The ceiling was high, a vast hall adorned only with paintings and banners hanging along the walls.
The floor was porcelain white, and the roof glead gold, with a massive chandelier suspended above a round table.
n sat around the table, dressed in expensive clothes, their postures straight and expressions severe.
The one who spoke carried the greatest authority in the room. "So, what is the situation, Astaroth?"
He had pale blue hair and glaring green eyes, a thick moustache and a long beard. Broad-shouldered and calm, he appeared almost casual. Even so, several n around him were visibly nervous, sweat clinging to their brows.
He was the ruler of the Empire, the highest authority in Gahalia, and also William’s deskmate’s father, Gunther Vor Gehalmore.
The man he addressed was tall, the only soldier present, and the Knight Commander of the empire.
Astaroth lowered his head briefly before answering. "It looks dire, Your Majesty. On the northern front, the frost is making it difficult for the soldiers to hold their forts."
The Emperor leaned back in his seat.
The Pri Minister, Quinton Rayhound, spoke next. "How many Death Sinks have appeared so far?"
"Four," Astaroth replied. "And it is not stopping."
That alone was enough to cause concern.
The very nature of Death Sinks was unsettling.
In the past, only one, at most two, would appear, and even that was treated as a major crisis. The Great Hall would be convened, and the empire would send reinforcents to contain the threat.
But ever since they received the warning from the Archon, everything had changed.
It was as if the other side had suddenly chosen total war, sending forces in numbers beyond imagination.
Now, the appearance of multiple Death Sinks at once has beco disturbingly normal.
"Rowman, any suggestions?" the Emperor asked his chief strategist.
The skinny man, a monocle covering his right eye, looked up from the report he was reading. "At present, only two regions of our land are free of devils. The eastern side, protected by the Great Hall, and the southern tip, which was cleared recently thanks to our soldiers and assistance from the Great Hall." He recited what most in the room already knew.
"Now, as for the heavily infected areas. The north, the mountains, the western side, the barren lands which are of little concern, and the northeastern region. Gahtua Island, which is currently a death hole."
The Pri Minister nodded. "We are aware of the facts, Rowman. We are expecting a solution."
The man humd, then turned toward the Knight Commander. "The main problem in the north is not the devil mobs themselves, but the delay in the appearance of the ranked ones, correct?"
Astaroth nodded. "If they had appeared sooner instead of lingering on the other side for so long, I would not have lost so many n."
The strategist nodded in understanding before turning to the man in charge of foreign relations. "You ntioned earlier that our guests left in a rush, possibly begrudgingly?"
The small man with a pale face nodded. "Indeed, sir. It appears they clashed with Delimore William, and that caused the displeasure."
They were still waiting for an official complaint, but the silence itself was alarming.
Gunther knew that an altercation between two young n could not lead to a dispute between empires, yet he preferred to remain cautious.
The southern nations had long been on uncertain terms with Gahalia. Even in dire tis, politics never truly left human consciousness.
"How are these two related, Chief Strategist?" the Chief Advisor, Munrow, asked, his grey brows raised.
Rowman humd before turning toward the others. "I believe you all were inford about the anomalous manner in which the southern unit dealt with the danger within a single night, even though their threat level was no lower than what Sir Astaroth is currently facing."
Astaroth’s gaze turned cold. "There is a difference, Sir Rowman. My n had to fight in temperatures where a normal human could not survive more than a few seconds."
Rowman did not lose his composure. "Oh, but the scale of the Death Sinks remains the sa, does it not? On the other hand, you are dealing with six, while they suppressed seven. Considering every factor, I would still place the two situations on the sa level, Sir Knight."
Astaroth fell silent. He was only slightly frustrated that his unit was failing for the first ti, and given how rarely he ever lost his composure, everyone in the room noticed.
Munrow sighed. "I still do not understand. How does this solve our situation?"
Rowman humd, then finally clarified. "A young man drew out all the ranked devils at once, which made their task far easier than it should have been. And that person is Delimore William."
"Was it not just a fluke?" soone asked.
"Or sothing he obtained from the church? Should we not contact the church?" another added.
"Haah, do you really believe we have not?" the Pri Minister said. "If we could draw out those higher-ranked ones, whose deaths could seal the Sinks, why would we not try to obtain such a thod?"
It was a sound argunt. But the real question remained.
Was there truly sothing capable of producing such an effect?
Munrow voiced it aloud.
"I suppose we will need to question the boy," the Emperor finally said.
"But what if he resists? I an, if he truly had a thod, why has he not made it public yet?" the Pri Minister asked.
That was when the Chief Advisor spoke. "We can use it. The incident with our foreign guests. We can pressure him into giving us the redy."
Munrow turned toward Rowman. "That was your plan from the beginning, was it not? To corner him by implying he disturbed the alliance between the two sides and force him to reveal the thod?"
Several n gasped in realization.
Munrow shrugged. "We can always apply pressure. This is not about individual achievent. All of humanity would benefit from it."
"But that would only complicate matters. That is why we will proceed in a more convenient way," he concluded.
Then another concern surfaced. "What about his father? Count Delimore would not remain silent once he hears of this."
Astaroth swallowed hard and glanced at the Emperor.
The Supre One hesitated for a brief mont before speaking. "I will keep him occupied with border duties. Rowman, do whatever is necessary, but bring the situation in the North under control."
The Chief Strategist nodded.
The Chief Advisor added, "My Lord, why not assign the Count to the island? He is a powerhouse who can handle armies of devils on his own, and the island is close to that region as well."
The Emperor humd at the suggestion, clearly considering it. He did not give a verdict at once, and the eting soon carried on.
....
"She looks adorable," Emma whispered faintly as she kept her eyes on the small girl sleeping between them.
The bed was large enough for them to lie comfortably, with space to spare.
William gently caressed Nana’s head as he spoke. "She was trying so hard not to fall asleep again, but... well, sadly, we have to leave tomorrow morning."
Emma humd softly. "I wish I could always stay by her side. I thought that living with so many people, with Father always taking care of her, might reduce the affection she has for us, but I was wrong. She is still extrely fond of us."
William smiled. "Well, she is our daughter."
Emma turned to him, her gaze warm. "What was that about inheriting your father’s position? You never had any interest in politics."
"Neither did my father. But once he realized the importance and authority it carried, he accepted it," William replied, only to find his beloved narrowing her eyes.
"William... what suddenly changed? Is sothing bothering you?"
William sighed. "I was just thinking. Is this really the life we want to live, Emma? Being suddenly pulled by an organization to work at random locations, with no power to make decisions. What if we are forced to be sowhere we do not want to be?"
"So becoming a ruler would stop that?" Emma asked. "Would you not still be under the Emperor’s command?"
William sighed and asked, "You do not want to get involved in politics?"
"I do not want you to make a decision just because it feels important for us. I want you to walk a path that makes you feel alive, excited, and unmistakably you."
William fell silent, simply staring at her. For so reason, all the argunts he had prepared for this conversation faded away after those few words.
He cupped her cheek and said softly, "Do not say such things, or I will turn into a good-for-nothing husband."
"But you will still be mine. And that is all that matters," she said, before kissing his hand fondly.
This was not a journey where he was leading her by removing all obstacles and offering her a flowery path.
They are one in both happiness and difficulties. And Emma would make sure he doesn’t hold any burden all alone.
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