Normal PoV

Three hours after Akane's platoon defeated the imperial army's supply unit, Yuito with a force of two hundred soldiers arrived.

"Where's the enemy?"

"Already defeated and captured sir!" Akane reported.

Yuito dismounted his horse and ordered.

"Treat the wounded, after securing the wagons and the prisoners, we will return to the fortress."

"I think it would be unwise to return to the fortress without a plan."

"What do you mean?" Yuito asked.

Akane had a serious look on her face, she turned to Yuito and said.

"Aldar fort is currently under siege."

Yuito had a stern look and asked.

"Are you certain of this?"

Akane nodded and she called out a soldier, the soldier reported.

"An army around three thousand soldiers have besieged the fortress, the garrison is somewhat holding their ground, but it's only a matter of time before the fortress is taken."

Yuito turned to me and angrily shouted.

"You said that if we followed the plan the need for a large scale conflict would be avoided."

"That's impossible I swear that their chain of command was wiped-"

"The logistics commander wasn't assassinated. Could he have rallied the imperial troops?"

"Perhaps."

"Based on the reports, it seems that the enemy launched coordinated attacks on the fortress, which means that someone is leading them."

Yuito sat down beside a tree with a stern look on his face, pondering on how to break the siege.

Head maid Lena poured another cup of tea for Akane, whom smiled back in response. Akane took a sip of the tea and relaxed.

"How can you so relaxed? Don't you know that if the fortress falls, our beloved country would be at risk of invasion."

Yuito shouted angrily as Akane took another sip of tea, her face remained composed despite Yuito's angered tone. She smiled at him and asked.

"Is there a secret pathway into the fortress?"

Yuito remained silent, Yuka the corporal commander in Akane's platoon replied.

"Yes milady, near the fortress is a cave, which has a secret entrance into the fortress."

Akane nodded in response and took another sip of tea. She gave Lena back her cup and told Yuito.

"We will counter attack and force the imperial soldiers to retreat."

After briefing Yuito of her plan, he ordered half of Akane's platoon to take the prisoners to a nearby village. Akane and her remaining soldiers will come with him.

"I'll be wishing you the best of luck corporal commander Yuka. Fortify yourself in the town hall, make sure that the prisoners are cuffed."

"Same goes for you Lieutenant Akane. I wish you luck."

The two stared at each other for a moment and giggled. Akane turned to Yuni and Lena.

"Yuni stay with the others okay? Head maid Lena. Could you please take care of this girl for me?"

Lena chuckles and nodded.

"As you wish milady."

With a force less than three hundred soldiers, Yuito rode off to fort Aldar. Using the hidden passage, Yuito and company managed to get in the fortress without difficulty.

"Welcome back Knight Yuito and Lieutenant Akane."

Chiharu greeted the two whilst exchanging blows with an enemy soldier. Breaking the enemy's guard Chiharu stabs the soldier in the abdomen.

"The wounded and civilians have been evacuated, our casualties have already reached a hundred. If you have a plan now is a good time."

"I have a plan, however I need more soldiers, around three hundred more."

"What is it then, we don't have all day so make it quick."

"Based on the reports I've received, the imperial army has divided it's forces. While their main army engages us in command, their reserves are gathering resources."

"While their forces are divided we shall attack them individually."

"The enemy divided it's forces into three groups, the first numbering around two thousand, the second has less than four hundred troops and the third has five hundred."

Chiharu had a stern look on her face, unlike to her normal smiling face, she had a serious look on her face as she asked.

"Can you pull it off? I will lend you as many soldiers as I could spare. But are you sure that you can pull it off?"

"I will pull it off."

Chiharu sighed, she turned to Yuito and told him.

"I can lend you two as many as four hundred soldiers."

"But won't that leave you with less than two hundred soldiers at your command?"

"I'll manage. Reinforcements are on the way, if you take out the reserve forces quick enough, we could entrap them in a pincer attack."

After making their preparations Yuito and his forces departed. Their target is the first battalion of the enemy, which encamped themselves on a small village, scavenging what little supplies they could.

"This better work."

"It will trust me."

"Based on what you presented to me, I'll trust your way of thinking. Your skill as a soldier however I cannot trust."

"Wait here."

"Bu-but."

"No buts!!! I am your commanding officer as a soldier you have an obligation to follow orders."

Yuito told Akane as he unsheathes his sword and charged into battle with his soldiers.

Caught unprepared and unarmed the enemy battalion was mostly eliminated, those whom survived have either deserted the battle of surrendered.

Yuito quickly rallied his forces and attacked the second battalion's encampment located near a lake.

As the second battalion were divided as their troops were gathering good from a nearby forest. Yuito took this opportunity to attack the unarmed enemy.

Despite being able to arm themselves, they were still overrun by Yuito's cavalry.

The battle was swift and the second battalion was wiped out. Those whom survived was taken in as prisoners of war.

"Now make haste back to the fortress!!!"

Meanwhile at Aldar Fort.

As the enemy continued their siege, Chiharu stabs another enemy soldier. She turned to Eladain and asked.

"How are things at your front?"

"Could use more troops, but I will have to make do with what I have."

Eladain replied as he parried a thrust and stabs his attacker. Both sides stopped fighting as multiple horns were heard. Chiharu turned around, to her surprise a battalion numbering five hundred soldiers made their way into the fort.

A man wearing full plate armor approached Chiharu, he opened his visor and kneels down.

"I mustered as many soldiers as I could, I apologized for making you wait milady."

"Stand up sir Edward, prepare your troops for a full frontal attack."

Surprised with Chiharu's decision Edward replied.

"But they heavily outnumber us, we would be at a disadvantage if we fight them out in the open."

"That's an order. Have trust in my judgement."

Chiharu commanded, sir Edward nodded and prepared his men for battle.

The gates opened and the two armies clashed.

Yuito and his forces rode as fast as they could back to the fort, their casualties was kept to a minimum, with a force of six hundred strong.

"Look sir, the banner of sir Edwards, which means that reinforcements have arrived."

One if the soldiers pointed at the banner hoisted at the keep.

"Prepare for battle men, ride now to victory!!!"

Akane unsheathes her sword, but Yuito turned to her, with a stern look on his face he told her.

"Stay here, soldier stay here. Make sure this girl doesn't do anything that would endanger herself."

"Yes sir!!!"

Yuito and his forces charged forward from the imperial army's rear. Realizing that the battle was lost, the imperial troops made a retreat.

"Don't bother, they won't be back anytime soon."

Yuito rallied his troops and reunited with the garrison commander's troops.

"You two did well."

"If it weren't for Yuito's leadership we couldn't have won the battle."

"Your overestimating my abilities Lieutenant."

"But it's true, I doubt I could lead my soldiers like you."

A few hours later Yuni and the rest of Akane's platoon returned with the prisoner's of war.

"What should we do with them?"

"I would like to keep them within my custody. Especially their commander."

"If that's your wish, I'll put the commander at your custody."