"... I see."
It appears that Deon Hart was not the only one who 'turned away'. Eduardo smiled bitterly.
In fact, he may have just not had the confidence to look back.
He didn't have the confidence to face the mountain of corpses piled up behind him on the path he'd walked so far. Once he started regretting, he would have to regret it endlessly, so it seems that he moved forward by focusing on responsibility instead of regret.
Most people said Eduardo was strong, but he knew it.
He was weak.
Even though he was hung up on responsibility, he couldn't take responsibility for anything, and even though he wanted to die, he couldn't. He could not take responsibility for killing his brothers, nor could he take responsibility for the Empire and its people, and he could not commit suicide or die at the hands of the enemy, so he lived a miserable life.
Indeed...
"Even so."
Wasn't he an indecisive person?
"I have no regrets."
That's why he quite liked the idea of facing death like this. It was an unfortunate end for a fool who couldn't choose anything.
Eduardo looked at Deon's red eyes with question marks as if he didn't understand, then closed his eyes. Unsurprisingly, the thought crossed his mind that he should have focused on his niece and nephew instead of just going on, but he erased it before it turned into regret.
'... Ah.'
Only then did Deon know. The being in front of him was not the 'Emperor'.
He took off the golden crown he always wore at important positions, threw away the cloak he always wore, wore simple clothes and carried a sword, and did not call himself 'Emperor' throughout the battle.
Deon, who was looking at Eduardo with his eyes closed with a complex gaze, slowly raised his dagger.
"... Oh, I forgot. There's one thing I need to tell you."
"...?"
"If you want to live, you'd better get out of here quickly. There are bombs planted throughout the Imperial Palace. I set them to explode in 40 minutes, so they must be about to explode."
"... Is it possible to adjust the explosion time?"
Even if it became possible, it seemed like the Revolutionary Army would develop it first. Because the Revolutionary Army was good at making bombs. He heard that the portable bomb was also developed by Daniel, the leader at the time.
He was saying this because he was no longer a citizen of the Empire, but honestly, the bombs of each kingdom, including the Empire, were defective and unsatisfactory. It exploded so easily that it explodes before you can use it, or it doesn't explode at all. That's why the use of bombs in war was rare.
Eduardo answered lazily.
"If you can analyze it, improvement is not difficult. In the past, portable bombs belonging to the Revolutionary Army were sold on the black market, so I was told to obtain them as soon as the information came in."
It was obvious even without looking at how many developers have been changed. Deon, still aiming for Eduardo's neck, looked fed up.
Rather, portable bombs have appeared on the black market? There was no way the Revolutionary Army could have just watched that happen.
'How sensitive are they in that regard?'
At worst, when it seems like they are going to get caught, will they try to commit suicide? Wasn't that all to prevent the bomb from falling into the hands of the enemy and being analyzed?
The big guy who not only stole it but also sold it on the auction house was most likely dead.
"The original goal was for all the Demon King's Army to enter the palace, but I never thought you would come in alone. It was in vain."
"..."
"What should I do? There won't be time, so let's finish this."
Eduardo still had his eyes closed.
He won't die with his eyes open for no reason, so that someone who finds his body won't spread the word about that ugly sight. He didn't want to cause a bigger shock to his niece and nephew who would otherwise have been shocked.
'...'
Deon slashed his dagger.
And.
One snowy day.
A hero has fallen.
***
Esperanes' mercenaries have arrived. They arrived exactly on time, but the Duke was not pleased.
Because the Demon King's Army had already arrived at the Capital. It was said that Deon Hardt entered the Imperial Palace. On the other hand, there was no news that the Emperor or the royal family had evacuated, so the worst case scenario kept coming to mind and he had no choice but to hasten his steps toward the palace.
"... There are demons at the front gate, so let's go somewhere else."
Even so, they have only a small force, so they can't waste time fighting the Demon King's Army for no reason. The top priority was ensuring the safety of the royal family. In order to get over a decent wall, the Duke avoided the main gate and made a wide circle around the palace.
He was able to meet the royal family just coming out of the secret passage.
"If we move from here to another passage... Duke Illuster?"
"Please step back."
Nemeseus, who quickly put the two royal family members behind him, drew his sword and aimed it at the Duke. The Royal Guards also tensed up and aim their weapons, and the mercenaries of Esperanes also took out their weapons.
The person who slowed down the tension that was about to explode in an instant was none other than the Duke.
"I don't mean to harm you, so don't worry."
"I bet you believe that."
"I hope the mercenaries also put down their swords. Would it be okay to fight against someone who is here to protect?"
"... Protect?"
The Crown Prince frowned in disbelief and the tip of Nemeseus' sword shook. Anyway, the Duke rolled his eyes and looked behind them. He really hoped that the person he was thinking of was here, but...
'... He isn't.'
An ominous feeling ran down his spine.
"Where is His Majesty?"
"... He stayed."
"I can't believe he stayed..."
It was a short sentence, but it was easy to understand.
The Duke closed his eyes. He didn't say anything stupid like that.
Because he already expected it. He just quietly muttered. He knew it would be like that too.
"I hoped not."
It had already happened. There was no way to change it now.
If so, the actions this side should take were also determined.
Due to the Emperor's personality, he would have been left alone, but he still asked a question just in case.
"How many troops were left with him, His Majesty?"
"None. He was left alone."
There was nothing more to hear. The Duke immediately spoke to the mercenaries.
"Everyone, please take their royal highnesses safely to their destination."
"... Are you saying everyone?"
"Yes, everyone."
"... All right."
There was no need to complain about an incomprehensible request because they had already received the money and it was not a request that they found objectionable. The mercenaries put aside their doubts and immediately stood around the two royal family members as if they were guarding them.
The Duke grinned at the Crown Prince and Princess, who did not hide their doubts.
"You don't seem to understand."
"..."
In this respect, he could feel their immaturity, which was different from that of the Emperor. The Duke decided to be kind and give the two chicks their first and last lesson.
"There are no permanent enemies or allies in politics."
"... So does this mean that the Duke is an ally now?"
"I think you can just accept it that way for now. And..."
This was advice for the two who would face painful politics in the future.
"There is no absolute good or evil in politics. If there is something that appears to be absolute good or evil, then without a doubt, it is wrong. I think it's best to be suspicious of those who are usually called good, because they're going to be really bad."
"Like the Duke that the Salvation Church praises and calls salvation?"
"Your Royal Highness."
The Duke rolled his eyes.
The laughter didn't last long.
Kwaaaa!!
There was a huge noise. Everyone's heads reflexively turned to look for the source of the noise, and a terrible silence followed.
"What is that..."
The Princess covered her mouth, unable to hide her astonishment. The Crown Prince's pupils trembled and Nemeseus, who opened his eyes wide, immediately clenched his fists. The Royal Guard was in a state of turmoil, unable to hide their agitation, and even the Esperanians who came as mercenaries were so, so what must the Duke have been like?
"... Haha."
He laughed out loud.
The Imperial Palace was collapsing with the sound of a huge explosion. Something with a splendid, ancient and long history and a lot of value was falling apart in an unsightly manner. The collapse was as slow as its size, making it even more unrealistic.
'The Emperor remains there.'
He couldn't waste any more time here. He immediately handed what he had been holding in his hand to the Prince and approached Nemeseus.
The object was the paper in his hand that was believed to have a secret passage drawn on it, but perhaps he was not the first hero of the Empire for nothing. Before he could take it away, he immediately put his hand back and asked in a warning manner.
"What is it?"
"Anyway, you won't be using the secret passage here after today, right? I'll take a moment."
"..."
There was no answer, but there was no further avoidance or resistance. The duke took the paper out of Nemeseus' hand and quickly scanned it, memorizing only one route from here to the inside of the Imperial Palace, and then gave it back to him.
The Crown Prince, who was fiddling with something in his hand with a complicated expression, called out to him as if he had been waiting.
"What is this?"
"It will help."
"..."
He didn't expect that kind of answer. What was this note? The Crown Prince's face distorted at the awkward answer, but the Duke turned around without paying any attention. A voice without any regrets spread lightly.
"Then let's just part ways here. Please take care of the two highnesses."
***
As he went down the secret passage and ran towards the Imperial Palace, all kinds of thoughts came and went in his head. Various assumptions and expected situations and how to respond accordingly... and the past.
Among them, what the Duke focused on was the conversation with the First Prince in the past.
It was a conversation after the contract ended. He thought he was asking why he was using such a foolish method. What did he reply then?
'Of course, there may have been a better way. No, it definitely must have been there. It's probably still there now. But I was stupid, so this was all I could think of.'
Yes, he was stupid. His choice was leading a country down the path of destruction and endangering the human world. A sneer escaped from between his lips.
When he arrived at the collapsed Imperial Palace, the ridicule deteriorated and flowed out empty-handed.
"... Haha."
It wasn't difficult to find brilliant golden hair in a space where everything had collapsed. Fortunately, it doesn't look like he was crushed by stone.
... Or did someone else stop it?
He walked towards him slowly, as if he was possessed. A red gaze followed his every step, but the Duke didn't care.
... He didn't even have time to care. He just kept his eyes on him, walked over, got down on one knee, and slowly stretched out his hand.
"... I thought it was cute how he showed his teeth and said he would try his best on a topic that was troubling him with feelings of guilt, so I just watched him."
He lived as an Emperor and set out to die as Eduardo, but like an emperor, he touched the dead man's cheek and muttered like a sigh.
"In the end... this is what happens."
It was a relationship bound by a contract.
It was something that must be protected, and something that must be taken from its place in order to protect it. Annoying and cumbersome variables.
It was quite interesting that he was wary of him reaching for the throne, blocked him, and growled, so he left him alone even after the contract period ended, but that was it. The Duke stroked his bangs one last time and slowly withdrew his hand.
He looked up and faced Deon Hardt.
"It's an unusual consideration for you to wait for me."
"Consideration?"
A low laugh lingered around the clearing.
"I was just curious about your reaction. How does it feel to lose the most precious thing you have?"
"The most precious thing?"
For a moment, the Duke's eyes widened as if he had heard something incomprehensible. For a moment, his eyes landed on the Emperor's body.
... Huh. It was something like that.
"Power is the most important thing to me."
"No way."
How could he not know when he was acting so blatantly?
He wasn't even aware of it. Deon chuckled.
It didn't matter. Whether he was aware of it or not, the suffering was the same. ... But the one who realizes it will suffer more. He opened his mouth with grumpiness.
"Then why did you come here alone?"
"Because I have no medical history."[1]
And bringing in troops to save the Emperor was a waste. The situation also showed that the death of the Emperor could minimize damage, and, more than anything else...
'... Because he wanted to die.'
The Duke respected the Emperor's free will until the end.
[1] No clue what's being said here lol