Chapter 536

A few days ago, Louise von Schwarze went to see the emperor to raise objections about the tense atmosphere among the Schwarze royal family. The empire is not in a good state, but it is still surviving by uniting the surviving vassal states to form an alliance. The emperor warns Louise that mentioning sensitive topics about the Gradius family is a great insult to the Schwarze family. The Schwarze army is a significant part of the alliance, and if they leave, the alliance will lose about 30% of its power. The emperor's mistake in mentioning the Schwarze family's youngest prince being a bastard is a significant diplomatic mistake. Louise thinks that the best course of action is to remain silent. The emperor believes that the war they are fighting is for a just cause, and the alliance will not fall apart. However, Louise knows that if they remain silent, the Schwarze family will be destroyed, and the empire will be able to take over the entire alliance. The war is not driven by greed but by a just cause. The emperor believes that the alliance will not fall apart, but Louise knows that it will be in chaos. Translation:

Summary of previous part of chapter only for context: In this translated Korean web novel chapter, Louise von Schwarze visits the emperor to address the tense atmosphere among the Schwarze royal family. The empire is struggling, but it is surviving by forming an alliance with the surviving vassal states. However, the emperor warns Louise that mentioning sensitive topics about the Gradius family is a great insult to the Schwarze family. The Schwarze army is a significant part of the alliance, and if they leave, the alliance will lose about 30% of its power. The emperor's mistake in mentioning the Schwarze family's youngest prince being a bastard is a significant diplomatic mistake. Louise believes that the best course of action is to remain silent, but the emperor believes that the war they are fighting is for a just cause, and the alliance will not fall apart. However, Louise knows that if they remain silent, the Schwarze family will be destroyed, and the empire will be able to take over the entire alliance. The war is not driven by greed but by a just cause. The emperor believes that the alliance will not fall apart, but Louise knows that it will be in chaos. Overall, the chapter highlights the delicate balance of power and diplomacy in the empire and the potential consequences of missteps in diplomatic relations.

Translation:

It's possible that Kernenstadt, the biggest rival, will fall on its own. There's no reason not to watch it happen.

"What are you saying right now?"

"I didn't provoke this diplomatic breach because of stubbornness, but because I didn't want to see my friend die... That's the only reason."

It was something that could be observed from the sidelines.

Berthold didn't have to say anything to Heinrich, who was an important force. If Heinrich's life could be exchanged for the future of the empire, then that's what had to be done.

But Berthold didn't do that.

He didn't give Heinrich a direct answer, but he revealed some of the truth.

Not all the truth, but some of it.

"You know that terrible things happen when you don't treat your friends well."

Louise couldn't understand Berthold's cryptic remark.

But if she left it alone, Heinrich would be killed.

At that, Louise gritted her teeth.

"You seem to be convinced that something like that will happen. Do you really think something so absurd will happen?"

"Your two brothers are worse people than you think."

Trust in the name of brothers.

No, not even that.

Trust in humanity itself.

These were people who had more rights than anyone else, so they had to take on more responsibility than anyone else.

Louise von Schwarze didn't think something so absurd would happen.

She didn't think her brothers were that stupid.

She didn't expect much, but she didn't think it would be that bad.

But the deed had already been done.

The other brothers began to argue that they had to act first.

Alphonse and German seriously believed that if they didn't kill Heinrich, they might die themselves.

Until now, it had been a matter of possibility, but now it had become a matter of timing.

And wasn't it the emperor's words that started it all?

Bastard.

If Heinrich hadn't heard those words, it wouldn't have happened.

But was it really something that wouldn't have happened?

Louise had seen from afar and up close the sight of Heinrich being ignored and insulted.

Even if this hadn't happened, wouldn't it have happened anyway?

In a place she couldn't see, in a place she didn't know. Without even asking for her consent.

Was there really no chance that they would try to kill Heinrich on their own?

She didn't think they were that stupid, that foolish.

Could humans really be that foolish?

Louise von Schwarze wanted to punch the face of the emperor who was murmuring about the irresponsible bomb he had thrown.

But maybe the bomb had already existed.

Maybe she just didn't want to admit that she was the bomb. "The commander of Kernenstadt came to see me, and it's a little disappointing. ...Did you just say you're disappointed?" Louise narrowed her eyes at Berthold's words. Does he think the emperor's authority is still the same as before, when all the powers of humanity have diminished? Is it a delusion that he stands above everyone, like in the days when the empire's power pierced the sky after the Great War of the Demon Realm? "The emperor of the empire went so far as to breach diplomatic relations to save the life of the commander's son, but instead of being grateful, you came to argue. Isn't that something to be disappointed about?" Berthold's words were like a slap in the face, and Louise shuddered at the emperor's words. In the Schwarz royal family, only the king, the current queen, and Louise herself knew about it. The emperor knew that. "The commander graduated early from the Kernenstadt Royal Academy at the age of eighteen." "...." The Kernenstadt Royal Academy. The genius graduated early from the Royal Academy. "After traveling abroad for about a year under the pretext of a graduation trip, Heinrich von Schwarz was born... I don't think it was a coincidence." Louise met Berthold's gaze with wide eyes. "Isn't it a dropout, not an early graduation?" Louise felt a suffocating pressure from Berthold's gaze. "Raphael Muller." "....!" "Do you need more explanation?" The emperor even knew the name that Louise had buried in her heart long ago. It was the name of the person she had loved. Who had already died a long time ago. Various classes are mixed in education.

Berthold's words are very rude politically and personally.

If you want to raise a problem, you can do it anytime.

But Louise couldn't say anything. That was already evidence in itself.

"I have various assumptions in my head, but I won't say them out loud. Anything more than this will just be bothering the commander."

"... "

"That's it."

Berthold looked at the frozen Louise von Schwarz, putting down his teacup.

"You can't keep everything."

You have to choose.

Heinrich made himself aware of the fact that he was in danger, and there was an argument because of it.

"You have to choose. Before you lose everything by not choosing either."

Berthold brought forward something that would happen someday.

So Louise von Schwarz thought it would be okay like this, but she had to choose something before everything fell apart.

"... Is it just that Heinrich wanted to live? Is that all?"

At Louise's blunt question, Berthold smirked.

"If you had just stayed still, you wouldn't have had this uncomfortable meeting. Why did you have to endure that?"

He wanted his friend to not die.

Even if there was a loss of power, if he had just stayed still, he could have gained a huge political advantage, but Berthold didn't do that.

He gave Heinrich a hint, risking touching Louise von Schwarz's sore spot.

So, what was that for?

Louise could no longer think that there was any sinister intention towards the emperor in Berthold's words.

If you want to protect your son, you have to shed blood.

As if saying that it was enough to talk about the family history of another country, Berthold didn't say anything more.

* * *

"Why...."

"Why did you kill Raphael like that?"

"Why did you have to go that far?"

It was a long time ago.

"You've lost your mind."

"You can't let the seed of a dirty commoner into the royal family."

"I told you to understand their physiology by mixing with commoners and studying math. I didn't tell you to give them affection."

"With such talent and intelligence, couldn't you even have that much common sense?"

"I just gave him a proper punishment for coveting something that a lowly person who doesn't know the subject shouldn't have."

"Do you think there's room for such a dirty love affair to interfere with the foundation of the empire that will surpass the Gradias royal family on the path to becoming the queen of Kernenstadt?"

"You're foolish, my daughter."

"Yes, humans make mistakes. Since there can't be a perfect being, you made a mistake too."

"So let's overlook this mistake."

"Erase it, forget everything and start anew."

Constance von Schwarz's cruel words made Louise lose her mind.

It was an early love.

You could say it was naive, but you couldn't deny that it was love.

Inexperienced love bore bitter fruit and had to pay a cruel price.

It was the first real emotion she faced, being forced to do anything as if her breath was being taken away from her in a world. "In a real world where people are forced to comply with dignity, hypocrisy, honor, and reputation, she had something for the first time that she obtained on her own will. It was taken away from her, trampled upon mercilessly. 'I don't want to.' It was a deal. 'Don't take anything else from me.' 'What?' 'If you try to take it, you'll lose everything.' A deal that risked her life. She couldn't get back what was already taken away, but she didn't want to lose anything more. So she threatened her parents with her own life, telling them not to take her child. The king and queen couldn't give up the best talent of the Schwarz royal family in history. The child born to their daughter was disguised as the king's illegitimate child and was incorporated into the royal family. Few knew the truth, and that included not only other royals but also the born son. The end of countless lies, deceit, and half-truths. '...' Louise von Schwarz was looking at her son with terror in her eyes, having killed her last remaining two brothers with her own hands. She put her sword away. 'Let's go back.' 'Your Highness...what are you talking about? My brothers...right now...' 'I said let's go back.' The two brothers finally tried to kill Heinrich several times without consulting her. If Louise hadn't been paying attention, she would have lost her son with her eyes open. If the emperor had changed his mind, the two brothers, who were the instigators, would have used this to destroy the Schwarz royal family, including herself. It's unclear what change of heart he had, but the emperor thought differently. He told her to act quickly, saying that if she wanted to protect something, she had to shed blood. Louise shed blood. She could keep her bloodline by killing her own blood. Louise walks towards her horse, her hands soaked in blood trembling violently like a person with Parkinson's disease. Alphonse and German left their horses behind and Louise got on hers, and Heinrich also got on his horse as ordered by Louise, his face pale. She killed her brothers. How should she tell this? Louise has no plan. She doesn't even know what to say to her youngest brother who realized that his older sister was actually his mother. She had to make a choice, so she did. That was the only thing she could do. Hehehe! They ran away from the warehouse and disappeared from sight. Confusion and vagueness. That's what Rheinhardt and Harriet felt after hearing an unbelievable story." At the breathless words of Rheinhardt, Harriet lowered her head.