The Stonehearted Knight-Chapter 437: Interlude: The war (3)

"Dear, the snowfiends have broken through the perimeter and are attacking the villages at the edge of the lands."

Enrich nodded at his fifth wife as she reported the situation at the borders of the North. The appearance of the snowfiends was within his plans. As was everything else happening to the North.

"We should deploy the third battalion." His old servant suggested, gaining support among his other servants.

Enrich nearly sighed. Servants. They were never smart enough to read their master’s heart, were they? They thought he, Enrich Godric, true heir of Heaven and Earth, allowed a bunch of snowflakes to raid his lands without his permission. How laughable.

He didn’t speak, although he wished to curse them to their graves. But he remained silent. His late father believed that allowing people to figure out their idiocy would help them grow. He might not have used those exact words but that was the gist of it. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Sadly, the more he listened in silence, the worse their suggestion became. These brain-rotten idiots thought fighting the snowfiends was the first step. And then provide aid to villages and small towns filled with below average humans. They urged for drastic measures, believing their territories might not recover from the onslaught.

’They think they truly have territories. How much brain should one lose to forget they are kings and emperors only in name? Everything they have, including their lives, belongs to me.’

Had they forgotten why those people lived on the outskirts of their civilized territory? None of those people had supported him when he claimed the throne of the North. Let them suffer. Their savior had abandoned these lands a long time ago. And from the tales coming from the other side of the mountains, he had even left the world. To save his student.

He smirked but then his own mind ruined his mood by whispering ’like master, like student.’ Damn.

Crack.

The noise wasn’t much but it worked like thunder in this giant court. Every bickering voice fell silent. None dared to utter a peep. Experience taught them it might be the last thing some had done.

"Dear?!"

His third and fifth wife came at his side. Their worried gazes cooled him down.

"It’s just a chair, love. No need to worry." He said with his charming smile. Their worries didn’t vanish but they didn’t drone on it any further. Smart. That was why they were his wives. They were above the mundane, low lives he met daily. Like this court.

The emperors and kings all sat stiff in their chairs around his round table. To the outside world it looked like a symbol of equality. But everyone here knew what it represented. Everything started and ended with him as the focal point.

None spoke. Their silence helped lower the disdain he felt towards them. Silence suited them as puppets should only move as he willed them to.

"Gentlemen," he said, allowing them to see his smile. "Don’t fret too much about the snowfiends. They are creatures of our lands too. They will roam around for a while and then return."

"But sir, many lives will be lost." Another old soul spoke. A part of Enrich wished nothing more than to help the old man cover the distance to his grave at a quicker pace, like now, but he held back. His father said a true ruler should allow mistakes.

"That is the sad reality of life, King Altov." He sighed. It was tiring to explain oneself to less able people. The people around the table, however, interpreted his sigh as a sign of him accepting his weakness. What weakness? Anyway, he didn’t feel like explaining himself.

"See it like a wondrous opportunity. This event will allow the geniuses to shine and prove themselves. In this time of war, we will need the best of the best. This is nature’s way of providing us much needed help to improve and gather the best our lands have to offer."

"A bit cruel, isn’t it?" Another spoke. This time a younger one. How did he of all people end with a court full of soft-hearted rulers? Even the pink-robed clerics of the High Temple had more bloodlust than these people.

"Only blades that are willing to go through the grinder can be sharp to split the storm."

"Wise words, my lord," the court said in unison. Finally, they saw reason. Pleased with their progress to see reason, Enrich decided to ignore his irritation with them.

Wise words. As if that needed to be stated. Each word he said was wise. He was Enrich Godric, the last heir of the Godking bloodline, the only true line of warriors left, and the only one worthy to marry Heaven. She would be his seventh wife and complete his Seven Sword of Divinity Technique.

"Announce this through each kingdom and empire. Every warrior who can kill a thousand snowfiends will be rewarded with a chance to join my faction. They will be awarded a spot among my Paladins."

Their reaction didn’t disappoint. They all turned frenetic. Such a chance to be close to him and follow his teaching was just given to anyone. One had to earn it. Only the best could be part of his most trusted servants and followers.

"Your magnanimity will allow the people to do their utmost and at the same time save the lands, my lord."

"Your wisdom doesn’t know bounds, my liege. You truly care about the people."

Enrich nearly sighed again. How did they conclude that? The more warriors fought the snowfiends, the more they would feast and become stronger. They were his true army to face those abominations of the South. People were too weak. Well, most were. Only those who bathed in the blood of a thousand of such fiends could be deemed worthy of any further investment.

Whatever. As long as these fools did their job, he could tolerate them.

"How is Sven doing so far?" He asked suddenly.

"As expected, Sir," Sven’s father replied at once. "He has awed the masses and placed in the top three..."

"Three? Not the first?" Enrich’s voice held a frost that made everyone in the room shiver. His student failed to get first place? Shouldn’t that brat kill himself?

"W-Well, he isn’t displaying his full strength, sir."

"Even a fraction should be enough. He is my student. Who is first? That girl they call Heaven?"

"N-No, S-Sir. It’s the team in which Hex Darkenmane is..."

Crack! The chair Enrich was sitting in, disintegrated. Silence filled the court.