The Strongest Dull Prince’s Secret Battle for the Throne

Chapter 687: A Mother and Daughter's Gamble

Eastern Border of the Empire

"I think that you are the only one who can lead the Anti-Wilhelm faction, Lise," Mitsuba said quietly while sipping her tea.

Outside the room, soldiers were bustling about yet Lise sat silently across from Mitsuba.

"Your words are wise, mother-in-law," Lise replied. "But as a general of the Empire, I cannot leave the border while the turmoil in the Kingdom persists."

"That is correct," Mitsuba acknowledged.

Lise's first duty was as a general of the Empire. Leaving her assigned border while the East was in turmoil would go against her principles. However, Lise was not ignorant of the situation.

"If we take too much time, the enemy will have time to prepare. Can you put aside your role as a general for a while and march to the capital?" Mitsuba asked.

Mitsuba had come to the eastern region specifically to urge Lise to take the lead. If the Emperor returned, the anti-Wilhelm faction would rally with him. However, allowing Wilhelm to act freely until then could make it too late when the Emperor did return.

Hence, a counterforce was necessary. If Lise opposed Wilhelm, he couldn't ignore her, which would buy time and provide a significant advantage for the anti-Wilhelm faction.

Knowing this, Wilhelm had instigated a civil war in the Sokal Empire. Even Lise could not swiftly resolve the Sokal Empire’s internal conflict.

"I understand the situation well. I know that I'm needed at the Capital. However, I will not leave the border until the Sokal Empire’s issues are settled. Before being an Adler, I am a Marshal of the Empire."

"Lise..."

"Don't worry. I have already received a request for reinforcements from the Imperial Crown Prince of the Sokal Empire. I will lead my army to crush the enemy forces and then head back to the Capital."

"It will be too late by then," Mitsuba responded.

This was Lise's fastest plan while considering her unyielding principles. However, it was still too slow and the enemy would have ample time to prepare in the absence of a counterforce. The only one who could currently oppose Wilhelm was Lise, Mitsuba thought. However...

"Mother-in-law, you are wise. Wiser than any of Father's other consorts. But there is one thing that you are wrong about in this situation."

"May I hear it?"

"I believe in my siblings. Rupert is in the north and Krista in the south. If they have escaped, then they will surely become a counterforce."

"Arnold's death has been made public. Knowing their brother's death, will they still choose to fight?" Mitsuba asked.

Mitsuba had her regrets. She had suspected that Arnold was still alive from Fine's reactions but she thought there was a meaning to it and kept silent. However, this probably discouraged Krista and Rupert. They were supposed to be backup if Lise couldn't move but now they were unlikely to function as such. If she had told them the truth... That would have revealed that Arnold was alive and ruined his plans. Hency, Mitsuba didn't know which would have been better.

"I won't believe anything until I see it with my own eyes. I thought the same about Wilhelm and because I saw my brother's corpse with my own eyes, I believe that the current Wilhelm is an impostor. The dead don't come back and if Wilhelm had truly returned, he wouldn't show himself publicly out of guilt. That's my belief, so I don't take the enemy's announcements at face value. Therefore, I believe that Arnold is still alive, and I can infer as much from your attitude, mother-in-law."

"Rupert and Krista are different though."

"Indeed. But they are my siblings. They have crossed the line of death in the capital so no matter how painful or sad it is... they have the will to move forward," Lise stated calmly but firmly.

A soldier entered right after Lise's declaration.

"Marshal, the preparations for departure are complete."

"Very well," Lise acknowledged the soldier and stood up but did not move immediately.

"Mother-in-law, shall we make a bet?"

"What kind of bet?"

"Whether Rupert and Krista will rise as a counterforce."

"I think it's unlikely. Even now."

"I believe they will rise."

"The bet is on. What are the stakes?"

"If they don't move within a certain period, I will return under any circumstances. I will abandon my pride as a general and head to the capital as a member of the royal family. That will be the price if I lose."

"And if you win?"

"I am considering marriage with a certain man. But I am a blunt woman, so I don't know how to propose in a way that would make him happy. I would like your advice on that, as well as for you to persuade Father to agree to the marriage."

Mitsuba smiled wryly at Lise's request.

"I cannot refuse such a request from my daughter. So you must not lose this bet, Lise."

"Don't worry. I don't make bets I can't win. I will be back soon, mother-in-law."

With those words, Lise flipped her blue cape and marched out. TL: Coolest character out of all the siblings…

______________

"Arnold-nii is dead..."

Rupert, who had reached the north, was now under Charlotte's protection. However, after hearing of Arnold's death, he had spent the entire day curled up in his room.

"It's impossible. It's a false report so don’t listen to the enemy."

At the same time, he trembled at the reality that even the always composed Arnold could die. He feared that he would die even more easily since the opponents were Wilhelm and Erik. There was no way he could win.

"I'm just..."

To Rupert, his older brothers and sisters were objects of fear and admiration, beings he could never surpass. The dire situation they are now in further depressed him. Upon entering the north, Rupert had sent a rallying call to the northern lords, a strategy that was recommended by Charlotte. However, there was no movement from the northern lords as they were also uncertain. They couldn't decide if Wilhelm was real or fake. Furthermore, the neglect of the north began with Wilhelm's death so if they sided with Rupert, annihilation awaited them instead of mere neglect. Therefore, as lords, they couldn't make a hasty decision. Especially with Rupert, the youngest royal, they doubted his ability to lead them as their leader.

"I’m sure Father and Leonard-nii will come to our rescue... We just need to wait..."

After reaching this negative conclusion, Rupert uttered a hopeful phrase. He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't help it. For the already insecure Rupert, leading the North now was an impossible task.

However...

"..."

Every time he concluded for them to wait for his father and brother, an inner voice whispered, "But still..."

After contemplating for a while, Rupert finally left his room.

"I want to see the place where Gordon-aniue died."

He didn't know why he wanted to go there. Yet, he felt that he should go.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!