Chapter 65: Strategy
Notting City, Military Camp
Since early morning, the sound of marching echoed outside the camp, accompanied by the tramping of countless footsteps along the adjacent streets.
The off-duty soldiers, bored, were either gambling in the barracks or loitering outside.
Many gathered at the camp’s entrance, eager to glimpse the kingdom’s elite reinforcements.
But when they saw the approaching troops, they were dumbfounded.
The soldiers marched in neat formation, but their gear was a mess—hardly the look of regulars, more like ragtag militia.
Worse, those at the rear looked like fresh conscripts straight from the fields, lacking even a soldier’s bearing.
The guards exchanged stunned glances, whispering among themselves.
“What… are these guys really elites? Has the kingdom’s army fallen so far they can’t even equip soldiers properly?”
“Look at their gear. Most are worse off than us. Can they even fight?”
“Don’t say that. Some look like green recruits. The kingdom sent these to reinforce us? They’d probably run faster than us if bandits attacked.”
Then, one soldier spotted something odd. “Wait, when the field army came to hunt bandits before, they didn’t look like this. Could these be the bandits from outside?”
The camp erupted in panic. Many clamored to retrieve their weapons and armor from the armory.
But Uther’s loyalists guarded it, refusing access, sparking brief scuffles.
Uther arrived with a few restoration army members, shouting, “What’s all this noise!?”
Seeing their commander, soldiers crowded forward. One asked, “Lord Uther, a group passed by, but they didn’t look like the field army. Their gear looked like what we lost to bandits.”
Uther glared. “Who told you that? Those are kingdom troops, but things have changed.”
“We, and those who just passed, are the true kingdom’s army. Those bowing to the usurper Duncan are the rebels!”
Calling Duncan a usurper stunned everyone, even Uther’s loyalists.
“Lord Uther… watch your words!” a confidant urged.
“It’s fine.”
Uther shook his head, stepping into the crowd’s center. “That false king Duncan rose through treachery. We’ve found the surviving heir of the true king—Princess Christine. Should we, loyal subjects, serve a usurper or our rightful princess?”
Christine’s name shocked many. Some, forgetting the past, whispered.
“Who’s Christine?”
“Didn’t you hear? She’s the late king’s daughter. They say she escaped when Duncan massacred the royals. She’s real?”
Uther, hearing the murmurs, smiled. “Exactly. In that catastrophe, only Princess Christine escaped. She didn’t cower or hide but built strength in secret.”
“To survive and grow into such a leader in that chaos—how could it not be divine will guiding her to restore the kingdom?”
The soldiers, with only basic education, were swayed by talk of divine favor.
Soon, their whispers ceased.
Most found Christine’s story legendary, as if blessed by the gods. Uther’s words pulled them in.
“She’s truly destined if this is real.”
“Duncan barely pays us. Let’s join her!”
“You’re wrong. This isn’t rebellion—it’s restoring justice.”
Though their reasons varied, most agreed to join Christine’s restoration army.
Some dissented but were swept up by the crowd, pledging to follow Uther against Duncan.
Christine, having settled city affairs, arrived with Emmeline.
Uther introduced her. “This is Princess Christine, Londe’s eldest princess and our future queen.”
Her beauty and presence left no one doubting her royal status.
Christine addressed them. “I don’t expect you to be as loyal as Captain Uther. Some may not want to join this cause. That’s fine—you can leave now, return home, and live as civilians.”
She paused, expecting some to depart.
To her surprise, no one left.
Some feared she’d go back on her word, others were swayed by comrades, and many solidified their resolve upon seeing her.
Puzzled but pleased, Christine continued. “Since you’re all willing to help topple the false regime, I’ll be blunt.”
“In our restoration army, discipline is paramount and non-negotiable.”
“Even as bandits, we never took a thing from nearby villages. You know this…”
Christine spoke at length.
“Finally, with five thousand of Duncan’s troops arriving tomorrow, we need a meticulous plan. First, I need you to move to the city outskirts, clearing the camp for our forces.”