Enemies

A cold wind swept into Obsidian Palace. Grand Duke Ferdinand Wendell, tall and powerfully built, strode briskly down the long corridor. The attendants respectfully stepped aside and bowed as they watched the Empire's chief minister head toward the Emperor's study, privately wondering why the "Wolf Duke" had been urgently summoned to court.

Ferdinand did not delay for a moment. He went straight to the Emperor's room, and after an attendant opened the door, he saw the ruler of the Empire already waiting behind his desk.

"Your Majesty," Ferdinand said as he entered the study, bowing before the desk. "I have come."

"This is an urgent report from Andesa." Rosetta Augustus's face was as calm as carved stone, with no emotion visible in his deep eyes. He pushed a report copied down by a communications officer across the desk, his tone utterly flat. "We made a wrong move."

Relayed through the communication towers within the country, news from Winterwolf Fortress had reached Obsidian Palace at once.

Ferdinand had already vaguely guessed the contents of the intelligence. He stepped forward, picked up the report, and read it from beginning to end. His expression darkened bit by bit as his eyes moved across the page.

Several minutes later, the Wolf Duke looked up, his brow tightly furrowed. "Your Majesty..."

"The Cecilians are cunning, and they arranged for an exceptionally capable and troublesome commander to hold Longwind Fortress. Their scheme deceived everyone, including me—now, we have missed our chance. According to Andesa's report, a powerful mobile fortress driven by Magic-Conducting Technology has reached the Palamere region. It is supporting Longwind Fortress, and a large number of troops have arrived at the border alongside that fortress," Rosetta said calmly. "In our first clash, the Cecilians demonstrated strength beyond our expectations."

"I should bear some responsibility,"