Doctor Elise

Chapter 7

Part 2 An Unfair Bet-3

Elise calmed herself and turned her gaze away.

At least my heart doesn’t flutter the way it used to.

Then again, what she felt was different from her love for her family. Thirty years had passed. That was enough time for any passion, no matter how fiercely it once burned, to be reduced until not even its ashes remained. On top of that, they had met such a catastrophic end!

She was merely surprised by their unexpected reunion. There were no other emotions.

The emperor said to the crown prince, “You’re late.”

“My discussions with the Ministry of Finance regarding the Crimean Expedition grew longer than expected.”

The emperor nodded. “Yes, it is a very important matter. War was inevitable the moment the Crimeans massacred our people. If it can’t be avoided, we must win. How is the situation with the kingdom?”

“Their main forces are tied up in Aphrikiana at present, so we haven’t seen any signs of movement yet. However, the war in Aphrikiana is almost wrapping up, and should we take control of the Crimean Peninsula, control of the Black Sea will be ours. They are sure to intervene in some way.”

The three of them then briefly discussed the war that was imminent.

“I plan to send the Second Romanov Corps as the expeditionary forces. Will that be enough?”

“The second corps alone is over fifty thousand troops, so as long as the Fransoiennes don’t intervene, it should be enough. Mobilizing more troops may strain our treasury.”

Elise listened to their conversation silently.

So the war will happen after all.

The truth was that she hadn’t known much about the international situation in her previous life... Because she hadn’t cared.

However, she did know about this First Crimean Expedition.

The expedition is a failure. An utter failure.

She clenched her hands into fists over her dress.

She knew because it was after the annihilation of the first expedition, consisting of the Second Romanov Corps, that her second older brother participated in the Second Crimean Expedition. Her brother Chris was killed in battle during that second expedition.

That was when the emperor smiled in her direction.

“We’ve been discussing such boring matters in front of the young lady.”

“Ah, not at all.”

“What do you think? Is there anything you wish to say about this expedition?”

“How could I dare to...?”

“I would just like to hear your thoughts. Don’t feel pressured and speak your mind if you have any ideas.” He spoke in a comforting voice, as if to put her at ease.

The emperor wasn’t particularly seeking her counsel. He was merely curious about what the girl he thought of as his niece, and who would soon become family, was thinking.

Elise hesitated.

Can I tell him?

She did actually know some of the decisive factors that changed the tide of the war.

Won’t he find it strange that I know these sorts of things?

She had already displayed a complete turnaround. If she offered insights when she had never had any interest in international affairs, they could become suspicious of her.

No, I might be able to reduce the casualties.

At the time, the failure of the first expedition led to the war being drawn out, resulting in countless casualties. In the end, the empire won the war, but the damage was severe.

Who cares if they get suspicious of me? The best method would be to stop the war, but that’s impossible. So the next best thing I can do is to reduce the number of victims.

As a doctor, she hated war because people died for it.

If she couldn’t stop the war, then she wanted to at least reduce the casualties.

“In that case, I will give my thoughts, as lacking as they are, with your blessings.”

“Go ahead.” The emperor nodded, watching her as though she was a daughter he doted on.

“There are two things to be mindful of in this war.”

“Oho, two?” The emperor looked interested at her specificity. “What are they?”

“First is the Kingdom of Monchel in the eastern part of the continent.”

“Hmm?”

The emperor looked surprised.

“The Kingdom of Monchel? Not the Republic of Fransoienne?”

“Yes, we should take Monchel’s participation into consideration.”

The marquess spoke in a teaching tone, “Elise, the Kingdom of Monchel has nothing to do with the Crimean Peninsula. Though they are relatively close, they have nothing to do with the ethnic conflict taking place. And with Monchel being a landlocked country, they have nothing to do with the Black Sea either. We need to be concerned with Fransoienne.”

Elise nodded. “Yes, you’re right, Father. From a geological standpoint, Monchel has no reason to join in the Crimean War.”

“So why do you think we should consider their participation?”

“Because the current monarch of Monchel is Count Yigrint.”

“Because of Count Yigrint?”

Marquess Earl’s face hardened. The emperor’s did the same.

Both were titans who ran the empire. They understood the hidden meaning behind Elise’s words.

“Young lady, you don’t mean...?”

“Yes, Count Yigrint’s claim to the throne is still unstable because he hasn’t yet been recognized as king. In order to gain legitimacy, he must obtain the permission of Fransoienne, the suzerain of Monchel.”

The men were speechless.

“After all, Monchel gained independence from the predecessor of the Republic of Fransoienne, the Fransoienne Empire.”

The emperor and the marquess’s faces grew dark. Even the indifferent crown prince turned his gaze to her.

She continued, “The Republic of Fransoienne is not in the best position to move their forces. They could request that Count Yigrint strike our flank in return for acknowledging his legitimacy.”

A heavy silence settled over the garden.

This was nothing to be ignored simply because it came from a young girl.

There was definitely potential.

“Hmm, the Kingdom of Monchel. I hadn’t even considered the possibility. Yes, you’re right. There is a chance.”

“Yes, that’s right. The republic won’t sit idly by. There is enough of a possibility that they will mobilize Monchel, since they’re close to the Crimean Peninsula.”

The two gazed at Elise with awe. How could a young girl have caught something that the two who ran the empire missed?

That was when a cold voice interrupted.

“At most, Monchel can deploy approximately twenty thousand men to the peninsula. Do you think that such a small force is a threat to our imperial troops?”

It was the crown prince.

Elise felt a stir of some unknown emotion at having a conversation with her husband after a long thirty years, but she calmly answered, “I believe that if we fight their troops head on, our troops wouldn’t lose. After all, the Imperial Army of Britia is the most powerful in the western continent, no, the entire world. Aside from the forces of Fransoienne and Prossien, there is no one who can stand toe-to-toe with our military.”

“So you’re aware. Then?”

“This is if we fight head on.”

The crown prince furrowed his brows.

Before he could question her further, she said two things.

“Donobe River and the Ukra Mountains.” She paused. “If Monchel’s forces mobilize, they won’t advance toward the Crimean Peninsula but toward the Ukra Mountains. The Donobe River will allow them to head straight into the Ukra Mountains.”

“My lady, that means...”

“Yes, the only way to get from the Romanov territory to the Crimean Peninsula is through the Ukra Mountains. If we give up the Ukra Mountains, then our forces on the peninsula will be cut off without supplies.”

Then there would only be one result: the annihilation of the expedition.

“Ahh...”

Silence set upon the garden once more.

It was an incomparably heavier silence than before.

The titans of the empire stared in astonishment at the young girl who had pointed out what they had all missed.