When war knocks on your door, you have only two choices: either you grasp the hammer, or you are crushed beneath it.
I was not one to be crushed.
I sat in my private meeting room, surrounded by army leaders and political advisors, while a large map of the world was spread out before us on the table.
Marius, my military advisor, stood beside me, while one of the officers pointed to a spot in the north, saying:
"This is the village that was attacked. The population was about two thousand people, all farmers and small merchants. After the attack, only fifty bodies were found… the rest disappeared."
I closed my eyes for a moment, then asked in a cold voice:
"The attackers, do we have a description of them?"
"According to the survivors, they were a group of heavily armed mercenaries, but their fighting style was not as savage as ordinary bandits. They were trained… organized."
I looked at Marius, who immediately understood my thoughts and said:
"They are former soldiers. I bet they belong to one of the northern dukes, but he didn't want to risk sending his official forces, so he hired professional mercenaries instead."
I smiled slowly, looking at the map.
"The Duke of the North, Edward von Aldric… correct?"
One of the commanders nodded.
"Yes, he is one of the most powerful nobles in the north, and he has wide influence among the northern tribes. Since your ascension to the throne, he has been one of the most vocal opponents of your policies, but he has not moved openly until now."
"And now he has moved."
I ran my finger across the map, tracing the road leading to his castle.
"We will respond to this insult with force."
Only two days later, we were on our way north.
I rode at the head of a squadron of elite knights, followed by an army of two thousand fully armored soldiers. Our goal was not just revenge… but a message.
Snow was falling heavily, and the cold was biting, but it was nothing compared to the fire burning within me.
Every step we took brought us closer to enemy territory, and to the confrontation I had been eagerly anticipating.
After two days of marching, we reached one of the villages near the Duke's castle. I had received reports that this village was among those that supplied the mercenaries with provisions, which meant they were complicit.
I stood in the middle of the square, while the villagers gathered around us in fear.
I raised my voice, saying:
"I am Emperor Kaelen, and I have come to put an end to treason in this land!"
Silence fell over the place, before an old man stepped forward hesitantly and said:
"Your Majesty… we are just farmers. We have nothing to do with what happened, I swear to you!"
I looked at Marius, who nodded, indicating that he had indeed verified that some of the villagers had provided assistance to the mercenaries.
"Liar."
I raised my hand, gesturing to the soldiers.
"Arrest everyone who collaborated with the traitors. There will be no leniency in this war."
The soldiers began to move, and screams began to rise, but I did not have the luxury of sympathy.
In politics… and in war… there is no room for mercy with traitors.
Two more days of marching, and we stood before the castle of Duke Edward.
His massive fortress was perched atop a snowy mountain, and its high walls showed the extent of this man's power.
But I had not come here to admire his fortifications.
I sent a messenger requesting a meeting, and two hours later, the main gate opened, and I entered with my squadron into the castle's great hall.
Edward von Aldric was a man in his fifties, tall, with silver hair and eyes as cold as ice.
He sat on his throne, wearing heavy armor, as if ready for war at any moment.
He smiled mockingly as he said:
"I did not expect you to come yourself, Your Majesty. Isn't it dangerous for the Emperor to enter the castle of his enemy without a full army?"
I stepped forward confidently and looked him directly in the eyes.
"I see no enemy here… only a man hiding behind his walls."
His expression changed for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.
"What do you want?"
"I want only one answer, Duke Edward. Were you the one who sent the mercenaries to the village?"
He chuckled softly, then said:
"And if I was, what will you do about it?"
I paused for a moment, then smiled slowly.
"I will destroy you."
In an instant, my elite knights moved, drawing their swords, while the hall doors slammed shut behind us.
Edward jumped to his feet, placing his hand on his sword, but he was not fast enough.
In the blink of an eye, I was directly in front of him, holding my sword, as I whispered to him:
"The time for treason is over… Duke."
-----
In the moment my sword rested against Duke Edward's throat, I felt the rising tension in the hall. Knights from both sides were on the verge of erupting into a bloody battle, but I paid it no mind.
Edward was no fool. His icy eyes stared intently into mine, as if trying to read my intentions. But he found only ice in my gaze.
"Do you think I will kneel to you so easily?"
His voice was low but carried the immense weight of his anger.
I smiled slowly, replying with a deathly calm:
"I did not come here to ask you to kneel… but to decide whether you will live or die."
In an instant, Edward moved swiftly, attempting to deflect my blade with a sudden strike from his massive sword. But he was too slow. I had fully anticipated it.
With a step back, I evaded his attack, then made a swift movement, using my sword to strike his weapon-wielding hand.
Thwack!
My blade passed through his palm, causing his weapon to clatter to the stone floor.
Edward cried out in pain, stumbling backward, staring at his profusely bleeding hand.
The knights behind him were in shock, unsure whether to intervene or not.
"This is the difference between us."
My voice was quiet, but it pierced the hall like a resounding echo.
"I leave no room for error. But you… you made the mistake of making me your enemy."
Despite the pain, Edward raised his head, looking at me with a bitter smile.
"Even if you kill me here, the war will not end… there are those stronger than me… there are those who…"
Another thwack!
This time, I was not merciful.
My sword tore through his chest, piercing his armor and pinning him to his throne.
Edward's eyes widened in shock, but he did not scream. He simply looked at me with that strange gaze of someone who realizes they have lost everything.
Then… his body went completely still.
I slowly withdrew my sword, while blood dripped onto the cold marble floor.
I turned to the knights who were still frozen in place.
"Either you join me, or you die beside him."
There was no hesitation. In less than ten seconds, everyone fell to their knees, bowing their heads to me.
Just as I had expected.
A few hours later, I stood on the castle balcony, looking at my army waiting outside.
"People of the North!"
I raised my voice, using all the power I possessed in my tone.
"Duke Edward von Aldric… is dead."
There was a heavy silence, before whispers began to spread through the crowds.
"From this moment on, the North falls directly under the rule of the Empire!"
I raised my sword high, while the echo of my words reverberated in the icy air.
"Anyone who opposes this decision, step forward now!"
No one moved.
I smiled inwardly.
This had been the goal from the beginning. Not just revenge… but also the expansion of my authority.
"From this day forward, this land no longer belongs to traitors… but to the Empire!"
With these words, cheers erupted among the soldiers, and a new spark ignited in the war of dominance I was waging.
But I knew…
This was just the beginning.