**The Battlefield Shrouded in Night**
The pale moonlight spilled like water over the devastated battlefield. The Aserai pursuers had been completely crushed by our ambush—corpses littered the ground, and banners lay trampled in the dirt. Only one survivor remained, dragged before me. The prisoner lay bound on the ground, his clothes torn and his face smeared with dust and blood. His expression was twisted with defiance, his eyes burning with hatred—yet beneath it all, there was unmistakable fear.
I stared at him coldly and spoke: "The Southern Empire and the Aserai have already signed a truce. Why hunt down the princess? What is your purpose?"
The prisoner sneered, turning his head away and spitting a mouthful of bloodied saliva, as if death held no terror for him.
Nogand stepped forward and kicked him hard, growling, "If you don't speak the truth, I'll make you wish for death!"
The prisoner coughed violently before finally raising his head, a grotesque smile twisting his lips—as if he had already accepted his fate. "Hunting the Southern Empire's princess... was just a means to threaten your Empress. If she refuses to abdicate, our Aserai armies will continue pressing your borders. And if your Empire wishes to survive... you'll need to replace her with a lord who obeys *us*—one loyal to the Aserai."
His words struck like thunder in my ears. My pupils contracted sharply as I demanded coldly, "Who? Who is behind this?"
But the prisoner only laughed, his face twisting into an eerie expression of relief. Suddenly, he jerked his head back and swallowed a poison pill. Black blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he glared at me, his voice a mocking whisper: "You... are too late..."
Then his head slumped, and he moved no more.
I clenched my fists, my expression grave. "Using the princess to force the Empress to step down... The Aserai's ambitions run deeper than I thought."
Princess Ira stood beside me, her face hardening with resolve. "This conspiracy must reach my mother's ears. We return to the capital at once."
---
**The Imperial Capital, Lycaron**
The grand walls of the Southern Empire's capital loomed under the evening haze, majestic even as the bustling streets below teemed with life. Riding through the marble-paved avenues, Princess Ira and I made straight for the Queen's palace.
Queen Rhagaea sat upon her high throne, draped in a regal violet gown, a gem-encrusted golden crown resting upon her head. Her beauty was undeniable, yet an unshakable aura of authority surrounded her.
Ira stepped forward and knelt on one knee, her voice solemn. "Mother, I was pursued by Aserai cavalry. They sought to capture me—to force your abdication."
The Queen's gaze sharpened as she swept her eyes across the hall. The assembled lords and senators immediately broke into hushed murmurs.
"Do you have proof?" Her voice was icy, yet beneath it simmered a quiet fury.
I stepped forward and relayed the prisoner's confession word for word before adding, "Though he did not name the mastermind, it is clear the Aserai may already have allies within our Empire."
Queen Rhagaea fell silent for a moment before fixing me with a piercing stare. "Kater, since you saved Ira and uncovered this plot, the Empire shall reward you."
Her voice grew firm. "From this day forth, you shall lead campaigns in the Southern Empire's name. Seize a town, and I shall grant it to you as your fief."
I dropped to one knee and answered gravely, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will not fail you."
The reactions among the court were mixed—some looked upon me with admiration, while others burned with envy and disdain. But Princess Ira, standing nearby, met my gaze with unwavering resolve, as if silently pledging her trust.
---
**The Challenge of Command**
No sooner had my army been assembled than the old lords began their schemes and sneers. To them, I was nothing but a lowborn outsider, unfit to lead. In the war council, several veteran nobles rose in protest. "Kater is just a mercenary! What right does he have to command an imperial legion?"
Tensions flared. Then, Princess Ira stood slowly, her voice cutting through the uproar like a blade. "Have you not seen Kater's worth? He saved me, exposed the Aserai's plot, and has won battle after battle. To doubt him is to doubt my mother's judgment."
Her words left the dissenting lords speechless. They could only exchange uneasy glances before reluctantly taking their seats. I couldn't help but admire her—Princess Ira possessed not only courage but the skill to command respect.
---
**The War with the Khuzait**
In the months that followed, I led my legion against the Khuzait horsemen in countless border clashes. Each battle was a desperate struggle—their horse archers were swift as the wind, harrying our flanks relentlessly. But I held our formations firm, using heavy cavalry charges to break their lines piece by piece.
"Hold! Do not pursue!" I shouted, ensuring my men maintained discipline, denying the Khuzait any opening.
After several bloody engagements, the Khuzait finally relented, sending envoys to sue for peace. Yet despite the truce, two key fortresses remained unconquered.
Then came the Empress's decree: *The Southern Empire will pay thousands of denars daily to end the war.*
The news left a bitter taste in my mouth. The soldiers had bled for this victory, only for it to be halted by ink on parchment—and worse, we would now pay tribute to the Khuzait. It reminded me of the humiliations suffered by empires of old. But I understood—the Southern Empire could no longer sustain a full-scale war. Compromise was the only path to survival.
Standing atop the walls of Sironia, gazing across the river at the Khuzait steppes, I swore silently: *This is only the beginning. One day, I will lead the Southern Empire to crush every enemy territory. They will pay for their arrogance in blood.*