Perhaps if one wasn’t used to such a sight, they would be spending their time by a bucket or shedding tears. Such was the nature of war. Empress Haein didn’t seem impressed, and kept her poker face up. What was the appropriate reaction here? Should he have cried? Gotten angry? Every choice he could pick led down a thorny path. Indeed, nothing was ever easy. Still, he kept his calm demeanour up. Strangely enough, despite the knights’ struggling faces, it was easy. And he didn’t need to pretend that everything was alright, or that this was all just a dream. No, he saw it with his own two eyes, and accepted that fact. In fact, he was somewhat proud. Everything was moving according to plan.

Just as they arrived at the encampment set up on the frontlines, a report came back. A resounding victory for the Minister of War. Good. A soldier, lieutenant- or maybe a colonel, offered to guide them around. But both Francis and Haein declined. They made their way directly to the place that the man in charge tried to hide. The infirmary, no, much worse than that. This was where soldiers with barely any hope left came to wait for healing.

“We’re short staffed at the mome-” a doctor tried to explain.

“No need to explain.”

The putrid stench was hard to ignore. Some were missing limbs, with a few having pretty much nothing left. Why did they still cling to life? No, their eyes longed for death. Just how much suffering were they going through? The pain, the fatigue.

“This is horrible,” Haein said.

“Exactly why I had to show you.”

Haein whipped around to meet his gaze. There was a face that he never thought he would see. Her expression of... something. It was hard to tell.

She pulled him away from the temporary medical camp and slammed him against the stone wall. They were on the outskirts of the camp, right on the outer fortifications. Her warm hand wrapped around his neck. So she didn’t even need to use both of them.

“You! How are you staying so fucking calm?” Haein shouted.

“This is war.”

“Answer my question, Rayleigh.”

Francis could not answer.

“I should have known. It was right in front of my face and I fucking missed it. No matter how pathetic of a man you are, you’re a Rayleigh.”

“Are you prepared to go through with it?” Francis asked after a long pause. “A half assed war only results in two losing sides.”

“You son of a bitch.”

“A war isn’t like chess. If a piece is captured, you see the casualties. Not just a piece taken off the board.”

“Is that what the world looks like to you? Just game pieces to be moved around?”

“Are you prepared to go through with it? This is the cruel reality of war. So you either need to pull back and see statistics, not people, or get out!”

“Your family is a cursed bloodline. I should have executed you when I had the chance.”

“I would have expected more from a woman who rigged the emperor selection process.”

The empress gripped his neck. It started to hurt as she pushed him further up the wall.

“Katalina, I’d really appreciate it if you rescued me. I’m at the north wall.”

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“You benefited from it. I told you to sit there like a pretty doll.”

“Because you treated me like a game piece. And I only acted out of your calculations.”

Her eyebrows twitched. If glares could kill, he would have died at least 50 times over. He looked into her eyes, and got lost in them. The deepest, fiery pits of hell.

“And I will ask you again. Are you prepared to go through with it?”

This time, she had no answer. Her grip lessened, but not by much. Whether it was due to mercy or a lack of endurance, he couldn’t tell but was thankful nonetheless.

“Are you prepared?”

“I...”

It was a hard truth to confront. There was no way to progress without bloodshed, not in this world. And a pacifist empire was just an easy target. The citizens were stupid, and thus would protest having a large standing army as a pacifist empire. But without a big stick, they were just inviting stronger nations to attack. A vicious cycle. Surely she knew it too.

“Minimal bloodshed,” she answered.

“I can compromise.”

“No, no you won’t. You’re a Rayleigh.”

“And if I am?”

“Bloodshed and a Rayleigh go together like bread and butter.”

“Stop treating my family like that.”

“Your family... This was a mistake. We have to form a ceasefire.”

“No. That’s a mistake. Do you trust me?” Francis asked.

“Trust you?” Haein growled. “No, you don’t understand the words you’re speaking. Trust means nothing.”

“And yet you need to trust me. I can end the war with minimal bloodshed on our end.”

Her eyebrows furrowed. It was an offer she had to accept. No matter how cold she might have appeared to be, she was compassionate at heart.

She loosened her grip momentarily. Just for a moment, relief flushed over him. Just for a moment, the darkness around his eyes faded. And the next moment, she picked him up and threw him onto the hard ground. He landed on his back, and his vision shook. Pain spread out throughout his body.

“You? You! You don’t understand anything that’s going on here.”

“I will end the war. Do you trust me?”

“Katalina! Would really appreciate your appearance!”

“You are no Benjamin Wynt. You aren’t an Edmond Ren either. Nor are you like that mage you have by your side. Without them, you have nothing. You say you will end the war. Lightning will strike me sooner than that.”

“I can do it. You just have to trust me.”

“I would sooner hand a baby a knife.”

Haein looked down on him. Lording over him, she scowled. Her body blocked the sun’s glare, at least.

“And how the ever living fuck do you plan to end it? Do you think you’re a hero?”

“A hero? My ego isn’t of that level. If it's a hero you want, talk to Iris.”

“That blonde bitch you brought back?” Haein bellowed.

Why was she so angry? Were there other circumstances at play? The hearts of others were hard to understand. Impossible, perhaps. After all, each person’s individual circumstances were impossible to fully replicate.

“Do you know how much trouble you’ve caused? Do you think I’m unaware of your harem?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“And don’t even try to get your lady knight here.”

“So you know.”

Francis sighed, and sat up. His clothes were stained with dirt. Well, whatever. They were clothes for travelling, if they never got dirty then perhaps the value was wasted. He rubbed his temples, and shook the potential concussion off.

“No point stalling, then. Do you remember the night when I killed that assassin?”

“How could I forget?”

“I am not the person you think I am. Give me a chance, and I will end the war.”

Haein sat down next to him. Had her anger wore off? As he turned to look at her, she slapped him.

“Stop talking shit. Even with that weapon, you can’t end it. There aren’t enough.”

“When did I mention supplying the soldiers with guns? Haein, we just need to inflict a strong blow. Then I’ll take it from there.”

The emperor closed his eyes. His cheek stung, but he didn’t act on it. His entire body ached. At least after getting stabbed, he fainted. But he wouldn’t pass out from just being thrown onto the ground.