After that discussion, Rowan wasted no time.
The news of my engagement with the Imperial Princess was already being circulated among the higher ranks—nobles, military officials, and anyone who needed to know. Not publicly, of course. That would come later, once things were… stable.
If that ever happened...
A short while later, Rowan turned toward me again, as if remembering something important.
"Your Highness," he began, then paused. "From this point forward, how would you prefer to be addressed? As 'Hero'… or 'Your Highness'?"
I looked at him for a moment.
"Just call me Arin."
It felt like the most reasonable option.
Rowan didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he seemed to think about it more seriously than I expected.
"…That would not be appropriate," he said after a brief pause. "I serve as a direct advisor to the throne. Addressing the king by name would be considered disrespectful within court protocol."
Right.
Of course it wouldn't be that simple.
"…Then don't call me 'Hero'," I said instead. "Anything but that."
He nodded.
"As you wish, Your Highness."
I let out a quiet breath.
That was one problem solved.
Or at least reduced.
"Your Highness," Rowan continued, his tone returning to its usual composed state, "there are several matters that require your immediate attention."
Of course there are.
I leaned back slightly.
So this is how it starts.
A few hours ago, I was just another student trying to manage part-time work and college fees.
Now—
I'm apparently responsible for a kingdom. Not by choice.
But that doesn't seem to matter here.
Honestly… this really does feel like something out of an isekai story.
Except there's no pause button.
"…Alright," I said. "Explain the current situation."
Rowan's expression brightened slightly.
"Of course."
What followed was less of an explanation
And more of a problem list.
The Kingdom of Velkyria had already taken control of two small border cities.
Annexed.
Just like that.
On the surface, it didn't seem overwhelming. Velkyria's shared border with Valenford was relatively limited compared to Dravenmark and Noctenvale.
But....According to Rowan—To understand the current situation, I needed context.
So I listened.
Before me, the ruler of Valenford was King Leki Valenford.
And from what I gathered—
He wasn't the type to bend easily.
Over the years, the Lunaris-aligned nations—Dravenmark, Noctenvale, and Velkyria—had repeatedly pressured Valenford to abandon its Solaris alignment and pledge allegiance to the Moon.
Their reasoning was simple.
Valenford was isolated.
Cut off from other Solaris nations.
Vulnerable.
From a strategic standpoint—It made sense.
But King Leki refused.
Every time.
That refusal didn't come without consequences.
There were conflicts. Small-scale wars. Constant tension along borders.
But each time, the Solaris Empire intervened, preventing Valenford from being completely overrun.
Until recently.
The Emperor of the Solaris Empire had died.
And with that—Came instability.
Power struggles.
Internal conflict.
Which meant one thing.
No immediate support.
Velkyria and its allies didn't waste time.
They made another offer.
Switch sides.
Accept Lunaris.
Survive.
And once again—King Leki refused.
This time—There was no one to back him.
Velkyria launched an attack.
At the same time—
The king was assassinated.
I didn't interrupt.
There wasn't anything to interrupt.
Two border cities fell.
The army lost coordination.
Leadership collapsed.
And now—"…Velkyria has given us three days," Rowan said.
His voice remained steady.
"A deadline to surrender."....I looked at him.
"…And today?"..."The second day." Said Rowan.
Of course it is.
I leaned back slightly, exhaling.
So let me get this straight.
I get summoned into another world—Can't go back—Get told I'm going to marry someone I've never met—And now—I have less than two days to deal with an ongoing war.
"…Right." I pressed my fingers lightly against my temple.
"Good timing."
A quiet sigh escaped me.
I really have no idea what I'm doing.
But apparently—That's not stopping anyone from expecting me to do it anyway.
"…Alright," I said after a moment. "Then tell me—what is our total military strength?"
If I was expected to deal with a war, I needed numbers first.
Rowan didn't hesitate.
"Valenford's total armed forces number approximately one hundred and twenty thousand troops."
That was… higher than I expected.
He continued without pause.
"Of these, around seventy thousand are infantry. Thirty-five thousand serve in the naval forces. The remaining fifteen thousand are assigned as Royal Guards, stationed primarily within the capital."
I took a second to process that.
For a so-called small kingdom…That was not a small number.
"…That's a lot," I said. "For a kingdom this size."
Rowan gave a slight nod, as if he had expected that reaction.
"Valenford's position demands it."
He moved a step closer to the table, as if outlining the map in his mind.
"We are surrounded on multiple fronts by Lunaris-aligned nations. Our largest shared border is with Noctenvale, which stretches across rocky terrain. That region requires constant and heavy deployment."
That made sense.
Natural terrain advantage—but also a constant pressure point.
"At the same time," Rowan continued, "we remain vulnerable to naval assaults from both Dravenmark and Velkyria. Our coastline is exposed on both sides."
So land pressure from one side.
Naval pressure from two.
"Which is why maintaining a strong navy is not optional," he added. "It is necessary."
I nodded slowly.
Yeah.
That checks out.
"When you're surrounded," I said, mostly thinking out loud, "you don't get the option to be weak."
Rowan didn't interrupt.
That explains it. This wasn't just about strength. It was about perception.
If Valenford looked weak—It wouldn't survive.
"…And yet," I muttered quietly, "they still managed to hold out all this time."
King Leki. And the rulers before him.
They didn't win. But they didn't lose either.
Which, in this situation—Was probably the best outcome they could afford.
—
I straightened slightly.
"Alright."
"If we're already this deep into it, then I need to speak with the people actually handling the war."
I looked at Rowan.
"Call the army general and the naval commander. I want to meet them immediately."
"As you command, Your Highness," Rowan replied without hesitation.
He turned to leave, then paused.
"Your Highness, it would be advisable for you to have something to eat while you wait. The meeting may take some time."
I paused.
Food.
Right.
Now that I think about it…
I haven't eaten anything.
I went from finishing my shift at the mall—To getting summoned into another world—To discussing military strategy.
"…Yeah," I said quietly. "That should probably come first."
At this rate—Starving before the war even starts would be a pretty inefficient way to go.
Some time later—
The food was… unexpectedly good.
I hadn't really thought about it while eating, but now that I stopped, it stood out. The flavors were richer than anything I was used to. Not something you'd find in a mall food court, that's for sure.
For a brief moment, I forgot where I was...
That didn't last long.
A knock echoed through the room.
Right on time.
"Your Highness," Rowan's voice came from the other side. "I have brought the generals and the commander."
"Please Come in."
The door opened, and Rowan entered first, followed by two men.
One carried himself like a soldier who had seen enough battles to stop reacting to them. The other had a sharper, more alert presence—someone who likely spent more time anticipating threats than facing them directly.
Rowan stepped aside.
"Your Highness, allow me to introduce—Duke Arhim D. Walt, General of the Army… and Duke Lopel von Quizer, Commander of the Naval Forces."
Both men lowered their heads in respect.
"Your Majesty," the army general spoke first, his voice firm and steady. "I have been informed of the situation. I, General Arhim D. Walt, pledge my allegiance and loyalty to your rule."
The naval commander followed immediately.
"I stand with the General. I offer my full support and loyalty to Your Majesty."
I paused for a moment.
…That was smoother than expected.
I had assumed there would be resistance. Doubt. At least a few questions.
Instead—
Full support.
Just like that.
That simplifies things.
At least for now.
"Raise your heads," I said.
They did.
"We don't have much time," I continued. "So let's focus on what matters."
I glanced at Rowan.
"Bring the map again."
"Yes, Your Highness."
A moment later, the map of Valenford was spread across the table.
I stepped closer.
"General Arhim," I said, "what is our current position? And the enemy's strength?"
He moved forward slightly, pointing at the map.
"Velkyria has already captured two border cities. Our remaining forces are currently stationed at the third city—Hower."
Hower.
So that's the next target.
"We lost approximately two thousand two hundred troops during the initial clashes," he continued. "Attempts to defend the first two cities were unsuccessful."
I nodded.
That explains the current positioning.
"As for enemy strength," he added, "our scouts estimate roughly twenty-five thousand troops."
He pointed again.
"Ten thousand are stationed at Farham. Fifteen thousand at Mentix. Intelligence reports indicate that an additional five thousand reinforcements are expected by tomorrow."
So—
Thirty thousand soon.
"They are likely preparing to launch a full assault on Hower the day after," he finished.
I looked at the map for a moment.
Enemy advantage in numbers.
Reinforcements incoming.|
Time limit already ticking.
"…Understood."
I shifted my attention.
"Commander Lopel. What about the sea?"
The naval commander stepped forward.
"So far, Velkyria has not initiated any naval attacks," he said. "However, we remain on guard."
He pointed along the coastline.
"We currently have fourteen ships deployed along the southern coast, with approximately six thousand troops stationed there."
Then, moving his hand upward—"Eighteen ships are positioned from central to northern waters, with around five thousand troops."
So they're covering both fronts.
South—Velkyria.
North—Dravenmark.
"Dravenmark may attempt to support Velkyria with a northern assault," he added. "We are prepared for that possibility."
I nodded slowly.
Alright.
That's the full picture.
Numbers. Positions. Time.
"…Not ideal," I said quietly.
For a moment, I just stood there, looking at the map.
This isn't theory. This isn't something from a book. This is real.
Still…I've read enough. Watched enough. At least I understand the basics.
"Alright," I asked, straightening slightly.
"Does the enemy have any clear weaknesses?"
General Arhim didn't hesitate.
"…There is one."
I looked at him.
Listening carefully now.
As he explained, I followed every detail.
Positioning.
Movement.
Gaps in coordination.
By the time he finished—I had an idea.
"…I see."
I looked at the map again.
Then at both of them.
"I might have something."
I explained it.
Step by step.
Not perfect.
Not guaranteed.
But—Better than doing nothing.
The discussion continued.
Questions.
Adjustments.
Counterpoints.
Time passed without anyone noticing.
By the time we stopped—It was already night.
And for the first time since arriving here—I wasn't just reacting anymore.
I was part of the situation.