I Reincarnated as a Prince Who Revolutionized the Kingdom-Chapter 117: Snapped

May 1700 – Fort Saint-Louis, New World

Marshal Armand Roux had returned to the New World, but something had changed.

Before, he had seen himself as a soldier of Elysea. Now, he was the architect of its empire.

The days passed as they always had—inspections, orders, governance—but the words of King Bruno and his advisor Leclerc never left him.

"And now, tell me, Roux—what should I do with you?"

"You are too powerful."

Even here, thousands of miles from the royal palace, he could feel Bruno's watchful eyes upon him.

The King feared him.

And for the first time, Roux wondered if he should fear the King in return.

Despite the subtle warning sent by Bruno, Roux wasted no time in consolidating his power.

Within weeks of his return to Fort Saint-Louis, he began restructuring the colonial administration.

He appointed only those loyal to him to key positions—governors, military officers, supply coordinators. Many were veterans who had fought by his side, men who had bled for Elysea but owed their survival to him, not the King.

By July 1700, Roux had made himself indispensable.

No decree could be enforced in the New World without his approval.

No army could march without his command.

No city could rise without his hand guiding it.

He was still loyal to Elysea.

But was he loyal to the crown?

August 1700 – The Royal Palace, Elysea

King Bruno stood in his private chamber, staring at the map of the New World pinned to the wall.

Elysea had become the largest empire in history, its territory unmatched. And yet, the true ruler of that empire was not him.

It was Roux.

Leclerc entered the chamber and set down a report. "It's worse than we thought," he said.

Bruno read it in silence.

The Marshal had rewired the entire colonial government, ensuring no authority from the capital could function without his approval. Even officers loyal to the monarchy had been gradually removed from key positions.

He was building his own court, his own power base.

Bruno placed the report down. "He is making his move."

Leclerc nodded. "But not openly. Not yet."

Bruno clenched his jaw. If Roux's ambitions remained unchecked, there would come a day when he would have no choice but to declare himself sovereign.

And by then, it would be too late to stop him.

The King would not wait for that day to come.

By September 1700, Roux received a new decree from the royal court.

He was being recalled to Elysea.

Bruno had ordered his return, this time with no ambiguity.

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The official reason?

To "celebrate the full unification of the New World" with a grand parade in the capital.

The real reason?

To remove him from his power base. To keep him under control.

Roux read the letter carefully, his expression unreadable.

His officers waited in silence.

Finally, Captain Giraud spoke. "This is a trap."

Lieutenant Vasseur crossed his arms. "If you leave, they will never let you return."

Roux knew that.

If he left for the capital, he would be surrounded by men loyal to Bruno. The King would either imprison him, strip him of his command, or worse.

But if he refused…

Then it would mean war.

For a long moment, Roux said nothing.

Then, he folded the letter and placed it on the table.

"I will not go."

The room fell silent.

This was treason.

And with those words, the fate of Elysea had changed.

October 1700 – The Royal Palace, Elysea

Bruno's fist slammed against the table.

"He refused?" The words dripped with disbelief.

Leclerc, standing beside him, nodded grimly. "He has sent word that 'his duty remains in the New World, where his presence is needed.'"

Bruno clenched his jaw. Roux was challenging him openly now.

"He has declared himself my equal," the King muttered. His eyes flickered with a dangerous light.

"No, Your Majesty," Leclerc corrected. "He has declared himself above you."

The King took a long breath.

Roux had made his move.

Now, Bruno had to make his.

November 1700 – Fort Saint-Louis

The decision had been made.

Roux would not bow. And that meant Bruno would come for him.

The royal fleet was already preparing. Soon, ships would set sail from Elysea carrying an army meant to reclaim the New World from the Marshal.

But Roux was not the same man who had left Elysea years ago.

He was no longer a soldier who followed orders.

He was a ruler.

He summoned his officers.

"We must prepare," Roux said simply. "Bruno will not forgive this."

His men did not waver.

They were no longer Elysean soldiers.

They were Roux's soldiers.

And they would fight for him.

For the true ruler of the New World.

Marshal Armand Roux stood atop the ramparts of Fort Saint-Louis, his eyes fixed on the vast ocean beyond. Somewhere beyond that horizon, the royal fleet was coming.

He could feel it.

The empire he had built was no longer just a colony. It was a nation. His nation. And King Bruno sought to take it from him.

Roux turned to Captain Giraud and Lieutenant Vasseur, who stood at his side, their expressions hard.

"Has there been word from the coast?" Roux asked.

Giraud nodded. "Scouts report that the King's fleet has set sail. Twenty warships, carrying soldiers and supplies."

Vasseur exhaled. "They mean to retake the New World in one swift stroke."

Roux smirked. "Then they underestimate us."

The soldiers of Fort Saint-Louis had seen war. They had carved an empire out of the wilderness. And they would not surrender it so easily.

He turned to his men.

"Prepare the defenses. We are no longer just a colony. We are the true Elysea."

King Bruno paced inside his war chamber, his advisors seated in silence. Before him, a massive map of the New World stretched across the table. Fort Saint-Louis, once a symbol of Elysean conquest, now stood as a fortress of defiance.

Bruno's gaze hardened. "Roux believes he is untouchable."

Leclerc, standing beside him, spoke carefully. "He has fortified the colonies. If we wish to reclaim them, we must be prepared for war."

Bruno's fingers curled into a fist. "Then we give him war."

The royal fleet would reclaim what was his.

Roux had forgotten one thing.

He may have built the empire… but it belonged to the crown.