Franz blinked a couple of times. He could no longer recall his mother’s face. If there had been a portrait left, it would have been possible to add memories to memories, but Queen Gilsis had burned them all, so even that was difficult.
But as he listened to the story of his dying father, he vaguely remembered the gentle hands that had always comforted him and the smile that had always made him feel refreshed like a clear early summer day.
“Franz.”
“Yes, go ahead. I will listen.”
“If you are to truly rule this country if you are to become such a King... you must complete the work you set out to do.”
Franz, who had been looking down with a complicated look, frowned. He raised his head and faced his father’s face, and he instinctively felt that his guess was not wrong. King Jedecayer’s complexion was still as dangerous as a dying candle. However, the gaze he was looking at his son was very meaningful and sharp.
What I wanted to do.
Franz could easily understand what the King meant by his words. He could guess it just by the look in his eyes and the changed atmosphere.
“You must not leave alone those who are after you, those who wish to rebel against you. Sometimes... sometimes, even those who oppose you, there are times when you must go together. Or, there may be those who you want to go together with because they are your rivals. However...”
“...”
“But there are some opponents that you absolutely must eliminate. There are also those who, when the opportunity comes, you absolutely must not miss it. Do you understand?”
At that time, why was it?
It was a locket that Franz had seen before. King Jedercayer moved his lips as if to say something, but Franz unconsciously unlocked the locket and opened it.
“Wear it around my neck... around my neck...”
The King spoke in a fading voice. Inside the locket was a coil of red hair, just like Franz's, but much longer. It was the last thing his mother, Emerea, had left to the King before she died.
Franz, who had been unable to take his eyes off the locket's hair for a long time, finally got up. He wrapped the locket's string around the King's neck, which was covered in sweat, and fastened the small clasp tightly. With a click, the tears that had been gathered in the King's eyes flowed down his cheeks. It seemed that he no longer had the strength to open his eyes. The King whispered.
“Franz, without regrets...”
“...”
“Be good to the crown Princess... to Judith.”
There was a loud clanking sound from the King's neck. Franz held his hand and bowed his head as if praying, tears streaming down his face. The King's sick body shook violently as if the whole earth was shaking. The moment his eyes opened wide, a voice like a sigh leaked out like a ghost.
“Emerea...”
As if someone who had been submerged had risen to the surface, a long, thin breath like a whistle followed, trailing behind. And then everything stopped. The pathological tremors, the dangerous coughing, even the breathing and tears.
Franz's shoulders shook violently as he lowered his head. The large tears that fell down silently soaked into the carpet. His body moved slightly, and his forehead touched the edge of the bed. All the curtains in the room were drawn, but the blinds were closed to block out the wind, so no light could be seen.
After a long time, Franz slowly got up from his seat. He leaned down and kissed the stiff King’s cheek, then carefully closed his eyes which were still slightly open. The locket that the King had wanted to wear around his neck was tucked into his shirt so that it was out of sight.
The news from Magnus Palace spread quietly and quickly throughout the palace. Neos of Nation Palace suppressed his sorrow and spoke to Judith as calmly as possible. As tears fell from her eyes, Judith's body swayed as if she was about to collapse.
“Your Highness!”
Cheraan, who burst into tears, threw herself on Judith and supported her. However, Judith had difficulty getting up, perhaps because her legs had lost their strength.
“His Majesty...”
“Your Highness, calm down. Please stay calm for the sake of the baby in your stomach.”
“His Majesty has passed away. Cheraan... His Majesty.”
Judith continued to mutter to herself, seemingly unable to hear Cheraan's voice. Judith buried her face in her palms. Her hair, which had fallen down, trembled violently with the sound of her sobs.
In the afternoon, the grayish sky seemed to gather even darker and finally began to snow. People walking in the square, merchants who had set up stalls in the shopping district, and children running around the fountain in cotton coats stopped in their tracks as they hurried back home.
As the snow began to fall, the north wind began to blow fiercely, and nine bells rang out. It was the bell that announced the death of Richard Jedercayer.
Krald stood on the ramparts, looking down at the dry plains. On either side of the plains, which curved gently to the north, were the beginnings of a forested mountain range.
Visible from the Grand Castle in only one direction, it was the beginning and end of the fastest route from the northern part of the kingdom to the southern part. Not long ago, it was also the place where countless corpses of Tien soldiers were strewn.
Because it was winter, the grass did not grow, so the ground was exposed here and there. In some places, it looked like blood was still pooling and dark and sunken in. However, it was just an illusion, and when he turned around and looked again, he saw only the branches of the trees were densely intertwined, casting a shadow.
But the deep pool of blood was still vivid in Krald’s eyes. He tried to imagine countless faces overlapping the blood spilled by others. Franz’s face, Judith’s face, and his father’s face. In addition, the faces of those he hated or hated him came to mind one after another, piling up one by one.
Whenever he imagined the heads of those he hated rolling across this plain, a creepy smile appeared on Krald's lips. Whenever he heard that King Jedecayer's life was fading away like an ember before a storm, he clenched his fists and clenched his teeth. And he cried in his heart.
"Ugh, that thin sound was eerily loud," said Krald.
“You’re not hiding it even though you know its whereabouts, are you?”
“Your Highness, how could that be! Absolutely not. I too was perplexed when I heard the news that the Duke had suddenly disappeared...”
“That’s just your words. What do I have as a basis for believing you? Didn’t you and your father and your wretched sons rub hands with the Duke of Laetian and live in luxury until today? Aren’t you helping him plot his evil deeds in return for his small favor?”
“No, Your Highness. Please believe me. I have sworn allegiance to You. I am ready to follow whatever orders You give me!”
The man knelt on the cold stone floor and begged in thought. As Krald had said, his family had enjoyed much by borrowing the power of the Duke Laetian. However, they had no idea about the Duke’s whereabouts. Not only the man but also the others who had been staying in the Grand Duchy, counting the days until the Laetian Duke would strike Krald.
When the Duke went missing, they were in for a surprise. The private soldiers they had brought with them were there to join the Duke of Laetian's cause, not to help Krald in his rebellion.
Some had no choice but to offer their private soldiers to Krald because of Queen Gilsis's orders, but they were a very small number. However, before Krald was eliminated, the Duke strangely disappeared from sight.
But as he listened to the story of his dying father, he vaguely remembered the gentle hands that had always comforted him and the smile that had always made him feel refreshed like a clear early summer day.
“Franz.”
“Yes, go ahead. I will listen.”
“If you are to truly rule this country if you are to become such a King... you must complete the work you set out to do.”
Franz, who had been looking down with a complicated look, frowned. He raised his head and faced his father’s face, and he instinctively felt that his guess was not wrong. King Jedecayer’s complexion was still as dangerous as a dying candle. However, the gaze he was looking at his son was very meaningful and sharp.
What I wanted to do.
Franz could easily understand what the King meant by his words. He could guess it just by the look in his eyes and the changed atmosphere.
“You must not leave alone those who are after you, those who wish to rebel against you. Sometimes... sometimes, even those who oppose you, there are times when you must go together. Or, there may be those who you want to go together with because they are your rivals. However...”
“...”
“But there are some opponents that you absolutely must eliminate. There are also those who, when the opportunity comes, you absolutely must not miss it. Do you understand?”
At that time, why was it?
Franz thought for a moment that the King's face, frowning as if in pain, looked very similar to Krald's. It was strange since he had never seen his father's face in Krald's face since he was a child and had grown up.
Franz's mind could not help but become more complicated when he saw his half-brother's face in his sick father's face. Of course, he was not going to forgive Krald or Queen Gilsis. He understood that they were people who had to be purged, not only for his own sake, but also for Judith's sake, for the sake of the unborn child, and further, for the sake of the royal family and Rotair.
But they were, privately, the King's wife and son. Franz could not fathom the feelings of his father, who was telling his other son that his wife and son must be killed. It was fearful to even try to fathom them.
King Jedecayer seemed to understand Franz’s feelings as well and paused for a moment. Perhaps he did not have the strength to continue speaking, but his breathing was more peaceful than before.
“You must do it, even if it means deceiving yourself. The Crown Prince... will you understand what I am saying?”
“...Yes, Father.”
“Then... make me a promise.”
The King spoke quietly, and Franz carefully placed his forehead on the back of his hand as a sign of his promise. The two remained silent. After some time, and after a few coughs, the King called Franz again.
“Hey, put your hand under the pillow.”
The sharp, rasping breath continued. Franz hurriedly put his hand under the pillow. There seemed to be nothing there, but as he stretched his arm a little deeper, something hard caught his fingertips. Franz carefully cupped the object with his palm and pulled his hand out to check the object’s identity.
“Father, this is...”
Franz's mind could not help but become more complicated when he saw his half-brother's face in his sick father's face. Of course, he was not going to forgive Krald or Queen Gilsis. He understood that they were people who had to be purged, not only for his own sake, but also for Judith's sake, for the sake of the unborn child, and further, for the sake of the royal family and Rotair.
But they were, privately, the King's wife and son. Franz could not fathom the feelings of his father, who was telling his other son that his wife and son must be killed. It was fearful to even try to fathom them.
King Jedecayer seemed to understand Franz’s feelings as well and paused for a moment. Perhaps he did not have the strength to continue speaking, but his breathing was more peaceful than before.
“You must do it, even if it means deceiving yourself. The Crown Prince... will you understand what I am saying?”
“...Yes, Father.”
“Then... make me a promise.”
The King spoke quietly, and Franz carefully placed his forehead on the back of his hand as a sign of his promise. The two remained silent. After some time, and after a few coughs, the King called Franz again.
“Hey, put your hand under the pillow.”
The sharp, rasping breath continued. Franz hurriedly put his hand under the pillow. There seemed to be nothing there, but as he stretched his arm a little deeper, something hard caught his fingertips. Franz carefully cupped the object with his palm and pulled his hand out to check the object’s identity.
“Father, this is...”
It was a locket that Franz had seen before. King Jedercayer moved his lips as if to say something, but Franz unconsciously unlocked the locket and opened it.
“Wear it around my neck... around my neck...”
The King spoke in a fading voice. Inside the locket was a coil of red hair, just like Franz's, but much longer. It was the last thing his mother, Emerea, had left to the King before she died.
Franz, who had been unable to take his eyes off the locket's hair for a long time, finally got up. He wrapped the locket's string around the King's neck, which was covered in sweat, and fastened the small clasp tightly. With a click, the tears that had been gathered in the King's eyes flowed down his cheeks. It seemed that he no longer had the strength to open his eyes. The King whispered.
“Franz, without regrets...”
“...”
“Be good to the crown Princess... to Judith.”
There was a loud clanking sound from the King's neck. Franz held his hand and bowed his head as if praying, tears streaming down his face. The King's sick body shook violently as if the whole earth was shaking. The moment his eyes opened wide, a voice like a sigh leaked out like a ghost.
“Emerea...”
As if someone who had been submerged had risen to the surface, a long, thin breath like a whistle followed, trailing behind. And then everything stopped. The pathological tremors, the dangerous coughing, even the breathing and tears.
Franz's shoulders shook violently as he lowered his head. The large tears that fell down silently soaked into the carpet. His body moved slightly, and his forehead touched the edge of the bed. All the curtains in the room were drawn, but the blinds were closed to block out the wind, so no light could be seen.
After a long time, Franz slowly got up from his seat. He leaned down and kissed the stiff King’s cheek, then carefully closed his eyes which were still slightly open. The locket that the King had wanted to wear around his neck was tucked into his shirt so that it was out of sight.
The news from Magnus Palace spread quietly and quickly throughout the palace. Neos of Nation Palace suppressed his sorrow and spoke to Judith as calmly as possible. As tears fell from her eyes, Judith's body swayed as if she was about to collapse.
“Your Highness!”
Cheraan, who burst into tears, threw herself on Judith and supported her. However, Judith had difficulty getting up, perhaps because her legs had lost their strength.
“His Majesty...”
“Your Highness, calm down. Please stay calm for the sake of the baby in your stomach.”
“His Majesty has passed away. Cheraan... His Majesty.”
Judith continued to mutter to herself, seemingly unable to hear Cheraan's voice. Judith buried her face in her palms. Her hair, which had fallen down, trembled violently with the sound of her sobs.
In the afternoon, the grayish sky seemed to gather even darker and finally began to snow. People walking in the square, merchants who had set up stalls in the shopping district, and children running around the fountain in cotton coats stopped in their tracks as they hurried back home.
As the snow began to fall, the north wind began to blow fiercely, and nine bells rang out. It was the bell that announced the death of Richard Jedercayer.
***
Krald stood on the ramparts, looking down at the dry plains. On either side of the plains, which curved gently to the north, were the beginnings of a forested mountain range.
Visible from the Grand Castle in only one direction, it was the beginning and end of the fastest route from the northern part of the kingdom to the southern part. Not long ago, it was also the place where countless corpses of Tien soldiers were strewn.
Because it was winter, the grass did not grow, so the ground was exposed here and there. In some places, it looked like blood was still pooling and dark and sunken in. However, it was just an illusion, and when he turned around and looked again, he saw only the branches of the trees were densely intertwined, casting a shadow.
But the deep pool of blood was still vivid in Krald’s eyes. He tried to imagine countless faces overlapping the blood spilled by others. Franz’s face, Judith’s face, and his father’s face. In addition, the faces of those he hated or hated him came to mind one after another, piling up one by one.
Whenever he imagined the heads of those he hated rolling across this plain, a creepy smile appeared on Krald's lips. Whenever he heard that King Jedecayer's life was fading away like an ember before a storm, he clenched his fists and clenched his teeth. And he cried in his heart.
Hurry, hurry, die. Hurry!
His fists, veined in blue, trembled as he touched the railing of the wall. At that moment, a man came up the stairs leading to the inner castle.
“Your Highness.”
“Didn’t I tell you to call me that?”
The man apologized with a bewildered expression at the cold response that came immediately. Krald suppressed the urge to kick the man down the stairs and opened his bloodshot eyes.
“Have you found the whereabouts of the Duke of Lightian?”
“...I’m sorry, Your Highness. I couldn’t find it.”
His fists, veined in blue, trembled as he touched the railing of the wall. At that moment, a man came up the stairs leading to the inner castle.
“Your Highness.”
“Didn’t I tell you to call me that?”
The man apologized with a bewildered expression at the cold response that came immediately. Krald suppressed the urge to kick the man down the stairs and opened his bloodshot eyes.
“Have you found the whereabouts of the Duke of Lightian?”
“...I’m sorry, Your Highness. I couldn’t find it.”
"Ugh, that thin sound was eerily loud," said Krald.
“You’re not hiding it even though you know its whereabouts, are you?”
“Your Highness, how could that be! Absolutely not. I too was perplexed when I heard the news that the Duke had suddenly disappeared...”
“That’s just your words. What do I have as a basis for believing you? Didn’t you and your father and your wretched sons rub hands with the Duke of Laetian and live in luxury until today? Aren’t you helping him plot his evil deeds in return for his small favor?”
“No, Your Highness. Please believe me. I have sworn allegiance to You. I am ready to follow whatever orders You give me!”
The man knelt on the cold stone floor and begged in thought. As Krald had said, his family had enjoyed much by borrowing the power of the Duke Laetian. However, they had no idea about the Duke’s whereabouts. Not only the man but also the others who had been staying in the Grand Duchy, counting the days until the Laetian Duke would strike Krald.
When the Duke went missing, they were in for a surprise. The private soldiers they had brought with them were there to join the Duke of Laetian's cause, not to help Krald in his rebellion.
Some had no choice but to offer their private soldiers to Krald because of Queen Gilsis's orders, but they were a very small number. However, before Krald was eliminated, the Duke strangely disappeared from sight.
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