The grand war room was thick with tension. The air smelled of burning candles and ink-stained parchment, scattered with maps detailing recent battles—battles launched in the absence of the one man who should have led them.

The heavy doors swung open violently. Captain Leon strode in, his posture stiff, his face pale. He snapped into a salute before General Victor, who stood at the head of the war table. Across from them, Princess Seraphina sat in her regal chair, flanked by her most trusted female knights. The candlelight flickered against their polished armor.

"General!" Leon's voice was urgent, his breath labored. "Emperor is coming back. He just crossed the border."

The war room fell into a deathly silence.

Princess Seraphina stiffened, gripping the armrests of her throne. "He… knows?"

Leon gave a slow nod. "He knows everything. The battles. The missions. That we didn’t inform him."

A cold dread settled over the room.

General Victor, a hardened warrior who had faced countless battles, exhaled sharply. His grip on the table tightened. "Damn fools. We launched military campaigns without the strongest field marshal’s approval? This isn't just an oversight. This is a betrayal in his eyes."

Lady Clarisse, one of the elite knights, swallowed hard. "We… assumed he'd understand once he returned."

Leon clenched his fists. "Assume? Do you have any idea what he's been through? While we waged our little wars, he was out there—far beyond the kingdom’s borders, in places we can’t even imagine. He fought battles none of us could win. And we left him out?"

The princess stood abruptly, her emerald eyes flashing with unease. "We didn’t mean to disrespect him. We had to act quickly!"

Leon took a step closer, lowering his voice. "Do you really think that will matter to him now?"