Arestia Empire'S World Domination
Chapter 51: The Footing

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

...—16 January 1239—...

"Elaina."

The air was fierce, the name of the girl Ares had just thrown made Duke Alein and Nevia sharply change their faces.

"Why are you hiding it?" Similarly, Ares, looks sharp because he was annoyed with two people sitting right opposite him.

In fact, Ares had understood, the report of the imperial intelligence agency he had looked at. However, Ares remains waiting, trying not to scratch the pride of the House of Alein intelligence by asking why the Duke and Nevia hid their biological daughter.

Two years have passed since Nevia, the former Second Queen of Rowling's Kingdom, has given birth to a baby girl with her half-brother, Duke Alein.

Fate said another, the child who should have been born healthy, must have a physical abnormality in the form of a left leg that does not grow elongated, but bent in another direction, apart from the birth weight of Elaina which is fairly low, which is very low, only 1800 grams.

Supposedly, the nobles announced the birth of their children to the court as well as other nobles, aside from their introductory feast at the age of 5 and their feast of maturity at the age of 15, which is intended for the nobles to understand if the family already has an heir.

However, the Duke and former queen did not do so. They were afraid that Elaina would become a gossip among the nobility. Both of them certainly have understood how toxic the social life of a noble, both in any country.

Various medical practices they have done, as well as drugs have both been looking for. From the Republic of Ecasia which is famous for its complete medicinal plants and high medical science, to the southern islands known as its paradise of illegal goods.

That hope must be lost, none of their efforts have had any effect on physical abnormalities from birth. As a result, Duke and Nevia decided to remain silent, slowly moving back and not showing themselves in the midst of the political rivalry of the capital, although the state was still absolutely under the influence of Ares.

Naturally, Ares had felt the strangeness of the couple before him for a long time. He ordered Lean and the Head of the Intelligence Bureau Eina to search for various information regarding Duke Alein and his wife. However, in order to preserve the honor and pride of Alein's house, Ares only asked for information regarding the name and gender of the Duke's son.

If Ares wills, he can know the outline of all the problems that are happening to the couple before him.

It was only the silent atmosphere that Ares received in return. Duke Alein and Nevia showed a difficult face, one of Nevia's hands was also seen clenched.

The aggravation that Ares has peeked at the hidden information is certainly there, but the sadness if the secret of the two is leaked is more in the mind of the Duke. She really does not want her daughter, Elaina, to lead a bitter social life.

"I, Ares I, the current Emperor of Arestia, issued an edict for Redelion von Alein, Nevia von Alein, and myself, Ares Aubert, to be silent about whatever was going on in this room." Ares gave peace of heart to both.

Duke Alein was relieved, but immediately, he came back down, regretting something Ares had said to him, "Have you foreseen this before?"

"To be precise, predict, because the chance of your child being born disabled is very high. Although I am very grateful that in these two years, your daughter has survived" Ares replied, laying her back on the back of her luxurious sofa.

"Is this because of the parenting factor as the healer said?" Nevia bowed, her tone sounding soft, but Ares could hear her carefully.

A healer?

Wh who?

"Right, right" said Ares quickly, though in his mind he wondered about the meaning of Nevia's words.

"La—lalu, do you know how to get us—"

"There's no cure, he'll be in that condition his whole life." Ares interrupted Duke Alein's words firmly, breaking his hopes for Duke and Nevia not to waste themselves.

"Nevia!" The Duke tried to warn of the sudden move by his wife, but was not the least heeded.

Nevia got up, subconsciously pointing the index finger of her right hand at Area in a fit of rage, "If you already know this, why can't you do anything?! Aren't you an emperor?!"

Slowly, a tear drips from one corner of Nevia's eye. Recollecting with the plea of his daughter who really wanted a cure, "I—aku—I've searched everywhere! But they lied and said that it was impossible!"

Ares could only be silent, closing his eyes as he lay on the back of the sofa. There's a desire to say, "Why are you dragging others into your own problems?" but Ares chose not to.

He felt that it was like pouring oil into embers, something that was futile to do.

From Nevia's harsh reactions, Ares judged that physical disability was not something only their daughter experienced. If it was just something that didn't make their child different from the other kids, Nevia wouldn't have reacted that hard.

Even if we are in the modern era, there is nothing you can do, you know.

Nevia fell down, sitting back on her chair tiredly while closing her eyes with her right arm.

"I can only grant exclusive protection and healer to Elaina von Alein, as well as tax deductions on the Alein Region for her treatment, there is nothing I can do but that." Ares' regret is reflected in his tone.

"Why..." Nevia shows a weak reaction, a dream where her daughter grows up as if she is gone.

"Because I am a ruler, I have absolutely no capacity to speak of anything that even the healer has condemned." Ares's words made Nevia weakly bowed.

The situation was increasingly moving in a direction he did not want, Ares intended to disconnect the topic, "In addition, Duke, I'm very sure you know the reason why I called the two of you to the palace."

"Is that information about our trip?" ask Duke Alein.

"Yes, I can only pay the price of that information with what I promised you," Ares replied.

Silencing Nevia sobbing, the Duke closed his eyes, considering what was good for his daughter, "The political state of the southern islands is in dispute. If you don't know it yet, each island is led by a patriarch. Although from the outside, their navy looks very strong and sturdy, but not so when you look at the depth."

In accordance with my estimation, the world war is approaching.

But, I don't know what happened to the southern islands because while I was still playing, they were already destroyed by Alven when I attacked Gardom Kingdom...

"What's going on?" Ares asked, stressing his tone until it sounded serious.

"Renacles and Alven have put their hands in. I'm sure, you know, the combined forces of the southern islands will only be formed if the security of their country is intervened. However, Renacles and Alven have been present since hundreds of years ago, they have been binding treaties with local rulers through trade..."

The duke momentarily stopped his words, slashing his eyes at Ares, "Kukira, you know how the politics of sheepfighting are run, don't you?"

The duke became a little upset, recalling the destruction of the Rowling Kingdom caused by Ares's sheepfighting politics to the princes, of course, Duke Alein and Nevia also did not escape being victims of the incident.

"I see," Ares lightly tipped, one corner of his mouth raised.

"One question." Duke made a serious face.

"What's that?" ask Ares.

"Right now, I have learned how painful it is to see the princess I truly love suffer" Duke Alein said, noting every reaction Ares showed.

"Then?" Ares looks indifferent, although the Duke is very aware that Ares is not like the nobles in general who abandoned his children, the Duke was really amazed by the young man before him who hid his feelings very well.

"I have also learned of the children and of your murdered concubines and concubines..." The duke momentarily held back, but Ares remained a flat expression, making Duke Alein again continue his words, "Where are you going to take this country in the next year?"

"Southern islands." Not only Duke, even Nevia also looked puzzled. Both assess if the urgency of Gardom-Ecasia and the revenge of the murder of Renacles should be prioritized first.

"Why?" With a teary face, Nevia revealed her confusion.

Ares gave a strong look to the two people before him, giving off an aura of greatness that only a head of state would have, "Because I need a foothold, a base that will become my greatest military base in the future."

Duke recalled the geographical condition of the Republic of Ecasia. Before arriving in the southern islands, all shipping routes will lead to Ecasia first. However, with the Lourentz Family and Levene on the Ares— side due to their territory on the south side of the island—Ares can easily ship hundreds of its fleet.

"There's no need to worry about it, Duke, all the plans I'm going to do are neat." Ares showed a smile, feeling soft and warm.

However, the Duke did not believe the figure Ares showed. Little grudge felt from the tone that was thrown, there is no way Ares—which is just an ordinary man— will be silent when he finds out the child he really loves was killed.

"If so, we will provide all the details of the trip we have been through." Duke gave his consent.

Not only Duke Alein, even Nevia was frightened by the faint darkness emanating from Ares' smile. The two could only hope that the words Ares had uttered did not miss what he had anticipated before.

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