Chapter 46

Meanwhile, at that time. Far to the east of the kingdom, in the Arslane Empire. In the capital, Albes, a political upheaval was breaking out.

Deep within the Arslane Palace, in the audience chamber where the emperor met with his subjects and envoys from other countries, armed soldiers stormed in.

The soldiers ran across the marble floor with smooth, unhesitating movements and surrounded the throne in just a few seconds.

The tips of the spears held by the soldiers, all with tense faces, were pointed at one man.

Namely, the lord of this castle, Emperor Zacharius Van Arslane, who was seated on the throne.

"Well, what's all this commotion about?"

Zacharius propped his cheek on the armrest and asked with a look of annoyance.

There was no trace of fear on the emperor's face, which resembled a lion's in its ferocity. He was merely blinking in confusion, not understanding the situation.

Strangely, there was not a single soldier in the audience chamber to protect the emperor.

Had the room been cleared beforehand through some arrangement, or was the security simply lax? The emperor found himself in a situation that perfectly depicted isolation and lack of support.

Eventually, the soldiers surrounding the emperor parted, and a man stepped forward to Zacharius.

"...It's been a while, Father."

"Gilbert... Hmm, it has been since the New Year's banquet. Indeed, it has been a long time."

The man who appeared before the emperor was the first prince, Gilbert Van Arslane.

The eldest son among the emperor's over a hundred children and the only legitimate son of his empress.

"So, my son. What kind of game is this? The soldiers here won't answer me."

"...A jest. You must know."

"...Do you want the throne? I never thought you would make a move."

Zacharius shrugged as if he didn't understand, despite Gilbert's resentful glare.

Zacharius had once killed his own father, the previous emperor, and seized the throne by force.

He had always thought that one day, his own children or grandchildren might try to take his life in the same way...

"Still, I never expected you to try to kill me. I don't recall doing anything to deserve such hatred."

People can buy resentment without even realizing it.

Zacharius wondered if he had been hated so much by his son that he would be killed, but no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't find a plausible reason.

"Would you mind explaining? I won't be able to sleep tonight if I don't know."

"......"

Gilbert clenched his teeth so hard they made a sound, frustrated by his father's lack of tension and understanding of the situation.

Gilbert had always disliked his father's frivolous attitude, but at the same time, he found it endearing.

Now, as his father maintained this attitude even after being betrayed by his son, Gilbert felt a surge of anger.

"...Father, I respected you."

Gilbert began to speak with a heavy heart.

"I admired your strength. I always aspired to be an emperor like you."

"Um, I see. Don't be shy."

"...I resented your clownish behavior, but at the same time, I felt a sense of familiarity. I was amazed by your broad-mindedness in loving my mother and other women equally. I was exasperated by your womanizing, but I admired your depth of character."

"Hmm, hmm."

"I... I loved you as a father."

"That's good... I love you too, my dear son, Gilbert."

"Then why!?"

Zacharius' response made Gilbert's voice rise in a bark of anger.

"Why did you strip me of my position as crown prince?! Why must I, the eldest son of the empress, be demoted to a subject?!"

About a month ago, Gilbert had successfully led the army to occupy the small kingdom of Shaitan in the southern part of the empire.

He had reported his victory to the emperor, expecting praise, but the letter the messenger brought back from the palace declared that he was to be removed from the imperial family, made a duke, and govern the territory of Shaitan.

Gilbert stood there in shock for a moment.

He had thought he was the closest to the throne, and never imagined he would be so unilaterally distanced from it.

Gilbert lamented and wept... and eventually, in a fit of anger over the injustice, he raised his sword.

He resolved to kill the emperor, Zacharius, and seize the throne by force.

"Father! Please, please answer me! Why did you strip me of my position?!"

Gilbert, who once respected his father more than anyone else, questioned him with tears almost streaming down his face.

The soldiers pointing their spears at Zacharius were moved to tears and bit their lips tightly at his pitiful appearance.

However—

"Oh, is that it?"

Gilbert's cry from the depths of his soul did not reach his father at all.

Zacharius spread his arms as if to say it was anticlimactic and shook his head sadly.

"I never thought you would start a rebellion for such a trivial reason. You fool."