TYNV - Chapter 185

(185) Tell the sinner to come in.

The Emperor could not believe the sight unfolding before his eyes.

“Cyrus, what on earth have you done!”

The knights guarding the Emperor's back drew their swords, but Cyrus held the severed head and stared only at the Emperor.

“Your Majesty. Although Count Gio committed the sin of failing to properly restrain his son, far from repenting for his sin, he used his vulgar tongue to seduce Royal Consort Aelra and convey his wicked schemes to Your Majesty. I considered cutting off his tongue, but thinking of his head instead, I have brought him this severed head; are you reprimanding me?”

“What on earth... Cyrus, seriously, why are you acting like this? Are you planning a rebellion?”

"It is truly perplexing and lamentable that you declare those who pledge loyalty to Your Majesty to be traitors, yet embrace those who harbor wicked intentions toward Your Majesty."

The Emperor squeezed his eyes shut.

He noticed that Cyrus had feelings for Ariana, but he didn't know he was this crazy. Cyrus is a smart guy, so he didn't think he'd lose his reason just because he was smitten with a woman.

He wanted to order Cyrus to be captured immediately, but he could not afford to lose him at a time when he had to deal with the Eastern Lord.

The Emperor raised his hand and ordered the knights to lower their swords, then spoke calmly to Cyrus.

“Royal Consort Aelra had a deep connection with Count Gio. She cherished his son as if he were her own. The Royal Consort Aelra merely helped Count Gio with his revenge a little because she has a soft heart, so please do not be so angry. She did not do anything terrible to you, did she?”

"Are you saying that you issued an imperial decree for the Princess to marry the Fifth Prince, even though you knew it was revenge?"

“Is there a problem? On the contrary, isn't this a good thing for the Princess? She will become a member of the royal family and my person, and she will enjoy glory for the rest of her life.”

"Ha!"

Cyrus let out a hollow laugh.

“You said she is Your Majesty’s person. Is that why you imprisoned the Princess in the dungeon without even hearing her plea?”

“Do you think I did this because I wanted to! The East harmed the Imperial Grandson! They tried to kill the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess. On top of that, they even sent poisonous herbs to the Bronte family to harm people. Are you telling me to just stand by and watch this happen simply because they are my people? If so, are all my people supposed to go around committing crimes?”

“You must think, Your Majesty. You should not believe just what you hear, nor see only what you want to see; you must think and see for yourself. Does this situation make sense? What could the Easr possibly gain by harming the Crown Prince and his wife?”

“Why isn’t it here!”

The Emperor raised his voice.

“If something happens to the Crown Prince, everyone will fight for the throne. If a struggle for the imperial succession breaks out, the entire empire could be shaken.”

“So you are saying that the Eastern Lord, who has been living peacefully until now, has suddenly gone mad and is trying to bring down the Empire? Do you really think so?”

“Maybe he's been crouching for this very moment!”

“Then let me ask one more thing. Why is the House of Bronte getting involved in this matter? Why would the Eastern Lord have sent poisonous herbs all the way to the House of Bronte?”

“Are you really asking because you don’t know? The Princess must have sought revenge for what she went through in her childhood.”

“You mean to say that they are concerned about the Bronte family when they are trying to poison the Crown Prince and Crown Princess? Do you really think so?”

"Right! I can't understand why you don't know that."

Cyrus felt like he was talking to a wall.

He knew that the Emperor was as suspicious as he was timid. He also knew that he had become that way because of his brothers, who were vying for his position when he was the Crown Prince.

So Cyrus tried hard to understand.

The previous Northern Lord and his wife had strived to place this very man on the throne, so he could not sever his parents' dying wish at his own level. That is why he has endured. He is still enduring it now.

“Your Majesty. Do you remember? You said you would grant me one wish.”

“If you intend to ask me to withdraw the Imperial Order, I cannot grant it. You know that the Imperial Order is more precious than your wish, don’t you?”

“Please, at least give Princess of the East and Eastern Little Lord a chance to explain themselves. This is my wish.”

The Emperor twisted his lips upward.

“The Lord of the East has indeed raised his daughter well. Now that he has used her to win your heart, what is there to fear?”

The Emperor believed that even Cyrus's love for Ariana was a ploy by the Eastern Lord to seize the Empire.

Cyrus thought for a moment.

'Should I just kill him?'

However, the Empire had several allies besides the Commander. Cyrus could not face them all alone.

“Your Majesty, weren’t you feeling sorry for the Eastern Lord?”

“That’s true. But if I had known he would harm my child, I wouldn’t have harbored such thoughts!”

"Didn't you feel sorry toward my parents as well?"

“...”

“Please grant my wish, Your Majesty. I want Eastern Little Lord and Princess of the East to have the opportunity to defend themselves. Right now.”

The Emperor glared intently at Cyrus.

“This is the last time, Cyrus. This must be the last time you use your parents’ deaths as an excuse to climb all the way to the top of my head!”

"All right."

"Also, you must not be present when they are defending themselves."

“However, there must be witnesses present. In accordance with custom, I request that the ministers and chancellors of each department, high nobles, and cardinals testify to the presence. Also.”

Cyrus met the Emperor's eyes.

"I hope you will grant permission without refusal when the East side requests a witness."

***

Cyrus left, leaving Count Gio's head behind.

The Emperor was lost in thought as he looked at Count Gio's head rolling on the floor, then called his aide.

"Has there still been no reply from the Western Lord?"

“Yes, Your Majesty. I sent a brief telegram, but there has been no reply yet. Perhaps they forgot to send a reply in their haste to depart."

"Yes..."

As soon as the poisonous herb was discovered in the East's box, the Emperor sent a telegram to the Western Lord, ordering him to come to the Empire immediately.

Western Lord always offered good advice to the Emperor. Since the West was not wealthy due to its weak military power and barren land, the Emperor desperately needed the Empire's protection, so he trusted the Western Lord the most.

But why?

Both the Northern and Eastern lords were wary of the Western lords.

Even if one could understand the Eastern Lord, given that he had had his daughter taken away, the Northern Lord's attitude was incomprehensible. The Northern Lord had consistently suspected that the Western Lord had exerted influence in past wars.

But what would the Western Lord gain by doing that?

The war at that time shook the Northern Territory and swayed the Eastern Territory, but the Western Lord did nothing to the Northern and Eastern Territories. He did not take advantage of the situation to challenge the Empire either.

In the Emperor's eyes, the Western Lord was a man without greed.

The Emperor approached the window and gazed at the low hill stretching behind the palace. Beyond that hill lay a cage for huge beasts.

There were countless wild beasts there to guard the imperial palace. Also, elephants were added not long ago.

"If the Northern feudal lords happen to plot a rebellion, it would be wise to block their path first with tamed beasts and elephants."

Western Lord said this while advising him to form ties with a kingdom that tames wild beasts.

"Beasts and elephants are fearless, so they will move regardless of ice magic. Even the Northern Lord does not possess infinite strength, so striking their flanks when they are exhausted from fighting the beasts will minimize our casualties."

Even back then, he did not heed the words of the Western Lord. He merely became interested in wild beasts and brought them and their trainers into the Empire.

But seeing Cyrus today, the Emperor thinks the time might come when they have to use those beasts.

***

Cyrus, walking briskly, saw Princess Charlotte approaching from the opposite direction but tried to ignore her and walk past.

"Northern lord.

However, she stood in front of Cyrus.

“I am in a very bad mood right now, so it would be best if you stepped back, Princess.”

Even without Cyrus saying it, Charlotte was already feeling the urge to run away. A chilling cold was spreading from her toes up her calves.

However, Charlotte did not run away.

“I will apologize on behalf of the Emperor regarding the Princess of the East. I tried to prevent it, but His Majesty remained unwavering...”

“This is not something the Princess needs to apologize for. I do not wish to push you, so please move aside, Princess.”

“Are you... going to abandon the empire?”

“Well, I do not know who is trying to abandon whom. I only hope that His Majesty makes a wise choice.”

As Cyrus waved his arm, a cold wind swirled. Charlotte could no longer hold out and stepped aside.

Cyrus walked away, his cloak fluttering, without even glancing at Charlotte.

'What should I do...?'

Charlotte sensed the ominous clouds of war from the moment the Emperor issued the imperial decree to Ariana. The Emperor had made a choice against the Eastern Realm that was not only foolish but also irreversible.

She couldn't understand why the Emperor didn't realize that fact. It was so clearly visible from the surroundings.

'What should I do?'

***

It had been a long time since so many people had gathered in the spacious audience hall.

The Emperor and Empress were seated on the chairs at the highest platform, while the Crown Prince and Crown Princess sat on a platform below. The Cardinal and the Grand Judge stood beside the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, respectively.

In addition, there were the heads of each department, high-ranking nobles within the Empire, Royal Consorts and Princes, and Duke Jacob Bronte, Duchess Rachel Bronte, and Victoria Brontë of the Bronte family.

Except for the people on the podium, no one knew why they had come here. Everyone had simply rushed over in a panic at the sudden summons.

Victoria and Harold looked at the Chief Justice and the Cardinal and speculated that perhaps this was a meeting to interrogate Ariana and Geor about their crimes.

'That works out perfectly.'

Victoria thought.

'I don't know what Ariana might babble about behind my back, so she should chatter away in front of me. That way, I can respond in time.'

Victoria was fully prepared in case Ariana tried to lure her in with her tongue. Before coming here, she had also eaten several beast hearts capable of seducing people.

I won't lose this time, Ariana. It won't go the way it did when I was framed and dragged off to the investigation agency.'

Soon, the Emperor's solemn voice echoed through the audience chamber.

“Everyone is aware that due to a recent disgraceful incident involving the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, the Heir and Princess of the East, who were in the Empire, have been apprehended. Although their guilt is undeniable, given their relationship with the East over the years, we have decided to grant them the opportunity to defend themselves. In accordance with custom, I have ordered you to enter the palace to guarantee your position; therefore, you must prove, with your own eyes and ears, unequivocally what is happening here.”

The senior officials gathered there were dumbfounded.

There was already talk because the Emperor had issued an imperial decree regarding the marriage of the Princess of the East, and had abruptly arrested and imprisoned the Princess of the East and Eastern Little Lord in an underground dungeon following an incident involving the Crown Prince.

But to hold a trial when even the ruler of the East, the Eastern Lord, is absent.

They knew that the Emperor disapproved of the Eastern Lord, but they could not understand why he was going to such reckless lengths.

Only the Emperor's closest aides, close enough to whom he could confide, knew that he intended to use this matter to hold the Eastern Lord's leash.

The Emperor ordered.

"Tell the sinner to come in."


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