He was totally stuck.

Because pushing back right now meant risking a full rebellion. And if even one high noble decided to fight, it would drag the whole continent into a messy civil war. The Emperor knew his royal forces could easily crush Silas in a direct fight, but the leftover damage would be completely catastrophic. Foreign kings were basically sitting at the borders, just waiting for a moment of weakness to invade.

So starting a domestic war during a highly tense geopolitical stalemate was a terrible idea. If the Emperor fractured his own military power by wiping out a Duke, the entire Crestwall Empire could collapse.

But he could not just look weak in front of his court.

"Duke Silas," the Emperor said dangerously. "Do you wish to go against your emperor?"

"I am not going against you, Your Majesty," Silas replied smoothly, but he wasn’t backing down an inch. "I am simply stating to the court that I want him. You explicitly said that any noble here could claim him. You never said that you were going to pick his master personally."

Silas gestured toward Adrian.

"You are already extracting a fifty percent penalty tax for his mistakes," Silas said logically. "Why would you care if I claim him without a fee? My family has been relentlessly loyal to this Empire for more than three centuries."

Silas looked around the room again.

"And if anyone here wishes to question my authority or my loyalty," Silas challenged the room. "Then they are going to have to pay the ultimate price."

The Emperor ground his teeth together. He wanted to make an example out of Adrian since one of his mistresses was Alexander’s own half sister. She was of the same family and he had to please her. But now, he was getting incredibly pissed off, but he had no logical counter argument. Silas had cornered him using his own exact words.

But before the Emperor could speak, a massive, scarred man cleared his throat.

Marquis Draven Voss.

"If anyone questions Silas right now," Draven growled.

His heavy voice echoed right across the hall.

"I will personally form a military alliance with the Duke and Baron Sterling."

He dropped a massive, scarred hand right onto the hilt of his broadsword.

"And I will make absolutely sure your lands get burned to ash." Draven promised the terrified nobles. "Your families will completely disappear from the face of the earth. I have spent my entire life butchering monsters in the north. But it will be a very nice change of pace for my blade to taste some human blood."

Nobody spoke. They just stared at the two men siding with Adrian and then turned to look at the emperor, silently asking for help.

But even the Emperor completely shut his mouth.

Because the power dynamics of the Empire were incredibly rigid. Dukes held the absolute highest political and economic influence. But when it came to raw, terrifying military might? The border Marquises and Marchionesses were completely unmatched. They were second only to the royal army itself.

Draven Voss commanded the strongest military force in the entire Empire and one could say that it was only slightly weaker than the royal army.

Duke Silas Ashford was the most politically influential Duke in the room.

And Adrian Sterling somehow had both of these absolute titans standing right in front of him, ready to burn the empire down to protect him.

The Emperor was completely trapped. If he pushed this, the most powerful political family and the most terrifying military force would instantly trigger a rebellion. He could probably manage the damage if Silas acted alone. But if Draven brought his hardened border veterans into the fight? The empire would be totally annihilated.

"Fine." the Emperor snapped, waving his hand dismissively. "Baron Adrian Sterling will officially operate under the banner of Duke Silas Ashford."

The Emperor glared at Adrian. "You are dismissed."

Adrian bowed slightly. He didn’t even look at his furious brother or his shocked ex-wife. He just looked at Silas and Draven and grinned at them.

’Since when did I get this incredibly lucky with friends?’ Adrian thought in pure awe.

These two men just stood by him during an absolutely miserable political trap and actively threatened the ruler of the continent just to keep him safe.

’This is great.’ Adrian smiled.

He walked out of the throne room feeling incredibly happy. Even though he was slapped with a massive tax, he had secured two insanely loyal allies.

He walked back to the inn.

He found Claire and Aria sitting in the lobby.

"Pack your bags," Adrian told them cheerfully. "We are leaving for Oresfall tomorrow morning."

He went up to his room to rest.

But an hour later, he heard heavy knocks against his door.

Adrian opened it to find Duke Silas and Marquis Draven standing in the hallway.

"Come in," Adrian invited them inside.

Silas shook his head. "Actually, why do we not go and talk at my estate? I own a private mansion here in the capital."

"Sure," Adrian agreed.

"I’ll be back." he said as he turned to look at Aria and then looked at Claire who had come out of her own room. Adrian followed the two of them through the wealthy district until they reached a massive, heavily guarded mansion.

They did not go to a standard drawing room or a fancy study to drink wine.

Silas walked in front of them and shoved a set of double doors open. It was an insanely expensive indoor bathhouse.

Hot steam came out from a giant pool of clear water sitting right in the middle of the room.

"Why don’t we just relax and talk?" Silas suggested with a tired sigh.

"Sure." Adrian said awkwardly.

Adrian was absolutely not used to public bathhouses. Back on Earth, stripping down in front of other guys and sitting in hot water was not exactly a normal weekend activity for him.

But Silas and Draven did not care. They just casually stripped down. They did not hesitate for a single second, tossing their expensive shirts and coats onto the wooden benches.

And then they walked right into the steaming pool.