Marry One, Get Them All / Your Heart's Fluttering, Isn't It, Your Majesty? (Double Chapter)

Fortunately, amid this mad era, Iori still had a firm grip on the most crucial turning points:

First, Esdeath had successfully defeated the northern tribes and ended the battle cleanly and decisively. The Northern Frontier's safety probably would not need worrying about for quite some time.

Second, the minister had issued a royal protection decree, summoning outside troops into the capital and ordering officials across the land loyal to the Empire—or rather, loyal to him—to send forces to protect the throne.

Just as Iori had hoped, an "evil force" centered around Honest and the puppet emperor had emerged. The vermin once hidden throughout the Empire had now revealed themselves and gathered together.

Of course, some had infiltrated the Revolutionary Army, while others had chosen to cooperate with Anning Dao... but priorities mattered. They had to get rid of the thing sitting out in the open first!

This chaotic situation should originally have continued for some time, but news of Esdeath's victory arrived and immediately touched the nerves of every faction, becoming the fuse for the final decisive battle:

Whether it was the Empire or the Revolutionary Army, neither side wanted Esdeath's frontier army entering the fray. Both were desperate to end everything before the Northern Army crossed the pass!

The reason was simple. To both sides, Esdeath was not one of their own, and her stance was unclear. She was extremely dangerous.

Honest knew that Esdeath had broken with him, but he did not know exactly what had happened, nor could he guess her intentions. Thus, he never dared label the Northern Army as rebels. Instead, he had to reward Esdeath lavishly in name and placate her.

The Revolutionary Army, on the other hand, knew about Iori and Esdeath, but that only made them more uneasy!

After all, Esdeath had