Chapter 471: Begin the Invasion

Reports piled up on Julius’s desk, each one giving an update on the state of the world. Looking at the most recent one, he couldn’t help but curl his fist, crumbling the paper in between his hands. "FUCK!" Punching his desk over and over, a guard walked in due to the commotion, freezing on the spot at Julius beating his desk. "Get me Constance. Now." Growling like an animal, he lifted his right hand and pointed at him, making drops of blood fall on the report he had read.

The guards bowed and ran off. Looking at the paper, he took multiple deep breaths, closing his eyes. Ten minutes passed, and the door reopened. The guards walked back in, escorting Constance. "What is it, brother?"

"Not only Lisa but Silesia as well," Julius spoke through gritted teeth, trying to keep himself calm. He couldn’t afford to be clouded by anger and annoyance. But seeing Constance’s relaxed expression nearly made him blow up again. Taking a deep breath and a few seconds to calm down, he carried on, "We are isolated, Constance. No one is our ally, and everyone is seeing the chance to destroy us."

"You worry too much," Constance said, taking a seat. "The fools who declare war on us forget the enemies around them. Only Alfred has made sure to defend against that, but that traitor Alexei and that fool Cyrus forget their old enemies."

"The Slathans, Prodra and Bactria." Constance nodded in reply. Julius paused and shook his head, "We are running out of time. We are giving our enemies too much time."

"Patience is a virtue, brother. We must be ready, or else we will be embarrassed." Julius shook his head.

"We are relying too much on the other hate for one another, but who is to say the Khorish states won’t support Lisa in destroying us. We are the enemy they hate most."

Constance stood up and walked over to the desk. "They all want to see the Holy Seat and Severia destroyed. That much is true, but they want to do it themselves. Letting Cyrus have that honour is letting him take control of the Divine King’s legacy and the future of the Followers of Khors. Prodora won’t accept without a good reason, and Bactria won’t, no matter what."

Julius stayed silent, running his fingers along his mask. Tapping just underneath his eye, he sighed, "We are in a dangerous position, Constance. We have no friend anymore other than the Thedoric, and he is just terrible."

"What do you propose then?"

"Make them all remember why they feared us. We must go to war sooner rather than later, or else we will lose." Julius stood up, going eye level with his brother, "We have been patient, Constance, but it is making us look weak. We don’t have that luxury anymore."

Constance lowered his gaze, "We are not ready."

"We are ready enough. Any longer and I am afraid we will miss this chance. Alfred must die, and when he does, his empire will fracture. The Pantheon will crumble, and those who still believe in the Church will return to it. They will rally behind us to reclaim the home they lost."

"And if they don’t?" Constance asked the obvious question. Julius smirked and shook his head.

"Will they follow a crippled child as their head of faith? Will they fear the name of Issac Flander to keep them in line? Will they love a whore who betrayed her home and family to lead them? The Empire is Alfred, we both know this. He dies, and the cracks will form. Perhaps the core territories will remain under Lindonfall and Patheon rule, but they will become the new Prodora. A neutered kingdom that clings to the past."

Consatnce remained silent. Looking at Julius, he couldn’t help but notice how much the man had changed over the years. A man who, before he took the throne, was only a follower who could do as their father asked, had become someone worthy of leading an Empire. "Do what you wish, but prepare for Lisa. I will try to fan the flames of war against our enemies, but we won’t have a lot of time."

"Good." Julius stood. "Lisa will attack us, that is certain." Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and imagined a map of the world in his mind, "We must attack on the Tears if we want this solved quickly. We have no other choice, Octavius has told me reports of the defences prepared on land, and they will take months to break through."

"Do it. You are a Blessed One, even if fake. No one will deny your will." The two shared a smile, "Where will you land?"

"The new Home of the Pantheon. The fake Holy Land. Nakhla." Julius tiredly rubbed his neck, "Land there and march south. Into Silverhaven and destroy the ancestral home of Flanders. Through them, we march onto Brookhaven and rout Alfred out of his home."

"It’s risky, I’m sure you know this?"

"We will attack through Chent as well. Split his attention." Julius’ smile grew wider as he spoke, "They sent away the Godwin girl, and her mother is an old women. They have no one to lead the defence on the water who is as skilled as our people. This won’t fail."

Constance turned away and sighed, "I’ll send Gabriel to lead this attack. Whilst I trust your people, Julius, Octavius is a man who excels on land rather than at sea. Gabriel at least has some experience in naval warfare."

"Good." Sticking his hand, he stared into his eyes. In their Emerald glow, he saw his own reflecting with an equally bright light, "You may hate our family, Constance, but after this, the Cosmatos name will never be challenged."

Looking at the outstretched hand, Constance grabbed it and held it tightly, "It will, and using that name, Kings and Emperors will return to the Church’s fold like embarrassed children." The two lips curled up.

"Let’s begin then."

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The mood in Nakhla was strange. Everyone in the city knew that war was coming. The ships lining the port, the influx of soldiers and sailors on the streets, the heavy air filled with anticipation and the slow, almost unnoticeable rise in food prices all point in that direction.

Alfred stepped out of his carriage, adorned in armour and looked out at the Tears of Gaia. The Lake was massive with no end in sight. The salty smell of the water washed over him as he knelt down and touched the cobble floor.

"Are you sure about this, Your Majesty?" Charles said from behind, pushing through Alfred’s guard. Looking out at the water, he could imagine the enemy on the other end, looking out, trying to see them.

"There hasn’t been a war I haven’t fought at the front yet, Charles. Even if I didn’t have a plan, why should this one be any different?"

"Because you are the cause of their war. Your death is all they care for." Charles replied, but seeing Alfred not care, he chuckled and sighed, "No matter what, you must survive, even if the rest die."

"Everyone assumes I seek death. I don’t plan on dying, Charles." Standing up, Alfred clapped his hands together to clean them. "Besides, you will protect me. Won’t you?"

"Of course," Alfred chuckled, tapping Charles’ chest with his fist.

"Anyway, I at least have a child to carry on my name. What about you?"

"I think." Charles paused and looked out into the water again, "I think my family name was meant to end with me and my brother after he decided to become a priest and I a hermit. I still can’t accept the fact that he forced me to take his position and leave the forest."

They looked at one another, chuckling. They both needed it, the tense atmosphere making even them nervous. "We will return, and when we do, Charles, I will force you to marry. All my attempts so far have failed, but after this, even you must see that Sol is begging for you to marry."

"If you insist, but in return I will ask something." Alfred looked up at his face and saw the desperate desire to be freed from his work. With a smile, he nodded.

"If you find a suitable replacement, I will let you do as you wish."

"Thank you, Alfred." The two shared another chuckle. As it died down, replaced by the sound of waves and people, Aflfred spoke again.

"When do we set sail?"

"Soon. Our recent report states that Severia and the Church have almost completed their preparations. We have a ship on the Tears to report any fleets that are crossing."

Alfred stared and nodded. "In that case, shall we have a drink. I don’t think we have had one in years."

"Sure."