"Dreams are imaginations that trembled in the face of reality."

Simon still remembered back in school, this was his mentor’s favourite saying.

Now, he was confronted with the harsh reality of that phrase.

Looking at his situation objectively, his domain was dirt-poor, barely any better than a primitive society. Most of the farmland belonged to the aristocratic clans, leaving the commoners as nothing more than exploited labourers.

Even with the System in place, changing things here would be an uphill battle.

His inherited memories made one thing clear. The Eldorian Empire looked peaceful on the surface, but in reality, it was teeming with hidden unrest.

Time was not on his side.

Simon wasn’t a warlord, but if he wanted to protect his land, avoid the empire’s political chaos, and keep his head from being chopped off by his power-hungry brothers and uncles, he had to develop his domain.

It was a paradox, difficult to do, yet necessary.

"Clang! Clang!! Clang!!!"

Leaning against a stone bridge in the prince’s residence, deep in thought about his domain’s future, Simon was suddenly startled by the urgent ringing of a bell from the direction of the city gate.

"Reavers!" His heart tightened.

This bell was equivalent to a beacon alarm, a signal from the city’s defence unit warning of an enemy invasion.

And judging by how frantic the ringing was, it had to be the northern nomadic raiders.

In the Eldorian Empire, the tribes of the northern grasslands were collectively called the ’Grassland Reavers.’ They were similar to the historical raiders; their role in history remained unchanged.

Every autumn, when horses were fat and strong, they would raid the Central Plains, pillaging and looting. For the past three years, these reavers hadn’t invaded his territory.

But this year, they had returned.

Recalling the devastation they wrought three years ago, Simon shivered; even the memories of their destruction were terrifying.

This was no game.

In the era of cold weapons, nomadic cavalry had an overwhelming advantage, fast, mobile, and deadly skilled with bow and horse.

And yet, his six provinces combined didn’t even have a hundred cavalrymen. He was forced to rely on defending the city.

A sense of fear crept over him.

[Defend your city]

[Reward: Stat Points]

"This isn’t a simulation. If I die, I die for real. There is no respawning." He gritted his teeth. "I’ve already died once. Why should I be afraid of dying again?"

Clenching his fists, he roared. "Roland! Prepare the horses!"

"Roland!"

A moment later, Roland came running, his round body panting heavily.

"My Lord! The horses are ready! I’ve taken all the silver I could carry! The alarm came from the North Gate. If we leave through the South Gate now, we can still escape!"

Simon almost staggered in disbelief. So, this old man had been preparing to flee?

"Fool!" Simon cursed, kicking Roland’s rear, sending him stumbling forward. This was something the old Simon used to do when angry, and he instinctively followed suit.

Roland blinked in shock. This wasn’t like his master at all.

Before, even the mere rumour of a reaver raid would make the prince scream about running back to Eldora.

Three years ago, he had actually fled, only to be dragged back and whipped by the emperor himself.

The emperor had warned him: "If you ever abandon your domain again, I will personally execute you!"

Roland suddenly understood that Simon wasn’t being brave; he was just afraid to go back to the capital and die.

Thinking quickly, Roland suggested. "My Lord, we don’t have to go to Eldora, but what if we hide in Prince Gerad’s domain?"

Prince Gerad was Alaric’s third brother, Simon’s uncle.

His domain was just south of Simon’s lands.

Back when the imperial domains were being assigned, Prince Gerad had enthusiastically pushed Simon’s territory to be the first line of defence against the northern reavers.

The man was ruthless and definitely not reliable. Even a fool like Simon could tell his uncle would never shelter him.

"No. I’m going to the city walls."

Roland’s round face paled in terror. He collapsed to the ground, grabbing Simon’s legs, and cried hysterically.

"My Lord, please reconsider! Blades and arrows know no mercy! If anything happens to you, how can I face Consort Isolde?"

Simon glared at him. "Roland, you were my mother’s bodyguard. Yet you’re this cowardly? How do you expect to help me achieve greatness? Is this how a prince’s steward should act? If we lose the domain, where will you and I even stand?!"

Roland froze.

In all his years serving Simon, he had never heard him talk about achieving greatness.

The only things he ever talked about were how beautiful women were, how amazing Eldora, the capital city, was, and how poor and wretched his domain was.

But today, his words felt... Inspiring?

Simon shook him off and strode toward the main gate.

His heart pounded violently; this was thrilling to say, but now he actually had to follow through.

At the gate, Joan stood waiting with a small bundle.

Beside her was another young woman in a grey gown, this was Ysabeau.

Compared to Joan’s delicate, southern charm, Ysabeau was pale-skinned, slender, with elegant features and a fierce glint in her eyes.

She had just returned from a shopping trip outside the castle, only to arrive just as the reaver invasion began.

"My Lord."

Both Joan and Ysabeau bowed. The steward had ordered them to flee with the prince to Prince Gerad’s domain.

Looking at the two beautiful maids, Simon sighed internally.

"What a waste. Who knows if I’ll even come back from this?"

Without warning, he smacked both of them on the butt, then leapt onto his horse and galloped away toward the North Gate.

Joan and Ysabeau’s faces turned bright red with shame and fury. By the time they snapped out of it, Simon was already gone.

Roland finally caught up, just in time to see Simon riding off. Without hesitation, he leapt onto a horse and galloped after him.

Joan, still flustered, grew pale. She thought they were abandoning them. But Ysabeau remained calm.

She looked at Roland and asked. "Steward, are you leaving us behind?"

Roland snapped. "Leave you behind?! His Highness must be insane; he’s actually heading to fight on the walls!"

"What?!"

Ysabeau covered her mouth in shock. Even she had never imagined this useless prince would fight.

Joan, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief. Her eyes flickered.

"Could it be that I was right about him all along?"

Meanwhile, Roland had no time to think. Spurring his horse, he raced toward the North Gate.