You were made to farm, and now you're the emperor of an empire?

Chapter 435 The Last Loyalist

The Conqueror Order has been recognized by all nobles for over a century.

The reason is that although the king is the supreme ruler, he does not have the power of dictatorship.

Each Iron King has been subject to multiple constraints.

The Black Iron Kingdom was under both order and religious authority.

If a king wanted to execute a nobleman, he had to go through procedures such as a royal trial, legal ruling, and charges; he could not arbitrarily execute a nobleman.

The king was less a king and more a nobleman standing at the top of the pyramid.

When the Iron King rallied all the noble armies in the name of the conquerors, he was able to form a formidable force that rivaled the Papacy.

This is a traditional political tactic.

The king mediated conflicts among the various noble families domestically and counterbalanced the pressure from the Papacy externally.

The court officials initially pledged allegiance to Princess White Steel because of her wisdom and courage, which could make Black Iron great again and revitalize the Central Kingdom, just like the conquerors of over a hundred years ago, turning the tide and reshaping the order of the land.

And they will become the initial followers, winning honors and receiving fiefdoms.

Things went smoothly as always.

With the support of her ministers, Tahithina joined forces with the King of the Valley to conquer Lion's Territory—a victory that, despite being a risky move, was still a great triumph.

Tahithina successfully ascended the throne as queen.

Then, they should start from Lion Territory and travel to various parts of the land, using interests and blood ties as bonds to contact the surrounding nobles, using force or eloquence to win some over and defeat others, making many friends and few enemies, so as to demonstrate their value in the future war.

All the ministers thought so.

All of this should have happened as it should have.

It should have gone that smoothly.

Even a smooth-sailing future, so close and within easy reach... vanishes like a dream!

The new queen is completely different from the conquerors of a century ago!
She opposed both the Papacy and the nobility!

Without any charges, the queen personally massacred the noble vassals in a cruel and heinous manner.

And that's what she learned from Roman.

A domineering and dictatorial approach will force all people to bow down to one's ruling will!
……

"My king, how could you be so determined?" Damon's throat was bitter, and the smell of blood filled his nostrils.

Tashina saw the deep sorrow on the man's face across the council table.

This was the first time she had seen this seemingly kind and amiable minister reveal such genuine feelings.

Just like the resilient girl Damon first met, standing in the open space, as white as a stone.

She is not good with words, but her actions are amazing. Despite her young age, her eyes are surprisingly sharp, and her expression is always indifferent, as if she does not know any joy or happiness.

At that point, he began to believe what Éolion had said: that this was a child personally given to the Black Iron royal family by Éonus the Conqueror.

Time flies, white horses pass by.

Their feelings were completely different now. "Your Majesty, no, I beg you," Damon pleaded silently. He was a high-ranking official, dressed in fine silks and adorned with ten different gemstones on his fingers.

He was over fifty years old and had grown accustomed to the weight of the gemstone. He turned the cat's eye stone on his finger again and again, but he did not use the gemstone's power. He did not use it to try to probe Tashina's determination, nor did he want to face the cruel reality, even though it had already been laid bare before him in blood.

Tahithina had no reservations. She said, "I will not tolerate any dissenting voices!"

These words pierced Damon's heart. For a moment, his expression turned to despair, his plump, round face turning ashen and pale. Finally, he closed his eyes in anguish and held his breath.

Tana, my Queen, how could you do this? Don't you know my loyalty and how much I care for you?
His Majesty Iolion and I both cherish you dearly!
I defected from Blackburg, abandoning all the generous conditions Duke Raget offered me, all so that one day you could return to Blackburg openly and legitimately, and let the world know that you are the true king.

What happened to you? How did you become like this?
Damon was filled with anguish, the jewel in his finger trembling: "Lion Territory is your kingdom, and a qualified king must govern his own kingdom, never through the hands of others!"

Tasina warned him seriously, "Damon, things are different now. Don't even think about stopping me."

I understand, I understand... But my Tana, you don't understand. If you follow Lord Roman's path, you will never be able to defeat him in the end!

If you insist on going down this path, how will he treat you then? Will you lower your proud head? The lion's den, littered with heads, will be your end!

Damon desperately wanted the girl in front of him to understand this principle.

But she wouldn't listen; he knew her nature all too well.

Damon was utterly devastated.

“Your Majesty Tana, I cannot comply.” He could only tighten his expression. “I am to govern the land of the Black Iron King. No matter how much you object, I will propose that Lord Roman’s men leave this place to ensure that the people here only know you as their ruler.”

Tasina's expression finally changed. "Damon, you didn't have to do this."

“Yes, I don’t need to do that,” said the former minister of Blackburg who once held the reins of finances. “I have served the Iron King for half my life, and before he went to war, he ordered me to serve you, to help the Son of Ionus save the land and restore the collapsed order of the conquerors…”

Tahithina stared at Damon. "If you are loyal, you should obey me unconditionally."

"But I am also loyal to the Dark Iron Royal Family!" Damon cried out in despair, like a child witnessing the end of the world, "Even though it is now defunct in name only!"

After a moment of silence, Tasina said, "...You can leave, leave this place, and go with the people who escaped."

"Where to? You want me to pledge allegiance to your brother? That false king? Blackburg is no longer the Blackburg of the Iron King; the figure sitting on the throne is nothing but a puppet. And you... my queen, you are no different..." the minister said sarcastically.

Tahith remained silent; she still harbored feelings for Damon. He was the minister her father had appointed to care for her, a shrewd and capable man who had always been devoted to his duties.

“Your Majesty, do you really intend to dedicate the rest of your life to this path? And since I am what you consider a remnant of the old era, why not just make things more straightforward?” The minister smiled as he stood amidst the blood.

Tashina could see the despair behind the smile on the man's face; it was a disillusionment born of shattered illusions and ideals turned into mere bubbles.

She was puzzled until she suddenly understood at a certain moment when she led the White Knights to attack Blackburg.

That was the death of the heart of the last loyalist of the Ionian dynasty, which had lasted for over a century. A once powerful and wealthy central kingdom disintegrated in just a few years—and when no one cherishes a power or tries to save it, it is completely buried in the annals of history, never to exist again. Ironically, the last mound of earth that buried this vast kingdom was not the son of Ionus, but a seemingly shrewd and cunning finance minister.

Perhaps because of her bloodline, she felt a touch of sadness and emotion, but quickly returned to rationality, like a cold, ruthless, noble, and beautiful marble statue.

She felt that the conqueror order was no longer able to cope with future crises.

An unprecedented tide of shadows is sweeping across the Netherworld, and this land is about to face a crisis that is more severe and cruel than it was a hundred years ago.

A moment later, she turned and left the crimson council chamber, sword in hand.

……

(End of this chapter)