Fourteen years after the defeat of the Yprest duchy, it is now ruled by a Regent.

  Much of the wounds from that time remain as scars.

  Nothing more.

  Rather the scythe would claim my neck even a day faster to sell me to a lustful god.

  From an excerpt of my favorite book, “merciless with cause—fearful avoidance and clinging to survival—undoubtibly, it will claim those targeted without fail.”

  Only time will say when.

  However in this present ruled by a scenery unchanging, it’s time to rot came.

  By the darkened expression of my brother; err say a voice aloud than usual.

  It is not the first time. Nor will it be at this height.

  A pitying swirl of emotion dripped sorely from my brother's eyes.

  Ergo, not a fool.

  The world is vast and mine is small.

  Ah, perfect. “It was purely the fluttering beauty that blinded and attracted him to her.”

  It was nothing but the shell seen.

  How utterly grating for the nerves.

  But the more it goes on, perhaps the chance of seeing more, knowing more, garners a much deeper interest and connection with each other.

  If.

  That is all that needn’t be said.

  Strict yet minor doubt.

  The gouging from the Empire and the Regents are a profound working aiming for stability and something my tongue wishes had a neatly perceived word.

  Massacre too distasteful. Nor has any such happenstance taken place.

  With Regents and proxy rulers directing every fallen land in the clutch of the Empire, the future is but a certain one.

  Likely my last sight will still be in the place called ‘The Yprest Duchy’ in name before it’s entire disappearance.

  But brother.

  Your thoughts are thinner to peer into than the crude lust of third rate villains.

  “Brother, have you forgotten to cook today?”

  “Ah.” the reverie on his face snapped.

  “I wish for meat in abundance in my meal.”

  “...Alright.” his head nodded slowly.

  He left the room as I lightly laughed.

  The quiet could not mask the noise coming from the other side of the wall. I flipped the page with a hum.

  In all fairness, what am I supposed to say?

  I’m fudging dying bro.

  Years of staring at screens have not prepared me for anything.

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  So said I.

  At one point in time there once existed a nation bordered by the republic and the big scawwy empire.

  On god they were cooked.

  Curse my dialect bro.

  Twas the name of the kingdom of ercen radiance.

  Whatever that means.

  Everyone just calls it the ercen kingdom.

  You see, while I was out legally trespassing guards arrested me for no reason!

  This is meanspirited and must be mutually destroyed for demanding the five Mexican pesos I had.

  I scratched my butt as these guys did the whip and ‘hi-yah’ to the horses. From this angle, it makes me feel like I’m pulling boogers out my nose.

  To be fair, I was on a flat surface with my chin held in my hand!

  But!

  Uh.

  ………

  S-Shut up.

  These goons in bloons–? These goobers are like johnny joestar. Not slick at all.

  Ain’t slicker than a licker.

  Ah I forgot where we’re going.

  To some guys luxurious castle.

  Ermantus Ercen.

  No but where does ra–

  Proxy Ruler.

  Fun fact! Regents and proxy rulers are not the same! Golly gee!

  Regents act as like, uh, like filling in for one person. A temporary handler that follows whatever the high court of imperials– I meant to say–

  Fudge okay whatever.

  Basically they don’t do whatever nilly willy.

  Following procedures, orders, and uh whatever else they do. To a T. M-Mostly.

  Proxy rulers are proxy rulers.

  But aren’t they the same? Both are proxies for the emperor!

  N o .

  They’re more like puppets. But are allowed independent action to a certain degree.

  You can think of them as quasi nobles.

  They half own the land based on the big boys' permission.

  Likewise it can be stripped away.

  Some of the assimilated land were originally ruled by proxy rulers for some time before being granted a title and thus becoming a noble.

  Legitimate own to the land. Er.. 90% of it at least.

  The feudal system at it’s peak yall.

  Simply put, regents are temporary administrative folks whilst proxy rulers can be full time rulers of that region based on a number of things.

  If they do well in the eyes of the imperial court, they keep the land. If not, they get fudging dethroned.

  Uh when they get dethroned a number of things happen.

  Ehh, most end in death let’s say.

  Wording it in another way, it’s like a king granting land to a knight or something.

  That said, it doesn’t have to do with me.

  Proxy rulers are Proxy rulers.

  Then again, uh.

  I was gonna say something cool but like.

  Damn bro mah head empty.

  “In hell we meet.”

  Granted I came to scout but in the dark I could just skiddidly skidaddle.

  Lemme just see the place and bounce.

  Should be enough.

  Up ahead, out in the open field, there it was.

  Big place, walls of stone.

  Yeah there it is.

  Aight time to dip.

  I got up and jumped down.

  “Hup!”

  Leap of faith!

  Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, stylishly, I rolled and bounced while posing.

  I’m the greatest after all.

  “Kehehehe!”

  I will never stop saying that.

  The great me shall never bend my pride!

  …Maybe.

  I started walking with a small hunger festering.

  My hand twitches.

  My head twitches. Forcing me to have my eyes focus on the left.

  A thrill enters me.

  It’s small, sure.

  It starts small.

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  Let’s see how it changes.