Napoleon of Another World!

However, Gaia had decided that Daemon shouldn't have a moment to do paperwork that day, because when he finally made it back to his office he once again found someone waiting for him.

This time however, it was a completely unexpected guest.

"Father. What are you doing here?"

"I needed to talk to you. You haven't been back to the Castle for months now."

"I'm sorry, there's so much to do that I barely find time to get some sleep. Did you come all this way on foot from the Castle? You could have used the portal."

"You forget that I was a slave for centuries. For me, a hundred miles of walking is nothing, and it helped clear my head. The truth is, I wanted to talk to you about something important."

"I'm all ears."

Zorech hesitated, lowering his head as if ashamed.

"With your permission, I would have decided to present my resignation as Prefect of the Castle and as a member of the Council."

There were few things capable of surprising Daemon, and his look indicated that this time he had been caught completely off guard.

"Why? You are an excellent Prefect. With you the Castle is as prosperous and safe as ever, and the people love you."

"I am aware of this, son. I am grateful to you for the trust you have always had in me, but honestly, I have never really felt suited to this role. I am not comfortable in a stone palace, surrounded by responsibilities that I feel are too big for me. Helping you administer the Free State was already a difficult task, but now that our tasks have doubled along with the territory you govern, I no longer believe I have the strength to do what you expect of me."

"This is only a temporary situation, Father. I have no intention of reclaiming this land."

"Daemon, be honest. I've lived long enough to understand when events take a certain direction. The projects you have started for Eirinn are too big to be simply a way to help this country get back on its feet. I'm willing to believe you when you say you never wanted to go that far, but don't think I'm naive. I understood from the first moment that the Revolution was not destined to stop in the Free State. Whether through conquest or alliances, it's quite obvious that you aim to spread your ideas wherever there are people willing to listen to them. And maybe that's where I can help you."

"What do you mean?"

"If you allow me, I would like to go east. Torian, Patria, and Volkova are lands where slavery is widespread, and where many of our comrades still suffer under the yoke of humans. If I could make our ideals known there too, perhaps we could push those people to raise their heads."

"We know that there have been other riots around Erthea in recent months in the wake of our victories, but they have all been put down. Pitchforks, attacks on granaries and nobles hanging outside their palaces are useless to improve things. That's not Revolution, just barbarism."

"That's why I would like to go. Those people see us and try to take us as an example, but as you said, they ignore what the Revolution really is, and what the ideals that move us are. There is a need for someone to show them the right path, because it is also because of these revolts that other nations consider us a threat. As you said, change cannot be stopped. If this change were to occur throughout Erthea at the same time, even the rulers would be forced to admit that returning to the old world is impossible. They'll have to listen to you."

"I suppose you are aware of the risk you expose yourself to. Until other nations officially recognize us, any of us caught out there will at best be arrested and enslaved, but more likely killed on the spot."