Chapter 89. A child's cry echoes through the palace
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It'd been months since Kayan's forces had been at war.
What should have been an easy fight had stalled for an unexpected reason.
Hashad had requested aid from the rival nation of Veroctria.
This reopened the supply lines, and the Emperor's army was reinforced with soldiers from Veroctria.
Hashad was a man who would hold his ground, even if it meant giving away half his country.
It was clear how much he would have ceded to Veroctria in this deal.
It was a cowardly move that Kayan would never have chosen, no matter how disadvantaged he was.
Even if Hashad was fortunate enough to defeat Kayan's allies, there would be trouble afterward.
Veroctria's army, weakened by the civil war, would try to eat Anut whole.
It's like trying to heal a wound at the cost of losing your ar
To make matters worse, a secret power struggle broke out within Kayan's forces.
It was a precursor to the infighting that Kayan feared.
Who would be the next emperor.
On the subject, Leom and Tachigang had not expressed a clear opinion, but a subtle schism had arisen among their followers.
Now that the orthodoxy of the Red Wolf was broken, the heads of the other wolf families had their own reasons for claiming the throne, and the people began to divide into factions and turn against each other.
Even the Black Wolf warriors could not avoid that close fight.
The members of the organization, who should have been united, began to badmouth each other and created a hostile atmosphere.
Throughout history, many honorable nations had been destroyed by infighting within their ranks.
Unless this problem was resolved, it would explode at a crucial moment.
Kayan had to make a decision.
He called together the heads of the wolf organizations and their direct reports.
Too large a group to discuss major plans for a military campaign, the leaders could not guess what Kayan's sudden summons meant.
Many faces, filled with questions, turned to Kayan, who had only just appeared.
Kayan stood before them, his stride brisk.
"I have summoned you here today for one reason."
"...."
"None of you will say it out loud, but I know you are all preoccupied with one thought."
Kayan's serene gaze rested on the chiefs in turn.
His calm voice swept the audience again.
"Which organization, the golden wolves, the blue wolves, or the black wolves, will continue the new dynasty?"
A chill ran down their spine at the blatant statement that no one dared to utter.
Tachigang and Leom exchanged meaningful glances.
There was an inherent wariness among all who stood.
A frosty silence descended on the ground.
"Until this question is answered, unity is impossible. As we all know, it will be a major setback in all the battles to come."
"....."
"That's why I'm going to settle the debate today."
The words that sent countless pupils into a frenzy echoed in their minds like an inaudible echo.
Which of the three wolf organizations' legitimacy was to be considered first was up for the throne.
Even with Hashad still sitting on the throne, Kayan's factions were already at odds over the seat.
Even if the leaders were not greedy for the throne, their followers would not be so quick to accept it.
How could he summarize this difficult situation with just a few words?
People's doubts about Kayan only grew.
Instead of continuing to speak, Kayan removed his thick robe, revealing his upper body covered in scars.
This unexpected behavior caused a small commotion around him.
After a few moments, the onlookers' jaws dropped and their eyes widened.
"Uh, what was that?"
"Oh, no, what the hell..................."
"Am I seeing things?"
A bluish glow began to envelope Kayan's shirtless body.
Confused gazes fixed on him for a moment.
"I am the spirit of Anut, Hirpus."
The glow that grew from Kayan's body gradually thickened.
The sight was as mysterious as seeing a god descend to the mortal world.
Then black fur sprouted from the blue glow on his skin, and his body slowly took on the shape of a wolf.
A giant wolf that could hardly be considered an ordinary beast stood still and watched them.
A high energy flowed from the divine creature.
From someone's mouth, a word of astonishment floated through the air.
"Hi, Hirpus."
Hirpus, creator of the great Anut in the barren northern lands, patron god of the wolf clans.
The mythical black wolf had indeed appeared before their eyes.
The warriors were stunned and mesmerized by this marvelous sight.
Hirpus was the root of Anut and the identity of the wolf tribe.
To the wolf-worshippers, the presence of Kayan was the very god they believed in.
In the presence of the holy Hirpus, it was pointless to debate the legitimacy of the lesser throne.
Leom was the first to break the silence.
He knelt respectfully and bowed his head.
"To Kayan, the beginning and the end of the Wolf Clan, the embodiment of the great Hirpus, I offer my unbounded homage."
One by one, the others bowed their heads to Kayan and offered him their obedient worship.
***
The war lasted nearly a year.
Quaishans, the White Wolf who had kept Kayan on his toes, was ambushed and killed.
Without Quaishans, the White Wolf was greatly shaken.
His son hastily took over command, but it did little to lift the morale of the desperate soldiers.
The allied attack was fierce, and the emperor's forces were quickly overwhelmed.
Victory reports rang out from Kayan’s camp.
The emperor's army was overwhelmed in a pivotal battle that could decide the outcome of the war.
This battle gave Kayan complete control of all roads leading to the capital.
Soon, Kayan would be marching on the palace with his entire army.
Reading the situation, Veroctria's army broke their treaty with Anut and scurried away.
"You bastards!"
Hashad was furious at being stabbed in the back.
Things wouldn't have turned out so badly if Veroctria hadn't withdrawn.
Dismembered, Hashad sat on his throne, biting his nails.
If the army led by the son of Quaishans could buy them some more time, they might still have a chance.
But Hashad shook his head.
How could the young man overcome a situation that even Quaishans could not handle?
It was a hopeless expectation.
Boom!
Hashad's fist shook as he threw the cup in front of him.
The other nations, already aware of the situation in Anut, had been lukewarm to Hashad's proposal for an alliance.
Foreign help was needed at all costs.
The emperor's attention was drawn back to the chamberlain's urgent voice.
"Your Majesty, the baby is about to be born. You should go........."
"What is so important right now?"
Hashad shouted in exasperation.
The birth of a flesh-and-blood child would cement the Emperor's authority outwardly, albeit in the midst of war.
He had been secretly flaunting his succession to his ministers all along.
The chamberlain felt a little resentful, but decided to keep his mouth shut. Judging from the way he was fidgeting, it was unlikely that the news of the concubine's birth would reach the emperor's ears now. The chamberlain bowed quietly and left the room.
***
"Wahhhh, wahhhh."
It had been decades since the sound of a child's cry had echoed through the palace. The palace, which should have been filled with joy and celebration, was as cold as the air.
Ihedia, exhausted from her long labor, could barely lift her ever-closing eyelids.
My child------
My child-------
Oh.......
Unable to find the strength to speak, Ihedia looked pleadingly at the midwife.
The midwife gestured to the doctor beside her for permission.
As soon as he nodded, the child was placed in Ihedia's arms.
"The baby is healthy, don't worry."
The midwife soothed Ihedia.
She slowly moved her head to look at the child.
It was a girl with platinum hair.
Only after she confirmed it did Ihedia breathe a sigh of relief.
A transparent tear trickled down the corner of her eye.
Then her gaze of disgust was directed at the courtiers who had watched the birth in silence.
If a black-haired child had been born, it would have been killed immediately and dismissed as stillborn.
Ihedia strained to catch a glimpse of her newborn daughter, but soon succumbed to darkness.
***
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