novelno Chapter 72: Stressed
Chapter 72: Stressed
I stepped down from the rampart, my boots echoing on the stone stairs. Anastasia followed half a pace behind, close enough that I could feel the heat of her presence, far enough that anyone watching would see only a general following her commander.
The evening patrols were changing shift below, fresh soldiers climbing to take their positions, exhausted ones descending with hollow eyes and blood-stained uniforms. They saluted as I passed, their gazes lingering on Anastasia almost as much as on me.
She didn’t seem to notice. Or if she did, she didn’t care.
"You’ve been watching me," I said quietly, not looking at her.
"Of course I have. You’re the duke."
"That’s not what I meant."
[Lust Sense]
I checked to see what she was feeling, but there wasn’t much I could gather from her. At least, nothing important.
Her emotions were a tangled mix of everything, including the one I needed most.
Affection.
But it was buried far too deeply for me to make sense of it. Unlike Faye and Reina, she was a complete mystery. Still, I’m fine with that for now. It’s better to develop my relationship with Faye and Reina more before adding a third person to my harem.
"Would you prefer that I don’t watch you, then?" she asked.
"No, continue as you were."
***
The next morning, Edward was back at the map table.
He was still pale, still moving carefully, but the medic had cleared him for light duty, and "light duty" to Edward meant standing at the command post instead of leading patrols.
"Our front is stable," he reported, tracing the markings with a steady finger. "The reinforcements from the interior have filled most of our gaps. We’re still thin in some sectors, but the terrain there works in our favor. Narrow passes, difficult for the beasts to mass."
"And the other territories?"
Edward’s expression darkened. "The Marquis of Ashford sent word this morning. His main wall collapsed yesterday. He’s pulled his forces back to the inner keeps and is requesting immediate aid."
"Ashford is three days’ ride from here."
"Two, if we push hard."
I studied the map. Ashford’s territory lay between us and the next line of defense. If it fell completely, the beasts would have a clear path to the imperial heartland. But even if that happened, the other nobles within the border were more than enough to wipe out any beasts that managed to get through.
Still, to be safe, I’ll play along and act kind.
"Can we spare the men?"
Edward and Anastasia exchanged a glance.
"Barely," Anastasia said. "But if Ashford falls, we’ll be fighting on two fronts. The beasts won’t just come at us from the treeline anymore. They’ll come from another front as well."
"And if we send reinforcements and the main horde attacks while they’re gone?"
"Then we lose Ravenhold."
The silence that followed was heavy. I stared at the map, but my vision blurred slightly at the edges. And a question echoed in my mind that I ignored for a while.
When had I last slept? Truly slept, not just shut my eyes for an hour between reports? The numbers on the page swam for a moment before settling.
I blinked hard.
"We’re not sending reinforcements," I said finally, my voice flatter than I intended.
Edward didn’t argue with the decision. And Anastasia’s expression didn’t change, but I saw her fingers curl slightly against her thigh.
"Ashford will have to hold on its own," I continued. "We’ll send what supplies we can spare, but the men stay here. If Ravenhold falls, nothing else matters."
I looked back at the map. At the markings that represented the horde. At the empty spaces where our allies were slowly being ground down. The charcoal lines seemed to pulse, or perhaps that was just my pulse, hammering behind my eyes.
"Understood." Edward’s voice was quiet.
I looked back at the map. At the markings that represented the horde. At the empty spaces where our allies were slowly being ground down.
"We need more than just men and supplies," I said. "We need intelligence. Someone needs to get close to that horde and figure out what’s driving them."
Anastasia stepped forward. "I’ll go."
"No."
The word came out sharper than I intended.
Anastasia’s eyes narrowed. "I’m the best choice for this. I can move quietly, I can—"
"I said no."
I turned to face her fully. She was close, close enough that I could see the flecks of gold in her crimson eyes.
"You’re not expendable, Anastasia. None of you are. I’m not sending you alone."
"Then send someone with me."
"I’m not sending anyone."
The argument left Anastasia’s lips before I could stop her, and Edward’s eyes widened in surprise.
Then she stopped herself.
"Lord Noctierre." She inclined her head. "Apologies."
"It’s fine."
I looked back at the map.
The beasts waited. Ashford bled. And somewhere beyond the treeline, something was watching.
"Just establish better contact with Ashford’s radio line, that’s all we need. No need for heroics."
Anastasia’s jaw tightened, but she didn’t argue further. The flash of defiance in her eyes dimmed, replaced by something more controlled. More measured.
"As you command, Your Grace."
She stepped back, retreating into the role of soldier rather than the woman who had nearly challenged me a moment ago.
Edward cleared his throat, breaking the tension. "I’ll see to the communications with Ashford personally. If anyone can stretch their radio range, it’s our signal corps."
"Do it." I turned from the map. "And Edward."
"Your Grace?"
"Get some rest. You’re still bleeding through those bandages."
He touched his side, where a fresh spot of red had indeed bloomed beneath his tunic. A faint smile tugged at his lips. "I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that."
"That’s an order."
"Yes, Your Grace."
He limped toward the door, pausing beside Anastasia. Something passed between them, a look I couldn’t quite read, and then he was gone.
The door closed behind him, leaving me alone with Anastasia and the ever-present map of our slow defeat.
"You should go too," I said, not looking at her. "You’ve been on the walls for a while now."
"I’m fine."
"Anastasia."
She didn’t move. I heard her exhale, slow and controlled, and then her boots crossed the stone floor until she stood beside me at the table.
"You’re not what I expected," she said.
"What do you mean?"
"You’re effective, but somehow you’re also... not. I know rumors can be exaggerated, but you’re definitely far more underwhelming than they made you sound."
"Are you saying I’m doing a bad job?"
"No... it’s just, I expected more."
[Lust Sense]
For some reason, that single observation of hers actually made her affection for me grow. I really need to improve this skill if I want to read her properly.
But that doesn’t mean I should just let it be. She’s still the third heroine, and considering that my territory is now fairly stable after I declared martial law, it’s best that I talk to Reina and have her observe for me.
As someone of the same kind as me, she’s still far stronger.
"Anastasia, I want you to check on the supplies and tell Reina to come here."
"So suddenly, Cian?"
"It’s urgent."
"Very well."
She left. The door clicked shut.
I stood alone in the war room, surrounded by maps and reports and the weight of a duchy that refused to stop bleeding. The torchlight flickered. My reflection ghosted across the window glass, pale and hollow-eyed.
"Guess I have to give Cassian a compliment for this one. Barely even a week and I’m already shutting down..."
A harem system, huh?
Didn’t really fit considering the amount of work I’m doing. But it was definitely better than nothing; maybe I should start relying on it more to relieve some stress.
God knows I need it...