Reading Instructions

This is the first novel I wrote a long time ago. The beginning was terrible, and I was surprised that some friends liked it and kept following along. Thank you for your support. However, I didn't have an outline for this book; I wrote wherever my dreams took me. After repeated revisions, I don't even know how I should continue. I don't really believe in massive war novels, a vast human empire where eight lords fight each other.

But most friends came for the romantic storyline between the male and female protagonists? They liked seeing the male and female protagonists love and kill each other, using the female protagonist as a villain? So, I changed it. It turned out like this, but I still believe in grand battle scenes because I like watching the Lord of the Rings movies. I want to create a scene of a war with tens of thousands of soldiers, otherwise, my settings would be wasted. After all, the origin of the previous story revolved around the Rebellion of the Eight Marquises from 20 years ago, and the ancient elven bracelets left behind [referencing the One Ring from The Lord of the Rings]. So, I had to split the book into parts. Those who like the romantic storyline of the male and female protagonists can read the first volume, consider it a prequel, chapters 1-199.

The prequel is… difficult to describe. I wrote too many explicit chapters, and the work was sealed. After major revisions, it was finally salvaged. The protagonist was tortured like a dog. If you want to read a power fantasy, read the second volume, the main story, where the protagonist makes a strong comeback.

The main story begins directly with the second part. The protagonist is going to fight the female protagonist to the death. This book has no heroine; the female protagonist is the main villain. Most of the new settings are retained, and new stories are created. Many races and countries have been added, such as the Dwarf Empire, Elf Empire, Orc Empire, Dragon Country, Swamp Country, Sky Country, Ocean Country, and Demi-humans. The first volume is European medieval gothic literature, with a rather depressing and slow plot. The second volume plans to jump directly to the birth of the Magic Steam Engine, entering the Steampunk era, a Warhammer world of magic and steam with multiple races. For the female protagonist's bracelet, I plan to reference the setting of the demon realm in A War of Ten Thousand Armies. [If you haven't seen it, you can go watch the European and American The Hobbit Trilogy.]

Below is the introduction to the old version of the story:

Starfrost Oath: Prisoner Beneath the Throne Introduction

In the Augustus Empire, where magic and battle qi intertwine and imperial power stands alongside nobility, a silent storm brews in the shadows of the magnificent palace. The Old King is aging and incompetent, the succession war for the throne is brewing beneath the surface, and the Eight Hereditary Marquises each harbor their own schemes. The Royalist Faction, Separatist Faction, and Neutral Faction are intertwined, pushing the Empire to the brink of civil war. At the center of this power vortex, a seemingly insignificant soul, who unexpectedly becomes a crucial pivot, is enduring purgatorial torment and transformation.

He is Leon von Hohenzollern, the guardian of the Northern Territory, and the second son of the Imperial God of War, Marquis Hohenzollern. However, in stark contrast to his family's illustrious reputation, he is "infamous" in the Imperial Capital of Sacrifice as a useless dandy. His magic power is meager, his battle qi is superficial, and his actions are absurd. He is the laughingstock of the nobility and a stain on his family's honor. But no one knows that within this despised body lies a desperate and clear-headed soul from another world. Upon transmigrating, Leon did not receive a powerful cheat; instead, he inherited the mess left by the original owner: his family's disappointment, his enemies' contempt, the treacherous Imperial Capital, and a cold, humiliating engagement that binds him firmly to the altar of power.

His fiancée is Elisa Windsor—the jewel of the Empire's powerful Windsor family, a cold and exceptionally talented young magic user, and a favored disciple of the Iron-Blooded Prince, Count Margaret Strauss. This marriage is a fragile alliance between the military power of the Northern Territory and the imperial financial magnates, a lifeline the Hohenzollern family seeks in the political quagmire, and the most exquisite shackles around Leon's neck. In Count Strauss's Mansion, Leon lives a life of dependence, treading on thin ice, enduring Elisa's cold scrutiny and almost cruel "guidance" day and night. In despair, he struggles to maintain his "useless" facade, desperately seeking a glimmer of hope.

The turning point begins with a meticulously planned humiliation. At Elisa's Coming-of-Age Ceremony banquet, the heir of the rival Metternich family publicly provokes Leon, intending to trample Leon and Hohenzollern's dignity into the mud. Driven to desperation, Leon, under immense pressure and a faint resonance from a dusty, mysterious bracelet he accidentally acquired, unleashes astonishing quick-wittedness and ruthlessness. He not only skillfully resolves the crisis but also publicly tears open the scars of the war from twenty years ago, issuing a bloody declaration that unexpectedly stuns the entire audience and even attracts the attention of Imperial Marshal Prince Augustus.

This incident is like a boulder thrown into still water. Leon's seemingly reckless actions unexpectedly disrupt the delicate balance of power among various factions, forcing the powerful to re-examine this "useless" pawn. He discovers that he may not be entirely without support: the seemingly dilapidated bracelet might be related to ancient Elf Empire legends and has a mysterious connection to him; and his family, who seem doting to the point of blindness (his majestic father, kind mother, god-of-war-like elder brother, and stabilizing grandfather), might be his most solid backing at crucial moments. However, the crisis escalates. Elisa's interest in the bracelet grows, viewing it as an important research sample; the Metternich family seeks revenge; the Soros family watches covetously; and the contenders for the throne attempt to win him over or exploit him…

What makes Leon even more alarmed is that he gradually realizes Elisa Windsor is not simply a cold fiancée. Her research on the bracelet, her pursuit of magic, and even her "taming" of Leon himself hide deeper motives. And those few letters from the Northern Territory, full of care and expectation, might also hide unknown secrets and lies. Beneath the Imperial Capital, undercurrents surge: relics of the Elf Empire, lost magical legacies, secrets of the Half-Elf Consort from twenty years ago… Ancient conspiracies intertwine with modern power struggles.

Realizing that only by mastering power can he control his own destiny, Leon begins to act in secret. He ventures to contact a Dwarf Master Craftsman who is friendly with his family, using knowledge from his previous world (such as the concepts of the "Spinning Jenny" and "Magic Steam Engine") as leverage to try to gain allies and a foothold for himself. Between him and Elisa, a thrilling game unfolds centered on the secret of the bracelet, personal freedom, and the fate of their families. From probing exchanges in the hot spring bath to covert competitions in the Royal Academy, and then facing the combined pressure of various factions, Leon dances on the edge of a knife, using wisdom, courage, and a bit of luck to carve out a difficult space for survival.

This is an epic of a desperate comeback. It tells the story of a modern soul in another world of magic and schemes, how he starts from a "prisoner" that everyone can bully, and through forbearance, wisdom, tenacious struggle against fate, and gradually awakening power, navigates among the Empire's top elites and powerhouses, unravels layers of mist, moves the gears of the era, and ultimately carves his name onto the throne of iron and blood and magic. In this world where friends and enemies are indistinguishable, and loyalty and betrayal intertwine, how will Leon von Hohenzollern break free from his shackles and compose his own Starfrost Oath amidst the ice and fire of the Empire? Everything begins beneath the throne, in the darkest cage.

The Relationship Between the Kingdom and the Eight Marquisates

This relationship can be summarized as: a shift from a feudal "liege-vassal" contractual relationship to a tense standoff between a "Central Imperial Government" and "Semi-Independent Warlords."

The following is a detailed explanation:

I. The King's Direct Territory: Royal Domain

Geographical and Strategic Position:

Usually located in the core of the Empire, the most prosperous regions, such as the vast plains surrounding the capital, the mouths of major rivers, and transportation hubs connecting the various marquisates.

Its geographical location is designed to "strangle the throat of the Empire," ensuring the royal family's core economic and military advantage.

Economic Foundation:

The Empire's most prosperous region: fertile land, developed agriculture, densely populated major cities, and the Empire's most important ports (if the capital is a seaport).

The Royal Family's "Money Bag": All tax revenues from the Royal Domain go directly into the royal treasury, unlike the marquisates, which only need to pay a fixed "tribute." This provides the royal family with a financial source independent of the feudal lords.

Center of Commerce and Handicrafts: The capital is inevitably the center of commerce, culture, and handicrafts in the Empire, where wealth from all over the world converges.

Military Strength:

Royal Standing Legions: The army directly controlled by the King, composed of professional soldiers, the best equipped and most highly trained. Their loyalty is to the Emperor himself, not to any local lord. This is the core of the Emperor's military power.

Imperial Guard: The elite of the elite responsible for protecting the imperial palace and the capital.

Directly Commanded Troops of the Imperial Marshal (Prince): As mentioned before, directly commanded by the King's brother (the Prince), stationed in the capital region, serving as a rapid response force to contain internal and external threats.

Administration and Law:

Direct Rule: Officials in the Royal Domain are directly appointed and dismissed by the King and are accountable to him. The King's laws are in effect here, and administrative efficiency is far higher than in the autonomous marquisates.

Location of Central Agencies: The cabinet, supreme court, ministry of finance, and all other central agencies are located here, and decrees are issued from here.

Summary: The Royal Domain is the material foundation of royal power. The extent of the King's power directly depends on how much money, soldiers, and administrative control the Royal Domain can provide.

II. The Relationship Between the Royal Domain and the Eight Marquisates: A Dynamic Balance and Game of Chess

This relationship is built on three pillars but is also filled with inherent tension.

Three Pillars (The Bonds of Law and Reality)

Historical and Legal "Liege-Vassal" Contract:

Origin: At the founding of the Empire, the King (the founding emperor) enfeoffed land to eight meritorious officials (ancestors of the Marquises) in exchange for their loyalty and service (primarily military support).

Obligations of the Marquises: In theory, the Marquises have the obligation to pay a fixed tribute to the King, abide by the basic laws of the Empire, and provide a stipulated number of troops during wartime.

Obligations of the King: The King has the obligation to protect the marquisates from foreign invasion and to arbitrate disputes between marquisates.

Electoral System: This is the pinnacle of this contractual relationship. The Eight Great Marquises have the power to elect the King, making it legally necessary for the King to maintain a certain level of respect for them.

Mutual Deterrence Through Military Might:

The King's Deterrence: The Royal Legions + the military alliance of the Royalist Faction Marquisates (Hohenzollern, Gilbert) are militarily strong enough to suppress any single or even two rebellious marquisates.

The Marquises' Deterrence: If the Eight Great Marquises unite, their military strength far exceeds the combined forces of the Royal Domain and the Royalist Faction. Therefore, the King's core strategy is always "divide and conquer," preventing the feudal lords from forming an anti-royal alliance.

Economic Interdependence:

The Royal Domain's Dependence on the Marquisates: Despite the wealth of the Royal Domain, the Empire's vast expenses (such as defending against northern barbarians and maintaining the central bureaucracy) still require tribute and support from each marquisate. Wealthy marquisates like Roland and Metternich have significant influence on imperial finances through their commercial tax revenues.

The Marquisates' Dependence on the Royal Domain/Center: The marquisates need the unified imperial market, common currency, roads, and public order maintained by the center for trade. Border marquisates (like Hohenzollern and Balk) often require military and financial support from the center when facing major external threats.

Inherent Tension and Conflict (The Root of the Current Crisis)

Autonomy vs. Centralization: This is the most fundamental conflict. The Marquises are "little kings" within their own territories, possessing almost complete power. Every ambitious Emperor of Augustus dreams of weakening the autonomy of the marquisates and transforming the Empire into a truly centralized state, such as by appointing governors, levying taxes directly, and unifying laws. This inevitably provokes strong resistance from the feudal lords.

"Listen to orders but not proclamations": During peacetime, vassal states often paid lip service to the King's commands. The King could "request" or "coordinate" but found it difficult to "order" a powerful Marquis to do anything unless there were sufficient benefits exchanged or threats of force.

Succession Crisis as a Catalyst:

Era of Strong Monarchs: A powerful King, like a founding Emperor or a restorer of a dynasty, could suppress the vassals with personal prestige and strength, expand the Royal Domain's authority, and reach the peak of centralized power.

Era of Weak Monarchs/Transition: When an old, frail, or incompetent King is on the throne (especially when facing a succession crisis), royal authority rapidly shrinks. The centrifugal forces of the vassals reach their peak; they seize the opportunity to expand their influence, withhold tribute, and even attack each other, while the King is often powerless to stop them. This is the perfect starting point for your story.

Summary Analogy

You can imagine the Augustus Empire as a joint-stock company:

The King is the Chairman and CEO, holding the highest nominal authority and directly managing the company's core, most profitable business division (the Royal Domain).

The Eight Great Marquises are Major Shareholders who also serve as General Managers of Regional Branches. They have their own independent operational rights and profit centers (their Marquisates).

The Electoral System is the power of the board of directors to elect the Chairman.

The Empire's laws and traditions are the Company Charter.

Now, the company's founder and powerful CEO (the Old King) is about to retire, and the successor is undecided. At this point, the Major Shareholders (the Marquises) begin to harbor their own schemes: some want to maintain the company's current state (Royalist Faction), some want to support a puppet Chairman to gain more benefits (Speculative Faction), and others want to simply split off their branches and go public independently (Separatist Faction).