"What?"
Duke Phillips almost lost his composure when he saw the royal decree. The order came suddenly, without any warning.
Emilia, who stood beside him, looked at the parchment in his trembling hands. "So… you have to go?" she asked softly.
"Do I have any other option?" Duke Phillips sighed, rubbing his forehead. His voice carried a faint trace of irritation. "All this for some treasure that won't even end up in our hands anyway."
His face darkened. Calling such a large force together could easily destabilize the region. The ruffians hiding in the borderlands would surely take advantage of the chaos.
"It seems the eldest will have to step up and take over the estate," he said quietly. "And tell Julia to be careful…"
He looked deeply into Emilia's eyes before continuing. "This war will remove the burden of choosing a side for some time. But when it ends, it will turn into a brutal slaughter."
