Tension takes its toll the longer it persists.
That is why it is essential to balance vigilance with moments of rest, preserving as much strength as possible. This is especially true in war, where both stamina and focus are critical. However, even such efforts have their limits. The mood in the city had begun to shift. Initially, the citizens cowered in fear at the sight of the 6,000-strong army. Now, they were beginning to voice complaints.
“Your Highness, at this rate, we might end up fighting the citizens before we even face the Sultan.”
The unrest was still minor, but would a spark so easily extinguish itself once lit? It was only natural that Adrianos’s face had turned pale upon realizing the gravity of the situation. The very trick intended to deceive the Sultan might now strangle us instead. At the same time, I harboured a different thought—that this unrest might ensure the Sultan would entertain no other possibilities.
But above all, my confidence stemmed from calculated predictions.
As the aggressor, Murad could not afford to delay indefinitely. While his advance might not be as swift as before, Sultan Murad was undoubtedly marching toward Nemeapatre. His arrival was imminent. Of course, such confidence was meaningless if I kept it to myself. Thus, I summoned my close aides, Ivania and Adrianos, to explain. Their roles were of utmost importance.
“Do not worry. The Sultan will come to Nemeapatre. In fact, this unrest among the citizens will serve to blind and deafen him. Once the gates are opened and the enemy swarms in, we will lure them into the flames and cut them down. Victory is within reach.”
“But Your Highness, there is no guarantee the Sultan will act as we expect.”
“…You’ve grown remarkably cautious of late, Ivania.”
“Your Highness, this concerns your life. Even though I am but a woman, I take pride in serving at your side,” she replied earnestly.
Honestly, I was moved. This was the same Ivania who once drained my spirit with unnecessary physical displays of affection, now transformed. While inwardly shedding metaphorical tears, I presented the reasoning behind my conviction that Murad would head for Nemeapatre.
“Nemeapatre is a critical stronghold located between two mountain ranges. If Murad intends to supply his forces overland rather than by sea, he must take it. Moreover, Venice fears the growing Ottoman influence in the Aegean and would not turn a blind eye to Ottoman maritime resupply. While they may resent us, they are pragmatic enough to prioritize their national interests over personal grievances.”
“Indeed… If you’ve already considered all of that, I have no further objections,” Adrianos finally conceded.
At last, everyone seemed to agree.
With newfound resolve, Ivania and Adrianos prepared for the Sultan’s forces with greater fervor. Meanwhile, the citizens of Nemeapatre continued to escalate their protests against the harsh requisitioning.
Clashes between soldiers and citizens began erupting throughout the streets. There was no room for sorrow. Far crueler actions would soon follow. Before long, I would rob them of their homes and livelihoods.
The strategy to open the gates, set the city ablaze, and annihilate the enemy inevitably demanded sacrifices from the citizens. Yet, there was no alternative… Such thoughts dulled the edges of my guilt. Then, suddenly, I felt a chill. When had I become someone who rationalized the sacrifices of others for my own reasons?
Overcome with unease, I shut my eyes tightly, my vision shaking from inner turmoil.
When had I begun forcing sacrifices on those unprepared for them, telling myself there was no other way? I grew fearful—fearful of how far I might change as I fulfilled my duties and responsibilities. But I quickly shook my head. This place was destined to become a battlefield.
“…Perhaps it’s simply the tension getting to me.”
I reassured myself, believing the pressure of focusing on the enemy had drained me. As I steadied my thoughts and prepared to send another letter to Sofia, I heard the hurried sound of footsteps approaching from beyond the door. A seed of dread sprouted in my heart. Sure enough, a soldier burst into the room, panting heavily as he all but shouted:
“Your Highness, the enemy! They’ve appeared!”
At those words, I shot to my feet and bolted outside. The situation must have been communicated quickly, as a horse was already prepared. Without even a word of thanks, I leaped onto the saddle and spurred the horse forward, galloping toward the walls.
The sudden shift in the soldiers’ morale unsettled the citizens, who had been in a state of agitation. Seeing the horse charge through, they screamed in panic.
Fortunately, rushing over had paid off.
I quickly spotted the mercenary captain, her sweat-drenched blonde hair flying wildly as she shouted orders. Ivania was addressing the frozen soldiers, who had been paralyzed at the sight of the enemy’s massive army, issuing instructions one by one.
“Don’t stand there gawking like fools! You are soldiers of His Highness! Raise your spears! If you can’t bear to look at them, then stare directly at the sun until you go blind! That would be more useful than this!”
For the first time, she looked dependable. Still, now wasn’t the time to dwell on such an odd sentiment.
“Ivania, have there been any clashes yet?”
“Your Highness… no, not yet. They’ve only just appeared. Whether they plan to besiege or assault us, they’ll likely set up their positions first.”
“Where’s Adrianos?”
“He’s formed a separate security team to calm the agitated citizens. He said he’d be better suited for it than me, considering I’m a woman.”
Judging by her snarky tone, she was clearly upset. If we survive this, I might need to work on mending their relationship.
Despite the alarming news of the Ottoman army’s arrival that had spurred me to rush over, the situation wasn’t as dire as I had feared.
This perception changed two days later.
As I stood atop the walls, looking down at the advancing Ottoman army, I realized something that had missed due to the distance. The flag of Murad was nowhere to be seen.
I couldn’t believe it. I checked again and again, but the absence of another critical detail turned my reluctant suspicion into certainty.
“…The Janissaries are missing.”
I scanned the ranks repeatedly, but their iconic white caps were nowhere to be found. Though I wished to deny this reality, I had no choice but to accept it. Without Murad’s banner or the presence of the Janissaries among the enemy ranks…
What could this mean?
Suddenly, a possibility I hadn’t considered before flashed through my mind. Until now, I had believed that Murad was solely focused on defeating me, the Prince of Morea, to solidify his victory. But what if that assumption was wrong? What if he was exploiting that very belief?
While the rear cities were relatively stable, this was only because they were far from the Ottoman forces. True, Venice controlled the sea, but that didn’t entirely rule out the possibility of a flanking maneuver. What if Murad and the Janissaries bypassed us by crossing the mountains?
Though such a route would result in stragglers and significant wear and tear, what if they managed to cross the range and make contact with the cities in central Greece? The consequences were all too clear.
At last, I understood why Murad’s advance had been so slow.
The Sultan hadn’t prioritized speed because he had been stationed near Larissa. He had allowed our defensive posture to remain unchallenged, even knowing we wouldn’t risk an open-field battle. How could I have overlooked such a possibility? How could I have been so complacent, assuming we were the only ones employing schemes?
“Ivania, Adrianos. Emergency war council.”
“Your Highness?”
“Has something happened…?”
I clenched my teeth. If I could use stratagems, so could the enemy. If I failed to anticipate something, the enemy might very well have accounted for it. How could I have forgotten such an obvious truth? Struggling to suppress the wave of self-reproach, I finally managed to speak.
“Athens is in danger.”
Murad’s true target wasn’t the Morean forces stationed at Nemeapatre.
He intended to reclaim central Greece first.
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