“Isn’t this the first time you’ve acted like this? Just a few days ago, you came back looking like you were about to die. No matter how much Your Excellency says, if you keep doing this, you’ll die!”

The place they were in was a border skirmish zone in the north.

It was a relatively barren place, and the imperial dominance was weak, so naturally, rebels had gathered here to engage in resistance.

Although the rebel army was inferior compared to a professionally trained army, the fact that the army accustomed to the warm climate of the capital became mostly useless once they came here made suppression difficult.
Particularly, the rebel headquarters faced the harsh terrain of rugged mountains, harsh climate, and engaged in guerrilla warfare, utilizing the friendly sentiments of the northern regions sympathetic to the rebels. This led to a precarious situation in battles.

They were often ambushed, fell into traps, and with the imperial citizens busy hiding rebels, the chaotic military camp became even more disordered.

‘Besides, they are originally imperial citizens, so it’s embarrassing to suppress them too harshly.’

In the end, this resistance was essentially a protest against the difficulty of making a living.

Therefore, the opinion in the royal palace was to crush only the current rebel headquarters and moderately punish the rest since crushing them all with force would likely turn the entire north against the empire. Valtter certainly knew this obvious principle.

He had already come here and suppressed a rebellion several years ago.

However, as if completely forgetting about it, he occasionally went out alone and swept through the rebel strongholds. Thanks to this, the rebel army, which had been quickly cleared out of several strongholds, was rendered powerless and faltering, but this was excessive.

“If Your Excellency doesn’t act like this, there won’t be any ambushes for a while. We’ve dried up the surroundings! Do you know that it’s almost impossible not to get lost if you go any further from here? If you get lost here, it’s as good as dying.”

This place was already short on daylight, surrounded by icy landscapes.

If he went out alone and fell into an ambush, he would freeze to death on the snowy field before bleeding excessively.

“If you’re going out, at least take me with you… No, where are you going!”

“I confirmed there’s another one nearby. Plunder that one too.”

“Then I’ll go too!”

“You’ll die if you come.”

“No, even if I say whatever, it’s just against the rebel’s sword ”

“My sword.”

Russell remained silent.

Valtter was someone who seemed insane but was a person who wouldn’t say unnecessary words.

If he said something like that, he would undoubtedly die. In the midst of a melee, there were occasionally people who, in excitement, lost their reason and swung their swords at allies and enemies alike.

However…

“…Fighting to the extent where you can’t distinguish allies from enemies?”

Valtter was a person who embodied the meaning of reason.

The fact that he, who normally retained his reason, was fighting without distinguishing allies and enemies was a story that could not be considered from the beginning.

More than that…

“…Perhaps he has no intention of distinguishing.”

Even if he had enough reason to distinguish Pia, he was in a state where he couldn’t feel the need to distinguish and swing his sword.

If he could say such things to Russell, who was closest to him, then for others, it would just feel like the lives of ants.

Russell pondered where to point it out but eventually closed his mouth.

“…”

There was nothing he could point out.
Russell knew how Valtter had lived before coming to the battlefield.

He’s in that state again today. No matter how many times I tell him not to take sleeping pills and medicine together…

There was even a footman who, in an attempt to firmly dissuade His Excellency, received a headbutt from the document thrown by His Excellency. He said if we touch him again, he’ll kill us… We can’t stop him anymore, Captain Russell.

Valtter was truly a wreck.

He ignored day and night, simply shut himself in, and drank alcohol.

Other than that, he was as good as someone who didn’t know what else to do.

In fact, Valtter was never a person who could be controlled.

It was just that Valtter wasn’t someone who needed to be controlled, which is why it wasn’t apparent.

Facing a situation of uncontrollable madness for the first time, Russell took extraordinary measures.

He called for Arnolt.

Arnolt was taken aback by the behavior of his grandson, whom he hadn’t seen for a while.

I can’t stand you begging like this as if you’ve gone crazy! Go cool your head, or better yet, go to the battlefield. Don’t think about coming back until you’re ready to live properly!

Although Valtter, who normally only heard with deaf ears, followed along this time, it was unknown what he was thinking.

So Russell also secretly accompanied him to the battlefield with relief.

‘This is the result.’

Still, it seemed better than when he was constantly searching for alcohol while holed up in the mansion.

‘Maybe His Excellency needs to move his body.’

Russell decided to think positively, that it might not be an improvement in the end, but he was making an effort.

“Then I’ll tidy up this scene, so make sure to come back before sunset.”

“Got it.”

“Really? You must! I won’t leave until Your Excellency returns before sunset! You’ll freeze to death here resenting Your Excellency!”

“…The one who threatened us brought all the camping gear.”

It hit the mark.

However, it was a rare occurrence for Valtter to accept such a joke, so Russell smiled widely, tearing his mouth horizontally.

At a glance, it seemed like Valtter was smiling back.

‘Yes, His Excellency is getting better.’

Don’t worry too much.

Russell made that resolution and remained in place.

And Valtter never came down from that mountain again.