I grabbed the back horse and grabbed the reins of the horse that was blowing black smoke. I tried to get on it, but the guy refused and started to complain, perhaps because he was reluctant due to the track record of running without stopping.
I let out a laugh.
"Now you're going to stop doing it..."
Whoop! I pulled the reins towards me and forced eye contact. The bright red eyes glowed dangerously, filled with annoyance and murder.
"Do you want to die?"
"..."
The horse lowered his body.
***
As everyone left and darkness fell on the collapsed palace filled with silence, someone stepped into the ruins that would be buried in history. Unlike the slow pace, as if hesitating as if she was on the wrong path, her steps moved forward steadily without stopping even once. Her feet walked diligently, never speeding up or slowing down, and only stopped when she arrived in front of someone's body.
The luggage bag she was holding in her hand fell onto the blood-soaked floor.
"... Ah."
Her blood-covered lips were cracked, as if they had been chewed several times, and she let out a faint voice.
"At last."
It was a moan, a suppressed scream, and at the same time it contained deep resignation.
Saerin, who had been fixating her gaze without blinking even once from the moment the body came into view, slowly collapsed in front of it.
His body was tattered and unrecognizable, but his relatively intact head, which seemed to have been left untouched on purpose, clearly indicated that he was the Duke. Even if the head was damaged, she would have known it as soon as she saw it. Saerin was sure.
How could she not recognize him?
"... He denies love, ridicules it, and uses it as he pleases..."
It's okay. She already made up your mind. All she had to do was move according to plan. After pushing away the offending Emperor's body to expand the space, she took out the tools she had brought with her in advance to clean up.
A calm murmur continued.
"In the end, even you ended up in the same situation."
There was a slight difference in that the owner of the leash did not know that he had the 'peacock's leash in his hands, but the point was that in the end, he was swayed by lukewarm emotions and gave up his life like those who he laughed at.
Of course, the Duke would deny it until the end.
But what can you do? That's the truth.
"You pretend to be smart, but you don't even know the name of your feelings."
How much time had passed? The settlement was almost over.
Considering this condition, it would be better to cremate the body rather than just bury it. Saerin stood up and let out a faint sigh.
"Duke."
She spoke in a business-like but softer voice than before to someone who would no longer be able to hear her.
"The Salvation Church will collapse. We have already consumed many people... We can maintain it if we want to, but there is no need to hold on to the Salvation Church without you."
Saerin recited the final report as she walked to find a suitable place to burn his body.
"I'm thinking of going to another country. Even if it's for your revenge, I don't think you'd like me to recklessly reach out to an Empire ruled by people you care about."
***
The Emperor... his uncle had passed away. It was something he expected.
Contrary to his intention to move with him even if it was necessary, Elpidius was pressured by an unexpectedly strong will and moved without being able to say anything, and he wouldn't have to be a fool to know that. Eduardo Desert wanted to die on the spot.
From the 'Crown Prince's' point of view, it was a choice that was beneficial as long as it was not harmful, and above all, it was his choice alone, so it is right to respect it, but...
"Are you comfortable now?"
Crown Prince Elpidius, who was left alone after sending everyone out, including the Princess, asked toward the empty coffin.
"In the end, you really... took responsibility for everything and left."
Just being stubborn and useless.
Hey was so sad and angry that it was almost impossible to be sane.
Nevertheless, he could not dare to criticize him as cowardly and running away to death. Because the Emperor had done enough. No, he should say that it was overflowing since he had taken on things that he didn't have to take responsibility for.
He should have told him at that time that he wasn't responsible.
'It's my fault. I will take full responsibility.'
It wasn't his fault.
Why should he apologize if he was not the one who killed the Prince's father? The only thing he did wrong was that he did as his father asked. He suppressed his ominous feelings and clung to them, telling them not to go, and sent their father away.
Of course, he was young at the time, so instead of saying it was okay, he looked at him with resentful eyes and turned away…
"... Ah."
Elpidius groaned at the new realization. He was out of breath.
"Now we are sinners."
He was left with a feeling of guilt that he could never resolve.
At that time, when he told him that he would take responsibility not to blame his uncle, he would have told him that there was no need to do that. He would have consoled him who was struggling with guilt and tried to live a peaceful and happy life. Instead of giving up easily just because he was stubborn, he should have approached him a little closer, held his hand, and persuaded him... He should have apologized at least belatedly for expressing his resentment.
"This alone is heavy, uncle, how on earth did you hold on?"
While he was alive, he must have felt like he was a sinner.
Even though Elpidius knew it, he just brushed it off by thinking, 'It will be okay someday,' 'It's been a while, so it must be okay now,' and 'He's a strong person by nature, so it'll be okay,' but it was too much of a problem.
The tide had turned.
Now the sinners were Elpidius and Aletea. The target is none other than Eduardo.
How can we atone for the dead? He thought he had grown up quite maturely, but now he saw that he wasn't. He didn't even care about his nearest and dearest, so what else could this be if not immaturity?
"We really... grew up comfortably within our uncle's enclosure."
He used to feel sorry for children who didn't appreciate their parents' hard work, but he never thought that would be himself.
It was natural that a strong protector seems to be bigger than anyone else and will last forever. He was fooled by that obviousness. By the time you realize you've been tricked, it's already irreversible.
Elpidius ended up burying his face in his hands.
"How did you raise us so immaturely?"
Eduardo was cowardly. He knew he shouldn't call him cowardly, but he was truly a coward.
Why would he leave him feeling so guilty? The yellow crown alone was heavy, so if this suddenly happened, how was he going to ask him to hold on?
It's scary, uncle. It's too much. He had only one family left I this world. Just like he did with his uncle, this was a family he could not rely on and had to protect.
"I want to run away."
Succession training? Taking over? Even if you prepare these things in advance, you cannot overcome the anxiety of losing a reliable guardian in an instant and standing in an unfamiliar place. The golden eyes revealed between the fingers were filled with vulnerability and shook as if they would break.
He really wanted to run away. He wanted to throw everything away and run away because the things he had to be responsible for were overwhelming, but paradoxically, he could not run away because of the things he was responsible for. And above all...
'It is terrible to even think about being remembered as the last emperor of a ruined country or being completely forgotten and disappearing into the back of history without even leaving a trace of my name!'
He had even heard people say that it would be okay if he had just stayed, but it was simply because it was too burdensome. Elpidius was not shameless enough to run away.
That's why he held on to the heart that cried out that he wanted to run away and search his mind for a reason to passionately protect the throne. Without even thinking about it, a feeling arose.
"... Deon Hardt."
He found a reason to keep his position. Elpidius gritted his teeth.
"I will not run away. I will avenge my uncle."
Deon Hardt killed his uncle.
He knew that his uncle's own choice was at the root, but even if he had chosen life, he would have pursued him persistently and tried to kill him. Moreover, if he didn't cling to this, he feels like he'd abandon everything and run away.
He raised his head. An empty coffin with only a fancy appearance came into view.
Eduardo Desert's body was not here. He wanted to order someone to send someone to take care of it, but the prime minister blocked it.
'The Demon King's army may still remain. Even if you send someone, there is a high possibility that it will end in a dog's death...'
'It's His Majesty's body! How can you say such a thing!'
'This is exactly what His Majesty wanted!'
'... What?'
'His Majesty... said that he does not place any value on a body without its soul. He said he didn't want to waste his troops just to save that one piece of meat.'
The phrase "piece of meat" was so extreme that it was painful for those who heard it. Nevertheless, Elpidius had no choice but to keep his mouth shut because the words were so like his uncle.
Really... he was a person who had a knack for bringing out devastated emotions and admiration in those who saw him. He never dreamed that it would be like that even after death.
'...'
He turned around after watching the funeral without a body.
As he walked forward and opened the door, he made eye contact with Princess Aletea, who had been pacing in front of the door as if she had been waiting.
"... Brother."
"..."
The first thing he saw was the red, sunken eyes. Next, tears fell silently.
Elpidius watched this quietly and slowly opened his mouth.
"... I plan to prioritize uncle's revenge."
"..."
"Of course, I will respect my uncle's wishes and maintain the Empire as the basic basis, but for anything beyond that, I plan to place revenge above all else."
In other words, it meant that if it did not affect the 'maintenance of the Empire', revenge will be prioritized over the Empire and its people.
"I know that the person who will become Emperor does not intend to have it. Even so, I know that if such a person becomes Emperor in a chaotic situation, the worst situation will unfold for the people of the Empire. So, if your thoughts are different from mine, I am willing to hand over this position to you..."
"Brother."
Because the position of Emperor was suitable for someone who put the Empire and its people first. Especially at a time when the people of the Empire were trembling with anxiety, a monarch who was rational and wise enough to put aside their desire for revenge will be needed.
Aletea was also a candidate for succession to the throne and had received thorough training for succession, so if that was what she thought, Elpidius was planning to give up the position without hesitation.
However, she stopped talking as if there was nothing more to hear and raised the corners of her mouth that were trembling with sadness.
"You think the same as me."
"..."
"Was there anything more important to us than family in the first place? I want revenge. I will help, too."
...
The conversation with Alethea was over, and Elpidius managed to control his emotions to some extent. Even so, since the Emperor's seat could not be left empty in an urgent situation, he stood in front of the nobles that day. A low, slightly subdued voice filled the space.
"As you know, His Majesty has gone a long way."
Those who saw the red, bloodshot eyes, although not crying, were silent.
"The situation is urgent, so let's skip the coronation ceremony."
"..."
"From now on, I... I will command everything."
While everyone was frozen by the venomous gaze, Aletea moved.
"Glory be to the Present Empire."
Her eyes still red, she slowly lowered her body and kneels.
Seeing this, Prime Minister Ardal also came to his senses and lowered himself. Only then did the nobles begin to kneel in a panic.
At least there was no backlash here. Because everyone knew that the Crown Prince took over everything from the Emperor a long time ago. What they needed now was 'stability'.
"Glory be to thePresent Empire."
***
And an order was given to Prime Minister Ardal.
"Please investigate Remember."