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I managed to suppress my anger so that it wouldn’t show on my face.

‘He executed Fleon to cover for Julian.’

The emperor had killed Fleon. The punishment given to those who had failed in their coup should have been fair but Fleon died for all their sins. The blame lay on the man in front of all of us but nothing could be done.

‘No, I have to hold it in.’

I opened my eyes and stared at the emperor calmly. He stepped down from his palanquin. The body that revealed itself beneath its mantle was large and firm. He would have looked quite intimidating if it hadn’t been for the fact that he was senile. He stopped in front of his chair. His seat was placed at such a high elevation everyone could see him.

“Fortunately, the vicious rebels have either been detained at the bottom of our dungeons or executed altogether. It wasn’t the cleanest ending but I believe peace will return.”

The emperor slowly turned around. Before laughing.

“Like always. The Empire is peaceful. Because nothing happened.”

His words implied many things. For one, he was strong enough to subdue this coup and the fact that he would not tolerate another one happening.

“I will not allow this to happen twice.”

Silence fell upon the hall. The atmosphere hanging above us was as heavy as a boulder. Perhaps sensing this, the emperor relaxed his expression.

“I’ve spoken for too long.”

The emperor sat down. Auresia sat next to him as if it was only natural.

“Isn’t this pleasant day made for celebrations?”

This was the smile of an arrogant monarch. But I understood once I looked closer.

‘His eyes do not reflect his smile.’

His lips might be drawn upwards but his eyes remained emotionless. They were staring at the crowds without a smile.

“Let us begin the ceremony.”

The attendant, who had been waiting for the emperor’s signal, led someone to him.

“This is a servant of Cybele, the Goddess of Abundance, who will be conducting this ceremony in the Head Templar of Wisdom’s stead today.”

Spoke the templar dressed in a sky-coloured tunic.

“On behalf of all the templars who have gathered here today, we shall begin the ceremony.”

The Head Templar of Wisdom, Julian’s maternal grandfather had passed away. His younger brother took his position but it was only natural that he couldn’t attend.

‘Because it’s their temple who started the coup.”

The emperor managed to save a few templars from each temple even if they were involved in the coup. Because he would never do anything to affect his reputation.

Before I knew it, a huge altar rose in front of the emperor. It hadn’t been there a moment ago but they must have used divinity.

Footsmen placed leaves and various fruits I had never seen before and a lamb wrapped in cloth atop the altar.

As the emperor murmured towards the altar, the ground next to the altar rose as well, revealing a dark blue marble atop it.

I realised that it looked a lot like the crystal that fluctuated with a mysterious light, the one I had seen with Auresia.

“That is a piece of the crystal that resides under our Empire. During the Succession Ceremony, only a piece of it is revealed for offerings to be made to it.”

Rebecca explained softly.

“The emperor will now be making a sacrifice for the heavens.”

The emperor rose from his seat upon the announcement of the Templar of Abundance.

“What do you mean by sacrifice?”

“The emperor shares his seat with the Lord of the Gods, so when there is a change in the person of power, he needs to raise an offering to the Lord of the Gods to ask him for his permission.”

Rebecca whispered back.

“To show people that the Imperial Family was alive and well.”

Soricks then interjected when he was probably listening in this whole time.

“Though it’s meant to be a ritual, it’s more like a ceremony to present the emperor’s divinity.”

After speaking, the emperor reached his hand towards the offerings. His hand then enveloped in a mysterious golden glow. Before I knew it, he was holding a short dagger in his hand.

He then held the blade with his bare hand before firmly slicing it across his palm. The action seemed to flash like lightning before he struck the blood-soaked dagger upon the altar.

Baaa—

The lamb cried out for a long time. The lamb who had its neck broken never got up again.

And the blood of the lamb soaked into the fruits and leaves. Just then, a blinding golden light struck the venue.

‘It’s so bright.’

When I managed to open my eyes again, the light seemed to be dancing in front of my eyes.

The bright light spun beautifully as if they had been pieces of sun rays. The light was so dazzling it was as if the Age of Gold had arrived. But it was at that moment. The light faded away.

“… It is too weak.”

Soricks murmured.

“What do you mean weak?”

“The divinity of a Templar of the Lord should be much brighter and more dazzling than this. But this… looked to be half of what it’s supposed to be.”

“His Majesty’s powers were weak?”

“It’s not to that extent, princess.”

Soricks said as he stared at the light that took over the venue again.

“I can tell. It’s like a cicada’s cry, like a firefly’s light, it’s only beautiful because it is their last burst of energy. It is a sad and pitiful light.”

Before I realised it, Soricks’ eyes held a clear purple hue.

‘It shouldn’t be a lie if he used all his power.’

I saw the emperor. Was I the only one who saw him? For a moment, he stumbled. But Auresia, who had been next to him, quickly caught him. From the distance, it looked so smooth that it seemed like he tripped because of her.

“But some will be fooled by this light.”

Just as Soricks said, most of the templars had their eyes glazed over as they stared at the light. Just then, cheers broke out of the crowd.

“Endless prosperity upon the Empire!”

“Long live our great roots, Your Majesty! Our Empire will be forever!”

“Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray!”

Everyone was filled with praise. They saw the emperor’s divinity, the divinity that filled the hall as everlasting.

Inspired by the overwhelming power, one by one, they knelt on their knees. Unlike before, they readily submitted themselves to him. The emperor slowly turned his head.

“Bring me the crown and the ring.”

Gold was swirling in his eyes.

Stout templars carefully brought him a huge cushion. One placed a marble column that came up to my waist on the ground while the other placed the cushion atop it.

On top of the soft cushion laid a golden laurel and a small staff.

“Those are the [Crown of the Lord] and the [Ring of Oath].”

“… A ring? That looks more like a staff. What’s going on?”

“If it is handed to a legitimate heir, it will become a ring.”

Soricks hesitatingly looked towards the staff.

“But he had only been using those artefacts to show off so far without ever handing them to his heirs.”

“Why?”

“As I’ve mentioned earlier, there was a lot of talk of the emperor losing his divinity. It was said, a long time ago, that gods would test their heirs’ qualifications.”

But according to Soricks, that had not been happening recently. It was said that those artefacts had only been placed on show during the Succession Ceremonies of the previous two generations of emperors.

“Now, they have just become symbols.”

I nodded my head. There was a curious tension in the air.

‘Castor’s staying too quiet…’

I looked to the side to find Castor staring straight ahead.

“The gods are with the Empire. Abundance would only continue.”

The emperor looked at the crowds from his high seat.

“Even in the future, only endless glory will be bestowed upon the Empire. The sun will never set in our Empire!”

“We will follow you, Your Majesty!”

The emperor walked down the stairs. He had stopped in front of one of the artefacts placed on a pedestal before suddenly turning his head.

“Come down here, Crown Prince.”

Just then, a buzz spread through the spectators. Even I was a little surprised to hear that as I stared at the emperor.

According to the order of events Rebecca had informed me of, after the emperor’s speech, the banquet was set to continue. And it would not be until the middle or the end of the banquet would the Crown Prince be handed the throne.

Castor turned his rigid gaze around. The murmurs died down upon his movements. Before I realised it, everyone seemed to be watching with bated breath.

“Heed my command.”

Castor kneeled before the emperor.

“Though some of my children are still living, the 3rd and 7th Prince have gone missing while the 4th Prince is still sick. You are the only one I have left.”

“How could you say that?”

Castor smiled as he knelt down.

“Don’t you have one more, Your Majesty? I am, of course, talking about the lovely princess.”

For a moment, Castor’s eyes were on me. I was horrified.

‘What was he talking about?’

The fact that I was not the emperor’s real daughter was something only the emperor, Castor and I were aware of. He couldn’t have been oblivious.

The emperor too was looking at me.

“I do not consider that girl human.”

The emperor glanced at me coldly without reserve, as if I was merely a piece of meat hanging at a butcher.

“Is that so?”

Castor just laughed. He was kneeling down and looking up at him but it did not show on his expression at all.

“What a shame. I am only here on behalf of my brother, Julian, the one I loved and cherished my whole life.”

“Watch your words. That is a sinner’s name.”

“It is also the name of your favourite son.”

Castor’s voice was languid and shaky.

“Ah. Or was that the name you held hostage as you captured me?”

He slowly raised his gaze.

“A long time ago, I had been a good brother who loved my young brother very much. That was a long time ago…”

“Castor.”

The emperor called his name firmly.

The senses of a templar were superior to that of non-templars. Even though they were far away, I could hear their conversation.

‘Even I can hear their conversation so crisply.’

The emperor glowered at Castor.

“I do hope this will be the last of your rudeness.”

“As you wish.”

That marked the end of the conversation between the two powerful men.

The emperor unravelled the mantle he had been wearing. The toga he wore underneath then cascaded down elegantly.

The two people wearing red togas–which were only allowed to be worn by the emperor and his heir, faced each other.

“From this point forth, I will be asking you three questions on behalf of the Lord of the Gods.”

When he waved his hand, the dagger that had been handed to the emperor morphed into a long sword. The emperor lifted the long sword before placing the blade on Castor’s shoulder.

“Crown Prince, you are to swear your life on the River of Styx and the Heavens of Jupiter to answer these questions.”

“I accept your command.”

Castor’s head fell.

It was strange. I would have never thought I would get to see Castor kneeling before anyone for the rest of my life. Perhaps that was why the sight felt unreal.

It was even stranger. How positive he looked.

“What does the Empire mean to you?”

Goosebumps dotted my skin then. It was a familiar question. How could I forget?

“It is the country I was born in. Gods reside in our lands and these gods love us, the humans.”

Just like I did, Castor answered his questions on his knees.

Just then, dazzling orbs of light rose from beneath the emperor’s feet. What had been drawn on the ground seemed to be a mismatch of strange shapes–a magic circle.

“A shaman will decide whether he speaks the truth. If he answers all truthfully, he will gain the throne.”

Soricks, who was standing next to me, explained.

“In fact, if you had your Coming-of-Age Ceremony, you would have been asked those questions as well.”

I looked back at Soricks without realising.

I had already been asked those questions. And died for answering. And the person who had killed me then was now answering the same questions.

And the emperor continued to ask him questions.

“What do you think of me?”

“What do you think of His Majesty?”

“You are the one who made me. I was born and have lived according to your will.”

Upon hearing his answer, the emperor frowned for a brief moment before moving on. But soon, a satisfied smile could be seen in her face.

“Yes. Lastly.”

“For the last question, may I ask you a question?”

“What?”

I raised my head with a start.

“No. I will be asking you a question.”

Castor slowly raised his head before tilting it.

“Father. Do you think you have the right to be emperor?”

Castor smiled softly before sitting down.

“How impudent. What do you think you’re doing during this sacred ceremony!”

Giggle.

Castor burst into laughter.

“Of course you don’t. The right to be emperor comes from one’s divinity.”

In his beautifully ecstatic voice, he struck a chord.

“Father, you don’t have any divinity, do you?”

He sounded eerie. The hall was thrown into chaos. The emperor furrowed his brows.

“How dare you ruin the Succession Ceremony, how can I possibly let you sit down again for the sins you’ve committed!”

“I’d be happy to kneel before you again if you could prove your right to me, father.”

“Prove? What do you want me, the emperor of the Empire, to prove?”

Castor slowly smiled before placing his hands behind his back.

“Our great emperor, why don’t you reach out and grab that to prove your right to the throne?”

Castor was pointing towards the artefact placed right next to them.

“Isn’t that something only a legitimate emperor can hold?”

He curled his eyes.

“Let everyone here know. That you are in good health. I would gladly accept any punishment thereafter.”

Castor tapped his cheek. His eyes were of bright gold. Just like the emperor’s eyes were, the one that was glowering back at him.

Murmurs broke out of the templars. When the emperor took no action, the commotion grew even more.

“Father, doubt is like a drop of ink and once it drops, it will spread out of your control.”

Castor whispered like a devil tempting him over to hell.

“Why don’t you just reach out and prove it to us?”

Castor had already taken control of the situation. The emperor frowned before reaching out.

It was at that moment.

Clatter. The emperor’s hand twitched accompanied with a violent crash.

“T-the artefact? T-t-the artefact, the gods have rejected His Majesty!”

Everyone was shocked by a situation no one had expected to witness.

“Ha. Hahaha. Hahahaha.”

Castor fell into a frenzy. He grabbed his waist before bursting out into laughter. Soon, he slowly straightened his back.

His black hair loosened before flowing down.

“What is going on here? You are responsible for this, aren’t you? Can someone get rid of this wicked joke?”

The emperor exploded in anger. Using his divinity, the mighty emperor attacked Castor.

But the moment it struck Castor, it scattered into the air, disappearing without a trace.

“Hahaha. Father. You can never hold that thing.”

Castor drew a smile before lowering his head.

“Only those with special curses in the Imperial Family are allowed to hold it.”

I stared at him blankly.

“When the coup first broke out, I gave my life to try to hold it… and everything became a blur after. How could that thing acknowledge a man who had yet to go through hell?”

I realised what he was talking about.

‘A special curse.’

The curse that forced us to regress. He said that the emperor would never be able to hold that artefact without going through that hell.

Castor strode towards the emperor.

“You’ve made a mistake. If you wanted to hold onto me, you should have tightened the reins.”

Castor whispered but it was barely audible.

“You!”

“Haha. I’ve had a lot of fun. Father.”

Just then, the one controlling the sword the emperor had been holding changed.

The blade stabbed its owner in his chest as it stuck out from his back.

Someone from the crowds screamed.

“Y-your Majesty!”

“The emperor has been stabbed!”

Chaos ensued. Some were screaming while others were tripping over themselves to get away. Someone tried to open the door only to realise that it wouldn’t open.

Castor remained motionless in the hall. He slowly wiped the blood off his cheek.

“Just as I thought, this Empire is best destroyed.”

Castor murmured quietly in front of the fallen emperor.

“Ah. This took a long time.”

When he raised his head, a brilliant light bloomed from him.

“Could you all just die?”