The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 338: (Special Release) Establishing A Tactical Plan

Chapter 338: (Special Release) Establishing A Tactical Plan

"I still can’t discern whether she’s telling the truth," Adam said doubtfully. "She might have picked up the locket from somewhere and woven a tale around it."

The two of them had steered away from Athillia, finding a secluded spot for their discreet discussion.

"No. I believe her," Kyren responded earnestly.

"You do? But her proof is not that concrete! She could be hiding something from us," Adam countered sceptically.

"She didn’t lie. Not one of the stories she mentioned that I knew of was wrong. And when she talked about the Laradie plague, it was all true. The testing done by the mage was actually successful, but she didn’t know," the grand duke explained.

"You’ve lost me here, my lord," Adam admitted, his forehead creased in confusion.

"The Laradie plague did erupt near the Datrey Forest and Mistdale, a village at the southern border of Cassian and Dracor. A group of foragers traversed a cave there and got infected," Kyren revealed.

"What?! How did you come to know about this?" Adam exclaimed, eyes wide-opened.

"It happened when my knights and I were on duty for the campaign during the last slave-auction season. We managed to get it under control. I reported the incident to His Majesty, and we decided to keep the matter discreet to prevent panic and alarm," the grand duke shared.

"But... how did you manage to control it? This disease cannot be simply treated with mere medicines! The only way to overcome it is by using the distributed drugs or the pure serum, and you didn’t have that in possession! It’s impossible since the Bargesians have stolen the formula!" Adam said, genuinely perplexed.

"We have someone who is able to produce the cure. Her blood contains the pure serum, which we used to treat those affected by the plague and also provide temporary immunity to my knights," Kyren replied.

"Who... Wait...," Adam’s brow knitted as he connected the dots, then his eyes widened again in realisation, his mouth falling open in shock. "Dear God! It’s your wife, isn’t it? She’s an Ardelian Princess! She would have access to the pure serum!"

"You are right. She’s the one with the pure serum in her blood. Although it’s very effective, her blood wouldn’t be sufficient to cure everyone if the plague were to spread. I will not tolerate it if my wife is used as a sacrifice. We must stop the King of Barges from unleashing it," Kyren declared with determination.

"I understand. But... what about the prophecy?" Adam inquired, curiosity coloured his face.

Kyren paused, a sombre expression crossing his face. The weight of guilt bound his heart as he looked down.

If only his mother hadn’t pleaded with the Ro’an princess to save him when he was on the verge of death, she wouldn’t have died in labour, and her baby, who was also his soulmate, would have lived.

The Ro’an princess and her daughter were the direct descendants of the Ro’an Emperor, and their deaths were a result of the action of reviving him from the coma.

The grand duke clenched his fist, overcome with remorse.

"The prophecy will never come true because someone has tampered it," he said with a regret tone.

"Tampered by who? What happened?" Adam inquired, genuinely curious.

"I’m sorry. I can’t give you the details," Kyren replied with a heavy sigh. "But I shall take full responsibility for this. It’s my duty as a Raychard to protect what has been bestowed upon me and my family."

"So, what is your plan?" Adam asked, eager to understand their next course of action.

"Let’s talk to the princess again, but this time, let’s keep the matter about the Laradie plague, who I am, and my wife a secret from her," Kyren decided.

"Yes, my lord," Adam responded, acknowledging the plan.

The two men approached Athillia again to continue their conversation.

"Be honest with me. What’s the bargain?" Kyren began asking her.

"Pardon me?" the Bargesian Princess threw back a question.

"I understand that you are doing this out of resentment toward your father’s ill-treatment of you, but no one would risk their lives for their enemies unless they wanted something in return. You must have something in mind... something that you wish for out of this," the grand duke stated, searching her face for answers.

Athillia gazed back at him with a hint of sadness and hope. Then, she bowed, her voice cracking as she spoke, "I can’t return to the palace anymore. My mother has already been locked up in the dungeon since I refused the marriage proposal. She was the one who told me to run away..."

"If you want us to save her, that would be risky... We’ve never been to Barges," Adam interjected, voicing his concerns.

"No," Athillia shook her head. "There’s no more hope for her. By now, she has surely succumbed to the torture... She knew her fate and would rather face it than have my father ravage his lust on me like a beast. So, she told me to go to the northern land..."

"She wants you to find her father’s family," Kyren guessed, piecing together the puzzle.

Tears fell from Athillia’s eyes as she nodded.

"My mother always told me stories from my grandfather... How beautiful the northern land is... The fertile ground, the blooming colourful flowers every spring, the friendly and kind people... Also, I heard that the people of Cassian cherish women and children. They are protected by their king, families, and the law... I... I never had that, except for my mother," Athillia revealed, her voice shaking.

Adam felt a surge of sympathy seeing the Bargesian Princess in such a vulnerable state, baring her emotions. However, he was unsure how to comfort a crying girl, so he remained silent.

"I know you would hesitate to take me to Cassian. But please, trust me... I have no other intentions. I have no one left. The Bargesians and the Ardelians would surely kill me once they knew I had betrayed them. I can’t live elsewhere as I’m on the run. If I can’t reach the north, I might as well be dead. You can end my life here," Athillia pleaded in desperation.

"No, that would be a waste of a valuable resource. You have what we need to win this war," the grand duke said.

He then turned to the admiral and ordered, "Release her."

Obeying his command, Adam approached the Bargesian Princess and untied her hands.

Athillia felt a surge of relief as the rope’s tight grip was released. She rubbed her wrists, feeling a bit sore.

"We’re already here, and whether we like it or not, the war will emerge very soon. So, gather yourself as we need to discuss our strategies for the preparation now. Are you fine with that, or do you need more time?" asked Kyren, emphasising the urgency of their situation.

Athillia sniffled and wiped away her tears, determined to regain her composure.

"It’s all right. We don’t need to waste time on my emotions. I’m ready," she asserted, her voice reflecting newfound strength.

The grand duke smiled lightly.

"Good. I like your attitude. Considering your young age, you are remarkably determined and strong," he praised, recognising her inner fortitude.

"Thank you," Athillia replied, feeling gratitude and flattery.

It was the first time someone other than her mother had ever praised her, and it warmed her heart.

"Do you have any information about the total number of the enemies as well as the fractions of the mercenaries and pirates hired by the King of Ardel?" Kyren inquired to her with a severe tone.

"Two thousand one hundred and sixty," Athillia responded promptly. "Out of that number, sixty-five are the Knights of Barges appointed to provide enhanced training on combat, defence, and artillery usage, while two hundred are soldiers from Ardel who assist with management, logistics, and rationing. The mercenaries amount to six hundred, while the rest are pirates."

"That’s quite close to the number you estimated, Admiral. With such a low number of knights, Barges won’t lose much," Kyren remarked, carefully considering the situation.

"Yes, pretty close. Sacrificing only sixty-five knights won’t significantly impact them, it seems. They might have a larger number of armies," Adam admitted, realising the sacrifice the King of Barges was willing to make.

"Most of the villagers have been apprehended and forced into labour at the made-up gold mine. Only a few are used as transporters and allowed to sail to the mainland to acquire food and supplies on rotations with escorts. They are closely guarded, and their families are being held hostage, preventing them from seeking help from the authorities. All incoming and outgoing activities are heavily monitored," Athillia continued, revealing the dire circumstances.

"Despite the vigilant control, you managed to hide yourself among them," Kyren acknowledged, impressed by her resourcefulness and stealth.

"I did everything I could to survive," she admitted determinedly.

"You mentioned that you want to help us. How would you do that?" Adam inquired, recognising her potential value in their mission.

"I’ve never been in battle before, but I have studied the tactical books and manuscripts, as well as the invasion plan," Athillia began. "In war, besides solid defence and strong forces, supplies such as food, water, and medicine play a crucial role. I don’t know the exact size of your armies, but if we could sabotage their supplies, it would significantly impact them. This is an island, and without the villagers being allowed to go out and engage in their fishing activities and business at the mainland, they solely depend on the rations sent by boats."

"That’s a good plan," Kyren acknowledged, impressed by her strategic thinking.

"We can overcome them simply with our numbers," Adam added, his confidence growing when knowing the exact figure of their enemies.

"Indeed, with our larger number of armies, we may initially have the advantage. However, we must bear in mind that their reinforcement is on the way. By the time we finish subduing the enemies on the islands, the new troops will arrive. Some of our forces may have been injured in the first battle, and there won’t be any time for recovery or to call for additional force. They won’t make it in time even if we send the message now," Kyren voiced his opinion.

"You’re right. You’ll be left with your own troops to face them. The surveillance boat had spotted you, so they undoubtedly had estimated the strength of your force and called for a larger number of troops to counter you."

"True. But in terms of military prowess, we’re far superior in skill and strength compared to them," Adam responded.

"Yes. It’s a known fact that you, the northerners, are renowned for your military prowess and weaponry. But, engaging in a prolonged battle will drain your energy and affect your defence. Ultimately, even if you emerge victorious, the invasion of Ardel will still proceed," added Athillia.

The admiral interjected, "We have no alliance or political interests with Ardel. Therefore, it wouldn’t matter much if Barges were to attack them."

Kyren swiftly responded, "No, we cannot allow Ardel to fall into the hands of Barges."

Trying to grasp the grand duke’s perspective, Adam asked, "Why is that?"

At first, he thought it might be because the grand duke’s concubine was an Ardelian Princess. But his thoughts were quickly brushed away when Kyren gave his valid reasoning.

"If Ardel were to be conquered, it would set Barges’s larger invasion plan of the continent in motion. That’s precisely what they want," said the grand duke.

"What is your concern on that?" asked the admiral.

"By seizing control of Ardel, Barges would gain full access to the invaluable resources necessary for producing the distributed drugs of the Laradie Plague. At present, Ardel still retains control of these, which significantly contributes to the insufficiency of drug production. Moreover, they would resort to forcibly conscripting the kingdom’s subjects to bolster their armies."

Adam’s realisation dawned upon him.

"Ah! Now I see the bigger picture!" he said, pounding his fist on his palm.

Athillia joined in, sharing her knowledge, "Ardel didn’t send many of their soldiers for the Agathe Islands invasion because their people do not much favour the new king. He does not belong to the Ardel dynasty and lacks significant achievements."

"Yes. I heard the new king ascended the throne quite recently," Adam agreed, recalling the time when he had been informed about the ambassador delegation from Ardel.

"When he rose to power, he burned down the medical university of Engarth and executed all the nobles who supported the previous government. As a result, he has a tarnished reputation and bad rapport with his subjects. Hence, he had to resort to hiring mercenaries and pirates for this invasion and still thriving to gain his support," Athillia continued.

Adam concluded, understanding the situation, "Then, it’s clear that he will face significant challenges and struggle to gain trust to form a reliable reinforcement."

"He can certainly compel the people to gather his armies, but loyalty won’t be their strong suit," remarked the Bargesian Princess.

"The same applies to the mercenaries and pirates. They are solely motivated by their pay and lack discipline. If we offer them all the gold from the mine, they’ll undoubtedly turn to us because their greed will blind them. The ore will finish up soon since the mine is made up. So, it won’t be that much," Kyren said, a hint of cunning in his voice.

"Still, they can’t be trusted! They could turn to the other party’s side at any moment," Adam interjected.

"Money and wealth are always in their best interest. They won’t waver for a gold mine," Kyren smirked confidently.

Adam inquired, "What about the mercenaries?"

"They make up only about one-third of the actual force. If I can sway the pirates to join us, the mercenaries will likely follow suit," the grand duke explained, his plan taking shape.

"But how will you accomplish that?" the Bargesian Princess asked, eager to understand the details.

"I have my ways of negotiating. Nevertheless, Princess Athillia is correct. Cutting off their supplies would greatly disadvantage them and dampen their spirits," Kyren considered her input.

"Please... call me Athillia," she requested.

Kyren nodded.

"I’m Lord Kyren, and this is Admiral Adam James, the commander of our battalion," he said, introducing themselves after feeling more comfortable with the Bargesian Princess. However, he didn’t state his surname to her.

Athillia acknowledged the introduction with a nod.

"This is my suggestion. First, let us conquer the peaks and establish our stronghold there. Then, we can target their supplies," Kyren proposed.

"But that requires us to infiltrate their heavily guarded camp. We would require a larger team than this to accomplish that. We can do it, but let me gather more of our men first," Adam pointed out, highlighting the challenge.

"No, we won’t be tackling the resources in their camp for now. Instead, we’ll focus on their fresh water source. Most of these islands’ water supplies come from the springs on the peaks. If we redirect the initial flow, it will disrupt the water supply downstream," Kyren revealed his strategic thinking.

Athillia expressed curiosity, asking, "How do you know about the water source?"

"These islands used to be all under our territories. I have knowledge of these regions’ terrains and have memorised the map before I came. While there are underground water sources on the lower land, they aren’t as plentiful. It won’t be sufficient for their survival," Kyren explained, drawing from his knowledge of the region.

"What a brilliant idea, my lord!" Adam praised, impressed by the grand duke’s ingenuity.

With a confident grin, Kyren sorted the details of his newly formed scheme, ready to commence it.