Shortly after appointing his advisor, Emperor Renardier looked for six commanders.
Nearly all the nobles and lords voiced their eagerness to participate in that instant. However, only more than half of the assembly was selected for the war.
The remaining lesser half was forced to remain in the empire to defend their borders.
“Return to your domains, make your peace, ready your armor, and rally your troops. In one week, we convene in Equinox City for a strategic meeting,” Emperor Renardier stated before dismissing the assembly.
However, Baron Chalfont, Count Eldridge, and the northern border lords were asked to stay back for a bit longer.
“Fret not, Baron Chalfont. We will definitely save your daughter,” Emperor Renardier promised despite waging war against the Kingdom of Black Rose would put Dorothy in danger.
Baron Chalfont understood that there was no guarantee Dorothy was still alive and under the Kingdom of Black Rose’s custody when the Transcendent Sybil especially sent her there to die.
And even if Dorothy was still alive, her life wasn’t so important that she could be used to threaten the Holy Knight Empire.
“What have you decided, Your Imperial Majesty?” Baron Chalfont asked.
“We’ll become sworn brothers. I will grant you the peerage of a duke and adopt your daughter as my own, making her an imperial princess,” Emperor Renardier stated. “I will make this news known throughout the empire and our neighbors.”
“That will give us a solid justification to go to war with the Kingdom of Black Rose. However, before that, we will give the Kingdom of Black Rose seven days to return your daughter to us in one piece.”
“If she loses as much as a single hair, we will make them pay,” Emperor Renardier added, knowing Baron Chalfont’s daughter would have suffered under the Kingdom of Black Rose’s interrogation.
As such, even if the Kingdom of Black Rose handed Dorothy over, the Holy Knight Empire would still go to war with them.
“What if my daughter, Dorothy, has no visible proof of suffering?” Baron Chalfont enquired further.
“It matters not, Baron Chalfont,” Emperor Renardier casually assured before explaining, “The Kingdom of Black Rose has no access to the rest of Pangea. So it’s alright if we twist the truth a little. No one else will know.”
“I will follow your arrangement, Your Imperial Majesty,” Baron Chalfont lowered his head with a sigh, knowing his own choice did not matter.
He understood Count Eldridge was kept back to convince him, even if he did not want to become a duke and surpass his lord’s peerage rank.
“It looks like I am not needed here in the end, Your Imperial Majesty,” Count Eldridge commented with a wry smile. “Baron Chalfont is very understanding of the situation. For the glory of the empire.”
“For the glory of the empire,” Emperor Renardier nodded before suddenly stopping Count Eldridge from leaving. “However, you’re wrong, Count Eldridge. That’s not the only reason I kept you here.”
“Oh?” Count Eldridge turned back and showed his fealty with a hand-over-his-chest salute. “What Do you need from me, Your Imperial Majesty?”
“You and Baron Chalfont have the widest connections among the connections. So I want both of you to reach out and find someone who can contact the dark organizations. Let them know we are willing to buy all the information they have on the seven witch kingdoms, the Kingdom of Black Rose in particular, of course. The price can be negotiated.”
“However, the information must be prepared within the week,” Emperor Renardier instructed.
“Understood, Your Imperial Majesty. I hear and obey,” Count Eldridge and Baron Chalfont acknowledged, lowering their heads to the emperor before taking their leave.
“Where are you going, Baron Chalfont?” Emperor Renardier casually asked, stopping Baron Chalfont but didn’t stop Count Eldridge. “Did you think my words were just mere lip service? Come here; we will swear the oath of brotherhood.”
Baron Chalfont was surprised, but he eventually agreed after some hesitation.
Emperor Renardier summoned some servants to bring forward two chalices of wine. Then, the two cut their thumbs and dripped some blood into each other’s chalices.
After they swore the oath of brotherhood to the Sun God and drank the blood wine, they officially became sworn brothers.
“Friends for years, brothers for life. Hahaha!” Emperor Renardier chuckled boisterously as he patted Baron Chalfont on the shoulders. “You stubborn ox finally caved in.”
Baron Chalfont could only smile wryly in response. The emperor had made use of the situation to make them sworn brothers.
Nevertheless, after a bit of chatter, Baron Chalfont also took his leave to carry out his task.
“Sorry about that. I hope I have not kept the rest of you waiting too long,” Emperor Renardier apologized to Ulrich Salazar and the other northern border lords.
“Not at all, Your Imperial Majesty,” Ulrich and the others denied with shaking heads before they asked, “What do you require of us?”
Once the question was asked, Emperor Renardier’s expression turned solemn.
“I want you all to know I do not doubt your loyalty to the empire. That’s why I am not opposed to this war, especially when every noble and lord are in support of it,” Emperor Renardier seriously mentioned before saying, “But as the emperor, I need more assurance than just your words.”
“Since your group has been in contact with Transcendent Sybil, I want your group to arrange a meeting for the two of us. If I can’t meet face-to-face with Transcendent Sybil, at least holographic communication will do.”
“I need to see proof of Transcendent Henrietta’s captivity and negotiate the division of the land with Transcendent Sybil,” Emperor Renardier firmly stated before asking, “Do you think you can make it happen?”
“We’ll do everything we can to ensure it does, Your Imperial Majesty!” Baron Aderlard and the others assured.
Given that the Holy Knight Empire would wage war with the Kingdom of Black Rose if the emperor saw Transcendent Henrietta’s captivity, Transcendent Sybil shouldn’t be against it.
“However, we have to wait until Transcendent Sybil contacts us, which won’t happen until tomorrow evening. Is that fine?” Baron Aderlard asked.
“Of course,” Emperor Renardier nodded and said, “I still have things to do and people to meet in the holy city.”
“Then, we will wait for your arrival in Holsworthy City, Your Imperial Majesty,” Baron Aderlard stated.
“Un,” Emperor Renardier nodded.
Shortly after making some arrangements with Ulrich Salazar, Emperor Renardier left the great hall and went to pay his mother, the Queen Dowager, a visit.