Reborn As Noble

King Edmund's gaze swept over the nobles, his expression filled with cold amusement.

Then, with a sharp, cutting voice, he spoke:

"Just because some of you are 'related' to me—"

His eyes locked onto certain nobles.

"—does NOT mean you are untouchable."

The entire room stiffened.

The weight of his words made it clear—

Family ties meant nothing when it came to the survival of the kingdom.

King Edmund leaned forward, resting his elbow on the armrest of his throne.

His tone grew sharper, more dangerous.

"I did not partake in your so-called 'holy war' because I knew what it would lead to."

He gritted his teeth, his voice filled with restrained fury.

"And now? Look what has happened."

He tossed the report onto the table in front of him.

The parchment scattered, the ink still fresh—evidence of the chaos spreading across the kingdom.

The room was silent.

No noble dared to speak.

But King Edmund was not finished.

His voice dropped lower, colder.

"And now… 'my land'—"

He spread his hands, gesturing to the map behind him.

The Capital City.

The surrounding regions that directly belonged to the royal family.

A massive stretch of land that held the kingdom's heart—its wealth, its military, its influence. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire

"—and 'my kingdom' are on the verge of collapse."

His eyes burned with fury.

"And why?"

His lips curled into a sneer.

"Because some of you couldn't control your greed. Because some of you blindly followed the church's madness. Because some of you—"

He gestured toward Duke Ibzles and the other war supporters.

"—dragged my kingdom into ruin with your arrogance."

The nobles stayed silent, sweat forming on their brows.

But King Edmund wasn't done.

"And while we struggle—"

His fingers tapped against the table rhythmically.

"—our neighbors are watching."

His eyes sharpened.

His gaze darkened.

"They are waiting for us to show weakness."

A chill spread through the room.

Because every noble understood what he meant.

If the economy collapsed further—

If internal strife continued—

The neighboring races would take advantage of it.

They were all watching.

Waiting.

Calculating.

Because when a kingdom grows weak—

Its enemies grow bold.

And if the nobles continued dragging the kingdom into internal wars—

It wouldn't be long before the entire kingdom was at risk of invasion.

King Edmund stood from his throne, his presence overwhelming.

He looked down at the gathered nobles, his voice like steel.

"Fix this mess. Now."

"Restore the market. Secure the trade routes. Pay your tributes."

His eyes gleamed with ruthless authority.

"Or I will do it for you."

And they all knew—

If the king had to step in,

None of them would keep their lands.

King Edmund rose from his throne, his eyes filled with authority.

His voice boomed through the grand hall, leaving no room for argument.

"With my royal decree, I hereby command all of you to end this war—starting today!"

The nobles stiffened, their faces pale.

Some looked ready to protest.

But one glance at the king's expression—and they swallowed their words.

This was not a negotiation.

It was an absolute order.

The General of the Royal Army stepped forward

With a sharp salute, he bowed before the king.

"Your command, my liege?"

King Edmund's gaze swept across the room before he spoke.

"Effective immediately, the royal army will take full control of this situation."

He turned to the general.

"Secure the roads. Restore trade routes. Ensure the borders are reinforced."

His voice grew sharper.

"All noble troops are to be placed under temporary royal command until this mess is resolved."

Gasps rippled through the room.

For the first time, the nobles were losing control of their own armies.

The royal army was stepping in.

And that meant—they no longer had the power to act independently.

King Edmund's expression darkened.

"This is not a request. It is law."

The king sat back down, exhaling deeply.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he thought aloud.

"I would have preferred to meet Count Garius myself…"

He tapped his fingers against the armrest.

"But given the state of the war… the territory is still unstable."

The nobles shifted uncomfortably.

They knew what he meant.

The roads were dangerous.

A royal visit right now would be a risk—even for a king.

With a decisive nod, King Edmund picked up the official royal decree.

The parchment was sealed with the golden emblem of the royal family.

He handed it to the general.

"Deliver this to Count Garius personally."

The general bowed deeply, taking the decree with both hands.

"Understood, Your Majesty."

King Edmund's voice lowered, firm and absolute.

"Ensure he understands that these fools—"

He gestured toward the silent, terrified nobles.

"—will no longer wage war against him."

The general gave a sharp nod, turning to leave.

Then, with a calm but deadly tone, King Edmund spoke—

"If any of you attempt to defy this decree…"

King Edmund suddenly lifted his hand.

And with a slow, deliberate motion—

He dragged his thumb across his throat.

"…Consider your entire family erased from history."

The nobles lowered their heads, trembling.

Because they knew—

This was not an empty threat.

King Edmund paused before stepping down from his throne.

His sharp eyes swept across the gathered nobles, watching their stiffened expressions.

Then, with a slow, deliberate tone—he spoke.

"I'm sure this month's tribute will be…"

He let the words hang in the air for a moment.

Then, his lips curled into a dangerous smirk.

"…the same as last month?"

A heavy silence filled the hall.

Some nobles swallowed nervously.

Others clenched their fists under the table, struggling to keep their expressions neutral.

They understood exactly what the king meant.

No matter how badly the war had crippled them—

They would pay the full tribute.

King Edmund adjusted his royal cloak and turned away.

His voice echoed one last time.

"Fail me, and you'll lose more than just land."

With that, he left the hall—leaving behind a room full of nobles who now feared the very king they had once underestimated.

Three days later…

A large force approached the southern border of Armand.

The royal army's banner fluttered in the wind, carried by 1,000 elite soldiers marching in perfect formation.

At the front—the Royal Force General rode with several high-ranking officers and a royal minister, serving as the king's official delegation.

But—

The iron gates of Armand remained firmly shut.

The towering border walls stood strong, lined with Armand's elite troops, all standing at full alert.

They had been preparing for another attack.

And now—they saw another army at their gates.

( End Of Chapter )