Episode 50

Kaien threw open the window.

A blast of icy wind rushed in, chilling the office and cooling down some of the burning anger in him.

“I can’t sit back and watch any longer.”

But the conclusion stayed the same.

If it were just politics, Kaien could’ve faced Duke Nigel head-on.

But Nigel had gone beyond politics—he had thrown away basic human decency.

“You still can’t act recklessly, Your Majesty.”

“I know.”

Kaien clenched his fist tight.

“And that makes me furious.”

Nigel blocking the completion of Rubeo made sense from a political point of view.

But his methods were unforgivable.

If Rubeo had been completed, Kaien would’ve gained enormous wealth, trade power, legitimacy, and authority for his rule.

“Yes… that should have been the case.”

“The only mistake you made, Your Majesty,” Glenn said calmly, “was treating those people as if they were fellow humans.”

Kaien was a righteous man by nature.

Even after growing up in hardship, he always tried to be a better person.

Glenn, who had been with him his whole life, knew this better than anyone.

“But sadly, our enemies aren’t even worthy of being called human.”

“…Yes, I see that now.”

Kaien knew Nigel had enjoyed immense power as regent.

He also knew the capital nobles mocked his harsh childhood, sneering at him as if he were some barbarian emperor.

“The Emperor must keep the nobles close, but also always stay on guard. That’s how our history has always been.”

There had always been ambitious nobles.

Sometimes, the imperial family was dragged down by them.

Other times, emperors struck back with mass purges.

“But never once did the capital nobles themselves openly rebel. Especially not the Ten Great Houses.”

The Ten Great Houses were the noble families who had supported the founding of the Darius Empire.

Over time, only about half of them remained.

“I always saw Nigel as a political rival, but never as an enemy of the Empire. Because he was the head of one of the few remaining Great Houses.”

Just like an emperor must never harm his Empire, the Great Houses also bear the responsibility to protect it.

So Nigel’s treason was like a royal family member rebelling—it was unthinkable.

“Who would strangle their own neck or cut off their own limbs?”

“Only a madman would. And right now… they are exactly that,” Glenn said coldly.

Kaien had believed that once Rubeo stabilized and he gained full power, the nobles would kneel.

Their ambition wouldn’t vanish overnight, but he was confident he could crush them with the authority of the Emperor’s name.

“But Nigel seems to have completely forgotten who the true master of this Empire is.”

Nigel had taken on the role of regent only because Kaien wasn’t yet in full power.

But clearly, Nigel had no intention of giving that power back.

“I want nothing more than to cut his head off this instant.”

“You mustn’t, Your Majesty.”

Kaien clicked his tongue, annoyed, but nodded.

“You’re right. Killing him won’t solve anything. It’ll only make me look like a barbaric tyrant who executed a wise noble.”

Right now, Kaien hadn’t secured full control of the Empire.

Killing Nigel would only backfire.

“Glenn, stay out of this matter.”

“What? But, Your Majesty, this is treason. We can’t let it slide!”

Kaien raised a finger to his lips, silencing him.

“Believe me, Glenn. I’m more furious than you are. Even if I killed them hundreds of times, my anger wouldn’t fade.”

His voice was cold, chilling Glenn into silence.

“This isn’t something you should handle alone.”

“…Then what will you do, sire?”

Kaien’s gaze fell on the imperial banner hanging on the wall.

“After all, I am the Emperor.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

He had never truly lived like an Emperor before.

But now, with such crimes in front of him, he couldn’t just stand by.

“I’ll use that fact.”

Kaien opened a drawer and tossed the Emperor’s seal in front of Glenn.

“To be honest, I never wanted to rely on this thing.”

The seal carried absolute authority. Ironically, it was the same seal that had ruined his childhood.

His father, the previous emperor, had stamped it on the decree that exiled young Kaien.

“Your father, Count Haier, tried many times to bring me back to the palace. But this seal denied it every time.”

Kaien’s life had been a fight ever since.

He swore he’d one day break this cursed seal with his own power.

“But now isn’t the time for my pride.”

His voice was bitter.

This wasn’t just his personal fight anymore.

If Nigel hadn’t been stopped, more lives in Rubeo would have been lost.

He couldn’t allow that—not as a ruler, not as a man.

“To stop Nigel from killing my people, I’ll even use this disgusting seal.”

Count Haier had once taught him what powers only the Emperor could wield.

Now was the time to use them.

“I’ll follow you wherever you lead, Your Majesty,” Glenn swore.

“Then I’ll use this cursed seal and see what it can do.”

For centuries, countless nobles had tried to take power.

But the Emperor’s unique, absolute authority had always been the wall that preserved the dynasty.

“Chamberlain!”

At Kaien’s call, the chamberlain rushed in, bowing.

“From now on, what I say is an imperial decree. Write it down.”

“Yes, sire.”

Kaien had never issued a decree before, so the chamberlain trembled nervously as he readied his pen.

“Tomorrow, summon the Assembly. All nobles of the capital must attend.”

An Emperor could always call the Assembly—it was his right.

“Also, send a special envoy to the Papacy. Inform them that the Darius Imperial House commands the Holy Knights to obey.”

“Your Majesty, may I ask—what authority are you invoking…?”

“Remind them that the Holy Knights were originally the Emperor’s direct knights.”

Glenn’s eyes widened.

Historically, it was the imperial family who had created and funded the Holy Knights.

They had only been stationed at the Papacy under the guise of ‘neutral protection.’

“This isn’t a request or negotiation. It’s an order. Send all of them.”

By law, the Holy Knights were the Emperor’s hidden army, meant to remain neutral until summoned by the Emperor himself.

“Yes… all of them,” Kaien repeated firmly.

The Holy Knights might be sworn to peace, but in truth, they were always trained for war.

Among them were also spies and secret agents.

“Also, send part of the Imperial Guard to Count Haier’s territory.”

Not all of them—just those who weren’t essential to palace defense.

“Glenn, have Count Haier’s knights and soldiers move to Rubeo.”

“As you command, Your Majesty.”

That way, Rubeo would gain reinforcements.

And in return, Kaien would bring Rubeo’s knight commander and his trusted men to the capital.

That knight would become a loyal force within the palace walls—someone Kaien could rely on.

“Tell the Rubeo Knight Commander to hurry here. When he arrives, I’ll hold an appointment ceremony.”

“What will you appoint him as, sire?”

“If you don’t mind, Glenn, I’ll make him the Commander of the Imperial Knights.”

That meant he would also command the Holy Knights once they arrived.

“I only want to remain your knight, Your Majesty,” Glenn said with a faint smile.

They’d grown up together—Kaien knew Glenn’s heart well.

His bold orders had cleared Glenn’s frustration, and soon the tides of the war would turn.

“This is basically a declaration of war.”

“The Imperial Knights have no purpose in peaceful times. Summoning them means only one thing.”

“No,” Kaien shook his head.

“This war began long ago.”

His black eyes were sharp as ice.

“This is the declaration to end it.”

He gripped the Emperor’s seal tightly in his hand.

“Beasts must be reminded who their true master is.”

If he could truly become Emperor and set everything right, he was willing to bury his past hatred for now.