#90
Of course, Anture wasn’t acting recklessly alone. He had his loyal knight guards. They too had abandoned their horses and were climbing the siege tower like madmen, protecting Anture. Without their desperate defense, Anture might have already been injured and fallen from the siege tower. Enrique barely suppressed the urge to run over and drag Anture back by his collar.
“As expected of the direct bloodline of the Great Emperor of Ruben,” Duke Duvain marveled, watching Anture jump from the top of the siege tower onto the castle wall.
Anture, safely landing on the wall, began a fierce battle against the knights and soldiers rushing towards him like ants. One could tell rank by armor alone. Though hard to hear from a distance, some of the shouted orders were likely commands to attack or capture Anture.
Initially fighting alone, Anture’s guard knights soon joined him. Led by Anture, the group of knights began pushing through the soldiers on the wall like armored war horses. Wherever they passed, soldiers fell like cut grass or plummeted from the wall.
Anture was seen shouting something loudly. Then, those struggling below the wall began placing ladders and climbing up. From the siege tower to the wall, and up the ladders to the wall. The number of Ruben soldiers on the wall visibly increased.
Boom-! Thud-!
The sound of the battering ram striking the massive gate grew louder and faster. It meant there was less interference. On the wall, both sides clashed violently, pushing back and forth. A Baron commander, having lost control of a significant portion of the wall, was seen leading a group charging towards Anture. They seemed to have calculated that if they could kill or capture Anture alone, they could gain the upper hand, and were rushing in with almost reckless disregard for their lives.
Enrique maintained a calm expression, but his shirt was soaking with sweat on his back. His hands gripping the reins were also drenched in sweat. Each moment was so nerve-wracking that it was hard to breathe.
‘Watch with joy how strong your husband is and how many enemies he defeats. Nothing you’re worried about will happen. I’m not such a weak man, Enrique.’
Enrique tried to calm himself by recalling Anture’s words. Anture would be fighting on the front lines not just in this battle, but throughout the entire war. He couldn’t keep worrying like this until the end of the war.
“Are the supply troops standing by?” Enrique asked, forcibly tearing his gaze away from Anture.
“Yes, they’re on standby in battle formation in case of any contingencies.”
“Though they’re supply troops, they should all be able to run while carrying heavy loads. Lead them and rescue the wounded soldiers lying under the castle walls. We should do what we can.”
As Enrique ordered, Duke Duvain thought for a moment before nodding.
“Then I’ll be off, Your Highness.”
Duke Duvain rode off with a few knights towards where Shamier’s supply troops were waiting. Soon after, Shamier’s supply troops began rushing towards the base of the wall. Arrows occasionally flew towards them, but with the wall already half-captured, their numbers were few. Enrique watched as the supply troops returned to the camp carrying or supporting Ruben’s wounded from beneath the wall.
“Classify the wounded according to the severity of their injuries and move them to the prepared tents.”
As Enrique spoke to the side, one of the guard knights saluted and rushed off to carry out the order.
The wounded began arriving at the camp one by one. The terrible moans and screams that had been faintly audible from afar now echoed close by.
Enrique felt a slight cramping in his stomach. He focused on controlling the rear situation while watching the battle with a resolute and cold face, not showing any sign of discomfort. He was here as Shamier’s representative. He couldn’t give any room for criticism.
Crash-!
Rumble—.
The boulders that had been relentlessly pounding the walls day and night for days finally did their job. One of the three points under concentrated attack finally collapsed with a thunderous noise. The soldiers who hadn’t yet climbed the ladders and were clamoring at the base of the wall rushed towards the collapsed section like a swarm of ants.
“Finally…” Enrique muttered softly, staring at the castle on the brink of falling. Anture had long since disappeared into the castle. He was probably struggling hard inside the castle.
“Your Highness! Crown Prince! Urgent news!”
A messenger on horseback came galloping, waving Shamier’s flag high. He pulled his horse to a stop near Enrique and shouted urgently without even dismounting:
“Reinforcements dispatched from Baron are approaching nearby! A clash with Shamier’s cavalry is imminent! Please give us your orders on how to proceed!”
“What’s the size of their force?” Enrique asked calmly.
“According to our scouts, about 3,000!”
3,000. Not a huge number. But the siege had just started to gain momentum. If reinforcements arrived at this moment, there was a high chance of the tide turning. Of course, the welfare of Shamier’s 1,000 cavalry who would have to face them head-on was also important.
Enrique briefly surveyed Francia Castle where the fierce battle was taking place and the camp spread out behind. His decision was quick.
“Good work. Return immediately and tell Viscount Jares to stop the reinforcements by any means necessary. Tell him I’ll be sending supporting troops soon, so he should focus on blocking them with minimal casualties.”
As Enrique ordered, the messenger saluted and immediately turned his horse to gallop away.
“Your Highness! What’s happening?” Duke Duvain, who had been directing the movement of the wounded, ran over after seeing the messenger and asked.
“3,000 reinforcements from Baron are approaching. I’ve told Viscount Jares to stop them by any means necessary.”
“Even if our cavalry is worth a hundred men each, aren’t we at too much of a numerical disadvantage?”
“We can’t let 3,000 enemy reinforcements support that castle right now.”
Enrique said, glancing at the gray castle where smoke was rising as if something was on fire. Then he immediately continued:
“As Commander-in-Chief, I order you. Duke Duvain, gather the remaining troops, both Shamier and Ruben, and go to aid Viscount Jares.”
“I’m not sure if the Ruben troops will readily follow my orders.”
“The Prince of Ruben is responsible for the front, I’m responsible for the rear. This is a military order. If any Ruben soldiers disobey, behead them mercilessly in my name. I’ll take responsibility for the consequences.”
Duke Duvain’s eyes sparkled. The joy of finally being able to participate directly in battle was palpable.
“I accept the order!”
Duke Duvain immediately rushed towards the camp.
Enrique watched Duke Duvain’s retreating figure, hoping for a smooth start to his mission. Even though they were allies, Ruben soldiers wouldn’t easily follow a Shamier commander’s orders. It would be best if there was no need to make an example by beheading anyone, but the situation demanded the deployment of troops even if it came to that.
Enrique’s eyes darted complexly between the castle and the camp.
The siege was progressing relatively smoothly. However, Shamier’s army facing 3,000 troops would not be in a good situation. They only had 1,000 cavalry to begin with. If they suffered heavy losses from the start, it would be difficult to make a significant impact in the long war ahead.
“Your Highness. You absolutely must not go yourself. You’re already straining yourself by sitting on horseback for more than half a day.”
A guard knight, reading Enrique’s internal conflict, spoke in a firm voice. For a moment, intense conflict welled up. To lead additional troops including Ruben soldiers, the Crown Prince of Shamier would be much more suitable than Duke Duvain. But to do that…
‘Right, it’s not to that extent yet.’
Enrique nodded, touching his lower abdomen which felt slightly cramped. Relief spread across the faces of the guard knights. At that moment, Enrique pulled the reins to turn his horse. Then he started galloping towards the camp.
“Your Highness!”
“Your Highness! You mustn’t ride like that!”
The guard knights followed, shouting desperately. Contrary to their concerns, Enrique stopped his horse as soon as he reached the front of the camp. There, the troops gathered by Duke Duvain were lined up. And as Enrique had worried, the faces of the Ruben troops were filled with defiance and discontent.
