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the Villainess they took for granted

Chapter 177: the minister of war · Oct 27, 2026

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Chapter List (304)

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151 Chapter 151: Yes 2026-10-27
152 Chapter 152: The News 2026-10-27
153 Chapter 153: A Request 2026-10-27
154 Chapter 154: Closure 2026-10-27
155 Chapter 155: The First Move 2026-10-27
156 Chapter 156: Wedding Plans I 2026-10-27
157 Chapter 157: wedding plans II 2026-10-27
158 Chapter 158: Wedding Plans III 2026-10-27
159 Chapter 159: wedding plans III 2026-10-27
160 Chapter 160: wedding plans IV 2026-10-27
161 Chapter 161: reception venue I 2026-10-27
162 Chapter 162: Reception Venue II 2026-10-27
163 Chapter 163: Invitation letter and program 2026-10-27
164 Chapter 164: wedding dress 2026-10-27
165 Chapter 165: of flowers, other arrangements, and a letter 2026-10-27
166 Chapter 166: food menu, wedding cake, and the second letter 2026-10-27
167 Chapter 167: Of Duties and Parting 2026-10-27
168 Chapter 168: the second move 2026-10-27
169 Chapter 169: one month before the wedding 2026-10-27
170 Chapter 170: decision to leave 2026-10-27
171 Chapter 171: the emperor falls ill 2026-10-27
172 Chapter 172: closed gates 2026-10-27
173 Chapter 173: the letter 2026-10-27
174 Chapter 174: a son who lost his father 2026-10-27
175 Chapter 175: The Succession 2026-10-27
176 Chapter 176: the emperor is dead 2026-10-27
177 Chapter 177: the minister of war 2026-10-27
178 Chapter 178: The Emperor’s Funeral 2026-10-27
179 Chapter 179: the report 2026-10-27
180 Chapter 180: the coronation I 2026-10-27
181 Chapter 181: the coronation II 2026-10-27
182 Chapter 182: V2- - 1: Her Return 2026-10-27
183 Chapter 183: V2- - 2: The Emperor 2026-10-27
184 Chapter 184: V2- - 3- Returning to soceity 2026-10-27
185 Chapter 185: V2- - 4: the marraige market 2026-10-27
186 Chapter 186: V2- - 5: an obvious choice 2026-10-27
187 Chapter 187: V2- - 6: the invitation 2026-10-27
188 Chapter 188: V2- - 7: An attempt 2026-10-27
189 Chapter 189: V2- - 8: The opening ball I 2026-10-27
190 Chapter 190: V2- - 9: The opening ball II 2026-10-27
191 Chapter 191: v2- - 10: the opening ball III 2026-10-27
192 Chapter 192: v2- - 11: the opening ball IV 2026-10-27
193 Chapter 193: v2- - 12: the opening ball V 2026-10-27
194 Chapter 194: v2- - 13: the opening ball VI 2026-10-27
195 Chapter 195: v2- - 14: the opening ball VII 2026-10-27
196 Chapter 196: v2- - 15: the opening ball VIII 2026-10-27
197 Chapter 197: v2- - 16: the opening ball IX 2026-10-27
198 Chapter 198: v2- - 17: the dance 2026-10-27
199 Chapter 199: v2- - 18: his private chambers I 2026-10-27
200 Chapter 200: v2- - 19: his private chambers II 2026-10-27

Chapter 177: Chapter 177: the minister of war

The Emperor’s death was announced the following morning.

The proclamation was read first within the Imperial Palace before being carried throughout the capital.

His Imperial Majesty had passed away after a sudden illness.

The Empire was to enter a formal period of mourning.

And by the laws of succession, the Crown Prince had ascended the throne.

Adrian was now Emperor.

The words appeared on proclamations throughout the capital.

They were read aloud in government offices.

Carried by messengers to the gates.

Sent to the provinces.

And, before long, carried beyond the borders of the Empire to foreign courts.

There was no uncertainty.

No dispute.

No question of succession.

The Crown Prince had become Emperor immediately upon his father’s death.

The coronation would come later.

For now, there was mourning.

The capital changed almost overnight.

The Imperial banners were lowered.

Public celebrations were suspended.

Theaters and places of entertainment closed.

The streets around the palace became quieter as people gathered in small groups, speaking in subdued voices.

The Emperor had ruled for over two decades.

His death was not merely the loss of a man.

It was the end of an era.

Inside the palace, preparations began almost immediately.

The funeral arrangements were extensive.

The Emperor’s body was prepared according to Imperial tradition.

The great hall was transformed for the lying-in-state.

The Imperial Guard was assigned to the funeral procession.

Invitations were sent to the highest-ranking nobles and foreign representatives.

Every detail had to be arranged with precision.

There could be no mistakes.

Not now.

Not when the entire Empire was watching its new Emperor.

Adrian attended the preparations personally.

He reviewed the procession route.

Approved the placement of the Imperial Guard.

Read the list of foreign delegations.

Confirmed the order in which the senior members of the Imperial family would appear.

He did everything expected of him.

And yet, every so often, his eyes would settle on some small detail and remind him of the man who was no longer there to see it.

His father’s funeral.

He would oversee it himself.

There was no question of that.

He would stand beside the coffin.

He would receive the condolences.

He would lead the Empire through its mourning.

He would do everything a son was expected to do.

And everything an Emperor was required to do.

There would be time for everything else afterward.

The days following the Emperor’s death passed beneath a heavy silence.

The capital remained in mourning.

The Emperor’s body lay in state, and the people were permitted to pay their final respects.

The Imperial banners remained lowered.

The streets were quieter than usual.

Even the court seemed to have lost some of its usual movement.

Behind the palace walls, however, there was little rest.

Adrian had been Emperor for only a matter of days, yet every hour brought another decision.

The funeral preparations continued.

The provinces had been notified.

Foreign courts had sent their condolences.

The military had received the necessary instructions.

And the investigation into the Emperor’s illness continued.

Adrian sat behind his desk, reading the latest report, when his secretary entered.

”Your Majesty. Lord Merrow is here.”

Adrian looked up.

”Send him in.”

The secretary bowed and withdrew.

A moment later, Lord Merrow entered.

The Minister of War closed the door behind him before approaching the desk.

”Your Majesty.”

”Merrow.”

Adrian gestured toward the chair.

”Sit.”

Merrow did so.

Adrian set the report aside.

”How are the funeral preparations?”

”Proceeding as planned. The military arrangements are already in place. The procession route has been secured, and the guard assignments have been finalized.”

”And the foreign delegations?”

”Most have confirmed their attendance.”

”Good.”

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Adrian looked toward the documents on his desk.

”The Duke of Ashford.”

Merrow’s expression remained neutral.

”He remains outside the capital.”

”I know.”

”He has made no attempt to force entry.”

”I would expect nothing less.”

Adrian leaned back.

”He will want to attend the funeral.”

”Yes.”

”He should be allowed to.”

Merrow looked at him.

”Your Majesty?”

”He is the Emperor’s nephew.”

Adrian’s voice remained even.

”Refusing him outright would create unnecessary questions.”

Merrow nodded.

”Of course.”

Adrian rose and walked toward the window.

The capital stretched beneath him.

”The mourning period will pass,” he said. ”Eventually, the restrictions will be lifted.”

”And the Duke will return.”

”Yes.”

Adrian turned.

”I don’t want him to.”

Merrow was silent.

There was no explanation.

No mention of anything personal.

Only the order.

”The Duke is second in the line of succession,” Merrow said carefully.

”I know.”

”And keeping him away indefinitely would be difficult.”

”I don’t intend to keep him away indefinitely.”

Adrian returned to his desk.

”Only long enough.”

Merrow studied him.

Adrian gave him nothing more.

Merrow had served him long enough to recognize when there was a question he was not expected to ask.

Whatever had happened between the Emperor and the Duke of Ashford, it was not Merrow’s concern.

Perhaps the Duke had offended him.

Perhaps the broken wedding had left some grievance between them.

Perhaps Adrian simply regarded his cousin as an obstacle now that he occupied the throne.

Merrow did not know.

And he did not need to know.

The Emperor had given him a task.

That was enough.

”He will request permission to attend the funeral,” Adrian said.

”Yes.”

”Grant it.”

Merrow waited.

”But he does not enter the capital.”

A pause.

”Then where will he be taken?”

”That is your concern.”

Merrow’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Adrian continued.

”Tell him that, given the circumstances surrounding His Majesty’s death, additional security measures are required.”

”That would be reasonable.”

”Necessary.”

Merrow nodded.

”And he will be escorted?”

”By Imperial security.”

”His own guards?”

Adrian considered it.

”Let him decide.”

Merrow understood.

If Cassian chose to leave his own men behind, there would be fewer complications.

And Cassian was unlikely to object.

He was coming to pay his final respects to his uncle, not to challenge the new Emperor.

Adrian looked at Merrow.

”He must have no reason to suspect anything.”

”I understand.”

The words were simple.

But Merrow’s mind was already working.

The Duke would arrive.

He would be separated from his security.

He would be placed under Imperial escort.

And then something could happen.

An accident.

An escape attempt.

A struggle.

There were many possibilities.

Adrian did not ask him to explain.

He merely said:

”I don’t want the Duke returning to the capital.”

Merrow held his gaze.

”Understood.”

Adrian’s voice remained calm.

”See that he doesn’t.”

Merrow bowed.

”As you command, Your Majesty.”

He turned toward the door.

”Merrow.”

The minister stopped.

Adrian looked at him.

”Nothing connects this to the Crown.”

Merrow’s expression did not change.

”Nothing will.”

He left.

The door closed behind him.

Adrian remained alone.

He looked down at the reports on his desk.

His father’s funeral was approaching.

For the next few days, the Empire would be watching him.

He would stand beside his father’s coffin.

He would mourn him.

He would perform every duty expected of a son and an Emperor.

Everything else could wait.

Merrow would handle the matter.

Adrian did not need to know precisely how.

He had simply made his intention clear.

And Merrow was an ambitious man.

He had served Adrian when he had only been the heir.

Now Adrian was Emperor.

Whatever Merrow believed the Duke had done, whatever slight he imagined lay behind the Emperor’s order, it made no difference.

He would carry it out.

Adrian picked up the next report.

Tbc

AN: and this is where everything changes and Adrian becomes our central character. Anyway, all is fair in love and war. Dont hate! Hehehe also, if you read my old novel, don’t be too surprised.

If you’re still with me, the next volume is coming after the next few Chapters.

Thank you for reading! Please say Hi in the comment section if you’re still with me!

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