NOVPUB"The eldest son has arrived!"
"We've secured the location of the second son!"
"Report just came in: the third son has entered the castle!"
"The fourth son is expected to arrive shortly..."
"The fifth son is..."
Receiving updates from her subordinates in real-time, Amelia scowled.
"He sure had an obscene number of children."
Currently, Amelia and her subordinates were gathered in a residence close to the lord's castle.
Today was the day of a grand banquet, with all the heirs and key figures of the territory gathered. Amelia had chosen this day for her grand scheme—a day to eliminate any and all who might oppose her.
The sheer number of her father’s offspring made monitoring each of them a chore, and she couldn’t help but feel irritated.
With a frown, Amelia clicked her tongue and turned to Bernaph.
"What's Ghislain up to?"
"Last report stated he’s enjoying the banquet with various nobles from the neighboring territories."
"Hmph, now that he’s got all that land and food, he seems quite at ease."
Thanks to Ghislain, Amelia had managed to secure vast supplies of food. Although it had seemed like a gamble, following his lead had paid off well.
But whether Ghislain's success was due to sheer luck or actual skill remained unclear. Predicting the weather and stockpiling supplies in advance was practically impossible—there must have been another reason for his stockpiling.
Still, it had been a stroke of genius to launch a war amidst a drought. If he’d lost, it would have ruined everything, but he had claimed victory swiftly.
‘I have to give him credit for that much. I can’t deny his skill.’
Seeing all he’d managed to secure, it was clear he was no ordinary foe.
‘Runestones, iron ore—all of it will be mine. It was meant to be mine in the first place.’
After securing Rayfold, a confrontation with Ghislain would be inevitable. She needed what he possessed to achieve her goals.
If she could seize those resources before Harold did, she’d be able to move on to the next phase.
So, ever since Ghislain had claimed the Count of Cobaldi’s territory, she had kept close tabs on his every move.
"In any case, I suppose I owe him some thanks."
Though she had suffered losses because of Ghislain, the gains had been significant as well.
Thanks to the damage he inflicted on Harold, Amelia had gained control over the timing of the rebellion, allowing her to act precisely when she wanted.
"The fact that Harold suffered a setback is satisfying as well."
A chilling smile crossed her lips.
Those were foes she’d eventually have to subdue, so the fact that Ghislain was already wearing down Harold’s forces was a boon for her.
‘I’ll crush anyone who gets in my way.’
But first, she had to seize the Rayfold territory. She had prepared meticulously for today’s coup. 𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑝𝘶𝘣.𝑐𝘰𝘮
Clearing her mind of thoughts about Ghislain and Harold, Amelia asked Bernaph another question.
"And the other vassals?"
"No issues. We've secured all positions, and their families are under surveillance."
"Good. Now it’s just a matter of time. Everything’s in place, right?"
Bernaph was the first to bow his head and answer.
"The escort knights and soldiers are all prepared."
Following him, a middle-aged man in a gray robe with a cold demeanor also bowed.
"We are ready."
He was Caleb, leader of the Wildcat Mercenaries, who had previously attacked Ghislain.
"We’re all set here too!"
A hulking, rough-looking man laughed loudly. He was Ulkan, the infamous bandit once feared in the north as the "Ruthless Butcher."
He wielded a massive iron club and had a gruesome habit of bludgeoning people to death with it.
Next, Conrad, leader of the Actium Merchant Group, bowed as well.
"The mercenaries are ready."
Several other leaders from various groups followed suit, bowing to indicate their readiness.
Each of them was someone Amelia had recruited and cultivated over a long period.
Surveying them, Amelia closed her eyes briefly.
‘The time has come.’
From the moment she set her goals, she had meticulously prepared for this day.
Initially, she had planned to wait a bit longer, but Ghislain's actions had forced her hand, accelerating her plans.
His unpredictable movements had complicated things, and Harold’s scheme for northern unification had crumbled as a result.
‘Still, this isn’t bad.’
Plans were ultimately just signposts. Situations could change, and so could plans.
What mattered was achieving her goal.
Seeing the slight tension on Amelia’s face, Bernaph cautiously spoke up beside her.
"My lady... once you start, there’s no turning back."
Amelia slowly opened her eyes and responded.
"I know."
This wasn’t merely an endeavor driven by ambition and desire. Those close to Amelia understood the deeper purpose she harbored within her heart.
"Even after securing Rayfold, things will be challenging. The northern lords and nobles won’t accept you as Count of Rayfold. Such a thing has never happened in the kingdom’s long history."
"This sort of thing has happened plenty of times before. The only difference is that a woman has never done it."
"Yes. And that’s why people will brand you as an infamous villain, a witch. All the reputation and respect you’ve built up until now—gone."
"It doesn’t matter. Others’ opinions are irrelevant."
"But as your notoriety grows, the whole world will turn against us. We’ll be fighting a lonely battle—not just against lords and nobles, but against society’s prejudices. This struggle... it may never truly end."
"I accepted that from the start."
"You could stop now... live as a noble lady, esteemed and elegant, enjoying a peaceful life as the daughter of a grand lord. You’d have nothing to worry about."
"That life would mean nothing to me. I don’t want to live as a bird trapped in a cage."
"And if we fail... we won’t meet a gentle end."
"No. We will succeed."
With that final word, Amelia closed her eyes once more.
Even someone as bold as Amelia couldn’t help but feel a slight tension before such a significant event.
She took a moment to compose herself, thinking back over the journey that had led her here.
All the experiences that had shaped her.
—What? Distribute more food to the commoners? You think that will make the territory prosper? Ha! How audacious of a mere woman. Did you steal lessons in rulership from somewhere?
—Listen well. The commoners are no more than animals. Keep them from starving, and that will be enough. That will enrich our family and territory.
—What’s a woman doing trying to govern? Stop this nonsense and prepare yourself for marriage, like other noble ladies. You are nothing.
Her father’s responses were always the same. Utterly pathetic. He didn’t even consider what truly mattered in ruling over people.
And it wasn’t just her father. The vassals were no different.
—Your role is to secure alliances between noble families. Simply marry well, my lady. Stop wasting your time with useless books.
—The more serfs, the wealthier our land. That’s how it works. You want to give them more rights? Our land is already better off than most northern territories. Be grateful for our generosity.
—We are already a grand territory. Clearly, our ways have been correct thus far, and they will continue to be.
—My lady, don’t speak such thoughts aloud. Don’t stir up trouble. You are a woman, not the heir of this family. You are nothing.
‘Nothing.’
Why did that word always cut so deeply?
Why did everyone insist on saying the same thing?
Why did they all declare that there was nothing she could do?
—Swear loyalty to the duke, and you’ll become the ruler of Rayfold.
—You will live a life of luxury, but nothing more. Don’t try to change the world with idle chatter.
—Never forget, Amelia. You are merely the daughter of a noble house. Without us, you are nothing.
Even the duke’s house, which had supported her, had said the same. At the thought, a self-deprecating smile tugged at her lips.
“Nothing...”
"Pardon, my lady? What did you say?"
Bernaph looked at her in curiosity, confused by her unexpected words.
Still smiling, her eyes closed, she shook her head.
"Nothing. It’s nothing."
Yes, those words and those people—none of them meant anything.
Creeeak...
The door to the chamber opened slowly, and Amelia’s head maid entered.
“My... my lady...”
She spoke in a trembling voice, her breath catching under the weight of so many eyes upon her.
The head maid had seen many nobles and knights throughout her life, but she had never been so terrified of the people gathered here.
Some were pristine, others filthy, some menacing, and others cold.
All different in appearance, but their expressions shared a single, chilling intent.
Tonight, they would drench this territory in blood.
With her eyes shut tight, the head maid addressed Amelia, who sat at the head of the table. Her voice still shook as she spoke.
“The banquet... has begun.”
Hearing this, Amelia slowly opened her eyes.
With a calm yet piercing gaze, she spoke, her tone icy and resolute.
"The honor of noble heritage, the glory of bloodlines, the dignity of noble houses—none of that matters anymore. From now on, I will act solely in pursuit of my purpose. Ranks, virtues, customs—they are all meaningless now."
After a brief pause, she looked around at her gathered followers.
"Anything
or anyone that stands in my way will be crushed, burned, and killed. Remember this: my purpose is the only justice, the only goal for which you must risk your lives."
To fight against a world of norms, one must abandon those norms and become something monstrous. She had resolved to become that monster.
She would trample over everything to shape the world as she wished.
Even if it meant setting the entire kingdom ablaze.
The moment she finished speaking, Bernaph knelt on one knee, pledging his loyalty.
“I will follow you to the end, my lady.”
Everyone around her followed suit, kneeling and pledging in unison.
“To the end!”
Amelia’s gaze grew sharper, her resolve unbreakable.
In a voice filled with unwavering conviction, she declared the beginning of her rebellion.
“It’s time for me to take it all.”
* * *
Meow.
A sleek, gray cat named Bastet made its way through the darkness toward the castle of Rayfold.
People on the street moved aside, fear on their faces as they watched the cat pass by.
Not because of the cat itself, but because of the people following it.
Meow.
With each step the cat took, more people fell in line behind it.
Some joined from the streets, others emerged from mansions along the way.
Their attire was varied: some wore gray robes, some looked like bandits, and some were armored knights and soldiers who appeared to be regular forces.
With each person who joined, more torches illuminated the night.
What had begun as a small group grew to hundreds.
At the forefront of the procession was Amelia.
The proud cat stopped at the gates of the castle and brushed its face against its master’s leg.
“Halt!”
The guard captain at the gate shouted.
Tonight was a significant event, and no unauthorized forces were allowed near the castle.
Seeing the massive number of people before him, the guard captain was at a loss.
‘What... How did such a large force gather so close to the castle? What has the watch been doing?’
This many soldiers approaching the castle gates without any prior alert was a severe breach. Something was undoubtedly wrong.
Steeling himself, the guard captain addressed the woman at the head of the crowd.
"My lady, only minimal escorts are permitted inside the castle grounds. Please disperse your forces and join the banquet."
Amelia didn’t respond. She simply extended her hand elegantly and spoke one word.
“Clear the way.”
