Episode 144: Impermanence - The Saga of Lioncourt

**The Day After the Banquet** The day following the banquet, we welcomed the military envoy from the Kingdom of Amoros. Naturally, the content of the visit was a proposal for a battle. Currently, the forces of Amoros are stationed to the south of the Sisk River, within the domains of Count Megre, the heart of the former Canard region. The army, composed of troops who were previously clashing with the Marquis of Vabres in the south, reinforced by newly recruited soldiers and military units from the former Canard area, is said to number 200,000 strong... Although that seems like an exaggeration, there's no doubt that it exceeds tens of thousands. They're a formidable enemy. Leading them is Charles d'Amoros, the crown prince of Amoros. While the term "prince" might suggest youth, he is already a man past forty. Known for his battlefield prowess, he's commanded armies multiple times with notable success. And then there's Count Megre. His domain houses the city that was once the capital of the Kingdom of Canard, and it's densely populated. Undoubtedly, he is a substantial power within the former Canard region. Even purely from a military standpoint, the alliance between the crown prince and Count Megre is a daunting threat. However, on the flip side, one could say that no greater adversary would appear. Defeating this army would decisively turn the tide, paving the way for a peace settlement, potentially recognizing the cession of Balcassisk County, Bozza Knightdom, and Cluje Knightdom. Simon might grumble for more combat, but considering my health, it's best not to overstay our welcome. I aim to swiftly establish peace and return to Lioncourt. That aside, there was an unexpected encounter here. The envoy from the Kingdom of Amoros was Alain de Dorelme, son of Piero de Dorelme, who once had a grudge against Lioncourt. Accompanying him as a squire was a young man who caught my eye. ... My brother!? No, that can't be... Upon closer inspection, his eye color is different, and he's clearly another person. Yet, the resemblance is uncanny... This young man, who looks remarkably like my late brother, is likely my nephew, Tristan. He should be a few years older than Simon, probably not yet twenty. I don't know what the crown prince intended with this personnel arrangement. Perhaps it was mere coincidence, or he might have been trying to unsettle the Lioncourt forces. At the time, those who served under Robert are few and far between in the army now. After all, my brother Robert died when I was about sixteen. Time has passed, and generational shifts have occurred. I can safely say it won't affect morale. Still, even if there was no disturbance among the troops, my heart was indeed stirred. If this was part of the crown prince's strategy, he is a cunning one. In the end, Tristan and I never exchanged words. We didn't even introduce ourselves. He is the nephew of the enemy's general. Being too familiar could invite suspicions of collusion. There is a slight tinge of sadness, but that's inevitable. ... Never thought we'd meet like this... Despite a minor altercation with Tristan's entourage during the succession dispute, I hold no grudge against him personally. In fact, I would love to hear about my sister-in-law's whereabouts. Tristan, the young man that seems to be him, also seemed aware of me (as per his role in negotiations), and we exchanged glances a few times... that was all. There was no true exchange of hearts. Trying to shift attention several times, the agreement for battle was reached, setting the decisive conflict on the plains south of the Sisk River. It is effectively a central plain between Balcassisk and Megre domains. Although the Sisk River lacks a bridge, we can demolish buildings in Balca Castle to build a temporary one. Simply throwing in debris to make islands and laying planks on top would suffice. In extreme terms, it only needs to hold for a few days, so it's manageable. With the time and place of the battle set, the envoys took their leave. "Hey Rolo, Jean, did you see that?" I called out to my childhood friends, and both nodded deeply, clearly intrigued. "Yeah, it's amazing! They look just alike!" "Indeed, he had a serious demeanor similar to Robert's." These friends, who had been visiting the manor since they were young, weren't particularly close to my brother, but they rejoiced in seeing a familiar face. "Truly, he's grown into a fine young man." I felt a sense of happiness seeing my nephew's growth, squinting in satisfaction. Somewhere in my heart, I had always wondered about my brother's child. Despite the significant shift in circumstances, meeting him might have been my good fortune. The impermanence of worldly things is life's truth. The world is ever-changing, and nothing is eternal. My deterioration and inevitable death, as well as the growth of a once-toddling child into a proper young adult, are all part of life's course. People often focus on what's lost or broken, but impermanence isn't just about loss. It's not only the decay of the elderly that's inevitable but also the rise of the youth, just as a setting sun today leads to a rising sun tomorrow. ... Did a youth from Lioncourt hear the resonance of impermanence...? A smile naturally formed on my lips. I'm ail, likely to die soon. The premonition has tormented and troubled me, but this is all part of the 'ordinary' process. Life and death are transient, and it's normal for those born to die. Death is a natural event for humans, nothing to despair over. This 'realization' lightened the heavy burden on my heart. There's much I want to do, and many responsibilities I still hold. Though the time left is uncertain, all I can do is make the most of it. "Oh, have you regained some energy?" Perhaps noticing my change in mood, Jean said with a bright voice. I've already explained my condition to him, but he maintains a cheerful tone, unchanged from usual. I appreciated Jean's clumsy kindness. "Yeah, I'm excited. To face my nephew in battle, you know, I never had the chance to spar with my brother." I exchanged banter with Jean and laughed. It was a feeling I hadn't experienced in a while. "Normally, people might say 'I don't want to fight my nephew,' right?" Rolo muttered in an exasperated tone. Everyone laughed. A delightful battle was about to begin. The battlefield was a dream-like realm where all could be forgotten; enjoy it and forget all troubles. Speaking of which, nobody remarked on the son of Mr. Dorelme. Honestly, I had no impression either... just a sense of 'oh, so this is his son.' He doesn't resemble his father at all, making it difficult to comment... felt a bit bad for him showing up. Sorry. ... Construction of the temporary bridge by the Lioncourt forces began promptly. The Sisk River has a substantial flow, and while relatively narrow here due to its proximity to the source, its rapid current made what was meant to be a simple project quite challenging. By destroying buildings within Balca Castle and felling the surrounding forests to collect materials, the construction progressed swiftly. The bridge was merely a temporary structure. To construct it quickly, we filled the shallows with debris to form artificial islands and floated rafts over the deeper waters with planks laid across them. It was a peculiar bridge, akin to a floating bridge. Its simple construction meant it was also easily dismantled. If necessary, it could be destroyed before the enemy crossed, effectively halting their advance. With a small contingent left to secure Balca Castle and maintain the bridge, the army crossed over. The Lioncourt forces numbered a grand total of 9,200 soldiers. The intended battlefield was just a stone's throw away.