The war between Frontier and Ruthiana had been dragging on for nearly a year. Both sides had fought countless battles, yet neither had managed to overpower the other. The strength of their armies was evenly matched, and the tide of war shifted back and forth with no end in sight. At that point, the final outcome depended less on strength and more on the generals' ability to lead troops and seize the right moment.

But then, something unexpected shattered the balance.

Out of nowhere, the forces of the Aredentia Empire launched a sudden and powerful attack. Their armies struck like a storm, breaking the stalemate that had lasted for months.

Aredentia was a relatively young empire, barely a century old. It had been born when three warring kingdoms, long locked in bloody conflict, were united under one ruler.

Salaman the Great. After conquering them through sheer might and unmatched strategy, Salaman declared himself Emperor and founded Aredentia.

At the time, the four other great empires had resisted his rise, but Salaman's strength silenced all opposition. However, he hadn't built his empire entirely on conquest.

He had been supported by Ruthiana, Frontier, and several smaller kingdoms. In return, he had signed a treaty that forbade Aredentia from ever attacking Ruthiana or Frontier. The same treaty also ensured that Aredentia would protect the sovereignty of its allies against foreign empires.

That promise had held true for decades until now.

The sudden invasion by Aredentian troops threw both Ruthiana and Frontier into outrage. Their kings immediately sent messengers to Aredentia, demanding an explanation. When the reply came, it only deepened their fury.

"Disgusting…"

"Absolutely disgusting!"

An angry roar echoed through the royal chamber as the King of Ruthiana slammed his hand on the table, tearing the letter into pieces. His face burned with rage, and his voice thundered across the hall.

"You mean to tell me," he shouted, "that you had no hand in this? That your local nobles just happened to attack on their own? Do you take me for a fool?"

He glared at his ministers, who stood frozen in fear.

"Useless! Every one of you is useless!" he barked. "You sit here like leeches, feeding on the kingdom's wealth while doing nothing! When I need answers, all you do is stand there with your mouths shut!"

The ministers lowered their heads, trembling under his fury. The room fell silent except for the crackle of torches on the walls.

After a long moment, one of the older ministers finally stepped forward, bowing deeply. "Your Majesty," he said carefully, "if it truly is the work of a territorial noble, then their strength must be considerable. They may not have the numbers to match us, but their quality might. We cannot afford to fight on two fronts at once."

The King's eyes narrowed as he listened. The minister continued, "I suggest we form a beneficial partnership with another power. And if possible…" He hesitated, glancing up at the King.

The King's expression suddenly changed. His previously dull eyes began to gleam with a strange light. Then, slowly, a cold smile spread across his face.

"Yes… that's right," he said in a low voice. "A partnership. That's a good idea." He leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the armrest. "Good. Very good."

He stood up suddenly, his robes flowing as his laughter echoed in the chamber. "Aredentia…" he muttered, his tone filled with venom. "Just wait. One day, we'll make you pay for this. Tenfold."

His laughter grew louder, carrying a chilling undertone that made even the guards at the door shiver.

"Enjoy your little victory while you can," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "Because soon, the tables will turn… ."

The ministers exchanged uneasy glances, unsure whether to feel relief or fear at the King's sudden shift in mood. Outside, thunder rumbled faintly in the distance, as if the heavens themselves were warning of the storm that was about to come.

.....

"These bastards!" Ethan clicked his tongue in pure frustration, his eyes narrowing as he tossed the letter aside.

"Just say you want to fight. Why give all this bullshit?" he muttered, leaning back in his chair.

Oliver, who stood nearby with a calm expression, sighed softly. "Lord, you know very well how the world works. No matter what anyone does, they always need justification. Even an evil deed can be painted as good if it benefits someone enough."

Ethan nodded slowly, his gaze distant. "The higher you climb the ladder, the more you see the twisted morals and the depth of treachery," he said quietly, his voice carrying a trace of bitterness.

Ethan didn't care if Ardentia joined the war or not..What mattered was that due to intensifying war,the taxes had been raised again.

The tax was already twice and now,it had become thrice.

He looked up at Oliver after a moment of silence. "Any letter from Uncle Randall?"

"There hasn't been one since the last time," Oliver replied respectfully. "But from what I can gather, he is faring well, thanks to your earlier aid. All our soldiers still speak of your support with great respect."

"Bullshit," Ethan scoffed, shaking his head. "They are my own people. If I don't care for them, then who will?"

Oliver smiled faintly but said nothing. Ethan turned his eyes to the large map spread across the table. Red marks, shifting borders, and broken alliances covered it. His expression hardened.

"All these chaotic wars… I don't know why, but I feel a bad premonition," Ethan murmured.

"Bad premonition?" Oliver asked with a frown, his voice carrying concern.

Ethan rubbed his temples and leaned forward. He couldn't quite put his thoughts into words, but he knew something was off. In a world where power ruled, secret hands were always at play. Whenever major changes happened, there were always unseen forces pushing the events from the shadows.

The sudden moves by Aredentia, the chaos of the war, and the reappearance of dark groups in nearby territories , it all felt connected, but he couldn't find the missing link.

"Maybe I'm overthinking," he muttered finally.

"It's okay, Lord. You've been working too hard lately. You should rest," Oliver suggested gently.

Ethan gave a faint, bitter smile. "Rest? Hah. Haven't you heard the saying? There's no rest for the wicked."

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