Chapter 109

The dimness of the night was perfect for putting the operation into motion. It was a pitch-black night where one couldn’t even distinguish the faces of those passing by.

The preparations were complete. By creating a diversion, all the servants in the Emperor’s palace had been sent elsewhere. There was no way the Emperor, who remained holed up in his room, would know of this. Bastien only had to go and finish off the mouse that sat waiting for him, unaware it was actually a cat’s den.

He recalled the moment Fedeshar had proposed the Empress’s poisoning.

Fedeshar had come to Bastien and suggested they strike the Empress together. After much deliberation, Bastien took his hand—because he felt he could easily pin the crime back on Fedeshar afterward.

If Fedeshar hadn’t told him the story surrounding the Alosi herb, he would have tried to frame him from the start. However, since the Duke was a bigger headache than Fedeshar, he had shifted his target.

In any case, Fedeshar had no interest in the throne. Of course, Bastien didn’t fully believe those words, but after tonight, the possibility of Fedeshar becoming Emperor would become infinitesimally low. Because…

Bastien stared at the massive doors. Looking at these doors used to evoke a sense of dread. Because the person inside always looked at him with chilling eyes.

However, at some point, that fearsome existence had turned into something trivial. Instead, the man inside now feared him. The doors that once overwhelmed those standing before them with solemnity were no longer frightening. He realized this great gate was nothing more than a shield to protect the weakling inside.

“His Majesty is calling for you.”

“I see. You all should head back as well. It’s late.”

Bastien spoke to the knights guarding the door. However, the knights hesitated, glancing at one another. With the Empress having just collapsed, they couldn’t afford to loosen the Emperor’s security.

“It’s alright. I am here, am I not? You’ve worked hard soothing my father. Prince Fedeshar is nowhere to be found… As the remaining son, shouldn’t I be the one to protect my father?”

Fedeshar had vanished somewhere after handing over the tea canister, as if his only goal truly was the Empress. Since the Duke couldn’t be detained for long, Bastien intended to frame the missing Fedeshar according to the original plan.

“I do not know what kind of person targets the Imperial Family, but as long as I am here, no one else shall die,” Bastien muttered firmly.

Certainly, Bastien was far more capable than the average knight.

“If you are truly uneasy, I shall post the knights from my own palace. You know each other’s faces, don’t you?”

At that, the knights looked at each other’s faces. Due to the sudden crisis, everyone had been moving frantically; their mental stress and exhaustion were double the usual amount. Moreover, the Emperor’s hysteria had worsened. When the Empress collapsed, the Emperor, far from worrying, had been delighted. He went around telling the nobles it was a good chance to appoint Fedeshar as Crown Prince—but ironically, Fedeshar was nowhere to be found in the palace. The knights were currently scouring every inch of the palace to find him.

“I shall guard my father’s life strictly.”

Bastien’s eyes glinted coldly, but no one suspected him. They knew his public reputation well. After a moment’s hesitation, the knights nodded. It was clear the Emperor’s rage would continue until Fedeshar appeared. Since Bastien offered his own knights, they intended to accept the favor and go search for Fedeshar.

“We leave him in your hands.”

“Yes. You’ve done well.”

Bastien patted their shoulders comfortingly. The knights murmured that it was impressive how he remained so calm even in this situation.

Bastien opened the door to the Emperor’s chambers. At the sound of the door opening, the Emperor raised his bowed head. However, seeing it was Bastien, he knit his brows.

“Fede…!”

“Father, I apologize. Were you looking for Fedeshar?”

Bastien walked in with a relaxed smile.

“What business do you have here instead of staying by the Empress’s side?”

“I came to report on Mother’s condition. And additionally, to hear what you think of this incident…”

“Ha! Are you trying to suggest I am the one behind this?”

“I have said nothing of the sort.”

There were indeed those whispering such things. The Empress and Emperor had been enemies for a long time.

“Ridiculous talk. I know you singled out the Duke as the culprit. Was it not to cut off my hands and feet?!”

“The Duke isn’t even on your side, so why would I do that? I simply acted because the Duke was an eyesore. Father, how long do you intend to rely on the Duke? You must stand on your own as an Emperor now.”

The Emperor’s fist trembled. It was the Empress who had prevented him from standing on his own. Though he had become Emperor despite being unworthy of the position, he had tried to lead his country as he remained alone. But the Empress interfered with every single matter, claiming it would be for his own good to listen to her. He had only joined hands with the Duke to suppress her, who treated him like a puppet. The Emperor was enraged by Bastien, who prattled on without knowing his heart.

“Bastien, I have always told you: do not covet what is beyond your station.”

Bastien listened to the Emperor’s words in silence. Since childhood, the Emperor had lived with those words on his lips. As if afraid of something, he taught Bastien to yield everything. He told him to be someone kind to everyone, someone who could sacrifice himself for others.

“Yes, I’ve heard it countless times. You tried to suppress me by projecting Mother onto me, didn’t you? I have no memory of receiving a single warm word or touch from you. That is why I am so calm now. Father, you were right.”

Bastien walked slowly toward the Emperor. Because of those words he heard in his youth, he had lived peacefully without major incident until now—even while sending signals that he might break at any moment.

“It seems I am a greedy person, just as you said. Even when I told myself such deeds were not right, it was a mantra devoid of any sincerity. That is why I feel so lighthearted now. I shall take the throne.”

“……Bastien! You are finally trying to kill me! I knew this would happen one day!”

“I’m hurt. Isn’t it the same for you, Father? You killed your own kin to reach this seat.”

The Emperor rang the bell to call the knights, but there was no response.

“Do you know? In fact, I am the one who poisoned Mother. Yet no one even suspects me. You gave me a good education, Father.”

The Emperor bolted up from his chair, backing away from the approaching Bastien.

‘He’s aiming for my throat…!’

If he tried to kill the Empress, it meant he would kill him too.

However, the Emperor was easily subdued by Bastien. Bastien’s spirit suppressed the Emperor in an instant. There was no corner to escape from the freely moving water.

“Let go!!”

“If there is a rising sun, there is also a setting sun. Two suns cannot exist in one sky. Please vanish quietly.”

Bastien raised his sword with an indifferent expression.

Just then, the door creaked open from behind. And in a palace that should have been empty, a voice that shouldn’t have been heard echoed out.

“I hoped it wasn’t you.”

Bastien snapped his head up. The person who had appeared without a sound looked at Bastien and the Emperor and said lowly,

“I wondered why the palace was so quiet, and it turns out it was your doing, Bastien.”

“Oh…! Young Master!!”

The Emperor welcomed Evan like a man meeting his savior. Bastien commanded his spirit to kill the Emperor, but it wouldn’t move, as if blocked by something. He let out a small sigh.

“You should have stayed still. Why did you come all the way here?”

“That’s a foolish question. There’s no way someone willing to kill his own parents would leave me be.”

“……”

Bastien said nothing. He released his grip on the Emperor. The Emperor scurried away and hid behind Evan.

“Young Master! This is treason! Subdue that man immediately!”

Evan’s gaze lingered on the Emperor for a moment.

“It’s not that I don’t understand your circumstances. But your methods were wrong by a long shot. Both of you.”

Evan heartlessly brushed off the Emperor’s hand, which was tugging at his collar while chanting for him to subdue Bastien.

“Your Majesty, please be quiet. And I came here because of Lep’s request, not particularly for your sake.”

The Emperor felt insulted, but since Evan was the only one who could save him now, he kept his mouth shut.

Without another word, Bastien launched a sharp dagger made of water droplets at Evan. Evan swung his sword and parried it.

“I suppose there’s no choice.”

Evan gripped his sword firmly, seeing that Bastien showed no sign of backing down or talking.

“Since you are also an obstacle, I’m sorry, but please make your exit.”

“Sorry, but I can’t do that. I need to subdue you as quickly as possible and go prepare for my wedding with Lep.”

At Evan’s words, Bastien’s brow narrowed.

“You, Mage. Take the Emperor and get out. You’ll get caught in the crossfire.”

“Yes, sir!”

The mage who had followed behind Evan hurriedly supported the Emperor and escaped through the door. Once the Emperor was gone, only Evan and Bastien remained.

Bastien’s gaze followed the Emperor’s departing back.

“I suppose I can just kill both the Emperor and you, and say you killed the Emperor. The father killed the Empress, and the son killed the Emperor… It would end nicely if I said the Duchy staged a rebellion.”

“I’d prefer if you kept that nonsense to your dreams.”

“Don’t worry about Lady Lepina. There is no one more suited for the seat of the Empress than her.”

A blue vein bulged on Evan’s forehead.

“That will never happen, so your worry is misplaced. Shouldn’t you be worried about whether you can even kill me first?”

As Evan lunged with his sword, Bastien narrowly raised a wall of water to block it. The wall was sliced precisely in half.