บท 191: Retaliation (2)

The foolish child king of Roserun could not abandon his pride and swallow his loss.

The march-weary forces of General Bellac were spotted heading towards the newly founded city of Rosa Alba by Julius's light cavalry scouts who were surveilling and patrolling their newest territory.

Upon sighting this new enemy, Julius sat in the office of the town hall contemplating his choices.

We could allow the Roserun army to lay siege to our city and wait until they've ground themselves to death smashing against our walls as we defend.

However, this will most likely cause a great deal of stress and worry to occur for the refugees of the Roserun kingdom, plus extend the length of the conflict.

The other choice would be to sally forth and meet their opponent in the field of battle, the battle itself would most likely end in a single day or two, and the city dwellers would be more relieved as the fighting would take place away from their new homes.

The losses his army would suffer however would be greater though since they would lose the advantage of the massive defensive fortifications.

"They're coming aren't they?" <Yuri>

Off to his side the princess was lounging on a couch in a most un-princesslike fashion, laying on her back partly propped up by one arm like a scene right out of a pop culture film where Julius was about to paint the goddess herself.

Looking up from his seated meditative contemplation, he looked over at her visage.

"By now the army should have returned to the capital and knowing the nobles they won't stand for the open rebellion by the citizens, whether they also blame us is probably also a given..." <Julius>

"I know you got a report not to long ago, that's really why you've been lost in thought. They're already nearing the city aren't they?" <Yuri>

"... Yes, they've setup camp a few hours away as they are limited by their own men's exhaustion from racing off after the ruse and then immediately being dispatched to come after us." <Julius>

"So the choice you've been stuck on then is to fight them here or to fight them there?" <Yuri>

"Well those aren't the only two options, we could certainly defend here with a certainty of winning and we could also meet them on the field and surely win as well, the other options would be to sabotage the army and make it so that they cannot attack us here, by burning their supplies and forcing their retreat back to the capital, or we could perform a night raid getting them when their asleep and would take time to assemble an adequate defence." <Julius>

"Sounds like a dirty way to fight." <Yuri>

"It is... and I know they're your people but if they mean to" <Julius>

"Stop there! The people are care about are the ones who followed me here, who are in this city right now, those who'd oppress and engage in acts of barbarism against these people are not countrymen of mine, nor ones I'd want to have, as much as it pains me, you were right Roserun fell long ago, and only the shell of what once was lingers on to this day." <Yuri>

"Once it's over I could make you Governess of the territory to bring back Roserun's greatness?" <Julius>

"Oh no! I'm certainly not cut out for being a leader, you'll have to find someone else, besides I already have a job as one of your Generals... one of your most trusted generals I believe?" <Yuri>

The young woman was clearly beginning to toy with the young lord now, which had become increasing in frequency as of late.

"You certainly do belong to my inner circle Yuri, after all, I doubt I'd be alive today if my silver tongue hadn't managed to stay your blade all those days ago. My head would be adorning you..! Wah!" <Julius>

Julius deciding turnabout is fair play ascended from his chair and began to extol his own teasing back at her with his back turned to the young vixen but before he could even finish his teasing something had tackles him from behind.

It took no real guessing to know what had just assaulted his person as he could feel a pair of soft twin mounds pressing into his back as he lay sprawled out upon the floor.

"Oh I see... so the time has come, you've decided to finish the job and claim my head" <Julius>

Choosing not to stop, Julius even having been tackled to the ground continued his spiel feigning his abandonment of life at the hands of his would be assassin.

However no response came as the body pressing him to the floor did not move.

It wasn't until a few more moments passed where Julius was trying to contemplate what was going on that he heard the soft sounds of a woman catching her breath in an attempt to prevent oneself from crying.

Having realized he'd taken things to far Julius wormed his way out from his captors embrace, having slithered free enough to turn around he now sat upon the floor while she was laying on the ground head buried in his waist arms still wrapped tightly around his torso.

This is something I've never had to deal with even back on Earth...

Choosing to not make things worse he simply place his hand upon her head as she continued to sob into his lap, if an outsider were to walk in they see a grand ole sight as the princess lay crying face laying in his lap as he petted her head.

Thank goodness we're basically alone here and the doors are locked.

However even as tense as this situation was making him the recent development had caused him to no longer fret and worry over the upcoming battle.