I prepared for my final battle with Ascan. It was to defeat the duchy’s soldiers surrounding the capital.

At first, when Retanda moved his troops, my vision had blurred—but not anymore.

Retanda had lost his legitimacy, his food supplies were cut off, and he could not hold out much longer. Moreover, even the high-ranking officials who had secretly supported him had now turned away.

Currently, Dekain was the strongest candidate to become the next emperor of the Lazent Empire. Everyone knew he had surpassed both Shusain, the former crown prince, and Seiji, the second prince.

No noble wished to fall out of favor with Dekain. Many who had once sided with Retanda were now quietly changing their loyalties.

The tide had completely turned.

Before, I could not recklessly move troops because I couldn’t distinguish friend from foe—but that disadvantage no longer existed.

By the command of Kysandra, the eldest royal elder, troops mobilized to drive back the duchy’s soldiers encircling the capital.

Moreover, the magical engineering weapons I had developed at the Brellof house had arrived. Though only a few had come due to the short timeframe, they were more than sufficient for now.

Ascan looked at me, clad in red armor, with a displeased gaze and said,

“Must you really join the battlefield? I’d prefer you just rest here.”

The red armor I wore now was crafted by my own hands. Specially designed, it was far lighter and more durable than ordinary iron armor.

I answered without hesitation.

“You’re going too. I can’t possibly stay behind.”

“I’m going only to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances. The momentum has fully shifted in our favor—even without me, it won’t matter.”

“Liar. You love verifying everything to the very end.”

At my words, Ascan’s eyebrows twitched—he seemed startled that I had read his mind so accurately.

Soon after, he muttered incredulously under his breath,

“Then why don’t you understand that I hate seeing you go to dangerous places?”

“I do understand. But my desire to be with you is stronger.”

Ascan said nothing in reply. His brow was slightly furrowed, yet the corners of his mouth were lifted—he didn’t seem displeased.

I smiled faintly as I looked at him. Since I had just finished putting on my armor, I spread my arms wide and pulled him close.

“I just want to witness everything until it’s properly concluded. And wherever you are, I’ll go with you—even if it’s hell.”

As I buried my face against Ascan’s chest, I felt his firm arms wrap around my shoulders.

Somehow, Ascan replied in a deeper, quieter voice.

“Hell is out of the question. There’s no need for us to go together to such a place.”

“Fine, then let’s go somewhere better than hell.”

At my words, Ascan chuckled softly in his throat. Still holding me close, he said with feigned exasperation,

“You’re impossible, Tanashia. How can I refuse you when you’re like this?”

Soon after, Ascan, with a dissatisfied expression, personally placed the helmet onto my head. Then he murmured,

“Stay right beside me. Even if the world collapses…”

“You’ll protect me? That’s what I wanted to say.”

At my words, the smile on Ascan’s face deepened. He tapped my helmet playfully and said,

“Cute little brat, acting up again.”

For some reason, my face flushed at such a trivial remark. Strangely, no matter how many times I heard words like “cute” or “pretty,” I never grew tired of them.

Perhaps sensing the flutter in my heart, Ascan’s gaze subtly shifted.

He stared down at my face beneath the helmet and spoke in a husky voice,

“Don’t make that expression. It makes me want to knock you down right now.”

Knowing exactly what he meant, my face burned as I barely suppressed my reaction.

“W what expression am I even making…?”

“Do you remember promising me a reward once this civil war ends?”

I recalled his promise from not long ago—that he would grant me anything I desired.

Making Dekain emperor meant we had essentially achieved our goal. From then on, we could freely choose where to go and what to do.

I gave a slight nod and replied,

“Of course I remember. Did you think of what you want?”

At my words, a deep smile formed at the corners of Ascan’s lips. He leaned close to my ear and whispered softly,

“Build up your stamina. You won’t be leaving the bed for a while.”

I never imagined he’d wish for something like this. My ear, where his voice had brushed against, burned as though set aflame.

Sometimes, Ascan’s husky voice was so sexy it felt like my ears might melt.

Trying to hide my pounding heart, I looked up at him—and saw heat slowly gathering in his narrowed eyes.

Unintentionally, the atmosphere grew increasingly thick. I hurriedly opened my mouth.

“Ascan.”

“Hmm?”

His voice, slightly hoarse, sounded sticky.

“You know we have to deploy soon, right?”

“I know. That’s why I’m holding back.”

“Then why do you keep… coming closer?”

Ascan kept advancing toward me, and instinctively, I stepped backward.

Finally, I felt the wall touch my back. There was nowhere left to retreat.

Ascan smiled like a predator with prey in sight. Slowly lowering his head, he whispered in a low voice,

“Seems we still have a bit of time before then.”

I didn’t need him to say more—I knew exactly what he wanted.

Anticipating an intense kiss, I gently closed my eyes.

But after a moment passed, I felt no contact at all.

Peeking open my eyes again, I found Ascan’s face frozen right before mine.

He glanced irritably toward the door and muttered,

“…We have an intruder.”

“What?”

I asked, confused—but soon after, I heard the door open and understood.

Ascan must have sensed someone approaching our location.

Since he was blocking my view, I couldn’t see who had entered.

Thankfully, we weren’t kissing—but our current posture would clearly suggest we were engaged in affectionate behavior.

A male voice came from the unseen direction.

“Tanashia?”

Recognizing the voice, I realized Dekain had entered.

When I absentmindedly tried to step toward Dekain, Ascan grabbed me and said,

“Who are you showing that face to?”

“Ah…!”

Unconsciously, I touched my face. Right before kissing Ascan, it had flushed hot.

Even without a mirror, I could guess it was deeply red.

Ascan pulled me closer into his embrace, only slightly turning his head to look at Dekain.

“What is it? As you can see, we’re a bit busy here.”

Dekain remained silent for a moment. Then, in a tightly restrained voice, he replied,

“…I’ll come back later.”

BANG—the sound of Dekain roughly closing the door and leaving echoed.

I was slightly flustered by the unexpected situation. Ascan gently touched my face and spoke in an even deeper voice,

“Can’t help it if beautiful flowers attract bugs.”

Huh?

For a moment, I didn’t understand and stared at him—then Ascan smiled faintly and lightly kissed the top of my helmet.

“I won’t forgive anyone who covets what’s mine. No matter who they are.”

Somehow, I sensed overwhelming possessiveness in those words. It sounded as though he wouldn’t yield me to anyone—not even a god or an emperor.

I didn’t dislike seeing him so greedy for me. In fact, I liked it.

Perhaps because I could fully feel his love?

I grinned and pulled Ascan’s neck close. Then, with a mischievous smile, I stole a loud, forceful kiss from his lips.

“What are you saying? I chose you.”

At my provocative kiss, the corners of Ascan’s eyes softened gently.

“Let me warn you now—you can’t take back that choice.”

As if all previous kisses had been mere play, Ascan’s lips now covered mine.

Just as I’d anticipated earlier, an intensely passionate kiss followed—long enough to steal my breath.

The full-scale war had begun.

The duchy’s forces surrounding the capital clashed with the military assembled under Kysandra’s orders.

Though Retanda’s duchy soldiers were famed for their bravery, their morale had plummeted—they’d lost legitimacy and their food supply was severed due to the blockade by the pirate group Theran.

Their endurance had limits. Especially with Tanashia’s magical engineering weapons and Ascan’s combat unit performing magnificently.

After consecutive defeats, Retanda sat grim-faced inside his tent.

The situation had completely changed. Many who once followed him had turned their backs; he could barely manage his own affairs, let alone aim for the throne.

BANG!

Suddenly, the tent flap burst open as one of his subordinates rushed in urgently.

“Your Grace, Her Majesty the Empress is nowhere to be found.”

It was no surprise. Rila had surely abandoned Retanda and headed to the imperial palace, desperate to beg for her life.

Already anxious as the tide turned against them, she must have realized she could never become Empress Dowager—and gone to seek out the weak-willed Shusain.

Retanda asked in a low voice,

“What about the pro-emperor nobles?”

“Same situation. Most have disappeared.”

The pro-emperor nobles had also abandoned Retanda. Knowing it was disadvantageous to remain with him, they’d withdrawn early.

Retanda, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly burst into laughter like a madman.

“Hahaha!”

It was absurd.

He, who once feared nothing in this world, never imagined he’d collapse so utterly overnight.

Where had it all gone wrong?

Was it since Shusain’s disappearance? Or perhaps since the unexpected obstacles caused by the pirate group Theran and the mercenary group Snen?

Somehow, Retanda’s plans had begun to falter. What seemed at first like minor cracks had, upon waking up, widened beyond repair.

‘Should I have retreated when I saw His Majesty atop the city walls?’

Certainly, he’d had chances to stop. But choosing to stop would have meant abandoning his plan to install a five-year-old emperor.

He couldn’t do that. He still carried within his heart a grand dream.

Since childhood, Retanda had vowed with the late Petro to make the Lazent Empire the strongest on the continent.

A life without that goal was no life at all.

Therefore…

‘I have no regrets. Only disappointment in the outcome.’

It seemed heaven had not favored him. Though it would be dishonest to say he felt no resentment, he calmly accepted reality.

The imperial succession war ended in Retanda’s defeat.

Even if he somehow preserved his life, he would never see good days again. Losing everything was no different from death.

Retanda stood firmly from his seat. He approached his desk and began writing his final letter, character by careful character.

He recorded much of the knowledge he’d gained as a Grand Duke—preparing for future confrontations with the Karua Empire.

Though Retanda himself might vanish, he hoped someone would inherit his dream and make the Lazent Empire a great power.

His subordinate, watching Retanda write the letter, shed tears—the depth of his devotion to the nation was unmistakable.

Thus, Retanda sealed the letter inside an envelope. He looked at his subordinate and asked seriously,

“…Can I trust you with this?”

At those words, the subordinate immediately knelt—not merely as a formality, but expressing the utmost reverence he could offer.

“I will give my life for it!”

Hearing his subordinate’s resolute reply, Retanda handed over the letter he had just written. Then he spoke softly,

“Go. Deliver this letter to the new Emperor.”

“I will carry out your command without fail.”

With a determined expression, the subordinate left the tent. Even if Retanda vanished from the world, his will would remain alive within that letter.

Truthfully, he could have returned to the duchy and resisted to the bitter end. But prolonging the civil war would only benefit the Karua Empire.

Retanda abandoned any thought of struggling pitifully for his homeland. He humbly accepted his defeat.

‘So regretful… so deeply regretful.’

He worried for the Lazent Empire without him—but this was the best choice he could make now.

He opened the tent flap and looked outside. The first thing he saw was the gloomy faces of soldiers worn down by repeated defeats.

Absentmindedly raising his head, he saw a clear, cloudless sky.

“Hah, on a day like this, I wish a torrential downpour would come.”

Retanda gazed at the sky with a serene expression and smiled faintly. Suddenly, Petro, who had died not long ago, came to mind.

“Brother, you might scold me for leaving like this—but I have no choice. This is simply the best I can do now.”

Slowly, Retanda brought his sword to his own neck.

That day, Retanda, Grand Duke of the Lazent Empire, departed from this world.

Thanks to his decision not to resist to the end, casualties were minimal, and the civil war concluded swiftly without major damage.

Thus, the heavens over the Lazent Empire changed.

A new Emperor, Dekain, ascended the throne.