Rhemic Empire (2)

*****

In a cramped room of an unremarkable and clearly inexpensive restaurant in Orion, three people sat—a foreigner, a snake-man, and a man who looked like an ordinary Reimean.
— And still, I've always wondered why you decided to support Sonata Reime's faction instead of the Enclave? — The Reimean was about forty years old; he had chestnut hair and a long, albeit well-groomed, beard. He was well-built and gave the impression of a seasoned soldier. — Isn't he the one who champions the interests of your people more than anyone else?
In response to this question, the snake-man let out a long "hmm" and fell deep into thought. He was one of—perhaps even the only—reason why the trio always had to call the restaurant waitress over to them; she herself was in no hurry to pay another visit to their table. She was obviously uneasy being near the snake-man. Not only were representatives of this people rare in their establishment, but this particular client made an especially ghastly impression—he was larger than many of his kin, possessed dark scales (rare among snake-people), lacked one eye, and had a whole series of scars on his body—one long scar ran diagonally across his entire face and the lost eye from the bottom of his head to his temple, another adorned his powerful tail, while others were scattered across his back and chest. — Taipan champions only his own interests, and the only thing he can lead our people toward is complete extinction. Humans are numerous, technologically far superior to us, better organized, and more disciplined. We have no chance against them, and if we anger them, nothing awaits us but destruction. Or a fate even worse.
— Oh! — The Reimean was surprised, and his mouth and steak-stained mustache transformed into a wide smile. — I didn't expect such honesty and analysis from you; it only confuses me further! If you understand this and acknowledge it, doesn't that make you hate humans? Not to mention that few know there is even someone like you among the Empress's supporters—the newspapers don't write about that. But just look at yourself—you are covered in scars, and you received most of them defending the interests of this country and its government. Is that fair? — Having finished his questions, the Reimean returned to his large, well-seared, and very juicy steak. He loved meat.
— ... I do not believe in the empire or its empress, but in Twice's ideals, and I understand that a certain segment of the empire's population may dislike the presence of a snake-man among the confidants of a key figure of the empire's central faction, let alone as the second person in government. I understand why he might want to keep non-humans like me in the shadows, and I have nothing against it—I do not strive for fame. And answering your earlier remark, I feel no hatred toward humans. On the contrary, I believe there is much my people need to learn from humans. And I am not talking about weapons, ruling over others, or military organization... No, I am talking about science, culture, art, civilized ways of resolving conflicts, and much more. I want us and the humans to live side by side, using our positive and unique qualities to help each other prosper and develop.
— Heh, I don't know if I would place my hopes in a man like Twice if I were in your shoes... I just don't know. I've never met people as brutal as him. There have been all sorts of thugs, of course, but he is simply something else—years of service in his personal army showed me a great deal... Although, judging by recent events, he isn't as impenetrable as I previously thought. I was sure he wouldn't give in to the terrorists' blackmail, but it turns out otherwise—he couldn't let his little wife perish.
— Twice is a cold-blooded and calculating man; that cannot be denied. — The foreigner, who had been melancholically drinking colorless alcohol until then, finally reminded them of his presence and intervened in the conversation. — I can easily imagine a situation where he would strangle newborns with his own hands if he were certain it was necessary for the greater good in the future. He looks far ahead and will do everything necessary to realize his ideals. Even if he has to sacrifice himself for it.
— Ideals? — The soldier chuckled. — I fight for my home—Ackerwald—and the empire, but his "ideals" have always remained a mystery to me. The only thing I'm sure of is that he works for the good of the empire, and that is enough for me to fight for him. Not because I was told so, and not because someone appointed him my boss, but because Twice is competent enough to lead the empire forward. — Finishing this short monologue, the Reimean tapped the table as if reinforcing his words. — But still... The moment with Pantalea still clashes somewhat with the picture you've described.
— There are several reasons for that, but they are easy to explain.
— Minakami Shizune, right? — With a funny accent, the snake-man pronounced the foreign and unfamiliar name, but his single eye was fixed on the ground as if it were a sore subject for him.
— Yes. As you know, the current situation in the country differs fundamentally from what Twice planned before carrying out the coup on the day of the empire's heir appointment. According to his calculations, by this day, the situation in the country should have stabilized. He believed that all provinces would be under control of the central government and he could move to the next stage of his plan. What plan—I do not know; I only know that there was one and still is. But that's not the point.
— Except nothing is stabilizing now, it's only getting worse? — noted the Reimean.
— Correct. The reason lies in what you and I regularly have to deal with—alchemy, necromancy, and demonology. Who could have thought that Thalassius would not only get such things into his hands but also be able to use them effectively in such a short time? Economically and technologically, Ackerwald and Larian are much stronger, and Darkiria does not antagonize us, so sooner or later Brightwin and Lythia will inevitably weaken, but this still delayed the changes Twice planned for the empire.
— Therefore?..
— Therefore, he attempted to liquidate the main threat to Sonata's government after Thalassius—Tiaria. — After this phrase, the foreigner dropped his voice to a whisper. — When the details of the prisoner exchange became known, Twice paid a personal visit to Minakami Hideo and gave him an ultimatum—either upon his release he would give up the enemy's positions, or his granddaughter Shizune would face a fate worse than death.
— O-ho-ho, — the Reimean nearly choked on what he heard, but for some reason, it amused him more than it depressed him, unlike his snake-man companion. — I can just imagine him saying that with his cold voice and looking at the poor guy with lifeless eyes; it sends a chill down my spine.
— You see? Hideo hates Sonata's government, but his granddaughter was dearer to him than political views. Therefore, the main goal of this exchange was the destruction of Tiaria. To be honest, I am inclined to think he didn't survive that explosion—no human could. Methods of warfare have reached such scales that individual combat skill has ceased to have any meaning. What use is it if you can defeat ten against one, if military equipment capable of such destruction is used against you?
— Perhaps... But you spoke of this as the main reason, which means there was an additional one? Could it really be love?
— Twice is not indifferent to his spouse, of course, but still, no. This is his duty to the Larian family. Pantalea is pregnant, and the Larian bloodline, even if he loses the ducal title and is stripped of lands, must not end with him. Initially, Twice hoped that his brother would continue the family line, but Hesper let him down a bit. Besides... No, perhaps it's better not to talk about that.

*****

Everything went to hell. The capital was in chaos; there were no news from Sonata Reime, battles raged all around, centuries-old buildings burned and collapsed, numerous people screamed and sobbed, and no one could understand what was happening. No calculations by one of the empire's brightest minds could predict such a turn of events—Larian Twice still couldn't comprehend how it had come to this.
— Anteros, Klimena. — The First Minister of the Empire stood near a small airship that was ready to take off at any minute. — I am counting on you.
From the eyes of Anteros, the airship pilot, one could tell he wanted to convince Twice to come aboard and fly away with them, but he couldn't find the words for it. Klimena, with a face darker than night, silently gave the minister a military salute and boarded the airship, where she soon took control of the guns. Pantalea, some members of the government, and key figures of "Reimeford," including Gailardia Reimeford, did not utter a word. The airship rose into the air and sped west, while Larian Twice walked toward the imperial palace.

Heading toward the main structure of the vast empire, Twice was in a state of heavy confusion for the first time in a very long while, and one blurred thought in his head was immediately replaced by another. One small mistake and everything collapsed. How did he allow this? If only he had let everything take its course, perhaps none of this would have happened. But...
A strange sound reached the First Minister's ears, and trying to determine its source, he tilted his head down—there, in his side, a shining blade of a one-handed sword was visible. Before him stood a man dressed in the colors of the "Empire Liberation Front," clutching the hilt of the sword that had struck him and shouting something. Twice did not hear him and, as if obeying some command from his wounded body, drew his own sword from its scabbard and with a lightning-fast swing took the attacker's head off. After that, he walked another few hundred meters toward the palace until finally strength left his body and he sank down by the wall of a house standing in his path. Thus, he met the final minutes of his life.