Breaking a Romantic Fantasy Villain - Episode 14. To the North to Quell the Rebellion

Episode 14. To the North to Quell the Rebellion

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“Ah, I see, I see, how you’re trying to charm me. Ho-ho, I was almost jealous.”

Emily laughed, her hand covering her mouth.

“If you’re trying to set her up with me, fold. I have no intention of doing so.”

“You don’t even bat an eye. The most beautiful woman in the empire……. Ah, so you already have the beauty queen.”

Emily smirked and wiped her eyes.

Every time I hear about my popularity among the young, I ask myself this question.

“If there are no good rumors about me, why are so many people proposing to me?”

“Hmm, is that what you’re wondering?”

“It’s a question that has crossed my mind at least once. The son of the Duke of Solarion is also rumored to be handsome, and the Count of Kreto, Masario Chang, is quite capable and good-looking.”

They were well-known noblemen and attractive men.

How many men in this enormous kingdom have both ability and excellent looks?

I, on the other hand, was the target of numerous malicious rumors.

Torture maesters.

Killing people with impunity is cold-blooded.

The most dangerous battle wizards.

And so forth.

None of them were good.

“Oh, that?”

Emily stated matter-of-factly.

“I know you have a bad reputation, but you have the looks and abilities to make up for it.”

“Indeed.”

“Handsome, capable, favored by the Emperor, and the next in line for power. A man who isn’t even the heir, but the head of the household. What’s not to like about that, plus he’s handsome?”

She used the word “handsome” twice.

“Is that why?”

“Of course.”

It was an even more fresh reason than I thought.

I was expecting something else.

“I don’t know if those young ladies are really in love with you?”

She smiled.

“I don’t care.”

Noble marriages are mostly political in this world.

“Then why are you arranging a match? A merchant of your stature shouldn’t have to.”

“Matchmaking? It’s part of the networking process. If you want to survive as a merchant among the nobility, it takes a lot of hard work, and the handsome man position isn’t as prevalent as it used to be.”

“I see.”

He had underestimated her ability to adjust to her new gender.

“Which is why I’m working so hard, for my connections with the Minister.”

Connections.

It’s easier for her to reveal her motivation in this manner.

There were so many people in this palace who were hiding their true intentions beneath masks.

“You’re going to have a hard time making connections with me.”

“I am aware of that, Mr. Cold-hearted Minister.”

“Is that a nickname of mine that has spread among the younglings?”

“Yes. There are more, shall I tell you? The icy Confucius, the graceful black panther, the black crystal on the cliff…….”

“Enough.”

My hands shook from embarrassment at the nicknames.

“More than that, was it your intention for the Emir to be on the list?”

“It’s a secret.”

I let out a groan and pulled the leaflet away from her.

“It’s useless right now. I’m not thinking about it yet, so I’ll just send it to……. If I need it later, I’ll ask for it.”

“That’s unfortunate, but I can’t help it. Hopefully we’ll have something more constructive to talk about next time.”

Emily walked away, clearing her throat.

And then I went to my office.

I needed to pack a few things before heading north.

Even in the middle of summer, people could perish to death in this cold land.

I’d have to be prepared.

“Minister”

Jane shouted as soon as I entered into the office.

“What?”

“A case. A case!”

What the hell is the point?

“What’s the case?”

“Look at this!”

Jane held up the newspaper

It was a gossipy article in the Empire about a famous theater actor.

“Awww, it’s all over now, my favorite is having an affair, I didn’t think my brother would do that, I really didn’t think he would do that, it’s all over now, my brother, black, black, black.”

She cried uncontrollably.

“Hey, this actor, considering your natural age…….”

“Mr. Minister, that’s enough. You’re not supposed to tell a lady’s age!”

Jane rushed to cover my mouth.

She blushed like a little girl, yet she was a lady who had already lived for many years.

That’s correct.

The royal palace’s crack.

Jane was one of the Transcendentals accountable for the rift.

Despite the fact that she had been chained to a magical tower in the aftermath of the war.

“Okay, but what’s going on? I don’t think you should be making such a big deal about it.”

“I see you’re not one for jokes.”

Jane let out a sigh and folded the newspaper.

“There was a magic storm in the south about half an hour ago.”

“Magic storm?”

One of the magical disasters caused by the collision of powerful mana of different types.

The storm’s blue color turned everything it passed through into a mushroom cloud.

It might even harm nature’s mana for a long period, rendering people who practiced magic near it disabled for life.

The south also hosted a branch of the Academy, one of only four throughout the empire.

“Is it serious?”

“No, sir. No casualties yet, and it’s far enough away from the Academy.”

“Do we know the cause?”

“Nope. It’s not even on me right now.”

I had a magical ability strong enough to sever my telepathy, and I could use it to comprehend the mana flow of an entire continent.

She can’t see everything, but if she puts her mind to it, she can see to the ends of the earth.

This talent is what stimulates Jane’s interest.

If there’s a case she can’t solve.

“I’ll have to go check it out myself.”

“I think you should! But why did you call the Emperor?”

“You would know.”

“Is it because of the recent rebellions across the Empire? Or… Seria?”

She laughed suspiciously.

“Why aren’t you more like that woman, Seria?”

“That woman?”

“Veronis.”

“Have you seen her?”

“Yes. she’ve been asking a lot of questions about the minister.”

“I thought I told you not to spy on her.”

“Hehe, but she doesn’t watch you when you go inside the mansion. She’s very private.”

“That’s because of the magic circle I put up.”

“Hehe.”

Jane scratched her chin and put her tongue out.

“Don’t look at me, you’re too curious.”

“I can’t help being curious.”

“Did you do something like that to your predecessor?”

I exclaimed with a look of disgust I’d never shown before.

“Oh, no, I’m not interested in a greedy old man; what I am interested in is a man of high spirits.”

“I don’t think I’m a target.”

“You’re underestimating yourself, whoops.”

“Cut the nonsense and start tracking the progress of the energy storm.” Call me if anything happens, but let’s put down the rebels first.”

“Understood.”

I had a purpose to speed up the destruction.

I took out the phoenix heart from the office storage closet.

It wasn’t a real heart. A flaming red jewel.

It was so named because the way it sizzled and emitted heat resembled the heart of a phoenix.

I hurried outside, the warmth of the jewel in my hand.

***

I went through the gateway.

Whirlwind!

A bitter wind blew, and my skin seemed to freeze to the bone.

But the warmth of the Phoenix’s Heart covered me.

It was worthwhile to bring it with me.

“Interesting.”

It was my first trip to the north, and the natural wonders captivated me.

The flesh-crushing wind had been imbued with ice-cold mana.

It wasn’t something that happened naturally, but it had been created by someone artificially.

It didn’t matter who it was.

It wasn’t always a good person.

That won’t help us defeat the rebels.

I went to the commander of the Northern Imperial Army.

“Welcome.”

The commander of the Northern Imperial Army, Marquis Romero, greeted me.

He was a nobleman with a long white mustache.

“How is the situation on the battlefield?”

“We are currently facing 5,000 rebels and 20,000 cavalry made up of barbarians.”

“That’s quite a number. What are our forces?”

“Seventeen thousand.”

We were greatly outnumbered.

“The enemy is currently using the Baltic provinces as a base and appears to be planning to move south.”

“Do you have a bird that writes as an omnidirectional?”

“Of course.”

“Let me borrow one.”

I performed a family spell on the falcon that was being used as a light bulb.

It was a spell that transformed it into a minion capable of sharing its vision.

Bam!

The hawk flew high into the sky.

I could see our position and the position of the rebel forces through its eyes.

The rebels have gathered around the castle.

The Imperials camped in a gorge between the cliffs that led up to the castle.

Neither side was in a position to attack first.

This would be a long and lengthy battle.

There is no time to waste.

I broke the family spell and called my hawk.

Beep!

“I guess we can’t fight each other head-on.”

“Yes, we’re currently organizing around defense, but…….”

If this happens.

The barbarians will take control of the Baltic castle.

If the castle, which is the heart of the northern defense, is destroyed, the barbarians will constantly attack.

They must be expelled.

“They’ve gathered around the Baltic lords, haven’t they?”

“Yes. That group will be disrupted by the death of the Count, the problem is.”

“They must be barbarians.”

“Yes.”

“So is there anything you can do to separate the two factions?”

“Hmm.”

The Marquis paused for a moment to think things over.

“There is.”

“What is it?”

“The barbarians are coming down to get land to farm, and perhaps if they get a certain amount of land, they’ll back off.”

“That’s a no-no. You can’t give them land in the empire.”

It was the easiest way to make the Emperor lose his cool.

“And if we win the war, but don’t get the land promised to the lords? Do you think they’ll want to fight this?”

“They’ll probably avoid it.”

“Then there is a possibility.”

“What possibility are you talking about?”

“There is a way to drive the barbarians out as rebels.”

I smiled cruelly as I looked at the enemy’s camp.

Colder than the bone-chilling northern winds.

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