Chapter 18: Another Map

Lenta arrived filled with utter hatred and humiliation—that damned little noble had defeated Philip, and entire Homer was now under Komer’s control. It was a nightmare for Gothenburg. As a result, she had to come here again, as a pitiful mediator—no, not a mediator at all, but a supplicant, coming here in submission.
The shameful return of the court mages caused a sensation throughout Gothenburg. The Light Church would have to pay for their hasty actions. These mages, who always prided themselves on being invincible, were utterly helpless against a bunch of barbarians and half-orcs, leading to the collapse of the entire Homer army. Considering the kingdom’s disastrous losses in the north, it raised a big question: could the Light Church still fulfill its role as the so-called guardians of humanity? This doubt had taken root not only among many people in the Kingdom of Nicomedia but also among the nations of the Northern Alliance.
“Freeman, how much longer until Odessa?” The surface of the canal was quite calm, and the boat moved smoothly, giving the illusion of stillness. Her green and pale purple cloak made her enchanting face even more alluring, while her eyes, which seemed to change constantly, appeared restless against the slightly murky water.
“Your Highness, it will be another eight hours,” replied the old servant respectfully from the bow. “Cerri, please make some coffee for Her Highness.”
Lenta sighed softly. She had no appetite, but she didn’t stop the old servant from showing concern. This trip to Homer wouldn’t be pleasant. Going there as a lower-class individual, Lenta didn’t want to see that arrogant expression on their faces, even though she had once used the same expression toward them.
“Freeman, why do you think this guy stays in Odessa instead of going to Cyprus?” Seeing that her maid had gone to the other side of the boat to make coffee, Lenta wrapped herself tighter in her cloak. The weather changed just as quickly as the situation in the kingdom, bringing not only physical coldness.
“Uh, maybe he thinks it’s not appropriate for him to be in Cyprus right now,” Freeman replied, still in his slightly bowed posture, unchanged by his master’s question.

“Why?” Her beautiful brows raised slightly. Lenta knew that this old servant, who had served her mother’s family for thirty years, understood the situation within the kingdom better than anyone else, and his loyalty to her was beyond doubt—this was precisely why she had brought him along.
“Viscount Komer has a very poor reputation in Cyprus, or rather, an extremely bad one. His hostile relationship with Mr. Ramla Reiser is well-known, and Mr. Reiser has long since severed any familial ties with him. It can even be said that Viscount Komer no longer bears the Reiser surname—this is evident from the fact that he chose a bear head as the emblem on his banners in the Caucasus. This isn’t just a superficial gesture; it’s a complete break.” The old servant seemed very familiar with the family affairs of these nobles.
“Viscount Komer only defeated Philip militarily and seemingly took control of Homer from the outside, but the nobles of Homer still hold an ambiguous attitude toward him. Although Katin has given Viscount Komer a title, it’s not legitimate, so the support he receives is limited. Of course, both nobles and merchants are pragmatic—especially merchants, who will quickly change their attitudes. Nobles might hold back a bit longer, but given the overall trend, no one can reverse it.”
“Damn that Philip! How did he manage to rule Homer? Did he spend all his energy on women? He couldn’t even defeat these ragtag groups of lower races. I really wonder how the Philip family could have ruled Homer for so many years. If I had known he was so weak on the inside, why didn’t my father force the implementation of the Edict of Utrecht in Homer back then?” Disappointment was evident on Lenta’s face.
“Your Highness, it’s not as simple as you think. Viscount Komer was able to defeat Philip not entirely because of Homer’s weakness. In fact, the combat strength of the Homer Knights and Storm Infantry remained quite formidable. Coupled with the support of the Court Knights and the Light Church, no one gave the Caucasus a chance at first, but the outcome was always unexpected.” Freeman remained expressionless, as if merely recounting a process unrelated to him: “Apart from the strength of barbarians and half-orcs, we can assume that the Caucasus also had quite powerful mage forces supporting them. Only that can explain why the Court Mage Corps and the three saints of the Light Church were all defeated.”

Lenta’s lips twitched slightly. Komer’s growing strength was hard to judge as either a blessing or a curse for their side. The outcome of this mission would depend on how things developed and on Viscount Komer’s attitude.
“Freeman, then in your opinion, can Komer truly establish himself as the ruler of Homer?” A strange expression appeared on Lenta’s face.
“Your Highness, there’s no doubt that Philip has been abandoned by everyone. He doesn’t have many true allies, and even the people of Calais seem weak. How can he expect the kingdom or other lords to support him?” Freeman shook his head. “The orc invasion has completely disrupted the balance of power within the kingdom, and it has also instilled fear among the people. Now, everyone longs for a strong government to ensure their survival and well-being. Komer happens to fulfill this role—even the barbarians and half-orcs, whom they once saw as monsters, now bow before him. It can be said that the nobles and merchants of Homer’s current resistance to Komer is only temporary. As long as the orcs in the north show any sign of movement, the panicked people will remember who can stand against those ferocious orcs. Even neighboring regions like Poznan and Silesia could be affected.”
Lenta felt a bitter taste in her mouth. Could that man really rise to such prominence?
“Freeman, are you saying Komer will definitely take Philip’s place as the ruler of Homer?”
“Without a doubt. With the central power of the kingdom weakening and the other lords preoccupied, the only force that might pose a threat to him is the Church of Light. Unfortunately, the Church of Light suffered a crushing defeat this time, which will surely shake its position in the kingdom and even throughout the north. Add to that the active presence of the Order of Salvation, which has caused the Church of Light many troubles, further straining its resources. It can be said that no force yet exists to challenge Komer’s position. Once this temporary period passes, it’s likely no one will be able to replace him in Homer.” Freeman analyzed things objectively and rationally. Though it was unpleasant to hear, honest advice is often harsh.

Lenta fell silent. Freeman’s words were clear: Komer now possessed considerable power, especially military strength, and there was no force within the kingdom capable of challenging him—unless the entire kingdom united, which was clearly unrealistic given the threat from the orcs. As long as Komer managed to establish himself firmly in Homer during this time, no one would be able to challenge him anymore; he could even shape the course of events in the entire kingdom. Whether it was Galay, Cilicia, or Katyn and Gothenburg, many matters might still require consideration of this rising power’s stance.

Seeing his master lost in thought, Freeman hesitated for a moment, as if wanting to say something. He opened his mouth but then stayed silent. The perceptive Lenta immediately realized he must have something difficult to say.

“Freeman, is there something you want to say? In front of me, is there anything you can’t say?” Lenta tried to keep a gentle tone. Though this old servant had always been by her side, she didn’t know much about him. Yet her mother had told her that Freeman often provided valuable advice.

“Your Highness, you’re nineteen this year, right?”

“Mm, I am indeed nineteen. Freeman, why do you ask?” Lenta was puzzled.

“I mean, Your Highness is now an adult. Perhaps it’s time to consider marriage.” Freeman finally got to the point. Marriage for nobles, especially royalty, generally meant political alliances or deals, and every nobleman’s offspring was well aware of this.

“You mean…” Lenta was shocked.

“That’s right. Your Highness understands what I mean. I think now is an opportunity. It seems difficult for the Romanov family to regain its former glory—neither Hoffman nor Kakiya has the ability to revive it. In fact, it’s hard for anyone right now. It’s not a matter of personal ability but rather the demands of the times and circumstances. So, Your Highness, don’t tie your fate to the Romanov family, nor should you become someone else’s pawn. I think you should have your own path to follow.”

Freeman’s words were filled with a temptation that made Lenta’s heart flutter. Such blunt and direct speech would undoubtedly cause a storm if it reached Hoffman’s ears, and her own maid was surely Hoffman’s spy sent to keep an eye on her. Perhaps asking Ciri to make coffee was intentional—could this guy also have some backing? To say such things clearly wasn’t just a spontaneous remark.