The World Is Mine For The Taking

King Bethlan's POV

I stared at the letter laid out before me, the words of my ambassador burning into my mind. The Empire had officially declared their intent to invade my kingdom. I pressed a hand to my temple, exhaling a slow, heavy sigh. The civil unrest within our borders wasn't even quelled yet, and now this—a new international threat looming on the horizon, one I had no immediate solution for.
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I was seated at the far end of the dining table, the grand hall filled with members of my royal court. Their concerned faces surrounded me, though none dared to speak out of turn.

"What course of action shall we take, Your Majesty?" asked my advisor, his voice thick with unease. He was a man of formidable stature, with a protruding belly and a beard so long it dragged along the floor. Bald as the day he was born, he once told me he grew the beard out to compensate for his lack of hair.

"The Kingdom of Bethlan isn't merely in a stalemate," he continued. "We are cornered, Your Majesty, trapped between two insurmountable walls. If we fail to act decisively, the Kingdom will surely fall."

I clenched my jaw, my gaze flicking back to the letter. The Empire of Rodonia hammering at our gates, while the insurgents gnawed at our foundations from within. Headache after headache, yet no relief in sight. We'd been making progress rooting out the insurrection, but now the Empire's declaration was a slap across the face, sent with the mockery of formality.

"It's generous of them to send a letter," I muttered, before tossing it into the furnace, watching as the flames eagerly consumed it.

"A rare show of honesty from the Rodonians," my King of Arms quipped. He was my younger brother, ever the sharp-tongued cynic. "It's almost laughable."

I allowed myself a short laugh, though it held no real humor. "Laughable indeed. Those fools think themselves conquerors, yet their tactics are as transparent as glass. They only target nations with weaker militaries—easy prey. They can't stomach a real fight."

The Empire of Rodonia, a kingdom of fools ruled by the biggest fool of them all. Their emperor was a coward, a man who had never set foot on a battlefield, content to let others fight and die for his ambitions.

"And that spineless bastard dares to call himself a conqueror?" I snorted in disdain. "The man is still suckling from his mother's tit."

"Your Majesty," my counselor interrupted, his tone sharp but respectful. "Might I remind you to temper your words? As a king, it would do well to uphold a sense of decorum."

I waved a dismissive hand, leaning back in my chair. "I speak only the truth, Counselor. If the so-called emperor had even half a man's courage, he'd lead his own armies into battle instead of sending others to die in his place."

The current emperor was nothing compared to his predecessors. In truth, he wasn't even a legitimate ruler—just a snake who usurped the throne, murdering his way to power. Now, he abused that stolen authority to prey on the weak, a vulture circling over dying nations.

"He declares war on us because he sees us as weak," I said, my voice laced with venom. My hand reached for the dagger at my side, and with a swift motion, I drove it into the table. The wooden surface bore countless scars from my frustrations, evidence of my ire over the years.

"I'd relish the chance to slit his throat myself," I growled, my voice low and deadly. "To parade his severed head through the streets for all to see."

My brother laughed, a hearty, deep sound that filled the room. "That's what I like to hear, my brother! I'll march to war by your side and bathe in the blood of our enemies. Let them try us!"

The counselor, ever cautious, cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, you are a king now. There is no need for you to take up arms. You're not a warmonger, nor some barbaric conqueror seeking to plunder nations. You are the just and beloved King of Bethlan. The people look to you for wisdom, not swords."

I met his gaze, my expression hard. "Do not mistake my crown for a shield, Counselor. Before I became king, I was but a knight, sworn to serve and protect. I was not born to this station, nor did I inherit it through some divine bloodline. I rose because I married the Queen."

My fingers drummed against the edge of the table as I continued, my voice laced with both pain and resolve. "The king before me entrusted me with his daughter—his treasure—and his kingdom. I swore an oath to guard them both with my life. But I failed."

The room fell silent, the weight of my words pressing down on everyone.

"I failed to save her from death," I said, my voice quieter now, yet no less fierce. "She gave her life to bring our daughter into this world. How could I curse her for it? My daughter is the only piece of her I have left. Now that my Queen is gone, it is my duty to ensure this kingdom survives—for her, for our daughter. I will rip the heads from the shoulders of any who threaten her safety, be they insurgents or imperial dogs."

My hand clenched into a fist. "So do not tell me I have no reason to fight, Counselor. I have every reason in the world."

The counselor bowed his head low, his voice filled with contrition. "Forgive me, Your Majesty. I spoke out of turn."

"There is nothing to forgive," I said with a dismissive wave. "What matters now is strategy. The Empire won't reach us easily—not for the next three or four years, at least. Our terrain is too treacherous, and their forces lack the mobility to traverse it. Even if they mimic our methods, they'll need vast resources and time to succeed. For now, we must focus on eliminating the insurgents within our walls. These traitors are the true threat."

The members of the royal court murmured their agreement, nodding in unison.

"And yet," I added, my voice softening, though no less determined, "I long for this to be over. I want my daughter to come home."

My gaze lingered on the distant window, the sky beyond offering no solace. Because of the betrayals in this very court, I had no choice but to send her away—to another country, to safety. She is studying there, far from the chaos we endure. But every day, I miss her more than words can express. I would bleed, sweat, and kill as many as it takes to secure her future and this kingdom's survival. Nothing else matters to me but that.

I clenched my fists again, the longing for my daughter fueling the fire in my chest. Soon, I promised myself. Soon, I'll bring her back where she belongs.