A weary historian dies and finds himself in a different world awakened in a life as the notorious young Duke of a southern state. His nation is weakened, his army underfed, and his neighbors revolve around his lands menacingly. No one believes his land is going to hold out until winter.

But this newfound duke is no naive simpleton his enemies recollect. He carries with him the experience of centuries of war and empire, of starting and ending monarchies. From Caesar to Napoleon, from the Mongols to world wars, he has learned from each of them—and his strategy is to make history his very own arms.

He organizes his smashed levies into well-trained formations, rebuilds his castles, and turns his villages into supply centers. Where others see defeat, he senses opportunity. As he triumphs, rumors spread: of a pennant red as winter snow that shall not go to ground, of a bloody duke who writes his name in gore and flame.

Is he a savior who's constructing a new empire, or a tyrant who's going to bring the world to endless war?

Feryll spoke, ordering Justinian to stop the horse just by the edge of the forest's outskirts. Bringing a horse inside the forest would only slow it down.


Justinian dismounted, patting the horse's mane, subtly ordering it to stay just by a tree, his skill with horses now unparalleled.


"You look like you could talk with the animal."


Feryll smirked slightly, amused at their pointless conversation as she looked at the forest's darkness; only danger awaited them.


Justinian nodded, unsheathing his sword as he entered the forest first, cutting through the foliage to pave the way.


While the bandits were definitely a problem, Justinian had a different concern, involving the flora that surrounded them.


Chapter 56 - Simple Killing