As Justinian leads Cassia to her room, a small concern began to fill his mind, an important one that most textbooks warned him about.
Being too kind, which caused the fall of most monarchs, an action that Justinian is doing exactly now.
'My current actions should be okay...'
He reasoned, he was going to lead a night raid on an enemy camp a few days later, after all, the opposite of kindness.
And that's when Justinian gained a revelation, a kind of duke he actually wanted to be.
This entire day, he was pretending, trying his best to survive past his expiration date.
But when he did? What was next?
And this was his answer.
A benevolent duke to his people, but a tyrant to those who threaten them.
'Straight out of Charlemagne's own life.'
Justinian chuckled to himself.
If his vassals are betraying him, officials no longer obeying him, then he had to be ruthless, but he didn't want to fall like the rest; he wanted to thrive, and that involved a mix.
A conclusion that the merging of personalities helped, after all, Justinian is still technically the same cruel man who neglected his kingdom.
[The Book of War Responds]
+15 Prestige
"Hello?"
Cassia suddenly spoke, removing Justinian from his trance.
"Yes?"
"You seem to be in a trance. What were you thinking about? I may be of help."
"Nothing... I was just... thinking about what kind of Duke I'd want to be."
Cassia crossed her arms at his answer, stroking her chin in thought. It was a deep question, one that required tons of reflection.
But she could at least help.
"Well... you have red hair and crimson eyes, and you're just by the border... a warlike Duke could work."
"Practical answer."
"Was it unsatisfactory?"
"No, you're right."
Cassia smiled at his reply.
"I'm glad I could help then... but just don't take 'warlike' too seriously... Justinian."
Justinian laughed at her comment, one that would usually be a serious conversation if not for his modern mindset.
"No need to tell me that."
After a few more seconds of walking, they finally arrived at their rooms, with Justinian handing Cassia her clothes for the night.
"I'll give you some privacy for now. I'm sure it is tiring following me around."
She shook her head at Justinian's conclusion.
"No... it was actually quite fun."
She answered before opening the door to her room.
"I expect great things from you... My lord."
THUD.
She closed the door, with small ruffling and clanking of plates being heard from the inside, sounds of her changing out of her steel plate.
Justinian returned to his room for the night as well, deciding that he had done enough for the day.
[The Book of War Responds]
[First Day Completed]
[Calculating Achievements]
[Remaining Prestige Rounded Up To 300]
'300!?'
As Justinian saw the panel, he immediately checked the shop. There was an item that caught his eye the first time he opened it.
'Open the book of war.'
Novice of War: 100 Prestige
There were dozens of other items in the shop, but most were straightforward, like supplies.
This one was vague.
And if games and power fantasy novels ever taught Justinian anything, it was that sometimes vagueness leads to unbelievable strength.
He immediately pressed the option, buying the item from the shop.
[Prestige: 200]
[Novice of War: Detected 'Battle Noble']
[Merging]
+War Noble
- Previous benefits.
- Personally commanding an army grants a huge morale boost to those under you.
'Now that's what you call unfair.'
Justinian smiled, closing the panel.
He had just received the most unfair advantage known to man, all in one day.
A full overview of his current land's status and resources, a system that helps him ride a horse, and now a shop that could enhance him personally.
As he looked into the window that overlooked the entire duchy, he clenched his hand.
Eyes flaming with ambition.
"I'll show this world what it means to have centuries of advantages within one mind."