Delayed Chapters: 1/2.
*Bang* *Bang*
The wooden structure had a massive log hanging from it. It collided with the shield wall every time the soldiers let go of the ropes. With a thunderous crash, each attack forced the five shield-bearers to take a few steps back.
Each impact caused them to groan in agony. After five crashes, they couldn't feel their hand anymore. However, as soon as other soldiers drew the log back, they moved up to the ground line and braced for another one.
Every muscle in their bodies screamed in pain after ten swings of heavy logs.
The leader yelled, "Don't let your shield touch the ground!" as they dragged their heavy body away from the designated position.
According to the prince's rules, every act of disobedience would be punished with ten whippings. They didn't dare to be irresponsible, so they obeyed.
Some of them had been carrying the shield for over ten years during the war, but after three days of following the imperial prince's training regimen, they felt their bodies could no longer take it.
However, they did not dare to express their displeasure when they remembered how the prince had punished the knights.
As they stepped aside, another group of five shield-bearers took their place and received the swinging log.
Hilda had created several training tools, including the hanging log system. Aside from the hanging log used to train the shield wall, there were ten battering ram-like instruments.
In comparison to the hanging log, bettering ram-like instrument was used to train a single shield-bearer at a time. Then there was show running courses and trail courses for the knights.
Even though the knights were still in the barrack cell, Hilda sped up the squires' training. It wasn't only knights and shield-bearers. Hilda devised a training program to improve the abilities of every soldier on her squad.
Free running, weight running, squats, lunges, and push-ups were the most common exercises. Every one of them had to complete the sets each day.
Then there was high-intensity interval training, horse stance training, stair training, weight training, and battle ropes. She reserved them for her special hundred-man squad. Finally, they had to train their weapon to meet the requirements set by Hilda.
“Isn't it too much, Your Highness?” The general, who was standing next to Hilda, couldn't help but inquire. He sighed as he looked at his soldiers, who were dragging their lead-filled bodies to rest.
“How long did you serve in the army?”
The general looked at Hilda in surprise. He failed to understand the purpose of the question. So Hilda answered her own question.
“I'm guessing more than ten years. How many soldiers had been killed right in front of your eyes?” Hilda smirked as she looked at a shield-bearer who survived 50 slams from the battering ram-like instrument, saying, “countless. Yet, you survived. Why?”
If you asked anyone why they were alive, they'd be surprised, and the general was no exception. So Hilda responded on his behalf, “Because you're better than them. Your body was well-trained, your stats were high, and you were proficient with your weapon.”
“But look at them.” Hilda pointed to the soldier who had easily survived 50 strikes and the one who was struggling after 20. “What makes them so different?”
“Perhaps because he has the talent.”
“Talent alone isn't enough.” Hilda shook her head. “Because that man worked harder. It is because that man has a strong desire to survive. And that guy is already content with what he has.”
The general was at a loss for words. He was staring at soldiers when Hilda asked, “Do you know what joining the 'Emerald army' means?”
“We must defend ourselves from the barbarians.” The general wasn't sure about his response, but it was the best he could think of at the time.
“It symbolizes death.” Hilda grinned. “As soon as you joined my army, there is only one outcome for you: death.”
“But, you are a prince.”
“I'm an abandoned prince. A disposable pawn.” Hilda clarified. “Otherwise, why would they send only 2000 soldiers when they usually send at least 5000?”
He, too, had the feeling that something was wrong. He had ruined his chances of advancement by arguing with a high-ranking noble. Despite this, after seven years as a centurion, they promoted him to general and then to deputy commander.
“Do you really want to die?” Hilda smiled as she looked at him.
“Neither do I,” Hilda added as the general shook his head. “That is why we must strengthen ourselves.”
“No matter how strong we become, defending against the barbarian with this number would be impossible.” He stated another obvious fact after realizing Hilda was speaking to him honestly.
“Didn't the sixth emperor hold off 10,000-strong monster waves for four months with only 700 soldiers? Didn't the Third Emperor annihilate the grassland barbarians with only 1000 cavalry?”
“But they were great emperors.”
“No one is born an emperor; they were bred. And when they accomplished those feats, they were only princes.”
Hilda laughed as she realized the general was staring at her with wide eyes. “Don't get me wrong. I don't want to be an emperor; I just want to live, just like the rest of them. And to do so, we must strengthen ourselves.”
“How? The barbarians are tough adversaries.”
“General, have you ever been to a slave market?”
“Are you going to employ a slave?”
“I didn't say anything like that. But have you been to the capital one?”
When Hilda saw the nod, she asked, "Other than humans, what types of slaves are the most numerous?"
The general looked at Hilda before saying, “wolf tribes, werecats, satyrs, dryads…”
“Barbarians, as they are collectively called. The majority of them are not war criminals. So, how did we manage to catch them?”
“The mercenaries had captured them.” He soon realized the point. “Are we going to hire mercenaries?”
“If I had the money to hire mercenaries, I would have brought many slaves. The number of mercenaries is only a few hundred. Yet they could still capture such powerful barbarians?”
“It all comes down to their strategy,” Hilda responded to her own question. “They employ small, highly mobile, yet highly effective squads. Each of them is strong, well-acquainted with the environment, and, most importantly, they have a strong desire to survive.”
“Ahh! This is why you rearranged the training courses,” exclaimed the general.
“That is just the part of it,” Hilda explained. However, before she could finish, a soldier interrupted her.
“Your highness, Viscountess Armstrong has arrived and requests a meeting.” In a single breath, the soldier explained.
Hilda frowned and motioned with her hand, “Send her away. I will not meet her.”
“Your highness, we had already informed her.” The soldiers took a look at her face before saying, "Still, she had been waiting for two hours."
“Your highness, it is preferable to handle such matters as soon as possible. Regardless of how many soldiers we train, we will need trained knights to repel the barbarians,” the general added.
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Hilda sighed and decided to follow the soldier. She eventually met the woman. When their gazes met, she remarked, "So you are that abomination."
The face of the soldier, who was leading Hilda, turned white. He was at a loss for words. He could tell the prince wasn't happy just by looking at Hilda.
Hilda, on the other hand, waved her hand, signaling the soldier to leave the room. Before closing the door, he gave a quick bow and exited the room.
“A fallen noble,” Hilda remarked as she lazily sat on the chair. “I'd like to remind the viscountess that she is in the presence of an imperial prince.”
“What are you going to do? Send me to prison as well?” The woman had a slim build and short blonde hair. Hilda could tell it wasn't someone who would simply warm her bed with a glance. After all, she was a dame before marrying into the Viscount family.
“It is a punishable offense to disrespect a high noble. I am an imperial prince, even if you don't believe me. And disrespecting me is a heinous crime. So choose your words with care.”
“Release Lydia,” she said with a frown.
“I recall you being a knight yourself. So keep in mind that leaving her job without permission is a punishable offense.”
“This is simply an army barracks, not a battlefield. The most severe punishment is a reduction in monthly payments.”
“She'd instigated a mutiny.”
“WHAT!? That is impossible,” yelled Viscountess Armstrong.
“Why not? Her knights had launched an attack on me.”
“She wasn't the one who did it.”
“She was the commanding officer. Her job is to keep her army under control. I had previously warned her.”
“However, she was not a part of it.”
“I believe you've missed the point,” Hilda said, staring at her. “It happened because she took an unauthorized leave. And I believe you are aware that it was serious enough to warrant a death sentence.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me.”
The viscountess clenched her fist and scowled Hilda in the eyes in anger. She was, however, rational enough to handle the situation with caution.
“I believe your highness, the third prince, had yet to take a shadow wife,” she said, taking a deep breath.
Hilda straightened her back as soon as she heard the phrase "shadow wife." A Shadow wife is not the real wife of a prince but the wife of another noble.
However, if they need something or want to show their support, these nobles would then send their woman to the prince's bedchamber.
According to Hati's report, the first prince has five shadow wives, and the second prince has three shadow wives besides their original wife.
She could consider Fiona her shadow wife in some ways. But that didn't mean she couldn't have another. The question is, who was it?
On the other hand, noticing Hilda’s interested look, the viscountess remarked, “What do you think?”
“However, as far as I knew, the viscount and your son...”
Hilda didn't finish her sentence. After all, they didn't die in a dignified manner. According to the report, the viscount had a falling out with the minister of the left. And as a result, nearly all the viscount family's adult men died in mysterious circumstances.
“Both of my older sons passed away before marrying,” the viscountess said, trying hard to keep her expression in check. “My youngest son is 16. His marriage was predetermined from the moment he was born. As a result, he will marry her, as well as his elder brother's wives.”
'Luck bastard.' Hilda didn't curse out loud. “A fairly reasonable condition.”
“You can choose one of my eldest son’s wives.”
“I go with the youngest one,” Hilda commented without hesitation.
“Yes, my second son's wife was stunning.”
“I apologize, but you misunderstood something. I mean your third son's real wife when I say youngest.”
“YOU?”
“If I were you, I would not have yelled. As far as I know, your youngest child doesn’t have a good body, so Lydia has taken on the entire burden. Do you know what would happen to your family if I dishonorably discharged her?”
The countess locked her gaze on Hilda, speechless. “I believe you should consider it,” Hilda added, smiling. After all, your daughter is more valuable than the wife of your son.”
Deafening silence descended upon the room. It lasted quite a while as they continued to stare at each other. However, the viscountess soon stood up and prepared to leave the room.
“Don't forget to sign the contract before sending the shadow wife.” Hilda smiled and added, "I don't want people spreading false information about me."
The viscountess didn't even look back as she slammed the door shut. Soon after, Bodil walked into the room.
“Tell Aiden to gather information and images of the Viscount family's three daughters-in-law.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“I need it before tomorrow.”
“I will send someone as soon as possible.”
Bodil bowed and prepared to leave when Hilda inquired, "What is the marchioness doing?"
“Marchioness Fiona had just finished her lunch and had gone back to her room.”
“All right, you can go now.” Hilda stood up as well, saying, "I need to consult with her."
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[Enter an Excuse for a super late release.]
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