“Receiving nagging for something I haven’t even done.”

Hercesis felt unfairly accused.

Moreover, he rarely smoked! At most, once every few days. And that was solely to manage the frustration he felt during council sessions.

Although it was embarrassing to admit to being a smoker given the limited frequency, he decided to follow the advice for the sake of the Empress.

“Alright, I’ll quit. The council still manages to infuriate me, but I’ll find another way to cope with that.”

What would be good? Hunting was too weak, swordsmanship practice even weaker…

“Maybe I should just completely overhaul the council at this point?”

During the moment he contemplated a fundamental solution.

“I wouldn’t recommend that.”

Ishar said. As if it was clear what he was thinking.

“After all, they are the real power in the empire. Turning your back on them and filling the void with the Empress’s influence is like building a mansion with light and flimsy materials, tossing away sturdy ones simply because they’re heavy.”

Hercesis countered his statement.

“There are light yet durable materials. I believe finding them is the Emperor’s duty.”

“…”

It couldn’t be determined which side was right or wrong. They simply had different thoughts. Hercesis knew it, and so did Ishar.

“Anyway, thanks for the advice, Ishar. I’ll keep it in mind.”

Hercesis wanted to conclude the conversation at this point.

It had been a tiring day with various events. He didn’t want to end the day with clashes of opinions with Ishar.

Ishar also grasped his intention well. He bid farewell.

“Then, please rest for now, Your Majesty.”

“You go first. I’ll be up the stairs in no time.”

“Understood. Then.”

Ishar turned away without any hesitation.

Hercesis silently watched Ishar’s departing figure with a complex and subtle emotion.

When did he start feeling a barrier from him? The walls seemed to pile up between the two, who had built deep trust over time, and it had grown so high that they couldn’t see each other.

Was it a misconception? Or had a real wall formed? If it did, why? Was it because of their vastly different opinions? Or…

“I don’t know.”

Hercesis mumbled quietly, shaking his head.

Suddenly, he thought that all these changes might be a natural process. Considering that the surrounding circumstances had changed, it was reasonable for the relationship between him and Ishar to change as well. Moreover…

“The wall isn’t solely built by Ishar.”

Hadn’t he added a few bricks himself? Specifically, by hiding the secret about Liz.

“I should try to improve our relationship over a drink soon.”

Hercesis casually concluded and turned away. He thought there was no reason to make it heavy.
He started moving towards the entrance illuminated by a yellow lantern light.

Ishar stopped walking and turned around at that moment.

His pale gray eyes, quietly watching Hercesis moving away, had a chilly depth.

⭐⭐⭐

“This is strange.”

Liz, who was scanning through reports, mumbled with a smirk. She had repeated the same statement at least ten times by now.

“Really, it’s something unimaginable.”

Considering that the form was different but the meaning was the same, it seemed appropriate for it to be the eleventh.

War broke out between the Lusencia Empire and the Terendis Kingdom! That was the first strange thing.

After Amelda Lapeur escaped, Hercesis clearly told me that she was dead. So I was relieved, but exactly a month later, a war broke out.

Terendis Kingdom’s forces unexpectedly invaded the border territories of Lusencia. They deployed a considerable number of soldiers, all of them being agile and spirited elite cavalry. The invasion was so clearly intentional.

As there was a considerable risk of the war spreading throughout the empire, the majority of nobles, including the council, strongly advocated for additional reinforcements. Opinions prevailed that all nobles’ private armies should be mobilized, and if necessary, conscription should be enforced.

However, Hercesis rejected all those opinions with a single word. He said it would be sufficient with the garrison troops in the border regions. Though everyone thought it was madness, in the end, Hercesis’s words proved to be right.

Terendis’s well-trained elite soldiers crumbled without even putting up a proper fight… Too insignificantly, they lost overwhelmingly to the Lusencia forces!

That was the second strange point.

Although it wasn’t comparable to the empire, Terendis was a powerful nation that had expanded its land by subjugating several small kingdoms in succession. It was a country accustomed to conquest wars, possessing a brave and highly mobile army. Yet, they collapsed so helplessly…

It was because they kept making mistakes!

Most strangely of all, they attacked the strongest fortress, invaded areas unrelated to military supplies, and selectively chose to cross dangerous rapid zones, leading to their deaths. Thanks to this, Lusencia recorded only around fifty wounded and no casualties, while on the other side…

“Complete annihilation.”