Chapter 19

She had that dream five days later.

Riding sidesaddle on a magnificent chestnut horse, the empress was enjoying a graceful ride when her mount suddenly stumbled, throwing her off balance and causing her to scream.

She was wearing a deep navy riding habit adorned with a taffeta ribbon. With eyes wide in shock and a face contorted in fear, the empress was flung into the air.

It was a terrifying sight.

The empress's body, which had hit the ground headfirst, bounced once and then fell heavily to the ground. Her neck was twisted at an odd angle, and she no longer moved.

Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, and her wide, emerald eyes, filled with terror, stared blankly at the sky.

Via screamed and leaped out of bed, hugging herself as she panted heavily.

She was drenched in sweat. Her fingers, clutching the nightgown as if for dear life, trembled.

Regaining her composure, the first thing that came to her mind was the safety of the prince. If the empress were to be lost now, Prince Alek's position would be completely undermined.

There was still some time left. Via whispered to herself, trying to calm down.

She would inform the prince of this dream as soon as morning came. The prince would surely take immediate action.

Resigning herself to the fact that she wouldn't be able to sleep anymore, Via was about to put her feet down from the bed when she heard a distant commotion from somewhere.

It was the middle of the night, but the palace was clearly in turmoil.

"Is Her Highness awake?"

When the maid's hesitant voice reached her, Via replied, "Yes." She smoothed her disheveled hair and walked to the door.

"Come in. What happened?"

The maid's face was pale. From the other side of the door, the sounds of people crying and shouting could be heard.

"It's terrible. His Majesty... His Majesty..."

"His Majesty?"

For a moment, Via thought the Crystal Palace had been attacked. While the emperor was one thing, Lord Sezon was capable of attacking the prince under a false name.

"He suddenly clutched his chest in pain and passed away just now."

"......!"

Taken aback by the news, Via was speechless. The only thought in her mind was disbelief.

The emperor, though in his fifties, had just had a child. She hadn't even heard rumors of any illness.

"Was the cause of death determined?"

Via asked the maid in a hoarse voice.

The maid, still visibly shaken, shook her head slightly.

"They are investigating now. He had dinner with Lady Myrall last evening and was resting alone tonight."

So, poisoning was suspected.

Via's mind raced.

Lady Myrall probably didn't poison the emperor. The dates for the festival in Midas hadn't even been set. Killing the emperor now would be of no benefit to her.

Still, the fact that she had the last meal with the emperor would weigh heavily on Lady Myrall in the future.

The wise empress wouldn't let this opportunity slip by.

"God," Via muttered, praying to the deity worshipped by the people of Thelma.

The political situation would soon shift dramatically.

Sezon wouldn't sit idly by in this unfavorable situation. What would he do to protect himself from the regent empress?

Wearing only a gown over her nightgown, Via hurried to the chief steward, eager for information.

"Where is the prince now?"

The chief steward, despite the late hour, was neatly dressed, his collar buttoned up to the neck.

His expression was calm, showing no signs of panic to Via.

"He left with about seven guards and headed straight for the Imperial Palace."

"The Imperial Palace... What's there?"

Via didn't believe that Alek went to the Imperial Palace just to mourn his father's death.

"The key to the royal treasury is kept in the emperor's chambers."

"The royal treasury... Ah..."

As she was about to ask, Via finally understood the meaning.

Via clenched her trembling hands.

"So, there's something needed for the coronation, right?"

"Yes."

The chief steward nodded.

"The royal crown and scepter are stored in the treasury.

This key cannot be taken out by anyone, even a member of the royal family, without the presence of seven ceremonial officials."

"So, to ascend the throne, the emperor's chambers must be secured?"

"Exactly."

Via bit her lip.

Just as Alek had immediately moved to secure the Imperial Palace, Sezon would likely have the same idea.

"Seven... So, there are only seven guards with the prince now?"

Via struggled to keep her body from collapsing in fear.

"Has Lord Ammon been contacted?"

"One of the guards has been sent to the Antole Knights."

"I see."

Via closed her eyes and exhaled deeply.

I hope it's in time.

All she could do now was pray that the Antole Knights would gather around the prince before Sezon mobilized the Reiatto army.

"Please call Ebeck immediately.

And, have you informed Lord Roffman yet?"

When Via asked, the chief steward looked up in surprise.

"No, I haven't informed him yet."

"I want to request the protection of the Crystal Palace. What do you think, Chief Steward?"

"I think that's a good idea. I'll make the arrangements immediately."

Via nodded slightly.

"Also, send another messenger to Antole.

Tell Celtais not to move the Antole Knights until Prince Alek gives the order."

"Understood."

As long as Celtais was with the Antole Knights, his safety would not be threatened.

The second prince could meet his father's body after the political situation stabilized.

As the chief steward stepped aside, Via turned to the maid who had accompanied her.

"I'm going to change. Please help me."

Meanwhile, Luitas, with a tense expression, was running through the night corridors with one attendant.

The news of the emperor's death had arrived just half an hour ago.

Although it would soon be dawn, the corridors were still shrouded in darkness, and the flickering candlelight added an eerie atmosphere.

At first, Luitas thought it was a joke. As far as he knew, the emperor had no known illness.

Assuming the prince would head directly to the Imperial Palace, Luitas rushed there. As expected, when he arrived, the emperor's chambers were already secured by the first prince, who had brought guards and entered the room, immediately detaining the royal physicians.

The palace was enveloped in an unusual atmosphere.

The servants were completely flustered by the emperor's death, and the sound of ladies-in-waiting sobbing added to the eerie ambiance of the Imperial Palace.

No other nobles had arrived yet.

The news of the emperor's death was being delivered in a specific order, starting with the highest-ranking officials. It was probably just reaching the empress from the chief steward of the Imperial Palace.

However, it was likely that the empress had already received the information before the official messenger arrived.

Just as Prince Alek had learned of the emperor's death quickly, the empress must have her own informants in the Imperial Palace.

When Luitas approached the emperor's chambers, a familiar guard recognized him and let him in immediately.

In the antechamber, the royal physicians were sitting on the floor, watched over by two guards.

These were the prince's personal guards, who saluted Luitas upon seeing him.

When Luitas asked about Gruuk, the guard replied that he was already there.

It seemed Luitas had been beaten to it by Gruuk.

"I'm late."

When Luitas entered the chambers, the prince and Gruuk were discussing their next move.

The prince nodded in relief upon seeing Luitas.

Despite the late hour, the prince was neatly dressed in a jacket that resembled formal attire.

However, it was clear he had rushed, as two of the decorative buttons on his shirt collar were undone.

"How is the situation outside?"

Luitas replied, "No other nobles have arrived yet."

Noticing the prince's disheveled collar, Luitas reached out to fix the buttons. The prince let him, though he frowned in annoyance.

In the next few hours, their survival would be determined.

Seeing the prince, who remained calm and focused despite his father's death, Luitas felt a sense of relief.

"Sezon will likely arrive soon.

It's a race to see who can mobilize their forces first."

"Yes," the prince agreed, and Luitas nodded.

The first prince had secured the emperor's chambers for now, but Sezon, with his own forces, would soon arrive.

Or, he might be waiting for the Reiatto army to arrive before making his move.

The Antole army and the Reiatto army.

The one that arrived first would secure the dominance of Anchease.

"We must hold out until Ammon arrives."

In the chambers were the prince, Gruuk, and Luitas. In the antechamber were two more, and five outside, all skilled knights, but it was uncertain how long they could hold out with just ten men.

Their only option was to lock the door from the inside and buy time, but if the door was broken down, it would be over.

Waiting like this was the hardest part.

Noticing the prince staring expressionlessly at the deceased emperor, Luitas asked, "How did he pass away?"

The powerful man who once wielded so much authority now lay on the bed, a lifeless lump of earth.

It seemed strange to Luitas.

"He suddenly clutched his chest in pain in the middle of the night. The royal physicians couldn't do anything by the time they arrived," the prince said without emotion, adding, "It was rather anticlimactic."

"Fortunately for us, the person he had dinner with last night was Lady Myrall."

Gruuk glanced at the door leading to the antechamber, where the detained royal physicians were.

"Moreover, it was Sezon who requested the dinner. Sezon's plan to show the emperor's favor backfired."

As the prince twisted his lips in a sarcastic smile, the door was suddenly pounded on.

Gruuk opened it to reveal a guard with a tense expression, who saluted the prince.

"Your Highness, Lady Myrall and Lord Sezon have just arrived!"

The three inside stiffened. The prince asked sharply, "How many guards did they bring?"

"About thirty, I believe."

"This is bad," Luitas muttered.

Despite the urgency, Sezon had managed to gather a significant number of men. On the other hand, it also meant he was slow to act because he needed that many men.

"Under no circumstances are they to enter the chambers."

The prince ordered sternly, and the guard saluted and left.

"I'll buy us some time."

Luitas casually told the prince, sword in hand, and headed for the door.

They had to buy time until Ammon arrived.