Toppling the Empire (5)
“Half is a bit disappointing...”
Sisilia stared glumly at the documents. She'd hoped to take it all. Whether the emperor was sharp or just lucky, he sure knew how to snag a win.
With this, can they hold the empire together for about a hundred years?
Beatrice was reading the papers from the empire too.
“As expected of Lady Sisilia. You turned the tables by handing back the north, slyly dodging all responsibility.”
Beatrice grinned widely.
“This way, we swallow half the empire without any risk. Just like you eating cake on someone else's dime.”
“Betty.”
Sisilia gave her sad puppy eyes.
“So many people dying, and you compare it to cake?”
“...”
“Don't you have a heart for humans, Betty?”
It was the last thing Beatrice wanted to hear—from Sisilia, of all people. Especially after she'd just grumbled, Half is a bit disappointing, a minute ago.
“Huh?”
Beatrice blinked in confusion.
“But Lady Sisilia, why regret only getting half the north? Half is plenty to shift blame. The demons can just pass through without our say-so.”
Sisilia glanced at the clock, then slipped on her overcoat, ready to head out.
“That's exactly why we need their consent.”
“Pardon?”
“If the demons invade the empire without our permission, it'll be a problem. We'd lose our easy way to kill them off.”
Beatrice wouldn't grasp it for days.
The grand council to decide the kingdom's future convened. The queen, nobles, knight orders, church, mages—all key powers assembled. It would later be called the historic “Table of the Century.”
Before countless eyes, Sisilia spoke.
“Now, I'll explain Operation Maginot Line.”
The demons and the empire? Teaming up would just give us indigestion. The moment we open the north, that empire cake sours.
“Colonial policy is a tough nut. No nation's people welcome invaders with open arms.”
Human history had few successful colonies. You could seize land, but hearts? That's another battle entirely. No wonder the great powers obsessed over it.
Sure, the invaders here were demons, not Liannen—but to the empire, what difference did it make?
“We needed to reframe the whole game.”
This setup was lose-lose. Queen Lydia's way meant immediate war, no newbies saved. Edward's way meant choking down the empire, dooming northern newbies. Loss either way.
So Sisilia redesigned the board from scratch.
“Better to step outside the demons' frame and trap them in a bigger one.”
First step: Spread rumors. Liannen surpassing the empire. Then leverage Eisenberg to sway key empire figures.
“The moment the empire demanded tribute from us, victory was ours.”
War boils down to legitimacy. Legitimacy ties to morale, morale to victory.
Liannen had sent tens of thousands to die for humanity's clear, ironclad cause.
The demons probably wanted to strip humans of that fight. To crush morale for an edge? Nah—to Sisilia, it screamed more fun that way.
But the empire demanding tribute from Liannen? Frame shattered.
“Now we have justification to stand by while demons invade the empire.”
The world would nod. Helping a bullying empire? Less sympathy than letting demons—humanity's foe—do their thing.
“The empire has plenty of enemies.”
Sisilia pulled an oath document from her bosom. The contract terms with the demons.
In exchange for opening the path, the demons shall not kill Liannen Kingdom subjects during their empire invasion.
“And here, we forge an accord with the demons: In exchange for opening the path, they won't kill Liannen subjects while invading the empire.”
She pinned it to a massive map.
“This isn't mere agreement—it's sworn to the goddess and demon god. Absolute binding force.”
Sisilia smiled sweetly, pinning another: the armistice accord.
She held up two fingers.
“Thus, two pacts with the demons. Remember this well.”
Her voice soft, she raised a wooden sword, pointing near the Demon King Castle on the map.
“With pacts sealed, demons will eagerly invade the empire. Execution's their strong suit.”
Windsor Knights nodded.
“The empire falls helplessly. Lacking demon combat experience and skill.”
Her wooden sword ravaged the empire's territory on the map.
“When it's hopeless, they'll beg us for aid. But they'll recall demanding tribute.”
Tough sell for the empire—begging the nation they tried to extort.
“Whatever terms we demand, they'll swallow. I'll leave that to Her Majesty and you all.”
At that point, the empire becomes Liannen's vassal state.
Sisilia preferred vassal over colony. Better for Liannen, better for the empire.
Maps too big aren't newbie-friendly.
She swung the wooden sword—
Slash!
“!”
Eyes widened. A deep gash split the map at one-third of the empire's land, flaking off.
“But push further, and the empire's wound festers. Intervene here. Whether they want it or not—”
A noble raised his hand.
“A question.”
“Yes. Speak.”
“...How do we intervene? We're under armistice with demons.”
“Excellent point.”
Sisilia nodded gracefully, pointing to one of the two documents: the Armistice Accord.
The demons shall not invade Liannen Kingdom. Nor shall Liannen invade the demons.
“Break this—”
Sisilia smirked, pointing to the other.
In exchange for opening the path, the demons shall not kill Liannen Kingdom subjects during their empire invasion.
“—and only this remains.”
Momentary confusion—not from complexity, but refusal to accept.
Sisilia crumpled the armistice in one hand, dropping it.
Crinkle.
The faint sound echoed in the hall. Gasps followed.
“In short: Demons can't kill us, but we can kill them.”
Icy silence, then murmurs erupted.
“I-Is that even possible?”
“To demons, oaths to their god are absolute.”
Sisilia held back more. Why hand over northern land? How does the first clause trigger post-transfer? Crucially, how to break armistice without backlash?
But.
“That's all.”
No need for more—their faces said it. Now, show through action.
“Next, Edward Windsor.”
Queen Lydia intoned softly. Explain plans, vote on the soundest.
Sisilia.
Edward, hands clasped, gazing at her, closed his eyes.
While the queen fretted war and I lusted for empire land, you focused solely on slaughtering demons.
He opened them. Sisilia yawned faintly, sleepy.
Pure Windsor thinking. Pure you.
Edward chuckled dryly.
“I abstain.”
Queen Lydia's voice rang clear.
“Proceed to vote.”
One by one, they rose and voted. Shock, awe, disbelief—but no hesitation.
“Aye: 385. Nay: 0.”
Lydia, devoid of joy, just fact, gazed at impassive Sisilia. A hunch struck.
You're the only one outside the frame.
“Adopt Sisilia's Maginot Line operation.”
Northern front, Repeldown.
“Exactly 100,000 demons, as requested?”
Liannen rep Sisilia Windsor met demon rep Freya at the frontline center.
One step apart, yet borders differed.
“Not one more, not one less.”
Freya glanced back. The vast demon army stood in perfect ranks.
“As promised, open the path to the empire.”
“In exchange, swear not to attack Liannen subjects during the invasion.”
Sisilia smiled gently.
“Sworn to the demon god, of course.”
“...Naturally.”
“You're the demon army's top authority?”
Sisilia's silver eyes blazed blue. Wind coiled around Freya—truth probe.
My Cupid's thorough.
Freya thought, replying coolly.
“Yes.”
“Then sign this.”
Sisilia handed a sheet.
Freya scanned it. Straightforward: Path for no Liannen kills. Empire-only invasion. No issue—
She tossed it skyward.
"I, eternal servant of the gods, Time Demon Freya, swear to the Demon God to absolutely uphold this oath's contents."
Red flames consumed the paper, chaining like shackles through their hearts.
Contract sealed. Sisilia beamed warmly.
Demons' hierarchy was ironclad—total subjugation, beyond human norms. One rep bound all underlings.
“Contract confirmed.”
“Now open the path.”
“Yes.”
Sisilia squatted abruptly.
“?”
Freya tilted her head, peering down. Two twigs barred an “11” gate.
Sisilia swept them aside.
“Path opened.”
“...?”
“Quitting time. Bye.”
Freya grabbed both her arms.
“W-Wait. What was that?”
Anyone would call it fishy.
Sisilia eyed Freya. Her gaze dropped to the demon gripping her arms—shoulders attached. Novelty piqued her; usually, she'd sever instantly.
Not gross, weirdly. Why?
Sisilia stared. Honestly, this white demon's big sis vibe hit her standards—pretty enough.
Reason sufficed. She patted Freya's head.
“Cute.”
“...!”
Freya's eyes widened, mouth agape. Love's pulse dazed her anew. That arm-glance spark? Perfection.
But Sisilia was gone.
...Called me cute again.
Freya flushed briefly, then steeled herself.
She crossed into Liannen territory. Unaware: Half the north was already empire's. The “line” she crossed? A 1cm sliver dubbed Maginot Line—the uncrossable.
“Foolish empire, heed us. We demons crave warm lands too. This is war. And it begins...”
St. Michael Year 500, August 21.
“Today.”
100,000 demon troops declared war on the empire.