Rather Than Be Taken, I Will Take (12 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 97

Late evening, signaling the end of the day.

Crown Prince Jeffrey, having received the Emperor’s final approval, formally announced the Imperial Household’s intention to intervene in the conflict between Marquis Erdi and his wife and Duke Havertz.

It was an unprecedented situation—imperial intervention in a dispute between noble houses had not occurred in nearly several decades.

However, the growing public sentiment among the Imperial citizens and the severity of Havertz’s actions left the Imperial Household with no choice but to act.

Simultaneously with this official statement, the Crown Prince’s Palace issued an ultimatum—the highest possible level of imperial intervention.

Since this alert level had previously been reserved solely for confirmed cases of treasonous conspiracy, newspapers immediately rushed to print stories warning that war was imminent.

Indeed, even with Imperial involvement, issuing an ultimatum tantamount to a treason warning was extraordinarily rare.

The Imperial Household clarified that while they did not accuse them of actual treason, Havertz’s barbaric and unaristocratic conduct in the capital, his anti-Imperial inclinations, and the actions of his master, Aden—deemed utterly unacceptable by common standards—necessitated immediate resolution, hence the highest-level alert.

Of course, no one took their stated reasons at face value.

Everyone knew the Imperial Household harbored a desire to reconquer Havertz and annex their lands into direct imperial control.

Fifty years ago, when the Khan tribe submitted, they had negotiated an agreement: they would lower their heads to the Empire only if their own lands and people remained untouched.

Exhausted by prolonged warfare, the Empire accepted, leading to a partial, half-hearted submission.

Though they coveted the unknown resources beyond those lands, they couldn’t forcibly annex territory already under submission, nor restart a war—so they had no choice but to swallow their frustration.

Thus, the current incident could hardly be unwelcome to them.

“If no reply arrives regarding the ultimatum, you must immediately prepare to issue a formal declaration of war. Have the Third Division Commanders of the First and Second Army Groups ready to mobilize within six months, and recall some border garrison units currently on leave to reinforce capital security.”

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