Reincarnated with the Country System

Chapter 127 The Caged Princess and the Mad Duke

The castle of Fort George loomed over the rolling green hills of Islewyn, a fortress of ancient stone and unyielding power. From its high walls, one could see far across the island, past the jagged cliffs and white-capped waves of the Elysian Archipelago.

The fortress was protected by the Krig, the Duke's personal army—mercenaries and battle-hardened warriors who owed their loyalty not to the Kingdom of Britannia, but to the Duke of The Elysian Archipelago. They patrolled the halls in silence, their faces hidden behind black steel helmets, their hands always resting on the hilts of their swords.

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Strom, the self-proclaimed Duke of Elysian Archipelago, strode through the dimly lit corridors of Fort George. His butler, a wiry man with a face like a hawk, followed closely behind, carrying a silver tray laden with food. The air was thick with tension, and the flickering torchlight cast long shadows that danced like spectres on the walls.

They stopped before a heavy oak door guarded by two Krig soldiers clad in blue armour. The guards saluted and opened the door without a word. Strom stepped inside, his sharp eyes scanning the room. It was empty—or so it seemed.

"Princess Elina," Strom called out, his voice dripping with mock sweetness. "I've brought you lunch. Aren't you going to thank me?"

The room was silent. Strom's lips curled into a sly smile as he stepped further inside, his butler lingering by the door. Suddenly, a figure lunged from the shadows, a glint of steel flashing in the dim light. Strom sidestepped with practised ease, grabbing the attacker's wrist and twisting it until the knife clattered to the floor. With a swift motion, he pinned her to the ground, his grip firm but not cruel.

"Elina, Elina," he tutted, his voice a mix of amusement and exasperation. "You should know better than to try something so foolish. What would your mother say?"

Elina, the fiery princess of the Britannia Kingdom, glared up at him, her chest heaving with rage. "Let go of me, you monster!" she spat, her voice trembling with fury.

Strom chuckled, his face inches from hers. "You look so beautiful when you're angry. It's one of the many reasons I love you."

"Love?" Elina sneered. "You don't know the meaning of the word. What you call love is madness!"

Strom's smile widened, but his eyes darkened with a dangerous glint. "Madness, you say? Perhaps. But it's a madness born of love—love for you. If your mother hadn't broken off our betrothal, none of this would have happened. We could have been happy, Elina. Instead, I had to take drastic measures to ensure you'd be mine."

Elina's eyes burned with defiance. "You imprisoned your own father and slaughtered innocent people, and now you expect me to believe this is all for love? You're a monster, Strom. A monster!"

The butler hesitated. "Perhaps she is counting on the nobles' resentment toward you. After all, you did imprison their family members."

Strom smirked. "And that is exactly why they won't betray me."

When Strom had seized control of the Elysian territories, he hadn't just overthrown his father. He had imprisoned the families of every noble under his rule. Wives, sons, daughters, and even distant relatives—all held in captivity to ensure their loyalty.

Now, if any noble turned against him, they would be condemning their own blood.

"Did we capture any of Alden's family?"

"Only his nephew."

Strom's smirk widened. "So Alden was willing to throw away his own kin? Interesting. Either he truly doesn't care, or the Royal Army's general managed to convince him."

Strom's smile turned predatory. "We'll crush them before they can gain any momentum. Where are they headed next?"

"They'll need to cross the Surma River to reach Lord Harrow's territory. If we strike there, we can cut them off before they advance further."

Strom's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Excellent. Inform the nobles under my command to prepare their troops as well. We will strike before the Royal Army can push further into our lands."

The butler bowed. "At once, my lord."

As Strom stood in the dim corridor of Fort George, he couldn't help but grin.

The Queen had made her move.

Now it was his turn.