Published: July 4, 2025
Here, the Empire has been completely divided.
The current emperor, Helmut the Eighth, holds the imperial capital and commands the majority of the Imperial Army.
The Duke of Arant, Sigismund, who killed the commander of the third army and rebelled against the Empire in the west.
The Duke of Stein, Conrad Borneimissa, who passed through the Imperial Castle and returned to his territory to strengthen its defenses.
The three sons of the former emperor are embroiled in conflict within the Empire.
At the center of it all...
Linus Warner Kruger, the viscount who incited a rebellion in the north.
Rolf, the heir of Duke Morgrund, who rebelled in the southwest.
Many imperial nobles are closely watching the situation, remaining still.
To put it more bluntly, they have no way to move.
Emperor Helmut the Eighth is not demanding anything from the nobles.
As the emperor, it is only natural that their loyalty lies with him... or at least it should be.
The only way to resolve the issues is through military power, but the largest military force within the Empire—the Imperial Army, the magical army, and the royal guard knights—are fundamentally under his command.
Thus, he does not need the assistance of the nobles.
Therefore, he does not demand anything from the imperial nobles.
In that case, the imperial nobles cannot move.
Since killing General Ivo, Duke Sigismund has consolidated his defenses in the Arant territory, but hasn’t taken any further action.
He hasn't even issued a statement.
Again, the imperial nobles cannot move.
Lastly, regarding Duke Conrad Borneimissa of Stein... he did indeed return to his territory after passing through the Tower of Prisoners in the Imperial Castle.
This amounts to defying the emperor’s orders and could be charged with treason.
However, he has not taken any concrete action.
Conrad's reputation within the Empire is extremely high.
His remarkable abilities are well-known, and his loyal subordinates are also excellent, making the strength of the Stein duchy’s military famous... naturally, many nobles are watching him closely.
If he were to clearly raise the banner of rebellion against Helmut the Eighth, the forces that would gather under him would be considerable.
Yet, he remains inactive.
Thus, the imperial nobles cannot act for now.
Linus's rebel army has swollen to four thousand men.
However, they are in a standoff against the Imperial Second Army and the Second Magical Army dispatched from the imperial capital.
Linus occupies the fortified Sakala fortress, making it difficult for the Imperial Army to take action against them.
And then there’s Rolf of Morgrund...
No actions have been taken against him.
That’s right, none at all.
Previously, the Ninth Army was dispatched.
But the Ninth Army has vanished.
Since then, Helmut has been unable to trust the Imperial Army.
He is the supreme commander of the Imperial Army, yet he cannot trust the military.
However, there are those he can trust.
They are the First Army and the First Magical Army.
These forces were organized around the units Helmut had commanded during his time as crown prince, effectively his loyal troops.
The fifteen thousand plus two thousand men are truly reliable subordinates whom Helmut knows the faces of.
He trusts only them.
Thus, the protection of the Imperial Castle has been undertaken by the First Army along with the royal guard knights since his ascension.
In times of crisis, Helmut has even begun to consider resolving matters with only the First Army and First Magical Army.
If he were to move untrustworthy troops and be betrayed during operations, defeat would be inevitable.
He believes it is better to act with a small, entirely trustworthy elite.
But the problem is, if he moves the First Army and the First Magical Army, what will happen to the protection of the Imperial Castle?
The royal guard knights remain, but... there are only two hundred of them.
Each of them is strong, but they are far too few in number.
In the current situation where the enemy forces are divided, while one group engages, another may attack the Imperial Castle.