Kingdom Building Game: Starting Out With A Million Upgrade Points! - Chapter 189

Chapter 189: • Serenity at the Edge of Steel
The Grand Dining Hall glowed under the soft flicker of enchanted candelabras, their warm light dancing across the polished obsidian table and casting delicate shadows on the ornate walls.

The air carried the sweet scent of honey and butter, mingling with the savory aroma of roasted meats and fresh bread.

The table was laden with a lavish spread: platters of glazed pheasant, bowls of steaming root vegetables, and trays of delicate pastries. Though one dish stood out—a towering stack of golden pancakes, dripping with amber honey, placed before Lady Selene Bloodbane.

Selene sat at the table’s far end, her golden eyes gleaming with delight as she sliced into her pancakes. Her silver hair shimmered in the candlelight, and a satisfied hum escaped her lips as she savored a bite, honey glistening on her fork.

“Perfection, just the way I like it,” she murmured, her voice rich with contentment. “The cooks have outdone themselves tonight.”

At the table’s center, Emperor Arkanos Bloodbane sat, his emerald eyes softened with warmth. In his arms, little Vael Bloodbane, his infant son, gurgled happily, his tiny hands grasping at his father’s calloused fingers.

Vael’s silver hair glinted like moonlight, and his wide red eyes sparkled with innocent curiosity. Arkanos, usually a figure of unyielding authority, bounced the boy gently on his knee, a faint smile on his lips as Vael let out a delighted squeal. He dangled a small silver spoon before the baby, letting it catch the light, and Vael’s chubby fingers swiped at it with enthusiasm.

Illena sat at Arkanos’s right, wearing a black and gold gown accentuating her elegant frame.

Her silver-green hair, braided now, cascaded over one shoulder, and her yellow eyes, sharp yet tender, were fixed on her husband and son.

Her plate of roasted quail and herbed potatoes sat mostly untouched, her fork resting idly as she leaned her chin on one hand, a soft smile on her lips. The sight of Arkanos playing with Vael warmed her heart, but her mind wandered to the weightier matters that always lingered in the empire’s shadows.

Sephira sat across from Illena, her emerald gown shimmering as she delicately sliced a piece of glazed pheasant.

Her blonde curls bounced slightly as she tilted her head, her vibrant green eyes flicking between her plate and the scene at the table’s head.

A playful smirk curved her rose-painted lips, though a hint of competitive energy lingered in her glance toward Illena, as if measuring the empress’s distraction.

Kaela Darkmoon sat to Illena’s left, her sapphire gown flowing like liquid night. Her midnight-blue hair framed her serene face, and her bright blue eyes remained fixed on her plate of steamed vegetables and buttered bread. She ate quietly… but still stole jealous glances at Arkanos and Vael, as if she silently wished that was her son, pouting her mouth almost childishly, though her gaze occasionally drifted to Vael’s giggles, a faint softness breaking her usual reserve.

The hall was quiet save for the clink of cutlery, Vael’s happy babbling, and the occasional murmur of appreciation from Selene as she devoured another pancake.

The atmosphere was calm, almost serene—a rare moment of sweetness amidst the empire’s ceaseless machinations.

Illena’s voice broke the quiet, gentle but laced with curiosity. “My dear,” she said, her eyes still on Arkanos as he teased Vael with the spoon, “you’ve been deep in council with your generals lately. How fare the war plans against the Akerians?” Her tone was casual, but her gaze sharpened slightly, betraying her keen interest in his answer.

Arkanos didn’t look up immediately, his attention still on Vael, who had managed to grab the spoon and was now waving it triumphantly.

A low chuckle rumbled in his chest as he gently pried the spoon from his son’s grip, earning a pout from the baby.

Only then did he glance at Illena, his emerald eyes meeting her yellow ones with a look of amusement.

“The plans progress well,” he said, his voice steady.

“Ivan’s intelligence has given us an edge. The Akerians’ firearms and airships are formidable, but their reliance on them makes them predictable. We’ll strike their sky docks and powder caches before they can organize a defense.”

He shifted Vael to one arm, letting the boy nestle against his chest as he continued. “Sylvana’s leyline disruptions will blind their mages, and Abaddon’s speed will keep their airships grounded. We move in three days.”

Illena nodded, her fingers tracing the rim of her goblet as she absorbed his words. “And the teleportation web?” she asked, her voice lowering slightly, mindful of the servants hovering at the hall’s edges. “Will it hold under the strain of so many forces?”

Arkanos’s lips curved into a faint, confident smirk. “Sylvana is an Archmage. She assures me the anchors are stable. Each spearhead will operate independently until the web links them. By then, the Akerians will be too fractured to counter.”

He bounced Vael gently, the boy giggling as his father’s deep voice rumbled.

“We won’t just defeat them, Illena. We’ll unravel their empire before they know what hit them.”

Sephira, who had been listening intently, set down her fork with a soft clink, her green eyes gleaming with interest. “A bold strategy, my emperor,” she said, her tone light but probing. “But what of their nobles? The Akerian lords are proud—surely they’ll rally once their pride is stung.” She leaned forward slightly, her curls catching the candlelight, her smile teasing but sharp.

Arkanos’s gaze flicked to her, his expression unreadable for a moment. “Pride makes them brittle,” he said simply. “Utilia and I will target their nobility in Viremont. We’ll break their morale before they can unify. A few well-placed deaths, and their lords will beg for terms.” Vael squirmed, and Arkanos adjusted his hold, his tone softening as he added, “But that’s enough of war for tonight.”

Kaela, who had remained silent, finally spoke, her voice calm but firm. “It sounds… thorough,” she said, her blue eyes meeting Arkanos’s briefly before returning to her plate. “But war is unpredictable. What if their airships evade Abaddon’s reach?” Her question was practical, lacking the playful edge of Sephira’s, but it carried a quiet weight.