Augustus: Empire's Dawn

Rowan had never anticipated that the Lance family would make such a decision.In the past, he had granted Lanska considerable power, hoping that, in this crucial time, he would serve the court and stabilize the situation. Yet, the reward he received was nothing but betrayal.Now, with matters having reached this point, there was little he could do. The situation seemed too far gone for any brilliant solutions.Rowan pondered quietly, realizing that Lanska's actions now clearly showed he was no longer fit to manage the affairs of the court.He lifted his gaze slightly and looked at Ian. "Has the Lance family committed any unlawful acts?"Ian responded without hesitation, "Based on the information we have, we haven't found any clear illegal actions—only that they've secretly moved their family assets out of the Duchy."Rowan nodded lightly before asking, "Among all these families, are there any truly willing to stand with us against the Holy Church?"Ian thought for a moment before replying, "From the intelligence we've gathered, the Caesar family is fully supporting us. The head of the Caesar family, Augustus, is highly capable, with strong leadership and determination."Rowan's eyes gleamed with interest. "Bring Augustus to me. I need to have a word with him."Ian immediately went to summon Augustus.Upon receiving the summons from Rowan, Augustus felt a surge of excitement he could not suppress.Having invested his entire family fortune to support the war, he had now finally caught the attention of the Pope, and it seemed his long-awaited opportunity was finally at hand. He silently congratulated himself for having made the right bet.Without hesitation, he quickly prepared himself, eager yet anxious, and rushed to the Pope's palace.As he made his way, his mind raced with vivid dreams and expectations, both excited and nervous for the impending meeting.The moment Augustus entered the grand Pope's palace, he was taken aback by the sheer majesty and solemnity of the place. However, he quickly composed himself and walked purposefully to where Rowan was waiting.Upon seeing Rowan, Augustus immediately approached, bowed respectfully, and said, "Your Holiness, Augustus has come to pay his respects."Rowan's expression remained calm, his eyes sizing Augustus up before he spoke slowly. "I've heard you risked everything to support this war by pledging your family's entire fortune. Such an act is undoubtedly noble.But I must ask you this—was this truly done out of pure devotion to the people of Lann?Speak your mind honestly. Do not hold back. You only have this one chance."Augustus felt a slight tightening in his chest but took a deep breath, steadying himself. After organizing his thoughts, he spoke, "Your Holiness, I grew up on this land of Lann. Every blade of grass and brick here holds deep memories and emotions for me. I'm willing to sacrifice this wealth for the protection of this land and its people, without regret.But I must admit, I also have my own ambitions. I believe under your wise leadership, we will defeat our enemies, and I long to prove my talents and fulfill my aspirations on a grander stage.In my eyes, this war is the perfect opportunity to achieve that."Rowan listened intently, his expression neutral. After Augustus finished speaking, Rowan gave a slight nod. "Your words are reasonable, not just flattery.Given that, I'm willing to give you this chance.But remember this: it's only natural for men to have their own interests, but when faced with choices of great consequence, your stance must be unwavering.I abhor corruption, and I expect you to enforce strict integrity in your future management. There must be no room for failure."Rowan paused, his gaze hardening with authority, then continued, "You will take over from Duke Lanska and manage the affairs of the court. Now, it's up to you to prove your ability and talent. I will be watching closely.If you earn my trust, I can promise you power and glory beyond your wildest dreams.One final thing—this is crucial—you must support the soon-to-be-crowned Empress unconditionally. Her orders are to be your highest command, and you must aid her in every way, without exception. Do you understand?"Augustus' heart raced with excitement, as if a path to greatness was unfolding before his eyes.He straightened up, his voice firm and filled with gratitude, "Your Holiness, I will not disappoint you. You have my word."With that, Rowan walked into the grand hall of the palace alongside the spirited Augustus. The hall was already filled with nobles and courtiers, all sensing an unusual tension and anticipation in the air.Rowan made his way to the throne, the symbol of supreme power. As he slowly sat down, his piercing gaze swept across the room.In an unquestionable tone, he announced Augustus' new role:"From this day forward, Augustus will replace Duke Lanska and take full control of court affairs. I expect all of you to assist him without fail."Rowan's gaze turned coldly to Lanska, and his voice dropped to an icy whisper, "Since your family no longer supports the Holy Church, you and the rest of the Lanska family will leave the Duchy of Lann immediately. Never set foot here again."Duke Lanska lowered his head, sweat beading on his forehead as he dared not meet Rowan's sharp gaze.In full view of everyone, he could only turn and leave, feeling like a dog cast out from his home. His emotions were tangled—though he had no regrets about his decisions for his family's future, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of gratitude toward Rowan.After all, in any other circumstance, the Holy Church would have never let him go unpunished for such a massive asset transfer. But Rowan had chosen to show mercy—something Lanska had not expected.Rowan called Ian over and, in a low voice, gave his orders:"Ian, though Augustus will now manage the court, we cannot let our guard down. We must remain vigilant."