Chapter 142: Fox-Woman Josephine
「Is this what it means to lose in battle?」
Within the ranks of the local noble army, numbering nine thousand five hundred, three thousand conscripts defected to the enemy’s side, leaving Dot Castle surrounded.
As chaos settled, and before the castle could fall, an additional two thousand enemy reinforcements arrived. They began bombarding Pipin’s forces, causing the entire army to crumble.
Subsequently, thanks to the valor of the mercenary captain Zephyranzas, they narrowly escaped the siege. However, Marquis Pipin faced defeat after defeat in his retreat.
The five hundred knights of the noble army, who had ridden alongside to protect Pipin, were either slain or scattered, leaving only a dozen survivors.
After all, no matter how far they fled, enemies surrounded them on all sides.
News of the local noble army’s defeat quickly spread throughout the southern territories.
It appears there is a bounty on the heads of prominent knights and nobles, including Marquis Pipin. Capture or kill Pipin, and one would earn three hundred gold coins. The very peasants they had ruled over now turned against them, engaging in what they called ‘fallen knight hunt’.
How pitiful—was there no gratitude toward the nobles who had safeguarded their subjects all this time?
Even if Pipin voiced such sentiments, his words would not reach the commoners. With sword in hand, he had no choice but to carve out an escape route. 「Half-elf cannot be queen!」
In this chaotic era, loyalty and gratitude seemed to hold no sway.
When those above faltered, so did those below.
Born during an unprecedented two hundred and forty years of peace, Pipin had hoped the turmoil in the kingdom would elevate House Burgund. Yet now, it seemed they would achieve nothing. How should he plead to his ancestors?
He must survive—by any means necessary.
「Can a lowly one like me do this?」
Pipin swung his sword, parrying the spears thrust by farmers and deflecting arrows shot by hunters.
Never had he imagined that, as a marquis, he would personally engage in combat. Still, the knights, who had trained diligently, harbored a fear of being bested by commoners.
In a fleeting moment, if the horse were to halt, the pursuing main enemy force would catch up.
Just a little farther, and they would emerge from this forest into the town of Otan.
The knights protecting their flanks fell one by one, but if they could reach the safety of their allied town, they might survive.
Yes, they needed to regroup in the rear, prepare for a comeback. Caught between Castilia and Germania, the royal authority would inevitably weaken. Another opportunity for counterattack would surely arise.
And at that moment, precisely then, I…
「Josephine…」
Marquis Pipin’s vision blurred as an errant arrow struck his jaw, causing him to tumble from his horse. He lay sprawled on the ground, defenseless, as peasant militia brandishing spears closed in.
The brink of death.
In those stretched times, Pipin wondered what fate awaited the Southern Noble Alliance after his passing.
Had his sons survived?
Compared to the ambitious Pipin, they were mere pawns. If only the clever eldest or the talented second son had made it through. But if only the mediocre third son, left behind in defeat, remained, their domain would crumble. House Burgund faced extinction.
No matter who succeeded him, the defeated House Burgund would no longer hold sway over the Southern Noble Alliance.
Likely, Josephine Agene Aquitaine, Pipin’s lover and Countess Agene, would step forward to lead the alliance.
Yet her strength alone might not suffice to withstand the challenges.
Territory, dreams, love—all would fade with his demise.
In his heart, he whispered, envisioning Josephine’s alluring naked form: 「…I want to hold you once more.」 Those were Marquis Pipin’s final words.
The lifeless bodies of Marquis Pipin and the other local nobles were delivered to Acting General Sarah at Dot Castle.
The reward they received was used by war-torn villagers to survive the winter.
※※※
The city of Isoir, stronghold of the Southern Noble Alliance.
Located at the heart of the southern region of the Silesie Kingdom, this small town of Isoir lies within the Isoir Barony, a prestigious noble lineage tracing its bloodline back to Founding King Renz.
Surrounding this modest domain are the Nant Marquisate of House Burgund to the west and the Agene County of House Aquitaine to the east.
Originally, the House of Blanc, ruling over the south, was established as a cadet branch in preparation for the day when the legitimate bloodline of the northern Silesie Kingdom might falter.
To safeguard the Blanc family, the powerful houses of Burgund and Aquitaine stood as loyal vassals. However, over time, the balance of power shifted. Now, the Blancs held nominal authority, while true power rested with the Burgunds and the Aquitaines.
Following the demise of Marquis Pipin of House Burgund, the actual control over the Southern Nobles fell into the hands of Countess Josephine Agene Aquitaine, the Matriarch of Aquitaine.
Count High End Agene, frail from birth and bedridden, could not rise from his sickbed. Thus, the fate of the Aquitaine family now lay in the hands of the enchanting Josephine, who was both derided as a fox-woman and feared as a poisoner.
There was reason for such disdain. Josephine bore the blood of fox beastkin, her ears and a small tail revealing her half-beastkin heritage. In the esteemed society of Silesie’s noble lineage, her status as an animahalf was a considerable disadvantage.
In the southern reaches of Silesie, where the Aquitaine family held sway over the right half of the region, Josephine had become the lover of Count High End, the patriarch of the noble House Aquitaine. She had boldly poisoned High End’s wife at the time, ascending to the position of countess.
Subsequently, she ensnared even the stubbornly pure-blooded Marquis Pipin of House Burgund, using her seductive prowess to make him her ally.
Truly, Josephine, the woman aptly called the ‘fox-woman’ was a captivating beauty.
「So, he’s dead.」
Upon hearing that her lover, Marquis Pipin, had met his demise, Josephine uttered those words and nothing more.
Gazing out the window with an air of melancholy, she rested her delicate chin on her slender hand. Boltaigne Burgund, Marquis Pipin’s third son, who had brought her news of his father’s death, interpreted her detached demeanor as perhaps the way this woman mourned.
Seated upon the small throne in Isoir Castle was a twelve-year-old boy with arched eyebrows.
Boltaigne, the last surviving member of House Burgund, was but an eighteen-year-old knight.
It was only natural for the unremarkable Boltaigne to rely on Josephine, who was ten years his senior.
Despite being a woman, Countess Josephine Agene Aquitaine was a master schemer, earning her the moniker ‘fox-woman’.
「Dead, you say? Well, I suppose that changes things, Countess Agene.」
「Yes, indeed.」
「Is that all you’ll say?」
「Yes, it is. Now, you shall be the next Marquis of Nant.」
Josephine’s lips curved into a faint smile as she gently touched Boltaigne’s cheek. The young knight, who should have mourned his father’s death, suddenly felt a strange warmth, as if ensnared by magic.
Her black silk dress, revealing a generous décolletage, drew any man’s gaze to her ample bosom. Her intoxicating beauty and artistically sculpted figure exuded youthfulness, with taut, fair skin. Her bust and hips were ample, yet her waist remained slender and strong, as if it might snap under pressure.
For an eighteen-year-old lad, Josephine’s allure was poison.
Still, Boltaigne had once pushed her away, despite her advances.
「I can’t be happy with my father’s death!」
「Well, yes.」
Josephine stepped back, seemingly disinterested. She sat on the sofa, pouring water from a pitcher into a glass and taking a sip. Such a simple gesture, yet so elegant and alluring. As she drank, her blood-red lips moved, and Boltaigne involuntarily swallowed his saliva in sync.
Unbeknownst to him, he was already captivated by her gaze, unable to look away. Boltaigne, lost in a dreamlike haze, suddenly snapped to attention and questioned her.
「Countess Agene, can you afford to be so leisurely? The enemy has already breached Nant Marquisate from Dot Barony and is now advancing toward Otan. If we continue like this, even Nant Harbor and Isoir itself could fall at any moment!」
「Fufufu.」
Despite Boltaigne’s fury, Josephine chuckled. She placed the glass gently on the table, the soft sound resonating more than expected.
「Is this a time for laughter?」
「Well, yes.」
「Laughing won’t help us! What’s your plan, Countess Aquitaine?」
「Well, let’s call for reinforcements from the Castilia Kingdom.」
「Reinforcements from a foreign army?」
「Yes. Overland travel would take too long, so we’ll have them land at Nant Harbor.」
Boltaigne’s father had always warned against such a move to maintain independence. Even in death, his words weighed heavily on Boltaigne. It felt like a bolt from the blue.
「I cannot allow that.」
「Then what will you do? If we continue like this, your rule over Nant Marquisate itself will crumble.」
「Well…」
Even if Otan, the northern city of Nant, were to fall, there were still defensive forces in the south—Vienne, Castor, and even Nant Harbor. Moreover, the mercenary company his father had hired remained intact, dutifully fighting the retreat. As the last surviving scion of House Burgund, Boltaigne would lead them, once again facing the enemy.
Boltaigne, the young knight, wanted to express his thoughts, but he found himself speechless.
Josephine rose from her seat, gazing up at Boltaigne with a demure tilt of her head. Her eyes, dark and deep, overwhelmed him, and he involuntarily swallowed. Those eyes held a captivating allure.
「The letter requesting reinforcements from Castilia is already written. Our liege, King Bonjour of the legitimate bloodline, has signed it. Now, with your permission, we can summon them immediately. So, Nant Marquis Boltaigne, what will you do?」
「Well, um…」
「If you agree, just nod.」
Josephine showed Boltaigne the letter, then unabashedly embraced the young man. Her soft, fair cheek pressed against his rugged one.
Her ample bosom pressed against Boltaigne’s chest, eliciting a suppressed gasp. What had she done? His body trembled.
「Understood, understood! It seems there’s no other choice…」
Pushed to the brink, Boltaigne nodded.
At that moment, Josephine discreetly dropped the letter behind her.
The letter would soon be picked up by Josephine’s maid and sent to the King of Castilia. If Josephine had been asked to allow foreign troops into her own territory, she likely would have refused.
Revealing such vulnerability would undoubtedly lead to unknown consequences with the cunning King of Castilia. However, Nant Harbor was not her domain, so its fate mattered little to her.
The plea for aid was made on behalf of the Blanc family’s rightful king and the Nant Marquisate. Although the extent of assistance from Castilia remained uncertain, given Marquis Pipin’s defeat, Josephine needed them to hold off the Silesie Kingdom’s forces at Nant Harbor.
「I have to reward you for being so obedient.」
「Countess Agene」
「I’m half fox, half beast. I guess you dislike women who aren’t human.」
「No, I don’t really care, I don’t care.」
「Fufu, that’s cute. Hey, there’s a little tail growing on my butt, do you want to see it?」
Josephine gently pulled up the skirt of her black dress as if to invite her.
「Well, if you could show me…no no! Madame Agene. That would be a lot of trouble.」
Josephine slowly runs her delicate fingertips along Boltaigne’s neck.
He couldn’t help but gulp.
「Can you call me Josephine instead of madame when we’re alone?」
「ah……」
Josephine gently pulled Boltaigne’s hand and led him to her bed.
As a young man, he was now at the mercy of Josephine.