Conquering the Emperor

Chapter 190: Betrayal

Of course, I didn’t understand the details of everything that was in there. It seemed to have been sent to Ren from one of his senior war advisors. I put that report down and picked up another one. This one was written in a handwriting that was different and slightly neater than the one before. After scanning my eyes quickly through the writing, I figured out that this report contained various speculations for the real cause of this war. Wait! The cause of this war?

Come to think of it, Ren mentioned that the people of my town were rebelling because of the tax increase after they joined the empire. However, the report in my hand seems to suggest that that isn’t the only reason. Increase in tax wasn’t even the main reason even if it was included here in this report as one of the contributing reasons. That’s what I thought earlier. The Elders agreed to pay the tax when they signed the peace treaty so I didn’t think that they would have a problem with it later on.

My eyes quickly read the writing in front of me, and my brows started to furrow at what I was seeing.

‘From the rapid increase in the number of the town’s soldiers along with the appearance of advanced weapons on the battlefield, I believe that the town of Amber Leaves has formed an alliance with the neighboring empire and are receiving their help in this war. Samples of advanced weapons collected by soldiers seems to be of the same type that is currently in used by the other empire. With these reasons, I am led to believe that the town of the Amber Leaves has betrayed our empire and this war if not dealt with swiftly can lead to a war between the two empires...’

The report that was written by one of Ren’s senior generals went on to further describe the implication of this war on the power balance between the two empires. I didn’t fully understand the rest of the report, but I believed that I had read enough to grasp the general situation. My hands trembled and the report that I was holding also shook in my hands. Rebelling against the empire was bad enough but to align with another empire is just...

Suddenly, I heard the tent flap open and looking in that direction, I saw Ren enter the tent. My hands dropped the report onto the table in panic. My breath was coming in short gasps and my head felt light. I never thought that this war was such a big deal. Ren and Shin both acted like it was nothing but a small battle. What about the mention of a more advance weapon? That’ll lead to more casualties, right?

“Rin...” Ren called my name and I realized that he was already by my side.

“Ren...” I whispered his name, still lost slightly in a daze.

Ren put his arm around my shoulder as he took the chair next to me. I could feel his eyes on my face before his face came closer and he placed the back of his hand on my forehead. He looks worried...

“Are you ok? Your face is as white as powder...” Ren asked with concern.

“Oh...yes. Yes, I’m...fine...” I managed to say after stuttering through my answer.

“Are you sure?” Ren asked seemingly unconvinced.

“Yes...” I replied.

“What were you reading?” Ren asked as he turned to look at the report that I had dropped onto the table.

“Sorry...I was bored...” I quickly apologized.

Will Ren get mad?

“I didn’t think you would find reports on the war interesting,” Ren said before he turned to smile at me.

“Well...I was curious. Sorry if I wasn’t supposed to read them,” I apologized softly.

“I guess you’re not supposed to but it doesn’t kill anyone if you do,” Ren replied teasingly.

“Aha...” I mumbled.

“Well, half of the fault is mine for leaving these laying around,” Ren said like it was no big deal.

For some reason, I felt like Ren was being unusually nice and patient with me. Considering what had just happened, it felt weirdly too good to be true.

“You’re not going to ask about it?” Ren asked and I felt like he was baiting me. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

“Ask about?” I asked.

“The things you read in this report. The cause of this war...” Ren said as his eyes held mine.

“Is it true that my town sided with the other empire?” I asked.

“It would appear so. I’ve seen the evidence mentioned in the report for myself along with Shin so we’re quite sure. Plus, your town doesn’t have an army large enough to warrant me coming over here with an army of my own as reinforcements,” Ren said before he smiled at me.

“I’m sorry, Ren. For what my town has done...but the people...” I apologized passionately.

“The people are not at fault, right?” Ren finished my thought for me.

“Yes...the people probably didn’t decide to go against the empire, so please spare them!” I pleaded desperately, and I felt like I could start crying at any moment.

“Don’t get overly upset. Just like it isn’t the people’s fault; it also isn’t your fault,” Ren said calmly.

Treason against the empire is punishable with death and that includes punishment for the people as well. I never thought that I would end up pleading for the lives of those people who treated me like I was worth less than garbage; however, I couldn’t let them die. There were too many innocent people, the old, women and children. Uncle Gobei and Auntie...

“I wish that I could tell you not to worry but this matter isn’t simple. You should pray that we will win this war and we can conquer your town once more. Then the plan is to execute and replace all the Elders and people in power,” Ren explained.

“And the people?” I asked, I didn’t care what happened to the Elders.

“If we can successfully put in a new governor from the capital then the people should be left untouched,” Ren said before he smiled at me.

“Thank you, Ren!” I cried out in joy and relief.

--To be continued...