Wajangchangchang!
There was a loud crash in the Oliver office. This was a frequent occurrence since Amanda disappeared a few days ago, and no one in the Imperial Palace was surprised anymore. Oliver sucked in a rough breath to calm his feelings, and Jobbers looked at him worriedly.
“I’m sorry. I believe there was a group that seized Her Majesty and crossed the border…I couldn’t catch them beforehand.”
Kwaang!
Oliver slammed his scale-blackened arm on the desk, and the mahogany wood cracked underneath the force. The desk was yet among a number of broken items in the office.
Ever since Amanda disappeared, Oliver’s right arm had remained in its black and scaly state, and he struggled to control its strength. It was only a small demonstration of how deep his anger was.
Oliver rested his head into his scaled hand. It was obvious that whoever took his wife planned to assassinate him. The trap they laid for him was so dangerous that he would have died if not for Amanda stopping them. Such people then captured her, someone who would not let herself be easily taken. The thought seemed to sear his thoughts like crazy.
“It’s been several days since Amanda disappeared. I can’t wait any longer.”
He didn’t want to think about it, but…it was possible that Amanda was already dead. And even if she was still alive, it was unlikely that she was receiving kind treatment as a hostage. The words that Mary said kept floating in his maid.
— The truth is, Her Majesty is pregnant. She wanted to tell you when she met up with you…heug, heug.
On hearing this revelation, Oliver stood frozen. Although he was concerned about the child, he was more worried about Amanda’s condition than anything else.
‘In inevitable circumstances…I can give up the child. As long as Amanda is retrieved unharmed.’
If he was forced to choose between the two, he would choose Amanda with no hesitation. However, now that Amanda and their child’s life were linked together, the decision was even more painful. He thought about how she could be suffering while she was pregnant at the same time. And yet, it was unclear whether Amanda was either alive or dead, or where she was injured. A deep darkness settled in Oliver’s eyes.
“Summon the nobles.”
“You mean—”
“We will invade the Duchy of Edel.”
“But, Your Majesty, we still have no exact evidence that Grand Duke Edel kidnapped her.”
It was true that there was no physical evidence that Luke was responsible, but he was the greatest suspect ever since Amanda told Oliver of Luke’s plot in the last life. More importantly, the incident took place in the Keith Empire. It was impossible for anyone to exercise such influence and power unless they were the Grand Duke.
At the moment, Oliver refrained from rushing into combat, worried he would threaten Amanda’s safety if he started a war. But there was no reason to wait anymore, and there would be no further investigation.
“I don’t need proof. If anyone objects to my order, I’ll cut them down.”
“Y-Your Majesty…”
A reasoned justification was no longer important to Oliver. Thus far he tried to handle the issue as cleanly as possible, but now it didn’t matter to him how much blood was spilt to get back what he wanted.
“I will go and see for myself if Amanda is in Edel. If I don’t find her there, then we’ll scour the whole continent like this.”
It sounded as if he didn’t care whether he drowned the entire continent with blood in his search to find his wife. Jobbers swallowed, knowing that the Emperor did not give empty threats.
“Your Majesty, you have to stay calm in a situation like this—”
“Do I not look calm?”
A faint smile flickered on Oliver’s lips. He didn’t look angry, nevertheless, a chill ran down Jobbers’s spine at the sight of it.
“I’m in a very rational state right now.”
He glanced at his right arm which was covered in black scales.
“I won’t be able to save her if I’m not calm. If I succumb to my anger, I won’t be able to think clearly.”
That was the only reason why he hadn’t gone mad. As long as there was the faint hope that Amanda might be alive, he had to remain sane more than anyone else.
But if…
Someone really hurt Amanda…
For a moment, a murderous spirit rippled enticingly through Oliver’s whole body.
“I just hope there won’t be a situation where I have to take revenge.”
At that point, Jobbers felt he had no choice but to sympathize with Oliver. The continent could reach its darkest era if Oliver really took out a blade of revenge. Jobbers had witnessed much of Oliver’s ruthlessness in battle, but he sensed something ever more terrifying simmering beneath Oliver’s facade.
If Oliver exploded…
The flame would be huge. And after what Oliver ordered, Jobbers had no choice but to jump into the pit.
He bowed low to Oliver.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll gather the nobles and call for a strategy meeting now.”
Oliver nodded, his eyes as black as coal. He murmured to himself in a low voice.
“I’ll show him what happens when someone dares touch my wife.”