Chapter 88. Invitation

"Tea's ready. Coffee as well."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

We sat facing each other in the Imperial Palace's reception room, just the two of us. Enjoying simple refreshments, the Emperor and I began a conversation that no one else should hear.

"First of all...the war is finally over. It’s been a very long time."

"Indeed. Thanks to it, I’ve grown old without even marrying."

It was a war fought, and that had to be fought, for revenge. Even considering that, too much time had passed.

Because both the Empire and our Kingdom were so powerful, it became a protracted war that dragged on endlessly, consuming resources and manpower, plunging our national power into the abyss.

Everyone except Karl VII's family had to pay the price.

Soldiers their lives, the commoners their property and families, the (Empire's) nobility their taxes and private soldiers, and the Emperor the honor and happiness of his family.

Although the types and scales varied, we all lost so much...