The Capital Has Fallen
"Everything, everything is burning. The entire capital, literally everything. Demons and monsters were summoned in every alleyway, tearing people apart. It was the Apostles of the Evil God. All of it was because of their incarnation...."
The messenger muttered as if he'd witnessed some horrific scene firsthand. He'd cleaned up nicely since being summoned again, but his complexion was still haggard.
But that wasn't important right now. I asked again.
"What is the Third Princess's escape route?"
"The Third Princess's route... is probably via the steam train through Ron Manir. We boarded the train first to deliver the message... and they... with the imperial treasures and nobles aboard, they're likely delayed quite a bit."
Even on the brink of destruction, they prioritized their rice bowls and faces, delaying their escape. A fitting end for the golden empire, indeed.
I nodded.
His report only solidified my certainty. Now was not the time to worry about the center. To prevent chaos from spreading, unity was the first priority.
Wasn't the North always like that?
We never meddled in what happened in the capital or the center. Defending the frontlines was the North's sole duty.
That's probably why the Apostles of the Evil God took notice of us.
The dull, silent North.
And now, that North had become the empire's greatest frontline.
"Your Grace, it's time for the meeting."
At my aide's words, I nodded and rose to my feet.
"All the top commanders who can be mobilized are assembled. They await Your Grace's orders."
This was when my loose-lips skill would come into play most critically.
"What's going on? Some kind of emergency?"
"I don't know yet either...."
"Did war break out or something?"
"No idea. Let's just wait."
"Damn it, the magic beasts finally quiet down, and now this out of nowhere...."
"Tell me later, later...."
The conference room in the Grand Duke's Castle was filled to the brim with chaos. Everyone from the Northern Defense Force's high command was there, excluding frontline command units guarding the lines.
Only when the doors opened did their murmurs begin to fade with my footsteps.
"......"
"......"
The sound of military boots echoed one after another. From me at the front, followed by my staff trailing behind.
Army blue uniforms bloomed before my eyes. The commanders blocking my path slowly parted to either side. Standing in the center like a statue, I cleared my throat briefly.
A barrage of gazes poured down. This silence was heavier than the hush of birth I'd felt upon reincarnating.
"The capital has fallen."
Everything erupted into chaos in an instant, like flames igniting.
At last, in the silence.
The gazes of every staff officer and commander. Their gaping mouths. Even the heads swiveling to look around the room, including me.
"The Apostles of the Evil God and Devil Worshippers are to blame. It's only been a few hours since we received word, so the details aren't clear... but one thing is certain. The empire has collapsed."
Only then did the atmosphere intensify at my declaration. What had been mere exchanged glances turned into stunned gasps and groans.
"What the hell does that...?"
"Th-the capital fell? The golden capital?"
"This is... what of the gods' grace...?"
At that moment, the captain of the 1st Knight Division, responsible for castle defense, stepped forward first.
"Your Grace. What do you mean? The capital... is destroyed?"
"Yes. The Third Princess is fleeing here by steam train through Ron Manir."
"Who—who said that? A messenger? From the center?"
"Yes."
"That's nonsense. Declaring the capital's fall before verifying the truth is blatant blasphemy against the imperial family! Bring him here; I'll interrogate him myself."
I calmly swept my gaze over him and all the surrounding commanders.
I had a duty to resolve their doubts, at least. That's why I'd called this meeting in the first place.
Otherwise, we couldn't even lay the foundation for unity.
"We can't dismiss an imperial seal directly from the palace as blasphemy. Even if this report proves false, discerning the truth would take weeks. We can't sit idle that long."
Silence spread at my words.
"The massive supplies we received monthly can no longer be counted on. With the center's collapse confirmed, the North is isolated. To avoid total annihilation, we must make the decision for national salvation."
"......"
"The North's first decree: Annex and protect the territories of neighboring fiefdoms under the Northern Frontline. If any lords resist, arrest them all and bring them here."
"Your Grace, that's...?"
"What the hell does that...?"
As heir to the North, serving as a warrior and military commander, it'd been about a decade. Until just a few months ago. It started around my coming-of-age ceremony.
Having rolled through the frontlines enough, their faces weren't unfamiliar.
Even with that background, the agitation spreading through the room was beyond control.
Of course, it was a justified reaction. Inevitably so. After all, the empire's heart—the spiritual pillar of the capital—had crumbled.
Yet my thoughts remained unchanged.
This was precisely the time for leaders to pull themselves together first. If they couldn't, then I, as their leader's leader, had to be their pillar.
I opened my mouth.
"I know it's confusing. Everyone here is confused. I am too. I won't forbid your groans and gasps. I couldn't even if I wanted to."
I added,
"But that doesn't mean we can forget our duty. We are the Northern Army, guardians of the empire."
Guardians of the empire's Northern Army.
The Total Commander and Knight Commander, who had frowned at my earlier words, now lifted their heads slightly to look at me. Ignoring them, I pressed on.
"The capital has fallen. But the North here hasn't. If we lose our nerve too, who will guard the empire? The survivors of the capital? Or the lords of adjacent fiefdoms?"
If this gloom continued, the mood would go completely to shit without end. In war, logistics came first, then tactics.
And morale.
One by one, those staring at the floor lifted their heads. But the clouds on their faces were doubt, or lingering despair.
"The capital is gone, but what stands before you hasn't changed. You are still here. The empire's shield, the North, stands firm."
I looked at the Total Commander and Knight Commander. Their mouths were clenched as if facing death. They too must have realized something, seeing this painful silence.
Ah, so this is what we were like just hours ago.
Whether my words stemmed from loyalty or treason didn't matter. Because the North was here now, and so were the troops they were responsible for.
"And know this: your commander is here."
Turning from them, I said,
"Prove for yourselves that you are the Northern Frontline's—the North's—sharpest sword. You are still my officers, the North's. Not mere stragglers."
No response. Still. But the source was different now.
If all prior silences stemmed from despair, their stiffly raised heads now implied a silent meaning. A vague sense of responsibility blooming amid the chaos.
Or perhaps a turning point in their perspective, mulling my words.
Whatever it was, fine.
For the North's unity and survival, these men were essential above all. With the imperial family annihilated and the emperor's whereabouts unknown, legitimacy had to be thoroughly set aside.
And for that, we needed overwhelming military power.
Their full support and faith.
"Now that I have ascended as Grand Duke, my top priority is the North's welfare. If anyone has a better solution than my decision, speak freely. If it's sound, I'll delegate all my authority to them."
No one dared speak up rashly. Naturally so. It wasn't that they lacked alternatives.
Who could shoulder the North's heavy responsibility amid the capital's fall?
In the suffocating atmosphere, an inexplicable heat seemed to rise. Their eyes no longer glanced at the floor. No more groans escaped.
A period was needed. A final stamp to crush this mood.
"We've received orders appointing the 7th Knight Division as a direct special forces unit."
A deep, resonant voice.
Amid the army blue uniforms, a man and woman in pristine white stepped forward to the head table. Their boots rang out sharply—sharply enough to be precise.
The 7th Knight Division.
The captain and vice-captain.
"What must we do, Your Grace?"