The Villainess's Secret Bedroom Service
Chapter 80: From Kingdom To Empire

Chapter 80: From Kingdom To Empire

Rische stood as a relatively youthful Empire, its age belied by the fact that less than a century ago, it had been formally recognized as a kingdom.

It was a mere eighty-five years past when the Middle Continent, an expanse of land that intricately linked two Empires and four Kingdoms, reached a pivotal consensus. This consensus birthed a novel religious cohesion—a devotion to a sole deity. This innovative faith aimed to quell the flames of religious discord, quench the fires of rebellion, and douse the embers of warfare. Its grand ambition was to weave all people together beneath a solitary conviction. This endeavor held the promise of fortifying the economy as the government’s patronage of this single faith ensured a steady flow of taxes. These funds were artfully presented to the populace as sacred offerings to the divine, effectively establishing an unwavering financial bedrock.

A new and simpler method of mass control emerged, enticing acceptance with the promise of forging a continent-wide coalition that pledged harmony and affluence to its adherents. This beckoning prospect gained substantial momentum, thanks to the preceding sovereign, Constantine Rische.

Fueled by boundless ambition and unquenchable avarice, he cast joining the grandest alliance of the Middle Continent as an unparalleled chance for the Kingdom of Rische to ascend to the rank of an Empire.

However, as with any paradigm shift, there was a requisite cost. Previously unrestricted in matters of faith, a considerable portion of devoted pagans found themselves under the yoke of immense oppression from the formidable might of Rische’s authority. This oppressive stance catalyzed an extended period marked by protests and upheavals, culminating dangerously close to the precipice of the inaugural civil war.

Disheartened by the strong opposition emanating from his own people, Constantine found himself compelled to heed the counsel of fellow Empires. The consequence was the initiation of an unprecedented campaign of religious persecution, resulting in a purge reminiscent of a wholesale slaughter. This brutal event claimed the lives of all those who adamantly declined conversion to the newly established faith.

Amidst the chaos, some souls managed to escape the clutches of the Kingdom, seeking sanctuary within self-governing settlements. A fraction opted for surrender and outward conversion, all the while clandestinely preserving their personal beliefs. Another contingent, facing a harrowing crossroads, chose to relinquish their very lives in steadfast devotion to their convictions. For, indeed, faith is a constituent of the human spirit, and forsaking it under the weight of fear equated to a betrayal of humanity itself.

Eventually, the Kingdom of Rische yielded, embracing a solitary faith while outlawing all other religions through legislative decree. Thus, Constantine formally declared Rische as an Empire, positioning it as the third dominion within the realm of the Middle Continent.

Nevertheless, the tide of religious persecution did not wane solely within Rische’s borders.

Luther Rische, the sole legitimate heir of Constantine, stood by his father’s endeavors unwaveringly. He shared his father’s conviction that unity in faith held the key to quelling the persistent discord among the various Empires and Kingdoms.

As the final requisite for Rische to earn its recognition as an Empire, and to validate Luther’s capacity to inherit his father’s mantle, the Crown Prince assumed a significant task. This task entailed a journey to the modest, autonomous pagan settlement of Naidar. There, Luther was charged with the mission of "enlightening" the inhabitants and striving to persuade them to embrace the new faith—a test that would demonstrate Luther’s potential as a ruler of comparable worth to his father.

In reality, however, it concealed nothing short of a religious crusade, a thinly veiled campaign to obliterate the pagan population, thereby expanding Rische’s burgeoning dominion. Curiously, from the battlefield, Luther returned not with trophies of conquest, but rather a captive – Ayana Naidar, the princess of the devastated settlement. Remarkably, despite her lineage from a primitive pagan enclave, Ayana possessed both features and a beauty befitting a true Saintess.

In due course, Ayana entered the fold as Luther’s spouse, embracing her newfound role as Empress. A mere year later, the couple celebrated the birth of their first offspring – a resplendent little prince named Loyd. Almost concurrently, another note of jubilation resounded within the Imperial Palace. Luther’s half-brother, the offspring of Constantine’s liaison with a now-deceased concubine, Grand Duke Dorian Dio, also welcomed a progeny. This healthy and beautiful boy, named Damien, brought forth yet more happiness to the halls of the palace.

As days turned into weeks, a subtle yet profound bond seemed to blossom between Dorian and Ayana. This connection, rooted in their shared, secretive assessment of the unceasing religious persecution, grew increasingly intimate. Often concealed from prying eyes, they would convene in secrecy to deliberate over prevailing political currents. Their goal was to craft cunning strategies that could sway Luther’s resolute stance concerning the singular faith.

Regrettably, the Emperor’s perception of the deep camaraderie between his wife and half-brother transcended mere kindred spirits. As the passage of time continued to etch its mark, his once-faint traces of jealousy and suspicion deepened. The relentless whispers of speculation circulating both within elite circles and among the members of the Council only served to fuel this growing unease. Inevitably, Luther found himself drawing a chilling inference: Ayana and Dorian were, in his mind, engaged in a sinister plot to dethrone him and seize the throne.

The solution that materialized was disarmingly straightforward: one of them had to be eliminated. And after methodical contemplation, Luther arrived at his decision, pointing his finger at his half-brother.

His strategy was uncomplicated in theory – ambush the Grand Duke Dio’s carriage as it made its return from the Palace and this orchestrated event would be camouflaged as a routine robbery. Yet, fate had alternate plans for that fateful night.

In an eerie deviation from his schemes, the course of events unfolded askew. Dorian, Elizabeth, and their infant son Damien embarked on a carriage ride through the enigmatic forested expanse under the shroud of night. However, their journey took a sinister twist as they encountered a malevolent force hitherto unknown – the Demonic Cult, a pagan organization that materialized seemingly out of thin air. In a heartless act, they laid waste to the Dio family and their retinue, abducting their defenseless child in the process.

The Imperial Knights, though arriving slightly belatedly, bore witness to the grim episode. Swift to action, they pursued the murderers and promptly administered justice, rescuing young Damien from the clutches of an incomplete demonic rite and subsequently restoring him to the shelter of the Imperial Palace.

Upon discovering that his brother Dorian had met his demise at the hands of the very pagans whom he had erroneously suspected Dorian of endorsing, Luther found himself confronting a stark revelation. His blunder loomed large before him, though its magnitude became painfully clear only in hindsight, rendering any hopes of rectification futile.

***

Rosalie stood solitary amidst the small graveyard, her gaze unflinching as she observed raindrops, heavy and relentless, rebounding off the somber black tombstones before her eyes. Numerous minutes had passed since Damien’s departure from her side in that peculiar burial ground and despite her yearning to leave her spot as well, an obstinate refusal gripped her legs, staunchly rooted in place.

’Going to the Northern border means fighting with barbarians... Is Damien upset because the wedding is just one day before his departure? Frankly, I, too, consider this unreasonable, but I guess there is nothing we can do, it is an Imperial decree after all.’

Slowly, the girl inclined her umbrella, revealing a glimpse from beneath its protective shield. Her gaze was drawn to the ponderous expanse of black cotton clouds, which, akin to the strokes of a master artist, traversed the obsidian expanse of the sky under the guidance of an enigmatic and impenetrable force.

’This is just a mere formality. We will get a blessing at the Holy Temple and go right back home. Damien will have his real grand wedding when he meets Evangelina.’