A few minutes earlier
“So this so-called umbrella is really helpful.”
“Sure.”
Under a blue umbrella, shielded from the heavy water droplets from the sky, Aurora and Belisari are walking toward the closest palace to their position: the Voyage Latilus Palace. Although Aurora is mildly concerned whether or not she is going to be welcome there, Belisari assured her that she would be treated as a guest. Added to that is the heavy rain tapping all over the blue umbrella, they would be wet if unable to find somewhere to stay soon, Aurora’s decision was to listen to Belisari and follow him to Voyage palace.
Besides, Belisari looks like an aristocrat to her, and his surname is Latila, sharing the same name with the nation. Aurora guessed that he’s a high class aristocrat, definitely had some monarch blood flowing in his veins, or at least something like that.
“Say”-Aurora speaks-”There are two stand out palaces in this city, one belongs to the Latila Royal family and one belongs to the House of Voyage. Am I right?”
Aurora was referring to what Belisari told her earlier on the street. Latila has had three aristocratic family lineages that at least once took this city as their headquarter: Latila, Voyage and Flemton. House of Voyage-the offensive militarism faction of Latila-had the largest, most ambitious building standing right close to Latila port, overshadowing even the Royal Palace itself.
Meanwhile, amidst the rainfall beyond their visual range, Latila Palace of the House it shared name with stands proudly in the middle of the city. From the highest tower of the palace, in the clear weather, one could see the entire nation of Latila, and even an Elestovakian village from afar.
House of Flemton, less noticeable, but they used to have a castle near the coastline of the city; one could over watch any ship that approached Latila from the south. It was abandoned after the entire family line was killed in the Elestovakian War.
“Yes. And we’re heading to one. Voyage, I expect it should take five minutes before we arrive at the gate.”
Belisari points toward a weak orange light source on top of the outside wall. The gate of the palace is relatively close, they could determine it even in the rain.
“By the way, Aurora”-Belisari asks her-”Where did you come from?”
“Ehh…Russia.”
“Russia? Never heard of it, is that a region in the Further North?”
Nodding”Yeah, very far from Latila, I had to risk my life to get here.”
“Glad that you made it. Why did you come here? Is there any particular reason?”
“I want to become a saint.”
“...That was…ambitious to say the least.”
Still a bit of time left before they arrive, Aurora speaks out a question that she should have asked earlier:
“I know I would be mainly responsible for the manufacturing progress, but can you please tell me about Latilian industrial capability? No bias, I need to know everything as correctly as possible.”
Belisari stopped walking, his face turned to her, both arms crossed, seemingly serious:
“As far as I know, we could mass produce black gunpowder, but just that, maybe welding guns and cannons, but not in large quantities-”
“Knowing how to produce gunpowder is enough, that means your nation could produce those chemicals that I need. Hey, it’s your turn to hold the umbrella.”
Taking the umbrella from Aurora, it’s now his turn to hold it for them. They then continue to walk toward the palace, but Aurora doesn’t concentrate on Belisari anymore, but something else:
“Please be careful with your steps Aurora, what can I do if you’re injured?"
“I could still draw with my hands, you know, just follow the recipes and things shall be done rather correctly and efficiently. Oh, by the way, could I rebuild your arsenal as well?”
“As long as you can make it in four months."
While still chatting, Belisari and Aurora have stood right outside Voyage palace. A few guards came from the room by the wall to confront them. However, when they saw Belisari under the umbrella, they all kneeled, and let the two enter freely. Although that does not come without a guard came and offered escort, but Belisari rejected it:
“But…the woman next to you is…”
“No worries, just consider her as my friend, you should return to your mission.”
“I get it.”
The guards still have some concern about Aurora, still, if Belisari told them to have no worry, they could do nothing but return to their post. After ensuring that no one was following them, Belisari and Aurora continued on their walk.
“Aurora.”-Belisari said while looking around-”I will introduce you to two of my friends, both working within our military rank, I suppose that they would know what they need to enhance those units under their command. Both of them are Voyage, their name is Klein and Lily.”
“Say,what branches are they working for?”
“Klein is the Close combat and Siege Infantry Corps, called the Legionary Army, while Lily, you can call her Liliya, holds a unit called Winged Husaria, we also call them Charge Cavalry Brigades. But honestly, we lack heavy firepower, that’s why I desperately need your explosive shells.”
Aurora nods her head frequently.
“I see…so there is room for some major upgrades.”
“Don’t make anything too crazy, the logistic chain has its own limit. Latila might be able to mobilize all of its manpower to fight, or build a cannon so big that it could penetrate any wall, but when there is no food to sustain such a large army, or horses can’t tow that cannon because it was too big, that version of the Latilian military will be unable to succumb more than one month into war.”
“You’re surprisingly good at understanding the war of resources, unlike a certain nation that once invaded the Soviet Union- I mean Russia but failed to realize that, so they poured their money into big war machines that turned out to not work at all. They lost the war in the end, eventually.”
“Then we won’t make that mistake then”-Belisari laughed-"Just make things simple, we appreciate that. After all, it was I who needed your help, not you who needed mine.”
Suddenly, Aurora stops walking:
“You could ask a bit more, you know? What if I told you that there is a weapon that could be very light, that even a person could carry, yet so powerful that it could penetrate any wall? Do you love that concept of weapon?”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“Isn’t that the weapon you have just shown me? That’s why I hired you.”
“Sure.”
The two continue to walk to the palace.
Fast forward
“Belisari”
Having kneeled down on one leg, Lily and Klein had their heads bowed and closed their eyes. But surprised over the presence of another person by Belisari’s side, Lily couldn’t help but glance a bit. An unidentifiable person, but she could know that that person is an aristocrat, judging by the quality of the shoes she saw with her right eye. Nevertheless, that was a woman, she can tell.
Belisari, gently pulled the hand of that girl behind the door, then said:
“Aurora, this person is Lily Sobieski Voyage, Archduchess of Voyage and he is Klein Caesar Voyage. You two could raise your heads."
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,my name is-.... Lily Sobieski Voyage.”
Trying to contain the urge of asking about Aurora’s hair color. Lily steps forward,hand raised, as a formal meeting procedure.
Aurora, at first a bit concerned thinking of shaking hands with any real aristocrats aside from Belisari, after seeing Belisari out-rank both of the two individuals in front of her, she gathers all the remaining confidence and steps up, shaking hands with Lily, then withdraws back side to side with Belisari.
“I…I am Aurora Borealis. Nice to meet you.”
“That’s not your real name, for sure. But anyhow, Klein Voyage, sorry for my manner. Your Highness.”-the man named Klein called Belisari-”May you kindly introduce me to the individual you brought along?”
“Eh? You’re-”
Your Highness-that’s what the aristocrats of the Voyage family call Belisari, which only meant one thing: Belisari is not just a noble, but a monarch member, a prince, crown prince even.
(Thank God I am very lucky!)
Upon this realization, Aurora feels like the weight of the atmosphere was lifted. On her side is one of the most powerful individuals in the state, and he seems to act friendly to her. That means there won’t be any problem that might come to her in the future. Good. Aurora lowers her head down, prevents anyone from seeing the exciting expression her face is making, because that would be embarrassing-
“Hello”
Suddenly by her ear, the woman named Lily calls for her. And also suddenly like that, her excited expression escapes from her face, leaving only a worry of how to speak with an aristocrat like Lily.
Aurora glances at Belisari, the prince however didn’t notice that and he’s still on the other side of the room having a chat with a person so called Klein. Aurora is alone here with Lily:
“You’re not a vampire, aren’t you.”-the Duchess of Voyage speaks, with her face and Aurora almost touching each other.
Repetitively nod
Lily’s face has two scars, a large one that might’ve claimed her left eye, and another smaller one on the right. Aurora can say that there are definitely more scars hidden behind that attire she is wearing right now. She is muscular in comparison to any woman, and also very tall, taller than even Belisari and Klein, 1m90 at least, and her hair is half of that length, jet black and silky. That is the part that makes her look imitating, what is not however is her eye, which looks very gentle, in opposition to her outside look.
“Yeah,I can tell, you have no red eyes despite those silver hair.”
Withdrawing her face from the newcomer, Lily turns away, she heads toward the pile of apples on the table, picks one and hands it to Aurora-”I’m not hostile, no need to be that cautious, have one.”
“Ah”-Aurora takes it with both of her hands-”Thank you.”
Aurora takes a bite to the side of the apple. Sweet, with a bit sour, delicious, she loves it, and it is clear to see that in Aurora's expression. Seeing that, Lily smiles, she gave her another:
“Here, just buy a few for Belisari when it stops raining.”
“Hey, Lily, may we take a seat?”
At the same time,Belisari had finished talking to Klein, he began moving his attention to the sofa placed right next to the door. Realizing this, Klein and Lily, each carrying a side of the sofa, move it up and place it to the opposite of the armchairs they already have around the fireplace, and get back to their seat.
“Thank you, now Aurora”-Belisari turns back to the girl-”Shall we begin the formal introduction?”
**
Surrounding the only table in Lily’s room, door locked, isolated from the outside world, Belisari, Aurora, Klein and Lily sit back on the chair, watching each other in silence while waiting for the tea to be finished.
The eyes glanced at Lily and Klein, checking their reaction. However, most attention came to Aurora. Klein is curious at how Belisari suddenly managed to bring up a “vampire” out of nowhere from this city devoid of such creatures.
While on the other side of the chair, fully knowing that Aurora is just a human like her, Lily wants to know why he brought this ordinary girl along with him. Maybe he mistaken her for a vampire- ain’t no way that happened, right? Lily told herself, no way Belisari would make such a silly mistake, she knows him well, they grew up together.
And so, the archduchess asked, but not directly-“May I ask where you came from?"-but instead of Aurora, it was Belisari who answered it:
“Russia”-the prince glares at Aurora-”She’s a foreign engineer that I hired earlier, eh…on the trip to Milishila capital of Ethanolin.”-he lied-”Just consider her as a business partner.”
“I see, but where is this Russia that I’ve never heard of?”
“Russia as I heard it is in the Further North region. I don’t know too much about the details, but the country was described as a cold vast land. But don’t bother about it, I found her at an institute in Milishila working for them.”
All of those were straight up lies that Belisari prepared earlier so that he wouldn’t have to admit that he picked Aurora up from the street, and to convince Klein and Lily to put their faith in her, and Aurora knew that in advance. Therefore, her only job is to agree to any fact that Belisari told these two people about her. No matter how ridiculous it might sound, Belisari looks like a person who can pursue people into believing whatever he says:
“Still, mysterious origin, I might say”-Klein intervenes in the conversation, as he has a little suspicion-”How much had you considered before tagging her to Latila, Your Highness?”
“Just enough for me to decide that it was a wise decision, Klein. No need to question me that much, I know what I am doing. You know that.”
Better finish this quickly before they grow any question out of her profiles:
”If it’s your decision, then fine.”
Good! Just as they intended!
“If Klein does not suspect anything, then I won’t, as well.”
The Voyage aristocrats had accepted the fact that Aurora was selected by Belisari in a trip to Milishila quite easily. Aurora and Belisari can sigh in relief already, if not for them to pretend that they weren’t lying to them. Still remaining a straight face, Belisari told them:
“As I said, Aurora was hired as a technology assistant all the way from Milishila. So in short, we would be able to have some access to their technological advancements.”
Milishila, as Aurora gathered its information throughout her conversation with Belisari, is a developed nation in the southern continent of Gaullia. Their technological advancement had been proved in their victory over Elestovakia in the recent war, and her signature weapon, the explosive shell, was first known as Milishilian war gear. That’s why Belisari chose her this nationality, to make his words further convincing, and Aurora needed less to deal with possible questions about her home nation.
“But Your Highness, you haven’t told me this”-Klein stands up-”We were supposed to be the ones who knew about this sooner. And isn’t this too late for any change in the military system? Further modification might not work in the time we need them. Our infantry stood at seventy thousand men, how can you upgrade them all in such a short time, much less reorganize it?”
Klein really did point out a problem with this plan: the deadline is tight. Just three months for preparation, any further than that would make Vlenna and Latila vulnerable to the Elestovakian army. What he didn’t know is that Aurora and Belisari had a plan on their own:
“Actually, the project would be divided into two separate parts.”-Belisari presented the idea-”The first part shall be focused on the cavalry units, especially yours, Lily”-He said, looking at the Voyage archduchess-”And Arlin’s, and our Elf Archer Cavalry. That means, by the time the war has started, we would have the cavalry ready for war, and an infantry that was ready in the first place.”
“Yes .Time-”-Aurora said,she was about to say more,but she forgot about its context. So she tries to find an escape by looking at Belisari. Belisari, glaring at Aurora sitting next to him immediately understands what she wants, so he speaks up to drag Klein’s attention to him-”Time isn’t a big problem, as long as it takes, at most it would take two months for the first half of the development plan to be done, so that we could be ready for the war.”
“Quite a bold assumption there, Belisari”-Lily said-”But I believe you can comprehend time. If you said it was two months, then two months it would be.”
Receiving the agreement face from Lily, Aurora and Belisari can have some room for breath. Lily is done, now it’s Klein:
“I would place my trust in my sister’s judgment. But what is the second part of your and Aurora’s plan of military reform?”
(Huh?)
Klein might not have noticed, but Lily did, there was a grin on Belisari’s face, before it turned back to normal, as he continued:
“Some of the few selected infantry units shall receive their upgrade, alongside with the cavalry. And after that, we would love to have some of our own surprises for the Elestovakians. About the detail…I will tell you later”