Chapter 412: Mad King Henry?

Chapter 412 -280: Mad King Henry?

Henry walked to the window, looking out at the street below. Under the cover of night, the city had regained some of its former tranquility. He took a deep breath and said with a firm tone, “Yes, this intangible prestige… As long as we keep advancing, as long as we keep winning, this prestige will continue to accumulate and eventually become a terrifying power.”

The corners of Henry’s mouth lifted slightly, revealing a ruthless smile. A near-fanatical light gleamed in his eyes, as if he could already see his own glorious future.

Henry slowly turned around, clasping his hands behind his back. He began to pace slowly, each step so steady and powerful it was as if the very ground beneath his feet was making way for him.

“Claude, after all this fighting, I’ve realized something. Trying to kill every last enemy is a waste of my time and the lives of my soldiers.

Those potential enemies… They should be working for me, not ending up as cold corpses.”

Henry stopped pacing, his gaze as sharp as a blade. He stared directly into Claude’s eyes, as if to carve his thoughts deep into the other man’s mind.

“If I have to fight my way through this step-by-step, how long will it take? My time is precious, my life is precious. I can’t waste them on such meaningless attrition.”

Henry had already found a shortcut to success, and that shortcut was to make everyone fear him, to make them dread him.

“I must make everyone else fear me, dread me!” Henry’s voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable authority.

“When they see me, they will do nothing but tremble, kneel, and kiss my boots, offering me their lives and their loyalty!”

A glint of madness flashed in his eyes, as if he could already see himself standing at the pinnacle of power, looking down upon the trembling subjects at his feet.

His hands clenched into tight fists, his nails digging so deep into his palms that he didn’t even notice the pain.

“This is the only way. It’s what I am meant to do,” Henry’s voice was a roar from the very depths of his soul.

“I will make them understand that I am unstoppable, that I am invincible!”

His gaze returned to the window. The city below had regained some of its former tranquility under the cover of night. He would shatter that tranquility and plunge the entire world into fear of him.

Claude blinked. Watching Henry’s display, he didn’t know what to say. A complex look flickered in his eyes.

‘He just felt that Henry had been acting strangely lately, seeming to have become extremely irritable and arrogant. This isn’t a good sign.’

Claude quickly shook his head, dispelling the unsettling thought.

‘After thinking about it carefully, it seemed there was nothing wrong with Henry acting this way.’

‘After all, Henry is a young, invincible, and illustrious Border Count of the Empire. The army under his command is unparalleled in loyalty and bravery, and countless nobles follow him.’

‘Such achievements and such a status are enough to make anyone confident, even a little arrogant.’

‘What’s wrong with being arrogant? It’s perfectly normal.’

‘It’s inevitable that a young man who has achieved so much in such a short time would get a little carried away.’

‘And irritable? No, no, no, you can’t say Henry is irritable. Perhaps he’s just dissatisfied with the world.’

‘If the world didn’t have so much injustice, so many obstacles, why would Henry be angry?’

「Far to the west.」

The party of Count Akakarat, who had fled in advance, had already reached the Feikawen region. Their speed could only be described as astonishing; they had barely stopped to rest.

Along the way, they hid by day and traveled by night, riding without stopping as if countless pursuers were on their tail. The Count himself had shed his former indecisiveness, becoming resolute and determined.

If they were caught by Henry’s army, total annihilation would await them.

The area was remote with complex terrain, full of rolling hills and dense forests, making it very suitable for hiding and resting.

The Count’s party arrived late at night. They chose a hidden valley near a stream to make camp.

Although they were exhausted, no one dared to lower their guard. They set up multiple rings of sentries as a precaution against the unexpected.

「The next day.」

While his party was resting in a nearby nobleman’s town, they overheard news that Akakarat City had been breached by Henry’s Alliance Army. They also heard of the horrific massacre Henry’s forces had carried out against the lesser nobles and merchants within the city.

The Count’s face instantly turned pale. The hand gripping his wine cup trembled slightly, spilling wine onto the tabletop, but no one noticed.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm the tempest raging within him. A moment later, he slowly opened his eyes, a complex emotion flickering within them.

“So Henry showed no mercy… That wolf cub is more of a barbarian than the barbarians.” The Count’s voice was low and hoarse, as if squeezed from the depths of his throat.

“My lord, what should we do now?” the middle-aged Knight beside him asked cautiously, a trace of unease in his voice.

The Count didn’t answer immediately. His gaze drifted to the night sky, searching for an answer. The sky was filled with dark clouds, and occasional flashes of lightning illuminated his anxious face.

“I’m afraid we can never go back,” the Count said. His voice held a trace of helplessness, but even more so, relief.

‘I escaped just in time. Otherwise, I would have been another victim of Henry’s butchery.’

“Then where will we go?” another Knight asked, his voice tinged with confusion.

The Count was silent for a moment, then said slowly, “We’ll go to Feikawen for a few days to take refuge. He and I have some history, so he might provide us with supplies.”

“But, my lord, Count Henry’s father is in the Feikawen region…” the Knight said worriedly.

The Count forced a bitter smile. “He probably won’t move against me just to curry favor with Henry. The Emperor’s attitude toward Henry has undergone a complete reversal, and Feikawen is too far from the grasslands and too close to Lukaron.”

“My lord, will Henry spare us?”

The Count shook his head. “By the code of the nobility… Henry won’t spare me. He’s not a normal noble. He doesn’t abide by agreements, but he won’t find me easily, either.”

“Then… what about the family?”

The Count’s face instantly darkened. A flash of pain crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by resolve. “If Henry goes after them, there’s nothing to be done. I cannot sacrifice the entire family’s future for their sake.”

‘As long as I am alive, and my son is alive, the family lives on!’

The Knights beside him fell silent. They knew the Count had a point, but the pain in their hearts was still hard to quell.

‘The glory and wealth we once had, the looks of admiration and awe from others—we won’t be experiencing those again anytime soon.’

‘Unless we were to lord it over some common farmers, but that would be far too undignified.’

The Count sighed and patted the middle-aged Knight’s shoulder, trying to offer some comfort. “We will get it all back. Once we have enough power, we will reclaim everything that belongs to us.

Besides… Henry’s position is precarious now. He seems powerful, but in reality, he’s surrounded by enemies. Henry and his army are strong, but he has weaknesses, too.”

“My lord, what do you believe Henry’s weakness is?”

“Henry’s weakness is his ambition! His ambition is too great… so great that he can’t control it.”

“My lord, do you have a plan?”

The Count shook his head. “No, but I believe that opportunities always present themselves to those who are prepared. As long as we wait patiently, an opportunity will come.”

“You’re right, my lord.”

The Count tried to encourage his loyal guards. “Alright, everyone go and rest. We have to be on the road again tomorrow to seek supplies from Feikawen.”

“You should also get some rest, my lord,” the Knights said one after another, then turned and left the tent.

The Count sat alone in the tent, gazing at the night sky, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes.

‘I may have escaped for now, but the threat still remains.’