TPIHMLD - Chapter 72 < Those Who Steal, Those Who Are Stolen >




“What kind of lightning is this!”

There was a commotion in the imperial palace.

The people in the imperial palace were relieved that with Illeon becoming Emperor, no one would be murdered anymore.

However, two ministers who followed Illeon were found dead in the imperial palace garden at the same time on the same day.

At this, all the ministers trembled with fear.

Now that the two leaders are dead, it might be their turn next.

“Who suddenly did something crazy like this?”

The knight who had been looking at the body for a while shook his head and said.

“It seems somewhat unreasonable to call it a murder.”

At the knight's words, the ministers could not hide their anger and shouted.

“Is that possible? Two fine people died until yesterday, but they weren’t murdered?”

“One was even the winner of a hunting contest! If you have a mouth, speak! There’s no way someone like that could die by his own hand, right?”

“The autopsy of the body is completely nonsense! Bring in His Excellency Duke Calypso immediately!”

The knight answered, placing one hand on his forehead as if he were troubled.

“There are no traces of stabbing or drinking poison. There is not a single wound on the body, so how can this be considered murder?”

“What, that makes sense! Her Majesty the Empress and Her Highness the Crown Prince didn’t go that way either! There must be a vicious murderer roaming around the imperial palace!”

The ministers shouted in exasperated voices.

“What’s the fuss?”

When a soft voice was heard, the ministers all stopped talking.

Unlike his usual relaxed face, Illeon, with a look on his face from fatigue, was walking slowly accompanied by an aide.

“See the dazzling sun.”

The ministers who greeted him clung to Illeon as if he were a lifeline.

“Your Majesty, the Marquis, and the Count, who was fine until yesterday, were murdered at the same time! What should I do about this?”

Illeon had received the report from his aide first, so he was not very surprised.

However, he knowingly came out late on purpose.

For Illeon, what was important now was not just the deaths of ministers.

There was only one person who would do something like this anyway.

'Dietrich.'

Dietrich probably knew what he was going to do, so he issued another warning.

Considering that he killed without even using a sword, he must be truly insanely talented.

Isn't he imitating Arthur's killing method?

'What on earth is he doing?'

Illeon frowned as if displeased.

The ministers who saw the inside of the wall taking on an ice-cold light felt a chill running down their spines.

“Is there anything that came out of the body?”

Illeon blurted out something to the knight.

“Yes, there is nothing inside.”

"Hmm."

Illeon pressed his tired eyes. Leisure has been rapidly disappearing recently.

It was a waste to even devote his time to such a trivial death.

This guy and that guy were all so incompetent that he was annoyed.

'Let's take care of this on our own.'

Illeon, who felt the need to change his ministers, said something he had no intention of saying.

“Please bury the bodies in a good place. The status of the imperial palace ministers cannot be lowered any further.”

"All right, Your Majesty."

The knight bent down deeply and began to take care of the body.

“...The dead don't speak. Ministers, please return to your respective seats. I will let you know as soon as the work is completed.”

"Your Majesty! Thank you We will trust only Your Majesty.”

The ministers expressed their gratitude again and left.

The distance between Illeon's eyebrows narrowed as he looked at the backs of the ministers.

If he had been a piece of trash like the dead Emperor before, who showed off his appearance and did nothing as he should, the ministers would not have asked him to do something like this.

After seeing thr ministers out of sight, Leon returned to his palace.

Illeon said to his aide.

“Fill the ministers with useful people.”

Just one word was enough to change the ministers.

“And, bring Duke Calypso to me immediately.”

***

The Emperor's throne room.

Illeon was leaning forward on a golden chair on the platform. Countless shadows flickered behind him.

The identity of the shadows was that they were subordinates who always assisted Illeon.

Soon, Dietrich, dressed in black armor, entered the throne room.

Illeon didn't like his hair as black as ebony. More than anything, what Illeon didn't like was Dietrich's red eyes.

Eyes that cannot tell what is inside. Dry eyes that don't seem to be interested in anything.

Compared to other people who could clearly see inside, it was impossible to read what that person was thinking.

That's why giving him the commission was the cause of the problem.

'Damn curiosity.'

Interest in pieces that were not even on the chessboard, creeping up.

The interest that started out of curiosity was now slowly constricting his neck.

If he went back to the past, he would never have been given the Duke title to Dietrich.

Even though it was only a facade, and even though he did not have a single fiefdom, Dietrich came to be called a Duke because of the dukedom he gave him.

Illeon looked at Dietrich below the platform.

“Why did you do that?”

Illeon asked Dietrich that question bluntly.

“What are you talking about?”

Illeon's judgment was distorted by Dietrich's rebuttal.

“Does the Duke think I’m a fool?”

“I have no idea what Your Majesty is talking about.”

Illeon rested his chin on his armrest and smiled at the corner of his mouth.

“If you copied Arthur’s actions exactly, did you think I wouldn’t know that you did it?”

Illeon jumped up from his seat.

“I will revoke your commission as of today. I gave it to you, so you won’t have any complaints if you take it now.”

“...Are you nervous?”

Dietrich raised his head. For a moment, Illeon was speechless.

It wasn't because of Dietrich's words that stopped him. This was because his red eyes, which were always dry, contained emotions that had never been seen before.

Peace, peace.

Snow is like a gentle wave without a breath of wind blowing.

Before he knew it, Dietrich had something that Illeon had wanted all his life but could not get.

A tranquility that no one can break.

It was something that Illeon, a believer in prophecy, would never have in his life, something he longed for but would never be able to obtain.

“Is my existence now a threat to Your Majesty?”

Dietrich's words hit the nail on the head.

“Even if something like today didn’t happen, weren’t you planning on stripping me of my Dukedom soon?”

In contrast to Dietrich's calm face, Illeon's face became miserably distorted.

“In addition to being stripped of your dukedom for insulting me, should I also strip you of your position as leader of the Imperial Knights?”

Dietrich's expression did not change even in response to Illeon's series of remarks.

“What are you so afraid of, Your Majesty?"

Those who steal and those who are stolen.

Of the two, the one who was stolen was afraid, and the one who was taken away was peaceful.

As Dietrich said, Illeon was afraid.

That fear was on a different level from normal fear.

Illeon knew where the fear came from.

“What on earth are you seeing through me?”

Eyes as bright as blood, as if looking down at oneself from above.

When he looks at those eyes, he is reminded of the prophecy given to the first Duke Gregrick.

In the pitch-black darkness, a devil with red eyes appears. In front of him, no one escaped death, no matter how long his life was. It will cover its eyes, block its ears, devour everything, and bring about destruction. All of the devil's bodily fluids heal the dying and are a panacea.

So far, no one has interpreted the prophecy.

In fact, there were quite a few people with red eyes even before Dietrich, but they had no abilities.

Since all prophecies are made up of metaphors, Illeon was convinced that the red eyes in the prophecy did not symbolize someone with real red eyes.

But.

Only now did Illeon realize that the prophecy had come true.

"You...”

The inside of Illeon's wall flashed fiercely.

“How dare you?”

Dietrich fooled everyone. He didn't notice anyone. Even the dead Emperor probably died without knowing that Dietrich had the power to heal.

He was not a pawn on Illeon's chessboard.

Dietrich was on top of Illeon's head from the beginning.

That made Illeon, who had always been cool-headed, completely lose his senses.

It was a long 10 years. The years when Dietrich lived as the Emperor's mad dog and fell flat on the ground to destroy Abelon.

Illeon knew that Dietrich was pretending to be the emperor's mad dog, but only now did he realize that it was a stage move to deceive Illeon himself.

“Did you put me on the throne on purpose?”

Dietrich did not deny Illeon's words.

“After the Crown Prince died, was the reason you didn’t start a rebellion because you wanted to keep me in the imperial palace? Was it your plan to prevent me from going down to the territory?”

Illeon laughed.

His deep sense of defeat seemed to wash over him like a tidal wave.

He can't believe he was swayed by a guy like that.

Illeon gave orders to his subordinates standing behind him with bloodshot eyes.

“Tie up that guy right now.”


Previous                Next


Support Novellate!

        Buy Me A Coffee

Comments