Meanwhile, in the Western Empire...
The senior envoy, who had returned from the kingdom after the social season had ended, donned his bespoke silver armor. His large belly shook as he laughed.
“The gunfire must have started by now. Heh heh heh... That means the kingdom is no more. The whole place must be razed to the ground. And then, our Imperial Army will take over the kingdom, with me leading the attack!”
Vvvvmmm...
A giant magic circle began to glow. Mass quantities of magic stones had been used to build this prestigious magic circle, making it capable of transporting a thousand people at once. There was a destination circle in the kingdom that they’d spent many long years secretly building in a remote region where nobody would ever have gone.
Come to think of it, if they’d used the magic stones they’d spent on this magic ring on the barrier instead, perhaps they wouldn’t be in nearly as much trouble as they were right now. But that didn’t matter. If the Western Empire didn’t have something, they could just take it. That went for magic stones, for mages, and for beautiful women.
By sea, they’d attack with cannonfire. Then by land, their enemy would be overrun by monsters, finally the envoy’s thousand-person army would invade with him at the head.
The king, the only one who could command the kingdom’s army, was absent, and the firstborn prince was already under their control. The capital would be destroyed and their government would collapse with them. With such a perfect plan, there was no way for the kingdom to escape its fate.
“Heh heh heh... All for the glory of the Western Empire. The kingdom will be a worthy sacrifice. Now, what was her name... Emma Stewart? That pure young girl they all called a saint? I simply can’t wait to see how she looks when she’s been utterly ruined.” The chief delegate still didn’t know that the first strike of his “perfect plan” had failed, but the danger facing the kingdom had only just begun, because the Western Empire was now truly beginning their invasion of the kingdom.