Chapter 68: Declaration of War

This wasn’t a meeting, it was a declaration.

That alone was dumbfounding, but to make it three days from now? What kind of ridiculous joke was this!

The resolution to keep my mouth shut vanished as a torrent of words began to pour out.

“Your Majesty declared a ceasefire only two years ago! Why another war now?”

“I declared a ceasefire because no more kingdoms dared to challenge us. It seems that in just two years, some kingdoms have forgotten the Empire’s terror,” the Emperor stated.

Ireon Kingdom.

With a snap of the Emperor’s fingers, a servant standing by placed documents in front of each noble. Those who read them groaned softly.

Objectively, the Empire wasn’t in the wrong. But still, this was war. Wouldn’t the losses outweigh the gains?

As they gnashed their teeth at the profit-hungry, foolish kingdom and pondered how to persuade the Emperor, an even more shocking statement reached their ears.

“And while we’re waging war anyway, I intend to take this opportunity—”

…….

—to conquer the continent.”

!?

“It’s something I’ve been planning for a long time. Since we’re wiping out the Ireon Kingdom, it’s best to finish it all at once.”

“Your Majesty! What are you…!”

This was a goal set the moment he ascended the throne. No matter what his retainers said, the Emperor had no intention of backing down.

Besides, the Ireon Kingdom wasn’t the only one acting presumptuously in the current situation.

Since the news of Deon Hart’s injury had subtly spread, other kingdoms had become more relaxed in their dealings with the Empire.

That was the extent of it. The weight of ‘Deon Hart’s’ name.

‘Not surprising.’

Times of turmoil breed heroes.

During the long eight-year war, countless ‘heroes’ were born, only to die just as meaninglessly as their fame grew.

Only three of them survived when the war ended.

Deon Hart was the last of these to gain fame as a hero, and also the most renowned.

Unlike the other heroes who were assigned specific regions, he traversed various battlefields throughout the war as a vanguard.

Originally, this was done as the most efficient way to utilize Deon Hart at the time, but it soon revealed an unexpected effect.

The fear of ‘Deon Hart’.

He already possessed a striking appearance with his red eyes and white hair.

As rumors spread, this was twisted, and he became known to the enemy as a demon incarnate. As a bonus, his appearance, far from just being striking, was even handsome, earning him fame among allies in more ways than one.

Regardless of how he was known, his ‘fame’ alone was enough to demoralize the enemy by half, and almost everyone subconsciously believed that ‘Deon Hart accounted for the majority of the Empire’s military power’.

So, it was understandable that the other kingdoms, who had been keeping their heads down, would start to raise them upon hearing the news of Deon Hart’s injury.

‘It doesn’t matter since it’s not true.’

How tiresome.

Every time they regained their vigor, he’d crush them, and then they’d raise their heads again, and he’d crush them again….

Since the goal was continental conquest anyway, was there really a need to do this?

So, let’s end it all now.

That was the conclusion he had reached.

Naturally, the other retainers were shocked. What was he saying! It was like saying he’d buy a building while he was out shopping for groceries!

They had to stop him.

Their minds changed. They could accept the war with the Ireon Kingdom, but the continental conquest had to be stopped.

Pale-faced nobles began to speak over each other.

“Continental conquest is premature! There’s so much to prepare, and the budget…!”

“The basic preparations are already complete.”

When had he even prepared this? A neatly organized budget was placed before each noble.

“War will inflict significant damage on the Empire! It’s not just when the enemy sets foot on our territory!”

“You don’t need to worry about the Empire. Do you think I haven’t considered that?”

“We haven’t completely eradicated the Revolutionary Army yet! Waging war with enemies within is dangerous!”

“That’s why I’ve summoned you all. Shouldn’t you come up with a solution?”

“The aftermath of the eight-year war hasn’t been fully addressed. The people of the Empire will be uneasy. Please, for the sake of the Empire’s stability….”

“During the eight-year war, did the enemy ever push into the Empire and trample our citizens’ homes? They will be safe this time as well.”

“Yes, but… the psychological unease….”

The words that followed were mostly similar.

For the sake of the Empire and its people, please postpone the continental conquest, or something like that.

The nobles knew very well what the Emperor prioritized.

Responsibility.

Eudoardo Deserte valued duty and responsibility. As Emperor, even if he didn’t want to, he never neglected his duties to take responsibility for the Empire and care for its people.

It was an action that didn’t fit his self-proclaimed title of tyrant.

So, they thought that mentioning the Empire and its people might make him reconsider, but the Emperor was indeed a formidable opponent.

“For the sake of the Empire, you say?”

A chilling voice descended.

The voices that had been rising without restraint abruptly died down, and the Emperor slowly rose from his seat. His golden eyes, as he surveyed the nobles, shone sharply like those of a wild beast whose pride had been wounded.

In that moment of dawning realization that something was wrong, the Emperor called out to the Duke with a growl.

“Duke Illuster.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What is the proper way to address the Emperor?”

……Ah.

The Duke’s lips curved upwards.

‘So, this is how you intend to resolve things.’

If that’s the case, then I shall allow myself to be used.

He gracefully rose from his seat, placed a hand on his chest, and bowed to the Emperor. A soft voice, laced with a faint smile, flowed from his lips.

“Your subject, Starbe Illuster, greets ‘the current Empire’.”

“Very well.”

The Emperor turned his gaze away as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He looked around at the frozen nobles and spoke firmly, as if to etch it into their minds.

“I am the Empire.”

…….

“Having heard my answer regarding your concerns for the Empire, does your continued insistence imply that my words hold no weight?”

“N-Not at all!”

“We are merely acting out of loyalty….”

As a tension that felt as though it would explode pressed down on the meeting room, desperate responses echoed from here and there.

When the Emperor unleashed his rage, someone was bound to die. Not as a metaphor, but literally.

Seeing their obvious fear of losing their heads, the Emperor paused, then spoke slowly in a somewhat gentler tone.

“I am well aware of your loyalty. However, if you do not wish to insult me, you would be wise to refrain from further remarks.”

“We understand, Your Majesty.”

The nobles bowed their heads, inwardly sighing.

They were completely played. Persuading the Emperor was now out of the question. The Emperor was likely well aware of this fact.

As expected, the Emperor, having said all he needed to say, rose from his seat, signaling the end of the meeting with a decisive statement.

“The war is decided. There will be another meeting later, and by then, I expect you to have devised a plan regarding the Revolutionary Army.”

“……We obey your command.”

“And Duke Illuster.”

Meeting the Emperor’s gaze, the Duke silently curved his lips into a smile.

The meeting was over. The gathered nobles dispersed with grim expressions, and the meeting room became empty.

The Duke, who should have left with them, was in another room facing the Emperor.

The Emperor, his eyes sharp as he stared at the Duke who still wore a full smile, slowly spoke.

“Duke.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Thanks to you, we were able to apprehend the mastermind behind the Salvation Church. I shall express my gratitude for this, for now.”

“That was the work of Lord Cruel, not mine.”

As expected, he wouldn’t get away with it so easily. The Emperor quietly furrowed his brow and stared directly at the Duke. The Duke, too, met his gaze with a smile.

Their gazes clashed in the air.

Neither yielded their gaze for a long time, and the Emperor, still staring at the Duke, spat out each word.

“Coincidentally, the mastermind was someone within the noble faction who opposed you.”

“But the noble faction is still the noble faction. Who would welcome a loss of power? As a fellow member of the noble faction, I am simply saddened by this.”

What a joke.

The Duke never let those who opposed him get away unscathed. Since he couldn’t openly target the imperial faction, he must have chosen someone within the noble faction who annoyed him. It was obvious.

Should I probe a little more?

Depending on the person, it might seem like I’m cornering him, but the Duke would surely slip away with ease. No matter how much I pushed, it would only appear as probing.

But even that probing would be helpful right now.

“I’ve been hearing some interesting rumors lately,” the Emperor began.

The Emperor spoke.

“They say the Emperor is ‘sin,’ and the Duke is ‘salvation.'”

“Mere nonsense from ignorant fools. Now that the Salvation Church has been eradicated, is there really any need to pay them any mind?”

Clang!

It happened in an instant. The Duke closed his mouth and quietly looked down to confirm the object aimed at his neck before looking back at the Emperor.

The Emperor, having drawn Nemesius’s sword from behind him, was pointing it at the Duke’s neck.

He rarely did so, but the Emperor slightly raised the sword with a sneer. In response, the Duke’s head also tilted upwards.

“Indeed, it’s nonsense. I’m closer to ‘calamity’ than ‘sin.’ Wouldn’t you agree, Duke?”

……

The Emperor’s expression changed the moment the Duke closed his mouth.

His face was filled with murderous intent, as if he would kill him at any moment, as if he had never smiled.

“Do you find me so laughable?”

A grim voice filled with rage fell. The killing intent emanating from the Emperor was crushing the air.

Drip.

Blood dripped from the wound where the sword had pierced. Purple eyes lowered to confirm it before fixing on the Emperor once more.

The Duke was still smiling.

“Your Majesty cannot kill me.”

Calamity does not discriminate. But the Emperor before him does.

Therefore, you are not a calamity.

That is why I covet your power. Power struggles are useless against a calamity, but they are possible against you.

“…It seems you often forget that I have already destroyed one ducal house.”

“How could I?”

“Does being the last remaining ducal house make you think I would hesitate?”

“You wouldn’t hesitate for that reason. However, even so, Your Majesty cannot kill me.”

Even if that weren’t the reason, you have many reasons not to kill me.

‘You think I can’t kill you?’

‘You cannot.’

Countless gazes were exchanged. Meeting the furious golden eyes, the Duke smiled defiantly.

Killing me would cause you considerable trouble. You would face the opposition of numerous nobles. There are limits to suppressing them with force.

You want to wage war. You want to conquer the continent. To do that, you must first ensure internal stability.

Someone like you would never kill me.

‘If you were to target me, it would be during the war.’

Though even that wouldn’t be easy.

Would he withdraw the sword, or would he cut him down?

After a long battle of wills, the Emperor was the one who ultimately backed down.

He sheathed the sword, handing it back to Nemesius, and spat out a curse.

“You called me sin, but it seems sin lies elsewhere.”