Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Northern Subjugation
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“The rightful ruler of the Deford Empire, His Majesty Aeselred I, arrives!”
At the noble's cry announcing Aeselred I, the aristocrats who had been chatting in small groups bowed their heads in unison. It was a sign of respect for the emperor of the empire.
Thud!
As Aeselred, seated on the jade throne, struck the table, the nobles cautiously lifted their heads to gaze up at him.
“I've heard the elves in the north are showing unusual movements lately. Has there been no word yet from Habun Citadel?”
The discussion began with the elves. Habun Citadel, responsible for defending the north, had always sent regular reports detailing elven activities. The latest dispatch should have arrived the day before yesterday, but it hadn't.
The nobles, naturally unaware of the situation at Habun Citadel, fell silent like mutes who had swallowed honey. Then Duke Northmond stepped forward.
“Habun Citadel has never once neglected the northern defenses since the founding of the empire. And elves are inherently savage brutes who delight in fighting among their own kind, dividing themselves by tribe. What real trouble could they possibly cause?”
The nobles, who had been holding their tongues, nodded in agreement. Elves were frightening to the lowly folk living in villages outside the cities, but to them, elves were a race entirely unrelated to their world.
Besides, Habun Citadel had managed the elves well up to now. But as Duke Northmond's words drew nods from the other nobles and even the emperor, another noble stepped forward. It was Marquis Edmer Valdi, a supporter of the second prince.
“Your Majesty, Duke Northmond has a point, but we must not underestimate the elves.”
“Why do you say that?”
In response to Aeselred's question, Marquis Edmer cited examples from the kingdoms near the elven plains in the empire's north.
“It's true that since the empire's founding, the elves have never posed a real threat. But the reason we've fortified the northern defenses and sown division among the elves isn't for nothing.”
The marquis explained why the ancient northern kingdoms had warned so gravely about the elves and why the empire continued to divide the north just as they had. It was a tale most imperial nobles knew, but he sought to remind them of the danger.
As he said, the current empire was underestimating the elves far too much. Even though they suffered annual raiding losses because they couldn't match the elves' mobility. What if the elves united as one force? Could Habun Citadel hold them back?
“With their movements so suspicious now, we must form a subjugation force and put down any foolish notions before they take root. Your Majesty.”
'He's openly pushing the second prince.'
Meanwhile, Duke Northmond, hearing Marquis Edmer's argument, thought to himself. The man the marquis served was the empire's second prince.
With the successor not yet fully decided, it was obvious this was a ploy to earn military merit and shift the succession dynamics.
Moreover, the second prince was tactically astute, hot-tempered, and battle-hungry—perfect for such a role.
Thus, the two factions raised their voices over the elves. It was a common occurrence. In the end, it fell to the emperor to silence the clamor. He slammed the table hard.
“Silence! Unless you mean to defy my authority!”
“......”
The nobles shut their mouths at once. Only then, with quiet restored, did Aeselred speak openly, his displeasure evident.
“For now, we'll send a letter to Count Habun. Even after assessing the situation and taking measures, it won't be too late.”
With the emperor himself declaring it so, the nobles had no grounds to object. Seeing them bow silently in assent, Aeselred moved on to the next item. He clearly wanted no more talk of the north.
“Next is the matter of the Sarisa Territory, now without a lord. Lady Cligrove, who received the territory, wishes to bestow it upon her retainer...”
It was an announcement that the Sarisa Countship would be granted to another noble, but there was no opposition. The matter was already settled.
There was no gain in protesting now. Even Duke Northmond felt the same; inwardly, he pondered how to draw Kyle and Lenia, whom he'd seen recently, into his faction.
They had risen not just to count, but to great noble status with two territories. Bringing them in would be a major boon. And now, Cligrove was led not by the count with whom he had bad blood, but by his daughter.
“Summon Viscount Lucas Kyle!”
At the emperor's command, the firmly shut doors of the audience hall swung open, and a massive man waiting outside strode in.
Following the maid's advice to observe maximum protocol, Kyle wore not only his armor but also the werewolf pelt cloak he usually kept stored away.
The nobles who had seen Kyle before marveled at the beautiful silver fur, while those who hadn't gaped at his enormous frame and the pelt.
“That's the one who defeated Viscount Loban...”
“What beast is that pelt draped over him? Never seen it before...”
Aeselred shared their awe at the giant he'd never laid eyes on. As Kyle approached and knelt, the emperor looked down at him with keen interest.
“I behold the most noble figure in the empire.”
“Are you Viscount Lucas Kyle?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Facing the empire's supreme authority, Kyle performed the rites stiff with tension. Before entering, Lenia had given him a crash course in etiquette, but he worried about any slip-up. Protocol for the imperial family differed slightly from that for ordinary nobles.
To offend not just any noble, but the emperor himself— who knew what wrath that might bring? He focused solely on avoiding mistakes. Watching Kyle intently, Aeselred extended his hand.
“Come closer.”
Clank—
In the hushed audience hall, only the sound of Kyle's armor echoed. When he reached right before Aeselred and knelt again, the emperor handed him a prepared document.
“This proves you have acquired ownership of the Sarisa Territory. If you wish, you may even rename it, Lord Lucas. As a subject of the empire, will you pledge your full loyalty?”
He had already sworn loyalty to Lenia, but this was mere formality. For an imperial noble to pledge to the emperor was only natural. Looking up at Aeselred, Kyle cried out.
“I pledge my loyalty! Your Majesty!”
At the very moment the Sarisa Countship officially became Viscount Lucas's territory, soldiers guarding the walls of Londinium spotted a horse charging madly toward them from the distance.
“Wh-what's that?!”
It was a cavalryman from the north. The horse he rode frothed at the mouth from exhaustion, and the rider, pierced by several arrows, gasped for breath. Guards at the gate rushed to stop him, but the cavalryman screamed desperately.
“Out of the way! I must see His Majesty! The north...! The northern elves!”
His cry was so desperate. The capital guards exchanged glances but, seeing the banner on his back and hearing his frantic voice, hurriedly cleared a path.
“Then, the next item on the agenda...”
Kyle had received his territory, but he couldn't leave the audience hall until the meeting ended. Once inside, no noble could depart until the emperor vacated the throne—a gesture of their loyalty and respect. Thus, Kyle was stuck too.
At that moment, commotion stirred outside the hall. Aeselred furrowed his brow at the sudden uproar. Who dared cause a disturbance outside the audience hall?
“Guards! What's happening out there?!”
Bang!
No sooner had Aeselred spoken than the doors flew open as if about to shatter, and a blood-soaked cavalryman collapsed before him. The emperor's knights swiftly surrounded Aeselred, but it was unnecessary. The man had exhausted his strength and could barely move.
“Your Majesty... Habun Citadel... Habun Citadel has fallen...”
The emperor scowled at the dying man's words. Fallen to whom?
“What nonsense is this? Tell me who took Habun Citadel!”
“Elves... the elves...”
The cavalryman's words ended there. Pierced by arrows, deprived of sleep, sustained only by willpower to complete his mission—he breathed his last.
The audience hall fell silent, the cavalryman's cooling corpse at its center. Hearing of Habun Citadel's fall, the emperor could not hide his fury.
Bang!
“A fortress falls to mere savages?!”
They said crying children were snatched by elves—a symbol of terror. But that was for undefended villages. To the empire as a whole, elves were just barbarians.
Fighting and feuding among themselves while human kingdoms rose and fell time and again, never building a proper nation. Humans had meddled, of course.
Regardless, news of the fortress that had guarded the empire's north for decades—centuries even—shattered Aeselred and the nobles.
“Your Majesty! We must muster the army at once.”
Marquis Edmer spoke first. Having warned earlier that very meeting about subjugating the northern elves, he now seemed prophetic. He shouted for an army to wage war on the elves. The word had shifted from "subjugation" to "war."
Aeselred listened, then posed a question.
“How many troops can the empire mobilize right now? And what of the elves' forces?”
“.....”
The nobles fell silent. How could they know without checking? They hadn't surveyed every noble's forces. At that silence, Aeselred bellowed in rage.
“You know nothing, yet speak of war?! Nobles, survey your mobilizable troops at once! Issue summons to all imperial lords! Knight Commander!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“How many in the capital's forces?”
“Regulars number five thousand; with reserves, up to fifteen thousand... but...”
The knight commander trailed off. The capital needed at least five thousand for defense. And the emperor's personal forces were forbidden for casual use. Heavy losses could invite rebellion from disloyal elements.
In the end, Aeselred heeded the advice and canceled mobilizing the capital's troops. Subjugation would rely on the lords' armies alone, supplemented by mercenaries.
Next came selecting the subjugation force's commander. Candidates: Marquis Edmer and Duke Northmond. Aeselred glanced between them.
Duke Northmond was a famed general of the empire. Marquis Edmer had no notable military achievements. Logically, Northmond was the choice. After a moment's thought, his mouth opened slowly.
“The subjugation force's commander shall be...”