Chapter 420
Eriphony clenched her burning palm and glared at Ian.
No matter that he was from the empire, how dare a mere minister leave a wound on the king’s hand? If this were Luswena, Ian would have been discarded like a corpse rolling in the dirt.
But Ian didn’t care. He understood better than anyone the burden a defeated nation must bear, and even if his rudeness briefly surfaced, Luswena wouldn’t feel it.
“Please, have a seat, Your Majesty.”
Ian pulled out a chair and gestured for Eriphony to sit again.
Just one step outside and they’d be in the open, but the king knew he couldn’t do that. The northern reinforcements were deliberately turning a blind eye to the king’s injury. Resigned, Eriphony perched on the edge of the chair once more.
“There’s still much to discuss. We’ve just begun talking about war reparations, haven’t we? The rift that’s opened within Clifford—responsibility for that must be clearly assigned. Luswena cannot be excluded from this. Nor can the northern allies remain silent on the matter.”
The rift had finally appeared. The monsters they’d long hoped for had flooded in. For those from the harsh north, this was welcome news, but for Clifford and its border town Bariel, it was a disaster.
“How do you expect us to seal a rift that’s already formed? If it were possible, the north would have tried long ago. Balancing power is the only reason they joined this war.”
Eriphony’s irritated shake of her head made the northern chieftains shrink back. It felt like walking on thin ice—one wrong move and they’d be plunged into icy depths. They remained silent, waiting only for Ian, Eriphony, and the king of Clifford to speak.
“The land is splitting, the rift widening, but controlling its pace should be possible. For now, relocating the capital and evacuations are the last chances the gods will grant.”
“So, what do you propose?”
“Send Luswena’s mages to Bariel.”
“What?”
Eriphony repeated in disbelief.
But Ian’s face was calm, unchanged, and that very composure cornered Eriphony further. It was as if everything would unfold exactly as Ian wished, with his words becoming reality.
“It’s time for all the continent’s mages to unite in search of a solution. Unlike Luswena, Bariel has a long-established magic department and a considerable number of mages. There’s no better environment for research. If Clifford still had mages, I would have asked to send them there, but unfortunately, they’ve long since vanished. Luswena’s cooperation is essential.”
“Absolutely! Absolutely impossible!”
Eriphony snapped. She’d sooner give up a piece of land than hand over their mages!
Through this war, she had firsthand experience of how much a nation’s power depended on its mages. Sending even the few they had to Bariel would completely upset the balance of power.
Not to mention, the support from other nations, including Hawan, heavily depended on Luswena’s mages.
“I understand mages aren’t directly under the palace’s control. Frankly, Your Majesty’s opinion may not carry much weight. They may be born here, but where they choose to live is their freedom. They have the right to decide.”
Eriphony wanted to shout, “Shut up! What kind of trickery is this?” but the faint memory of the king’s dignity barely kept her anger in check.
Unlike Bariel, Luswena had no strong ties to keep mages bound to the palace. They barely managed to secure their support by holding their families hostage. Exile? She didn’t want to say it, and couldn’t.
Ian turned his head away from the fuming Eriphony.
“There must be mages in the north as well.”
Some chieftains nodded. They weren’t under their control, but surely mages like Efdiram roamed the northern lands.
“Gather them. That is the responsibility of the northern allies. Since the rift has opened here, the land’s energy in the north will be weaker than before. Restrictions on their activities have eased. I trust you will succeed.”
“Ah, yes. There are many who handle monsters besides the Atan tribe. We will ask for their help.”
“Yes. Request it. Though we are the ones making demands.”
Ian smiled faintly. Whether they called it a request or a demand, it was their problem.
“If the rift worsens, Luswena will not escape its effects. Supporting the gathering of all mages to put their heads together is the best way for the king to erase the scars of defeat as deeply as possible.”
“Right now—”
“And please cede some territory within Luswena. Somewhere near Bariel would be ideal.”
With a swift motion, Ian marked a spot on the map with his pen. Eriphony stared in disbelief. What was this nonsense?
Ian raised an eyebrow at her.
“We expect refugees from Clifford. Bariel will open its border temporarily on humanitarian grounds, and in return, Luswena will be compensated with an equivalent amount of land. Ultimately, Your Highness the Crown Prince will make the final decision, but even if all the royal ministers put their heads together, the outcome won’t differ much. Consider this a small courtesy to keep you informed.”
Money, slaves, and land.
The defeated always paid the price in these three. Vargas’s side was irrelevant here, as their king was captive.
“We returned the captured mages safely and have consistently claimed we were deceived into joining the war. Yet, we bear the heaviest burden among the allied nations. At this rate, it’s as if we’re being branded the war’s instigator. Don’t you think this is excessive? Countless kingdoms of Gaia will focus on this crisis, and the empire’s mercy will seem like a mirage. If possible, I would drink your truth serum myself. If it proves our innocence, I would give anything—”
“There is no mercy in war.”
Ian cut Eriphony off firmly. She spoke of drinking unknown potions from Bariel to prove their innocence, but that was trivial.
What mattered was that Bariel now had the chance to completely break Luswena’s spirit.
“Did King Eriphony shoot arrows with mercy? Did you pierce soldiers’ hearts with kindness? Did you watch mages fall into the abyss without lifting a finger? Did you keep their families hostage in the palace out of compassion, drag children to the battlefield, and forbid sharing magic with dying mages? That’s truly remarkable. So remarkable it brings tears to my eyes.”
Each word dripped with Ian’s suppressed fury.
Eriphony realized she had nothing to gain here and fell silent. It was better to wait quietly until the meeting ended, then return to the palace and plan for the future. Provoking Ian, who was already sharp as a blade, wouldn’t yield better results. That thought finally crossed her mind.
“And when the many kingdoms of Gaia learn of this crisis, it will serve as a reminder of Bariel’s great power. That is not something Your Highness need worry about.”
Ian signaled to the mages, and those with remaining magic stepped forward.
“Based on what we’ve discussed, we will form a simple binding contract. Within two weeks, all must enter Bariel’s royal palace and meet with the Crown Prince. Failure to do so will bring a sudden and final end to your lives.”
Buzzing sounds filled the air as the mages activated their magic. The northern chieftains nodded reluctantly.
The problem was Eriphony. She bit her lip in disbelief, and Ian snapped his fingers at her.
“Ah, Your Majesty need not do this personally.”
“…?”
“Send Eldert inside. I will make the contract with him.”
Eriphony frowned. Why Eldert and not her?
Even the king of Clifford looked at Ian questioningly, but Ian’s glance told him to calm down. Everything was planned—just follow along.
“Eldert!”
Eriphony had no reason to refuse. Though he was her closest aide and the second most powerful figure in the palace after her, he was not the king. If he could stake his life in her place, anything was acceptable.
At her call, Eldert leapt forward.
“Your Majesty! Are you all right?”
He had been uneasy since the flames erupted at the tent’s entrance, but the mages’ barrier prevented him from approaching. Seeing Eriphony clutch her palm, his face tightened, but the atmosphere inside was colder than he expected. Above all, the king’s warning gaze told him to be cautious.
A mage extended a hand toward Eldert. His golden eyes, proof of his magic, gleamed.
Buzzing again.
“Eldert, make the binding contract on behalf of your king. Everything we’ve discussed is known to King Eriphony of Luswena. You need only risk your life. Will you accept?”
There was nothing to discuss—only a question of whether he was willing to sacrifice himself for his lord. Eldert was taken aback but didn’t hesitate. Rolling up his sleeves, he clasped the wizard’s hand. Immediately, magical energy surged between their joined hands, and a massive contract magic circle radiated around them.
Ian perched on the edge of the table and nodded toward Eriphony.
“You’ve got quite a reliable subordinate.”
“…”
Though her expression clearly dripped with sarcasm, it was impossible to respond without knowing Ian’s true intentions.
Why hadn’t he formed a contract with her? No matter that he was king—judging by the atmosphere just now, if he had pressed on, she surely wouldn’t have escaped.
Unable to shake the uneasy feeling, Eldert’s contract magic concluded. Seeing the magic subside, Eriphony slammed her chair back and stormed out of the tent. King Clefford watched her retreating figure in stunned silence.
“He’s not even worth killing.”
The king’s muttered words caught Prince Noah off guard; his eyes darted in surprise. He had never heard his father, a king before all else, speak so harshly. Ian smiled knowingly, as if understanding his feelings.
“He may be deserving of death, yes. But there’s no need for Your Majesty or me to be the ones to do it. If we do, it will give the opposition forces still lingering in Luswena a cause to rally around, and further complicate efforts to persuade the entrenched powers there toward cultural integration.”
Just as Prince Noah was about to ask Ian for more details, a commotion erupted outside. It was Eriphony’s shout from beyond the tent.
Noah slowly peeked out and soon spotted Eriphony berating a soldier.
“How could you handle things so carelessly?”
“I-I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
The news that the wizard had left the palace without orders—well, technically, it was that troublesome Zyra and some others—left Eriphony reeling as she grabbed the reins and pulled hard.
“We’re returning to base immediately.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Screech!
Alenara.
Fate was already spiraling toward the worst. Thinking it was time to grasp even a rotten lifeline, Eriphony urged her horse forward.