ILTDAMH|CHAPTER 66

Chapter 66

When I Become Emperor, I Will Make You My Empress

“So, how is she doing? She isn’t unwell, is she?”

Olivia, who had come by the ducal estate for the first time in a long while, sipped her tea and asked Ruan.

“Aunt, no matter how pretty you think Mer is, why is it that every time you see me, you ask only after her, not your own nephew sitting right in front of you?”

“What’s there to ask about you? You’re clearly in one piece, drinking tea and chatting with me, so you must be fine. Now, when is that girl coming back to the capital? If only I had the strength, I’d go to see her myself. It’s been nearly nine months since I last saw her. When she was here at the estate, the place always felt alive. Now it feels so empty.”

Empty? Am I not a person?

Ruan thought about pointing that out but gave up with a resigned sigh.

“Don’t worry. She said once this matter is resolved, she’ll return here.”

“Really? Then that’s a relief. But… I want to drink her tea again.”

“I feel the same. By the way, what of the matter I asked you to handle?”

“You know how obstinate Count Rephanon is. He said even with a blade at his throat, he would never let them through the gates.”

“So he refused?”

The Empire’s capital had five gates: east, west, south, north, and the central gate. Of them, the central gate—guarded by Count Rephanon Isaak—was the fastest way in. To reach the capital from beyond the borders, one had to pass through it.

According to spies, kymon knew this as well. 

He had offered Rephanon vast sums of gold to open the gates, but so far the count had given no reply.

Thus, Ruan had tried to reach him through Olivia, with whom Rephanon shared a cordial relationship. 

If he opened the gate, the rebel knights would have no choice but to pass through the narrow, winding Queibek Gorge—where Ruan intended to annihilate them.

So it was crucial that the count agreed.

“Do you think he’d refuse? His greatest weakness is his wife, Rosha. She adores wine. With the most expensive bottle in the Empire, I barely got his consent. I had to reassure him again and again that it wasn’t betrayal. But are you certain about this? If that many knights enter the capital at once, won’t it become dangerous?”

“Don’t worry, Aunt. Not a single one of them will make it out of that gorge.”

When it came to war and strategy, no one in the Empire rivaled Ruan. 

Olivia knew this better than anyone. 

Even so, because this was treason, she could not help being cautious.

“Then I’ll trust you. But be careful. I don’t care if you get hurt, but I don’t want Mer heartbroken.”

“Of course. I don’t want that either.”

Olivia smiled faintly and rose to leave.

“Then, I’ll be going.”

After she left, Ruan returned to his study. 

He turned to Cassel.

“Tell His Highness the Crown Prince that the gates will be opened as planned. Everything is proceeding on schedule.”

“Yes, my lord. Then I will see to the traps being laid in the gorge.”

When Cassel left, Ruan rose and looked out the window.

“Prince Daemond… I missed you last time. But when I catch you now, you won’t get away with just broken arms and legs. You love hunting so much—how fitting that you’ll get to experience being hunted yourself.”

***

“What do you mean the knights will be entering the capital?”

At Lucianne’s startled question, Daimond buried his face against her neck.

“Grandfather has gathered a thousand knights. They will soon pass through the gates and march on the capital.”

A thousand knights, smuggled in? Impossible… isn’t it?

Lucianne wasn’t well-versed in politics, but she knew enough to realize this was no small feat.

“But is that even possible? I’ve heard rumors the gates are heavily fortified now.”

Daimond cupped her face tenderly, soothing her worries.

“Don’t be afraid, Lucy. Grandfather has already arranged everything.”

“You won’t be hurt in all this, will you?”

“Of course not. You, my sweet Lucy, need only sit here and wait for the news that I’ve become Crown Prince. No—when I become Emperor, I will make you my Empress.”

“M-me? Your… Empress?”

Not crown princess—but empress?

Of course. 

His Majesty would never restore Daemond to the crown prince’s seat. 

If the rebellion succeeded, he would seize the throne outright.

Then she… she would be empress.

Lucianne stared at him in wonder, hardly believing what she heard. 

Daimond kissed her brow, smiling as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

“Of course. Did I not promise? I said if I succeeded, I would make you crown princess. But I don’t aim for the crown prince’s seat. I’ll be Emperor. And you, Lucy, will be my Empress.”

It mattered little who else would sit beside him. 

Even if he took multiple consorts, none of it mattered.

Still, he whispered against her ear, holding her close:

“Remember this, Lucy. You are my one and only Empress.”

At first, all he wanted was to reclaim the position stolen by Harmon. 

But as he plotted with kymon, it became clear—Biseluc would never willingly hand back the crown prince’s title. 

Not after Daimond’s past failures.

That left only one way: seize the imperial seal. 

Only the one holding the seal could be recognized as Emperor.

Its location was known to no one but the Emperor himself, who would pass it to the crown prince upon succession.

The plan was simple: kymon, with a thousand knights, would infiltrate the palace, capture Biseluc, force the seal’s location from him, and hand it to Daimond. 

Then Daimond would be crowned Emperor.

Though kaymon’s influence had waned, most of the court still sided with him and Antwat. 

Once Daimond had the seal, the throne would not be difficult to claim.

Once I am Emperor, even the great Ruan will have no choice but to kneel.

The thought of finally crushing the man who tormented him filled Daimond with elation.

And after Ruan was gone, Merician—his wife—would be his.

Daimond pressed his face into Lucianne’s neck as if she were already Merician herself.

Lucianne, in his arms, dreamed of a dazzling future. 

Not crown princess, but Empress… her lifelong dream was within reach.

Just wait, Mer. 

You and that husband you’re so proud of will weep at my feet in regret.

She clung to Daimond more tightly, surrendering herself to the dream he promised.

***

“What do you mean he wants double the gold?”

Kymon scowled at Hugo’s report.

They had gathered a private army in secret outside the capital. 

After his downfall, when all power had been stripped from him, Ruan had immediately tightened the gates, thwarting Caymon’s rebellion before it began.

Now, a thousand knights sat stranded outside. 

Getting them out had been difficult enough—getting them in was nearly impossible. 

Worse, the men guarding the central gate had all been trained by Ruan himself. 

Any skirmish would devastate kymon’s ranks before they even reached the capital.

Thus, Count Rephanon’s cooperation was essential. 

Kymon had offered him fifty thousand gold coins. For days, there was no answer.

Worse, kymon feared he had betrayed them to the capital.

But at last came a reply: fifty thousand wasn’t enough. 

He wanted a hundred thousand gold.

A hundred thousand. 

More than ninety percent of Caymon’s fortune.

So that was it. 

The self-righteous count had delayed, pretending scruples, only to wring more gold out of him.

Fury boiled in kymon’s chest, but he knew he had no choice. 

For now, the dagger was in Rephanon’s hand.

Fine. 

Even if I give him everything now—once I succeed, reclaim the duchy, and set that fool prince on the throne, I’ll rule the Empire as I please. 

A hundred thousand gold will be nothing.

With a grimace, he scrawled a letter, ordered Hugo to deliver the chest of coins to the gate, and waited.

***

Two days later, still no word. 

Kymon’s nerves frayed.

“What if the snake took the gold and turned his back on us?”

Hugo offered to investigate, but kymon shook his head.

“No. If I seem desperate, he’ll only demand more. One more day.”

But before the day was out, a servant arrived with a letter.

“My lord, a man from the city gave me this. He said you’d know what it was.”

Kymon tore it open.

The gates would be opened two nights hence, at midnight. 

They would remain open only for two hours.

After that, they would close without exception.

Arrogant bastard. 

For now I’ll endure, but once I reclaim my title, he’ll be the first I cast out.

Kymon crushed the letter and tossed it into the fire.

“Two hours is enough. Prepare everyone.”

“Yes, my lord. Should we inform the prince?”

“There’s no need. He’s just a puppet. Once I take the palace, he’ll thank me for sparing his life. Leave him.”

“As you command.”

“Wait.”

Kymon stopped Hugo before he left and handed him a thick ledger.

“This is my secret book. Every bribe given, every gift received. As long as it’s in my hand, none of those nobles can defy me. But if something goes wrong—burn this first.”

Hugo tucked it into his tunic and bowed.

“Don’t worry, my lord. If trouble comes, this ledger will be the first thing I destroy.”

When Hugo left, kymon’s chest swelled with triumph.

The dream he had nursed for so long was finally within reach.

“Soon… the Empire will be mine!”