🦋M.o.m.m.y V.i.l.l.a.i.n.e.s.s🦋

Chapter 94

"IF THE land of Oakes became an independent state, then His Majesty and the empire would no longer have any authority or control over us," Tilly said, carefully absorbing her husband's suggestion. "Oakes will become a Grand Duchy. Of course, we will be the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess."

Kiho nodded. "Yes, we will become a sovereign monarch."

"It won't be easy," she said worriedly. "His Majesty would definitely not allow our duchy to become an independent state. We will certainly have to fight for our independence. Since we've already waged a war on His Majesty, making it official wouldn't make a difference. But…"

Of course, going on a war against the empire had its pros and cons.

"What is it, honey?"

"The Prescott Knights are relatively smaller in number compared to His Majesty's army," she said. "When we waged war on His Majesty, I wasn't that worried because I know that he wouldn't use his army since he doesn't want to reveal to the public that I'm the heart. But if the war becomes official, I'm sure that he'd summon every troop under his command. Wouldn't we be in a disadvantage?"

"That would definitely be the case."

"I don't like wars," she confessed while shaking her head. "Because whenever a war broke in, the most affected by the conflict would always be the poor. Oakes is a rich land. But our governance isn't perfect. There are still poor people that I don't want to suffer once we go on a war against the empire."

"Your concern is valid, Tilly," Kiho said gently, then he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "But whether we 'officially' go to war or not, His Majesty will still oppress us. He will go after your heart after a year. But he knows that he has to go through me first before he gets to you. To do that, he'd bring me down as the Duke of Oakes and invade our territory."

Her eyes widened in shock because she didn't see that coming from her perspective. "You mean His Majesty will destroy you as a duke and claim our territory?"

He nodded firmly. "I've been sent to war by His Majesty several times. He loves destroying his enemies' territories first. I've seen him take another kingdom's royal family and force them to watch their people die one by one. He acts like a child to his allies. But he's a merciless tyrant in front of his enemies. You haven't seen that side of the emperor, have you?"

She shook her head. "I thought His Majesty was a generous emperor."

"Honey, no one is right or wrong in a war," he gently told her. "There's only the strong and the weak. The victor in a war isn't good– they just happen to be stronger than the enemies."

Ah, this was the wisdom of a man who had been to war many times.

Kiho wasn't being calloused. He was just trying to teach her the realities of war. She had never been directly affected by war because her affluent upbringing had always sheltered her.

But now, she had to lead a war with her husband.

"Tilly, please don't get me wrong," Kiho said gently. "I'm not promoting war. I would void it if I could. But our enemy isn't just anyone– it's His Majesty. We should be as prepared as possible before he makes his move."

"I understand, hon," she said. "What should we need to improve our family's military power? I think our combined our fortune would be enough to equip our knights with the best tool and weapons to protect them in a battle."

"Yes, we need good weapons," he agreed. "If you and Lord Prescott would allow me, I'd like to personally train the knights at Oakes."

"Of course, we'd be glad and honored to have you as the family knights' instructor, hon," she said. "Thank you, Kiho."