Upon returning to the Empire, the waiting citizens gave us a warm welcome.
Much like in the East, they shouted “Long live the Empire!” and cheered for an unshakable victory.
Thanks to this, the faces of the soldiers of the 6th and 13th Legions were filled with pride.
Though there were some empty spaces, they too will receive their due rewards.
Once the victory parade was over, someone from the Palace Administration came looking for me.
At first, I thought it was just another member of the royal household.
But the moment I saw their face, I was startled enough to almost lose my composure!
“Congratulations on the great victory, young Lord Kael!”
“Ah, Minister.”
The Minister of the Palace. A trusted aide since the days when the Emperor was still the Crown Prince.
And if we exclude royal figures, one could say this person ranks first in the imperial administration.
Especially considering the Crown Princess’s words about how close they are to the Emperor…
“I cannot tell you how pleased His Majesty the Emperor was upon hearing the news of your victory.”
“Ah, thank you. This all must be because the Empire and His Majesty the Emperor are under the protection of Lunen. Without that, I doubt we’d be talking about this great victory.”
“Hahaha! Of course, that’s true, but His Majesty doesn’t think that’s the only reason.”
The unmatched morale and training of the Imperial Legion. The competence of the commanders leading them.
Every time the Palace Minister mentioned such reasons, I vigorously nodded my head.
Honestly, it’s all true; the key to great victories often depends on the quality of the army.
“And our grand strategy was decisive as well.”
“I just assisted in sketching out what was an inevitably brilliant plan.”
“The more flawless a masterpiece, the more glaring even a small mistake appears, Lord Kael. To complete such a perfect and brilliant plan without any mistakes…that is truly an impressive ability.”
Of course! Truly the Emperor’s chief aide and right-hand man.
That kind of flattery makes it hard to keep pretending to be modest.
“Through this, the entire Empire has once again come to admire His Majesty’s keen insight.”
“It seems there was unrest due to the recent appointments in Neomes.”
“That’s correct. While there wasn’t overwhelming opposition, there were some concerns. Lord Kael has indeed achieved much, but the rewards were rather extravagant.”
Admittedly, where on earth does an emperor simply hand over such valuable territory?
If it was underdeveloped or still developing, that might make sense.
But Neomes is already thriving, a goose that lays golden eggs.
Even those loyal to the royal family or part of different factions admit the appointments in Neomes seemed a bit excessive.
Even my father and I were a little worried about it.
“There are already rumors throughout the Empire about your last desperate maneuver, Lord Kael. Oh, not just the Empire, but the whole Eastern region!”
“Ugh.”
“Especially in the East, the excitement about your role in the recent victory is intense.”
“Just embarrassing, really.”
“Hahaha! Your modesty is almost frightening!”
“Frightening?”
“Seeing how you shrug off your own achievements, declaring them mere humility, shows there are still gaps in your satisfaction. You seem to believe there’s more to prove.”
“What? No way? Absolutely not? That’s enough already? I’m getting scared too. One mistake now and I’ll be seen as the ‘guaranteed winner card’ that could lead to disaster!”
“His Majesty the Emperor will surely be pleased. That must be why he sent me.”
At this point, I could only chuckle, “Hehehe.”
Afterwards, the discussion naturally revolved around the usual—how the Emperor might call you back after some rest, the numerous invitations to banquets that will surely come.
I started thinking, ‘Right, will I even get any rest when I return?’
It’s tempting to decline all those engagements and just disappear, but I know I can’t. Especially since I, as the heir, receive the Duke title.
The wider my influence grows, the more secure our family’s position becomes.
Still, caution is key. Acting overconfident would be disastrous.
When you’re with the Legion, you truly grasp the immense power of the Empire!
“Ahh, and there’s one more thing.”
The Palace Minister wore a sly smile and continued speaking.
“Lord Kael, remember that royal liquor His Majesty sent last time?”
“Uh? Oh, yes. Of course! How could I forget such a glorious moment?”
“At that time, you said the liquor was insufficient to be shared with the entire Legion, so you poured it into the river to share it together, right?”
“Hehe, yes, indeed.”
Honestly, I was super nervous doing that at the time.
Who in their right mind would dare pour royal liquor into the river?
If the troops hadn’t agreed, I’d have been labeled as insane.
Fortunately, our Emperor is a good man. If it were a tyrant…
Oh no! He might’ve blasted me with a “Stalin d*ath Beam” from his finger!
‘Surely, they’re not bringing this up now for a reason?’
Trying desperately to calm my racing heart, I noticed the Palace Minister offering me something.
Curious, I examined it—and wowzers! This is insane!
“Bertier Duke’s firstborn, Kael Klauwitz, receives the Emperor’s order!”
The Palace Minister bowed so deeply it was almost embarrassing.
If anyone thought this was just a random thing… well, they need their noble badge revoked immediately.
Of course, this is a royal letter, a personal one at that, sent directly by His Majesty.
Trembling hands and a heart that beat even harder, I carefully took the letter and read its contents.
“[I heard the amount of wine I sent was insufficient.]”
“…”
Wow, this opening line alone is enough to make anyone jittery.
If the next part wasn’t reassuring, I might’ve smacked my forehead right there.
“[This time I have sent enough for all the Legion soldiers to share. Please, young Lord Kael, receive it and drink from your own cup.]”
I guess His Majesty was somewhat concerned about me dumping the royal liquor into the river then, realizing my intention to share his gift with the Legion soldiers.
Thinking back, I should have sent barrels instead of just bottles.
I couldn’t help but feel grateful for His Majesty’s thoughtfulness.
“His Majesty’s benevolence is like the sun, warming and comforting.”
Expressing my gratitude to the letter, the Palace Minister also bowed deeply.
*
Since the news of the great victory in the South, the entire capital has been in a festive mood.
There has always been absolute faith that the Empire would never lose.
But this level of achievement in one battle was truly unprecedented.
Especially against Benito, who dared challenge the Empire first.
The stories of Imperial Legions annihilating Benito’s prideful army spread like wildfire.
How could anyone not be excited? They wouldn’t be a true citizen of the Empire!
People gathered to discuss the news of the great victory.
The nobility was no different, especially since they were privy to the details.
Not only was the Imperial Legion’s performance remarkable, but the talk of Kael’s desperate maneuver was legendary.
The tale of a young strategist setting a trap no one could escape captured everyone’s attention.
With that, our hero made his grand entrance into the capital, alongside the Princess.
Soon, Kael was summoned to the palace.
The news drew the full attention of the nobility.
“Bertier Duke’s Kael Klauwitz pays homage to His Majesty the Emperor.”
With a subtle smile, the Emperor observed Kael silently.
This was significant since His Majesty rarely displays emotion openly.
As a result, even the Palace Minister, his guards, and the Crown Princess couldn’t help but notice and were slightly taken aback.
“Hurry in, young Lord Kael. I wish to commend your efforts, but I regret dragging you here without proper rest.”
“There is no cause for apology. I am just another noble of the Empire, a member of Bertier, and it’s my duty to serve the Royal Family and the Empire.”
For those who haven’t accomplished anything, such words would come across as hollow flattery.
But with Kael, it was different. The Emperor only felt more satisfied when remembering his achievements.
“I summoned you because there are a few matters I wish to discuss.”
While technically a noble’s heir, addressing someone like the Emperor directly is extraordinary.
This statement left no one surprised, for they already knew the potential of this young man.
The Emperor and Kael moved to the meeting hall.
Once everyone settled, the Palace Minister began speaking.
“Reported yesterday, a flood has occurred beyond our eastern border. This news comes from agents in Burkhai, reports from Porland, and updates from our eastern border forces—they all agree.”
“How severe?”
“Massive, my Lord. The right term is a ‘Great Flood.’ Burkhai is reportedly struggling severely, and Caden and Porland aren’t faring much better.”
A natural disaster—something humanity can’t easily control.
Even mighty Burkhai, known to be strong in the East, has been shattered by this calamity.
“The extent of the damage?”
“We won’t know specifics until full reports come in, but Burkhai cannot handle this disaster alone. Caden and Porland aren’t faring much better.”
The Emperor stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Here was an opportunity where the Empire could demonstrate its dominance without force.
Gnaius, sensing this, cautiously requested to speak.
“Your Majesty, perhaps now is a good time to show the Empire’s mercy.”
“Mercy?”
“Regardless of past conflicts, the Eastern kingdoms no longer present a threat to the Empire. It’s only logical to turn them into perfect allies. This is a marvelous opportunity to achieve that.”
The Emperor turned to the Crown Princess.
She nodded, agreeing that this was a good moral reason to stabilize the East.
Though she hesitated to say more, her expression hinted she wanted someone else’s opinion.
With that, the Emperor turned to Kael, seated at the far end.
Realizing the Emperor’s gaze, Kael spoke cautiously.
“I agree, Your Majesty.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, but… the time isn’t right yet.”
“Not yet?” The Emperor’s eyebrows shot up slightly.
“They must ask for our help themselves, regardless of the extent of the eastern devastation.”
As Kael finished his statement, his face looked colder than ever.
