Emperor's Alternate - Chapter 69
It was early morning when I returned to the palace. However, I couldn’t go straight to my quarters.
Teiles II was sprawled ungracefully in front of my room. The knights looked at me awkwardly, and the maids didn’t even dare to approach the Emperor.
‘Did he spend the night drinking?’
The smell of alcohol wafted through the air before I could get close. I sighed, adjusted my maid’s attire, and took a moment to catch my breath. Empty bottles were scattered around Teiles II. It would have been better if had waited inside my quarters than here with so many eyes on him and so little regard to how this looked.
“Your Majesty, you shouldn’t be doing this here.”
“…You’ve heard, haven’t you? You must have, Leyesha.”
Despite his drunkenness, Teiles II’s eyes were clear. His blue eyes, so much like mine, were reminiscent of a creature’s glowing green eyes in the darkness.
“Do you know what they say about the death of the Princess? They say that I opposed her love for Lecan, that I was jealous of his influence, that I tore apart the lovely couple, and that I brought about her tragic demise.”
“Were you on your way back from the princess’s funeral, Your Majesty?”
If that was the case, then we can spin this incident as a momentary lapse of reason due to his grief for the late Princess. I was about to give myself a little relief when Teiles II burst out laughing.
“Do people only talk about that story? There are so many rumors that I’ll be kicked out soon! They say the enraged Lecan, having lost his lover, will take over this country! Set the imperial palace on fire! Capture all the nobles and execute them! Rise to the throne and create a new world! Everyone is gossiping like that!”
“…Those are just baseless rumors. If the Princess and Lord Lecan truly loved each other and wanted to make that happen, the Imperial Family would have actively endorsed their pairing and wouldn’t have interfered. After all, wasn’t Your Majesty the one to request that they have a meal together? The Princess simply died from malnutrition caused by her lovesickness. All this gossip is patently untrue.”
“And so what? Even if I shout out the truth a hundred times, this is still what the world thinks of me!”
“…Pull yourself together, Your Majesty!”
Despite my desperate shout, Teiles II laughed mockingly and finished the remaining bottle of alcohol. However, it seemed like she had already consumed it all, as not a drop fell.
“Bring me more! I can’t breathe sober!”
“…Stop right there,” I ordered the maid who was about to move. “I am your superior, and I, as the chief maid of Empress Regent, command you. His Majesty is still too young, and this empire is under the regency of the Empress. If you dare to defy my will, I will report all your actions to the Empress Regent for her judgment.”
“Hah, Lady Leyesha. I won’t go. I apologize, Your Majesty.”
“Ha…hahaha!”
Teiles II laughed nervously and threw the bottle against the wall. The glass shattered and scattered everywhere. I stared at Teiles II calmly.
“Quite amusing! Now you dare to openly insult my authority?”
“Your Majesty, now is not the time for more drinks. If you want to defeat Lecan and retain your position, pull yourself together and return to your office immediately.”
“Leyesha, how dare you, you open-mouthed wench. I will end your life today for your insolence.”
Staggering to his feet, Teiles II drew his sword from his knight’s scabbard and pointed it at me, his eyes glaring with evil as he swayed to and fro in his drunken stupor.
But instead of yielding to his madness, I responded, “If you want to kill me, go ahead. It would be better for me to die by the sword of my lord, than to see the empire overturned and destroyed while you sit here dumbfounded.”
“Do you think I won’t be able to kill you if you order me to?”
The sight of the sword at my throat made me dizzy. However, oddly enough, I felt no fear.
Teiles II, though…I couldn’t imagine the terror of potentially becoming the last Emperor of the empire. That really wasn’t my purview. But the Teiles II’s hand, trembling in both intoxication and madness, showed me what I needed to see.
“Kill me.”
“…”
“If you don’t have plans on killing me right here and now, then please don’t interfere with my work.”
“…You crazy b***h…”
“Are we done listening to your undignified speech?”
“Shut your mouth!”
Thin streams of blood trickled down my neck. It was a strange sensation, both hot and cold as it touched the blade. I had no intention of stepping back. If I had to die in this place, then so be it.
Perhaps sensing my sincerity, Teiles II, who had been staring at me, spat out curses and swung his sword.
As the blood flowed from my neck, the knights remained silent, watching with bated breath. Despite knowing they were observing, I quietly composed myself.
“I am grateful to His Majesty for sparing my life.”
“…Ha, hahaha.”
“Well then, I shall go about my duties, Your Majesty.”
Until I opened the door to my quarters and stepped inside, not a single word was spoken, and the atmosphere remained chilly. Even after closing the door, the laughter of Teiles II echoed through the corridor.
“Did you see that? It’s not just me who saw! Surprising, isn’t it, that her blood is the same crimson as mine!”
“Your Majesty, please restrain yourself!”
“She has neither blood nor tears! I have never seen such a monster in my life!”
“….”
No matter what words I heard, I had a job to do. Taking a moment to catch my breath, I wrapped a scarf around my neck to staunch the bleeding and sat down at the table. Whether or not I heard the sounds of Teiles II rampaging in the corridor outside, I began to efficiently check through the accumulated paperwork.
