Arestia Empire'S World Domination
Chapter 48: Rage – Arc 3 <End>

...—Capital of Excelia, Arestia— Empire...

...—1 January 1239—...

"Dad, how long will you be gone?"

Once again, the innocent voice of a little girl who was now in Ares' arms pierced both of her eardrums. His heart was torn to shreds, Ares tried to hold back that his eyes would once again not shed a single tear.

Breathing a moment of cool air from the wind that blows, Ares showed a smile, trying to look strong in front of his daughter.

"Until the business is done, Wilma." Ares' words caused Wilma to make a haggard face, as if about to cry as some bad supposition haunted her mind.

"Didn't you come home soon because you hated Wilma, Dad?" Wilma does not care for the people around her, only focused on her father, hoping that Ares will give her the answer she is looking forward to.

"No. Mama loves you very much. So is my father." Ares hugged Wilma tightly, covering her face in her arms.

Everyone who heard tofu, Ares' tone trembled slightly at first, which immediately changed as usual, like someone who had no problems before.

"Ta—"

"Wilma... Therefore, be a good child so that mama quickly return." said Ares, a little simplifying his tone so that Wilma can understand.

"Daddy promise?" wilma asked, her facial expression showing great hope.

With a difficult feeling, even with a heart that was being torn apart, Ares still showed a smile of calmness, caressing his daughter's hair with affection, "Dad, promise."

Wilma gives her pinkie, a promise Ares made with her children. Linking each other's little fingers, Wilma immediately gave a carefree face, "Yeay!"

Feeling the approach of a servant—which is due to understanding the heart of his wounded master—Ares makes a gentle face, "Be a good child, father will play with you later."

"Booo!" Wilma gives a mocking face as Ares hands her over to the maidservant who comes to her, only a wry smile can Ares portray in return to her daughter who no longer has a real mother.

More than ten days had passed since the great calamity struck the imperial capital. To his two cousins from the Republic of Ecasia—Eleanor and Andres— and Leticia and a loyal follower of the Queen Gardom, Ares granted asylum to ensure their safety.

The Florentian loyalists in the capital Gardom have been sent a quick letter by Leticia, proclaiming that Berto, Marquis of Nozo, has been sent, he had carried out a rebellion and an order to bring the only princess of the Queen and the Crown Princess of Gardom Kingdom to the empire for his safety.

However, none of them were not surprised when they arrived at the Capital of Excelia. Hundreds of buildings were destroyed, government offices were almost no different from it, as if the capital had just been hit by a devastating earthquake.

Looking at the capital from one of the palace's great balconies, Ares was just silently pensive, not understanding what he should do for now. Not dismissing, his feelings were filled with revenge, so great anger and had the ambition to avenge the Imperial Princess Renacles, Sophia.

Even so, Ares was very understanding, he could not act rashly, because it could have been other members of his family also became victims.

Not only Milly, Ares' mistress and her other children, Amalia and Lia; and Ody and Leon, have also been found murdered. He really did not want any one of his family members to leave him once again.

"Your Majesty." From behind her back, Eleanor walked over, stopping just a few steps away from Ares standing on the edge of the balcony.

Ares did not budge in the least, Eleanor did not get an answer for a while, causing her to continue her words because she considered Ares' silence as her willingness to listen.

Eleanor did not say that without a basis. Although she did not deny the love and affection for the family, as a ruler, Eleanor judged Ares to be excessively affectionate with her family, which should not be done by an emperor who has great power.

The cool air of the morning instantly heated up, but no one was not confused after hearing Ares' reply to Eleanor's words.

"I won't deny it." Ares smiled wryly, momentarily looking at the capital that was in revitalization and immediately turned to face each other with his female cousin.

"Only a word from someone wearing a crown can cost millions of lives. Just a word from someone wearing a crown can cause millions of people to feel pain and suffering." For a moment, Ares was silent, waiting for a response from anyone who wanted to deny it.

The atmosphere remained silent, as did Eleanor, no one responded, waiting for Ares to continue saying, "How could a rusty scrap metal have such power?"

There was a sense of disapproval, some people started to show expressions of denial. As Eleanor was about to open her mouth, Ares spoke again, intending to silence her immediately, "So, which one will you choose?"

"What do you mean, Your Majesty?" ask Eleanor.

"Do you really want to be a king? Or is it just a puppet that submits obediently to an old iron on top of its head?" Ares slowly turned around, looking back at the sky of the capital without even ignoring the people behind him, "Do you think if I want a family like an ordinary family?"

Eleanor bit her lip, some of the nobles who entered the high ranks of the imperial bureaucracy were simply bowed, no one could reply to the question Ares was asking. Although life does in fact, they know, it is untrue, their conscience will deny if they agree to the question.

The chirping of birds sounded in unison, adorning the clear sky and the cool morning air. Inhaling a deep breath, a hint of serenity could Ares feel.

"Have any of you ever heard of the ancient terms 'Mainland' and 'Overland'?" ask Ares.

"'Mainland, ' the land that became the central power of the Holy Empire of Regulus, while 'Overland' was the land of their power that was across the sea..." Finding Ares turning back with a smile, Ann, Warren's wife, opened her eyes wide, "Don't tell me..."

"Yes, I want 'Overland' for this country. Not only was Eora Land ruled by Ecasia, but to the end of the world where the Renacles Empire was located."

The air trembled, the few knights who served Ares since he was only an Earl, until Warren, the Prime Minister, could feel the passion and the extraordinary ambition reflected by his words.

Fear of ambition, anger and vengeance for vengeance, all mixed up in one place.

The implied message was successfully delivered, making Eleanor now understand. His actions that had only been playing behind the backs of his parents could not be compared to the cousin who stood right in front of him.

The wind again blew by carrying some green small leaves. Looking up at the sky, Ares clenched his right hand, reaffirming his determination to avenge the actions of one of his last opponents in the game.

I will wait for you on the battlefield, Sophia.

...----------------...

Note :

The third arc, "Trade War: Love and Power" is finally over! After one chapter interlude, one chapter Extra, and one intermission, we will enter arc 4, "Trade War: Gold, Glory, and Gospel."

Thank you so much for your support all this time!

...----------------...