304. Eugene’s New Path
“What did you say, Your Highness?” Rexford asked, taking the challenge as he pulled her back down for a kiss.
Ravenna’s thoughts didn't break. ”I’ve had Duke Kevin Morgen set the stage perfectly. This time, the Emperor’s gamble won't just pay off, it will pay off in my favor. The Law of the Golden Silkworm ends with him.”
Outside the window, the moon hung heavy over the ocean, its silver light dancing across the waves as the nightly activities in the bedroom continued long into the dark.
A few days later, Somewhere between Ronin Town and the Capital City, Mainland Ancorna Empire.
As the carriage rattled along the uneven road, Eugene watched the landscape blur past with a faint, uncharacteristic smile on his lips. Seraphina, sitting opposite him, watched him for a moment before her own expression softened.
“What’s got you so happy?” she asked, her voice light with curiosity.
“It’s just… ever since I decided to stop the Witch, I’ve been entirely focused on removing obstacles,” Eugene said, his gaze fixed on the passing trees. “I was so consumed with making sure the Cult didn't gain an advantage that I did everything just to combat them. But in that haze, I think I lost sight of what was actually important.”
He paused, his mind drifting back to the first time he had stepped foot in the industrial marvel of Kim City.
“Building a united front to face the Absolute Being together,” Seraphina finished for him, knowing his heart as well as her own.
“That’s right.” Eugene nodded, reaching across the gap to take her hand. “For the first time, it actually feels like I’ve taken a real step toward that goal. The creation of the Humanity Defense Force… it’s a beginning.”
Seraphina squeezed his hand as he continued, his voice dropping into a more reflective tone. “Because of my personal bias against her highness Ravenna, I deemed her non-vital for humanity’s survival. I even went as far as to frame her for her own mother’s death. But looking back… it is because of her that we even have a united front now.”
Seraphina leaned in, giving him a quick peck on the cheek. “I see. Is that what has you so satisfied?”
Eugene smiled, but his thoughts turned inward. “I wonder if I misunderstood Empress Ravenna in my past life as well. Back then, I was just a soldier on the front lines, not a leader in the upper management circles. I only saw the blood, not the board… so it’s possible”
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“So, are we still going to continue supporting Prince William?” Seraphina asked, her brow furrowing as the scenery outside shifted to more mountainous terrain. “If you’re shifting your goals, doesn't that mean our initial plan of supporting a single candidate for the throne might be a mistake? It could lead to a civil war among factions when we least afford it.”
“A conflict will happen whether we want it or not,” Eugene replied realistically. “It’s not like we can control the imperial siblings. They each want the throne for their own reasons."
“Then the better choice would be to fully commit to the Humanity Defense Force,” Seraphina suggested. “We should start strengthening it from the inside before the final battle arrives.”
“That’s exactly my line of thought,” Eugene agreed, his eyes sharpening with newfound resolve. “That’s why I’ve decided that once I return to Prince William’s side and settle a few lingering matters…”
“You’re going to join the HDF officially? And work to make the united front indestructible?” Seraphina finished.
Eugene looked at her and nodded. “Yes.”
Seraphina smiled, her decision already made. “Then I will do the same.”
A few hours later. An Inn on the outskirts of the Capital City, Ancorna Empire.
“The inn is rather cozy, isn't it?” Seraphina remarked as she stepped into their room.
It was a surprisingly decent establishment for being so close to the dusty main road. The room was bathed in the warm, orange glow of a magic lantern, and the air smelled faintly of cedar and beeswax. The bed was wide, covered in a thick, hand-woven wool blanket, and a small hearth in the corner crackled with a low fire to ward off the evening chill. It was a far cry from the military tents and cold stone barracks they had grown accustomed to.
As Eugene began unpacking their modest luggage, he stopped, his hand resting on a small wooden rack near the nightstand. “They even have the newspaper here as a compliment to the guests,” he noted, pulling a crisp sheet of paper from the slot.
He sat on the edge of the bed, spreading the paper out as Seraphina crawled over to sit beside him, wrapping her arms around his waist and leaning her head on his shoulder. Eugene scanned the headlines, but his eyes suddenly locked onto the center of the page. He froze.
“What in the world…?”
“What? What is it?” Seraphina asked, her voice jumping an octave as she sensed the sudden tension in his muscles.
“R… read this,” Eugene whispered, his voice sounding hollow as he pointed to the bold, ink-stained headline at the top of the front page.
Seraphina’s eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat as she read the words aloud.
“IS THE SUN SETTING ON THE ANCORNA EMPIRE? THE IMPERIAL COURT ANNOUNCES THE DEATH OF EMPEROR ANDREW SOLARIUS?!”
Seraphina practically jumped, the paper crinkling in her grasp. “He’s dead? But… he was fine when we left the capital! The rumors said he was drinking, yes, but to die so suddenly? Eugene, if the Emperor is gone..”
Eugene stared at the date on the paper. It has been exactly thirteen days since the summit in Kim City. Yesterday was the anniversary of the Empress's death, he realized. A cold sweat broke out on the back of his neck. This wasn't how it happened in the original timeline. The timeline wasn't just shifting anymore; it was shattering.
“The Empire isn't just setting,” Eugene whispered, his eyes narrowing as he gripped the edge of the bed. “It’s about to explode.”