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?

Cassia lowered her visor, the fur of her cloak whipping behind her as her horse trudged through the endless snow. The sound of hooves muffled against the snow, the banners of the Thirell Duchy half-frozen, stiff in the frigid air.


Behind her rode a small detachment, thirty knights in full armor, bearing her father's sigil. Their breath came out in clouds of frost, their mounts tired but disciplined. The sight of Snowkeep's towering walls glimmered faintly ahead, a shadow rising from the mist.


"Finally…" she muttered, voice faint beneath her helm. "It feels colder than usual."


One of her knights spurred forward. "Milady, the scouts report the outer hamlets have already been cleared. Civilians evacuated toward the inner city."


Cassia nodded. "Fast as always, I see."


Chapter 90 - Cassia's Return