Chapter 8

“Duke?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Would you investigate it yourself?”

The calm green eyes and the amber eyes whose depths could not be measured became locked together.

One second. Two seconds.

Only a brief moment passed, yet to the nobles it felt as though half a day had gone by.

At last, Aiden’s low voice echoed through the meeting chamber.

“I apologize for saying this, but…”

Reaching into the inner pocket of his jacket, he pulled something out.

A quick-witted attendant approached him, accepted the document, and carried it to Mary.

“What is this?”

“It is an investigation into Brang’s recent movements.”

A crack appeared in Mary’s expressionless face.

“…”

Between her long eyelashes, her green eyes trembled slightly.

At last, she raised her head and fixed her gaze on Aiden.

“Are you saying Brang intends to invade?”

“Yes.”

Unlike the impassive Aiden, the reaction of those around him was intense.

“What are you talking about?!”

“Invasion…?!”

For many years, Strovana and Brang had maintained a close relationship.

Separated by a shallow sea, the two nations shared resources that each needed and engaged in frequent exchanges.

In fact, Blair, Evelyn’s biological mother and the Second Empress, came from a noble family in Brang.

That was how close the two nations were in many respects.

And now, all of a sudden, an invasion?

Wasn’t that utterly absurd?

Calmly waiting for the murmuring to die down, Aiden continued.

“Her Majesty the Saint King claims that Strovana pointed its blade at Brang first.”

“What?!”

“Isn’t that a completely ridiculous claim?!”

The murmuring, which had begun to subside, grew even louder.

This time, Aiden did not wait for it to quiet down.

“Brang is raising questions regarding the death of the late Emperor. They suspect poisoning or murder.”

“What…?!”

Mary’s dry voice fell heavily across the room.

“Because of the death of Edward Strovana, the late Emperor?”

“…Yes.”

“Emperor Mary ascended the throne after killing the late Emperor Edward, who carried Brang’s blood. This is a clear insult to Brang.”

Not long ago, rumors that the King of Brang had made such a statement had thrown Strovana into an uproar.

Many opinions had surrounded Edward’s death, but the official conclusion had been death by illness.

For a foreign nation to interfere in the matter at all was already rude enough, but Brang had used its connection through Empress Blair’s family to elevate the issue into a diplomatic dispute.

Naturally, everyone was outraged.

“It seems they intend to direct the people’s attention outward in order to stabilize their own turbulent political situation.”

When Robert added his own comment, Mary’s eyebrows, which had scarcely moved until now, rose upward.

“A king of Brang dares question my legitimacy?”

The words were softly spoken, yet carried a chilling sharpness.

“…How dare he.”

As she continued to mutter to herself, no one dared speak to her carelessly.

With the exception of one person.

“Your Majesty.”

Robert Edenbarker.

Wearing a faintly gentle smile, he spoke in a somewhat light tone, as though it were nothing serious.

“What is there to worry about? A king of Brang who serves a god could never hope to overcome the reign of Your Majesty, who was born with the blessing of the gods.”

“…”

She showed no particular reaction, but the killing intent that had been pouring from Mary lessened somewhat.

“Still, preparations should be made.”

Robert’s gaze shifted toward the Second Empress faction.

“If they were to personally step forward and stop Brang’s invasion, would that not be of great help to Your Majesty?”

“…”

“What do you think about accepting volunteers? There is no defense more reliable than the campaign of loyal subjects.”

The eyes of the nobles belonging to the Second Empress faction widened.

Volunteer for the campaign?

Not material support, but individual lords personally standing against a conflict between nations?

What kind of law was that?

Moreover, telling them to station themselves at the border in preparation for a war that had not even begun was, in effect, a declaration that they were being pushed out of central politics.

In comparison, hunting rebels or heretics would be a far better option.

Drawing in breaths so deep that their rib cages expanded, they could not easily bring themselves to speak.

“Your Majesty.”

Aiden’s calm voice broke the silence.

“House Gloucester will answer the call.”

Even among the First Empress faction, who had been watching the situation unfold with amusement from across the room, sounds of surprise could be heard.

As for the Second Empress faction, they could not even close their dropped jaws.

“House Gloucester will protect Your Majesty’s Empire.”

The same thought passed through everyone’s mind.

House Gloucester was, by all accounts, the most prosperous and influential family among the Second Empress faction.

To curry favor with Emperor Philip and Empress Blair, the previous Duke had not hesitated to commit shameless acts.

And most of the victims had been nobles of the First Empress faction.

‘So this time, his son is making a reckless move to reclaim power!’

A few people let out scoffs.

Mary seemed to fall into thought for a moment, absently playing with the document in one hand.

Soon, lips as red as her hair curved upward.

“The Duke’s loyalty is admirable.”

A bright light appeared in her green eyes, which had been as dry as withered autumn leaves.

“I approve Gloucester’s campaign.”

Sighs that were almost groans echoed throughout the room.

***

The carriage carrying Aiden entered the Gloucester residence in the capital.

The immaculate garden stretching from the front gate seemed to resemble its master’s temperament—grand yet elegant.

“Duke.”

Before long, Scott, his adjutant, came to see him as he entered his office.

The forearm holding a thick stack of documents looked ready to burst through his shirt, proudly announcing its presence.

“What was the outcome?”

“We will be heading to the border within this month.”

“Ah…”

Scott let out a sigh without realizing it, then quickly furrowed his brow in alarm.

“Do you truly believe Brang will invade?”

“You’ve seen the reports as well.”

Calm amber eyes settled on him.

Pressing his lips together, Scott lowered his head.

It was true that Brang’s internal movements were unusual.

According to their informants, they were recruiting soldiers on a large scale and continuously spreading negative propaganda about Strovana.

As such, they too had to prepare for a declaration of war and an invasion that could come at any time.

Even so, it was not a matter serious enough to warrant House Gloucester itself being stationed at the border.

“Do you truly believe the princess’s words? Is that why—”

“Scott.”

A fierce, low voice cut through the air.

Realizing he had crossed a line, Scott hurriedly shut his mouth.

“My apologies.”

“…”

Letting out a low sigh, Aiden rose from his seat and walked toward the window.

His gait carried the elegance of someone who had been raised as a great noble from birth.

His movements were so light that even his footsteps could not be heard, as though he were walking upon clouds.

“In any case, we must demonstrate our loyalty to the Emperor. If so, this may be the better option.”

“Yes…”

At this meeting, just as Evelyn had said, the Emperor assigned the investigation into rebels and heretics to the Second Empress faction.

Officially, it was presented as an opportunity given to the Second Empress faction to silence criticism over the recent extermination of the Chester and Sands houses.

But perhaps because of what Evelyn had told him, something about it felt off.

More than anything, he found it far more agreeable to keep Brang in check than to conscript and drag away his own country’s people.

“We must prepare thoroughly. The enemy may not be beyond the border, but within it.”

“Yes.”

“And it may last longer than expected.”

Evelyn had said half a year, but no one knew how things would actually turn out.

That was the nature of war.

Scott nodded and left the office.

Looking out the window, Aiden’s gaze fell upon the familiar garden.

The sight of the green leaves brought to mind the eyes of someone he had seen long ago in his childhood.

Not long afterward, House Gloucester departed amid a grand send-off ceremony.

***

That night, Mary reclined against a large sofa, wearing a displeased expression.

“He irritates me.”

“Are you referring to Aiden Gloucester?”

In contrast, Robert, seated across from her, maintained a posture that was not disordered in the slightest.

“Yes.”

Mary narrowed her eyes.

She recalled the countless citizens who had come to see Aiden off as he left the Imperial Capital several hours earlier.

“Unlike his father, Aiden Gloucester paid a great deal of attention to those beneath him.”

“…”

“But surely today is the last day for that, is it not?”

Robert’s blue eyes slowly shifted.

His gaze turned toward the window, distant as though looking far beyond the horizon.

“Aiden Gloucester will wait for reinforcements and die a miserable death on the border.”

The curve of his lips twisted upward into a cold smile.

“Your Majesty will mourn his loyalty and grieve his loss.”

Unlike the other houses, House Gloucester was particularly difficult to deal with.

The ducal house, which had done nothing but serve as Emperor Philip’s sycophants, had conspicuously changed its attitude the moment its head changed.

Some criticized it as hypocrisy, but most of the citizens welcomed the change.

For people whose primary concern was surviving from one day to the next, there was no reason to reject someone who put bread in their mouths.

Because of that, Robert had to be extremely cautious in dealing with House Gloucester.

To Mary, who valued the legitimacy of the Emperor above all else, provoking the backlash of the Empire’s citizens was unacceptable.

As the one serving as her strategist, he also wanted to minimize the risks as much as possible.

Under such circumstances, Aiden’s declaration that he would stop Brang’s invasion with his own forces was quite irritating.

Originally, Robert had intended to use Brang’s suspicious movements as a means of driving out the other members of the Second Empress faction, but since Aiden had volunteered himself, there was no reason to refuse.

“…Yes.”

At last, a different light appeared in her green eyes, which had been twisted with displeasure.

A faint smile rose to the face that looked as though it might tear the Duke of Gloucester apart at any moment.