The Male S*ave of the Count Sianella Family

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My family possesses more military forces than the typical Baron family.

The probability of such an event occurring is extremely low, but if the Count’s House were to lose its entire military and the western region was engulfed in the flames of war, the families that retreated, along with support from the royal family, could coordinate a counterattack. After all, my family was originally established as a stronghold in anticipation of war.

Thanks to this, we were able to bring three different battalions here, consisting of regular knights, heavy cavalry, and wizards.

Thus, I casually greeted the leaders of each unit.

“These are the knights of the family. It’s an honor for me to meet you all directly.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

As the knight who seemed to be their representative bowed, the two women followed suit.

I would have to engage in lively conversations with those two, who had been tight-lipped for so long at some point. For now, however, chatting with this knight seemed much more preferable.

Through our conversation, I learned the names and ranks of my knights.

From their demeanor during this encounter, I got a rough sense of things.

“The knight captain I’m talking to now is Hanelrn.”

Hanelrn was clearly focused on understanding and respecting the difference in status between a baron and himself, continuing our conversation on that basis.

“And then there are Theia, captain of the assault unit, and Dorothy, the wizard.”

Why do people say archers have exceptional eyesight? It’s because they can capture objects with a glimpse and catch minute details with their finely tuned perception.

And being an archer myself, I could perceive their subtle feelings, which were radiating all around.

“It seems those two are hiding some dissatisfaction with me, unlike Hanelrn.”

Even though they were bowing and acting modestly like the captain of the knights,

It was clear they didn’t genuinely recognize me as their lord in their hearts.

However, I had neither the need nor the justification to reprimand them, nor did I have any intention to touch upon the matter.

“Well, I guess that’s understandable.”

After becoming a baron, I hadn’t done anything directly as a baron.

Receiving my title as a baron from the royal family through the Count’s House, and merely maintaining functionality with the help of the Count’s House and the royal family at the baronial estate—my conversations regarding who supports my family and the quality of those discussions were indeed lacking.

They might be clicking their tongues at the fact that their leader and representative is not even the highest retainer of the Count’s House, but merely the deputy commander of the knights.

Anyway, I couldn’t even pride myself on being a head of the family fulfilling my duties properly.

Thus, I can’t complain much about how individuals might evaluate me.

“Hanelrn, where is the family’s military stationed?”

“It’s not too far, but it’s not really a short distance either. Just about a 20-minute journey east from here, we were resting.”

“I see. Have you not arrived here long ago?”

“We arrived four days ago, but I thought it best to await your judgment on the family’s battalion… So we haven’t set up the main camp yet.”

“Hmmm, then it would be preferable to stay closer to the Count’s House—”

As soon as I started speaking, Shione superbly swooped in to support me.

However, the warm atmosphere that had been prevailing just a moment ago quickly vanished. With a cold and noble gaze, she slowly eyed my knights. Specifically, she scrutinized Theia and Dorothy.

Then, with her arms crossed, she made a suggestion.

“The Baron must be both a knight of our Count’s House and the head of the family, so the situation is quite challenging. If you wish, I can arrange for the soldiers from the Baron’s House to join the Count’s House camp.”

“I’ll gladly accept your kindness.”

“I will personally inform my mother about this. Since it involves the Baron, I am certain she will grant her permission without hesitation.”

It seemed Shione wanted to help me emphasize that as a baron, I shared a close bond with the Count’s bloodline.

Her careful choice of words especially showcased that my position within the Count’s House was solid and unquestionable.

“Then let’s also expand the barracks of the Baron’s House next to the Count’s House. It would be best to discuss our strategies after the camp is set up and organized.”

“I will comply with your command.”

If the troops of my family are stationed right next to the Count’s House, it will greatly ease management alongside the Special Mission Team.

I can hardly wait to see how my family’s forces will feel.

Afterward, I informed Diolia about this matter.

“Hanelrn… It’s been a while since I heard that name. He was exceptionally skilled with a sword. We lost contact after he graduated from the Academy. I never thought he’d join the deputy commander’s family.”

“You know Hanelrn?”

“Of course, that’s why I’m reacting this way. He was my junior at the Academy. Although we shared only a year together… Being commoners, we had plenty of fun practicing swordsmanship together. You’re lucky, Baron. You’ve gained an outstanding knight.”

The kingdom really isn’t so big after all; I never expected Hanelrn and Diolia to be connected.

“I should sneak away and catch up with him later.”

I said with a shrug toward the chuckling Diolia.

“So, I should have a chat with the head of the family.”

“With the head of the family?”

“I’m deciding whether to fully integrate that knight unit into the Western Allied Forces or to operate all three battalions separately away from the Special Mission Team.”

“Well then, can I predict something?”

“A prediction?”

“If it is you as the head of the family, you might end up leading your own knights in a joint operation instead of just remaining the deputy commander of the Special Mission Team.”

“Can I hear the reason?”

As Diolia observed Shione from afar, who was directing soldiers while exchanging pleasantries, she continued speaking.

“Shione needs to learn to make decisions and judgments on her own in a situation where you are not nearby. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. It’s simply time for her to feel and cultivate the responsibility and ability of someone in the upper echelon.”

“……”

“And as for you, deputy commander, you are currently part of the Count’s House’s Special Mission Team, but it seems like the head of the family wants to take a step further into the sphere of the Karpel Baron family. By showing charisma as more than just a deputy commander during this opportunity, you might find yourself facing a new future.”

With her arms crossed and eyes closed, the captain whispered.

“If you leave the Special Mission Team, you won’t be able to speak so freely anymore. But the devotion you showed to the Count’s House and the kingdom, as well as our friendship, won’t just vanish. I’ll always support the deputy commander.”

“Ohhh…”

“Did you just gasp in awe? You really should react like that more often.”

“That wasn’t my voice.”

“…Are you saying that this sighing voice isn’t the deputy commander’s voice?”

As Diolia opened her eyes, she said,

“Captain, that’s cool.”

“Never mind understanding the hearts of men, but you clearly know how to stir the hearts of women.”

“Don’t say nasty things like that about not understanding men. That’s the captain’s soft spot, isn’t it?”

Before I knew it, the knights from the Special Mission Team had circled around us, gazing at her.

Ultimately, after the captain’s shout of embarrassment, we fled in a panic.

*

With the Count’s House and the camp of the Baron’s House side by side in the vast open fields, the command tent of the Baron’s House was set up first, and as the finishing touches for the soldiers were smoothly done, the sun set today, and the moon rose.

As the flickering light of the torches warmed the air chilled by the impending winter, many soldiers fell into a deep slumber after a tired day.

The command tent of the Karpel Baron family still shone with light seeping out from the entrance.

“I’ve placed the magic. No one will be hearing anything from this place for a while.”

“Thank you, Dorothy. As expected, your magical skills are top-notch in the Baron’s House.”

“…You don’t have to elevate me so much. Other wizards can do this too, Hanelrn.”

“Why are two women being all lovey-dovey? Stop that and let’s start talking.”

Teia interrupted the conversation of Hanelrn and Dorothy.

“By the way, what did everyone think of the first impression of the new head of the family?”

The reason we gathered at this hour was because of the new head of the family, who we had met for the first time today.

Dorothy was the first to respond to Teia’s question.

“I don’t have any particular thoughts. But if I had to say something… it felt more like a knight dedicated to his duties than a head of the family. Yet since he’s taking part in this battle, I think he’ll pay more attention to things than the previous head who neglected the military while being supported by the Count’s House.”

As Dorothy spoke casually, Teia nodded her head. Hanelrn, who had been quietly listening, then asked.

“Then what do you think, Teia?”

“Well, my thoughts are pretty much the same. I’m not sure about his governance philosophy or his way of managing the territory, but what bothers me is that our head of the family is merely the deputy commander of the Count’s House.”

“……”

“And our head of the family has never even visited the territory, right? If he has gained a proud direct dominion with the royal family’s blessing, he should at least show some effort for us. While I’ll respect him and follow orders as long as they are reasonable, my loyalty is uncertain.”

“I understand.”

“To be honest, everyone here probably thinks the same. And the competency needed as a knight and a commander are completely different things. I think this time, he’ll likely leave the fighting to the Count’s House instead of leading us directly. Ultimately, we’ll still be commanded by the Western Alliance Commander.”

And that Commander of the Western Alliance is mostly made up of people from the Count’s House. Compared to the head of the Karpel Baron family, a simple knight from the Count’s House might suit the situation better.

With that last remark, Teia then asked for Hanelrn’s opinion.

“I just met a senior I had ties with earlier.”

“Didn’t I tell you to discuss the head of the family? Why suddenly mention a senior?”

“The expert knight from the Count’s House. The captain of the Great Demon Tribe Special Mission Knight Order you’re affiliated with. I received various insights from them.”

Hanelrn’s words made Teia fall silent.

She shot him an impatient look that seemed to say to speak quickly.

“The alliance commander won’t lead us directly.”

“Can you elaborate more on that, Hanelrn?”

“Of course. The head of the family mentioned that instead of being just the deputy commander of the knight’s order, he intends to directly command the forces of the Baron House. He seemed to want to lead joint operations with the Count’s knights and take charge of the overall tactics himself.”

“So that’s all you heard?”

“So when I asked what kind of person the Baron was, he said to experience it myself. Of course, in a positive sense. He added one more thing—”

As Hanelrn ran a hand through his dull gray hair, he continued.

“The head of the family is already a hero of the Count’s House. No matter which house it is, if anyone belittles the Baron or mocks him for trivial reasons, it wouldn’t be surprising if even Count Ainel himself led a charge to tear them apart. So he asked us to be careful, as the relationship might deteriorate rapidly if our troops openly show they don’t recognize the head of the family.”

“…That’s impressive. If he can make people act like that, then the tales we read in the papers about him being an unbeatable war hero must indeed be true.”

“So I’m willing to give him a try. If that cold senior of mine has sent such praises his way.”

Even as a knight from the west bearing the coolness and impartiality of the north, Hanelrn smiled with expectation.

In the midst of witnessing Hanelrn’s rarely seen smile, Dorothy and Theia were also taken aback.

“If he can elicit our loyalty, he’ll surely demonstrate his qualities as the head of the family during this war.”

Hanelrn merely expressed his thoughts.

*

Once all the military forces from across the kingdom gathered in the plains and completed their preparations for full deployment,

The representatives of the Alenarr Marquis family from the north, along with the First Princess Adelhaite, arrived at the camp.

With Epheana Alenarr by her side, the princess raised her voice and declared.

“Here and now, I proclaim the start of the Northern Crusade!”

The winter war had begun.