Chapter 81
“This cannot be. This absolutely cannot happen.”
Yan was now pleading with the Chancellor.
“Why can’t it?”
“Don’t you know, Chancellor?”
“Know what? That your family plotted a rebellion?”
“Ha… Chancellor!”
“Silence!”
“My father spared no effort to protect His Majesty the Emperor.”
“It is by the Emperor’s command!”
“You call this procedure? Rebellion? The Crown Prince is in danger. If the Crown Prince’s position is shaken, the entire Empire will falter.”
“How dare you speak of the Empire’s stability?”
“Rebellion cannot be allowed. The Crown Prince’s safety is at stake!”
“What are you doing? Take him away at once!”
“Yes!”
The knights standing behind surged forward and grabbed Yan.
“Chancellor, please protect the Empress and the Crown Prince. You may even cut off my limbs if you must, but somehow stop this. Rebellion cannot be allowed.”
Even as he was dragged away, Yan worried for the safety of his sister and nephew.
Martin bit his lip.
Even the Emperor himself could not avoid blame if the head of the Imperial faction and the Senate had been tortured to death without trial.
Chancellor Martin left the prison, realizing he needed to devise a plan.
Inside Herace’s Chamber
“Ugh…”
Naked, Herace gripped the saint’s chest tightly, trying to forget his pain as she washed his body with herbal water.
“When will this even end?”
“We must first cleanse the affected areas with the herbs to receive the sacred grace,” the saint replied.
She exposed both of her breasts to the Emperor while meticulously treating the spread of sores on his face with herbal medicine.
“Your body must be purified; only then will God allow it. Please endure a little longer.”
“Ha… it hurts. It feels like my flesh is rotting.”
“It’s almost done, Your Majesty.”
The saint dared to hold the Emperor’s shoulders and look at him respectfully.
“Almighty Orleseon.”
As the saint began reciting a prayer, the Emperor joined in.
“Almighty Orleseon.”
“Today, you descend upon this place.”
“Today, you descend upon this place.”
Suddenly, dark energy began to gather in the room.
“Upon this poor and sinful lamb.”
“Upon this poor and sinful lamb.”
As something black and fuzzy began to coalesce from the saint’s eyes—
Bang!
Someone rudely flung the door open.
Bright light poured in, and the black energy that had enveloped the room slid behind the walls and disappeared.
Rustle.
Clearly, there was the sound of clothing brushing, yet the intruder spoke no word, and the head steward did not even report it.
“Who are you?”
“Everyone out!”
Ignoring the Emperor’s stern question, the order came from none other than his mother, Dowager Bodrina.
Herace’s lips twitched involuntarily. The saint stepped away from the Emperor and bowed her head, but her answer remained defiant.
“That will be difficult. I must act according to God’s will.”
“I am the one who has donated the most to God in the Empire. I’ve already told the Steward; now leave.”
No sooner had Bodrina finished speaking than she threw a robe from the side table at the saint.
The saint lifted one corner of her mouth in a faint smirk, glanced at the robe that had fallen before her, bowed, and stepped back.
“Pathetic.”
“…This is something for the Valencia Palace. What business is this?”
“You’ve gone mad, so even a mother must intervene.”
“Ha… and you start by calling me mad while looking at my condition?”
Herace sprang up, arms wide toward the direction of the voice.
Even after being washed with herbs, his naked body was covered in yellow blisters and exposed raw flesh from ruptured areas—gruesome to behold.
“What on earth are you doing?”
“Doing? Looking at this mess, shouldn’t a mother worry first? Isn’t that the way of a parent?”
“Hmph. You’ve made me sit on the throne with difficulty, and that’s what you say to your mother?”
Bodrina von Zeier.
Eldest daughter of the Dukes of Schumayer and wife of Emperor Guillaume.
She was the politician who ensured Herace retained his position as Crown Prince even after Gerald was born.
“Your position is not yours alone. The Crown Prince has been freed from the Northern Tower. The Empress as well.”
“Of course, of course. Is there any doubt?”
“You plan to eliminate the Crown Prince without heirs? What if the Julius faction rises because of this?”
“Yes, yes, yes.”
Herace staggered to his feet.
“The Empire has laws. Follow them, follow procedures.”
“Very well, we shall act according to Julius law. And what does the Schumayer house gain from this?”
“…Fool. Be grateful to those loyal to you around you. Steward Jonas!”
“Yes!”
The steward and several attendants entered.
“Dress him.”
“Yes!”
They hurriedly changed the bed sheets and increased the torchlight.
Herace raised a hand to shield his eyes.
The steward began dressing him in the prepared undergarments.
“The Sun of the Empire should act like the Sun… I have instructed this…”
Bodrina bit her lip.
In truth, she did not wish to see her son like this; he felt like her failed creation.
Guillaume had worked tirelessly to surpass Julius, being strict with his son and demanding the same.
Herace’s standards had always been high for his age, leaving him perpetually intimidated.
Gerald was born, followed Julius into conquering the Netherworld, and became a hero of the Empire.
Guillaume constantly compared Gerald and Herace.
Through adolescence, Herace grew increasingly defiant.
It was then that he began being cared for behind Guillaume’s back.
And now, even in his old age, this continues, she sighed.
She restrained the urge to strike; he was now Emperor.
Finally, he looked somewhat like a normal patient.
“Bring him in.”
Bodrina spoke haughtily. An attendant stepped back and opened the door.
Gerald entered.
“Calling him in…”
Emperor Herace shot a resentful glance at Bodrina for summoning the Duke, but she ignored him, greeting Gerald with her usual proud smile.
“Gerald von Zeier, Duke.”
“Yes, Ma’am. It is an honor to meet you again, Your Majesty, the Sun of the Empire.”
Gerald knelt politely on one knee.
“Your condition seems worse than I expected.”
Herace grimaced at the cordiality; that smile always hid much.
“May Orleseon’s blessing be with you.”
Gerald clasped his hands respectfully in prayer.
“Please, sit.”
Bodrina gestured, inviting him to the opposite seat.
“Thank you.”
“Your Majesty, please sit as well.”
When Gerald took his seat, Bodrina also urged the Emperor to sit.
“I will remain standing. Your consideration, Dowager, is generous, but my body is unwell.”
Herace’s sharp refusal caused Bodrina’s eyes to flicker with surprise, but he ignored it.
His body itched, stung, and burned from the blisters, and yet they had arranged this meeting.
What absurdity.
And at my age, still acting as mother, issuing orders…
Herace’s resentment had already reached its limit.
He watched Gerald and Bodrina casually exchanging pleasantries, completely ignoring the patient.
“Thank you for coming despite everything.”
“It’s nothing. After all, you are my only elder brother.”
“That pleases me. And the Duke, how is he?”
“Thanks to the Duchess, he has become much brighter. All thanks to Your Majesty. Without you, marriage would have been unthinkable.”
“Indeed, from the first night’s ceremony, he seemed spirited and unusual. Sisters are different from the Empress in temperament.”
‘Quite a spirited troublemaker.’
Gerald smiled faintly, recalling Sinclair.
Inside Herace, molten anger boiled red-hot.
How dare they behave so shamelessly in the Emperor’s treatment chamber.
Herace frowned, causing the blisters on his forehead to burst, sending searing pain through his body.
He gritted his teeth and stifled his groan.
Sinclair. I sent you to the Duke’s house, and now you’re playing house?
What scheme placed my daughter in the Duke’s household, Michael?
How far have you betrayed me?
Herace’s head throbbed.
He wanted to descend immediately to the dungeon to interrogate Michael; even tearing him limb from limb wouldn’t suffice.
He relaxed his muscles, knowing tensing them would intensify the pain.
Loosen everything. Completely relax.
And first, uncover the intentions of the unwelcome Duke who came of his own accord.
He had never dared to approach the palace before, using the Duke as an excuse.
What scheme brought him here now?
Always the same.
No matter how deeply you look, you can never fathom him.
He pledges loyalty, yet seizes all the glory.
Now, let’s see how he plans to overshadow the Sun of the Empire.
“I heard that monsters have appeared in the Caricas territory.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Monster birds tried to raid Schlesen Castle. The Quiet Valley is already occupied by monsters.”
“Your barriers are useless then.”
“Apologies. I foolishly only considered the Duke’s safety. Please allow me to do my duty; the Empire is in danger.”
“Danger?”
Herace raised an eyebrow, looking down at him mockingly. Gerald met his gaze calmly, chin raised.
Their eyes locked in midair, filling the room with tense anticipation.
