TCCIO 45

Chapter 45. I Will Protect You

Aaron quietly muttered as he gazed out the window, where the sunset cast its glow.

“Kingdom of Pruver.”

The king unconsciously repeated Aaron’s words.

“Kingdom of Pruver?”

The Kingdom of Pruver — an island nation across the sea — had long been a rival of Eorenti. They were barbarians who constantly eyed Eorenti, seeking any chance to raid it. Even the late King Leopold III had died fighting against Pruver, so the grudge was immeasurable. Yet, the Empire’s Supreme Commander was suddenly bringing up Pruver.

“We have received intelligence that the southern pirate kingdom, Pruver, has been preparing for years to seize the southern continent.”

“They’ve always coveted us. We’ve stood against them and protected ourselves.”

“But this time, the scale is different. They are allied with Ionic and Boswell and preparing together.”

“Boswell?”

The king asked in shock.

“Boswell has allied with Pruver?”

“Yes. The southern island nations have formed a coalition to control the routes leading to the continent.”

Hearing this, the king fell into deep silence. Boswell was the country where the queen’s family came from, a longtime ally since the previous king’s time. They had sent his daughter there with a lie, trusting Boswell to keep her safe. Yet now, their trusted ally had secretly allied with Pruver. The king was speechless, overwhelmed by a bitter sense of betrayal.

“This cannot be.”

The king’s sigh mixed with the sunset shining through the window.

“Boswell has betrayed us.”

Aaron glanced briefly at the king, lost in his troubled expression, then looked back out the window. The palace garden, ruined from yesterday’s chaos, stretched before them. Scorch marks everywhere, trampled flower beds, broken statues lying toppled. The blood-red sunset only made the palace gloomier. He followed the uneasy figures of the queen and Delia strolling the disordered garden. Aaron frowned lightly, then shifted his gaze to them.

“How could such nonsense happen?”

Still staring outside, Aaron’s voice carried dissatisfaction.

“Royeni, Kirens, Eorenti. The three southern nations border the Empire directly, so why do barbarians across the sea salivate over this land…?”

“So the Empire took it first to prevent others from taking it?”

“Something like that. The Empire also finds it burdensome to share a border with raiders.”

“Quite impressive in many ways. Taking it first to prevent Pruver from stealing it.”

“From Eorenti’s perspective, both Pruver and us might look like the same invaders.”

“They’re all invaders. It’s the same fact that they covet our land.”

“But compared to barbaric Pruver, our Stileitz Empire is much better.”

Aaron’s silver-gray eyes, tinged with red, scanned the garden again. Delia was speaking something to the queen, who repeatedly wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. The conversation seemed to be going badly. Aaron clicked his tongue and continued.

“We expect Eorenti to serve as a stable border city under the Empire.”

“…”

“But Pruver will see Eorenti as just a place to loot and destroy.”

The Kingdom of Pruver was built on plunder and pillage. They had no experience raising cities. They only focused on destroying and taking whatever they could from occupied lands. They didn’t hesitate to massacre and burn everything. Countless cities were left barren, incapable of recovery after their raids. And now Pruver had their eyes on the continent. After seizing the south and plundering, naturally, they would aim for the continent’s center. The Empire could not simply watch.

“Consider this good for Eorenti as well.”

“An arrogant delusion.”

“Well, even if you think so, it was something the Empire had to do.”

Aaron stopped looking outside and stared directly at Eorenti’s king.

“Eorenti must remain a territory of the Stileitz Empire. If it becomes an Empire border city, our troops will be stationed there to stop them.”

The king rested his elbows on the sofa’s armrest and rubbed his forehead. The shock of the trusted ally’s betrayal had not yet faded before facing the Empire’s shameless demands.

“Sign the surrender documents and relinquish all authority. If you do, the people of Eorenti, the lands of Eorenti, and…”

Aaron’s low, clear voice pierced the king’s ears as he sighed deeply.

“I will protect Eorenti’s princess.”

“What if we refuse?”

“Surely you know refusal is meaningless.”

“Then why go this far?”

“I already explained. For the Empire, war was inevitable.”

Aaron’s answer made the king shake his head heavily.

“We have already been defeated by the Empire. I thought Eorenti would follow in the footsteps of Royeni and Kirens.”

Eorenti had already been occupied by the Empire’s forces. Like Royeni and Kirens, the remaining royals would be executed, and an imperial governor would be appointed. But the ruthless commander known as the Silver Wolf who crushed the three kingdoms was making a very unusual proposal to Eorenti.

“Why give us a chance to sign surrender documents? Offering this kind of proposal…”

The king trailed off, looking at the Supreme Commander, who had turned his gaze outside to follow something. He seemed more interested in what was happening outside than the predetermined conversation indoors. It wasn’t hard to guess what was in his silver-gray eyes.

“…Because of Delia?”

Since hearing she was taken prisoner, the king had a bad feeling. Although Delia avoided detailed questions, the king also vaguely sensed something. A commander releasing a prisoner who poisoned herself and was in agony was no ordinary enemy or prisoner relationship. Moreover, the commander showed no intention of hiding his feelings.

“That’s right. Our princess is so obsessed with Eorenti.”

Aaron shrugged lightly with a grumble.

“I begged her a lot. I said I’d give Eorenti if she stayed by my side.”

“Huh.”

“And yesterday, I finally got permission.”

“She couldn’t refuse. If it involves Eorenti, Delia won’t back down.”

“As long as Delia chose me, that’s enough.”

Even yesterday and today, the audacious commander remained shameless. The king shook his head in disbelief.

“I don’t know if this is truly good for Delia.”

“No need to worry too much. I will take good care of her.”

The king sighed heavily and stared at Aaron’s back. His tall, strong-shouldered silhouette in dark red was etched into his retina. His silver hair shimmered sharply like a blade. Wearing the Empire’s uniform, he looked intimidating even from behind. The Empire’s Supreme Commander, urging surrender as if threatening, yet promising to protect Eorenti’s princess. The king rubbed his nose, bewildered by the irony.

“Delia will enjoy more than just being Eorenti’s princess — she will be the Empire’s only Grand Duchess.”

“But the world won’t see it that way. They will only see a humiliated princess of Eorenti, offered as tribute to the Empire.”

“That’s something I can fix as long as I’m by her side.”

“The nobles of the Empire will pressure her…”

“We will not return to the mainland.”

Startled by Aaron’s unexpected declaration, the king widened his eyes. The commander was the Empire’s only legitimate crown prince, currently first in line for the throne. When the childless emperor dies, he would immediately succeed. He was also the sole head of the powerful Bergen Grand Duke family, which exerted more influence than the current emperor. And yet, this family head declared he would not return to the Empire.

“I plan to stay here. I will be the regent of Eorenti.”

“What about your imperial title and the privilege of being a victorious commander?”

“Delia wants to stay in Eorenti.”

Aaron was a royal who would return to the palace after the war. Leaving the region to the governor was enough, but he intended to stay in Eorenti as regent, all for her.

“Though all authority will pass to me, I will allow the royal status to continue as an honorary position.”

The king already knew the answer — signing the surrender was inevitable. Just as Delia had to choose the commander, he too had no ready reply.

“I know you intend to send her to Boswell anyway.”

Aaron paused and took a deep breath.

“Luckily, our princess was clever enough to turn the ship around.”

The word Boswell alone stirred his anger. Aaron’s normally relaxed gaze now burned fiercely.

“If not, Boswell would have violated the princess to get a child with succession rights.”

Aaron clenched his hands until the bones bulged. Just imagining it took his breath away, and speaking of it felt like tearing his insides.

“Or they might have handed the princess to Pruver to secure a foothold into Eorenti.”

For a moment, Aaron considered leading the navy to crush Boswell. He glanced outside again. The queen and Delia were still whispering inside the palace he now held.

“Boswell is a nation that talks alliances in front but plans betrayal behind.”

As Aaron watched them, his gaze gradually calmed. He had reclaimed the princess, and she had chosen him. Just remembering this brought peace to his heart. A relaxed smile returned to Aaron’s handsome face. Now, what mattered most was restoring what the princess wanted more than stopping Boswell. The peace of Eorenti, which the princess loved so dearly. Reaffirming his mission, Aaron delivered his final ultimatum to the king.

“Wouldn’t I be a more reliable partner than Boswell, who stabs you in the back?”

“That’s your opinion.”

“For now, my opinion is the answer.”

An arrogant smile appeared on Aaron’s face, filled with the satisfaction of a victorious predator.

“Now, sign the surrender documents and form a marriage alliance with the Empire.”