Dungeon Defense (WN)

l Evatriae.
You should maintain your dignity as a noble.”

The young man seated in a chair let out a sigh.
It was a sigh that mocked the other party.
The young man who had become 26-years-old this year was the crown prince of the Habsburg Empire, Rudolf von Habsburg.

“It is because you act rashly like this that the public opinion of the imperial family has been becoming worse by the day.”

“If we were to discuss the degree of rashness, then I could not possibly hold a candle to you, Brother.”

Imperial Princess Elizabeth walked over to the Crown Prince with wide strides.
She then slammed her hand down on his table.
A single piece of paper was pinned under her palm.

Crown Prince Rudolf raised his right brow.

“What is it?”

“It is about the composition of the imperial army that will face the Crescent Alliance.
The names of the generals participating in this expedition are written here.
Let me ask you this again, Brother.
What is the meaning of this? Half of the main army is not written here!”

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Rudolf gave the Imperial Princess a pitying gaze.

“Is it not obvious? Who will protect the capital if all of our forces are dispatched? It would only make sense to leave behind half.”

“Defend the capital, you say?”

The Imperial Princess snickered.

“Every nation is being invaded by the Crescent Alliance.
What sort of nation would fall into madness during this time to invade another nation? This is the safest the empire has ever been from the other nations thanks to the Demon Lords.”

“It is exactly for that reason.”

Rudolf spoke confidently.

“Everyone would think like that.
No one would think that a monarch would try to attack another human nation while the Crescent Alliance is invading.
This is common sense, after all.
However, this sort of situation would undoubtedly appear like a golden opportunity for underhanded rulers.
If we empty the capital simply due to the belief that the other nations wouldn’t dare to attack us during these trying times, then we would basically be asking for them to strike us on the back of the head.”

“Hah! Invade another nation when they are already struggling to defend their own nations? That ruler would be insane.
I cannot imagine that such an individual could have become the ruler of a nation.”

Despite the Imperial Princess’ clearly mocking tone, the Crown Prince answered back in a casual manner.

“I believe the same; however, how could one possibly see through the veils of the world? This is simply a precaution.
It is the responsibility of the one who has inherited the throne to consider every single possibility.
Earl Evatriae, do not irrationally complain about this matter anymore.”

A possibility, is it? Imperial Princess Elizabeth snorted.

There’s a limit to how much you can bury your head like an ostrich.
Every single general that belongs to the Imperial Princess’ faction was excluded from the list of participants announced by the Crown Prince for the expeditionary force.
He claims that it’s for the sake of protecting the capital, but even a mere child would be able to see that there’s political reasoning to this.
The Crown Prince’s intentions were as clear as day.
He was trying to take all the glory of defeating the Demon Lords.

It has been 200 years since the last Crescent Alliance.
The opportunity to seize a radiant token as the ‘royal who had saved humanity from calamity’ had presented itself for the first time in 200 years.
The Crown Prince didn’t try to hide his greed.
Normally, he would include at least two or three generals from the Imperial Princess’ faction in order to save face, but he made the expeditionary force consist of only his men.
In this situation where the entire imperial army probably wouldn’t be enough to face this threat to mankind, he brought upon an internal discord all for the sake of distinguishing himself.
The Imperial Princess wanted to spit on his foolishness.

“Very well, then.
This lady knows very well how tactically capable you are, so I will quietly submit to your decision.”

“……Are you mocking me!?”

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The Crown Prince slammed both his hands down on his desk as he stood up.
His face was slightly red.

Three years ago, there was a time when the Crown Prince advanced as the supreme commander in order to suppress a revolt that had started in one of the provinces.
Even though his army was twice the size of the rebel forces, the Crown Prince still lost.
Naturally, the rebel forces became high-spirited after their victory.
The third imperial princess, who at the time was 14-years-old, wiped out the rebels with an army 3 times smaller than theirs.
This incident plummeted the crown prince’s honor to the dirt while surging the imperial princess’ military prowess up to the sky.
Elizabeth was mocking Rudolf by implicitly referencing that incident.

“You are acting high and mighty for someone who came in like a mutt and took down the foes that I had weakened beforehand……!”

“Interesting.
After your defeat, four barons and seven viscounts joined the rebel forces.
If you simply consider their manpower, then their forces had increased by two times.
As someone who is short of knowledge, I do not know which book on tactics refers to raising enemy numbers by two times as having weakened them.”

Rudolf swung his hand.
The sound of flesh coming in contact with flesh resonated.

“…….”

The attendants and guards around them were taken aback.
Rudolf had just slapped the imperial princess.
The imperial princess’ neck didn’t turn even remotely in response to Rudolf’s slap which contained all his strength.
She simply continued to gaze at the crown prince coldly.

“Get out of here! The fate of the country relies on military strategy! You have committed the crime of going against our principals when not only our nation, but the fate of mankind is on the line, and, although it would not be satisfying even if I were to punish you now, I will overlook this transgression since we are siblings!”

Elizabeth and Rudolf glared at each other for a moment.
It was the imperial princess who turned her gaze away first.
She turned away without hesitation and her dress fluttered like a mantle as she left the office.
The crown prince fumed as he sat back down.
He vented his anger.

“That hypocritical bitch!”

She probably came here because she wanted achievements as well.
Despite that, she hid her intentions by using words like tactics and whatnot.
The crown prince despised Elizabeth.
There are plenty of foolish and blind people in the empire! What about that girl is so impressive that she’s praised as the last hope of the empire!?

Even if she’s a little smart, she’s still a woman.
All she has to do is obediently serve under him, the crown prince.
Her sister also didn’t know her place and tried to climb up.
It wasn’t until after he shoved his penis into her vagina a couple of times before she realized her place and committed suicide.

Since she’s the little sister of that woman, the crown prince came to the conclusion that he should utilize the same method.
Once this expedition succeeds, his faction will become overwhelmingly superior.
No one would try to shelter the imperial princess.
He’ll go to her at that time and make her realize her place.
She may be an arrogant bitch, but her looks are impressive.
There should be some merit in kindly educating her.
The crown prince calmed his rage as he looked forward to the future.

***

TL Note: Thanks for reading the chapter.
I’m slowly losing things to do as the semester draws to an end and my graduation approaches.
Oh God, I’m not prepared.

Here’s to another chapter while I’m going through a mental struggle.
See you guys on the next chapter.