Three months passed in the blink of an eye. Cerydra had completely unified the entire North and began recruiting and training troops, making the Northern Border grow stronger and stronger.
Most people held a positive attitude toward the unification of the Northern Country; after all, the stronger the country became, the better their lives would be.
However, where there is joy, there is naturally sorrow.
The person suffering the most was none other than the Prince of the Northern Tribe, Numa Seika.
"Has it finally come?"
Ever since he was captured by Cerydra, he had never truly left her side... This did not mean he was always physically next to her, but rather that wherever Cerydra went, she would bring this puppet Prince along, never letting him slip from her control.
And today, Numa Seika, who had been staying deep within the Royal Palace, finally faced his ultimate fate...
Numa Seika threw the papers covered in writing onto the desk and then slumped powerlessly into his throne.
As a puppet Prince, Numa Seika did not need to handle any affairs within the Palace; he only needed to sit there.
But today, with the occurrence of a certain event, Numa Seika had to face the reality of everything happening.
That event was...
The ministers' memorial requesting the monarch's abdication!
Upon learning this news, the expression on Numa Seika's face was one of great pain. Since the moment he became a puppet, he had been trying to find a way to escape Imperator's control.
But after so much time, he had no solutions at all, failing even to secretly cultivate his own faction.
Everyone in this Palace seemed to have already sided with Imperator, leaving Numa Seika with absolutely no opportunities.
Numa Seika was no coward; he was a Prince with grand ideals who wanted to restore his kingdom. Even as a puppet, he had his own trump card—threatening with his own life!
If Cerydra went too far, Numa Seika even dared to charge onto the streets alone, pointing his sword at Cerydra... It was just that things had not yet reached that point, and Numa Seika had been enduring.
If things truly reached that stage, Imperator likely wouldn't dare to commit regicide in the middle of the street.
Even if the opponent truly dared, Numa Seika had already thought of what he should do. He only needed to reveal the full truth of the situation before his death, letting the entire Northern Country know of Cerydra's deeds, and finally deliver that one line...
"Even if I die without success, I am still a descendant of the former king, a Prince of the North!"
Wouldn't that work?
Although this method couldn't defeat Imperator or reclaim his throne, it could at least cause the opponent considerable trouble while ensuring his name remained in the history books.
"If things really come to that, I will absolutely not compromise..."
Numa Seika had already made up his mind. If Imperator forced him to perform the so-called Three Refusals and Three Resignations, he certainly wouldn't act according to her wishes. Instead, he would directly proclaim her crimes and draw his sword to fight her.
Even in death, he would never surrender to her!
Knock, knock, knock!
Just after Numa Seika made his silent resolution, a familiar knocking sound reached his ears.
"Enter."
After quickly tidying his appearance, Numa Seika allowed the visitor into his study. However, upon seeing who it was, the Prince's expression immediately turned grim.
"Dux Gladiorum..."
Even with his restricted access to information, Numa Seika had heard of her great fame, and his face held an irrepressible wariness.
During their first meeting, this woman had faced sixty thousand enemies alone, completely wiping out the armies of those Nobles. Afterward, she became the backbone of the entire Army, leading them to conquer in all directions.
Nearly half of the Aristocrats in the entire Northern Country had been brought down by Hysilens, which showed the terror of this person... Whether in combat ability or leading troops in battle, she had reached the absolute peak.
Numa Seika pursed his lips. Although he didn't like that shortie Cerydra at all, he was inwardly envious that she possessed a subordinate like Hysilens, unlike his former self... who had almost no one to use!
"Prince Seika..." Hysilens performed a Knight's salute and went straight to the point. "Regarding the memorial sent earlier, how have you considered it?"
Although she maintained basic etiquette on the surface, Hysilens understood perfectly well what she was doing...
Forcing a monarch to abdicate!
Ever since he became a puppet, Numa Seika had always been making small moves.
Regarding these petty matters that couldn't be brought to light, Cerydra never cared much, treating them merely as after-dinner entertainment. This alone had already left the opponent completely helpless.
But this time, the situation was different.
Imperator no longer needed Numa Seika as a puppet Prince. Through long-term observation, Cerydra had learned that in this land of the North, strength was always respected above all else; "legitimacy" simply did not exist.
The fact that Cerydra was willing to let him abdicate in such a "civilized" manner, rather than simply killing him, was already a rare mercy.
A man like Numa Seika lacked high-level political skills, and his combat power was merely acceptable, not reaching the level of a Teigu User. Especially after his martial arts were crippled, he posed no threat.
In other words, the current Numa Seika was no longer worth Cerydra's personal attention, which was why she sent Hysilens, her "subject," to inquire.
"I agree to this matter... Cerydra's actions during this time have already proven that she is capable of taking over this country."
"I am at peace entrusting all of this to her."
Though he agreed verbally, he already had other ideas in his heart. Numa Seika did not want his little schemes to be seen through by the opponent; otherwise, his plan would completely fail.
But who was Hysilens?
The Demigod of Ocean!
How could Numa Seika's little plan possibly be hidden from her?
And even without using the Power of God, Hysilens still perceived the abnormality in him.
"Prince Seika, though you agree with your words, it seems as if a fire is burning in your eyes. You don't look like you've surrendered at all!"
"If you were to do something with a negative impact in front of the assembled ministers, what should be done then?"
Hysilens' tone was entirely gentle, but Numa Seika heard a hint of threat and suspicion within it. He could only try his best to remain unchanged to avoid discovery.
"How could that be? I am also truly convinced by Imperator's merit; I couldn't have done better than her."
"..."
As the dialogue ended, both sides fell into silence, seemingly waiting for the other's next move.
"...I believe you!"
After a long while, the pressure emanating from Hysilens gradually vanished, and a smile appeared on her face, finally allowing Numa Seika to breathe a sigh of relief.
But her next sentence immediately sent Numa Seika falling back into the abyss.
"However, just to be safe, I need to place some insurance on you. I'm sure you, being 'truly convinced,' won't stop me, right?"
The Authority of the Demigod of the Ocean manifested at this moment. Blurry, indistinct colors appeared around Hysilens, along with an intoxicating song.
Numa Seika's consciousness gradually sank within the singing. However, at the final moment, he still heard a sentence left by Hysilens.
"Listen to me..."