Book 8: Chapter 4
Imperial Prince Bardloche of Earthworld was famous for being the militaristic type. He’d enjoyed learning swordsmanship from a young age, and it was his greatest desire to have his own army once he grew up. Whether it was leading subordinates or subjugating bandits, no one had more battle experience within the Imperial family than him. His soldiers trusted him with their lives, and many believed Bardloche was worthy of the throne.
And yet he’d lost the other day.
It all started when the eldest prince acted recklessly. The four siblings had fought for the right to rule, and in the end, Imperial Princess Lowellmina got the jump on all of them. Although Lowellmina’s coronation was on hold at the moment, Bardloche’s force had sustained major damage because of his failure. The civil war had cost him soldiers and supplies to no small degree, and his faction took a nosedive.
Bardloche had to rebuild his faction as fast as possible. Curiously, that was the case, too, for Princess Lowellmina and the youngest prince, Manfred, but unlike them, Bardloche’s faction was tied together by military strength.
Bardloche was strong. His armies were strong. That was why people flocked to him. They respected him. They supported him. It was a simple system, and that was how Bardloche liked it.
This was also why his losses in battle felt so much more devastating than the other Imperial siblings.
Bardloche had been weak. His army had failed. Respect had turned to disappointment, and doubt rattled his support base. He would be criticized as a coward if he tried to buy back support with money, and the people would think he was abandoning his roots if he made any attempt to regain their hearts with speeches. Those admired for their strength had no choice but to regain respect with strength and strength alone.
I need something that will shut the people up and an enemy I can take on. But where…?
Bardloche was unsure what to do, beating himself up, when a messenger from the West arrived—