“Okhraine Kingdom……”
Orlando Rus III pondered over his words. It was exactly the name he had in mind when he ascended to the throne as the co-king of Okhraine.
His own name contained ‘Rus.’ Originally, the Okhraine territory itself was land given to the brother of the previous Rus Tsar Empire’s emperor.
The Soviev Empire was established through the ‘revolution’ of reformist forces that rebelled against the existing Rus royal family; strictly speaking, the Okhraine Duchy could be considered the legitimate successor of the Rus Tsar Empire.
Of course, considering how chaotic the late period of the Rus Tsar Empire was, its shadow was not particularly attractive enough to walk right into.
But what about the Okhraine Kingdom?
If they could break away from the empire’s shadow and stand proudly as a nation built solely by themselves and the people of Okhraine.
That was precisely the future Orlando Rus III had longed for.
He looked straight at the colonel before him. Despite severe injuries and just regaining consciousness, his golden eyes burned with determination and faith.
He was merely a colonel. Although a war hero, he had been in the military for only a few years.
He wasn’t even a general.
Yet, his words carried a power stronger than any general.
A power that could shake even the leader of the nation, Orlando himself.
This power was granted only to those who were chosen. Those who could overturn a country, rally the masses, and lead everyone towards the future they envisioned.
Even from the start, Enok Revendale was no ordinary man, but he was more than just a man of such limited capacity.
“You… You have amazed me from beginning to end.”
A hero who appeared like a comet, shaking the very foundations.
Perhaps if he had joined the military a few years earlier, the tragedy of fratricide would not have occurred today.
No.
It would not have happened.
Orlando Rus III bit his lip bitterly. In the end, all of this was due to his own inadequacy.
Despite sensing the disquieting movements of the Eastern Corps, he let his guard down out of petty pity and a glimmer of hope.
He never imagined that it would come to the point of directly involving the Soviev Empire.
Now, such things must never happen again in Okhraine.
Even if it meant completely breaking away from the empire, all citizens must unite and move towards a better future.
“But the forces of Petrobuna Palace still remain strong. Without reclaiming the General Staff and the palace… declaring the kingdom would be meaningless.”
“That’s correct. It would be best to declare the kingdom after completely ending the chaos within the capital.”
Enok nodded in agreement.
He knew how to handle public opinion. He had turned ordinary citizens into a personal guard unit, protecting him instead of the traitorous royal guard and national guard.
It wasn’t ordered by anyone.
It happened naturally. Citizens rose up, shouting his name, advancing towards him.
For Orlando Rus III, who clearly understood how the royal family of the Rus Tsar Empire fell, this was nothing short of a fresh shock.
Declaring the kingdom was not simply a matter of Orlando stepping forward and announcing it.
It was a bold leap into the prelude of a massive storm that would engulf the continent.
Public sentiment.
International currents.
Absolute support from bureaucrats.
All these preparations needed to be perfectly completed before it could happen.
Above all, Orlando Rus III had to walk back into his own home, Petrobuna Palace.
“The enemy is still holding out inside the palace. While there is an artillery division from the Southern Corps, there are too many innocent people still detained inside.”
Such sacrifices for the greater good…
This was not a value Orlando Rus III desired.
As a monarch who had always dreamed of a country where everyone could live well and feel proud, such stains were unacceptable.
Enok Revendale understood Orlando Rus III’s stubbornness all too well.
He chuckled and glanced out the window.
“I think she should have arrived by now. Bella, could you please draw the curtains?”
“Uhh… The curtains?”
As Bella hesitantly approached and drew the curtains, revealing the window.
“What is that…!!”
The sky beyond the window.
The aide discovered something massive floating majestically above, and exclaimed in surprise.
Bella Meyer threw open the window.
“This is Colonel Claude Rain, Chief of Staff of the 8th Rapid Assault Mage Infantry Battalion.”
The heavy voice echoed throughout the entire capital of Kaeyef.
Anyone who had ever served in the 8th Rapid Assault Mage Infantry Battalion would never forget that voice. Nikolai and Luna’s expressions brightened at the sound.
“Co-King Orlando Rus III.”
“Colonel Enok.”
“Walk boldly toward the main gate. My most trusted problem solvers will be with you.”
Let the usurpers who have barricaded themselves in the palace know clearly that Co-King Orlando is the true master of Okhraine.
Enok Revendale added.
Boldly walk through the main gate occupied by the rebels.
The aide tried to stop him in terror, but Orlando thought it was indeed correct.
What was he afraid of?
The tide had already turned.
Countless citizens would join him, and outstanding warriors would accompany him.
The current king was not one who ruled passively.
Sometimes, as the essence of the nation, one had to boldly step forward in front of the masses.
Orlando Rus III said while gazing at the airship floating in the sky.
“Aide, prepare for entry. We must return home now.”
*
The fact that Claude Rain and the 8th Rapid Assault Mage Infantry Battalion had arrived in Kaeyef spread throughout the capital in an instant.
It was inevitable that everyone would know.
Three massive airships floating in the blue sky.
Their deep voices reverberating could stir even the soldiers rebelling against the coup and ordinary citizens.
Thanks to their brilliant performances over the past few years, the 8th Rapid Assault Mage Infantry Battalion had become one of the most famous units in Okhraine.
“…”
“Colonel Kamalov.”
Unlike the Imperial Guard Regiment and some of the Capital Guard troops who were desperately resisting because it was too late to turn back, the soldiers who had held on purely out of loyalty to Colonel Kamalov also could not hide their unease now.
“The soldiers are anxious.”
Originally, the Special Military Unit of the National Guard was composed entirely of soldiers with no connections, dedicated solely to the Special Military Unit Commander and the co-king.
Most were orphans or individuals who had severed ties with their families for various reasons and lived alone.
Kamalov had taken them in and made them live lives they weren’t ashamed of, which is why the Special Military Unit could participate in the coup perfectly without a single defector.
Colonel Kamalov remained silent. He closed his eyes and slowly leaned back in his chair.
Unless they were fools, there were only two options left for them.
Surrender or commit s*icide.
And at that moment, he finally spoke.
“Tell the soldiers they can freely surrender…”
“Special Military Unit Commander Kamalov!!”
Colonel Offray Dunn rushed into the room.
“What’s happening?”
“Go to the main gate immediately and take command of the soldiers! The 8th Rapid Assault Mage Infantry Battalion has arrived. A massive number of citizens are advancing towards the palace with them. With our remaining forces, we can’t possibly defend the main gate. Your Special Military Unit needs to step up!!”
Colonel Offray Dunn looked extremely urgent.
While large-scale protests and attempts by some troops to forcibly enter the palace with violence had become common occurrences, his reaction indicated that this time, the conflict was on a different level altogether.
After all, with the arrival of the 8th Rapid Assault Mage Infantry Battalion, could the citizens really stay idle?
Kamalov looked back and forth between his adjutant and the colonel before silently rising from his seat.
Someone had to do it anyway.
Since he had crossed the river that couldn’t be turned back, he would bear all the mistakes himself.
“Is Enok Revendale here too?”
“No. No.”
“Then who is leading the citizens?”
“King Orlando Rus III.”
“…”
Kamalov, who had been willing to fire his g*n at the citizens, could not help but stop when he heard that name.
“Is King Orlando Rus III personally leading the masses?”
“Yes! That’s why you need to act immediately. The soldiers under your command aren’t listening to me!”
“What are you saying? King Orlando Rus III has returned to the palace. Why should I stop him? Moreover, isn’t King Orlando Rus III actually right? Didn’t you tell me that Colonel Enok killed him?”
“d*mn it…”
Colonel Offray Dunn grabbed Kamalov by the collar and shouted.
“How long will you be trapped in illusions?! If we k*ll the king, both of us can survive! This is an order!”
Snap.
Kamalov’s belief crumbled.
Why did Kamalov, who was close to the co-king, join the coup?
Unlike others who sought their own safety and higher positions, Kamalov had a more complex reason.
Like Enok Revendale, he was convinced that the world was soon going to be engulfed in a terrible war.
That’s why he could never stop worrying.
Could the Okhraine Duchy survive in that war?
Although they had recently strengthened their military and imported advanced technologies, they were still woefully inadequate compared to the giant, the Soviev Empire.
If that giant were to rise and take a big step, the first place to be reduced to ruins would undoubtedly be Okhraine.
It would be better to survive in humiliation than to be completely destroyed.
Kamalov’s stance had always been consistent.
That’s why he joined the coup.
He believed that around the co-king, there were only sycophants who didn’t understand the situation and continued to push Okhraine towards destruction.
Through the coup, Kamalov wanted to completely remove those sycophants.
He hoped that Orlando Rus III would form a new cabinet filled with people truly dedicated to Okhraine’s future.
It was a foolish, ignorant, and shortsighted idea, but no one told Kamalov the truth. He was recruited last among the coup members due to this tendency.
The Special Military Unit was a special organization.
Though it was a subsidiary unit of the National Guard, it was also one of the few combat units that the co-king could directly mobilize.
Therefore, Kamalov had no one to inform him accurately about the situation.
The coup forces were aware that Kamalov was not moving for self-preservation like them.
They continued to mislead him with the truth.
And finally.
Through Colonel Offray Dunn, Kamalov realized everything.
“You want us to k*ll the king so that both of us can survive?”
“Colonel—!!”
“Now I understand. That’s why you wanted to keep me confined here.”
“Haha! Then what do you plan to do now? We’re already on the same boat. You’re also a traitor, whether you like it or not!!”
Colonel Offray Dunn shouted in rage, but his words didn’t continue.
Bang!
With a sharp gunshot, the colonel’s body fell backward. Kamalov’s eyes grew cold.
“Adjutant.”
“Yes, Colonel.”
“I’m sorry. Because of my foolish leadership…”
“It’s fine.”
A plain response. That was how Kamalov’s adjutant proved his loyalty.
“Gather the remaining Special Military Unit members and the National Guard, and open the main gate to allow for surrender.”
“Understood.”
“And could you deliver this to King Orlando Rus III and ask for leniency?”
Kamalov took off the Royal Guard medal hanging on his chest and handed it to his adjutant.
It was a medal that King Orlando Rus III had personally awarded him when he ascended to the throne.
“We were just victims of a foolish decision by a foolish man.”
“…Thank you for all your hard work.”
The adjutant accepted the medal with his final words and saluted Kamalov.
“Don’t thank me. The hard work lies ahead for you. Truly sorry. Check the basement of my house. There should be funds accumulated there. Divide them fairly among the remaining subordinates. With that, you might be able to survive despite the disgrace.”
Without a word, the adjutant nodded, bowed respectfully, and bid farewell.
Watching this, Kamalov lit a cigarette. The bitter smoke mingled with the metallic scent of bl**d.
Now that the true master of Petrobuna Palace had returned, he needed to clean up beforehand.
All the bugs he had left alone until now needed to be exterminated.
And among those bugs…
included Kamalov himself.
“The king once said I should improve my ability to read the atmosphere. I should have followed that order first.”
