Rebirth Of The Duke's Daughter

Volume 2: Chapter 62

Three years later...

The emperor of the Mireraweth Kingdom sat on his throne, his brow furrowed with concern. The upcoming war loomed large in his mind, a conflict he had been avoiding for too long. The kingdom was at a disadvantage, still reeling from the last war that had taken far more than they had expected. His heart weighed heavily, knowing that his son was the only one they desperately wished to keep away from the battlefield. The kingdom still needed its emperor, and he could not risk losing his heir.

"How are the preparations for the military and troops?" the emperor asked, his voice betraying the nervousness he tried to keep hidden.

"It has all been prepared, Your Majesty," Duke Reynard replied, his tone steady. "So far, we have settled the arrangements. We are now awaiting the decision on who will lead the troops." The tension in the room was palpable as everyone present understood the gravity of the situation. The question of which son would be sent into battle hung heavily in the air. The Mireraweth emperor had made it clear that he refused to send his own son again, for the kingdom could not afford to lose its ruler.

The emperor's thoughts churned as he considered the options before him. 'We still need the sole heirs of the dukes, as many of them are quite gifted. We cannot afford to lose the most talented sons who are destined to take over their fathers' roles in managing the kingdom. But the choice is difficult. It will either be Duke Reynard's second son or Duke Garrick's second son who will take my son's place.'

The emperor knew the decision was not his alone to make, but it weighed heavily on him nonetheless. 'Duke Reynard's second son is nineteen, while Duke Garrick's is only sixteen. Which one is more reliable?' The emperor pondered, knowing that neither was as gifted as some of the other duke's children, but both were options he had to consider carefully.

Finally, after a long pause, the emperor spoke, his voice firm yet measured. "We will place a vote between the two sons of the duke households. It will be either the second son of the Noble household or the second son of the Graves household." His words hung in the air as the officials in the room exchanged looks, understanding the weight of the decision before them.

The emperor instructed everyone in the chamber to cast their votes between the two candidates. The decision-making process dragged on for nearly three hours, as everyone present knew that neither option was particularly promising. The room was filled with a quiet tension as the officials carefully considered their choices, aware that the future of the kingdom hung in the balance.

Finally, the papers were collected, and everyone waited in anticipation as the votes were tallied. The atmosphere was thick with expectation as the officials braced themselves for the outcome, knowing that neither choice was ideal. When the final count was completed, the emperor stood to announce the result.

"Between the two households, Duke Garrick's second son will lead the troops!" he declared.

A ripple of shock passed through the room. The decision to send Duke Garrick's second son—a young man known to be disfigured and mute—stunned many of the officials. They had not expected such a choice to be made. The emperor, however, did not linger on the surprise. "Very well. We will adjourn," he said, dismissing the assembly with a wave of his hand. As he left the room, he pondered the outcome, his thoughts clouded with doubt. 'I wonder why they all voted for Duke Garrick's second son, given his condition,' he mused. 'Is there a plan behind this that I'm not seeing?'

Despite his misgivings, the emperor chose not to dwell on it. He hoped that, as with previous conflicts, the war would be handled without causing too much disruption to the kingdom.

Later, Prince Leroy burst into his father's chamber, his face flushed with frustration. The emperor looked up, surprised to see his son so soon after the decision had been made.