24 Chapter 24 (2/2)
”*Gasp!* What about big sis Sophia and Isabella?? Are you cheating on them?!” She shouted at him with an angry expression.
”Who? Party girl and her friend... we are not going out, I'm still with Florestine!” Alexis said in a calm voice.
'What the hell do you mean by 'still'? you idiot!' The mother and daughter duo sweatdropped and looked at Florestine with pity in their eyes...
”Your highness, I'm not angry at all...” The woman they were looking at, turned to Alexis who shrugged and sat down on one of the chairs and poured himself some tea.
”Brother, I heard that the Empire is mobilising itself!” Irene shouted excitedly as Alexis nodded, Annalise frowned at the news and sat down, soon everyone followed her.
Florestine who was next to Alexis was still pouting but was aware of the conversation that was being made...
”Yeah, the Generals probably convinced father to expand it's territories or something... I'll be joining them too, the army is already equipped with the rifles and trained. The new recruits are taught about the rules of war and ofcourse... morality.” He stated in a matter of fact tone and glanced at Annalise.
'3... 2... 1...' Alexis counted as Annalise shouted.
”NO! I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO GO INTO A WAR!” She shouted and glared at Alexis who shook his head.
”Don't stop me, this will give me and my army more experience in battle... and I can also get some merit!” He smiled as Annalise walked upto him, she was frowning in anger.
”Mother, calm down!” Irene shouted and quickly grabbed Annalise by her hand before she could do anything to her beloved brother.
”Don't stop me! I need to teach this idiot son a lesson!” Annalise retorted but she couldn't wall upto her son as Irene held her hand preventing Annalise from doing anything rash, she looked at Alexis with teary eyes...
”...Why?” Annalise asked him desperately hoping her son would reconsider his decision.
”Mother, I've already given you my reasons... I promise you I will come back safe and sound!” He said with a wry smile and hugged her as she sobbed on his chest.
The atmosphere was very sombre, everyone felt as if something big was going to happen... it was like the calm before the storm or even, the peace before the disturbance. Something was not right and everyone was feeling it...
-●-●-●-
Alexis then set off to the Imperial castle where his father lived in.
The guards at the door opened the door hurriedly and motioned him to enter respectfully, Alexis walked in and saw Aurelius sign a piece of paper.
”Father...” He called out as Aurelius looked up and saw his son who was looking at him curiously.
”Alexis, what are you doing here?” He asked his son as Alexis shrugged and sat on top of his table, Aurelius twitched an eyebrow at his son's lack of mannerisms when it comes to sitting.
”Nothing much, I just want permission from you to fight in the coming invasion...” Alexis said with a smile and glanced at the beautiful city in the distance.
”Are you going to take an army from one of 'your' Generals or your 'secret' army?” Aurelius asked him while hinting at a few things Alexis had hidden from him.
”Did you get to know of it recently or from the beginning? Either way, I'm still impressed with your spy network... So, will you give me permission?” Alexis replied and asked him once again.
”Even if I reject, you will still go, won't you? And besides, the Generals will probably revolt against me... I must say, that was a good idea getting the support of the military!” Aurelius laughed as Alexis snorted in amusement.
”Well... I need to weed out the rotten eggs of the Empire once I take over the throne, getting the army will make things easier!” Alexis shrugged.
”Alexis, tell me the truth... did you release the information of the rifle to other nations?” Aurelius asked his son calmly.
”What if I did?” Alexis asked him with a innocent smile.
”...May I know the reason?” Aurelius did not get angry at his son, there was no point in getting angry at something that was already done...
”To balance the power scale of the continent... If they got to know of the rifles, all three would unite and attack the Empire... even if we were the richest, strongest and the biggest nation in the world, we cannot win against the combined force of the other three great nations.” Alexis explained as Aurelius listened intently.
”That was one reason, the other one is the masses...” Alexis said as Aurelius looked confused.
”What do you mean?” He asked his son.
”If a nation was defeated instantly, how the masses of the said defeated nation react once they were conquered?” Alexis asked his father with a smirk.
”They would accept occupation or rebel?” Aurelius answered confusedly as Alexis shook his head.
”They will definitely rebel! The human mind works in mysterious ways, if the war is too long, they will rebel... if the war is too short, they will rebel... We need to give them a fighting chance, that way... we can break the morale of the entire country at once, we need to make sure to defeat them at the optimum time and to bait them into thinking they can win at the same time!” Alexis clarified as Aurelius looked at him with a complicated gaze.
Aurelius was proud of his son, very proud... but his peaceful ideals often collided with his son's own war monger-ish ideals...
”Do what you want... just don't die out there!” He stated and looked at Alexis worriedly.
”When will the invasion of the Satellian Empire start?” Alexis asked.
”Didn't your Generals tell you?” Aurelius fired back a question with a smirk on his face.
”Nope!” Alexis said with a straight face.
”In two months... The Republic and the Kingdom have started production, both are already threatening each other!” Aurelius said solemnly.
”By the way, how is it going with the Florestine girl?” He asked with a perverted grin as Alexis groaned inwardly and smiled mischievously.
”You will be a Grandfather next year!” Alexis told him with a smirk as Aurelius was shocked.
”ARE YOU FOR REAL?!” Aurelius grabbed his son's shoulders and asked him excitedly, Alexis felt bad now for lying...
”No! No! I was joking...” Alexis replied with an apologetic expression as Aurelius seemed a bit downcast.
”You are a man now! You need to... you know~” His father wiggled his eyebrows and giggled, his face was so disgusting that Alexis almost vomited, ”I need a grandson after the war, so you better try hard!” he declared as Alexis shook his head at his father's antics.
”fine! fine! I'll be leaving now...” Alexis informed him and walked out while Aurelius went back to signing and checking the papers for any discrepancies...