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Alfred, my loyal butler, stood waiting for me outside my quarters, his posture as straight and disciplined as ever. He wore a simple cloak that concealed his identity, but I recognized his presence immediately. His unwavering loyalty was a rare comfort in these tumultuous times.

"Alfred," I greeted him, keeping my voice low as we approached. But before I could say more, he did something unexpected—he kneeled.

"Alfred?" I asked, a sharp edge of concern creeping into my voice. This was not his usual behavior, and it immediately put me on alert.

"My lord," he began, his voice steady but tinged with an unusual gravity. "I have a message from the Queen."

The Queen?

The news was sudden, and while I trusted Alfred\'s judgment implicitly, I knew that whatever he had to say must be dire for him to act this way.

"Come inside," I ordered, my voice leaving no room for argument.

Sylvanna, who had been following me quietly, paused just outside the door, sensing the tension between Alfred and me. She was perceptive, as always, and without needing a command, she stepped inside, standing by with an air of readiness. The change in atmosphere was palpable, the calm before a storm.

Once inside, I locked the door behind us and turned to Alfred. "What is it?"

Alfred stood and reached into the folds of his cloak, producing a sealed letter. The royal seal glinted in the dim light of the room. "This message, my lord, was delivered to me with urgency. It bears the Queen\'s orders directly to you."

I took the letter and broke the seal, unfolding the parchment carefully. The words on the page were as clear as they were alarming.

The Queen\'s command was simple yet grave:

I was to deploy my forces immediately to aid the Dukedom of Icevern in their struggle against the goblin king.

"The goblin king?" I mused aloud. "Why would the Queen intervene directly in this?"

"I found it strange as well, my lord," Alfred replied, his expression serious. "The Icevern Duchy is known for its formidable warriors and knights. They should have been able to handle the goblin king\'s uprising without needing such a desperate plea for help."

His words resonated with my own thoughts. The Icevern knights were legendary in the north, their prowess in battle unmatched. For them to be in such dire straits suggested something more sinister at play.

"I took the liberty of investigating further," Alfred continued, his tone carrying the weight of what he was about to reveal. "What I discovered was... unsettling."

My gaze sharpened. Alfred was not one to exaggerate. "Go on."

"Lady Sophie and her knights were the first to discover the signs of the goblin king\'s uprising. They sent out messages to warn the Duke, her brother, but those messages were intercepted."

"Intercepted?" I repeated, anger beginning to simmer beneath my calm exterior. "By whom?"

"A noble within the Icevern court," Alfred answered, his voice steady but laced with a hint of disgust. "One who is close to the Duke, who understood the tension between him and Lady Sophie. He saw an opportunity to rid the Duke of his sister by ensuring she was left to fend for herself against the goblin king without reinforcement."

A cold fury settled over me as I processed Alfred\'s words. The betrayal was almost too calculated, too perfect. It reeked of court intrigue and the ambition that so often led to ruin. Yet, the more I considered it, the more it made sense. The Icevern family was powerful, but power always attracted vultures eager to feast on the spoils of a weakened house.

"Who is this noble?" I demanded, my voice low and dangerous. Read new chapters at m_v-l\'e-NovelFire

Alfred hesitated, his expression grim. "Lord Alistair Vardon, my lord. He has been a trusted advisor to the Duke for years, but his ambitions have always been clear to those who observe closely."

Vardon. The name alone stirred memories of past encounters, each one more unpleasant than the last. A man of no small ambition, he had always been adept at playing the political game, weaving webs of influence and deceit. For him to be involved in something like this was hardly surprising, but the implications were severe.

"So, Vardon sees this as his chance to rise," I muttered, more to myself than to Alfred. "He\'s gambling with the lives of thousands to secure his place at the Duke\'s side."

"It appears so, my lord," Alfred confirmed. "And from what I have gathered, the Duke remains unaware of his advisor\'s treachery."

I clenched my fists, my mind racing with possibilities. Vardon\'s betrayal had left Lady Sophie isolated, vulnerable to the goblin king\'s forces. And with the Duke\'s attention diverted by other matters—likely manipulated by Vardon himself—there was no one else to call for aid. No one but me.

I looked back at the letter, the Queen\'s seal staring up at me like a silent witness. Her command had been clear: deploy my forces immediately. Yet, I knew that the situation required more than just brute force. It required strategy, precision, and a clear understanding of the enemy\'s strengths and weaknesses.

"Alfred," I said, my voice firm and resolute, "assemble the men. We leave for Icevern at dawn."

Alfred didn\'t answer immediately. Instead, he reached into the cloak and pulled out a large, heavy sack. He dropped it on the floor between us, and as the sack fell open, I saw the form of a man bound and gagged, his eyes wide with terror.

"I took the initiative, my lord," Alfred said simply. "I thought you might want to deal with him personally."

The noble in the sack began to struggle, his muffled cries filling the room. He was a pathetic sight, his once proud and haughty demeanor replaced by sheer panic. The reality of his situation had clearly set in.

I stared down at him, my anger cold and precise. "You," I said, my voice icy. "You conspired against Sophie?"

The noble, Alistair, shook his head frantically, his eyes pleading. But I didn\'t need his confession. I could see the truth written in his fear.

"Tell me why," I demanded, my voice as cold as the winter winds outside.

He mumbled incoherently through the gag, his words lost in his desperation. It didn\'t matter. There was nothing he could say that would change what I knew had to be done.

Without another word, I reached out with my psychokinesis, lifting him off the ground effortlessly. His struggles intensified, his eyes wide with terror as he realized what was happening. I could feel his pulse quicken, his panic rising as he dangled helplessly in the air.

"I have no tolerance for betrayal," I said, my voice calm but filled with venom. "You sought to take advantage of a situation to eliminate someone who should have been under your protection. For that, there is no forgiveness."

The noble\'s eyes widened further, his terror reaching its peak as he realized his fate. He tried to scream, but the gag stifled his voice. His hands clawed at the invisible force holding him, but it was useless.

I tightened my grip with my mind, watching as the life drained from his eyes, his body convulsing in its final moments. It was a slow, deliberate process, one that ensured he felt every agonizing second.

When it was over, I let his lifeless body drop to the floor with a dull thud. The room was silent, the only sound the faint rustle of the curtains as the wind outside picked up.

"Dispose of this," I ordered Alfred, my voice devoid of emotion. "And make sure the Duke is informed of his \'friend\'s\' treachery."

Alfred bowed his head. "As you command, my lord."

I turned away, my mind already moving on to the next steps. This betrayal had only strengthened my resolve. The goblin king would be crushed, and those who had conspired to use this situation for their own gain would be dealt with accordingly.

As I left the room, Sylvanna was waiting outside. She said nothing, her eyes meeting mine briefly before she fell into step beside me. She understood better than anyone the weight of the decisions I had just made. There was no need for words.

The battle was far from over, but with the knowledge of the betrayal within Icevern\'s ranks, I now had the clarity I needed. This war would be won, and those responsible would pay the price.

There was no room for mercy in a world where such treachery existed. And I was more than willing to be the one who delivered justice, no matter how cold or unforgiving it had to be.

But Sophie, huh...

I guess it\'s the truth.

My absence as a tyrant also impacts the dukedom of the Icevern, it seems.

The Iceverns are supposed to be the most powerful shield of the kingdom.

I guess it can\'t be helped.

"Alfred. Prepare our men. Notify Lancefroz,"

"We\'re going to war,"