A man sat on the rocking chair staring up at the ceiling. Many thoughts and memories of the past flashed over his eyes. Thinking about all this, a look of exhaustion appeared on his face.
His eyes were calm and collected and as his body swayed gently on the chair, a sigh escaped from his lips as he wondered what others would be doing.
It was then a knocking sound echoed from the door.
Hearing the sound, he didn't move as his wife was there to look after it. As he closed his eyes to immerse himself in that thought, a long shriek echoed.
"Ahhhhhhhhhh!"
"What happened?"
His heart stirred and he dashed towards the door leaving a gust of wind.
"Who dares to run rampant here?"The man screamed but halted his steps seeing his wife's body shivering while closing her lips with her hand.
"Maria, what happened?"He asked with worry.
"The Lord is here."
"Lord...Who..."He looked towards the door and screamed in bewilderment.
"His Highness!"
"Haaa...Uncle Morderk, you are embarrassing me now. I just came here to take a look. I hope you are doing well."Alex spoke with a smile.
Mordek sighed and said"I am doing fine, Your Majesty. Please come to this humble abode."
"No, let's not trouble you too much. Why don't you come out? Let's go on a walk."
Morderk, pondering for a moment, accepted the suggestion.
Alex then greeted Morderk's wife and begged her pardon, and both of them walked away.
"When did you return, Your Majesty?"
"Just two days ago," Alex answered after which an awkward silence prevailed.
Alex coughed a bit and spoke," I heard about your retirement."
"Yeah!"
"Why did you retire so suddenly? Don't you think it's a loss for Leonhart to lose such a worthy Instructor and general?"
"Your Highness, aren't you also doing some? You are also going to retire after the war."Mordek gave Alex a sceptical look.
"That's a different matter. Everything would be peaceful by then. Let's, not waste time going roundabout. Tell me, why did you retire?"Alex's words became sharp.
Morderk stared at Alex's cold gaze and knew this was an act that obviously won't work on him as he knew him quite well.
"It was just a month ago when I was overseeing the barracks, I got a message from my son that my wife is ill."
"Wait! Is she alright? Does she have a killer disease? Alex asked with worry?"
"Nothing of that sort. Reading the message, I went home and the first thing I saw was my pale sick wife. She looked quite brittle and her face was haggard and as soon as I saw this, my heart tore up."
"On the quest for power, I have neglected her a lot. With your help, I still look like a man in his 30s or perhaps 40s but my wife looks quite old.''Mordek words choked a little at the end.
Alex felt bad hearing this as he knew where this conversation was leading.
"I can live up to 100 years but my wife won't live that long. Just thinking about this, my heart feels squeezed. We are going against another world and I am sure my meagre Transcendent realm power is worthy of nothing so that's why I decided that it's better if I retire. Who knows what will happen? What if by the time I return my wife would have died? Even though I neglected her I still loved her. I have two sons. I wanted to become a general but they weren't talented. I tried to train my wife and make her awake but she wasn't able to do so..I."
"I understand."Alex patted Morderk.
"I will cast a superior regeneration spell and blessing on her so she doesn't fall sick. I at least owe you that much."Though Alex smiled, his expression was quite gloomy.
"Thanks!"
Morderk words reminded him of a new problem that would arise. There will be many like Mordek in the armies. Once they hear the news, many of them might follow Mordek's suit.
Most army members in the lower realm with family would surely think this. It's a big problem.
Catherine knew there would be a mass panic after the announcement and the situation might be out of control to the point that an uprising may even take place provoked by a third party.
"Though you retired, I think you can take up a professional job in the Military Academy after the war," Alex suggested.
"I will see," Morderk nodded.
........
Alex after meeting with Mordek and casting blessings on his wife, Alex moved back as quickly as possible.
He met with Catherine and drafted a few plans. What they need now is mass-scale militarization and they can't just fill up the numbers. They need quality soldiers who would stand against the enemy.
The meeting with nobles moved back for another three days much to noble surprise. Many inwardly screamed in joy thinking that the Emperor was pondering this matter quite carefully.
However, little did they know Alex was held back by his wives otherwise he would have already ordered an assassin.No matter what, they need these empty noble positions for the assembly to operate otherwise most of the bills would be stagnant.
After six days, after the last meeting finally the moment of grave importance appeared.
This time, the meeting took place in the assembly hall unlike before.
And the main reason behind this was that Throne wouldn't have to go through bloodshed.
Alex, sitting on the highest seat, stared at the group of buttons bowing their heads politely.
Three alliances have taken root in his absence.
The Northern Noble Alliance led by Tarkel
The Southern Noble Alliance led by Heiz
The Central Noble Alliance is led by Shion and Ivine.
And surprisingly The Central Noble Alliance was supporting them from the back and also helped them in the back.
William had retired from these worrisome things and had gone to Hell for special training so the nobles that managed to avoid his purge joined the Northern noble alliance.
Seeing them Alex sighed.
'I should have killed everyone.'
'Mercy is temporary, purging is eternal.'
