I Don't Love You
Both the Imperial Capital and Anhelm were in utter chaos.
Of course, fifty thousand troops did not represent the entirety of the Imperial Army.
For an empire maintaining a state of near-total mobilization, raising a massive army of hundreds of thousands was, frankly, not out of the question.
The problem was that those fifty thousand were the highly trained, elite standing army.
Ulysian had completely squandered the Empire's finest standing forces.
I mean, I knew he was an idiot, but I didn't realize he was this much of an idiot.
How do you send an army into a valley surrounded by cliffs and not even consider the possibility of an ambush?
As expected, Ulysian was nothing more than a fool of an Emperor who only knew how to play the romantic lead.
I thought that even if he lost, he would at least put up a decent fight first.
At any rate, following the disastrous defeat in the valley, the Empire resorted to locking down Hargen Pass.
The rebel forces didn't dare try to cross past Hargen either.
Instead, they all declared independence at once.
Three months since the rebellion broke out.
The Empire that had once unified the continent fractured in the blink of an eye.
Of course, it was none of my business.
Today's lunch was delicious as well.
Perhaps because she was in high spirits after hearing rumors of the Fayros Empire's independence, Maribel had taken a massive sum of money from my safe to procure the finest ingredients for the meal.
Since it tasted so good, I didn't care how much money she spent.
The other four ate in silence, though they couldn't entirely hide their awe at the flavor.
I chewed the meat in my mouth, lost in thought.
It was about time.
"Do you want to go back to your homelands?"
No one answered my question.
They simply stopped eating and stared at me.
"Let's be honest. Most of you are missing your countries right now."
I looked at the five of them one by one.
"Theresia, Maribel, Natalia, Katarina, and Celine."
I had no intention of letting them leave.
To ensure that...
"I plan to dismantle the Empire. I believe the late Emperor was in the wrong for forcibly annexing the other nations in the first place."
Theresia's hand flinched.
Katarina, on the other hand, stared back at me with a calm, steady gaze.
"Have you forgotten that you were the one who personally destroyed the Lishumark Kingdom, my Lord?"
"Well, back then, I wanted to succeed too."
"Do you call that an excuse?"
"Honestly, if I were to lead the Imperial Army right now, reunifying the continent wouldn't just be a pipe dream."
I spun the knife in my hand and continued.
"But I really don't want to do that."
Katarina fell silent.
"What was wrong was the system itself—the way the six nations were constantly at war. I want to create a peaceful continent without conflict. And to do that, I need all of you."
I hadn't intentionally gathered them in my mansion.
But by some stroke of luck, they had all ended up in Anhelm, and by hiring them as my servants, I was now able to dream of such a future.
"A continent that remains divided, yet maintains a lasting peace. Don't you want to help build a world like that?"
"...It sounds like a dream," Celine said.
"It would be wonderful if such a world came to be, but..." Natalia chimed in as well.
Only Maribel silently continued eating.
"What about you, Maribel?"
"...I feel the same way."
Right after the rebellion broke out, Maribel had moved quickly to stockpile food in the warehouse.
Since I had left it to her discretion, I hadn't interfered.
As a result, even though food prices had skyrocketed, our mansion remained well-provisioned.
I casually dropped a bombshell.
"I plan to become the King of Nicator."
"...?"
Theresia stared at me, her eyes wide with shock.
The other four reacted similarly.
"I would like you all to become my subjects."
"Why? Is it to bring about this 'peace' you speak of?" Katarina asked sharply.
"Yes. Of course."
"...If that is the case."
She let out a dry, incredulous laugh.
"Given your reputation, I suppose I will place my trust in you."
The outcome of today's meal: none of them left.
The peace of the mansion was preserved.
Now, I had to expand this household peace to the Empire, and then to the entire continent.
To achieve this, I chose to do absolutely nothing.
The outside world would move on its own anyway.
The armies of the five nations could not breach Hargen Pass.
Hargen Pass, the strongest fortress protecting the core territory of the Empire, stood firm.
However, Emperor Ulysian shut himself away in the Imperial Palace.
Elysis paced back and forth, anxious for his well-being.
Whispers and rumors began to circulate within the palace walls.
"If only General Leon were here..."
"I heard His Majesty told the general to get lost."
"They say he even sabotaged him so he couldn't buy a mansion in the Imperial Capital..."
"Is His Majesty... incompetent?"
With such talk spreading openly, it was clear the public's faith in the Emperor had hit rock bottom.
Elysis decided to request a private audience with Ulysian.
Knock, knock.
She knocked on the door of Ulysian's bedchamber.
There was no response, but Elysis opened the door and stepped inside anyway.
"Ulysian."
She called his name, but he remained huddled under his blankets, all the lights in the room extinguished.
Elysis climbed onto the bed and pulled back the duvet.
Beneath it, she found Ulysian, his face stained with tears as he sobbed.
Elysis spoke softly.
"Ulysian, what's wrong? Don't cry. There, there."
"...Elysis."
Elysis squeezed his hand tightly.
Ulysian felt a strange sense of comfort wash over him.
This is why I fell for her.
The thought drifted through his mind.
But that comfort was instantly shattered by Elysis's next words.
"Don't you think it would be best to call Leon back after all?"
"...Not you too."
Ulysian's expression instantly hardened with pride.
"That bastard insulted me! I personally ordered him to get lost! How could I possibly call him back now?!"
"If you were to persuade him yourself..."
"I can't."
Ulysian crawled out from under the covers and crossed his arms.
"If anyone is going, you go. Who knows? Maybe Leon will change his mind for you."
"Really?"
"Aren't you two close? You've known each other since childhood. And if you think about it, the reason Leon fought so hard in the first place was..."
"...Yes."
Elysis looked at Ulysian with determination in her eyes.
"If it's something I can do, I will."
As she readily agreed, Ulysian grabbed her wrist.
"Are you really going?"
"...Yes."
"I was just saying that. Don't go. Stay by my side."
"No, I must go. To protect the Empire."
"...Hmph."
Ulysian muttered, a trace of jealousy flickering across his face.
"Do you still have feelings for him?"
"My only love is you, Ulysian."
"Hmph."
"Besides, he won't be able to refuse me anyway."
Pleased that she had chosen him over Leon, Ulysian snorted in satisfaction and took her hand.
And so, rumors that the Empress was leaving the Imperial Palace for Anhelm spread like wildfire throughout the capital region.
In the distance, the procession of the Empress, Elysis Floren, came into view.
It seemed she was coming to see me.
It wasn't particularly surprising.
Ever since Ulysian lost the fifty thousand standing troops, Claudia, the Minister of War, had been visiting my mansion daily, only to be turned away at the door.
And she wasn't the only one.
Generals with whom I shared personal connections had also begun frequenting my residence.
Feeling a bit bad about sending them away empty-handed, I treated them to meals before sending them on their way.
Prominent nobles, officials, and scholars sought me out as well.
Yet, I refused them all.
The time was not yet ripe.
The Imperial Army itself had to come to me.
Not the generals, but the non-commissioned officers and the common soldiers had to seek out my mansion.
Only then could this rotten empire be truly changed.
I chewed on some gum, waiting for Elysis Floren to arrive.
When she finally stood before the main gates of my mansion, I greeted her with the formal etiquette of the imperial court.
"Welcome, Your Imperial Majesty. It is the honor of a lifetime to have you grace this humble servant's home."
Elysis waved her hand, looking troubled.
"Why are you acting like this, Leon? Between us, there's no need for such..."
"Regardless of our past relationship, Your Imperial Majesty is the Empress, and I am merely a knight."
"You sound so distant..."
In the end, she cast aside all formality, left her entire entourage outside the gates, and stepped into my mansion.
"I shall escort you to the dining hall."
Wearing a bitter expression, I guided her to the dining room.
She took the seat of honor, and I sat to her left.
Clap, clap.
I clapped my hands twice, and Natalia and Celine began serving the dishes prepared by Maribel.
Theresia and Katarina stood quietly behind me.
Elysis stared at me, looking utterly shocked.
"Leon, who are these people...?"
"They are the servants of this mansion. Each of them is an indispensable asset to my household."
"Oh, I see."
I didn't need to think hard to know what was going through her mind.
She still believed that I loved her.
That was why she couldn't accept the fact that everyone in my mansion, except for me, was a woman.
I'm sorry, Elysis, but I don't love you.
Perhaps the real Leon Eisen would have loved you.
Even if you were stolen away by the Crown Prince—now the Emperor—Ulysian, the original Leon might have resolved to protect the Empire out of his love for you.
But not me.
I do not love you.
Though she possessed a beautiful appearance, I didn't even find her particularly attractive.
I glanced back at Theresia.
Honestly, she was prettier.
Ahem.
Theresia cleared her throat, looking slightly embarrassed.
Only then did I look back at Elysis's face.
And I smiled gently.
"Is the meal to your liking, Your Imperial Majesty?"
"Yes, yes..."
I am not the pathetic second male lead you once knew.