Chapter 647: The Empire

As Victoria stepped into the study, its floor covered with dark blue velvet carpet, she was struck by a surreal sense of time shifting and people changing beyond recognition.

The first time she had entered this room was with her father, under the guidance of the previous Duke of the North. Back then, she had met Francis II in his prime and the young Wales Morn. At that time, she was still a girl clinging to a shred of innocence, and the kingdom churned on as it had for centuries—steady, dull, and seemingly unchanging.

The last time she had been here was on the eve of her departure for the Greatwood Pass. Sitting behind the desk was the Wales Morn who had just returned to Silverkeep. The kingdom was fracturing, and a terrible crisis no one had foreseen was brewing on the Holy Spirit Plains.

Now, having survived near-death ordeals, she faced the turning point of the nation’s fate. The master of this room was the duke who had risen from the dead. She had a faint feeling that history itself was converging here—and that she was living through it.

“Please, have a seat. Make yourself comfortable,” Gawain said casually, standing by the desk as the two protector dukes entered. He watched the attendants close the door behind them and spoke in an easy tone. “We need to discuss the future of this country.”

“Yes, Duke,” Bertram nodded, finding a seat. He still addressed Gawain as “Duke” because Gawain had neither been crowned nor finalized the framework for the nation’s future. For now, that was the only proper title.

“Wait a moment—there’s one more participant,” Gawain said, raising his right hand slightly to signal the two protector dukes to hold on. His gaze fell on the arcane network terminal just placed on the desk. “She’s establishing a connection… The network here isn’t very stable yet; it’s still being debugged.”

Both protector dukes turned their attention to the device—a magical apparatus with a triangular metal base and a crystal core, softly glowing. Victoria had seen such terminals before, but Bertram had only read about them in reports and sketches. The Western Duke stared intently, unable to hide his curiosity. “Is this the device that can make message spells cheap and accessible?”

Gawain nodded. “You could say that, but it’s actually far more useful than simple message spells. Although it requires a complex infrastructure to operate, its scale and cost-efficiency are incomparable.”

“I once tried to figure out how to extend the range of message spells and reduce their casting requirements. It would have huge benefits for both economy and military, but progress was slow,” Bertram said, leaning closer to the device as if trying to understand its principles. “This is a completely different approach…”

A sudden buzzing sound filled the room.

The crystal core flared brightly in an instant. Bertram took a step back, surprised, as a holographic projection appeared above the crystal—a graceful woman dressed in elegant robes, her demeanor calm and refined.

“Ancestor, good afternoon,” Hetty greeted Gawain first, then turned to the two dukes. “Grant Duke Franklin, Grant Duchess Wilde, good afternoon.”

She had never met Bertram before, but she had studied the profiles of nearly all the kingdom’s high nobility. Much of the foundational knowledge about the Ansu Kingdom was part of the curriculum at Cecil Academy. The southern nobles were not strangers to the kingdom’s elite.

“Good afternoon,” Bertram replied, hesitating briefly before matching her to the information in his mind. “Miss Hetty Cecil, you are as beautiful as the rumors say.”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

“We have already entered Silverkeep,” Gawain added. “You should have received detailed reports by now.”

“Yes, the administration and frontline communications are clear,” Hetty nodded, a relaxed smile on her face. “I’m glad to hear your campaign is going well. Additional supplies and civilian personnel bound for the North have already departed from Pompeii City aboard the fast mechanical ships.”

Gawain exhaled softly. Having a capable and reliable great-great-granddaughter like Hetty was a huge relief. He hardly had to worry about logistics or maintaining order at home. Aside from her struggles with marriage prospects, spellcasting finesse, and faking sick leave with dark circles under her eyes, Hetty was practically flawless in his eyes.

He sat behind the desk while the two protector dukes took their seats in the high-backed chairs nearby. With Hetty’s hologram present, a rare remote meeting for this era began.

“The history of Ansu has ended. The merits and faults of its kings, the kingdom’s demise—those are matters for historians to debate. What we must focus on now is ensuring social stability, securing the survival of the people after this disaster, and ending the current chaos as quickly as possible,” Gawain said, looking at Bertram and Victoria. “The feudal lord system is outdated, but it has one advantage: the fiefdoms operate independently, like countless self-sufficient mini-kingdoms. The fall of the Ansu crown won’t immediately collapse local order, giving us some time to act.”

“Yes, Victoria and I have discussed this,” Bertram nodded. “We still hold some influence among the old nobility. We will do everything we can to cooperate with you, minimize resistance, and ensure a stable national reorganization.”

Hetty nodded as well. “The South is ready. Workgroups composed of magistrates and officials from the administration, along with security forces, are stationed at Rockhold Fortress, prepared to move north and restore order.”

“Rebuilding order in the North will require cooperation from local powers. The intelligence bureau has experience in this; I’ll have Amber assist,” Gawain said. “The two protector dukes will also provide support.”

He paused, then added, “The South has limited manpower and administrative capacity. We can’t absorb all of Ansu at once. Priority will be given to reorganizing and rebuilding the Holy Spirit Plains to restore the heartland’s production. The West and North… that’s for Bertram and Victoria. I’ll send administrative officers to assist you. Is that acceptable?”

After a brief moment of thought, both protector dukes responded, “No problem.”

“During this process, all former nobles must sign and submit to the new laws, including you two. Military command in the two regions will be transferred to the Supreme Administration’s military department. The Mountain Legion and Western Legion will be reorganized, and both regions will host garrisons under the Supreme Administration,” Gawain outlined. “Economy, military, politics—all must be unified. The feudal system will end, replaced by Cecil’s laws and order. Resistance is inevitable, even regional or temporary setbacks, but I want everyone to understand one thing: a new era has arrived. Its progress is inevitable. Obstacles may arise, but they must ultimately be overcome.”

His gaze swept over Victoria and Bertram. One maintained a calm expression; the other wore a carefree smile.

“The era of the Morn royal family is over. The noble system of the Holy Spirit Plains has collapsed. If anything remains capable of obstructing us, it’s the two of us,” Bertram said with a smile. “If we choose to support you, then the rest of the nobility have no grounds to resist. I’m confident in that.”

“The Mountain Legion is severely weakened, but the Wilde family’s deterrent over the Northern Mountains remains,” Victoria added briefly.

“Good. I will base the new system on the Cecil Duchy’s model, adapting it as needed for nationwide implementation. The Supreme Administration in the capital will be the center, dividing Ansu into several provinces, each governed by a provincial magistrate. Below that, city administrations will be established in major urban centers, each led by a city magistrate…

“I will be the highest ruler of the state, but I will also be bound by law. My governance will be carried out through the administration system. Below me, a Grant Magistrate will head the Supreme Administration. Currently, Hetty is the sole Grant Magistrate, but I plan to add two more—one each for you two protector dukes. The three Grant Magistrates will form a permanent council until the system becomes outdated or requires change…

“The Grant Magistrates will execute my will and manage the Supreme Administration’s daily affairs but should also advise me based on their judgment…

“The Cecil Duchy’s Supreme Administration has accumulated considerable experience. We can draw from that and consult with Southern officials…”

Gawain laid out his vision point by point, with Hetty adding details. Gradually, Bertram and Victoria adapted from passive listeners to active participants, exchanging valuable ideas. In this study once belonging to Francis II and the Wales Morn, they discussed how to restore order, rebuild the disaster-stricken economy, and establish a new national framework.

Throughout the discussion, Gawain’s ideas evolved. Many were broad frameworks, sometimes idealistic or incomplete, but their greatest value lay in their inspiration. Bertram and Victoria contributed numerous practical suggestions, filling in the gaps.

Still, today’s discussion was preliminary and structural. Many improvements and adjustments would be needed to fit reality. Even the best framework requires trial, error, and adaptation during implementation, facing setbacks and resistance. The last king of Ansu had done his utmost to clear the path for reform, but obstacles would never vanish entirely. Overcoming them would demand time, manpower, and resources.

Gawain understood this clearly and was mentally prepared.

Their meeting lasted so long that they lost track of time. Only when the sun set and the castle district’s lights flickered on did they pause. Duke Bertram Franklin exhaled deeply and asked, “Then, what shall we name this new kingdom?”

“The era of kings and lords is over. It’s no longer a kingdom,” Gawain said slowly. After a brief pause, he spoke deliberately, “It is an empire.”

He enunciated each word: “The Cecil Empire.”

He chose to name the newborn empire after his own current surname, drawing a clear line from the old Ansu Kingdom.

He would bury the old Ansu—the ancient, once-glorious kingdom would become history, its name consigned to the past. Both symbolically and practically, the new empire must be separated from the word “Ansu.” This was also a measure to weaken the old powers’ influence.

By embedding his authority in the empire’s name, he ensured centralized power and efficient governance. To face the coming challenges and imminent crises, he had to adopt a concentrated power structure to improve societal efficiency and prepare swiftly.

A solemn silence filled the study. After a long moment, Victoria spoke softly, “From now on, for better or worse, you bear the burden.”

“When I chose to lead the army north, I was ready for that,” Gawain replied.

“Well then,” Bertram stood up from his chair, “to the Cecil Empire.”

Victoria rose next, echoing, “To the Cecil Empire.”

Heddy followed suit, saying the same, “To the Cecil Empire.”

Gawain glanced at the three of them and let out a soft breath.

“It will be worthy of your tribute.”

(End of chapter)