Flame of Conquest

Thank you for the reviews, although I didn't expect that it would be 13 in one go. As much as I wanted to give bonus chapters for it, unfortunately, I don't have a stockpile for this story. Perhaps I will compensate for it in another way, and give you a story about the MC being transmigrated as Zelretch in the Age of Gods, where he was still Solomon's student in the next week. Now, enjoy the story.

"It is said that you wanted to talk to me, Brynhildr?"

Entering the chamber, she saw the man with blonde hair and crimson eyes sitting down in his sheet with a glass of wine in his hand.

He stared at her with that crimson gaze; his expression was unreadable.

She only saw the bottomless abyss in those eyes, empty and bored. It was the gaze of a man who had seen too much and experienced too much to the point where everything didn't matter to him.

However, what she didn't see was that it was not only a gaze of boredom, but also a gaze of someone hungry for both power and control. It was the gaze of someone who thrived on conquest and hated boredom.

It was understandable why he was so bored, because he did nothing but sip his wine to relieve his boredom. Probably some good sexual action with his sister could get rid of his boredom and improve his mood. Nonetheless, his mind was now that of someone who was bored and had nothing to do, which produced such a state and expression.

Of course, others could argue, why don't you continue having sex with your sister if you're bored as fuck? Well, he was a king; he had duties, and his hedonism had to end. The very reason why he wasn't in his throne room was because the Valkyrie wanted to talk to him privately, and he granted her that permission.

Thus, this is where the scene led them.

"I'm, Lord Titus, I just want to apologize for my previous impetuous actions. I have wronged you a lot. I suspected you of no good toward me, even to the point where I accused you of rape and encouraged you to do such actions." Brynhildr bowed.

"Moreover, I'm here to declare my allegiance to you." She then kneeled before the man to express her willingness to submit to him.

Titus didn't answer her question; instead, he dropped his glass on the desk and moved the seat at the desk, placing it in front of his sheet, signaling Brynhildr to sit in the seat that he set for her.

"Rise, Brynhildr, and sit down."

"Will it be rude for a subordinate to sit in front of their own king?" Brynhildr asked hesitantly.

"I'm the king. I'm the one who makes the rules. Sit down, Brynhildr," Titus commanded.

"Excuse me then, Lord Titus," she obeyed, standing up from her kneeling state and sitting down in the seat that was set for her.

"Good. I like a girl who does what it told without question." The soft whisper in his voice sent a shiver down her spine as she noticed that she had become a puppet at his mercy.

Realizing something was wrong, she stammered, "Lord Titus?"

"As you have spoken, Brynhildr, you have declared your allegiance to me. It's time for you to make a choice. When I tell you to kill, you will kill for me. If I tell you to do something unethical or immoral, then you will do as I say, no questions, only execute the orders. If you want to question them, you need to make enough contributions, to create merits that are enough for you to have the freedom to speak in my ranks. For now, you don't. No matter how great you are, how powerful you were when you served Odin means nothing here. You haven't contributed anything yet to have the qualification to question my orders."

"These are the rules and laws I set for newcomers. So, work hard and show your value, Brynhildr. When you do, you will pretty much be able to do whatever you want. For now, I give you the hard task of getting rid of all Odin's remnants in the North and showing your loyalty."

His crimson eyes flared at that moment, burning brightly. She could see the flame in those eyes. The order was unquestionable and irrefutable. Every time she saw the flame, her heart beat faster, and her fear was evident. Every time she saw it, she swiftly averted her gaze from the flame and lowered her head for fear of losing her composure because of those eyes.

There was something that bothered her. Were those mystic eyes?

"Can I at least think about it first, Lord Titus?" she asked nervously.

"No, your contribution is not enough for me to give you this compassion, Brynhildr. You need to contribute more to the Empire if you want to request something. You want to show mercy to Odin, and I accommodate you to not fight him? Sure, I grant you those requests, on the premise that you have contributed enough. I have explained so much to you. Now go, Brynhildr, and make your choice." Titus then signaled her to leave and make her choice by action rather than talking.

"Yes, Lord Titus." Brynhildr bowed, then left the room with heavy steps.

After she felt she was far enough away from Lord Titus, she sighed and wondered if her decision was the right one.

Fighting her own former friends made her steps a lot heavier.

However, Lord Titus was right. She had contributed nothing to the Empire yet to be willful. If she, who had basically contributed nothing to his Empire, could make requests at will, what about tomorrow?

Would someone who had done nothing and contributed nothing to the Empire rise do the same too?

Aware of the implications of the rules that Lord Titus had set for her and everyone, she had no choice but to comply.

As long as the contribution was enough, then everything was easy to say.

There are no shortcuts, no free passes. Earning his respect will be a bloody, brutal climb. 

For now, she could only apologize to the Allfather.

The die is cast, indeed.