The Beginning Adventure of the New Monarch

Morning light barely penetrated the depths of Ednia Castle behind the heavy bars of a dungeon, about thirty demons were imprisoned.

Captured the previous day during the battle in the great forest, their numbers reflected the scale of their defeat.

What was meant to be a resounding victory for the Demon Empire—a total subjugation of the humans on the island kingdom of Ednia—had turned into a catastrophic disaster.

Among them was Ilyud, second-in-command to Giyard, an imposing demon with a bull-like appearance.

With long curved horns and broad ears, he stood in a corner, his mind troubled by questions about their fate. His defiant gaze followed the guards silently patrolling the room.

The sound of heavy footsteps and clanking armor echoed through the dungeon.

An older man, accompanied by several armed guards, stopped in front of the cells. Despite his advanced age, his presence was commanding, and he showed no hesitation as he addressed the prisoners.

— "My name is Robert," he said in a deep but calm voice. "I'll be direct. Among you, who holds the authority?"

A heavy silence fell before Ilyud slowly raised a massive hand.

Robert gestured toward him, and the guards opened the cell. Ilyud, shackled and flanked by soldiers, was led into another austere room. There, a table and a stack of documents awaited.

Robert sat across from him and pushed the papers toward the demon.

— "Sign these documents," he ordered, gesturing to the pages.

Ilyud examined them, intrigued. It was a peace treaty, clearly outlining the following conditions:

1-An immediate ceasefire with Ednia.

2-The Demon Empire must cease sending ships into Ednia's maritime zones.

3-The Empire renounced all territorial ambitions on the island.

4-Both parties commit to cease all military activities or aggressive actions that threaten the security of the other nation.

The demon furrowed his brow.The term writing is not a constraint, they were not unreasonable.

He hesitated for a little moment studying Robert's impassive expression, then picked up a quill and signed.

Once the document was signed, Ilyud was escorted back to his comrades, still shackled.

An imposing escort of 110 knights awaited to accompany them to the port.

The group of demons, closely watched, was led to the water's edge, where a kingdom ship awaited them, sails raised and ready to depart.

One by one, the prisoners were freed from their shackles before boarding, under the watchful eyes of the soldiers. Ilyud, the last to board, paused at the gangplank and turned toward the two figures watching the scene from the quay:

Robert and a young man in a military uniform.

— "Why these terms? Why spare us?" Ilyud asked, his tone a mixture of suspicion and curiosity.

Robert crossed his arms, but it was the other man, Jonady, who answered. His calm brown eyes fixed on the demon.

— "We have no extravagant demands of the Empire."

Jonady paused, choosing his words carefully.

In his mind, he reflected on the history of his own world. He recalled one of the major causes of World War II: the excessive war reparations imposed on German Empire after the first conflict, which had led to economic collapse and the rise of resentment.

He continued, his tone measured but firm:

— "Imposing excessive conditions or humiliating your leaders would only provoke another conflict. By taking a moderate approach, we open the door to diplomacy.

This allows the Empire to save face while ensuring Ednia's security."

Ilyud's sharp yellow eyes narrowed, studying this young human with intensity.

This man, who seemed so youthful, possessed a wisdom and strategy that made him dangerous. Ilyud knew he must report this threat to the higher authority of the Empire.

Without another word, he boarded the ship, and it slowly set sail.

The white sails unfurled in the morning breeze, and the vessel gradually disappeared into the horizon.

Robert turned to Jonady, his gaze filled with respect.

— "You've chosen a difficult but wise path. Let's hope the Empire learns from this."

Jonady, arms crossed, watched the horizon for a moment before responding.

— "Diplomacy is never a simple solution, but it can prevent countless tragedies."

As the sun rose higher in the sky, the two of them returned to the castle.

The treaty was signed, and a new chapter was beginning for Ednia.

But Jonady knew there was still much to do, for while peace with external forces seemed assured for now, the internal enemies posed a far more insidious threat.