I'm the Villain, But the Heroines Keep Choosing Me-Chapter 89: The Emperor’s Summons
The royal summons arrived three days after Seria moved into the Valcrest estate.
Damien was reviewing intelligence reports in his study when the messenger appeared – not a standard royal courier, but an Imperial Guard in full ceremonial armor. The black and gold livery marked him as direct representative of Emperor Valdris himself, not merely King Harald of their kingdom.
That alone was significant. The Emperor rarely involved himself in individual kingdom affairs unless the situation threatened the broader Empire.
"Lord Damien Valcrest." The guard’s voice was formal, precise. "His Imperial Majesty Emperor Valdris requests your presence at the Imperial Capital. You are to depart within three days."
Damien accepted the sealed scroll, noting the imperial crest pressed into red wax. "The nature of this summons?"
"Consultation on matters of imperial security. Your... expertise has been noted." The guard’s expression remained neutral, but something in his tone suggested he knew about the shadow magic. "High Priestess Elara Lightbringer and Guard Commander Seria Thornwood are also summoned. His Majesty requests all three of you."
[MAJOR QUEST DETECTED: IMPERIAL SUMMONS]
[SIGNIFICANCE: EMPIRE-LEVEL THREAT]
[DIFFICULTY: UNKNOWN]
After the guard left, Damien broke the seal and read the formal summons. The language was carefully diplomatic, but the underlying message was clear: The demon problem had spread beyond their kingdom’s borders. Multiple regions were reporting organized attacks. The Emperor wanted those who’d actually succeeded in combating the threat.
He was still reading when Elara and Seria entered, both looking concerned.
"Imperial Guard at the door," Elara said without preamble. "What’s happened?"
"We’ve been summoned to the Imperial Capital. All three of us." He handed her the scroll. "The Emperor wants consultation on demon threats."
Seria read over Elara’s shoulder, her tactical mind already working. "This isn’t just about our kingdom. If the Emperor is personally involved, it means the demon activity has gone empire-wide."
"Which suggests coordination at a level we haven’t seen," Damien added. "The attacks here were organized, but localized. If multiple kingdoms are experiencing similar patterns simultaneously..."
"Then someone is orchestrating a campaign across the entire Empire." Elara set down the scroll with troubled expression. "That requires resources and intelligence we can’t even estimate."
They spent the next hour discussing implications. The Empire consisted of seven kingdoms, each autonomous but united under the Emperor’s overarching authority. For all seven to face demon threats meant either unprecedented coordination among demon forces, or something worse.
"We need to prepare," Seria said finally. "The Imperial Capital is two weeks’ travel. We’ll need supplies, security, coordination with our respective institutions."
"The Church will want representation beyond just me," Elara noted. "High Priestess summoned implies official Church involvement, not just personal consultation."
"Same with the guard," Seria agreed. "I’ll need to brief my second-in-command, ensure continuity while I’m away."
Damien was quiet, thinking about the tactical implications. Two weeks travel meant time away from established bases, from familiar territory. They’d be operating in the Imperial Court – different politics, different power structures, different dangers.
Also an opportunity. If the demon threat was empire-wide, then solving it meant establishing reputation and influence at the highest levels.
"We leave in three days," he said. "That gives us time to prepare properly. Seria, select a small security detail – our best fighters. Elara, coordinate with the Church hierarchy. I’ll handle logistics and intelligence gathering."
They dispersed to their preparations, and Damien turned to his maps. The Imperial Capital lay to the north, through the Merchant Kingdoms and into the heart of the Empire. The journey would take them through multiple territories, each with its own demon activity patterns.
A thought occurred to him, and he pulled up the System interface.
[QUEST DETAILS: IMPERIAL SUMMONS]
[PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: Consult with Emperor on demon threats]
[SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: Establish imperial reputation, gather intelligence on empire-wide demon activity, potential new heroine encounters]
[REWARDS: Variable based on performance]
He dismissed the notification with slight unease.
But the reminder was useful – the Imperial Capital would have powerful individuals, complex politics, potential allies or enemies. He’d need to navigate carefully.
---
The next three days were controlled chaos.
Seria assembled a security detail of fifteen guards – her most trusted fighters, people who’d proven themselves during the conspiracy purge and demon attacks. She drilled them on Imperial Court protocol, travel security, and rules of engagement for unfamiliar territory.
Elara coordinated with the Church hierarchy, arranging for a delegation of five senior clergy to accompany her. The theological implications of the Saintess being summoned by the Emperor required careful handling – the Church’s independence from secular authority was important principle, but refusing imperial summons would be politically catastrophic.
Damien handled the logistics with his father’s help. Duke Cornelius had extensive contacts in the Imperial Capital from his years of political maneuvering, and he leveraged them ruthlessly to arrange accommodations, intelligence gathering, and preliminary meetings.
"The Emperor doesn’t summon randomly," Cornelius said during their final planning session. "If he wants consultation on demons, it means his own advisors have failed to provide adequate solutions. That’s both opportunity and danger." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂
"Opportunity how?" Damien asked.
"Because solving an empire-level problem establishes reputation at empire-level scale. You’d go from regional notable to imperial asset." His father’s smile was calculating. "That kind of influence opens doors that would otherwise remain locked for decades."
"And the danger?"
"Because failure at that level means becoming scapegoat for empire-level disaster. The Emperor will blame someone if this goes wrong. Best ensure it’s not you."
Sage advice, if politically cynical.
On the morning of departure, they gathered in the estate courtyard. The full party numbered thirty-three: Damien, Elara, and Seria as the summoned trio, fifteen guard soldiers under Seria’s command, five Church officials under Elara’s authority, and eight Valcrest retainers handling logistics and security.
Margaret fussed over them all, ensuring everyone had proper supplies and equipment.
"You take care of each other," she told the three leaders firmly. "The Imperial Capital is snake pit of politics and intrigue. Don’t let anyone separate you or play you against each other."
"We won’t," Elara promised. "We’ve gotten quite good at working together."
"So I’ve noticed." Margaret’s eyes twinkled. "The entire staff is pleased about that, by the way. Much more pleasant household when you’re all getting along."
They departed at dawn, the full party moving in organized formation. Seria had arranged them defensively – guards at perimeter, Church officials and logistics staff in center, the three leaders positioned where they could coordinate rapidly if needed.
The first three days of travel were uneventful.
They passed through familiar territory, staying at roadside inns or making camp when necessary. The party drew attention – a High Priestess, Guard Commander, and noble heir traveling together with full retinue was unusual enough to generate gossip – but no actual threats materialized.
On the fourth day, they crossed into the Merchant Kingdoms.
The change was immediately apparent.
Where their home kingdom focused on agriculture and traditional nobility, the Merchant Kingdoms were commercial powerhouses. Every town they passed bustled with trade, markets overflowing with goods from across the Empire.
Also, demon activity signs were more prevalent. Burned buildings being rebuilt. Guard patrols more heavily armed. Merchant caravans traveling with mercenary escorts.
"The demons have been hitting trade routes," Seria observed during their evening stop in a major trading city. "Disrupting commerce, stealing goods, creating economic instability."
"Same pattern as our kingdom, just focused differently," Damien noted. "They’re attacking what each region values most. Agricultural areas get farm raids. Commercial centers get trade disruption. It’s targeted destabilization."
"Which confirms coordination," Elara added. "Random demon incursions wouldn’t show this kind of strategic focus."
They gathered intelligence from local merchants and guards, building picture of the broader demon campaign. The pattern was consistent across multiple kingdoms – organized attacks, tactical intelligence, specific targeting of regional vulnerabilities.
Someone was orchestrating this. Someone with resources, intelligence networks, and strategic vision spanning the entire Empire.
On the eighth day, they encountered their first real obstacle.
