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Chapter 972  The Cause of the Fall (5)

Because of the increased number of skirmishes happening in the western and southern borders of the empire, Empress Iulia, the Head Mage Aiden, the members of the Royal Court, and the representatives of the Alliance, which consisted of the four major factions in the empire: Aureole, Regis Clan, The Conclave, and the Templar Code, had almost never left the palace\'s conference room to discuss their next moves.

These skirmishes might be minor, but the Ylfaen Empire\'s casualties were increasing at a frighteningly steady pace because of their frequency. If these skirmishes were only focused on one border, the empire might have been able to concentrate its main forces there, but the problem was that two borders were being subjected to it.

There were a total of six nations beyond the western border of the Ylfaen Empire. With Tritus at the helm, he led the joint forces of the Royal Army and the Templar Code to defend the borders.

With Tritus\'s mage level, one would think that the skirmishes on the western border were manageable compared to the south. However, that was not the case. This was because no matter how strong Tritus was, he was only one man. Against the partnership of the Maguses and even Archmaguses of the opposing six nations, he could only barely protect the borders.

Max, Reuben, and the other Elites of the Templar Code were there to assist Tritus, but they were still outnumbered by the opposing side, especially with their mage levels.

This fact caused a massive headache to all leaders of the empire, especially Empress Iulia. They never expected the other nations to hide the progress of their mages. Initially, they were convinced the empire remained the undisputed forerunner regarding the number of powerful mages and a military force. However, the recent skirmishes confirmed that they were already lagging in overall mage level.

Apart from that, it was confirmed that the Ylfaen Empire\'s western border forces were outnumbered for two reasons: first because they had to split their main forces, with the other half going to the southern borders, and second, because the opposing side consisted of powerful mages and combat mages from the six nations. But even if the empire\'s main force focused on guarding the western borders only, they would still have difficulty, and it was mainly due to most of their mages and combat mages only being at Adept mage level and below. Nôv(el)B\\\\jnn

Although recently, there was a surge of mages and combat mages breaking through to Grand Master level within the Royal Army, because their breakthroughs were forced, the consolidation of their newly found strength was far lower than if one broke through with their efforts.

The Royal Army initially thought the sudden surge of Grand Masters among their ranks was a boon. But after realizing how weak their Grand Masters were compared to the opposition\'s Grand Masters, they now considered it the Royal Army\'s bane.

While the skirmishes at the western border were due to the united front of the nations from the west to expand their territory, the ones at the southern border were more personal.

It should be noted that the only nation in the south was the Archadia, and they had been very hostile toward the Ylfaen Empire for so many years. Nevertheless, The Archadia had never attempted a confrontation before. Only after the internal conflict in the empire did they start to be more aggressive in confronting the empire\'s army at the southern borders.

However, what was frustrating about the skirmishes in the south was that the Archadia seemed to be toying with their soldiers rather than genuinely wanting to conquer some of the empire\'s land in the south. While this sounded like they were not serious about attacking the empire, the truth was nothing like that.

Although the Archadia appeared to be toying with them, the casualties they received each time could not be ignored. Honestly, the only reason the southern border could endure all this time was because Patriarch Aron decided to dispatch most of the Regis Clan\'s powerful combat mages there. If not for them, the southern border would have suffered even more and already been breached by the Archadia.

After another long meeting regarding the situation in the western and southern borders of the empire and confirming the logistic details of supplies for both were finalized, the leading minister of the Royal Court requested a break.

Everyone knew that the reason for the break was to allow Empress Iulia time to rest. This was because she was almost due, yet she still dutifully attended all the meetings without fail.

If this had been a few months ago, most ministers would have complained about having their meetings interrupted each time to give Iulia time to rest. But because of how she successfully won over the hearts of the empire\'s citizens and pacified all different leading figures after Emperor Euan disappeared, most of them were now convinced of her worth.

Besides, the ministers would have had trouble proceeding with the meeting without Iulia mediating for every leader present.

The two ministers, who were always with Iulia, guided her to the rest area near the conference room.

Two royal guards were guarding the room, but after Iulia entered, the two ministers ordered them to the patrol area while they guarded the room instead.

The two royal guards complied without any problems because every one of their colleagues was aware that these two ministers doubled as Empress Iulia\'s bodyguards. Not that she needed one. After she addressed the whole empire a few months ago, information about her was leaked to the public, and it was now a known fact that she was already a peak Magus. If not for wanting to start a family with Emperor Euan, she would likely be an Archmagus already.

This was also one of the reasons the ministers of the Royal Court started to see Iulia\'s worth. Moreover, learning how she did not hesitate to choose to become a mother over improving her mage level spoke volumes of her love for Emperor Euan and her dedication to the Royal Family.

Iulia heaved a deep sigh upon entering the room. Truthfully, she was exhausted from all the meetings she had to attend every day. However, she did not want her subjects to see this and consistently wore a strong facade. Only when she was given precious time to rest could she let go of her strong facade and let loose all her mental and physical fatigue.

Unfortunately, not even a minute had passed after entering the room; Iulia sensed a distortion in the air as black mists formed a couple of meters in front of her. She was alarmed at first, but knowing someone who could create such mists— who would also refute her and insist they were not mist but particles— she regained her calm and looked at the silhouette that slowly appeared from within the black mist.

"Please spare me with bad news right now," she implored with a wry smile. "The situations in the western and southern borders are already giving me cramps. I am afraid the young prince will suddenly choose to come out."

The silhouette chuckled and soon revealed Nolan.

"I\'ll let you judge whether what I have is good or bad."

Iulia\'s expression turned solemn as she looked at Nolan. She knew the latter could not say or do something that could affect the internal affairs of the Human plane because of his unique position as the Human plane\'s Sovereign; thus, whatever he came here to tell her definitely had something to do with Cade and the other selected mages and combat mages who were outside the Human plane to look for Euan.

Since Nolan would only be relaying information he received from Cade, technically, he was not interfering with the internal affairs of the Human plane. Besides, he would not say the information aloud but only give Iulia the item he received from Cade.

While Nolan could have just sent the item without appearing in person, there was another reason he had to come down. But that had to wait until Iulia read the information in the magic item Cade asked him to deliver.

Iulia received a small, thin, rectangular silver plate from Nolan similar to an ancient slip and immediately used her magic sense to scan its contents. Her eyes widened after a few seconds as she looked at Nolan with unbelieving eyes.

"Is this true?"

Nolan shrugged and said, "Don\'t ask me. You know I can\'t answer. Anyway, I want you to gather everyone because visitors are coming in the next hour."

"We have only started a three-hour break. I can have everyone return at once."

"There\'s no need for you to do that yourself," Nolan suddenly said after belatedly noticing Iulia\'s condition. "Have one of your ministers gather the others and make the necessary preparations. Tell them to direct their complaints at me if they have any objections."

Iulia could not help but give a dry laugh at Nolan\'s words.

Most of the leaders in the empire were aware of Nolan\'s existence and his position in the Human plane. The only reason they would direct any complaints at him would be if they had a death wish.

"That\'s all I came to say," Nolan continued as black particles started to gather around him. "You go rest. I have another place I need to go to."

Iulia did not need Nolan to say where he would go after because she already knew where: The Regis Estate.