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Chapter 13
Scattering Red
“Stop!!”
At the sound of a blazing woman’s voice slicing through the plains, everyone on the battlefield froze.
The prisoners who were about to throw themselves down the walls also halted.
Aidan looked up at the castle wall with shocked eyes. The imperial princess who had just shouted now stood there, biting her lips and staring at him with a hardened expression.
“Grand Duke! Are you really going to let the people of the North die like this without even listening to what the Imperial Family has to say?!”
The princess raised her chin proudly and looked down at the Grand Duke with sharp eyes.
No one could quite guess her intentions in stopping the prisoners’ suicide, but one thing was clear—it was effective.
At the very least, she had succeeded in getting the Grand Duke to listen.
River sent a warning glance, but Aidan turned away.
As Aidan clenched his teeth and simply stared at her with blazing eyes, the princess seemed to take it as a sign that he was willing to negotiate, and she began to speak.
“I request a truce for the next three years.”
A truce? Aidan scoffed through his nose.
River added from the side, “Asking for a truce in front of someone who has clearly won the war—does the Imperial Family not have anyone capable of basic arithmetic?”
Three years? Such an ambiguous term. Were they planning to gather strength during that time and then attack the North again?
Or perhaps they planned to wait until the North starved to death, then sweep up the empty lands like gleaning fallen grain?
Whatever the case, there was no need to entertain the offer.
But then—there were still the prisoners atop the wall.
River clicked his tongue inwardly.
Those prisoners who had steeled their resolve were now faltering at the princess’s shout. Fear was slowly creeping into their hearts.
River hadn’t wanted to sacrifice them, of course—but thanks to them, the Grand Duke had the moral upper hand.
Now, with negotiations underway, that advantage was lost.
The Grand Duke now had to make a choice over their lives.
The princess had landed a blow.
“If you do not accept this proposal, I will execute these people. And if they choose to die by their own will…”
She stopped mid-sentence and gestured behind her. Archers took aim—not at the Grand Duke’s army, but at the village inside the royal city. The tips of their arrows were alight with fire.
She continued.
“I will burn every grain store inside the city.”
Gritting teeth could be heard not only from River and Aidan, but from all over.
Even if they were to die together, they would not give in easily.
If the city’s granaries burned now, the North would face certain death.
They could grow potatoes and rutabagas, yes—but that was a long-term plan. There was no way to start storing food for winter at this point.
She was taking not just the people of the North and the Wastelands, but even those inside the castle—everyone’s lives as hostages.
“And this is what they call the Imperial Family…”
Yet the princess showed no hint of hesitation.
She looked like someone who would absolutely follow through if provoked.
And not just Aidan—River saw it too.
River whispered into Aidan’s ear.
After hearing his words, Aidan sighed and gave a heavy nod.
Aidan stepped forward.
“I have conditions.”
The princess slightly nodded, signaling him to speak.
“Recognize the North’s autonomy.”
The princess bit her lip. It was a small movement not easily visible at that distance, but Aidan’s sharp eyes caught it.
She motioned with her chin, as if to say, “Is that all? Continue.”
Despite appearing displeased, she kept her composure and seemed capable of making level-headed decisions.
Aidan continued.
“On our way back, we will take all our prisoners with us. And we will take one-third of the royal city’s grain stores.”
“Fine.”
Surprisingly, the princess responded without hesitation. As if she had already anticipated as much.
Aidan barely managed to keep himself from turning to River in surprise. River too was undoubtedly shocked.
“In return, I have a condition as well.”
“Speak.”
“Return Duke Jax to us.”
They had been planning to release him anyway—and they had no interest in keeping him.
Aidan nodded without hesitation.
The deal was struck. Without another word, the princess turned around.
Before she did, her eyes met Aidan’s.
Her face was expressionless, but her eyes blazed. Beneath her firm stance lay seething rage.
Aidan instinctively knew—this wasn’t over.
Thus, the truce was agreed upon.
The North was no longer a subject territory of the Empire. That meant no more taxes, no more exploitation.
With a third of the South’s grain, they would survive the winter and even dare to dream of future cultivation.
They had expected harsher terms from the Imperial Family. It was an unexpectedly easy resolution.
They had come ready to die. From River’s perspective, this was as good as victory.
But most of the soldiers in the royal city had wanted revenge. And now, walking away from what felt like a sure win left them feeling hollow.
Aidan, too, was not in high spirits.
“Grand Duke! Please create a North where our children can live in happiness!”
The faces and cries of the prisoners who had jumped from the walls were still vividly imprinted in his mind.
He felt the heavy weight on his shoulders.
But he had no time to dwell on his emotions. He knew what had to be done.
About a hundred steps ahead, the rest of the soldiers were watching from a distance.
Aidan, atop his black steed, shouted boldly.
“We have won! We have reclaimed enough grain to survive! And we have severed ties with the cruel and incompetent Imperial Family! We return not as subjects, but as proud Northerners!”
He rode through the ranks, shouting again.
“Let us pull our wagons home—for our mothers and fathers, our beloved wives and sons and daughters! To the North!”
Someone echoed him.
“To the North!”
“Let’s go home!”
“To the North!”
“Home!”
Cheers erupted.
Only then did the soldiers begin to laugh, to cry. As they climbed the hill on their way back to camp, songs filled the air.
River let out a sigh of relief and looked at his lord, the Grand Duke of the North, with pride.
“Ah, but he’s no longer just a Grand Duke now. We’ll need to name this new nation.”
Aidan’s army returned proudly to camp.
They were too close to the royal city to celebrate properly.
They couldn’t lower their guard just yet.
Once morning came, they would finish the prisoner exchange, collect the grain, and make their way back to Fortress Ferden. That’s when they’d truly celebrate.
Aidan, River, and a few others stood watch atop the hill, eyes fixed on the royal city.
That evening, they received the first group of prisoners.
Duke Jax and the grain would be exchanged the next day.
Only then did Aidan allow himself a breath of relief.
And he finally had time to confront the feeling stuck like a stone in his chest.
“She hasn’t come.”
The camp was noisy and bustling—she must have heard the news.
“I’d hoped she would be the first to run out and greet me. How childish of me. She’s probably the one suffering the most, with the royal city still in sight.”
He shook his head, feeling foolish.
“Was it because of what Duke Jax said?”
“You failed to assassinate him, did you, Brody? I should’ve stopped you.”
“That woman… is someone very dear to me.”
Bree. And… Brody.
No. Don’t jump to conclusions. The enemy might have leaked false information. It could be a ploy to sow distrust.
“River, I need to step out for an hour.”
“Wh—what? Your Grace?!”
Before River could stop him, Aidan mounted his horse and galloped off into the camp.
“Even if I don’t hear a word—just seeing her, locking eyes with her, holding her in my arms… that will be enough.”
“I want to see you. I miss you.”
He rode all the way to her tent. Jumping down, he stormed inside, pulling back the curtain and calling out her name.
“Bree!”
The tent was dark.
Only a single lamp lit the interior, just as it always had.
If she had heard him come, she would have emerged by now. But there was no response.
“Is she still asleep?”
Still, his heart pounded with unease.
“Bree…?”
She wasn’t in bed.
The tent was tidy, but there was no warmth inside.
Even the brazier’s fire was dying.
“She’s always so sensitive to the cold—how could she have let it go out?”
With a nervous smile, Aidan walked to the brazier, grabbed the poker, and stoked the flames.
“Maybe she’s outside, having heard the news?”
He dusted off his hands and turned around—only to spot something unfamiliar.
“What’s that?”
Frowning, he approached the table.
There sat a small bottle of medicine and a note. Inside the bottle were small pills, no bigger than a pea.
Thinking it must be instructions, he casually picked up the note.
“No! Are you insane?!”
River’s face turned pale as he tried to block Aidan from leaving the camp.
Aidan had ridden so fast he’d nearly trampled him.
“I’ll be back by morning.”
“This isn’t the North! Do you really think that’s possible? And what if the royal city makes a move tonight? What if this is an assassination attempt?!”
Frustratingly, every word was true.
And Aidan couldn’t shake the image of the princess’s eyes as she turned away.
“Lower your guard and you’ll die.”
“Damn it!”
He clutched his head, overwhelmed by a pounding headache.
And then the contents of Brody’s note came rushing back.
Your Grace,
You said you would give me freedom.
Please keep that promise.
P.S. The medicine in this bottle is specially formulated for the symptoms you described. When it starts to run low, no matter what, I’ll make sure a new bottle reaches your hands. I hope… you’ll be happy.
– Brd.
The B and r were connected. The d seemed hesitant, awkwardly added afterward.
What was this? A last act of conscience?
His hand clenched around the bottle. The headache blurred his vision, but he managed a twisted smile.
“Your Grace!”
He could feel his consciousness fading—and then he fell from his horse.
As his hand hit the ground, the bottle flew open, scattering the pill-like beads.
Footsteps rushed toward him in panic, and the tiny pills were crushed into the dirt.
“She… left this… For my headaches… I need to take it…”
He tried to reach for it—but he couldn’t move.
Swallowed by unbearable pain, Aidan closed his eyes.
