The palace was eerily silent after the feast. In the bridal chamber, Malik and Viola sat in awkward silence. The two seemed uneasy, with few words exchanged. Viola, still clad in her wedding gown, kept her head bowed, unable to meet Malik's gaze. Her expression betrayed nervousness and discomfort that she could barely hide.
Malik observed Viola gently and offered a faint smile. "Princess Viola," he said softly but sincerely. "Don't worry. I won't do anything that makes you uncomfortable. I understand this marriage was orchestrated by the King, and I agreed only to help find your missing brother. So, please, rest easy."
Malik glanced upward slowly. "Earlier, you asked how I knew someone named Kirana. She was a friend of my father's."
Hearing this, Princess Viola was startled. "How is that possible? She's my sister."
Malik was equally shocked. The two locked eyes, and the laughter they had suppressed finally erupted. They laughed freely together in the room. A servant passing by the door smiled, though what they imagined was far from the truth.
After their laughter subsided, Malik stood and began arranging a sleeping area on the floor. "You can rest peacefully on the bed. I'll sleep down here."
Hearing this, Viola looked up, her face flushed. In a near whisper, she replied, "Hmmm… You shouldn't sleep on the floor. Take the bed. I don't mind." Despite her embarrassment, her words carried genuine sincerity.
Malik chuckled softly. "Rest well, Princess. We'll get through this together."
Outside their room, the palace grew quiet. The guests had departed, leaving only a few servants on duty. In King Bernault's study, Nico was still deep in discussion with the King.
"Very well, Your Majesty," Nico said, rising from his chair. "Allow me to take my leave. I hope my son won't trouble you and can assist in lightening your burdens."
King Bernault smiled, his expression one of satisfaction. "Thank you, Nico. I've already sent orders to deploy 10,000 troops to Kahsgar. Combined with Blacktiger's forces, the total will be 17,000."
Nico nodded, then said, "Will Your Majesty lead the troops personally? If not, I fear internal conflicts could arise. It might also be wise for Jones to join. Leaving him in the city without oversight could pose a risk."
Bernault fell silent, contemplating. "Then who will guard Soltera while I lead?"
Nico smiled faintly and cautiously replied, "I don't mean to overstep, Your Majesty, but my son, Ming Tang, could take on the role. He's already part of your family, and I'll assist him in maintaining Soltera's stability. With the Tang family's influence among merchants, the people will find it easier to place their trust in us."
Bernault smiled and chuckled softly. "Alright. If we succeed in conquering Kahsgar, their resources will end the food crisis. But if we fail..." He paused, his smile hardening. "At least we'll eliminate those bandits for good."
Nico rose and saluted respectfully. "Very well, Your Majesty. I'll take my leave."
The King nodded, watching Nico depart with several servants.
When Nico arrived at his residence, someone was already waiting by his carriage. Without much conversation, he entered the carriage, which promptly set off, rolling through Soltera's dark streets.
Inside the carriage, the light of a lantern illuminated Nico's face and that of a man named Yu Fei. Their conversation was conducted in hushed tones, full of caution.
"That's all the information I can provide," Nico said quietly but firmly. "We only have 6,000 troops, while they have 17,000. But I've set traps on both sides of the battlefield. Those bombs just need to be triggered by our commander at the right moment. After that, our forces can sweep the rest. If this plan succeeds, our mission will be complete."
Yu Fei offered a faint smile. "The Emperor truly chose wisely. I never expected that within three years, a nation could be brought to its knees through strategy like this."
Nico nodded slightly and continued, "Additionally, I'll deploy 50 men to infiltrate and eliminate the bandit leaders and King Bernault. Simultaneously, we must rally the people to support Malik. That way, all power in Soltera will be firmly in our hands."
Yu Fei listened attentively, then added, "Oh, and one more thing. Someone who's been missing for a long time will reappear."
He whispered something into Nico's ear. Hearing it, Nico simply smiled, his eyes gleaming with intent. "Let's hope there are no obstacles in the end."
The carriage rolled on, leaving tracks on Soltera's quiet streets, as though the night itself held countless secrets waiting to be unveiled at the right moment.
In less than a month, the troop deployment was complete. Soltera's forces began their march toward Kahsgar, led personally by King Bernault. Beside him, Jones observed everything with a knowing gaze. Jones's presence alongside the King wasn't well-received by the people, but they understood that supporting both of them was the best option to keep their lives stable.
Cheers erupted from the crowd as the massive army began its march. Along the roads, banners fluttered, the sound of war drums resonated, and the soldiers marched with spirited steps. Yet behind the festive atmosphere, tension cloaked the army's movement.
Jones, walking closer to King Bernault, broke the silence between them. "I can't believe you're deploying this many troops," he said, his tone laced with calculation. "But I assume something significant has caught your attention."
Bernault glanced at him, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips. "Of course. Kahsgar has fertile lands and abundant agricultural yields. If we wish to survive, that territory must be ours. Their army is small, so victory is assured."
Jones nodded, his eyes scanning the rows of soldiers ahead. "Good," he replied curtly. Their conversation did not go further, reflecting a relationship steeped in mutual suspicion despite their shared goals.
"Oh, by the way," Jones added in a casual tone, though with a hint of sarcasm. "Congratulations on your daughter's wedding, Princess Viola. May they be happy."
King Bernault gave a slight smile, responding with equal irony. "The wedding went smoothly, despite some minor disruptions. Fortunately, everything was resolved."
The two exchanged thin, knowing smiles, their true thoughts hidden beneath the surface. Meanwhile, the army continued its march through Soltera's gates, moving further away from the city.
In his heart, Jones recalled Nico's promise: once King Bernault was dethroned, the Tang family would cede control of their food trading enterprise to him. Furthermore, he planned to marry Princess Viola as his legitimate wife, divorcing and punishing Malik. It was a grand scheme he kept closely guarded.