Chapter 102
Cassius’s expression softened without him realizing it when he saw Charlotte running toward him, her cheeks flushed red from excitement.
“Charlotte.”
“The Emperor! He sent knights, Cassius!” she shouted, her voice full of excitement as she grabbed onto his arm, panting slightly from running. Her big eyes sparkled with pure joy.
“The Emperor’s reinforcements are coming!” she cried again.
Cassius’s eyes widened in disbelief. It was true—both Charlotte and the imperial messenger had left for the capital at the same time, but the messenger had let Charlotte deliver the news first. That’s how she ended up being the one to share this wonderful news with Cassius.
“It’s real. They’ve probably already passed through the Northern region by now. They’ll be arriving in Istheria soon. That’s why I was told to return to the castle and help prepare,” she said breathlessly.
Cassius pressed his lips tightly together and pulled Charlotte into a hug. Surprised by his sudden embrace, she let out a small cough before sitting down across from him.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” she whispered softly.
“The North will be safe, Istheria will be the winner. And you… you’ll protect everyone.”
Cassius’s hands trembled. It felt like he had been walking through the darkness completely alone. No matter how loud he cried for help, no one had answered. The despair had been overwhelming.
He had been so sure that the cursed Emperor would abandon the North once again.
“It’s all because of you,” he said quietly.
Charlotte’s voice trembled in response, “I didn’t do anything…”
But when she saw the honest joy in Cassius’s face, she felt her chest tighten. She almost cried.
She gently patted his back, relieved.
She was relieved that the world had not turned its back on Cassius. That the Emperor had not abandoned the North. That hope had come. In the distance, the sound of a horn echoed through the air.
“The golden horn, Your Grace!” a knight called out excitedly.
Cassius gently released Charlotte from his embrace. As their eyes met, he told her quietly,
“Everything changed the moment I met you. I believe… you’re my good fortune.”
His words made her heart ache with emotion. Cassius kissed the back of her hand tenderly.
She felt grateful. Grateful that she had become Charlotte. Grateful that she could be part of Cassius’s life and be part of Istheria and the North. Most of all, she was grateful that she had not brought sadness to their lives but rather had become a source of hope.
Cassius kissed her forehead once more and then stepped away.
“Open the gates!”
At his command, the grand castle gates swung open. Through them, the Emperor’s knights came into view. Leading them was Lord Rozwood, who smiled warmly when he saw them.
***
The commander of the knights sent by the Emperor was named Kerols. He knelt in front of Cassius, showing deep respect.
“His Majesty the Emperor did not wish to ignore the crisis in the North, so he has sent me here. I will fight for the North under your command, Your Grace. His Majesty also sent a message for you.”
Kerols handed over a sealed document. The paper looked freshly written, with ink still slightly bleeding into the clean white sheet.
Cassius’s eyes shook slightly as he read.
“…This is a record that was erased in the North. It says that long ago, Istheria once joined forces with the snowbeasts to defeat the monsters. His Majesty commands that this record be destroyed after the current war ends.”
“Does that mean we’ve fought alongside the snowbeasts before?” Cassius asked.
“Yes, Your Grace. That’s correct. The Emperor told me this in private. He said the North and the snowbeasts have worked together many times in the past to fight against the monsters.”
Cassius ran a hand through his hair. This was unexpected. The Snowbeast had very short lifespans—only about three years. Their memories would fade with each generation, and their alliances with humans would likely be forgotten in time. It would not take long for those held hands to separate again.
Cassius had already suspected as much.
“The Emperor said that after this war, once the current generation of Snowbeast passes and the next one takes over, we should slowly reduce contact with them and eventually cut off ties.”
Cassius’s eyes scanned the papers quickly.
He understood the Emperor’s caution. There had been times when the Snowbeast had betrayed humans, using the weapons humans had given them to attack the North instead. During the chaos of war against the monsters, the North had been forced to fight an additional war against their former allies. The Empire had hidden these records to prevent history from repeating itself.
They were trying to prevent the war that might come again.
Cassius looked up and stared at Kerols.
“The Emperor said that even if we win this war, the Gate cannot be destroyed completely,” Kerols continued. “Another war will happen again one day… though no one knows exactly when. This document contains records from a war that took place 120 years ago. At that time, the monsters were led by a humanoid monster named Tera.”
Cassius asked in a cold, quiet voice, “Was there a dragon involved in that war?”
“No, Your Grace,” Kerols replied. “The Emperor said that ever since the dragons disappeared into legend, they haven’t taken part in any battles. Not even once.”
Cassius’s heart trembled slightly.
So that meant… this was the first time a dragon would be involved in a war again. And that could only mean one thing—the upcoming battle might be fiercer and more violent than anything before. Like the ancient war from long ago, the one that only lived on in stories. The war where they had pushed all the monsters back through the Gate and founded the land of Istheria.
“…Please tell His Majesty that I am truly grateful for his kindness,” Cassius said after a pause. “If we survive this war and you make it back to the capital alive, I’d be thankful if you could share my words with him.”
“If you win, that alone will make His Majesty happy,” Kerols answered sincerely.
Cassius gave a bitter smile.
“The Emperor has already sent messengers to the nearby territories,” Kerols added. “They’ll likely send reinforcements soon. Also, part of the grain stored in the western granaries will be delivered to the North on His Majesty’s orders.”
Cassius let out a faint sigh of relief, as if something heavy had been lifted from his chest. He laughed quietly to himself.
Maybe this was why—even after all the conflicts with the central government, even when he had resented the Emperor—he could never truly turn his back on him.
Because in the most critical moments, the imperial family had never abandoned the North.
And now this record, this message… was proof of that.
“…I truly am grateful,” he said again. “If you follow Lord Rozwood and Lord Giverny, you’ll be able to begin training with the Snowbeast. The scouts have already checked the area around the Gate. They say it’s quiet—for now. But I believe this is the calm before the storm.”
“Yes. I believe it’s coming soon,” Kerols said with a pale face.
As he had traveled here, he’d been given permission to read the ancient records by the Emperor himself. And after learning about the long struggle of the North, he couldn’t help but feel a deep respect for them.
If Istheria and the North hadn’t fought so hard for so long, the Empire might have already fallen—trampled under the hooves of monsters.
Unlike the North, the central and southern regions had grown lazy. They weren’t prepared at all. They had grown used to peace—too used to the comfortable life the Emperor had given them. Even the common people believed peace was normal and eternal.
The Empire had become like a paradise that the Emperor had built for his people.
“And one more thing,” Kerols said carefully. “His Majesty has punished Count Solovis.”
“Count Solovis?” Cassius asked, narrowing his eyes.
“Yes. His Majesty said that no unnecessary rumors will be allowed to spread.”
Cassius lifted the corners of his lips faintly. For the first time in his life as Duke, he was feeling the grace of the Imperial Capital.
He remembered the face of the young Emperor, Carlos, whom he had met only a few times. He could still recall the intelligence that had shone in his eyes.
Just like what Cassius had seen back then—Carlos had not changed. He was truly a capable ruler.
Cassius clenched his fist slowly.
“I hope we can fulfill His Majesty’s wishes,” he said quietly.
“Yes, Your Grace!” Kerols responded with a firm bow.
And so, new allies had joined their side.
New strength had come to the North.
And with it… hope.
YESS! The emperor is a better man than I thought he was..~
He has this decent side…jajajjajajaja🤭