Chapter Summaries

Princess Axo appointed Charlotte as an envoy tasked with protecting Anne, and Nanny Karen revealed that the princess was Anne’s maternal aunt. After the delegation crossed Saint Mabija into chaotic Modova, Charlotte led his three Saint Rank subordinates to confront more than two thousand bandits blocking the road.

• Princess Axo granted Charlotte diplomatic status as an envoy to the Lionheart Dynasty and charged him with protecting Anne.
• Nanny Karen explained that Princess Axo was Anne’s maternal aunt, and Charlotte realized Count Brittany was the emperor’s son-in-law.
• The delegation traveled through Saint Mabija, where Charlotte cultivated with his three Saint Rank subordinates, before entering Modova.
• Modovan bandits blocked the road, kidnapped the official reception party, and hung the officials from poles among their ranks.
• Princess Axo assigned Charlotte to deal with the bandits, and he warned his three subordinates not to be too ruthless.

Charlotte confronted Arsène Lupin Robin, a bandit leader who was secretly working with Princess Axo to protect Zimmerman’s illegitimate children. After fighting Arsène to a standstill and learning the children were Princess Axo’s grandchildren, Charlotte considered withdrawing.

• Golden Goat Herolf recognized the bandits’ leader as Arsène Lupin Robin, Zimmerman’s uncle, and the others wondered whether he had come to abduct Princess Axo.
• Charlotte charged the bandits and demanded that Arsène come forward, then challenged him for robbing them despite not being Saint Rank.
• Arsène and Charlotte exchanged sword and spear techniques, with Arsène gaining a slight advantage over Charlotte.
• Charlotte asked whether Arsène intended to steal Princess Axo, and Arsène explained that he was robbing them by agreement with her.
• Arsène revealed that he had taken Zimmerman’s illegitimate children to Modova to raise them, and Charlotte asked whether they counted as Princess Axo’s grandchildren.
• Charlotte drove Arsène back with a spear thrust and asked whether he should withdraw.

Charlotte seized an opportunity to exploit Modova’s weakness, forcing its officials to surrender and capturing Baron Sigma’s castle. He ended the chapter with his first foothold in the principality.

• Charlotte agreed to Princess Axo’s request to deliver supplies to Arsène Lupin twice a year in exchange for a promised fief.
• After rescuing Modovan officials from bandits, Charlotte learned that Modova lacked the forces to suppress Arsène Lupin and other bandit groups.
• Charlotte threatened the officials with death unless they swore fealty, and they surrendered after Golden Goat Herolf and Qiudro intimidated them.
• Charlotte questioned the officials about Modova’s cities and forces, then planned an attack on the nearby Barony of Sigma.
• Charlotte tricked Baron Sigma into opening his gates and captured him and Sigma Castle within half an hour.

Charlotte conquered Modova in eighteen days and declared it pledged allegiance to Anne Brittany. Princess Axo accepted Anne’s rule on behalf of Fars as Charlotte turned his forces toward the principality’s remaining landed nobles.

• Charlotte recruited six hundred men at Sigma Castle and set out to capture another city while Anne waited anxiously for his return.
• On the fifth day, Charlotte reported that sixteen Modovan cities had voted to pledge allegiance to Anne Brittany.
• Charlotte’s rumor that Grand Duke of Moldova planned to surrender convinced Byronian snipers to assassinate him, turning the Modovan Royal Guard against Byron.
• Charlotte absorbed the Royal Guard and entered Liguria without bloodshed, and Princess Axo acknowledged Anne’s rule over Modova on behalf of Fars.
• Charlotte’s forces secured the allegiance of four landed nobles, while Old Goat killed the noble who resisted.
• On the eighteenth day, Charlotte declared Modova unified, and the campaign became known as the Eighteen Days War.

After Charlotte conquered Modova, he left Qiudro to govern while taking Anne and the delegation toward the Lionheart Dynasty, worried that other nations would reject the new rule. At the border, the Lionheart Crown Prince recognized Anne as Modova’s ruler and offered friendly relations.

• Charlotte chose Qiudro to govern Modova and brought the Old Goat and the Black Dragon with him to the Lionheart Dynasty.
• Princess Axo warned Charlotte that she could only temporarily acknowledge Anne’s rule and that other nations would likely refuse to recognize the occupation.
• Charlotte announced Modova’s new ruler to the Old Continent’s thirty-two nations, then left Modova with Anne and the delegation.
• At the Lionheart border, Crown Prince Berenhir Asa presented a state letter recognizing Anne as Duchess and ruler of Modova.
• Charlotte welcomed the Lionheart Dynasty’s offer of friendship and deeper exchanges.

Charlotte and Anne arrived in the Lionheart Dynasty’s capital, where Charlotte’s fabricated biography of Lionheart King Charles had become a cultural sensation. After Emperor Baldwin Asa hosted them at Lionheart Palace, Charlotte avoided questions about the biography and introduced a new novel about Charles’s three commanders, prompting a noble to offer family records.

• Crown Prince Berenil Asah delivered the Lionheart Dynasty’s State Letter to Charlotte, recognizing Modova and giving Charlotte’s delegation recognition from two great empires.
• Berenil escorted the Fars delegation toward Asahburg, where officials and nobles welcomed Charlotte because The Lionheart King’s Biography had become immensely popular and Great Philosopher Borozhe had praised it.
• Charlotte, Anne, and the delegation stayed at Cold Spring Palace, and Baldwin Asa invited Charlotte and Anne to dine at Lionheart Palace before Princess Axo’s audience with him.
• At the banquet, Baldwin Asa toasted Lionheart King Charles and Charlotte faced questions about the biography, which he resolved not to discuss or alter.
• Charlotte introduced The Three Commanders of Ten Thousand Knights! by recounting part of its plot, and an elderly noble offered firsthand family materials about his ancestor for Charlotte’s research.

Charlotte received a lavish residence in Asahburg in Anne’s name, and Julian visited with his sister Julia to thank Charlotte for sparing her during the war. Julian then presented Byron’s formal recognition of Anne as Grand Duke of Modova, provided the principality remained neutral, and Julia offered to serve as Byron’s ambassador there.

• Charlotte received crates of gold from Lionheart nobles, then Baldwin Asa granted Anne a confiscated Count’s residence in Asahburg.
• Charlotte and Anne moved toward the new residence with their knights and Royal Guard, realizing their prank might become real.
• Julian arrived with Julia as part of the Byron delegation and thanked Charlotte for sparing his sister during the war.
• Julia explained that she had used her name and promised Charlotte a ball at Starburg so he would recognize her, and thanked him for not shooting her.
• Julian delivered Byron’s official recognition of Anne as Grand Duke of Modova, conditional on the principality’s neutrality, and Julia applied to become its ambassador.
• Charlotte and Julian exchanged thanks, but Julian and Julia left without sharing a meal or allowing Charlotte to see them to the gate because of the political implications.

Charlotte and Anne secured recognition for Anne’s rule over Modova from major powers, while diplomatic negotiations continued in the Lionheart Dynasty. Count Brittany told Antonio that Anne had become Grand Duchess and urged him to work harder.

• Charlotte delivered Byron’s State Letter to Anne, who realized recognition from three great empires gave her legal grounds to inherit Modova.
• Princess Axo negotiated with the Lionheart Dynasty as Byron’s delegation challenged Fars, while Charlotte and Anne kept a low profile.
• The Lionheart Dynasty gave Anne her own official status as Grand Duchess of Modova and removed her from Fars’s delegation.
• Count Brittany told Antonio that Princess Axo, the Lionheart King, Byron, and Inglima had recognized Anne’s rule over Modova.
• Count Brittany declared that Anne was now Grand Duchess of Modova and told Antonio to work harder.

Count Brittany and Antonio struggled to believe that Anne had become Grand Duchess of Modova, recognized by the great powers, while Count Brittany reflected on Charlotte’s role in making Anne part of history. Charlotte received Inglima’s recognition and a private letter from the Red Dragon Emperor, who urged him to begin his promised novel.

• Count Brittany reflected on the Brittany Family’s stalled hopes of becoming a ducal house and acknowledged Charlotte’s diplomatic success in gaining recognition for Anne’s rule over Modova.
• Count Brittany recalled Charlotte’s promise that Anne’s name would endure in history and realized Charlotte had made that vision come true by helping her become Grand Duchess.
• Antonio asked whether the news was a fraud, and Count Brittany assured him that Anne had truly become Grand Duchess Brittany.
• Count Brittany and Antonio agreed that the Countess should hear the news from Julius Axel VI so she would believe it.
• Several days later, Charlotte received Inglima’s State Letter recognizing Anne as Duchess of Modova and a private letter from the Red Dragon Emperor urging him to write his promised novel, “Red Dragon Emperor,” in exchange for land on Goling Island.

Charlotte worried over Emperor Alfred Guillaume's request for a novel, then visited Anne at the Brittany residence, where Arsène Lupin asked him to care for Zimmerman's illegitimate children so he could travel. Charlotte arranged for Lupin and the children to go to Liguria City and later spent a leisurely day exploring Asahburg with Anne.

• Charlotte fretted over finding a suitable novel to fulfill Emperor Alfred Guillaume's request.
• Charlotte visited Anne at the Brittany residence and welcomed Arsène Lupin, who praised Charlotte and Zimmerman as far beyond himself.
• Arsène Lupin asked Charlotte to take responsibility for Zimmerman's illegitimate children while he traveled, and Charlotte agreed to send them to Liguria City under Qiudro's care.
• Charlotte offered Arsène Lupin a position, money, and a temporary stay at Cold Spring Palace, where Princess Axo could meet him.
• Charlotte and Anne disguised themselves, rode through Asahburg in an ordinary carriage, and spent the morning exploring without spending a Lionheart Gold Coin.

Charlotte took Anne to lunch in Asahburg, killed a young man who harassed her, and then encountered his old rival Hughes. The two began a duel, which continued as they discovered how much the other had improved.

• Charlotte and Anne shared lunch at an old restaurant in Asahburg and decided to head back when rain threatened.
• Charlotte found several young men surrounding Anne and killed Matif when Matif accepted his duel challenge.
• Charlotte warned the remaining youths not to mistake Transcendence for safety and recognized Hughes, his old enemy.
• Hughes challenged Charlotte, and the two exchanged fierce attacks with their weapons.
• Charlotte and Hughes fought evenly after more than ten exchanges, despite Hughes holding the higher Transcendence rank.

Charlotte nearly killed Hughes with the Blood Spirit Rhino, but Vigo intervened and Herolf and Black Dragon turned the fight in Charlotte’s favor. As Charlotte prepared to execute Hughes, Vigo offered his loyalty in exchange for Hughes’s life and warned him to remember Jonah.

• Charlotte used the Blood Spirit Rhino to break Hughes's Knight's Lance and pierce his arm and shoulder.
• Vigo intervened to shield Hughes from the Blood Spirit Rhino, while Hughes attacked Anne and was repelled by a refined middle-aged man.
• Golden Goat Herolf confronted Vigo, and Black Dragon captured Hughes alive as Herolf defeated Vigo.
• Charlotte prepared to shoot Hughes, but Vigo offered to pledge himself to Charlotte if Hughes was spared.
• Vigo warned Charlotte not to forget Jonah and said he would die too if Charlotte killed Hughes.

Charlotte secured Vigo’s defection and released Hughes after demanding Vigo’s wife and son, while Hughes left Asahburg in despair. Charlotte returned to Cold Spring Palace with his Saint Rank subordinates, where Princess Axo and Archpriest Augsladin learned that Vigo had joined him.

• Charlotte asked how many people remained in the South Seraph Restoration Army, then agreed to release Hughes in exchange for Vigo’s wife and son.
• Black Dragon released Hughes, and Vigo stood behind Charlotte as his new subordinate.
• Charlotte left Asahburg with Anne as heavy rain began, while Hughes ran through the streets grieving Jonah’s death and Vigo’s departure.
• Hughes’s Blood and Flesh Furnace secret art activated, formed a Blood Core, and carried him out of Asahburg.
• Charlotte returned to Cold Spring Palace with his three Saint Rank subordinates and was summoned by Princess Axo.
• At the Rose Garden, Arsène Lupin recognized Vigo, and Vigo and Archpriest Augsladin spoke about his defection to Charlotte.

Princess Axo ordered Charlotte and Anne to return home, but Charlotte stayed in Liguria City to settle Count Zimmerman’s children and prepare for Count Brittany’s arrival. He left Modova’s future in motion after arranging the children’s education, work, or travel.

• Princess Axo told Charlotte that Emperor Julius Axel had recalled him, promoted him to a third-grade, twenty-second-rank Councillor, and promised him an artifact associated with the God of Labyrinths.
• Princess Axo gave Anne royal documents recognizing her as Duchess of Modova and recalling and promoting her.
• Charlotte and Anne bought sixty carriages in Asahburg to carry the nobles’ gifts, then acquired more until their convoy reached eighty-two carriages.
• In Liguria City, Charlotte met Arsène Lupin’s bandits and more than a hundred of Zimmerman’s illegitimate children, then sorted them by their wishes and arranged schooling, military service, travel, or other support.
• Charlotte placed children who resisted his plans in a newly built temple to the Serpent of Destiny as apprentice Priests and gave them novels to read.
• Charlotte remained in Liguria City for half a month to stabilize Modova and await Count Brittany.

Count Brittany told Charlotte that Julius Axel was dying, leaving the Fars succession uncertain and the Brittany Family at risk. Charlotte returned to the Red Dragon Strait as Strasbourg descended into political turmoil, where he awaited news that could change the continent.

• Count Brittany arrived in Liguria City and ordered Charlotte back to the Red Dragon Strait while keeping Anne in Modova.
• Count Brittany explained that Julius Axel had no clear successor and warned that a new emperor might threaten the Brittany Family.
• After Count Brittany departed, Charlotte Labyrinthized Liguria City, established and then repealed minor taxes, and made the city a transit hub for trade into the Lionheart Dynasty.
• Charlotte returned to Red Cliff City, where Anastasia had rebuilt the cities and trade through the Red Dragon Strait had resumed.
• As Strasbourg sent increasingly frequent and conflicting orders, Charlotte withheld troops and stayed in the Red Dragon Strait.
• Half a month after Charlotte returned, he received earth-shattering news that could change the situation across the continent.

After Midafis killed the Empress and the Countess, Charlotte declared war on Redmir Axel and led a huge army toward Strasbourg. He reached the city, gained the temporary allegiance of three Royal Knights, and fought a costly battle before Count Brittany arrived in grief.

• Redmir Axel killed Julius Axel VI, seized the throne, and ordered the nobles of Strasbourg to submit, while Midafis killed the Empress and the Countess at the Brittany residence.
• Charlotte declared Redmir a rebel, rallied his forces across Fars, and marched on Strasbourg with an army of six hundred thousand.
• Cresto, Aspros, and Regulus pledged temporary allegiance to Charlotte, while Midafis confronted his army and fought Cresto above the city.
• Charlotte's forces attacked Strasbourg, but the defenders held their ground, and Charlotte ordered a retreat after rescuing most of his troops.
• Count Brittany arrived at Charlotte's camp looking devastated after losing his wife.

Charlotte helped Count Brittany capture Strasbourg, where he killed Redmir Axel and his wife before taking control of the city and crushing its gangs. Later, Charlotte brought the former Crown Prince Morgan Axel to Antonio, who recognized Morgan as his uncle.

• Charlotte welcomed Count Brittany and his knights, then knelt and declared his support for Brittany as the new ruler before the army attacked Strasbourg.
• Count Brittany’s forces captured the city, and Charlotte shot Redmir Axel after Redmir threatened to marry Anne; Abner then killed Redmir’s wife.
• The Brittany knights secured Strasbourg’s government while Charlotte led a purge of the city’s gangs and human-trafficking markets.
• Madam Mavis brought Morgan Axel to Charlotte, and Morgan asked for help escaping to the New Continent; Charlotte referred him to Antonio.
• Charlotte took Morgan and Madam Mavis to Antonio, who recognized Morgan as his uncle and recalled that he had once promoted Charlotte.

Charlotte withdrew the West Wind Knight Regiment from Strasbourg as Fars fractured and Count Brittany moved to consolidate power. At a banquet, Black Dragon urged Charlotte to publicly pledge his territories to Brittany, and Charlotte sought advice on how to make the declaration.

• Charlotte withdrew the West Wind Knight Regiment from Strasbourg as Brittany knights arrived to take control.
• Midafis declared independence and founded the Second Kingdom of Fars, Mosred founded the Kingdom of Oslo, and two ministers recognized Count Brittany's legitimacy while the Ferlanden front agreed to a temporary ceasefire.
• Count Brittany made his first public appearance since the coup, met with nobles and envoys, and sent Antonio to the Ferlanden front.
• Charlotte held a banquet for his allies and subordinates, including the seven Saint Ranks and the newly arrived Italo Calvino and Madame Nansera Sebald.
• Black Dragon told Charlotte to declare that South Seraph, Behemoth, and the Red Dragon War Zone would pledge loyalty to His Majesty Brittany.
• Charlotte realized he needed to make his support public and went to Cresto, Aspros, and Regulus for advice on the pledge process.

After Count Brittany gained broad support for his claim to the throne, he granted Charlotte the title of Count Mecklen and South Seraph, then revealed plans to expand Charlotte’s territory through a four-nation alliance. Charlotte and Antonio left to bring Anne home after sharing a moment of grief with McLean Brittany, who warned Charlotte never to wrong his daughter.

• After Grand Duke Robin and Count Soumei swore allegiance, Count Brittany summoned Charlotte and the other Saint Rank Knights and announced that he would bury Antonio and Anne’s mother the next day.
• Count Brittany said Anne would arrive in Strasbourg that night and sent Antonio with Charlotte to meet her.
• Count Brittany named Charlotte Count Mecklen, granted him South Seraph, and made Antonio the new Count Brittany, while assigning titles and territories to the other Knights.
• After the other Knights left, McLean Brittany broke down in grief, and Antonio comforted him while Charlotte stayed silent.
• Charlotte and Antonio prepared to leave for Anne, and McLean Brittany urged Charlotte never to wrong her and described a four-nation alliance that would add the divided Black Phoenix Dynasty’s lands to Charlotte’s territory.
• Charlotte told McLean Brittany he was not satisfied with the compensation and declared that he would trade all his wealth, land, power, and status for Princess Anne.

McLean Brittany agreed that Anne would be with Charlot Mecklenburg, and Charlot and Antonio went to bring her home. Anne reunited with Charlot, who carried her back to the Brittany residence, while Antonio learned that he would have to endure Charlot's teasing about being only a count.

• McLean Brittany accepted that Anne would be with Charlot Mecklenburg and reflected on Charlot’s influence and the evidence prepared to protect his reputation.
• Charlot and Antonio left the Brittany residence, and Antonio urged Charlot to hurry to collect Anne.
• They met Anne’s convoy outside Strasbourg, and Anne cried as she threw herself into Charlot’s arms.
• Charlot carried the sleeping Anne in a Princess Carry during the ride back while Antonio looked away.
• At the Brittany residence, Charlot suggested asking the Emperor for a ducal residence, teasing Antonio about being only a count.