Chapter 388

On the terrace, Bertholdt and I were drinking tea after a long time. Two relics. I already knew that I was the owner of Tiamat. When Savoirin Tana warned me, I had some intuition. Bertholdt seemed like he wanted to say something, but hesitated as if the words were stuck in his throat. His fingertips trembled. "You, this guy. Don't think about that again!" "...." Maybe he thought that speaking was already a losing battle, Bertholdt stuttered something and didn't say anything. "Well, it's okay. That's not important. The important thing is that you have been given the choice of two relics. That's what's important." Yeah. Let's erase that from all of our minds. It seems like a really confusing story is going to come out soon, and I'm tired of getting confused like this. If you're given the choice of two relics, you must be an amazing person like Lagan Artoleus, so why did you dress up like that? I don't want to hear that kind of talk! Bertholdt stared at me seriously. "I have a lot of questions, Reinhardt." "....Yeah." "This guy, not that!" "Ah, I didn't say anything?" Bertholdt and I became a serious relationship after that incident! "Charlotte." But when that name was mentioned, I had to calm down. "Did you do it?" I asked, knowing. I couldn't get angry. I didn't ask what she did or how she did it specifically. There's no need to do that. "Yeah." "Yeah, it's good that you're not getting angry for no reason." He already knows everything about my whereabouts and Charlotte's whereabouts. Bertholdt, who had milk in his tea and was stirring it with a teaspoon, said calmly. "Reinhardt, I can't touch you anymore. You're not a stupid person, so you know that much." "...". It's not even one relic, it's two. It's ridiculous to kill me or cause harm. My existence has become too important, and the choice to touch me has disappeared. Even if I'm on Charlotte's side. That's what's scary about Bertholdt. He doesn't say how much he knows. Whether he knows that he saved Charlotte's life or knows the method, or how much he knows about Charlotte's current state. He suddenly says that he knows the middle of the truth as if it's obvious. It confuses the listener. That's why I don't know how much to say, and as I speak, I end up saying things that Bertholdt doesn't know. Like a snake's speech. "Reinhardt, you can be on Charlotte's side, but becoming my enemy is another choice. You can't be on Charlotte's side and my side, but being on Charlotte's side doesn't necessarily make you my enemy." Bertholdt stared at me quietly. "Will you be my enemy? Let's make that clear." What happens if I say that you will be my enemy? He won't say anything about that. He might leave me alone for now, or he might use some means. "I don't have to do that." "Yes, that's what I hope for too. It's different from before. I'm not just a Royal Class student, I have two relics. Unless Eren also has two, I am the only person in the world who possesses two relics. Just as I don't want to make Bertholdt my enemy, he also can't afford to make me his enemy. But Bertholdt, do you think I'm angry with Charlotte? I'm not. And because of my importance, you can't touch me anymore. Will I be your enemy? I can't give you a clear answer. You don't have to do anything." "There's no reason for me to not kill Charlotte. Charlotte's existence alone already affects my imperial power. So if Charlotte is alive, people will be talking about killing her hundreds of times a day, whether it's after I'm confirmed as the next emperor or after I'm crowned. They will talk about it for days, months, and years, and my close associates will not understand me if I refuse to do so. And followers prefer a cruel ruler over a withdrawn one. That's for sure. There's no reason to keep Charlotte alive just because she was a powerful imperial contender without any reason for my close associates to doubt me. There's a possibility of supporters rising up to support Charlotte, and there's a possibility of a movement to establish a new emperor if Bertholdt makes a mistake. There's no reason to keep Charlotte alive, and Bertholdt will inevitably have to kill her regardless of his intentions. I don't want to kill her, but I have to. Charlotte said the same thing. If she can't become the emperor, she has to die. From the beginning, their fight was a fight to become the emperor or die. They couldn't decide the life and death of their opponent with their own will at the two crossroads. If they survive, they have to kill their opponent. But if Bertholdt kills Charlotte, he will make the country his enemy. It's a headache. If you die fighting the demon king, I don't know what you'll do if you become a hero of humanity by resolving the situation, and I become the emperor. If I kill you after the demon king is dead... there won't be an emperor. What if I kill Lagun Arutorius, who came back to life? That's exactly what will happen. He says it so casually, saying that it's best for him to disappear like Lagun Arutorius while killing the demon king. Of course, if I were a real hero, Bertholdt might be afraid to stab me in the neck, but I am physically incapable of fighting the demon king. Bertholdt has to kill Charlotte. But if he does, something very dangerous will happen. So even if I have to kill Charlotte, understand that it's inevitable... Well, why am I saying this?" "So his close associates will argue that Charlotte must be killed to solidify his imperial power, and Bertholdt has no argument against it. 'So, I need a reason.' A reason, a justification. 'A reason why I don't have to kill my own brother.' A reason why Bertholdt, even as emperor, doesn't have to kill Charlotte. A reason why his close associates can't demand Charlotte's death. Bertholdt smirks as he raises his teacup. The issue of Charlotte's soul ultimately returns to a political issue. A girl who must die no matter which path is taken. Charlotte de Gradia. 'Do you want to save my brother's life?' Bertholdt asks, referring to the previous incident where he rescued Charlotte from the darkness. 'Will you try to save Charlotte in this political situation where she must die?' I nod without hesitation. 'Somehow.' 'Somehow.' Bertholdt chuckles. 'Marry my brother.' The prophecy of the Daitomorian. 'There's no other way.' I now realize that it predicted this situation. And what the emperor wanted to ask me personally. But a question arises. 'Then wouldn't Charlotte's claim to the imperial succession become stronger?' Despite all the talk, Bertholdt has no reason to keep Charlotte alive. It's not because he doesn't want to make an enemy out of me, but because marrying someone with a holy relic would give Charlotte more power. 'That's right.' Bertholdt must have some thoughts on the matter. He won't do anything good for Charlotte. But Bertholdt doesn't say what he's thinking. Or maybe he really does feel sympathy for Charlotte? * * * Bertholdt is already convinced of his victory, and he knows that it cannot be overturned. And I know that too. Even if Bertholdt didn't exist, Charlotte could still become emperor. If Charlotte, who has become one with the demon king's soul, cannot fully control the power of darkness, people will know that she has become the owner of a sinister power. Charlotte cannot become emperor for this reason alone, regardless of any other circumstances. That's why Bertholdt no longer sees Charlotte as a competitor. However, if he is forced by his close associates to kill Charlotte, the country will become his enemy. Bertholdt is saying that he is somewhat afraid of me. I am the owner of Alsbinger and Tiamata. If Charlotte marries me, her status will rise, but she will be safer. If the fight against the demon king becomes more tangible, my existence will inevitably be revealed. The hero of humanity, the hope of humanity. Such titles will be attached to me. And if Charlotte becomes my wife, the empire cannot touch her any more than they can touch me. Whether Bertholdt becomes emperor or not, the idea of killing Charlotte cannot be brought up until I die." The emperor would know about this. So he tried to ask me for a favor but gave up because it would be too heavy of a burden to ask me for something personal. Charlotte probably knows about this too. To save Charlotte, she must marry. My position has become stronger since I have Alsbinger. That's why Bertholdt brought up the idea. He doesn't know what I would do if I lost both artifacts. But can we make such a decision regardless of Charlotte's wishes? What is Bertholdt's intention? "What are you thinking?" "Uh, nothing." Ellen helped me up as I fell back. What should I do? I've promised countless times to protect Charlotte, but now I have to do this. If I don't, I can't save her. Is that really the right thing to do?