Chapter 12: The Rebellion
The official funeral for Grand Prince Aegear had ended, but the capital city of Arthenburg was still in mourning. The Prince Regent had declared a three-month period of mourning for the whole nation. At least in the capital city, theatre halls were closed, taverns were quiet, and even the busy market streets were dark and silent, as everyone showed respect for the late prince.
Alexius sat at his wooden desk in his office, now buried under piles of paper—supply reports, letters of sympathy from the Federation of Libertas and several neighbouring nations, tax records, and endless official documents that came with taking the throne. The soft glow of mana-lamps lit the room, while the last embers in the fireplace crackled quietly, casting warm shadows across the walls.
He rubbed his temples as his head began to ache. He hadn't slept in over a day, and he felt completely worn out.
"Tea, Your Highness," Aelrue said softly, setting a porcelain cup beside his hand. Warm steam rose from it, carrying the gentle scent of chamomile and mint.
"Thank you, Aelrue," Alexius said, still staring at the report in his hands.
He frowned slightly.
"This number… is it right? Do we really have only three weeks of grain reserve in the capital food storage left?"
"Duke Marius controlled the import permits," Elias said from across the desk as he neatly sorted the papers.
"His lands grow the most grain in the whole country."The old butler looked tired. His eyes were red from crying at the funeral, but his hands did not shake as he worked.
"He delayed the autumn shipments," Elias continued.
"At the time, we thought it was just greed. But now… I don't know what his true reason was."
"Now it looks like sabotage," Alexius said, gripping his quill so tightly that the wood creaked.
"Maybe he wanted an advantage in the upcoming coronation talks at the Gathering of the pillars."
"The inventory of the Royal Treasury is finished as well," Elias said quietly, pushing a ledger across the desk
."The liquid funds are nearly gone. Duke Vetus took almost forty percent of the treasury last month, claiming it was for 'infrastructure projects in the west' in the pretext of expanding the trade with western neighbours and Baron Midas, the crown's financial advisor, approved everything under royal authority before he also fled."
Alexius exhaled slowly. "I signed the approval myself," he admitted. "Midas came to my office a month ago. He said the money came from taxes on the slave trade, and in return, they sent more slaves. I approved it without much thought."He clenched his hand slightly. The amount was fifty thousand gold sovereigns—a fortune so vast it could buy an entire small nation in the south. In modern terms, it was worth nearly five hundred million US dollars.
"At least… we still have our own funds hidden away."
"It's strange," Aelrue said, pouring another cup of tea,"Why would he need that much money for something like that?"
Before Alexius could speak, the shadows in the corner of the room began to move. They grew longer and darker, even though the fire was still burning. Then, slowly, a figure stepped out of the darkness, as if it had been hiding there all along.It was Vane, Commander of the Nightwatch.
"My Lord," the figure said quietly. "We searched the residences of the western nobles, just as you ordered. Every mansion is empty— including representative Viscount Canis, and Duke Vetus's as well. The servants, guards, even the slaves… all of them are gone. They even left nothing behind their wealth and documents."
Alexius frowned. "As I thought.Hmm..."
"Commander Brutus and one hundred and fifty knights of the Black Legion—those loyal to the western faction—left on a so-called 'night patrol.' They rode out through the Western Gate two hours ago, moving fast toward the west," Vane reported.
Aelrue's eyes narrowed. "Shall we chase them?" she asked. "With the Venators, we could strike them in the woods."
First, they emptied the nation's treasury and hoarded the wealth for themselves—killing two birds with one stone by weakening the crown while strengthening their own position. Then, when the time was right, they fled. By refusing to attend the state funeral or even send a representative, he openly defied royal authority. And now, his commander of the Black Legion had fled as well, taking his men with him.It was no coincidence.He was testing me.
Testing whether I noticed the change.
Testing whether I was strong enough to respond.
Alexius clenched his fist.So this was his move—probing the board before the real war began.
"No. It's better to strike them all down at once. We can't reveal our own hands yet. I fear a greater storm is coming, and we must be ready."
Elias, Vane, and Aelrue all knelt together."Yes, my lord," they said in unison
........
The next morning, inside Alexius's office, he sat behind his wooden desk in silence. Aelrue stood guard in the corner, blending into the shadows, while Elias poured tea into each cup on the table.
Seated before the young Alexius were the three remaining pillars of the Leo Principality.
To the left sat Duke Marius of the North. He leaned back in his chair, swirling a glass of morning wine, with a cheerful smile.
To the right sat Marquess Orientis of the East. The merchant lord, dressed in heavy silks, was sweating despite the cold temperature inside the room.
And at the center of the opposite of Alexius sat Marquess Custodias of the South—his grandfather, with his arms crossed, showing the discomfort of the other two.
This was the Gathering of the Pillars—the highest council of the land. Its purpose was to confirm the coronation and appoint the Ministers who would run the government. With the death of the Grand Prince, the previous cabinet was dissolved by the Constitution. However, there was one rule that could not be ignored: any faction that failed to attend the gathering—or failed to send a representative—would lose its right to a place in the new government and vice versa.Three main factions attended the gathering—except for the western faction of Duke Vetus.
No one in this gathering yet knew what had happened during the night.
They did not know that the western faction's estates stood empty, or that the entire faction had vanished without a trace.
"It is unfortunate of course," Duke Marius said. "That Duke Vetus has fallen so... ill to attend this important meeting. But the governance of the realm cannot pause for one man's fever."
"Agreed," Marquess Orientis said, wiping his brow with a handkerchief. "With Duke Vetus absent from both the funeral and the council, he has all but abandoned his post. The position of Lord Chancellor—held by him for twenty years—is now vacant."
The Lord Chancellor was the second most powerful man in the realm, the one who controlled the flow of coin and enforced the Crown's law.
"And who better to fill it?" Marius cut in, puffing out his chest. "Who else but the Shield of the North?"He leaned forward and set his heavy wine cup on the table with a sharp clack."I command the strongest knights in the kingdom," Marius said.
"But more than that, I control the breadbasket. The capital has what—three weeks of grain left? My lands grow the food. My soldiers guard the roads. I can keep the people fed."His eyes locked onto Alexius.
"I can make sure the grain keeps coming… if I am given the authority to do so."
It was not an offer.
It was a threat.
"And turn the Chancellor into a glorified grain master?" Marquess Orientis snapped back.
"You think feeding people alone is enough to rule a nation?"He straightened his robes.
"I heard the royal treasury is empty! There isn't enough gold to pay soldiers, clerks, or craftsmen for the government to function. Without gold sovereigns you cannot keep the state running. You can't govern a realm on sacks of wheat alone!"
"Will you buy stone with sacks of grain for road construction? Will you purchase paper with wheat? Will you host royal banquets with nothing but grain?".
"Tsk." Duke Marius scoffed. Marquess is right. You cannot run a nation on grain alone. Yes, feeding the people is important—but grain by itself does not govern a country."Your Highness, the East controls the trade routes. We have the ships, the merchants, and the connections to the Federation's Central bank. I can bring gold into the treasury within days. I can fund the army, the court, and the crown itself."He spread his hands confidently.
"Appoint me," he said firmly, "and the Principality will prosper.
"Marius slammed his fist on the table."You would sell the kingdom to foreign bankers!" he roared. "You shameless scum!"
"What did you just call me, musclehead?" Marquess Orientis snapped back, his face flushing red. The two men lunged toward each other, their voices rising, their words like weapons, accusations flying back and forth. One shouted of honour and strength, the other of money and survival. Their argument filled the hall, growing louder and uglier with every breath, until it sounded less like a council of nobles and more like a brawl waiting to happen.
Marquess Custodias sighed in annoyance.
How foolish they are, he thought. So blinded by greed and pride… and so utterly disrespectful to the Crown.
The heavy double-oath doors of the office flew open, slamming against the stone walls.
The room fell silent.Captain Fidus strode in with heavy steps, his armour streaked with mud and frost. In his grip was a royal messenger, half-dragged, half-supported. The man's cloak was soaked, his boots caked with frozen slush, his face pale from exhaustion.
He collapsed to one knee the moment Fidus released him, gasping for breath.
"My… my apologies, Your Highness," the messenger rasped, struggling to raise his head. "I rode without rest. This… this could not wait."
"Your Highness!" the messenger gasped, collapsing to his knees. "Urgent... message from the Western Border! Highest Priority!"
Marius stood up, annoyed. "What is this? Who dares interrupt the Council—"
"It is a Red Seal!" Fidus barked, silencing the Duke.
The room fell into dead silence. A Red Seal is a type of seal used only in times of war.
Elias moved quickly, taking the scroll and handing it to Alexius.
Alexius broke the wax. He unrolled the parchment. He scanned the text.
"What does the message say, Your Highness?" Custodias asked. Alexius dropped the parchment onto the table. Revealing the contents of the preachment.
."The Blue Legion of the Avarus Dukedom has fallen," Alexius said quietly.A sharp gasp rippled through the chamber.
"How?" Duke Marius demanded an answer with shock.
"Is the Kalian Empire invading us?" Marquess Orientis asked.Alexius slowly shook his head.
"No," he said. "This wasn't a foreign invasion."
"Duke Avarus Vetus has declared the Western Region independent. He has proclaimed himself the Grand Duke of Avarus, recognized by the Kalian Empire."
"He has 15,000 troops marching on the Capital. They are led by the Imperial Sword Master known as 'Der Gnadenlose'—The Merciless."
"Furthermore," Alexius continued,
"A second column of 10,000 is marching North to seize the Iron Mines. And a third force of 5,000 is heading south to blockade the mountain passes."
"Gentlemen," Alexius looked at all three pillars of the gathering, "the former Chancellor and leader of the Western faction has begun a rebellion."
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[MAIN QUEST TRIGGERED]Quest Name: Quell the Rebellion Difficulty: S (Kingdom Ending Scenario)
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