Chapter 123 Endless Cycle Of War

A fierce wind swept across Charles V's face as he stood atop the watchtower. The heavy cape draped over his shoulders clung tightly to his body, buffeted by the gusts. Below, the capital city of the Kingdom of Lania lay shrouded in a downpour, rain lashing against the streets and rooftops.

Charles V gazed out at the sprawling city scape, his mind clouded with heavy thoughts. Life as a king was far from easy, and for a ruler like him, whose kingdom bordered the war like Pamir Empire, the burdens were particularly immense. No king of Lania had ever lived past the age of sixty—a testament to the weight of their struggles.

Though Charles V's reign had been marked by an unusual absence of major wars, that very peace left him feeling even more uneasy. The current emperor of the Pamir Empire was old, but rumors abounded about his plans to replace the crown prince, known for his hedonistic ways, depending on the outcome of the next war.