After Retirement, Living a Stud Life in Another World - 74

Chapter 74: Handling Enemy Soldiers

Beatrice is no longer channeling magic into the trees, but the dense forest that has now become like a tropical rainforest is firmly ensnaring the Imperial soldiers, and few are managing to escape.

Mother, who had been silently observing the battle, speaks up as if making up her mind.

“Your Majesty, what shall we do? If you command me to use fire magic here, not a single soldier of the Imperial army shall escape.”

Indeed, the twenty thousand Imperial soldiers are now trapped within the collapsed bricks and overgrown trees. Subjecting them to Mother’s merciless fire magic would undoubtedly incinerate every last one of them. Coupled with the thirty thousand casualties we inflicted earlier, it would take over ten years for the Imperial army to rebuild.

“Well, having been openly attacked and invaded unilaterally, and even having our people used as shields, I feel we must thoroughly deal with this…”

Queen Mother’s words become muddled. While her anger at the harm done to her beloved people is immense, she hesitates to massacre defenseless enemies. That’s just her nature as a ruler leading such a great nation. I think she’s too lenient for someone in such a position, but her kindness has indeed brought peace to the kingdom. Well, the responsibility for making this decision lies with the higher-ups; I have no role to play in this.

After pondering for a while, Her Majesty suddenly looks up.

“Yes, Beatrice has distinguished herself in this castle siege. How to treat them is up to Beatrice. What do you think, what do you want to do with them?”

“Me…decide?”

“Yes. As I am, I am a weak queen who cannot make decisions without being swayed by personal emotions. But you are different, Beatrix. You can assess the facts coldly and think without being swayed. As the next queen, consider the future of the country and make your judgment, Beatrix. I will not object to your decision.”

Beatrice’s fair cheeks grow pale, now appearing blue. It’s no wonder; Beatrice’s tiny tongue carries the weight of thousands of lives.

Her trembling fingers signify the weight of the decision. I instinctively grab her right hand with both of mine, and Beatrice, as if pleading for something, turns her quivering emerald eyes towards me. As I stare back, trying not to look away, gradually, her tremors subside. Well, maybe she’s calming down a bit. Hopefully, she’ll make her usual rational judgment. But I was naive. Widening her already large eyes, and lifting the corners of her mouth, Beatrice, in a very irresponsible manner, uttered these words:

“Yeah, I’ll decide what to do with the Imperial soldiers.”

“Huh?”

No, that’s not right. Her Majesty told Beatrice to decide as the next queen. If I decide, it would ruin everything. Beatrice, who had only listened to my plea, breaks out of her doll-like demeanor, wearing a very nice smile, and continues speaking.

“That’s right. I won’t decide unless it’s what Lutz says. If Lutz tells me what to do, I’ll follow it. That should be fine.”

“No, that’s not good, because…”

“Lutz, what is the duty of the royal consort?”

Somewhat flustered by my attempted rebuttal, Beatrice interjects. Of course, I know what that is.

“To assist and advise the queen, but…”

“Then advise. If I swallow it, it’s my decision.”

“Well…”

“I told you. Lutz’s will is my will.”

Even if this is her Dere side, what she’s saying is just ridiculous. Even though I may be a candidate for Beatrice’s stud, we’re not married yet, and the title of royal consort is still just a “candidate.” To delegate such a weighty decision, involving so many lives, to a mere fourth son of an earl like me is just unheard of.

“Come on, Beatrice…”

“Please, help me.”

The eyes of Beatrice, which had displayed a joking demeanor just moments ago, return to seriousness. Realizing that her emerald eyes are trembling with uncertainty, I become flustered.

Yeah. I’ve always seen Beatrice’s expression remain unchanged like that of a porcelain doll no matter what happens, so naturally, being a member of the royal family who leads the country, I’ve somewhat thought that she wouldn’t be shaken by minor things. But she’s still just a sixteen-year-old girl. She doesn’t have a prematurely matured mindset like mine, thinking, “We started a war, so we should be prepared to lose and face the consequences, let’s do it.” It’s natural for her to feel heavy guilt about massacring twenty thousand people and hesitate.

Of course, in the battle with the Duchy, at Beatrice’s command, we buried over ten thousand soldiers with Liese’s ice spears. But at that time, if we didn’t defeat the enemy, we would have been trampled and slaughtered ourselves. It was a do-or-die situation; there was no room for hesitation.

Now, on the other hand, the enemy has already lost its organized combat capabilities and is trapped in a cage of vegetation. While acknowledging the need to kill defenseless enemy soldiers, Beatrice seems to be hesitating. And Beatrice is the daughter of that overly gentle Queen Mother, after all.

Well, there’s no help for it. I, in my sixties, will have to become the villain here.

“Alright, Beatrice. Listen to my opinion.”