The eastern regions had only just begun recovering after halting the Riftâs expansion. However, they couldnât withstand the sudden, overwhelming advance of the Ducal army.
The Royalist faction was thrown into chaos upon hearing the news. No one had anticipated the Dukeâs forces moving so swiftly.
Boom!
Maurice, the Royal Armyâs Commander-in-Chief, slammed his hand on the table, his voice echoing with fury.
âHow in the world did they march straight to the east? The southern borders were supposed to be locked down!â
His advisors exchanged uneasy glances before one hesitantly spoke up.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âIdiots! I told them to unify their forces! Why didnât they listen?â
An eastern commander had been appointed long ago, but the lords had prioritized securing their individual territories rather than coordinating their efforts.
The Ducal forces exploited this disarray, striking at the perfect time.
âDamn it. They were so passive I thought theyâd just keep posturing!â
Maurice had assumed the Ducal forces would continue their standoff, maintaining a delicate balance of power. Heâd planned to wait for the coalition forces to assemble and then crush the Dukeâs army with overwhelming numbers in one decisive battle.
âOf course, they wouldnât be stupid enough to wait around for that. Theyâre not fools.â
Maurice stared at the map, frustration etched across his face.
You didn't buy this chapter
Buy Now (3 coupons)