Lord of Deception

The grand banquet erupted into chaos. Nobles whispered among themselves, warlords clenched their fists, and the Empress's expression darkened like a storm brewing over the abyss. Blood dripping from the messenger's torn armor formed a crimson pool on the marble floor.

Lucian had made his move.

Kael leaned back in his seat, fingers lightly tapping against the armrest. He had anticipated Lucian's desperation, but the swiftness of his assault was amusing. The so-called hero was finally breaking his chains of righteousness—just as Kael intended.

Nyx Velrath, seated at the far end of the banquet hall, merely sipped her wine, her crimson eyes glinting with an unreadable emotion. She had not spoken a word since the announcement, yet her presence alone cast a suffocating pressure over the room.

The Empress, Selene Nightshade, turned her gaze toward the Grand Marshal, a battle-hardened demon general with scars covering his face. "How many troops?"

The messenger struggled to breathe, his injuries taking their toll. "F-Fifty thousand… led by the Holy Order's elite Paladins. They stormed the northern strongholds, cutting through our border forces like a blade through silk."

Murmurs erupted across the hall. Fifty thousand wasn't just an attack—it was an invasion.

Kael smirked. Foolish.

Lucian had brought numbers, but the battlefield was not a game of quantity—it was one of control. And Kael controlled every piece on the board.

Selene exhaled, her fingers tightening around her goblet. "This is no minor skirmish. We must retaliate immediately."

The Grand Duke of the Infernal Expanse leaned forward. "Perhaps we should allow Duke Kael to handle this matter. After all, he has proven himself… capable."

Kael chuckled at the thinly veiled insult. They were testing him, seeing if he would falter under pressure. He met the Grand Duke's gaze, his voice calm.

"Why waste soldiers on a meaningless battle?" Kael's words carried a weight that made the nobles pause. "Lucian's forces are not here to conquer. He seeks desperation—a reckless attempt to force the empire into a full-scale war before his own kingdom collapses."

Selene narrowed her eyes. "You're saying we should… let them march further?"

Kael's smirk deepened. "No. I'm saying we should trap them in their own ambition."

He stood, his presence alone shifting the atmosphere. "I will handle this matter personally. But we will not meet them with brute force. We will let them win—or at least, let them believe they have."

The Empress studied him for a long moment. "And what do you require?"

Kael turned to Nyx, his mother, who had been silently observing. "Mother."

Her eyes gleamed with dark amusement. "My darling son… you need something from me?"

"Lend me your shadow assassins."

The nobles shuddered. The Velrath Shadows were more than mere spies—they were executioners that erased entire bloodlines without leaving a trace. If Kael deployed them, this war would be over before it even began.

Nyx's lips curled into a delighted smile. "Anything for you, my son."

Selene hesitated. "If we use assassins—"

Kael cut her off. "Lucian is no longer the hero of prophecy. He abandoned that path the moment he decided to invade. Now, he is just another piece to be removed."

Silence followed. Then, the Empress nodded.

"Do as you see fit, Duke Kael."

Kael turned to the messenger. "Tell your comrades to hold the line. Do not counterattack. Do not advance. Let Lucian push deeper into our territory."

The messenger hesitated before nodding and rushing out.

Kael then turned back to his mother. "Send your assassins ahead. Cut off supply lines, remove commanders, and ensure the Holy Order drowns in paranoia."

Nyx grinned. "It will be done."

Kael turned back to the gathered nobles, his voice low and decisive.

"This war was over before it even started."

And with that, he left the banquet, his mind already ten steps ahead of the fools who thought they could challenge him.

To be continued.....