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All able-bodied men capable of wielding weapons had already been sent to the front lines, leaving only the bare minimum to guard the capital. Despite these efforts, they had barely managed to hold back the enemy's vanguard. The growing pressure was steadily pushing the front line to its breaking point.

"Your Majesty, nearly 30,000 troops from the Kingdom of Lania's reinforcements have already arrived at the border. Additional forces are en route, and the full force of 100,000 soldiers is expected to assemble within three or four days. Please do not be overly concerned. They are doing their utmost," Chancellor Mark explained, his expression troubled.

Privately, Mark seethed at Lania's calculated moves. If they intended to send reinforcements, why not deploy their elite border troops instead of conscripting private armies from noble families in the rear?

Reports indicated that only the first corps could be considered elite among the reinforcements, while the rest were poorly trained and advancing sluggishly. Though he refrained from voicing these thoughts to avoid demoralizing the court, his dissatisfaction with Lania's actions was evident.

Further exacerbating his frustration was the news that Lania had been expanding its border fortresses. It was clear they were preparing for Elonia's potential fall.

"Even so, compared to the Kingdom of Pasha, which hasn't sent any reinforcements, Lania could be considered cooperative," King Henry III murmured, trailing off into thought. He could not simply stand by as war threatened to consume his nation.

Resolute, Henry III adopted a colder demeanor. "Send an envoy to the border to inform Lania's nobles: any who achieve significant merits in defending our border will be granted wealth, titles, and land—regardless of nationality."

Noble troops, being pragmatic by nature, would undoubtedly strive to minimize their losses. However, as reinforcements fighting on foreign soil, they would need concrete incentives to risk their lives.

Even if it meant giving up half the kingdom, it would be preferable to complete ruin. After all, as the war progressed, more unclaimed land would inevitably emerge along the border.

The king's decree sparked a commotion in the conference room. As the murmurs grew louder, Henry III slammed his hand on the table, silencing the room.

"Enough!" he commanded.

All eyes turned toward the king. "No matter what is said, this decision will not be overturned. Only Chancellor Mark will remain; the rest of you may leave!"

Faced with the king's firm tone, the nobles had no choice but to withdraw quietly.

Once the room emptied, leaving only Chancellor Mark and King Henry III, the king let out a weary sigh, shedding his royal composure.

"There truly is no other way," he lamented, despair and resignation filling his gaze.

"Sending their crown prince as commander shows that Lania has no real intention of committing to this war. If they were serious, they wouldn't send their prince into such a perilous situation. They're hedging their bets—hoping for gains if he succeeds, but ready to accept the loss if he doesn't."

Chancellor Mark lowered his head, unable to refute the painful truth. As both the king's chancellor and brother-in-law, he was left speechless.

Breaking the silence, Henry III abruptly suggested, "What if we sent Elise and Charlotte to the border fortress? Not just because they're my daughters, but because I believe they could capture the crown prince's interest. Try convincing the queen. She won't listen to me."

Mark felt his breath catch at the unexpected proposal.

The faces of his young nieces, only fifteen and seventeen years old, suddenly flashed through Chancellor Mark's mind.

That cannot be allowed!

He lifted his head, his lips trembling as he saw tears streaming down the king's face. The weight on his chest left him speechless. The realization that the situation had become so desperate that even the princesses might be used in such a scheme filled him with deep sorrow.

Finally, he bowed his head in submission. "I will… do my utmost to persuade the queen, Your Majesty."

Within the Papal States, a heavy silence and palpable tension filled the air. High-ranking clergy in the Pope's office sat rigidly, exchanging uneasy glances. The magical candle on the long meeting table cast eerie shadows across their faces.

Rumors had spread across the continent like wildfire following the dismissal of an archbishop for meddling in the imperial succession of the Celeste Empire. Worse yet, revelations about their involvement in the Pamir Empire's activities had emerged.

Whispers claimed that the Pamir Empire's recent invasion had been instigated by the Holy State. Even more damning, some rumors suggested that the original target of the Holy State's manipulation was the Kingdom of Lania, but due to unpaid compensation, the Kingdom of Elonia had become the unintended victim instead.

The problem was that these rumors were true.

In response, the Celeste Empire severed all diplomatic relations with the Holy State and declared it would expel the Radiance Church entirely. The Kingdom of Lania, seemingly waiting for such an opportunity, issued a strong condemnation. Although the Kingdom of Elonia, overwhelmed by its immediate crisis, refrained from issuing an official statement, it revealed its displeasure by confiscating church-owned assets.

In some foreign Radiance Church temples, high-ranking clergy of the Holy State were even denounced as heretics and publicly decried. The humiliation was unparalleled.

"What is the meaning of all this?" Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire

The Pope's reprimand echoed through the office, causing the leader of the Knights of Xenos to shrink back.@@novelbin@@

"Your Holiness, twenty ships laden with grain left the port, but none reached their destination," the knight stammered.

"Does that even make sense? If a storm had sunk them, other ships from other nations would have been affected too! Are you telling me that only our ships—specifically those carrying grain—were lost?"

The knight tried to offer another explanation. "Perhaps… the Kingdom of Lania or the Celeste Empire noticed our actions and sent a mage to intervene…"

The Pope, Allegro III, erupted in fury. "What nonsense! Do you think they have mages who could track ships in the vast open sea and cast spells on them? Do you not understand that high-ranking mages have been almost extinct since the heretic purges over millennia ago?"