Emperor's Alternate - Chapter 66
“My Lord, we can no longer stand by and let this go on!”
“His Majesty the Emperor has crossed the line! I shudder to think how many years they’ve been preparing for this! If you hadn’t come back, I would have been sentenced to death and would have left this world already.”
“That’s right! Sending you out to capture Drakeshine was all a cunning ruse, too, wasn’t it? The village was destroyed by a volcanic eruption, and I don’t know how they calculated the timing, but it was all planned! They were deliberately trying to kill you!”
With his return, Lecan looked at the ‘neutral’ vassals whose spirits had been rekindled. Each one of them were loudly expressing their grievances. Even though he had briefed on all of this upon his return, the room was filled with the loud voices of these disgruntled vassals, making it quite difficult.
‘My head is pounding. I haven’t had a proper rest.’
Even Lecan’s personal attendant, who had been silent until now, seemed troubled. His face had become gaunt over the past month. Seeing his attendant for the first time in a while, Lecan, without saying a word, could understand the hardships he had faced during his absence.
Over the past month, these ‘neutral’ vassals had experienced troubles they, as nobles, had never faced before, being humiliated and ignored. They acutely felt the absence of their lord. The ‘neutral’ vassals were cautious individuals who did not hastily decide their course of action. Most of them were much older than Lecan.
Although Emperor Teiles II was only in his twenties, his exceptional political skills and the influx of talented mages who willingly gathered to serve him made even the ‘neutral’ vassals show respect.
Recently, the Empress Regent had organized a hunting tournament, and although there were some unsavory things said about it, the ‘neutral’ nobles were forced to bite their tongues and say nothing about it.
During this time, just a few months into her reign, they felt a burning resentment for being driven to the brink by the Empress they had trusted in their vulnerable state. A middle-aged patriarch with a long beard, still wearing armor, pointed his finger at Benedict.
“Now that I think about it, Archduke, say something. Do you have no shame? Our ‘neutral’ faction has been dragged into this mess, and we’ve suffered hardships, uncovering mistakes from decades ago that we can’t even remember. What have you been doing all this time, Archduke? You appear with such an unabashed face, as if nothing happened while our lord was away.”
“What a strange thing to say. My father fell ill, you know—he could die any day now. No matter how unfilial I am, I have to watch over him. What was I supposed to do? They kept saying to stay by his side. Should I have gone to all your trials? Should I have gone there to watch?”
“Since when did you start considering Chancellor Alfred your father? You’ve gone around town telling everyone he was a crazy old man. When did he become someone who only had a day or two left? Several years ago, people were saying he was on the brink of death. When the ‘neutrals’ were in danger, didn’t you hide behind your father as if you weren’t part of this faction yourself? When it’s inconvenient, you act like you don’t know anything and then come out like a bat, claiming to be an ‘elitist.’”
“That’s right! When did you become such a devoted son?”
“When did I become such a devoted son? I was just trying to protect the old man in his last moments. Is it so wrong to want to uphold basic human decency before he dies?”
“B******t!”
Bang!
Lecan slammed the hilt of his sword down on the table. All eyes in the room were on him. Although he remained silent, the room fell silent as people felt the weight of his presence. His gaze was stern.
“Everyone, quiet.”
“…I apologize, my Lord. I got carried away. It’s just that Archduke Benedict is so infuriating…”
“Enough of that. He already said he wanted to honor the Chancellor’s final moments…”
“…Yes, my Lord.”
Apologizing and lowering their heads, the attendees resumed their seats with a somber air. Benedict felt annoyed, but he avoided eye contact with Lecan.
“Benedict.”
“Yes, brother?”
“Is there something you’re hiding from me?”
Benedict tried not to flinch. Of course, in the context of the conversation, Lecan was likely asking about Chancellor Alfred’s real condition, but…
‘I didn’t report to Lecan about Winter, the woman.’
Benedict had never met Leyesha as a lady-in-waiting. Even when attending the ball, Benedict’s attention was occupied by his younger sister Seneca’s tantrums.
Their only encounter was in the underworld. She was once Lecan’s fiancée. Normally, it would be right to report it immediately to Lecan, but…
The memory of his younger sister clinging to him and whining was still ingrained in his mind. The guilt of not always pleasing the family due to their differing political ties weighed on him. And he had to admit that the rumor that Lecan was still unmarried because he couldn’t forget the Rotea Ducal House troubled Benedict.
‘Winter has become exceptionally beautiful.’
Her blue eyes were like jewels, and the glimpse of her white neck amid golden hair was captivating. Even without elaborate makeup, her natural charm was enough to catch one’s eye.
Although they had never found her body, she was considered deceased by all accounts. The circumstances of how she avoided the royal pursuit and suddenly appeared in the underworld were unknown.
Benedict hesitated to tell Lecan. Somehow, if Lecan found out about the fact, there seemed to be no chance for his younger sister.
‘Besides, didn’t the Princess succumb to lovesickness a few days ago and die from malnutrition?’
Benedict couldn’t afford to lose his younger sister like that. Even if he couldn’t treat his family well in other areas, he wanted to protect his sister. And…
‘Personally, I’m interested too.’
Benedict lightly nodded his head and answered, “What’s there to hide? I have nothing to hide from you, brother, you know that.”
“…”
“No, when I think about it, I was quite disappointed with the Emperor, who I thought was a genius a few days ago. He set aside seven white elephants for, thinking they were gifts, but these damn elephants are no joke. They eat up everything. Their taste is so refined that they won’t touch anything that’s not expensive. Well, Emperor, there’s something you overlooked. I’m quite wealthy even within the family. The amount they cost is peanuts to me…”
Benedict raised his chin smugly, and Lecan turned his head away. Benedict breathed a slow sigh of relief.
“You big bearded guy wouldn’t pay for a day’s worth of food for my elephants,” said Benedict, “so cut the crap about my ‘elitist’ connections.”
“You’re a real piece of…” one of the lords began.
“Both of you,” interrupted Lecan in a low voice. “I told you to stop.”
“…”
“More importantly, what were the reasons why the Emperor was suddenly provoked?”
The librarian, who had been silent at Rekhan’s question, pulled a note from his b****t pocket and offered it politely with both hands. When Lecan unfolded the note, a short verse was written in clumsy handwriting. It was a song that hinted at the founding myth and a revolution.
“Nobody on the streets is not singing this song. It’s probably because of this.”
After reading the note, Lecan placed it back on the table and asked, “…Tell me who did this.”
His voice was still, low, and chilling.
