The capital of Vider was lively as ever as the people from different places gathered here to send their devotion to the god of truth and wish for something in return, never knowing if their wish will be granted or not, but still tried to take their chances. It was bustling all around the grand plaza where the final event of the day will going to happen as an appreciation to the army of Regulus that was now an ally of the Church of the Holy See.
Inside the Cathedral where the high ranked officials of the army and the Church have gathered, sounds of murmurs and clangs of utensils could be heard on their great hall where a grand banquet was prepared for the Zodiacs and Pierre, the Lord Commander of Regulus Empire's Army.
Pierre's mood was sour as it gets, staring at every official; high priests and generals alike, with a frown of discontent on his face. Drinking a wine at the same time as the people suffering because of the war their empire brought to their neighboring countries made Pierre regretful. Regretting his decision to accept the job that his brother in-law, Leopold, gave to him and bear the weight and the pressure it gives to the person who was holding this title.
'Lord Commander of the Regulus Empire'. Sounds pleasing to the eyes and title made its bearer more heroic. But Pierre finally knew what it really means to hold the same title when he went to war with the Zodiacs.
He had seen blood spilled before, killing star beasts and demons and the likes. But this time, he was ordered to kill many innocent humans that don't have any information that they were going to be conquered, whatsoever. Pierre didn't like the feeling that dwelled on him, making his stride more heavier, kill after kill, every throat slit and limbs torn.
Cities were sacked and burned to the ground, even the citizen's shelters for war were destroyed, which became worse because there were women and children, disabled and elderlies using the same shelters as a safe haven. Even if Pierre used his authority as a Lord Commander to strictly order the army, war is still war in the end. Their conquered lands were the losers, they, the conquerors were the winners.
"We will liberate the continent! The empire will end their sufferings and bring them close to our embrace!" Pierre remembered the moral boosting speech that the emperor gave to his army before they set off several months ago. He can't believe what the emperor had said now, as he doesn't have the guts to look back, look at those kingdoms, starting from the east, to the south, and west from where they're here now.
"These thoughts... They'll fade as the time goes on", Pierre told to himself, putting his wine cup down and started to leave the great hall, and hopefully, also the people who gave flatteries to him, hoping to gain the Lord Commander's favors.
"Oh! And where does our glorious Lord Commander going, now? Perhaps, we could hear your dignified words so that the others will not be displeased as their victorious leader will not be joining them in this grand celebration", a flatterer who Pierre didn't even care to look at said out loud, seeing him leaving the great hall.
"What's so grand about this? Priests and obese nobles enjoying the pleasure of life while being inside their sacred Cathedral", Pierre thought before sighing in irritation and turning back to look at the man that dared to stop him leaving.
After turning back to look, Pierre showed a smile, thinking, "Ah.. He really is obese too, huh." The fat nobleman who talked so loud just to get his attention was now in an uncomfortable awkward situation, watching the Lord Commander slowly walking towards him. He just chuckled while keeping his posture, "Haha... Do not be so angry Lord Commander. I didn't say that to humiliate you or anything, really", he said while wiping his sweat.
"Oh... Don't worry, I am not offended or anything, Lord-", Pierre smiled at the fat noble who's name Pierre didn't know. "What is your name again, M'lord?" He asked him while putting an arm on the nobleman's shoulder.
"I-it's Lord Balish, Lord Commander. Of Ke-kerto Viscounty." The nobleman stuttered.
"Oh! Yes. Yes. The Kerto Viscounty!" Pierre shouted, looking like he was announcing the great territory of the nobleman, getting the attention of all the people in the great hall. There was an awkward silence after Pierre shouted for a moment. Guests and performers waited for him to say something, even the music died down.
"I personally apologize for my unruly etiquette, Lord Kerto. This lowly Lord Commander just wanted to go relieve myself in the bathroom and you seem to say something to me before I leave. Or would you care to accompany me while I make a living for once in the loo, hmm." There was no one making a noise in the vast great hall when Pierre talked, so the people in there clearly heard him.
They stared at the obese nobleman with contempt and mockery. Some even murmured behind their backs to convey some words to their servants. Lord Kerto understood that by the time he chose to 'gain a favor' from the Lord Commander, his life was doomed, immediately regretting his decisions.
"This... I'm not trying to get in your way, Lord Commander, sir. I just want to get your attention, that's all. Because, you see, I have four sons back in my territory and they idolize your bravery and temperament, My Lord. I perhaps wanted to ask some advice you can say to motivate them. Yes." Sweating like he was basking his plump skin in the sun, Kerto hastily came up with a reason to save his life, no, to save his territory. Just making the Lord Commander of the most powerful empire on the continent ticked off will surely endanger anyone's lands, seeing that they still have the Zodiacs and the ten- thousand-strong army rallying behind their banners, they can erase a mere viscounty territory in one night if they want to.
Pierre stared at the fat nobleman beside him seriously for a moment, then he let out a laugh, "Oh... So that's why. Well, I was raised strictly in the north by my father, so I can say that I took his stubbornness and pride as a noble. Children just have to follow their parent's footsteps until they grow up and take on the world. But pacing behind them was clearly not a good thing to do, because sometimes, getting off their traces was the right choice for them to get better," Pierre talked like he was having a sermon, his audience listened to him with a delight in their faces. He then put his arm off of Lord Kerto's shoulder and started to walk, stopping right in front of the arch that was made as an alternate door.
"As I am the Lord Commander of the Regulus army, my temper can easily be moved, as I need to be the emperor's spear to bring justice and order to the continent. Especially to those who are doing malicious deeds behind the empire's back." Pierre said, without looking back.
"You could've lost your head, Lord Kerto. I'll let you off this time, as you are just being a good father to your children. As for the others? Hmph!" Suddenly, Pierre's presence pressed down on all the people inside the great hall, creating an immediately uproar! Noblemen and priests groaned and screamed in fear and pain, while only a select few fought with Pierre's deep dark blue aura.
The pressure subsided as the Lord Commander made his way out of the great hall, making a great chance for the noblemen and the others to give the puny Lord Kerto a scowl and mockery. Embarrassing the latter and making him curl up on his seat and continued to drink his cup of wine.
"Hmph! Dared to make the Lord Commander humiliate himself, eh. You're not worthy!"
"A simple Viscount has the guts to make a move on the Lord Commander! How can they be respectful to the empire?"
"He deserves to have his whole land taken from him! The empire will make you pay for this!"
"Yeah, that's right! We'll surely watch you beg on your knees while weeping on the emperor!
"Haha! I can't wait for that! Who dares to make a bet? I'll bet three thousand gold he'll grovel on the emperor's feet."
"I'll vouch for that! I'll pay five if his head will come flying off and his body displayed on the walls of his own manor. Hahaha!"
The great hall once again became joyous as they make bets and mockeries towards Lord Kerto. In the distance, Pierre still heard the musicians make funny songs for the pig lord of Kerto that dared to throw mud on the lion's face. Even the soldiers on the far end of the great hall also drink for the fat lord's head and made bets themselves.
Pierre didn't say anything anymore as he could feel their hearts, every single one of them. Some of them wanted to go home, some wanted to kill more, some wants to stay here because they found a lover, or they just want to serve their empire to the fullest. He understood they had been in great battle themselves, keeping their minds in check, not thinking about the thoughts of the innocent lives they took or the cities they sacked.
Kingdoms falling has been a frequent new all around the continent since the ancient times. There's no absolute power in this world, and Pierre knew that. That's why he is doing his best protecting the land that he was born from. Conquering the Renald continent is definitely not the only goal that Leopold wants, seeing him drown in the power in his hands.
'The throne could eat you up and turn you mad', Pierre couldn't remember where or when he heard that, but those words marked on his heart and it will never dissipate. He still has his family, his sister and nephew, inside the imperial palace at the same time he follows the emperor's words to liberate the continent. Pierre was determined to protect them both, even at the cost of his life.
There's only the north that still remains as a threat to the empire, making Pierre's mind even more determined. The terrain of the northern hemisphere of Renald is treacherous as it was very dangerous. Making it hard for the invaders to invade and easier for the defenders to defend.
Blizzard storms, star beast waves, endless cold winter winds that seemed to soak into your bones, that's the only the tip of the iceberg when describing what does the north really looks like. Untamed lands still remains untamed as their steep mountains and icy waters made it hard for soldiers to scout the vicinity. There was almost no visibility in those steep rocky mountains in a clear weather, much more when you encountered a blizzard storm.
The north was a natural defense built for those who were living within the mountains, deep inside the rocks to sustain heat, but harder to collect food supplies. The Duke De'arc and Grand Duke Leviathan were the only outermost territories in the north. These two duchies are the most powerful noble families in the empire, especially the De'arc duchy who kept their title on their hands for hundreds of years for fending off star beast waves and sudden invasions from the two continents surrounding Renald on each sides.
The cold winds coming from the northside of the city bounced on the wall of the Cathedral and gently touch Pierre's face and hair, the blonde color hid the shade of the burn scar on his neck. It will twitch quite often, especially when he was near fire, remembering the pain that he had been through.
His dark red shaded cape swayed as he walked towards his room. Pierre sighed feeling the peace in the air here, in Vider. The Church of the Holy See was doing their job properly, keeping their capital city undisturbed even though there could be a potential invasion here, now that the empire's army was permitted to enter the city.
Opening the door on his room, Pierre sighed again, in irritation this time. There were two beautiful naked women laying on his bed and a priest waiting for him to enter. "What the fuck is these?" Pierre grabbed the young priest by the collar in anger. Checking the boy's pants at the same time, seeing that this priest in training was still not accustomed to the Church's doctrines.
"I'm sorry if I inconvenienced you in anyway, M'lord! I was just following the orders of the high priests!" The young priest wagged his hands to defend himself.
"Oh my, look who it is..." One of the naked women spoke up and slowly walked towards Pierre in an arousing way, "If it isn't the mighty Lord Commander." She placed her on Pierre's armor and went to touch his face.
Pierre threw the young priest out, "Go back. Don't disturb me anymore." The nodded and immediately runaway from there, out of Pierre's sight.
"And what about us, Lord Commander? Or should I call you 'master'... just tonight?" The second naked woman also joined the fun, her voice was more seducing than the other.
Pierre looked at the two women, and they were both captivating. Their proportions are almost unbearable for the men who get a glimpse at them. Those foolish men will surely screw them whatever they want, and these women will let them do it for a bag full of gold. Unfortunately for them, Pierre wasn't like those men who only think with their dicks.
Pierre pushed them to his bed, making both of them stumble, their exposed plump breasts bouncing at the same time. It was a delight, for sure, but not for Pierre, he still his dignity as the son of the most powerful ducal family in the empire. He wouldn't risk birthing a bastard just for a single night pleasure.
"Your pretty aggressive, master," the second woman said. Her eyes had that eastern woman charm in them, "Will you do us both? Or just me?" She said while exposing her back on Pierre.
"Hey, no fun. I wanna join in, too." The first woman said, as she tried to reach for the knots in Pierre's armor.
"... Both," Pierre said, with an indifferent look. That made the two gasped in excitement.
"So passionate, eh", the women thought.
The second woman also tried to unknot Pierre's armor and reached for the knots behind the back of the armor while embracing Pierre, both of her breasts pressing on Pierre's chest plate. Then suddenly, Pierre took of their hands, once each, "The both of you, get out."
Even before the two women had time to react to what he said, they were thrown out of his room in a gentle way, even their clothes were thrown with them. They were both left disappointed, but it's not a bad experience to be rejected by a gentleman. The two couldn't believe that them, best selling courtesans in their brothel, would be rejected like that. They thought that he was gonna be violent with them just like their other customers before, but they were both wrong.
The two dressed up on the hallway and left finding their dresses had a bag of gold in the pockets. They smiled with satisfaction, but at the same time, dissatisfied. It's rare to have to encounter someone like that, they even wanted to be Pierre's servants for the rest of their lives. They were both willing to even just be a slave for pleasure to him.
After sensing that the two were gone, Pierre sighed, incomprehensible if it was discontent or relief. His armor and cape were both now removed and left hanging on the armor rack. He was now only wearing a cotton pants and was shirtless and not wearing any footwear, just simple set of sleeping clothes.
Pierre slept peacefully that not, not distraction or noise coming from the walls at all. It could be called a simple night, until he was woken by something he didn't expect to happen.