Chapter 5: The Empire is Growing

Not long ago, in the empire’s bustling capital, a roundtable meeting was still underway.

Eight high-backed chairs surrounded a pure white ceramic long table, each chair engraved with a different beast, symbolizing their status in the empire.

Cracks in the table were embedded with old bloodstains, a grim reminder of the brutal coup eight years ago.

The fireplace’s glow cast the shadows of one man and six women onto the stone walls, silent, exchanging heavy glances.

All eyes in the room were fixed on the empty chair, once occupied by the empire’s highest authority, the one who commanded absolute loyalty—former Saintess Emilia.

Now exiled… it seems they’ve endured their share of hardships this past year, realizing Emilia’s importance.

Gone was the ease of their judgment against her; now, their faces were heavy, filled with sighs.

They had thought their greatest rival was the dictator Emilia, not realizing she had shielded them, the high-ranking officials, too well.

She bore the storms alone, while they personally tore down that protective umbrella.

Naturally, they had to face the storm alone, and their efforts only made things worse—utterly ineffective.

They had believed the nobles who provided evidence, exposed secrets, and groveled were on their side.

But once Emilia fell, those vile nobles bared their fangs.

Initially, swayed by the nobles’ honeyed words, they abolished Emilia’s reforms and policies, with widespread public support for the repeal.

Soon, the new empire, painstakingly built, was dismantled, gradually reverting to the ways of the old empire.

How beautiful.

No one realized the gravity of the situation.

After all, the most immediate benefits were profits and power, which kept rising.

The nobles under them also reaped rewards—a win-win situation, or so it seemed.

But the drawbacks soon became apparent.

The nobles, like wild horses freed from reins, grew increasingly brazen without restraint.

A win-win always comes at a cost, and that cost inevitably falls on the countless masses.

Everything seemed to revert to the final days of the old empire.

Yet these council members were kept in the dark by the nobles, believing they were doing what was best for the nation and its people.

It was only by chance they learned the severity of the situation.

Even Emperor Gerald was the same, fed only good news daily.

The people were cheering, hailing the emperor’s name, harvests were plentiful, and enemy envoys were submitting…

And now they’re telling him the empire is on the brink of collapse, the borders in ruins, and enemy nations preparing to invade?

“Answer me! Look in my eyes.”

His mood was far from pleasant as he surveyed the beautiful women around him, all intricately tied to Emilia.

After all, they were her personally chosen harem for Gerald.

The heroines, so to speak.

Though without official titles, each had intimate moments with Gerald, and each was fiercely loyal.

After all, they all owed Gerald their lives, or something equally precious… falling for him was only natural.

Little did they know, it was all Emilia’s orchestration—she saved them, handled their issues, but the credit and fame went to Gerald.

A nanny feeding them right to their mouths, all for the sake of favorability—a dark history.

His resolute words cut through the room’s thoughts, bringing the meeting to its point.

No more dawdling.

“Alright, everyone, we need to bring Emilia back to take charge. No objections, right? You all know she’s the only one who can turn this around. I’ve already issued the search order, and I hope we can find her soon.”

“I object. We went through so much to exile her, and now you want to invite her back? Isn’t that asking for trouble? Even if she’s capable, we don’t need someone so utterly deplorable.”

A discordant voice rang out, belonging to a righteous female knight, her face full of valor, blonde hair tied in a single ponytail, her lithe figure accentuated by light armor—a tall, striking presence.

“Daisy, sigh, we misunderstood her…”

After some reflection, Gerald covered his face, leaning back, realizing they had likely wronged Emilia.

From start to finish, it was just a noble-orchestrated farce.

The so-called evidence didn’t hold up—riddled with holes upon scrutiny.

In the end, the nobles handed him a knife, but he was the one who struck—a fact he couldn’t change.

He had sensed something was off from the start.

How could so many accusations surface at once?

But in his rush to reclaim power, he ignored the details.

Now, it was clear this was like cutting off their own limbs—foolish, utterly foolish.

Regret surged as he clutched the back of his head, haunted by the memory of Emilia’s despairing, helpless expression a year ago.

In truth, it was partly her fault for not defending herself or resisting, just surrendering so obediently…

Cl¼

System: Clenching his fists tightly, he swore inwardly that if Emilia returned, he would treat her with sincerity, trust her unwaveringly, and never make such a foolish mistake again.

He’d even make her the sole empress, as if confessing his deep regret—though late affection is cheaper than grass.

The female knight, however, remained defiant.

“No way! Those charges were backed by solid evidence, Brother Gerald.”

Pausing, she pivoted to a naively black-and-white statement, as if the world were so simple.

“We can save the empire ourselves. If she could do it, surely we can too.”

“Sigh, it’s not possible.”

Gerald shook his head lightly, a bitter smile forming. It just wasn’t feasible.

Why?

His decrees, outside the capital, were mere scraps of paper, changing nothing unless they benefited the nobles or the church.

How laughable.

Emilia was different.

Her decrees and orders were enforced across the empire within a day, even if they harmed noble interests.

Those who dared complain ended up on lampposts; those who failed to comply faced the guillotine.

Likely because her people—mostly commoners—were deeply embedded in the empire, occupying much of the power structure.

Even many lower nobles and administrators backed her, ensuring smooth execution.

Now?

The power core is all nobles… a tough situation.

The more he thought, the more regret consumed him, his face bitter.

If Emilia were still here, the empire might not be in this state.

If she had argued even a little, perhaps things wouldn’t have come to this.

Standing, he announced one final matter to end the meeting.

“Daisy, return to your hometown and look for Emilia’s trail. If you find anything, contact me immediately. I’ll rush over at once, I guarantee it.”

He scanned the room and continued.

“Everyone, I’m begging you to find Emilia. Otherwise, the empire faces disaster. You don’t want the empire we built with our own hands to collapse, do you? Please, I’m counting on you.”