Grand Duke Alcide Cajarte

"Your Excellency!"

I was busy formulating a strategy, inspecting down at the ancient map. When Josh came in my tent breathing heavily, interrupting my focus. It appears like he run towards my place as the droplet of his sweats tarnish the ground.

"Sire!"

"I can hear you perfectly," I stated. My eyes went back to the scroll.

"T-they're on their move!"

The hand that was holding a quill stopped just as my body froze with his news. My eyes widen and hissed.

"We were informed by a knight that was assign in the watchtower. Their flags are drawing closer! What must we do?"

"Prepare the troops!"

"Understood," he salutes before gathering the soldiers to assemble for the battle.

I wore my armor, forsaking the helmet. The gun was kept hidden in the pocket of my leather belt, besides the steel sword. Tons of bullets that was inside of a wooden box was brought as my orders.

Accidently, I glance back at the map. I clicked my tongue as my plan didn't go beyond of what I imagine. Currently, quite feeling pissed at their sudden attack. We should've been the one who's surprising them with the invasion yet, the tables have been turned around.

The enemy must be confident to win this war. What might the King of Mazo scheming to be the one to raid us first? How bold of him. I gritted my teeth; I will make sure that I will hear his scream in pain as I will be the one to slit his throat.

We reach a high ground, the border between the Arello and Mazo. One more step and I will trespass their land. The sight above of the dancing tree leaves and the horizon between the ocean and skies were mesmerizing. As we look down, our opponents were marching towards with their usual attire for a combat.

A familiar scenario. Thousands of armies, with their shield and sword. Nothing seems suspicious. However, I do feel a strong phenomenon will occur. Whispering me to pull back. Begging for us to return at the camp.

I chuckled. Who am I kidding? Even if the devil will be my rival, I would still have the courage to find ways to bring him back to hell. Kill him again and again.

Mazo, composed of various Dukedoms and lords. Ruled by a single King. They joined their forces, providing soldiers just to conquer this land. Quite impressive, I must say.

I signal my soldiers to wait for a minute before releasing their hands that was smoothly gripping the string of their bow. A wind pass by, we can feel the cool air beyond our armor and their fast heartbeats as they gulp their own saliva with their fingers turning cold.

When I think it was the right time, I nodded my head and let them showered arrows to our enemies. Screams of panic from down below made me anticipated a scene of wipe out soldiers bathing with blood.

They were reloading their bows as fast like a lightning speed. A minute pass by before I motioned my hand to cease. No one must have survived from that as we surely rained them with a thousand of arrows.

A brave soldier dared to check the low ground for the outcome. We waited for him to announced the number of the foes that have died from the assault. However, he turned his faced with horror filled in his eyes.

"Sire. None," he reported with pale lips.

"Do you mean; no one was left alive?" a random knight answered. His smile was vast like the space of the forest. He claps his hands with the other, already celebrating victory without my permission. "Yes. We can return back early and eat canned foods!"

"Let's eat the Corned Beef flavor!"

My eyebrows creased. I have a bad feeling about this.

"I'm implying that none of them was injured!"

All of them that was happily dancing turned into ice stone. They gasp and run at the verge of the mountain. Wanting to confirm if the report was true. I watch them cursed underneath of their breath.

"What? How could that be?"

"They're still marching towards us!"

"There was no sign of the blades abrade on their shield."

I massaged my temple with their murmurs. "Silence."

For them to stay still, avoiding the nervous to crept them. A leader must be stand with compose. Indeed. You amuse me King of Mazo. However, I have my wife's trick under our sleeves.

Madelaine. I will bring you victory.

"Let's draw our swords. Buy me time to think and unmasked their scheme."

I never felt this once again. Was it because of the coffee I drank this morning? My blood that flows through my veins, rushing as I tightly grip the handle of my sword. What's this? My flesh is palpitating and I can't help to hide the excitement from them. It's been too long for me to feel agitated in a battle.

"Sire? Why are you grinning?"

"Do I? Probably, your hallucinating."

On my command, they went to their own position as the formation we planned and I found myself in the front line. "Prepare to seize the glory!"

We valiantly clash with our enemies. Swinging our swords with how the way I trained my troops. I stab the sharpness of my steel to a mere soldier that dared to assassinate me from behind. It's disgusting blood that splash on my cheek, I wipe it with irritation and continue to slay every person that blocked my way.

In the middle of the war, my mind goes wandering on how did the enemy manage to block our attack from above. Being distracted with their awfully strong defense. This must be the reason why their King is confident.

The more I ignore it, the more I noticed. Using half of my strength for a single person was unusual. I could slaughter a human in just one snap of my finger. In any case, it was different for today.

"Retreat!" Their leader yelled. "Everyone! Fall back!"

I pierce the pointed edge of an arrow that I found lying on the ground to his eye. Causing him to couch blood. He was being noisy so, I had to shut him in a way.

"Monster," he glared at me that was left with his current situation. I should've have aim for his mouth and I could never thank the heavens for me to be born with a height. I looked down on him and smirked.

I retract the arrow and stab it on his brain constantly before letting him go to rest in peace. I laugh how devastated of his face that I couldn't recognize anymore. Dying in this battlefield that can't even gain an honor.

The other enemy began to run away. I signal my soldiers to let them escape. I sigh, we were able to survive however, I'm not sure when will be the next time they'll charge at us.

"Your Excellency, we have things to report."

We were back at our camp. I feel refreshed to listen with their concerns after I took a shower. From the outside, I can hear the healers being busy with treating our comrades that was fighting for their life.

"What are those?" Pertaining to the broken pieces of gems that they brought.

"Your Excellency, we thought that it was strange that the ground was a bit shining. Thus, we did a little research and found these."

"Hmm. This gem," I pick its particle and lift up to see how the sunlight reflects. "It's Datae."

"It seems that these was the reason behind why their soldiers were quite difficult to fight back."

"How so?"

"Your Excellency, you must not hold an interest of it but I heard a rumor that these gems were extremely valuable for it contains a small amount of protection magic."

Then all the more rationale for me to attain it. "Is there anything left that wasn't damage?"

"None, Sire. Everything was shattered."

I cursed and sternly closed my eyes. "Alright. I decided, let's invade their main residence this time."

Their eyes went wide and dropped their jaws. "Your Excellency, you mean that we will force our army to intrude? Aren't you being too rush?"

"Just what I clearly stated. Don't ask anymore."

"Then, your granting us the permission to use our guns?" Their reaction shifted into grinning like a fool.

I prohibited them to use the weapon in the fight without my consent. We must know first the tactics of our opponent before showing our trump card. This was the perfect time for it. If my wife didn't propose this weapon, we were really in a critical situation. I won't stay calm and probably we will be defeated.

She said that the gun could pierce through into their body despite wearing an armor. If the bullet was enough to break their invisible barrier then, might be she predicted that this will happen?

Datae, according to these Knights in front of me. It was a magic to provide a shield that not a human eye can be seen. By wearing these rare jewels, they would be covered with magic.

"Yes. If we want to break through to their guards. We will have to bet our stake at everything."

"Understood. Then, we must leave now. Pardon for bothering you."

"Hold on."

"Yes?" They stop at the doorway of my tent. Turning around to see me.

"You said that you're having a hard time to retaliate with the enemies, right?" They tilted their heads at the same motion. I smirk. "Both of you must lack training. Go swing your sword fifty times."

Their shoulder fell as if they were wrong for mentioning it. Though, they still obeyed my order for they don't have control of what I spoke. The taste of power status, it is.

The next day, we didn't wait for the sun to woke up. My army march forward to the heart of Mazo. We successfully manage to shoot the soldiers that let their guard down and wipe out their camp easily. If I would know such weapon exist, I wouldn't have walk in the hard times.

Since then, when our foots stepped on their land. I commanded my knights that every castle will be raided, every houses of aristocrats must be capture and bring them to me alive. Until I will be able to witness with my own eyes, the face of their King that was comfortably sitting on his throne in the Royal Palace while his people are sufferings.

"I beg of you! Not to conquer this country!"

He kneeled down, the crown rolled on the red carpet and his fur cape was dirtied. The noble audiences that was arrested by my soldiers while on their bended knees was behind my back, gasping for unexpected sight was to behold.

"Your Majesty! Do not beg to a cruel person. We should just negotiate with him!" a man shouted despite the tight ropes around his wrist and the sword of my servant that was pressuring his neck.

"Silence! The Excellency didn't give you a permission to speak."

"How dare for a lowly Knight like you to touch me."

I sigh before giving a signal to my soldier to let it slip and cover his foul mouth for the meantime.

"A peace treaty! We could converse with this one, right?" the King stated.

"Hmm." The Emperor has given me the ought to kill this once dignified man or tried to discuss and make this country an ally to avoid violence. If I would choose, I rather take the path of burying him in his tombstone. That's the definition of peace for me. "What benefit I could gain from that?"

"Everything that you want!"

"You must be misunderstanding me. I don't need anything from this place," I chuckled. It's not the fact, I'm highly interested in their most valuable gem. Though, I wanted to see his reaction being destroyed.

"They said that the you signed a peace treaty with the Claintery Empire! The tyrant Grand Duke turned soft on them. Can't you just do the same with Mazo?"

I turned around to the noble with the same voice that have been interrupting us. "State your name."

"I'm Marquis Kobid Lastima! Release me at once!" I walk closer to him while he's busy boasting their family history. I drew my sword and in a snap of second. The other captures were bewildered at the scene.

The head of the arrogant person was now completely separated from his body; his eyes were still open yet not moving. Blood that spread on the floor as I pick up his head, through the interlace of my fingers in his hair. I showed them to everyone with amusement in my face.

"This will happen if you keep your mouth blabbering." They all began to tremble and finally stayed silent with their murmurs. The air become heavy that made them stare blankly. "Wouldn't this make a nice portrait?"

"Deliver this to the house of Lastima." I handed the head to the Knight that was insulted by the so-called Marquis. I went back to the King who's still begging for me to spare them. I sit without my clothes touching the ground. I level my face to his eyes. "Now, I shall agree to your suggestion. In return, I want the finest Datae gem."

His look has widened. "Y-you can have it all. However, you must marry the seventh princess. Aside from having her knowledge to access those gems, this will be the symbol of our agreement."

I knitted my eyebrows. "I have a wife."

"Then you can make her as your concubine."

"Do you even hear the words coming from your filthy mouth?" The fallen King glance to a soldier that was on standby to protect his master, seems like he gave an ordered. Later on, a woman appeared with two guards escorting beside her.

Her hair was like a pair of the color of my eyes. With her frail body I'm guessing that if I hold her, she might break. Red lips and adorable pointed nose. Enticing gaze that was captivating, not letting my sight go.

"Hmm."