Aria received the alchemist in the west courtyards of the imperial villa. Even the esteemed Alchemist Tower required imperial sanction to invoke the Dark Troops of the Underworld, entities safeguarded by Hades himself. Only the Emperor or the heir to the throne could grant such authorization.
The alchemist had arrived on urgent business, requesting the immediate presence of Akari. Without hesitation, Aria dispatched servants to summon Canute's wife, while she personally escorted the alchemist to the reception hall, where he was instructed to wait.
Leaving the formalities behind, Aria set out in search of Luciana. She found her kneeling before Avlynn's grave, whispering prayers for the departed's peace in the afterlife.
"Sister," Aria called, hastening toward her with her attendants trailing behind.
Luciana wiped away her lingering tears before turning to face Aria. "What's the matter, Ria?" she asked, forcing a faint smile despite the sorrow in her eyes.
Aria hesitated, noting the redness in Luciana's gaze, the silent grief still weighing upon her. But now was not the time to mourn the dead. She bit her lip, steeling herself against sentiment. The urgency of the moment took precedence.
"Sister, please come with me," she implored.
Luciana studied her, sensing the tension in Aria's voice. "Where to?"
"There is a matter only you can handle," Aria replied, her voice unsteady but firm.
Luciana knew that, as the rightful heiress to the empire, the burden of state affairs rested upon her shoulders. Suppressing her grief, she rose to her feet and entrusted Nemesis and Hades to Aria's care before making her way to the reception hall.
Upon arrival, she found Akari already waiting at the threshold. As soon as she saw Luciana approach, Akari bowed deeply in deference.
"Greetings, future moon," she intoned formally.
Luciana acknowledged her with a nod. "Please rise, Lady Arcea," she said, stepping inside as the attendants opened the grand doors for them.
The moment she took her seat, her gaze shifted to the alchemist. "Speak. I must know everything that has been kept from me," she commanded.
The alchemist bowed before launching into his report. With each revelation, Luciana felt the weight on her shoulders grow heavier. Her father had vanished without a trace. The Grandmaster of the Alchemist Tower lay on his deathbed. A mysterious army had emerged, offering its aid. Meanwhile, her uncle and cousins continued their desperate struggle to hold back the demon forces.
"We have no time to waste, Your Highness," Akari urged, her ruby-red eyes sharp with resolve.
Luciana exhaled slowly, pressing a hand to her temple. The recent birth had drained her considerably, leaving her in a weakened state. Akari, in contrast, had given birth to triplets and yet remained far stronger than her. The disparity in their conditions was not lost on either of them.
"My lady," Luciana began, her gaze meeting Akari's, "I assume your husband is fully aware of the consequences of unleashing the Dark Troops?"
Akari inclined her head solemnly. "He is. And the Alchemist Tower is prepared to bear whatever punishment His Majesty or Your Highness deems necessary."
Luciana sighed. "Given the brutality of this war, that is the least of our concerns."
The true problem did not lie with the troops themselves but with the cost of deploying them. These semi-mechanical entities fed upon the life force of their controllers, a grim reality that meant countless alchemists would be sacrificing themselves to make this strategy possible.
Her fingers curled into a fist. "How many troops are being mobilized?"
Without a word, Akari retrieved Canute's pendant from the folds of her sleeve and placed it upon the rosewood table.
"My lord husband has recorded the details within his key," she explained.
She stroked the pendant three times, and shimmering symbols emerged from its swirling patterns, arranging themselves into concrete letters.
Luciana's breath hitched. "Eight thousand?"
Akari's expression mirrored her shock. The number was twice what they had deployed in their previous attempt.
A heavy silence settled over the chamber. Then, at last, Luciana straightened her spine. "Deploy the troops."
The alchemist bowed deeply. "Understood." Without another word, he turned and strode from the hall, moving with the urgency of a man whose mission could decide the empire's fate.
The air felt thick, suffocating beneath the weight of Luciana's decision. Every choice she made came at a cost—every order carried consequences.
She turned to Akari. "Lady Akari… do you agree with your husband returning to the battlefield?"
Akari's silver-white hair shifted in the warm summer breeze. She let out a soft, knowing sigh.
"In war, personal feelings have no place," she murmured. Then, lifting her gaze to Luciana's, she continued, "We have all lost something precious to us. War and death have claimed them. But now… we have something left that we are bound to protect."
Gently, she placed a hand over Luciana's.
"My triplets would be devastated if—heaven forbid—we were to receive dreadful news. But if fate has already decided, then no force, not even a heavenly entity, could change what is meant to be. Either he returns, or we lose him forever. My duty is to prepare for either outcome. As a mother, my sole purpose is to protect them."
Luciana closed her eyes. In her mind, she saw Nemesis and Hades, and with them, the horrors that haunted her dreams—nightmares she prayed would never come to pass.
When she reopened her eyes, her resolve had hardened. She had spent enough time grieving. Now, she had a duty to fulfill. The empire stood on the brink of ruin, and she was the only one who could salvage what remained.
Turning sharply, she called to the nearest servant. "Summon all surviving political officials immediately."
Then, she looked back at Akari, gripping her hand tightly. "Lady Akari, I need your help."
The time for mourning was over. The time for action had begun.