Chapter 277: Contemplations about the Empire

Marcus looked around the woodland for a while with his best advisors. Trailing behind were a couple of the Commonwealth nobles who were open to his interference and provided support.

"How many troops do they have?" Marcus turned to one of the Count Arek and reached into his pocket, pulling a small note from one of the scouts.

"Altogether 3,000 attacking the south split into four. The coastal areas are being breached the quickest, thanks to the damage caused by the pirate invasion. We had little time to rebuild and gather a proper harvest. They have around 1,500 attacking the coastal forts. Then the remaining 1,500 is slip on the other four fronts."

Marcus nodded and looked out. "2000 plus my 500. It’s not great odds, but it’s doable." Marcus looked around. It was hard to march any army through the woodland, but it didn’t spread far, mainly concentrated in the south island’s centre.

"How many forts can we have build woodland in the month?" Marcus asked as he went over to one of the trees. Taking his sword out, he swung at it as hard as he could and was satisfied by its strength.

"Such a project would require a lot of manpower. And to have it completed when you want..."

"How many?" Count Arek frowned but fell into thought.

"We need all our men to defend the forest. If we can mobalise the pesants all the pesants. Five in a month. But they will be weak. And the cost. They won’t do it for free."

"I can request the gold from the Empire. Besides, we do not need heavy fortification, just something to buy time." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Commander. Is this really the best use of our time and resources?" Turning to face Arek, Marcus sheathed his sword.

"I am here to make sure the South doesn’t fall until we are ready. You don’t even have a proper defense in the forest."

"Well, it’s a natural barrier"

"One that we don’t have the men to guard properly." Marcus snapped at Arek’s reply and scoffed. "A natural barrier is meaningless if we can’t hold it. If it comes under Snowid’s command, he has free reign to charge through and capture the South. We leave Henryk and the Empire open if that happens."

"The Empire is not our problem." In his annoyance Arek countered but seeing Marcus’s hardening eyes he realsied he made a mistake. "Forgive me commander."

Marcus walked towards him and towered over him. Looking down at Arek, the man gulped a little. "If Snowid enters the Empire, he will have more leeway when negotiating with foreign powers. Not only that, but he has the chance to encircle Henryk. Think before you speak." The venom in Marcus’s voice was palpable, and walking past him, he slammed his shoulder into his, knocking him back.

Arek weakly nodded. "Why don’t we encircle them, then?" Arek asked and forced Marcus to stop in his tracks. Looking back, he saw the cunning glint in his eyes and walked back over. "We can ship a large force down the coast and take a coastal town. Using that, we push up and cut off their supply."

Marcus took a deep breath and wondered if it was realistic. But he shook his head and sighed. "We don’t have enough men." Arek opened his mouth to speak, but Marcus cut him off. "I know what you will say. The Empire can’t send over more yet. Mobalise the peasants when we are back. In the meantime, I’ll attack the South. We need to hold them back." Arek nodded and followed behind Marcus.

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Lech looked out at the window of his manor and waited patiently in deep thought, his mind having nothing but thoughts about the Empire. It was a machine that he was slowly beginning to understand. Rumours were one thing, but reality was another. Lech chuckled to himself.

He couldn’t call everything rumours. Some of it was truthful. On one hand, the Empire was a complete anomaly in the surrounding lands—a system that prioritised the actions of men over the name they carried. It was even more so with Alfred. He didn’t rule as a Lindonfall but as Alfred. Whilst each nation had something like that, the Empire took it to an extreme. Maybe it was because it was a new thing or because Alfred had removed those who could oppose it, but Lech couldn’t help but wonder how long it would last.

It was something he wanted—a chance to prove himself beyond his family name, to be more than a Duke. It was easy to have everything once he took his father’s place, but it was never meant to be his in the first place. After a while, it felt lackluster. He had worked hard to try and become something when his brother was still alive, but now it was handed to him. It was too easy. It didn’t feel right.

As long as he kept his head down and did the basic work needed, he could probably keep everything, but he wanted more. A chance had opened for him. But the thought never left his mind. ’What if we are disposable?’ It was terrifying to think, but he didn’t doubt Alfred would remove his family.

The Empire had waited for a year to finally mobilise. It was obvious they were letting each side of the civil war get weaker. Was it all a plan to finally get rid of him once they had what they wanted? It kept him up at night. He was a pawn in a larger game, and he knew it. Alfred didn’t care about his life. He killed his brother, after all.

It was like an invisible chain was around his neck. He wanted to remove it, but how it would happen terrified him. Even Issac. He was a man close to his age. Someone who by all regards should have been similar to him. Yet he saw it. The deep chill he carried. Something that could only be cultivated by someone who would do anything to keep his power.

The system he was entering was a place that didn’t leave room for chance. He knew. He had to become like them. Alfred had forced a system like that when he committed his purge as a child—a system built on ruthlessness and blood, a place that expected fear, loyalty, or a willingness to play.

Stroking the ring on his finger, Lech sighed. ’I have to be like them. Like father.’ He didn’t want to be stuck in his fear. But he couldn’t be loyal. He knew, and so did Alfred. He had to make himself worthy of staying, or his family would vanish. No one would remember him or his family name. The Empire proved it. How many died in the purge? He couldn’t count. Their history vanished.

The door opened behind Lech and knocked him out of his thoughts. "Marcus Hardly has arrived in the south, " The butler said politely, handing over a letter to Lech. "We have received some complaints from the nobles alongside this."

Handing over a few extra letters, Lech frowned. Letter about the annoyance at having to take orders from an outsider. Complaints about abuse of power. Lech couldn’t be bothered and threw them to the floor. It was worthless to read the reports of people whose opinions didn’t matter.

The old butler crouched down and picked up the letter,s handing over one to Lech. "This one is important." Snatching it back, Lech read the first moment of Marcu’s arrival. With a huff of air he shook his head.

"Leave the commander be. Those lot need to be put in line. Send word to my father."

"I already have." Lech nodded in satisfaction. The room went silent for a few seconds, and Lech looked at the door. Seeing it closed, he took a seat and offered one to the butler.

"How long has it been since you came here? 20 years?"

"23." Lech nodded and leaned back into his chair.

"What do you honestly think about the situation?"

"Sir. I only..." Lech put his hands up.

"You can speak your mind. It stays between us."

The butler took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Opening them, Lech could see how tired the man was. "There’s no other way. I love the Commonwealth. I love this manor, your family. They gave me everything I have now. I honestly feel bad for you, sir." Lech raised his eyebrow in confusion, causing the butler to bitterly chuckle. "I’m old. I don’t have to deal with what comes after. You however. The weight of your father’s actions are all yours to carry."

"You think it was wrong?"

"No. Just sad that there was no other choice. The Duke hardly makes a bad decision, and if he thinks this is the way. Then it must be."

Lech closed his eyes and leaned forward, his head falling into his hand. "That will be all. Send me a report on the latest shipments. I’ll look over them tonight." The butler stood up and bowed, leaving Lech alone.