Chapter 115
He was dressed in a richly embroidered but sober tunic, and had a serious air about him. His weathered face betrayed a certain tension.
Maxime stepped forward, bowing slightly in respect before sitting down on a chair the Count indicated.
“Hi Maxime, how are you?”
Maxime was rather surprised by this innocuous question, but he answered simply.
“Quite well, and you, Count Ardan?”
“Could be better.”
The Count’s face showed his dismay.
“What happened?”
The Count began to quickly explain the situation.
“The orcs are absolutely everywhere, invading all the nobles in the vicinity and my soldiers have been fighting all over the southern territory for weeks.”
“It’s starting to wear on the morale of the whole army.”
“But I’m not here to talk to you about that.”
Simultaneously the Count took on a very serious air.
“You’ve proved that you and your men are very capable men, and even today, thanks to your actions, we still have strength today.”
“If you and your men hadn’t killed so many orcs last time, our losses today would have been much higher and our morale much lower.”
The Count bowed slightly in thanks.
“There’s no need to do such things, this was our mission.”
Maxime couldn’t blame the Count for what had happened, after all, it had all been orchestrated by Nox.
Who in this world could stop the machinations of a God?
Perhaps there were individuals who could, but certainly not individuals in this realm.
“In any case, you’ve proved that you and your men are trustworthy. That’s why I’m going to entrust you with a mission of the utmost importance, a mission whose failure would lead to very serious consequences for me and my family.”
Maxime straightened his back, all his attention focused on the Count.
The Count placed his hands on the table, staring intently at Maxime.
“My eldest daughter, Aveline, is to travel to the royal capital of the Kingdom of the Frost Eagle.”
“She will represent our house at a great council where crucial alliances for the kingdom’s future will be decided.”
“And I fear for her safety on the way.”
Maxime immediately understood the gravity of the situation. Escorting such a high-ranking noblewoman on a perilous journey required more than brute force. It required careful planning and constant vigilance.
“I’m honored that you thought of me for this mission. May I know the details of the route and the potential threats you anticipate?”
The Count shook his head.
“I’ll tell you everything the day before departure, the latter being three days from now.”
He paused, looking Maxime straight in the eye.
“For the moment, I can only tell you that this mission is crucial to my family’s future.”
Maxime nodded, his expression serious.
“I understand, my lord. Lady Aveline will arrive safely at the capital, I give you my word.”
The count seemed satisfied with this assurance.
“She will leave in three days. Prepare your men, and choose the best for this mission. I’ll put some horses and provisions at your disposal.”
Maxime and the Count continued to discuss a few unimportant things, before Maxime left the office, somewhat confused about this mission.
Everything was a blur, and the Count was obviously hiding a lot from him.
But it was impossible for the Count to wish him harm; after all, he had saved his life during the last battle.
Still, he was determined to get some information before leaving.
So the next day, Maxime decided to go for a walk and had the opportunity to meet Lady Aveline in the gardens of the academy.
The calm, secluded setting was dotted with elegant fountains and carefully trimmed trees.
Lady Aveline, dressed in a crimson gown edged with silver, stood erect, observing the flowers with a contemplative air. Her bright blond hair reflected the sunlight, and her sparkling violet eyes seemed to scrutinize Maxime as if assessing his character.
“Are you Maxime, leader of the Saber-toothed Tigers?” she asked, her voice poised but tinged with natural authority.
Maxime bowed respectfully.
“At your service, Lady Aveline.”
These two individuals, who were so handsome, gave the impression of being in a romance novel.
She analyzed him for a few moments before speaking again.
“My father told me about you. He says you’re competent. I expect you to live up to that reputation.”
Maxime perceived a rare determination in her tone. This was no capricious noblewoman, but a woman aware of her position and the responsibilities that weighed upon her.
“You can count on me and my men, Lady Aveline. We’re ready to face any danger.”
She nodded, her gaze softening slightly.
“Good. We leave in three days. I’ll leave the preparations to you. I have no intention of interfering with your methods, but you should know that I won’t tolerate incompetence.”
Maxime already had the information about the day of departure and had already given it to his mercenaries during the previous evening’s meal.
3 days was perfect for him.
His new recruits would have just enough time to reach a fairly decent level as mercenaries.
Of course, they wouldn’t have time to reach the elite soldier level, but they could reach it on the way.
It was destined to be a rather long mission.
Perhaps his last mission before returning to the real world.
Maxime smiled slightly.
“I don’t doubt it, Lady Aveline.” Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire
The next three days were devoted to meticulous preparations.
Maxime devised a strategy for traversing the most dangerous areas, making sure that every member of the team knew the protocols to follow in the event of ambush or confrontation.
Provisions were carefully packed, and sturdy horses were prepared to carry the young lady and her supplies.
Maxime spent his evenings studying maps and assessing where they might be ambushed. He knew the journey would be a test, but he was determined to prove his group’s worth once again.
The evening before leaving, Maxime was summoned, as planned, to Count Ardan’s private apartments.
Unlike their previous meeting in the Count’s office, the atmosphere this time was more intimate.
A large fireplace lit up the room, casting flickering shadows on the tapestry-covered walls depicting ancient battle scenes.
A small coffee table was set with a carafe of red wine and two silver goblets. The Count, seated in a leather armchair by the fireplace, seemed pensive.
“Maxime, come in. Make yourself comfortable.”
Maxime approached, sitting down in the armchair opposite him, curious as to why this discussion was taking such an informal tone.
The Count, a man with an imposing aura but tired features, filled both goblets before handing one to Maxime.
“Drink up. You’ll need it to bear the weight of the intrigues that rule our world.”
Directly, the Count announced the color of their discussion, unintentionally putting a certain pressure on the room.
But the room and the atmosphere it created were so pleasant that Maxime couldn’t help but feel relaxed.
Maxime took the cup, but remained silent, waiting for the Count to express himself further.
The Count sighed deeply, staring into the fire.
“Maxime, let me be direct. You’re a pragmatic man, and I think you deserve to know the truth. This trip to the capital isn’t just about getting my daughter to safety. It’s a matter of political survival for my house.”
Maxime frowned, puzzled. The Count continued.
“For generations, our house, House Ardan, has always been a pillar of the Kingdom of the Frost Eagle. But in recent years, things have changed. Old alliances are breaking down, and new, power-hungry players are emerging.”
He placed his cup on the table, hands folded in front of him.
“Those damn greedy nobles, we fight every day for the survival of the Kingdom, while others take advantage to gain power in the court.”
But the Count quickly calmed down, showing great self-control.
“The royal court has become a nest of vipers. The great houses are vying for the king’s good graces, some with more devious methods than others. Several latent conflicts threaten the unity of the kingdom.”
“Some nobles conspire to weaken the crown and establish independent fiefdoms, while others, like House Drevon, seek to seize all power.”
Maxime, attentive, finally intervened.
“What about your house? Where do you stand in this game?”
The Count raised an eyebrow.
“A game, yes. But it’s a game where the slightest mistake costs lives, sometimes entire noble families.”
He straightened slightly.
“Our house has always served the crown loyally. However, this loyalty has become a weakness in the eyes of some. They see us as an obstacle to their ambitions.”
“Recently, we discovered that House Drevon is funding groups of bandits to attack caravans from my lands. They hope to ruin us economically.”
He paused, searching for words.
“But that’s not all. Several minor nobles, once our allies, have turned their backs on our banner. They seek to align themselves with more promising powers, believing that House Ardan is on the wane. A mistake I intend to make them regret.”