Lord of Caldera

「Let's take a step back and clarify,」 Sylas said. 「So, the grand duke has nothing to do with this war?」

「I told you from the beginning,」 Eldira replied, exasperated.

Her answer didn't match what Sylas had been told. He recounted the count's version of events, detailing how they were supposedly in a conflict stemming from a series of incidents. As he spoke, Eldira's face turned redder and redder with anger. When he mentioned that the count had supposedly bargained for the elves to teach him how to make magical artifacts in exchange for reparations, Eldira couldn't contain herself any longer and screamed.

「That's a lie! How could we teach something we don't even know ourselves!?」

「You don't know?」

「Of course not! Those who were captured are hunters and warriors! Do your human knights forge their own swords?」

In other words, none of the elves the count had captured were actually skilled in artifact-making. Calming her anger, Eldira started recounting the events that had led to this situation.

It all started as a minor act of rebellion. Eldira, who had spent her life like a bird in a gilded cage, had overheard a rumor. She learned that areas near human lands were popular hunting grounds and that young elves often went there for sport. Intrigued, she left a note behind and secretly slipped out of the court.

「…So you ran away?」 Sylas asked bluntly.

「It wasn't running away! I was going to get permission after the fact!」

Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night, Sylas thought, rolling his eyes as Eldira continued.

「It didn't take me long to reach the rumored spot, where I met some other elves.」

At first, the other elves were horrified when they discovered Eldira's identity, but soon they grew comfortable enough to go hunting together. Eldira had been enjoying this adventurous escape with the young elves when one of them spotted the count's knights and proposed they engage in a "hunting game."

「Unbelievable.」

「It wasn't real hunting! It was a game! We were careful not to hurt them seriously, just chasing them down!」

「What on earth made you think that was okay on someone else's land?」 Sylas sighed, shaking his head. After enduring the count's retaliation and being taken captive, Eldira surely understood how foolish her actions had been.

「I have a lot to say, but go on. So, what happened next?」

「The hunting game didn't last long before the lord found out. But even then, we weren't worried. None of the humans were seriously hurt, after all.」

They all assumed that, at worst, the humans would grumble about it. The elves, including Eldira, were certain the humans would let it go for the sake of diplomacy.

It was a grave miscalculation. Without a word, the count approached them and subdued them all. The elves tried to resist, but once two of their friends were taken hostage, they had no choice but to surrender their weapons.@@novelbin@@

「I barely managed to escape. My friends pushed me away, insisting I should be the one to get away.」 Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire

「Makes sense. If the elven princess were captured, the consequences would be catastrophic. As reckless as those young elves were, they at least had that much sense.」

「And afterward? Did you inform your father, the grand duke?」

「No.」

「You didn't tell him? Even after things got that bad?」

「How could I explain it to him? That I was out playing recklessly, my friends were captured by humans, and I barely escaped?」

Eldira's face flushed with embarrassment and shame.

「I couldn't bring myself to do it. It would have been the end of my honor. I planned to kill the lord and rescue my friends first, then report it to my father.」

「And how were you planning to do that without the grand duke's help?」

「There was a ranger training center nearby, so I used my authority to conscript them.」

This woman is insane, Sylas thought, barely managing to hold back the words. She should have gone straight to the grand duke, brought an army, and frightened the count into submission. But her pride had led her to make the worst possible choice.

「So that was the attack yesterday?」

「Yes! We would've succeeded if it weren't for you!」

「One last question: how did you know there would be a banquet?」

「Banquet? Oh, I suppose there was some kind of drinking going on last night. Was that a human feast?」

Sylas pressed his fingers to his temples, feeling a headache coming on. Now he finally understood everything. The reality was so absurd it almost defied belief.

"This is unbelievable," he muttered.

"Did you find out anything?" Max asked from behind him.

Sylas nodded.

"Gather everyone. We need to discuss this," Sylas announced, bringing his retainers together.

"So, all this started because of the princess running away?" Max asked incredulously.

"And because of the count's greed," Sylas muttered, shaking his head.

The count had likely deduced the elves' status from their attire. He seized the opportunity to hold them hostage, intending to trade them for the secrets of artifact-making. His only mistake was not realizing the gravity of Eldira's status.

"And the call for reinforcements?" one retainer asked.

"It was an excuse to increase numbers. He wanted enough men to stand off against the elves, just in case things escalated. Plus, if the elves retaliated in full force, he would need backup. So far, things have gone as the count planned."

The real issue arose when Eldira became involved, which had escalated the situation beyond the count's control.

"Turns out, the elves' attack on the banquet last night was pure coincidence."

"Wait, so they just attacked on a whim?"

"Yes, all twenty of them."

If Eldira had died that night, things would have taken a deadly turn. Even with some damage inflicted, the count would likely have wiped out the elves eventually, and her father, the grand duke, would have been left to receive her remains.

At that point, it would've been absolute bloodshed.