The First Princess, leading Kaistein’s reinforcements, was nearing the Imperial City. However, a man stood in her army’s path.

“Halt! This is an imperial decree from His Majesty the Emperor!”

An emissary from the Emperor of Cantum had arrived, blocking their advance. Stepping forward, he declared,

“This is the Cantum Imperial City. The soldiers of Kaistein must disarm and obey the imperial order.”

According to protocol, no foreign soldiers were allowed to enter the Imperial City while armed. Only those who disarmed would be granted entry. Upon hearing this, the First Princess’s close aides protested.

“What is the meaning of this? Is this how you treat those who came to aid you?”

“Entering the Imperial City unarmed in the middle of a war? This is how you repay those who answered your call for help?”

Not only the aides but also the soldiers openly expressed their anger. However, this was all part of the First Princess’s carefully laid plan. She was deliberately prolonging their entry into the capital for as long as possible.

‘I need to buy time for the knights to secure their positions in the power struggle.’

That was why she had intentionally slowed their march up to this point. The emissary, caught off guard by Kaistein’s resistance, stammered in disbelief.

“T-This is outrageous… Are you saying I should simply allow foreign soldiers to enter the Imperial City without restriction?”

“At the very least, we cannot be entirely disarmed. We must retain some means of self-defense.”

“Then… could we at least conduct an inspection to ensure there are no suspicious individuals among your ranks?”

“What? You wish to inspect the soldiers of an allied nation who came to aid you? That is unacceptable!”

“And Her Highness, the First Princess—though she is the commander—is still a lady. Are you suggesting you will search her as well?”

“N-No, that’s not what I meant… It’s merely a precaution for security…”

“How outrageous!”

A heated argument broke out between the emissary and Kaistein’s high-ranking nobles. The First Princess, however, simply observed the scene unfold. Her army stood firm, refusing to submit to the inspection.

In truth, they had no other choice.

“Stay quiet. It seems entry won’t be easy.”

“Don’t worry. You think I’d cause trouble here?”

The real issue was the presence of the former Crown Prince, Leonic, who was concealed among Kaistein’s forces. Neither the Emperor, the First Imperial Princess, nor the Second Prince could be allowed to discover him yet. If he were found during the inspection, it would ruin everything.

“Her Highness, the First Princess, gave strict orders. You must not reveal yourself until all factions have gathered.”

“I know. Just focus on your job.”

The knights guarding Leonic exchanged uneasy glances but ultimately obeyed. They soon stepped forward, blocking the imperial soldiers from approaching his tent.

At that moment—

“Your Highness, it’s me.”

“You’ve arrived.”

A shadowy figure emerged cautiously from behind the tent. He was the covert messenger who had been delivering Leonic’s letters in secret. Without delay, he relayed his report.

“The First Imperial Princess and the Second Prince are leading their armies toward the capital as we speak.”

“They’re late. I expected them to arrive sooner.”

“It seems they were delayed in Santamo. New factions there kept them occupied.”

Leonic smirked.

“New factions, huh? Those Kaistein bastards are quite clever.”

He had already anticipated the schemes of the First Princess and Ian. He had been monitoring their forces carefully. But then, he lowered his voice and asked,

“Is the youngest really alive?”

“Yes, it appears so. The ones protecting him are incredibly strong. Even Lord Sang failed to eliminate him…”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that man fail.”

Leaving Sang, his most trusted right-hand man, in Santamo had been a strategic move—an insurance policy in case something unexpected happened. And yet, Sang had been unable to take control of the situation.

‘As expected… Ian Kaistein. He must have been the one interfering.’

Leonic had wondered where Ian had disappeared to. Now, it was clear—he had gone to Santamo. At that moment, the messenger cautiously asked,

“Should we inform Lord Sang of your return?”

“Hmm…”

“If he hears of it, he will drop everything and come rushing to your side.”

“That’s true.”

Yet, Leonic hesitated. Not for any sentimental reason—but because Sang had another purpose to fulfill.

“I can’t reveal my return just yet. I have a different use for him.”

A cold smirk formed on Leonic’s lips. In truth, there was something even more pressing.

“Have they contacted you?”

“Yes. They proposed a deal in exchange for securing Your Highness’s return.”

“I see. And what do they want?”

“They seek information on the First Princess and the Seventh Prince’s plans. If possible, they also want their weaknesses.”

“That won’t be difficult.”

Leonic, who had been living in obscurity as if he didn’t exist, curled his lips into a smirk. Everything had been leading up to this moment. He had followed their orders without question, waiting for the right time to act.

‘I can’t keep trusting Ian, who has deceived me so many times.’

At least Sang, who was now by Ian’s side, had once been a loyal subject. If he didn’t act now, the opportunity to crush that bastard might never come again. And so, Leonic was considering taking Leon’s hand.

“Tell them—I’m here. And if they grant me the position they promised… I’ll give them everything they want.”

“Understood!”

Just as the shadow was about to disappear, Leonic spoke again, his voice turning cold.

“Oh, and inform Sang as well. It seems we might need the head of the Seventh Royal Prince, not the Seventh Imperial Prince.”

“I will make sure to deliver the message.”

If he and Leon moved from the outside while Sang severed Ian’s lifeline from the inside—

‘Then this will be your end, Ian Kaistein.’

Leonic grinned in the darkness, unaware of the presence lurking above him.

Kraang—

A small black dragon let out a sleepy yawn. It was a fragment of Fury, left behind by Ian.

***

The Seventh Prince As’s birth banquet ended swiftly. Without hesitation, Ian gathered the Seventh Prince’s troops and set out for the Imperial City.

“All troops, advance!”

At Ian’s command, the vast army surged forward. Their swift and disciplined movement made it clear this was no haphazard march but something meticulously prepared in advance. It was all thanks to one man’s efforts. Ian glanced at Sang, who was following beside him, and smirked.

“To have assembled such a force… you really are something, aren’t you?”

“If it’s for Crown Prince Leonic, I’ll do anything.”

Sang was proving to be far more capable than Ian had initially thought. Under the Seventh Prince’s name, 50,000 troops had been gathered from Santamo. It was Sang who had trained them into an elite force and provided them with standardized equipment. These soldiers were by no means inferior to those of other factions.

‘To have secretly raised such an army… He’s more useful than I expected.’

Not only were the troops highly trained, but their supplies were also in impeccable condition. They had ample provisions, ensuring they could sustain themselves even in a prolonged campaign. However, there was one issue…

“I didn’t mobilize these soldiers before because we were in a hurry last time, and as a result, we suffered defeat…”

Sang’s words carried a clear undertone—had he been in control from the beginning, he would have captured As and led this force himself. Though he recognized Ian as an ally of Leonic, his unwavering loyalty lay with only one man. His words were polite, but his sharp gaze revealed his true thoughts.

Ian sighed, unimpressed.

“With these troops alone, you wouldn’t have stood a chance against the First Imperial Princess, let alone the Imperial City.”

“That’s—”

Ian’s gaze turned cold. There was no denying the reality—Santamo’s forces under his command amounted to only 50,000 soldiers.

“The First Imperial Princess commands 200,000, and the Second Prince has 300,000. And the Imperial Army?”

Even if the Emperor was merely a puppet, his direct authority over 250,000 soldiers remained a formidable force. If they were deployed, Ian’s 50,000 troops would be crushed in an instant. No amount of skill or training could overcome such an overwhelming numerical disadvantage.

Sang bit his lip. “If only Crown Prince Leonic were here, the Imperial Army—”

“But he has nothing now, does he?” Ian cut in sharply. “The forces he once commanded have already been absorbed by other factions.”

“…”

“Even if his grandfather himself were to return, some things are simply impossible.”

Sang shook his head in disagreement. “Not all of his forces have been absorbed. If I can reach those still loyal, I can gather more troops.”

“How many? Enough to stand against nearly a million enemies alone?” Ian challenged.

“That’s—”

“Besides, do you even have a general to lead them?”

Sang fell silent. It was the truth. The Great General who had once commanded Leonic’s army had been eliminated in the early political struggles, dying an unceremonious death. With no one left to lead them, Leonic’s soldiers had been gradually swallowed by rival factions. Ian’s words struck a nerve, but Sang gritted his teeth and muttered defiantly.

“I’m still here…”

“You’re a strategist, not a general. If you were a commander, you wouldn’t have lost to me so easily.”

“…”

Sang couldn’t argue against Ian’s words. He was a strategist—skilled in scheming and deception—but not a warrior. If the Great General had still been alive, he would have devised a way to retaliate rather than suffering such an easy defeat at Ian’s hands. At the very least, he would have known when to retreat the moment victory became impossible.

That was what made experienced fighters truly terrifying.

‘I’ve encountered many people like that in both my past and present lives.’

Even though Ian had won this time, he had once faced the same with Duke Garcia.

‘My sister is the same. Even when she loses, she never truly gives up.’

The First Princess had a way of turning every disadvantage into an opportunity. Even in defeat, she always found a way to claim something for herself and prepare for a counterattack. The same was true for the Third Prince, Louis, and Leon.

‘You can never let your guard down against opponents like them.’

That was why Ian had to prepare meticulously. Surveying the soldiers around him, he finally spoke.

“This army isn’t moving to wage war.”

Sang frowned. “Then…?”

“A full-scale battle is out of the question. Instead, we’re securing a justifiable cause while demonstrating enough power to establish ourselves as a force to be reckoned with.”

They needed legitimacy to intervene in the battle for the throne. While they didn’t have the numbers to fight directly, they had enough strength to influence the outcome. By positioning themselves between the two major factions, they could manipulate the balance of power—becoming kingmakers rather than mere participants.

Sang’s eyes sharpened. “That’s not so different from my original plan.”

Ian shook his head. “No, it doesn’t stop there.”

If merely playing both sides had been enough, Sang alone could have handled it. But Ian and the First Princess had already begun executing their strategy.

‘There are rumors that knights scattered in various places have settled down and mobilized their forces.’

Thanks to Santamo’s status as a trade city, Ian had access to a vast network of intelligence. Merchants traveling through Cantum unknowingly provided valuable insights, confirming that new power players were emerging across various regions. Ian’s lips curled into a faint smile.

“A true king wins the battle before it even begins. That’s why you’re a strategist.”

He had learned that lesson well in his past life. That was why he had already laid the groundwork to win before a single sword was drawn. His enemies would crumble from within before they could even begin to fight.

‘This is the best way to deal with Leon, who has the backing of a force spanning the entire continent.’

By turning Leon’s own methods against him, Ian could neutralize his greatest threat. And the same principle applied to Leonic. Just as Leonic didn’t trust Ian, Ian had no reason to trust Leonic either.

‘I’ve already prepared for the possibility that he’ll try to pull something. Instead, I’ll use his plan against him.’

Ian shifted his focus. “Did you get all the information from the captives?”

Sang nodded. “Yes. Each of them had different pieces of information, but once we put it all together, we uncovered some valuable intel.”

Ian’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “You’re definitely suited to be a strategist.”

Sang remained silent.

Ian had begun to see the distinct advantages of a strategist like Sang, who excelled in gathering and analyzing intelligence. Unlike generals, who focused on large-scale tactics and battlefield command, strategists specialized in information warfare—identifying weaknesses, predicting movements, and manipulating enemy forces.

‘A general isn’t perfect at everything.’

But a strategist like Sang could make a general nearly invincible. That was why Ian had set his sights on him. Thanks to Sang, they could now anticipate enemy troop movements and deployment patterns.

‘I can also learn about the composition of their forces and their commanders.’

While Ian had his own intelligence network—knights he had secretly planted in advance, newly formed alliances, and spies—Sang brought an entirely different level of expertise. And it seemed he had his own plans in mind.

Sang hesitated before admitting, “Actually, my original plan was to draw the enemy’s attention by posing as the Seventh Prince… and then die with them.”

For that purpose, he had prepared a large number of self-detonating bombs and explosives. The plan itself wasn’t without merit.

‘Lure the enemy in with the Seventh Prince’s head as bait and perish with them in a heroic sacrifice…’

The enemy would never expect him to resort to self-destruction. He had intended to exploit their complacency to eliminate the rival successors and somehow bring Leonic back into power. However, Ian shook his head.

“That plan would only work if they were the true enemy. But the real threat lies elsewhere.”

“What do you mean?”

Sang was taken aback, but Ian leaned in and whispered,

“They’re nothing more than puppets. The true enemy is the one pulling their strings from the shadows.”

“Puppets? Are you saying there’s someone capable of using the princes of the Great Cantum Empire as mere pawns?”

Ian explained in detail, though he deliberately omitted the fact that Leon was the Crown Prince of Kaistein. Instead, he hinted at the shadowy organization operating behind the scenes. As Ian spoke, Sang’s face turned red with anger.

“There are people like that? People who are deliberately spilling Cantum’s blood?”

“Exactly. Because that is the only way to fully resurrect the Seven Sins.”

“…”

Sang’s entire expression twisted with rage.

“You’re telling me this war is being waged for that reason?”

It was the first time Sang had shown such raw emotion. Ian could easily guess why.

‘He’s a victim of past wars—it’s no wonder he’s so furious.’

Sang’s situation was similar to that of the Adria Duke’s family, which had been destroyed. He was the eldest son of a once-noble house that had been ruined by eunuchs who slandered the emperor. Driven by revenge, he had met Leonic, who promised to help him take vengeance on the eunuchs, and thus became his loyal subordinate.

“It’s highly likely that the eunuchs were also part of their scheme.”

“What…?”

“They’ve been manipulating Cantum from the shadows for a long time. Do you really think they wouldn’t have had their hands in the eunuchs’ affairs?”

“!”

Sang was so shocked he could barely form words. But Ian’s claim wasn’t baseless—it was something he had already verified through spies and Ceres.

“To be precise, their plan was to use the eunuchs to eliminate loyal officials and then exploit Crown Prince Leonic’s ambition to start a war with Kaistein.”

But when Ian defeated Leonic, their plans shifted. Now, they had simply chosen the Second Prince and the First Imperial Princess as their next pawns.

“So even if we kill both of them… this damned war won’t end? And the Crown Prince was involved from the very beginning?”

“That’s right.”

“…”

Sang’s eyes turned bloodshot, filled with fury and betrayal.

“I devoted everything to the Crown Prince… only to find out that my entire purpose was built on a lie?”

A trickle of blood ran from Sang’s lips. He had unknowingly allied himself with the very enemy who had destroyed his family. Ian calmly draped his cloak over Sang’s face.

“People are watching. Control your emotions.”

“But…”

“And this isn’t over yet.”

“What?”

Sang looked at Ian in confusion. In response, Ian smirked.

“The promise the Crown Prince made to you—I’ll fulfill it instead.”

“!”

“I will avenge your family and restore your house’s honor.”

Sang’s lips trembled as he asked, “Then… what must I do in return?”

Ian met his gaze with unwavering intensity.

“Join me, Sang. Serve under my command, and together, we’ll strike those bastards down.”

“!”

Sang’s eyes widened, his resolve shaken to the core.

Author's Thoughts

I tried very hard not to activate my BL' thoughts, hehe. I hope my wording wasn't misleading you, as the title did. I did not plan to change it. (❁´◡`❁)