Chapter 74

Around that time.

A messenger arrived from the Britannian independence forces who had entered the imperial territory, bearing a proposal for Philip’s ransom. And the ‘price for Philip’ they demanded was by no means mere gold or precious goods.

Food and weapons. Military supplies to continue waging war.

“My, what a pity, Count.”

Upon hearing this, Lady Scarlet opened her mouth with a sneer. The ransom the Britannian Independence Army demanded for Philip.

Military supplies.

Granting their demands is tantamount to admitting defeat in this war. It would provide the enemy, whose offensive is gradually nearing its end, with the capacity to continue fighting.

However, sacrificing the Count’s family’s reckless Philip here would effectively mean the immediate end of the proud Brandenburg Count’s lineage.

Above all, even if he could lay hands on the ‘virgin maiden,’ there was no guarantee that the ‘seed’ he planted within her would function properly. That was precisely why Philip, even if he was a good-for-nothing with not a shred of talent, still clung to life. It wasn’t because of any lingering affection between father and son.

But if they were to hand over military supplies to preserve the count’s lineage and get Philip back… the blame for the war’s defeat would fall squarely on the paladin’s shoulders. The entire empire would point fingers at him.

It was the worst possible dilemma.