Chapter 195: Succession and Revenge

He bit back the rest of his words and seized the reins of the horse, its breath pluming out like black smoke. He went to mount, but the beast snorted and balked, as if remembering its relentless, exhausting run.

Deon chuckled humorlessly.

“Now even the horses are giving me trouble…”

*Yank!* He hauled on the reins, forcing the horse to meet his gaze. Blood-red eyes glinted dangerously, blazing with irritation and murderous intent.

“You wanna die?”

“……”

The horse lowered its head.

***

As darkness descended upon the ruined palace, now empty and silent after everyone had left, someone stepped into the ruins destined to be buried in history.

As if he knew he was on the right path, his steps, though hesitant and slow, never faltered. Without speeding up or slowing down, his diligent feet marched on, stopping only when he arrived before someone’s corpse.

Thud. The luggage bag he was carrying fell onto the blood-soaked floor.

“Ah…”

His lips, cracked and reflecting blood, murmured a faint voice, as if chewing over the word repeatedly.

“In the end.”

It was a groan, a suppressed scream, and at the same time, filled with deep resignation.

Sareen, who had been staring fixedly at the corpse since the moment it came into view, without blinking once, slowly sank down before it.

As if it had been subjected to a fit of rage, the body was tattered and torn, its form unrecognizable. However, the head, seemingly deliberately untouched, clearly identified him as the Duke. Even if the head had been damaged, she would have recognized him instantly. Sareen was certain.

How could I not recognize my love?

“…To think you denied and mocked love so much, using it as you pleased…”

It’s alright. I already expected this. Just move according to the plan.

She shoved aside the Emperor’s bothersome corpse, making space, then took out the tools she had prepared for the cleanup.

A composed murmur continued.

“In the end, you ended up in the same state.”

The master of the leash was unaware that the ‘Duke’s’ leash was now in her hands, a slight difference. But ultimately, he, like those he mocked, was swayed by lukewarm emotions and gave up his life.

Of course, the Duke would deny it to the end.

But what can he do? The truth is as it is.

“You acted so clever, yet you couldn’t even properly recognize the name of your own emotions.”

How much time had passed? The cleanup was mostly finished.

Looking at this state, cremation would be better than just burying him. Sareen rose from her spot and let out a faint sigh.

“Foolish man.”

She spoke in a business-like tone, yet softer than before, to her love who could no longer hear.

“The Salvation Church will collapse. It has already consumed too many people… It could be maintained if one wished, but there’s no need to hold onto a Salvation Church without you.”

And then.

Finding a suitable place to burn his body, Sareen moved her feet and recited her final report.

“I think I’ll go to another country. Even if it’s for your revenge, I don’t think you’d like me recklessly reaching out to the Empire ruled by your beloved ones.”

***

The Emperor… Uncle has passed away. It was an expected matter.

Contrary to my initial thought of insisting on going with him, I was overwhelmed by an unexpectedly strong will and couldn’t say anything. I wasn’t a fool, I knew. Eudoardo Deserte intended to die there.

From the ‘Crown Prince’s’ perspective, it was a choice that benefited me and didn’t harm me. Above all, it was solely his choice, so it was right to respect it, but…

“Are you at peace now?”

Crown Prince Elpidius, having sent everyone away, including the Princess, and left alone, asked the empty coffin.

“In the end, you really… took all the responsibility and left.”

Just stubbornness for nothing.

It’s so sad and infuriating that it’s almost driving me crazy. Yet, I couldn’t dare to mock him for cowardly escaping into death.

The Emperor had done enough. No, he had shouldered even things he didn’t need to, it was too much.

I should have told him back then, that he didn’t need to take responsibility.

[It’s my fault. I will take all responsibility.]

It wasn’t his fault.

1st Prince, how could you apologize when you are not the one who killed father? Your only fault was acting according to father’s request. Suppressing us, who clung to you, begging you not to go, because of a bad feeling, and sending father away.

Of course, back then, in my childish mind, I couldn’t even say it was okay, instead, I glared at him resentfully and turned away…

“…Ah.”

Elpidius groaned, realizing a new fact. Breath caught in his throat.

“Now we are the sinners.”

We have been burdened with a guilt that can never be resolved.

I shouldn’t have resented Uncle back then, when he said he would take responsibility, I should have told him he didn’t need to, I should have comforted him, who was struggling with guilt, and strived for a peaceful and happy life. I shouldn’t have given up easily because he was stubborn, I should have reached out a little more, taken his hand, and persuaded him.

…At the very least, I should apologize for showing resentment, even belatedly.

“This alone is heavy, how did you endure it, Uncle.”

During his lifetime, he must have lived feeling like he was our sinner. Knowing this, I vaguely brushed it off, thinking, ‘It’ll be alright someday,’ ‘Time has passed, he must be okay now,’ ‘He’s originally a strong person, he’ll be fine.’ It weighs heavily on my mind.

The tables have turned.

Now, Elpidius and Aletea are the sinners. The target is none other than Eudoardo.

How can one atone to the dead? I thought I had grown up somewhat maturely, but it seems I was wrong. Not even considering the closest and most precious person, if this isn’t immaturity, what is it?

“We really… grew up comfortably inside Uncle’s fence.”

I used to think of children who don’t look back on their parents’ hard work as pathetic, and yet, that’s what I became.

It’s natural for a reliable protector to seem bigger and more eternal than anyone else. I was deceived by that naturalness. By the time I realized I was deceived, it was already irreversible.

Elpidius finally buried his face in his hands.

“Why did you raise us so immaturely?”

You’re cowardly. I know I shouldn’t say you’re cowardly, but you really are cowardly.

How can you leave after giving us only guilt? The crown alone is heavy, how am I supposed to endure it if it suddenly becomes like this?

I’m scared, Uncle. It’s too much. My family in this world is now only one person. It’s family I have to protect, not just blindly rely on like I did with you, Uncle.

“I want to run away.”

Succession education? Transition? Even if these things were prepared in advance, they cannot overcome the anxiety of losing a reliable protector in an instant and standing in an unfamiliar place. The golden pupils revealed through his fingers trembled as if about to break, filled with fragility.

I genuinely want to run away. I want to throw away all the burdens and escape, but paradoxically, it’s because of those burdens that I can’t run away. And above all….

[To be remembered as the last Emperor of a ruined nation, or to be forgotten and disappear into the background of history without even leaving a line of name, the thought alone is terrifying!]

If it were just about staying, maybe, but having heard even these words, Elpidius wasn’t brazen enough to run away simply because it was too much.

Therefore, holding onto the heart that cried out to run away, he searches his mind for a reason to passionately protect the throne. Without even needing to think, one emotion raised its head.

“…Revenge.”

He found a reason to protect his position. Elpidius gritted his teeth.

“Even for Uncle’s revenge, I will not run away.”

Deon Hart killed Uncle.

I know Uncle’s own choice was the underlying cause, but even if he had chosen to live, that bastard would have relentlessly chased after him to kill him. Besides, if I don’t cling to even this, I really feel like I’ll abandon everything and choose to flee.

He raised his head. The empty coffin, outwardly splendid, came into view.

Eudoardo Deserte’s body does not exist here. I wanted to order someone to be sent to retrieve it, but Chancellor Ardal stopped me.

[The Demon King’s army might still be remaining. Sending people would likely end in meaningless deaths….]

[It’s His Majesty’s body! How can you say such things!]

[That is exactly what His Majesty wished for!]

[…?]

[His Majesty said… he places no value on a body devoid of its soul. He said he hoped there would be no waste of troops to retrieve a mere lump of flesh.]

A lump of flesh, such harsh words that pain the listener. Yet, Elpidius could only shut his mouth at words that were too much like Uncle.

Truly… he is a person who has a talent for drawing out both tragic emotions and admiration from those who see him. I never dreamed he would be like this even after death.

‘…….’

He stared blankly at the funeral without a body, then turned around.

Striding towards the door and opening it, he met eyes with Princess Aletea, who seemed to have been waiting, lingering in front of the door.

“…Brother.”

“……”

The first thing he saw was her eyes, red and swollen. Next, tears falling silently, drop by drop.

Elpidius watched her quietly, then slowly opened his mouth.

“…I intend to prioritize Uncle’s revenge.”

“……”

“Of course, I will respect Uncle’s will and keep the maintenance of the Empire as the basic foundation, but for anything beyond that, I intend to prioritize revenge.”

In other words, as long as it doesn’t affect ‘the maintenance of the Empire,’ he means to prioritize revenge even over the Empire and its citizens.

“I know this isn’t the kind of thought a person who will become Emperor should have. I also know that if such a person becomes Emperor in this already chaotic situation, it would be the worst situation for the Imperial citizens. So, if your thoughts are different from mine, I am willing to hand over this position to you….”

“Brother.”

The position of Emperor is suitable for someone who prioritizes the Empire and its citizens. Especially at this time when the Imperial citizens are trembling with anxiety, a rational and wise ruler is needed, one who can put aside revenge and such.

Aletea, also having received thorough successor education as a candidate for the throne, if her thoughts were such, Elpidius intended to yield his position without hesitation.

However, she cut off his words as if there was no need to hear more, and pulled up the corners of her lips, trembling with sorrow.

“My thoughts are the same as yours.”

“……”

“Did we ever have anything more important than family in the first place? Let’s do it, revenge. I’ll help too.”

…….

The conversation with Aletea was over, and he had calmed his emotions to some extent. In a situation where time was of the essence, the Emperor’s seat could not be left vacant, so Elpidius stood before the nobles that very day.

A slightly hoarse, low voice filled the space.

“As you know, His Majesty has departed on a long journey.”

Those who saw his eyes, bloodshot and red, though he did not weep, fell silent.

“The coronation ceremony will be omitted, given the circumstances.”

“……”

“From now on, I… I will command everything.”

When everyone was frozen by his venomous gaze, Aletea moved.

“May glory be upon the current Empire.”

Still with red eyes, she slowly lowered her body and knelt. Chancellor Ardal, seeing this, also came to his senses and lowered his body. Only then did the nobles begin to kneel in a flurry.

At least in this place, there was no opposition. Everyone knew that the Crown Prince had already received all the handover from the Emperor long ago. What they needed now was ‘stability’.

“May glory be upon the current Empire.”

***

And, an order was issued to Chancellor Ardal.

[Investigate Rememver.]”