The Emperor opened his mouth, treating the strange-looking creature as if it were a pet.
"You came at a good time. I was already bored and needed something to entertain me."
Then the monster began to growl fiercely and show its sharp teeth towards Jeremiah. It looked like it would rush towards Jeremiah at any moment.
Thump thump.
Jeremiah entered the main hall with his face unchanged even after seeing the monster. And then he asked in a strange voice.
"Where is the dragon's heart?"
The Emperor sneered as if his question was ridiculous, and pointed behind him with the tip of his chin. On a small altar was a dark, red stone containing the heart of a dragon. Jeremiah's eyes sparkled as he confirmed it. The Emperor's eyebrows furrowed at his indifferent attitude as if the monsters and guards next to him were no threat at all.
"How can you be so confident when you come here alone?"
"...!"
"Do you really think you can survive here with that? You arrogant bastard."
The Emperor's face was distorted. Those with the name Colesberg were always like that. They had been unlucky as ever. The attitude of the Grand Duke ignoring the Imperial Family, the audacity of pretending not to care about anything but his own business while taking all the support of the people of the Empire, the appearance of being arrogant and proud of the reputation of being the master of the North and the shield of the Empire. It was all so wrong.
'And yet, those arrogant brats who pretend to be clean and noble as if they've never been touched by a speck of dust.
The Grand Duke of Colesberg had always been a thorn in the side of the Emperor.
'They pretend not to, but they probably think they are superior to the royal family!'
The Emperor clenched his teeth. He was just like that guy, acting like a shield that would not crumble even in the face of a sharp threat. The Emperor's eyes narrowed as if he was thinking of someone.
"You're just like your father."
"...!"
Jeremiah's forehead veins rose at the sudden mention of his father. Was the Emperor qualified to bring up his father's story?
The Marquis planned and executed the carriage accident that killed his parents, but the Emperor gave the Marquis orders and condoned it behind the scenes. That was why the suspicious carriage accident that killed the Grand Duke and his wife was covered up without a proper investigation. Jeremiah already knew that the Emperor had a hand in the deaths of his parents.
'Why are you mentioning my father on such a topic?'
Jeremiah opened his eyes fiercely.
"Don't put your dirty mouth around my father. You don't deserve it."
He said in a low, warning voice, chewing on it. Then.
"Ahahahahahahahahahaha!!"
The Emperor suddenly burst into hearty laughter. Then as if suddenly cut off, his expression hardened and he spoke.
"How dare you, a mere mortal, talk about qualifications in front of me, the current Emperor?"
The Emperor raised one corner of his mouth and grinned.
"You were punished for being so reckless and ignorant of the heights of the sky."
The Emperor clicked his tongue, comparing the carriage accident that killed the previous Grand Duke and his wife to punishment. Jeremiah's eyes lit up at that sight. How hard it had been for him to lose his parents. He had to become the sole head of the Grand Duke's household at a young age and take responsibility for his family and vassals. How heavy and burdensome that position had been. How difficult and painful it had been.
In addition to the heavy weight of responsibility that had weighed heavily on his shoulders, the Emperor's oppression that had been oppressing the North and persecuting him had been crushing him at every moment and had even suffocated him. And now, how dare he say such things?
"I know you planned it. It's not the only evil you've done so far."
"Don't take your anger out on the wrong people. Have you forgotten? The one who arranged the carriage accident that killed your parents was the Marquis of Milliner."
The Emperor shamelessly evaded the charge.
"You are deceiving me. Weren't you the one who instigated the Marquis from behind and gave orders?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. If you want to hold someone accountable, you should hold the person who committed the wrongdoing responsible. What can you do when the Marquis is already dead?"
The Emperor, who had been pretending to express regret, continued speaking as if he had just remembered something.
"Ah, if you want to hold her responsible for your parents' deaths, then you should ask that woman, the daughter of the Marquis of Millainer."
"...!"
When Karina's story came up, Jeremiah let out a fearsome aura as if he couldn't bear it any longer. The man who had used her innocent self and driven her to despair was once again mentioning Karina, and so the maddening anger inside him burst out as if it were going to explode. The Emperor's face distorted without mercy at the sight of him revealing an undeniable sense of intimidation. It seemed as if he was saying that he was the real master of the empire. The Emperor's old inferiority complex stirred.
"I hate you so much I could die."
The Emperor murmured bitterly. The Grand Duchy of Colesberg was a branch of the imperial family. To be more precise, Jeremiah's great-grandfather was the eldest son and Crown Prince who would inherit the throne. However, he had no great desire for the throne, so he gave it to his second brother and left the palace. Along with the title of Grand Duke, he received the new surname of Colesberg. That was the beginning of the creation of the Grand Duchy of Colesberg. From then on, those who were dissatisfied with the imperial family often talked about Colesberg and dared to mention the Emperor's lack of legitimacy. They emphasized that the descendants of the first Emperor who received the blessing of the dragon inherited more power as they were the legitimate descendants, and they fearlessly talked about the possibility of the Grand Duchy of Colesberg succeeding to the throne.
"I can't tell you how much I wanted to kill you every time you damn nobles would question my legitimacy. If I kill everything with the name Colesberg in it, those who say such things will be left speechless."
The Emperor clenched his fist. That was why he had been trained so fiercely and arduously since his earliest childhood to become a person fit for a monarch. How much effort had he put into becoming a perfect monarch without a single flaw?
"It would have been better if your mother had only given birth to women and the family line had been cut off."
The Emperor was also annoyed by the fact that Colesberg stood tall as the northern hegemon, protecting the Empire and enjoying the trust and admiration of the people of the Empire. No. Just everything.
"The Grand Duke of Colesberg was a thorn in the eye by its very existence."
So, while he was on the throne, he wanted to show the people of the empire that the Grand Duke of the Colesberg family would bow down and submit to the imperial family. He wanted to let the world know that the Grand Duke of Colesberg they were looking for was just a vassal who bowed and obeyed the Emperors. I am the true master of the empire!
"I, Edmir Havelion, am the Emperor of this Empire. I will make you realize how great I am. My desire for immortality and eternal life is all for the Empire. I will make sure that no one will ever look down on the Empire from this position for the rest of my life! Everyone will look up to me!"
Jeremiah frowned as he watched the Emperor talking nonsense while lost in his own delusions.
"You are blinded by your lust for power."
His father had never coveted the throne. Jeremiah was no different. He had never desired the throne or the right to succeed. All he wanted was to live his life safely and happily with his people. That was why he could not understand the Emperor. And Immortality and eternal life.
"Eternal life without a loved one is nothing more than a meaningless shell. Rather, it is like a never-ending hell."
The Emperor was unaware of this fact.
"Nonsense! It's just that I'm doing well."
"..."
Even though Jeremiah told him, the Emperor didn't listen or believe Jeremiah.
"...How foolish."
"You are the fool! If I, the Emperor of the Empire, gain eternal life, the Empire will forever remain the heir to the mighty continent!"
"You go against the natural order and dream of impossible illusions."
Jeremiah straightened the blade of his sword as if he was ready to end it now. He then stared at the Emperor with eyes as cold as ice.
"You are the cause of all misfortune. So I will deal with you with my own hands."
The Emperor became enraged and scolded him.
"You're going to keep bothering me until the end. You son of a bitch!"
And then he ended up saying something he shouldn't have said in front of Jeremiah.
"As expected. That woman didn't do her job properly, so this is the result. I should have killed her a long time ago and replaced her with something else."
"...!"
Jeremiah's eyes turned as cold as frost as he realized that the person the Emperor was talking about was Karina. On the way to the palace. Karina was riding in a carriage that she had prepared and hidden in advance and was heading to the capital. Her anxiety was indescribable.
'Is Jeremiah okay?'
'What if I go to the capital and miss Jeremiah?"
'What if I get hurt badly like last time?'
She had all kinds of worries.
"Get out of the way!"
Outside the carriage, David was leading the way. Thanks to the Crown Prince's presence, the carriage carrying Karina and Lucia was able to head straight to the capital without stopping. In addition, David had quite many private soldiers with him, so he was able to safely protect the carriage from the monsters that suddenly rushed in, and they were able to reach the vicinity of the capital without much hindrance.
However, that was only until they passed the capital gate. The soldiers guarding the capital gate were a little strange. Their eyes were cloudy and unfocused, and only a red light was shining. They didn't even blink at the sight of the Crown Prince, David, and they were emitting murderous intent. They all drew their swords as soon as they saw their carriage as if they were planning to kill anyone approaching the capital gate.
"They seem like soldiers who have been brainwashed by black magic."
David quickly figured out the situation and told Karina and Lucia.
"I'll go!"
Lucia reached out the window and used her holy power to drive away the tainted magic power that was in the soldiers. But...
"Euuuuuuuu."
Even though the black magic was removed and purified, the soldiers still did not come to their senses. In the meantime, a wedge!
One of the soldiers raised his sword and swung it at the carriage...
"...!"
Karina swallowed in surprise. At that moment.
Chae-Ang!
David quickly drew his sword and blocked it.
"It seems like we need to destroy the brainwashing magic itself. Or at least deal with the caster. It seems like purifying it with divine power alone won't do."
"Ah... This can't be happening."
Lucia slumped her shoulders, unable to hide her disappointment.
"So what do we do now?"
Karina bit her lower lip.
"I'll take care of this, so you go first."
David blocked the soldier who was charging at him with his sword. He then ordered a few of his privates to guard the carriage and shouted.
"Come to the palace!"
'I would like to go with you, but.'
Only those with magical power can break the spell. If he breaks the brainwashing spell, these many soldiers won't chase him to the palace. To do that, he had to stay behind, defeat the soldiers, and destroy the spell on them.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince! I will go first and wait for you!"
Karina shouted out of the carriage window.
David nodded, saying he would follow immediately.
"Young lady, never leave the Saintess's side."
David drew his sword, stopped the soldiers who were charging at him, and gave Karina a firm order.
"Yes! I will!"
The sound of sharp blades clashing behind them continued, but the carriage did not stop. With David's help, Karina and Lucia were barely able to pass through the capital city gate.
'I hope you stay safe until I get there.'
David looked worriedly at the back of the moving carriage.
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