The procession heading towards Norton grew longer with each domain they passed.

The local lords summoned by order and nobles gathered from various regions took their positions behind the army carrying the flags symbolizing Blanchet and the Empire.

Those who rarely united and operated scattered across different regions stood their ground this time, wearing the Pantheon armor symbolizing the imperial army.

Of course, there were a few among them who were dissatisfied.

Tsk, entrusting command to a greenhorn who doesn’t even have much battlefield experience, let alone being so young.

However, none of them had the guts to dare express it.

No matter how young or inexperienced, Cassian was the heir of Blanchet and the future head of the family.

As the sound of hooves grandly echoed through the space, they entered the gates of Norton.

Cassian pulled on the reins and halted the procession.

Following orders, the imperial army that stopped at the entrance of Norton set up tents and settled in.

After the tents were organized, those who received orders gathered one by one at the central Blanchet tent.

Among them was the lord of Perriot, the Western Lord, the center of western military authority.

Their attention naturally turned to the Western Lord.

Everyone knew the rumors circulating about the union between Perriot and the Blanchet family before the war broke out.

While the Western Lord cleared his throat uncomfortably at the unwelcome attention, one of the nobles with strong curiosity in such matters opened with praise.

“Once this war is over, young lord Cassian’s reputation will grow even more impressive, so it’s turned out very well.”

As one noble opened the conversation, others added their own comments.

“Indeed.”

“Marquis Western Lord must be very proud.”

“Ah, yes. That strange rumor was just nonsense, of course, Marquis.”

Everyone’s gaze naturally turned to the Western Lord once again.

The Western Lord swallowed a sigh inwardly as he blushed.

The questions were clearly meant to probe, but he couldn’t afford to escalate the situation by not answering in this context.

The Western Lord put on a smiling face and turned to the nobles who had addressed him.

“Of course.”

The Western Lord’s hand, settled under the table, clenched into a tight fist.

The image of his second daughter clinging to his feet flashed through his mind.

Having to sit here and listen to such talk among the nobles because that kind of rumor was still circulating grated on his nerves.

He wondered if it would have been better to break off the engagement, but then looking at the nobles who would obviously try to climb up again, the Western Lord thought he had done well to endure this time.

‘At least this time, it will serve its purpose.’

However, there was still no news from his daughter.

Moreover, as they came here, young lord Cassian only gave him a light bow without speaking a single word.

‘Even if that’s the case during the march, if he acts the same way when face to face…’

The Western Lord visibly furrowed his brow.

Of course, no one could openly disregard the Perriot family, which held military power in the west.

But there was no better opportunity than this to gain the honor of rising to the ranks of central nobility in the eyes of these noble riffraff.

If they became in-laws with Blanchet, that alone would definitely raise Perriot’s status.

That’s why even when he wanted to break off the engagement due to wounded pride, he was waiting because Fiocele said she could make amends.

But after that, all that came out were damned news articles.

How dumbfounded he was when he became certain that it was the Blanchet side that put them out.

That’s not why he gave her a townhouse in the capital and kept his second daughter there.

The fact that he couldn’t know how that arrogant heir would act this time made the Western Lord even more anxious.

But the marriage will definitely go through. Yes, of course.

Wouldn’t it be hard for Blanchet to find a better match than the union with Perriot?

As the Western Lord was trying to compose himself, Cassian appeared inside the tent.

The nobles in the room gaped at his appearance.

Long, straight legs and a visibly toned, muscular body, even a face flushed with vigor.

He had an appearance completely at odds with the image most nobles had expected.

In fact, the heir of Blanchet had disappeared from public positions at some point.

After that, rumors about him spread uncontrollably.

Some even said he was frail or suffering from a genetic disease.

Of course, such rumors only circulated covertly, but usually where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

Many of the nobles believed those rumors at face value.

But…

To think that young lord Cassian was such a strapping young man.

Moreover, the atmosphere he exuded had a way of dominating the space just by standing there.

The nobles couldn’t hold back their exclamations.

Their exclamations soon turned into sighs.

A blood-stained sword was thrust down onto the table.

“I’m sure you all know what this is.”

The sword bore the eagle emblem symbolizing Norton.

Sending a blood-stained sword meant challenging to a duel in the kingdom’s custom, signifying a desire to see blood.

At the same time, when sent between countries, it was used to express a hard-line stance that war would be waged and there would be no surrender.

No one here was unaware of this.

Cassian’s red eyes pierced through the nobles, sweeping over them slowly.

The nobles who met that gaze felt a chilling sensation as if the sword stuck in the table had pierced their own hearts.

“This war won’t be as simple as you think.”

The sound of the ground trembling with each of Cassian’s steps reverberated through the space.

“There are ambushes all over Norton Gorge right now.”

Unlike Cassian, those who were completely unaware of the gravity of the situation only now became somewhat tense.

“We will break through and advance avoiding them. I will issue the assembly point tomorrow, so gather at the appointed time.”

“……”

“I intend to end this war as quickly as possible.”

Cassian’s voice laying over the space was full of weight.

“In case of betrayal or any independent actions contrary to this, you will be executed immediately.”

Cassian’s expression was calm as he ordered the dismissal.

Afterwards, Cassian remained motionless for a long time, his gaze fixed on the map with flags stuck in it.

Only when night fell did Cassian finally organize the map and call for Tiobe.

After finishing his work report, Tiobe worriedly observed his lord who looked tired.

Tiobe recalled how the nobles outside the tent had been constantly exchanging evaluations about him.

That he was dignified and that his intimidating atmosphere was befitting of the Blanchet heir, unlike what they had thought.

It was a much better choice to have a dignified image than to become a laughingstock to talkative people.

It was only natural, since before, even when he took rest, worries circulated among the nobles that the lord might be frail.

But Tiobe didn’t think it was simply an act by the lord to maintain his reputation or honor.

Right now, the lord looked like someone in a hurry.

As if he was being chased by something.

Even now, there was an inexplicable gleam in his gaze as he stared into space.

“There seems to be a lot of talk among the nobles about the relationship between Lady Fiocele and my lord.”

Cassian bounced the pen on the desk with a thoroughly bored expression.

“Let them talk.”

“It seems the articles that came out before we came here are the reason.”

Cassian nodded slightly.

How interested they are in others’ affairs; borrowing the mouths of gossips made it quite easy to draw out plans.

This time too, it would undoubtedly be so.

Cassian nodded indifferently at things going according to plan.

Recalling the nobles’ talk and soon resigning himself, Tiobe now asked a different question.

“What shall we do about tomorrow’s assembly point?”

“10 o’clock, assemble at Lactose.”

“Understood.”

“At that time, you take the Blanchet forces and strike Lactose from behind.”

“…Pardon?”

Strike there when we don’t even know if Norton forces will be at the rear of Lactose?

Only then did Tiobe notice his lord’s determined face.

There was conviction in his red eyes.

‘Why…?’

To Tiobe, who was just blinking in confusion at the flood of questions, Cassian added languidly.

“There’s a traitor in the imperial army.”

“How did you…!”

Only then did Tiobe recall his lord’s order that he would execute those who betray.

‘Just when did you know about this?’

Unlike the shocked Tiobe, Cassian was utterly impassive.

Cassian’s mind was filled with nothing but the obsession to end this war quickly.

At the end of that obsession was always that woman.

It would be easier to confirm after returning after a long time and having everything he could give to that woman taken away.

His own heart was playing a mad game that even he couldn’t interpret.

In truth, he was curious.

What expression would that woman make if he spoke the confession he couldn’t deliver?

Would she say she would stay by his side?

Or would she try to escape from the peaceful greenhouse he had created?

It was then. A knight quickly entered from outside and prostrated himself.

“His Excellency Western Lord says he wishes to meet with you.”

There was only one reason why Western Lord would seek him out.

He must be quite shameless to come in person even after receiving the message to forget about the engagement.

Cassian frowned slightly but soon nodded.