“She harbors various grudges against me. I was harsh in teaching her and haven’t agreed to spar with her. She’s very upset.”

“Why haven’t you sparred with her?”

“My general forbade it. Although I wouldn’t mind dying by her hand, it would only make our young lady worse.”

“Why do you sound so… bitter about it?”

“Our young lady has grown so strong that she can fall armies by herself. As a warrior myself, not being able to test that strength has made me very bitter!”

I never would’ve guessed he was a violent man deep down.

“Like you said, it might make her worse.”

“Yes, you are right.”

“You don’t suppose I can spar with her?”

“What?!”

“I too want to gain the strength to defeat a War General. It’s a goal of mine.”

He struggled with words. In his eyes, I looked ridiculous asking for a fight. But the time I barely won against someone who possessed half the strength of a war general made me very bitter myself. Even if it’s battling with a beast, I wouldn’t mind it if I at least got the strength.

“Since you’re not so well, I would take you to your young lady. I can just ask her myself.”

“Our young lady isn’t exactly fond of you, your highness. She might accidentally kill you.”

“She can’t control her strength?”

“Not exactly. If our young lady’s emotions are heightened, she loses control of her strength and goes berserk. I don’t think it’s advisable.”

“It just so happens that my younger brother is in the Horps Duchy. I need to check up on him. It has truly been too long.”

“... Of course you’re not listening. I don’t want to be held responsible for your death.”

“I possess a remarkable ability to avoid death.”

“... Of course you do.”

I was soon dismissed from his room and returned to mine. I wasn’t surprised to see Reid and Camilla waiting for me.

“How is he?!” Reid asked, rushing at me.

“He’s fine. He would be returning to the capital and we would accompany him.”

“Why?”

“I want to spar with the beast.”

“... Why?”

“I want to become stronger.”

“That’s not an explanation, ” Reid protested.

“Goodluck to you, your highness. I will continue my duties in infiltrating the Uramuth army. If fate wills it, we would meet in the future, your highness,” Casella said. She bowed to me and left.