Chapter 190: So Long to Regret

There was no reversal.

The moment their swords clashed, the demons knew.

‘He’s not even Sir Deon’s match.’

Blocking the main gate alone, his courage is commendable, but that’s all it is. The predictable, boring outcome was obvious to them, and they lost interest in the human knight as quickly as they’d gained it.

‘…Surely, the first exchange was just a light probing attack.’

Lien stared at her sword, sent flying back, with disbelief before her expression hardened.

She swiftly regained her stance, her sword thrusting sharply towards his heart. Even though her posture was still slightly off, leaving an opening, Deon easily deflected it and grimaced as he swung his dagger.

Even though Deon Hart was clearly dominant, their expressions were so contrasting that anyone watching might think the situation was reversed.

‘Damn it.’

Was being a Hero always this unpleasant? Deon gritted his teeth.

It felt like he was trampling on someone’s long-cherished efforts. Especially for Lien Riner, this sword might be her whole life.

He realized it in a single exchange. It was too easy.

‘This is unfair.’

Life was inherently unfair, but this was going too far.

How could he describe this wretched situation and feeling? Whether he tried his best or not, he felt like an irredeemable piece of trash, mocking her. Fate was giving him the finger once again.

“What… are you thinking about right now?”

Lien, noticing the hesitation in his swordsmanship, snapped sharply. Deon paused his movements instead of answering.

The brief lull was just that—brief.

“Nothing.”

His movements became even fiercer than before.

For her, not giving his best would be a greater insult. There was no need to hesitate then.

‘In this situation, pretending to be considerate would only be self-satisfaction.’

Knowing that clumsy consideration could bring her shame, Deon surged forward with his full power.

….

The situation ended in an instant.

The upright knight finally broke.

[Anything you want to say… before the end?]

[Don’t leave any more regrets behind here.]

[…….]

[You already have enough, don’t you?]

Her final words, so typical of her, and her eyes devoid of regret lingered in his memory. Deon deliberately avoided looking at her body and surveyed the demons instead.

“Hold here.”

“Pardon?”

“Why are you acting surprised now when you’ve been doing this all along?”

“But this is the capital, the Imperial Palace. It’s different from a mansion in a territory…”

“Not really.”

Deon shrugged.

“It’s just as empty. And even if there’s an ambush, it’s unlikely anything here could kill me in my current state, so there’s no need to worry.”

“……”

“Wait here.”

“…Yes.”

***

What is an Emperor?

After the 8-year war ended, when he had just seized the title of ‘Emperor,’ Eudoard had pondered this.

Virtues of a monarch were usually learned in one’s princehood, and others wouldn’t even think about it, but ironically, Eudoard, the 9th Prince with no backing, hadn’t learned anything that a future ruler should, allowing him to contemplate this topic more seriously.

Is an Emperor merely a being who reigns supreme? No.

The parent of the Imperial citizens? No. He didn’t want to discuss such old-fashioned ideas.

An Emperor is….

Wearing the crown and sitting alone on the ornate throne in the empty audience chamber, Eudoard rested his chin on his hand and quietly lowered his gaze, lost in thought.

Nemesius, who had been standing silently to one side, called out to him softly.

“Your Majesty, Deon Hart is confronting Lien Riner at the main gate.”

“……”

“To not waste the time she bought, you really must leave now. The Imperial Guards are waiting outside the door…”

“…Nemesius.”

Eudoard glanced at the Crown Prince and Princess, who were fidgeting nearby, and handed him a folded piece of paper.

“Your Majesty, this is…?”

“A map of the Imperial Palace’s secret passages.”

“Yes? Why this…!”

“Take the Crown Prince and Princess and evacuate.”

“Uncle!!”

Objections burst from the Crown Prince and Princess. But before they could say anything more, Eudoard firmly cut them off.

“I believe I’ve indulged your stubbornness enough.”

“It’s not stubbornness!”

“It is stubbornness.”

The most important successors were still insisting on staying here.

He lightly rebuked them and turned back to Nemesius.

Contrary to the urgent situation, his languid, relaxed voice flowed out, as if they were having an everyday conversation.

“After it was revealed that Deon Hart is the Commander of the 0th Legion, there was a question that everyone relentlessly asked. You too, though you didn’t directly ask, I believe you’ve been curious.”

Even without directly mentioning it, everyone present knew what he was talking about. It was a question that not only the nobles of the Empire but also commoners and people from other countries had expressed curiosity about.

[Did the Emperor know that Deon Hart was the Commander of the 0th Legion?]

“You probably guessed, but yes. I knew. I’ve known almost from the beginning.”

“……!”

Nemesius’s pupils widened. The Crown Prince hastily tried to call out to him, but Eudoard continued, cutting off his words.

“Loss of qualification as Emperor, you might say. But the Crown Prince and Princess do not know this fact.”

“……”

No, they do know. It had been ages since the handover was completed; how could they not know?

However, the Crown Prince quickly shut his mouth, catching on. The Emperor’s resolute voice continued.

“Therefore, this is an order.”

Because he hadn’t learned imperial studies, Eudoard learned about ‘Emperor’ by experiencing it firsthand. That’s why he can’t explain this topic logically.

But this much he knows.

“The past Empire will remain here.”

He himself… Eudoard Deserte, had never been an Emperor, not even for a single moment.

What was the point of forcing himself into the generally known image of an Emperor? He had always made important decisions as ‘Eudoard,’ not as ‘Emperor.’

But his nephews and nieces might be different.

Looking back at the children who resembled his brother and were so intelligent, Eudoard Deserte slowly uttered the following words.

“You are to protect the current Empire and the future Empire.”

It was time to step down.

There was nothing sad or strange about it; it was a natural progression. A person should know when to step down, and for Eudoard, that time was now.

The illusion had reached its limit, and the Demon King’s army was right at their doorstep. Moreover, the cause of this situation was Eudoard himself. Instead of disgracefully fleeing and prolonging his life, it would be right to disappear at this point.

If he pointlessly held on and ended up being dragged down by others or dying at the hands of the Demon King’s army as Emperor, what would become of the aftermath? Considering the mental shock to his two unprepared successors, doing this was the right thing.

The two royals froze at the clear declaration of imperial succession.

Nemesius gnashed his teeth and slowly knelt on one knee.

“…I will return as quickly as possible.”

“Well. I’m confident I can buy enough time for you to evacuate, but I don’t intend to wait for your return.”

Don’t come back.

His quiet voice seemed to snap the Crown Prince and Princess out of their daze, and they flinched. Strong protests erupted.

“Wait, General! Are you really going to leave His Majesty behind?”

“…It is an order, so you must obey.”

“Uncle! Did you intend to do this from the start!”

“How could you do this!”

Their voices, which were steadily rising, were cut off by a clear knock.

Knock, knock.

“Time is short, so I apologize for being presumptuous, but it seems you must depart immediately.”

“You’ve come at the right time, gentlemen! Try to persuade His Majesty. He says he intends to stay here!”

“Yes? What do you mean…?! Your Majesty!”

Even the Imperial Guards’ gazes turned this way. Even without such a commotion, his head was throbbing. Eudoard briefly touched his forehead. He felt a hotness at his fingertips.

“Disappointing. I thought you gentlemen would understand me.”

“What are you saying! Originally, Your Majesty should be the first to evacuate…”

“Wrong.”

He lifted his gaze. He met eyes with Chancellor Ardal, who was waiting outside the door to escort them together, saying that all the royals were remaining here and couldn’t leave first.

He must have heard their conversation, yet Ardal’s calm eyes, accepting the obvious fact, showed no surprise. Eudoard chuckled softly.

Yes, he knew he would be like this.

“I am the one who must remain in this place until the very end.”

“……?”

“Have you forgotten the greeting you give to me?”

They give a common greeting, stating their name and saying, ‘I greet the current Empire.’

But what did that matter? In the face of their questioning gazes, Eudoard finally lost his patience and raised his voice.

“Do you really not understand what that means! Or do you see me as a fool who can’t even take responsibility for his own words!”

From the greeting he designated after becoming Emperor, to the words he habitually uttered, Eudoard had always said that the Emperor was the Empire.

Did they think it was just a thoughtless remark made while intoxicated with power?

“Ridiculous! I clearly stated that I am the Empire. Is it even conceivable for the Empire to flee!”

“……!”

“The Empire does not flee. Nor should it. Do you really think the people will follow a nation that abandons them?”

For the sake of the Crown Prince who would succeed him, the Emperor had to remain here.

Though they had evacuated the citizens of the capital, they couldn’t evacuate the territory citizens outside the Demon King’s army’s path. In such a situation, for only the royals to flee to the safest fortress? No one would trust the Imperial Family’s bloodline.

The people’s hearts are the foundation of imperial authority. If that happened, even if the Crown Prince, who properly received the succession, ascended to the throne, he would surely not be able to wield the same strong imperial power as before.

“I have no intention of becoming the ruler of a nation without people. Nor do I intend to be remembered in history as an incompetent monarch who abandoned his people and fled. Being remembered as the last Emperor of a ruined nation or being completely forgotten, disappearing into the annals of history without even a line of record, is a horrifying thought! That is why I say I will remain in this place! And yet, what?”

Why wouldn’t he flee?

His golden eyes flashed like a beast’s. Unable to withstand his fierce gaze, they hastily lowered their heads.

In the sudden silence, Eudoard leaned his forehead against his fist with a soft sigh.

…His fever had risen, and he had become overly agitated.

“…If you understand, then leave now.”

There was no time, and everyone must have understood by now, so it would be best to send them off quickly.

The Chancellor, who had been watching the situation, strode forward and escorted the two royals. The Crown Prince and Princess, already mentally shaken, were no match for the bold Chancellor. They left with contorted faces, and the Imperial Guards, including Nemesius, followed behind as if escorting them.

At the end, the Chancellor and Emperor’s eyes briefly met, but neither of them spoke and naturally averted their gaze.

‘…….’

Left alone, Eudoard took off the crown, placed it on the throne, and stood up.

…He could have fled first. He could have escaped by sacrificing others’ lives. If he were just a little more selfish, there were countless ways to live even a second longer.

‘But I mustn’t do that.’

That no one would trust the Imperial Family’s bloodline anymore was synonymous with the foundations of the Empire being shaken.

Eudoard Deserte’s life and the Empire’s well-being. The scales tipped in an obvious direction.

Therefore, it wasn’t a sacrifice. It was a judgment made with cold calculation for a purpose. It was a bargain to trade this life that was going to be discarded anyway to protect the foundations of the Empire. This was his selfishness.

He recalled the words he habitually repeated.

‘I am the Empire.’

…No.

“I am, the Empire.”

The Empire living is me living.

If the Empire is safe, Emperor Eudoard will be recorded at the very top of the Imperial Family genealogy and live for a long, long time.