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Chapter: 260

The Emperor… no, the previous Emperor was in a pristine state, aside from the chest pierced by a sword and the blood flowing from it.

Just once. His life must have been cut short by the blade embedded in his chest.

Arthur silently removed the crown from the previous Emperor’s head, looking down with eyes filled with complex emotions.

He then slowly placed it atop his own head, and the Crown of Immortality began to glow gradually.

As if it acknowledged Arthur, manifesting its power.

Thus, no one could deny Arthur’s legitimacy.

Even if it was the order of the Knightly Order that protected the Emperor.

So… I sank a part of the wall I had created into the ground.

I picked suitable locations on the east, west, south, and north of the wall to organize and build a gate.

Now, shall I go and meet Arthur, who has achieved his desire?

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

In the genealogy of the Romania Empire, the name Lucius Altirius appears three times.

First, the Knight King. Lucius Altorius Caesar.

The king who founded the Romania Kingdom and the first Knight recognized by God.

Second, the last king of Romania who elevated the kingdom to an empire and the first Emperor. Lucius Altirius II.

He was the great-grandson of the Knight King and an Emperor who devoted himself to stabilizing the country, dying young, perhaps due to sacrificing his life for the nation.

And third, the unfortunate Crown Prince who was robbed of his spot by his uncle, and after sharpening his sword for a long time, eventually killed his uncle and reclaimed the throne. Lucius Altirius III.

These three Emperors have various stories, but perhaps because they share the same name, many rumors linked the three Emperors into one story.

The most widely known book is, of course, the Chronicles of the Roman Kings.

– The Commentary on the Chronicles of the Roman Kings.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

The news of the previous Emperor’s death spread quickly.

What happened in the Emperor’s audience chamber rapidly reached the attendants in the castle and conveyed the news at full speed to the imperial knights gathered in Sirius.

“This is unbelievable….”

The leader of the imperial knights, who had run without rest, entered the audience chamber, and the sight that met his eyes was nothing short of horrifying.

The Emperor’s personal guards had all been sliced in half and lay dead, and the luxurious audience chamber was a mess, soaked in the blood of the fallen.

And there lay the Emperor, dead with a sword sticking out of his chest, while a young man, covered in blood, sat upon the Emperor’s throne wearing the Crown of Immortality.

“How dare you…!”

Who would dare assassinate the Emperor of Romania?

Who would dare steal the Crown of Immortality and wear it?

Who would dare sit upon the Emperor’s throne?

Who would dare. How dare!

“You!!!”

The leader of the imperial knights, in fury, unsheathed the sword hanging at his waist.

“The crime of assassinating His Majesty the Emperor! You shall not die peacefully!”

“His Majesty the Emperor….”

Arthur spoke softly, looking at the enraged leader.

“Is it worthy of being called an Emperor, one who persecutes and kills children and steals the throne, someone who lacks the qualifications of an Emperor?”

“What?!”

“How disappointing.”

In that moment, a rumor flickered through the leader’s mind.

“The son of the previous Emperor who was chased away has returned.”

“You… no, you are….”

“I have come to reclaim what was taken from me long ago.”

Arthur stood up from the throne, drawing the sword embedded in the previous Emperor’s chest as he spoke.

“My name is Lucius Altirius III. The legitimate Emperor of Romania and a vengeful seeker of what was taken from me.”

Arthur swung the sword lightly, which effortlessly decapitated the previous Emperor.

“The false Emperor who took what was mine is dead, and now the throne of this empire returns to me.

The correctness of my will and actions will be judged by the brilliant light and justice of the God, Shamash.

If I am not the rightful heir to the throne, may the divine punish me.”

Thud.

The severed head rolled off, falling beneath the platform of the throne.

Perhaps not realizing he would meet such an end, the severed head bore expressions of doubt, disbelief, and surprise.

“How… how could this happen….”

The leader stuttered, unable to continue his words.

Both the Emperor’s death and Arthur’s appearance were utterly incomprehensible events.

Seeing the leader in that state, Arthur quietly asked.

“Leader of the Imperial Knights, what do you intend to do now? Will you continue your loyalty to the deceased false Emperor?”

The leader looked down at the head of the previous Emperor rolling on the ground.

He was a person driven by greed, but still, he was the Emperor.

An Emperor who had the blood of a great king.

Yet there lay his head, discarded and lifeless, lost without the Crown of Immortality.

“I… no, I…”

The leader raised his head to look at the young man standing before the throne.

The faint remnants of his childhood remained in that young man. The Crown of Immortality he wore shone brightly like the sun.

He was the rightful and honorable Emperor.

“I pledge my loyalty only to His Majesty the Emperor.”

Thus, the leader of the imperial knights could only lower his head once more.

“However… despite being a false Emperor, he was once the Emperor of this empire… please grant me the opportunity to collect his remains and arrange for a funeral…”

At those words, Arthur paused for a moment and then spoke.

“His head shall be displayed in the square of Sirius, and the crime shall be made known for all to see.”

“Then please at least allow us to recover the body excluding his head for a proper funeral.”

Arthur nodded slightly at those words.

“I grant that. And…”

Arthur said with cold eyes.

“Bring the son of the false Emperor.”

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

“Arthur.”

I approached Arthur, who was alone in the audience chamber, exuding a faint malice.

“…….”

“Arthur.”

I called Arthur’s name again.

“Master….”

“What do you plan to do with that man’s son?”

“I plan to return to him what he has done to me and Bibi in kind.”

“What you endured?”

“Yes. Just as Bibi must have suffered while swallowing poison, just as I had to flee as if I were being chased.”

I nodded slightly. I understood Arthur’s feelings well.

But.

“Children cannot choose their parents, Arthur.”

“…….”

“You must not pass the sins of parents onto the children, Arthur.”

“But…”

“Arthur.”

I spoke calmly and patted Arthur’s back.

“For now, let’s clean up the situation inside the castle and wait for Bibi. We can deal with the aftermath slowly.”

“Master…”

Arthur poured out the emotions pent up in his chest.

“You can say that because it’s not your issue….”

“Arthur.”

“Do you know how I felt for the past eight years? Every time my sister suffered, I wanted to suffer in her place. While desperately fleeing, I often thought that if I had died, my sister would have been happier.”

Sticky resentment. Years of pent-up desire for revenge poured out of Arthur’s lips like a dense infatuation.

“Why! That man was so greedy for the throne?! Why couldn’t being the Emperor’s brother and uncle be enough?! He was a pretty good person when we were younger! Why!!”

“Greed is an innate instinct of life.”

I slowly stroked Arthur’s back and spoke.

“The desire to live. The desire to fill the belly. The desire to possess what one cannot have. The desire to have children and continue the lineage. All these desires are instincts that maintain life.”

“…….”

As long as one is alive, one cannot completely go against those desires.

“He was just swept away by those desires.”

“…….”

I didn’t know if those words would comfort Arthur, but.

“Arthur. Send someone to call Bibi and the companions. And let’s tidy up Sirius.”

“Master…”

“Arthur. You’ve done well. You’ve regained what was yours, and there will be no one left to threaten you. So… relax a little.”

“But…”

“Arthur.”

I gently pushed Arthur to sit on the throne.

“So for now, enjoy this victory.”

To be honest, this victory was crafted with no real battle, but with rumors, strategies, and deceptions.

Even so, a win is a win.

“Master…”

“Yes, Arthur.”

“Wait a moment… can you hold my hand?”

Arthur’s voice was exhausted, as if he had lost all strength. Despite having finally achieved the long-desired revenge, his heart felt tired as resentment lingered.

I carefully grasped Arthur’s hand.

“For now, let’s rest, Arthur.”

As for Bibi…. I would convey my voice for her to come.

It seemed that Arthur didn’t have the luxury to delegate tasks to anyone right now.

“Have sweet dreams, Arthur.”

May peace return to the child whose heart had been rotting away with vengeance, hatred, and resentment.

 

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