By Any Means Necessary

Captain of the Guard Ieyasu trembled, his eyes widening as he involuntarily glanced at the silver-haired girl standing by the window, deeply shocked.

Could it be that the princess had already foreseen this?

Kaguya's eyebrows slightly furrowed as she spoke, "I remember the pass has more than two thousand stationed troops, and there are city defense weapons. How could it have been breached so quickly?"

"Reporting to Your Highness," the guard kneeling on the ground respectfully replied, "Originally, with the stationed troops' defense, the northern tribes suffered heavy casualties and could not gain the upper hand. But the revolutionaries hidden in the city suddenly rose up, and with the addition of Night Raid, they attacked from both inside and outside, leading to the fall of the pass."

"The Revolutionary Army, Night Raid?" Kaguya pinched her smooth chin with her white fingers, pacing back and forth before suddenly looking up. "How many revolutionaries are there? How many from Night Raid?"

"There aren't many revolutionaries, only about a hundred, and it's unclear how many Night Raid members are there, but it seems to be around six or seven," the guard said.

"Order all spies to be deployed and find out their exact location," Kaguya commanded.

"Yes," the guard replied, rising and hurrying away.

"These revolutionaries pretend to be noble but are nothing more than petty thieves, willing to collude with northern tribes for victory," Kaguya scoffed, gazing out at the autumn rain. "Don't they realize that letting these wolves in will cause great harm to the empire's people?"

"They proclaim justice, yet secretly engage in countless shameful deeds," Captain of the Guard Ieyasu added gravely.

"In my view, they are merely pursuing the highest power. Even if they truly overthrow the empire, it might not be any better," Kaguya suddenly turned and said solemnly, "Order the entire army into combat readiness. We depart at dawn. Tell them the war has begun."

"Understood," Captain Ieyasu bowed and left.

Kaguya held the revolutionary army in contempt.

In her eyes, they were nothing but hypocrites, flaunting the banner of overthrowing the empire's tyranny while engaging in petty theft. To win, they went as far as inviting wolves into their midst, disregarding the lives of civilians. Everyone knew what would happen if the brutal northern tribes entered the heartland.

Sooner or later, she would wipe them all out.

A cold gleam flashed in Kaguya's clear, transparent eyes.

She reached for her teacup, only to find it empty. Setting the porcelain cup down, she suddenly thought of Sayo. Usually, Shayou would be the one to serve her tea at this time, and her absence felt unfamiliar.

Due to Kaguya's implementation of new reform measures, such as reducing taxes, adjusting land distribution, and conducting population surveys, all required personnel. With no one suitable around, Sayo volunteered for the task. It was then Kaguya discovered that Sayo, besides her martial skills, also possessed considerable talent in internal affairs.

Perhaps it had something to do with having a village chief for a grandfather. With his age, he was becoming less capable of handling affairs, and Shayou's assistance was what kept the village running smoothly.

Now, with Sayo overseeing more than just a small village but the entire territory, Kaguya's prior guidance made it manageable for her.

However, this left Kaguya without someone to pour her tea.

At that moment, a graceful figure approached, picking up the teapot and pouring the faintly green tea into the porcelain cup.

"Thank you, Air," Kaguya smiled slightly.

The girl with pink hair and a dignified appearance before her was Air.

"Your Highness, it is my duty," Air replied softly, bowing.

"Thanks are still in order," Kaguya said, reclining slightly against the sofa back with a lazy demeanor. "By the way, how has Seryu been behaving lately? Is she still being good?"

"Yes, she's been quiet, just frequently inquiring about the imperial army," Air replied softly.

"That's surprising," Kaguya chuckled. "I thought she'd have tried to escape at the first opportunity."

"Your Highness, forgive my boldness, but I feel Seiryu isn't a bad girl," Air dared to say. "She must have some misunderstanding about you, which is why she acts this way. She's actually a girl filled with a sense of justice, perhaps a bit extreme, but her nature is good."

"Is that so?" Kaguya toyed with a lock of her hair, smiling. "It seems Seiryu is quite skilled if she has my little maid speaking on her behalf."

Air's face turned pale upon hearing Kaguya's words, and she hurriedly knelt, anxiously saying, "Your Highness, please don't misunderstand. I had no such intention. You rescued us three sisters from a den of evil, freeing us from a miserable fate, and gave us a beautiful life now. We are always grateful for your great kindness and are loyal to you with no other intentions. Please understand this, Your Highness."

"I was only joking, get up," Kaguya said, reaching out to help Air to her feet, feeling amused. Was she really that intimidating?

Air stood, still somewhat uneasy. Although she appeared composed and gentle, like an elder sister, she was still just a teenager. The fear of authority was almost innate, especially toward the princess she admired, and she worried about any misunderstanding.

"Rest assured, I was truly just joking. I'm sorry for causing any misunderstanding," Kaguya said, patting her shoulder reassuringly.

Seeing that the princess seemed genuinely unconcerned, Air relaxed a bit.

At that moment, as Kaguya gazed at the autumn rain outside the window, she suddenly said, "You may go now. I have some matters to think over."

"Yes, Your Highness," Air replied, bowing as she left.

Watching Air's graceful departure, the silver-haired girl lounging on the sofa slightly curled her lips. Her clear eyes glanced toward the dimly lit corner, her lips parting slightly.

"Since you're here, you might as well come out."