Rebirth Of The Duke's Daughter

Chapter 92

The tension in the throne room was palpable as voices rose and fell, arguments clashing like the swords of soldiers on a battlefield.

"Your Majesty! If we do not find Lady Addis, then the peace treaty will be futile with the Gririth Kingdom!" A man's voice rang out, sharp and desperate, urging the Mireraweth Emperor to reconsider their strategy. His words carried the weight of impending disaster, the kind that could tip an already fragile balance into chaos.

Another advisor stepped forward, his tone edged with urgency. "We also would not be able to count on their assistance in this war once they discover she was taken without regard!" His eyes darted nervously around the room, reflecting the dire situation. "Our kingdom's position was already precarious after the last war, and even with three years to prepare, the toll it took on our troops and resources was immense."

The room erupted in a cacophony of voices, all speaking over one another. "Not a single trace of Lady Addis has been found yet!" One of the men exclaimed, his voice straining under the weight of his worry. Fear clouded the air like smoke from a fire that could not be extinguished. The voices of concern turned inward, revealing the selfish thoughts of those who feared for their own lives should their kingdom fall.

"She attended the hunting event, as most noble ladies would," another voice added, "but she was kidnapped during the chaos, and this happened when she was our hostage here!" The speaker's words struck like a hammer, a brutal reminder of their failure to protect the Gririth Princess, the very symbol of the fragile peace they sought to maintain.

The emperor's gaze swept across the room, his irritation evident in the set of his jaw. His men's fear and indecision grated against his nerves. "Should we keep pursuing the Maedda Kingdom or... the unknown guest who kidnapped our hostage from the last war?" His voice was cold and sharp, deliberately using the term hostage to describe Lady Addis, the princess taken as part of the peace treaty. The implications of her abduction were clear to all: without her presence, the treaty was rendered meaningless, and their kingdom's precarious stability was at risk.

The room fell silent under the weight of the emperor's words. No one dared move as they considered the impossibility of their situation. Pursuing the Maedda troops meant escalating the war. Pursuing the unknown intruder meant chasing a shadow with no clear end in sight. The choice to abandon one priority for the other loomed heavy over all present.

Breaking the silence, Duke Reynard stepped forward. His posture was steady, his expression as cold and calculating as ever. "I believe pursuing the unknown guest is the best choice out of the two we are given." His voice was calm, yet resolute, as if he had already weighed the options in his mind. His gaze remained fixed on the emperor, unwavering in the face of the tension that filled the room.

The duke's thoughts raced as he considered their predicament. 'If we do not understand this unknown guest—this enemy or ally—we risk making a grave mistake. We must uncover their motives, their strengths, their weaknesses. Only then can we make the right decision.'

The emperor's piercing gaze settled on Reynard. "Why do you say so?" The question was simple, yet it carried the weight of command, demanding clarity and reason.

Reynard did not hesitate. "The Maedda Kingdom may hold an advantage over us, but if we can turn this unknown guest to our side, we might find a way to strengthen our position. Perhaps we could strike a deal with them. At the very least, we must understand their purpose before we act rashly."

The duke's words hung in the air, heavy with implication. A new silence descended, thicker and more oppressive than before. All eyes turned to the emperor, waiting for his verdict. Reynard remained composed, knowing that the ultimate decision rested in the hands of the ruler before him. Whether they would face the Maedda troops or pursue the enigmatic intruder who had disrupted their fragile peace was a choice that would shape the future of their kingdom.