Honestly, I had a tiny bit of worry. I was wondering if this would really go smoothly.
Burkhai was, not too long ago, regarded as the top among the three Eastern Kingdoms.
Not only does it boast vast territories and a large population, but it also has an extensive pool of talent.
You understand what the Empire is trying to pull by saying, “Give us your land, Porland.”
This is a strategy to reduce the unity of the East to zero—no, below zero.
Burkhai against Porland. Porland against Burkhai.
Instead of directing their enmity toward the Empire, it’s a setup to make them turn against each other.
Once this happens, there’s no going back for at least a decade without being under the Empire’s influence.
And even if time passes, there’s no guarantee things will simply resolve themselves.
If anything, the feud might deepen so much that the East won’t even dare to mention ‘alliance’ for years to come.
“So, what will you do? Will you sacrifice Burkhai in the present for a brighter future, or ruin the East’s future to protect Burkhai now?”
To be honest, most people would usually choose the latter over the former.
A few enlightened individuals might shout that this isn’t the way forward, warning that if this continues, the East will never be able to join hands again.
They’ll also point out that for decades, they’ll remain under the Empire’s sway.
But that’s where it ends. The majority will likely think about maintaining power in the present moment.
Alright, think about this: The war is over. Many have died, many are injured, and much has been destroyed.
On top of that, you have to pay reparations, hand over land, and even surrender people.
These events will cause the kingdom’s pride to plummet, replaced by overwhelming anger.
Naturally, this anger will be directed upwards, toward the higher-ups, which could ignite larger issues.
Here’s what those in power typically do in such situations: They offer up someone else as a scapegoat.
Ideally, they would point at the Empire, but doing that would only incite more cries of “The Empire! They’re the ones!”
From Burkhai’s perspective, that kind of public outcry could lead to a d*ath sentence.
They can see all too clearly that with just a wave of the Empire’s hand, Burkhai could be torn apart. Thus, they seek out a weaker target—a perfect candidate: Porland.
“So, even if there’s tension, Burkhai has no choice but to accept this, right?”
“Yes, Your Highness. If they calculate that they can heal their damaged pride through anger, they’ll ultimately accept all the Empire’s demands.”
“Porland? They’re in an awkward spot too since they sided with the Empire but will now bear the brunt of the enmity instead of the Empire itself. They can’t be oblivious to this situation, can they?”
Of course, they understand. That’s why the Empire has generously compensated them.
It’s not just any land that the Empire is handing over—it’s Burkhai’s territory.
This is the very Burkhai that has always treated them with disdain, labeled them traitors repeatedly, and constantly whined for resources and manpower.
“Your Highness is aware that Porland doesn’t directly border the Empire.”
“…Ah. You’re saying they have relatively less hostility towards the Empire compared to others.”
“Exactly. On the other hand, they share the most borders with Burkhai.”
If they imagine themselves tearing off a chunk of flesh from such a rival and filling their own bellies with it…
Would the people of the Porland Kingdom really say no? Or would they say yes?
“Porland has no choice here. It’s the same for Burkhai. In this situation, if they don’t gain something, dissatisfaction will crop up among the people, and controlling it will be extremely difficult.”
“So, Porland will also use Burkhai to clean up internally and channel the anger outward…”
Watching the princess marvel, I can’t help but admire the British again. Honestly, compared to their expert “Divide and Rule” tactics, my current plan is like nothing.
There’s a reason why they say, “If there’s a problem, blame the British. Ninety percent of issues stem from them.”
Ah, thinking further, our Empire isn’t half bad either. It’s practically the same as the British Empire. And many here think similarly to me…
Uh… well, it might still be slightly better than the British Empire, right?
“Your Highness!”
At that moment, the call reached both me and the princess, and we turned our heads.
“According to Burkhai, they’ve made a decision. They’ll accept all the Empire’s demands.”
“Really? That fast?”
“It seems like there was less internal conflict than expected.”
Or probably, there was conflict, but they managed to suppress it forcefully.
“Alright then. It’s fortunate. Truly a good outcome.”
Without any more battles, they can send the soldiers home safely. Knowing this, the princess breathed a sigh of relief with a bright smile.
Thinking back, I used to believe the pro-war faction only shouted for battles—how wrong I was. This second princess is actually a good person!
“In the end, the war has come to an end.”
As the princess muttered, I nodded a few times.
Yes, the Empire’s war might have ended, but the East’s war is only just beginning.
No one can predict how much bickering or conflict will arise from this Empire-planted strife. It’s not something that’ll be resolved with a simple laugh.
In severe cases, another round of bloodshed could break out between the three countries.
So, what conclusion can I draw from all this? Whatever.
“The East should’ve prepared for retaliation since they made the first move against the Empire. In fact, they should be grateful that it ended this way.”
I thought this while slowly lifting my head to look at the sky.
To be honest, my mood isn’t great right now. There’s a lingering unease.
It’s not only about the Eastern issue—something else has been bothering me too.
“We managed to finish things without causing the total downfall of the Eastern kingdoms, yet the entire pro-war faction of nobles hasn’t made a single comment on this…”
The longer the Empire’s war efforts drag on, the worse it becomes.
And that suggests there’s unrest brewing, which extends beyond just the East.
—
In the west of the Empire, there are many kingdoms beyond its borders.
It’s a stark contrast to the East, where only three kingdoms existed on such vast lands.
Wars break out every few years. When one kingdom rises, another declines. Newly established kingdoms replace older ones that fall into oblivion.
This constant cycle inevitably raises the standards of armies over time.
Recently, one kingdom has started to stand out among the chaos.
Dedolant, always a formidable kingdom, successfully claimed the Jugel region they had long coveted.
“Our Prince, congratulations! This means our Deo people are finally liberated!”
“Of course! Jugel has always belonged to Dedolant, to the Deo people! That treacherous Dugal kingdom merely stole it through a surprise attack!”
Had someone from the Dugal Kingdom heard this, they’d surely have been furious and might’ve coughed up bl**d.
This territory was ceded as part of war treaties; why claim it as a surprise attack?
Nevertheless, in the presence of the prince of Dedolant, such arguments hold no meaning. What matters to him is the reaction of the kingdom’s people.
‘You need to keep provoking them. Keep exploiting pride and inferiority. If this stops here, we’re doomed.’
The order in the West has always been maintained through bl**d, strength, and battle. The moment you let your guard down, you risk being torn apart by your neighboring kingdoms.
Especially for a military powerhouse like Dedolant, this risk is even greater. Even the slightest gap is seized upon by enemies, who then viciously attack.
And that’s why there’s no room to stop. Once you start, you have to finish.
Knock down all neighboring kingdoms. Swallow them whole. Expand your territory wildly. Only then can no one dare to stand in Dedolant’s way or mistreat the Deo people!
“Prince, we’ve received word from the capital.”
“Is that so? What has our esteemed father to say?”
“Our achievements are acknowledged, and we are ordered to return.”
Hearing this, the prince snorted a mocking laugh.
Predictable. As an illegitimate son building countless military accomplishments, he’s clearly an annoyance to the heir.
Surely the frail, yet greedy, Crown Prince had a hand in this scheme.
All these people work so hard for an incapable leader. Do they truly think their toil is due to their own abilities?
Does the king and the Crown Prince believe their place is justified? Do they even comprehend that they never show up in battlefields?
“If I return now, they’ll pressure me.”
“Prince.”
“And then, they’ll replace me with the Crown Prince or some other prince. You know they will.”
If only I could see them try. I’d love to watch their great failure and laugh.
But if I did that, I might lose everything I’ve built—the entire proud army of Dedolant. Our glorious Deo hope must not fall into the wrong hands.
This kingdom, no, the empire has just begun!
“We’ll return.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll prepare immediately.”
“And summon the commanders.”
“…Your Highness?”
The time has come. The moment to take hold of the sword in reverse. For Dedolant’s glory. For the future of the Deo people.
The day a new empire rises in the West is finally here.
