I Became The Childhood Friend of the Obsessive Second Male Lead - Chapter 380

“We’ve finished disinfecting and treating the recently arrived soldiers. We provided them with meals and rest, but…”

The soldier’s voice trailed off, and Rieta responded with concern.

“The atmosphere is heavy, isn’t it?”

“Yes, I guess. It might feel even more so now because it has been relaxed until now.”

“Ugh, that’s not true.”

“And some of the soldiers who stayed in the village have just returned. Would you like to meet them in person… directly?”

He asked very cautiously. It seemed like he was trying to exclude emotions as much as possible, but somehow it felt like he hoped Rieta wouldn’t refuse.

While she hesitated for a moment,

“What nonsense is that!”

Moody jumped up from his spot.

“What’s the point of you meeting them, Princess? You can’t do anything to save the captured soldiers anyway.”

“You have no right to express your opinion!”

When the soldier turned around and shouted, Moody raised his voice even more.

“How dare you, a commoner, talk about rights to me, a noble!”

He pulled at the tight rope and glared at Rieta.

“Princess, these lower beings only know how to make noise when given the right to speak. You should think about more important matters.”

“Wasn’t it your duty as a noble to listen to that noise?”

The soldier didn’t yield and lifted the knight by the collar.

“Hmph, why should I waste my precious time on that?”

“That’s why the country is in this state now!”

“The country is like this because of King Liz. It’s not my fault!”

“If it weren’t for that King, you wouldn’t even be sitting in the noble seat, right?”

“What?! How dare you question my lineage!”

As the two, entangled with a rope, were about to start a fight, Rieta quickly grabbed the rope between them and pulled it.

Upon that signal, the two men quickly lowered their fists towards each other and turned their heads toward Rieta.

“Alright.”

To prevent them from fighting again, Rieta hurriedly spoke.

“Let’s go meet them. Lead the way.”

*

The soldiers who had rushed from the village to here quickly recounted the events.

They explained that a prison cart carrying several villagers and soldiers was prepared and ready to depart.

And that the local lord was planning to take them to the capital himself.

“Furthermore, they mentioned that among the captives was a young girl. It seemed like… she was intended as an offering to the King.”

A young girl for the King.

At this brief statement, Rieta’s expression visibly darkened. Some, noticing her expression, quickly raised their voices.

“We must rescue them!”

Of course, there were those who opposed.

“We must not act recklessly!”

Rieta understood the sentiments on both sides. However, there had to be a single conclusion. All eyes were on her, and she took a moment to consider, meeting the gaze of each person.

The worries didn’t last long.

“Let’s go.”

Rieta made a simple decision, as if suggesting a casual outing.

“To rescue them.”

“Why, why would you?”

Moody asked in surprise, and Noel, who was behind him, also had a similar question.

“If it’s sympathy, it’s better to put it aside for now.”

He spoke in the kingdom language that had become somewhat more familiar than before.

“It’s not sympathy.”

Rieta replied, shaking her head.

“We’re going to obtain what we need.”

“Why? Are the ones captured so crucial to your revolution? Were there that many people?”

Perhaps, it was a reminder that the actual number of soldiers captured was not even five. Of course, Rieta was aware of this fact.

“No, what I need is…”

She looked back at the soldiers.

They had endured oppression under King Liz for a long time, committing deeds they did not desire. When she first met them, she remembered the despair etched on each face. While a few days of rest had brought back some smiles, it was not enough.

There had to be something more.

“The moment you win a fight you want.”

She needed them to taste a sense of accomplishment. The sweetness of it would make them stronger, and ultimately, it would return to Rieta as significant power. She turned to the soldiers again.

“Bring me a map of the vicinity. Gather the soldiers who have scouted the area.”

With brighter faces, they rushed out of the tent.

“I really don’t like this.”

When Noel approached, murmuring softly, Rieta could only respond with a smile.

*

And so, on that evening, Rieta and the mercenaries, dressed in worn-out clothes, waited near the path where the lord would pass.

“Do you remember what I said?”

Rieta asked, confirming with Emile.

“I do.”

Emile replied, fiddling with the sword at his waist.

“They would move in that order. The soldiers, the carriages, the prison cart, and then the soldiers again.”

“Yes. The soldiers at the back are there to help push the cart drawn by the donkey. It won’t be enough with just two donkeys, especially on an incline. They should be quite tired by the time we launch our attack.”

“After the archers fire arrows to confuse the vanguard, the surprise unit appears?”

“Yes, we need someone agile like Emile to play an active role.”

“Well, that makes sense. To fight in ‘that way.’”

Emile grumbled with a hint of dissatisfaction. He still didn’t seem to like Rieta’s order to stab without hesitation, but to avoid vital points.

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