Don't Be Nervous, I Was Just Passing By

Count Segur smiled faintly. "Thank you for the reminder, but I believe it isn't too late. In fact, the soldiers of the Royal Guard Legion can arrive here in three days."

Earlier, the Royal Guard Legion that had gone to Baden for exercises had still been halfway there. Upon receiving the orders, they immediately headed south. After a continuous Forced March, they had now reached the vicinity of Turin in Sardinia.

Ercole III's eyes widened at once. "So soon?! But..."

He toyed with his cane, his gaze flicking toward the floor. "I still need to gather the ministers and discuss this."

Modena, a small country with a population of only eight hundred thousand and an area less than one-fifth that of Switzerland, had no desire whatsoever to become entangled in the dispute between such behemoths as France and Austria.

Count Segur said seriously, "Your Majesty, you should know very well that Austria's exercises this time are not merely about the trade agreement.

"An army of thirty thousand is an enormous threat to the entire Italian Region."

He picked up his teacup and took a sip. "Especially since Modena has friction with Parma and Lucca, while both of them have close ties with Austria.

"If one day Parma requests Austria's support, there would be no need for thirty thousand troops. Even one-fifth of that force would be beyond what your country could withstand."

He glanced at Ercole III's thoughtful expression and continued, "Furthermore, Sardinia has always claimed sovereignty over the central Italian Region.

"It could be said that your country faces danger at any moment."

The Duke of Modena looked at him in some confusion. "What do you mean?"

"The Crown Prince believes that France and Modena can use these exercises as an opportunity for some military cooperation," Segur said. "More