Chapter 86
Chapter 86
Although Velder was quite anxious, he did not doubt the authority of the Emperor.
The Imperial Knights were still guarding him, and, if needed, he could later mobilize the full force of the Supreme Commander.
As long as he could hold out for the time being, he could easily crush the rebels.
'It should be fine. Surely the commander of the Imperial Knights will manage to resolve this.'
The commander of the Imperial Knights was a knight recognized by the previous Emperor, and a swordsman of superior skill.
His might was on par with that of the Sword Saint, and he had dedicated his loyalty to the Imperial Family up until now.
Moreover, several highly skilled knights followed the commander of the Imperial Knights, so even the rebels would not dare to cross them easily.
'Who could have moved the Imperial Palace Guard? Which bastard has dared to plot treason?'
Velder fell deep in thought, recalling various individuals.
The chancellor, or some high-ranking officials, the capital defense commander, or senior commanders, as well as members of the imperial family and nobles who were displeased with him.
If he were to narrow them down, only a very few could be singled out.
'The 3rd Princess did work hard to raise her standing in order to claim the throne. The capital defense commander is also her maternal uncle...'
Until the next Emperor was decided, the 3rd Princess had strived to increase her own value.
But that ended in complete failure, and in the end, she had no choice but to keep a low profile within the palace.
What if, all this time, she had concealed her true intentions and secretly built up her power?
'Duke Illenat could have gotten involved as well. Didn't he hate me that much?'
Feeling quite uneasy, Velder began devising another plan.
Since Duke Illenat had taken part in the rebellion, he could be driven to execution, and the duke's second daughter could be pressured.
By using her life as leverage over the second daughter, he might establish the proper hierarchy.
'It won't be long. Do you fools really think you can usurp the throne? Nonsense!'
Velder downed his glass in one go, trying to suppress his fear.
Perhaps the palace guard and even the noble's private soldiers would join in, but they would never dare reach him.
The authority of the Emperor never wanes, no matter the circumstance.
"Is the wine already gone? Attendants! Is anybody there?"
Velder set down his empty bottle and shouted loudly.
But there was no reply, only a chilling, ominous atmosphere.
"Where is the chief attendant? What are the Imperial attendants doing..."
Gripped by an odd sense of unease, Velder picked up the sword lying next to him.
There had been a commotion outside just a moment ago, but it fell strangely silent all of a sudden.
Surely, the rebels hadn't defeated the Imperial Knights and reached the Emperor's bedchamber already.
'Impossible. The commander of the Imperial Knights couldn't have been taken down...'
The bedroom door swung open violently, and the rebels burst in.
The attendants had vanished without a trace, and the Imperial Knights had already surrendered.
The Emperor was left all alone, guarding the place in solitude.
"You... You lot. Do you know where you are right now...?"
Velder staggered, looking at them.
Familiar faces were gathered around him, surrounding him on all sides.
The 3rd Princess, the capital defense commander, the Sword Saint, the chancellor, Duke Illenat, the duke's second daughter, and the youngest son of the Grand Duke Radiant.
They had willingly become traitors in an attempt to insult the lofty throne.
"Brother, it's all over now. This country can't have a tyrant as Emperor, don't you think?"
Yuria glared at Velder with eyes as cold as ice.
He had inherited the throne merely because he was the legal wife's child and the first-born son.
That's why, not knowing his own place, he ran wild, and in the end, gave them the perfect excuse for rebellion.
If he was going to be incompetent, he could have at least shown some tact—how could he still be so arrogant?
"Tyrant, you say! Are you trying to deceive me?"
"It's the opposite. Wasn't it you who deceived everyone here? Since this will be our last conversation, shall we go through things one by one?"
Yuria looked around the bedroom and slowly began to walk.
Buried under intense fear, Velder had no choice but to look at her.
From the words "last conversation," he felt as if his own future were being laid bare.
"Brother, you looked down on me even as a child, didn't you? Did you say a woman could never become Emperor? Ah, right. You also said that the likes of a concubine's child didn't know their place, didn't you?"
"......."
"And to my uncle, didn't you call him merely a subordinate dealing with soldiers? The man's the capital defense commander, after all—was it right to call him a subordinate?"
"......."
"As for the Sword Saint... Ah, did you never say anything to him? But it doesn't matter—the Sword Saint is on my side, after all."
Leisurely reciting her grievances, Yuria glanced sidelong at Megarexor.
Surely, Megarexor wouldn't have moved on the persuasion of just herself and the chancellor.
He must have his own agenda, and she suspected it was related to Alter Radiant.
"Before you ascended the throne, you argued with the chancellor, remember? You said he complained too much for someone drawing a salary from the Imperial Family. Thinking about it now, isn't it ridiculous? The chancellor has done so much, yet you scorned his work."
"......."
"And you even went personally to Duke Illenat, didn't you? Even after being rejected, you still did all that? Truly impressive."
"How dare you speak so before the Emperor!"
"The Emperor? Who? Just who here is the Emperor?"
"You... you wretch...!"
Velder trembled violently, but he could not draw his sword.
He could not face all of them alone.
Plus, outside the bedroom, troops would be waiting—no matter what he tried, escape would be impossible.
"You've stashed away quite a bit, haven't you? Was what the Imperial funds provided so insufficient?"
"You're the one who exposed me, weren't you, you bitch!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Also, I should have said this sooner—don't use such foul language. It's so disgraceful."
Yuria overtly mocked him, wearing a faint smile.
She was preparing to become the ruler of the throne—how could she not have made all the necessary preparations?
While Velder had grown arrogant, she had silently built her foundation and gathered allies.
In the end, Velder brought about his own destruction, and she merely seized the opportunity that came her way.
"Should I tell you what's even more disgraceful? You were driven to this point all because you coveted someone else's lover. What did you lack to make you commit such deeds?"
"The Empire should be the Emperor's alone! How could I not even have that?"
"No. If you want it all to yourself, you shouldn't have kept around any bureaucrats or nobles. You used them as much as you liked, and then wanted to claim everything? Hm... You really are greedy. You should have learned to show some generosity."
Yuria's face softened into a look of pity, but she stopped in front of two people.
It was thanks to these two that the rebellion could be concluded so smoothly this time.
Since they had even given her the justification for the uprising, perhaps they deserved a chance to speak.
"Lord Alter, lady Brillie. Do you have anything you'd like to say to my brother?"
"......."
"No... nothing to say."
Brillie, still disapproving of Velder, tried to maintain her silence.
What would change now if she criticized his conduct?
She could only be counted among those witnessing the Emperor's end.
"Your Majesty... you were dissatisfied with the northern army's command being delegated to the Grand Duke of the North, were you not? No doubt you felt the same about the Eastern Marquis."
Unlike Brillie, Alter did not hesitate to express his thoughts.
Yuria listened with interest and at her leisure.
"With utmost respect, if not for the Grand Duke of the North and the Eastern Marquis, no one could have defended the borders. Yet rather than reward them for their toil, you sought to strip them of their command?"
"......."
Velder responded to Alter's reproach in silence.
Even in these circumstances, Alter was speaking politics on what Velder had planned.
Why did he say nothing about Velder trying to take his fiancé?
"... And one last thing. Let me make it clear—Brillie Illenat is my fiancé and my partner. I wish you would bear in mind that she is a woman only I may have."
"......?"
Brillie was taken aback and looked at Alter.
Yuria, finding this amusing, involuntarily let out a loud laugh.
Cadeon was quite troubled but had no choice but to accept it.
"Pffft... Did you hear that? Brother, it was someone like this you provoked. For the sake of his fiancé he could risk his own life—what's a little rebellion to someone like that?"
Finally feeling more at ease, Yuria reached her hand out to the capital defense commander.
He respectfully produced a dagger and promptly placed it into Yuria's hand.
"Are you ready? It's better for you not to resist. That way it'll hurt a little less, wouldn't it?"
"Do as you wish. Do you think I'll die so easily?"
At last, Velder drew his sword and pointed it at Yuria.
But the tip of his blade wavered, and even his stance seemed sloppy.
Yuria gave a hollow laugh as she began to approach Velder.
"Brother, I told you. How much more disgraceful do you have to become before you're satisfied?"
"I will personally kill you, even if it's the last thing I do!"
Velder waited for Yuria to get closer and then lunged at her.
But Yuria did not retreat in the slightest; instead, she dropped her dagger to the floor.
"Ah... you really do choose the hardest path."
"You wretch... Kraaah!"
Velder screamed, instinctively stumbling backward.
In an instant, the chill in the air returned, and something blocked his way.
Alter, watching Velder coldly, began emanating a quiet, icy aura.
"Go on, I'm curious to see just how much more disgraceful you'll become."
"Yuria! You dare—!"
Velder gripped his sword anew and headed for Yuria again.
But this time, even before the icy aura could reach him, his sword was knocked away.
In a flash, sword energy intervened and protected Yuria.
"Hm... I expected you to attack, but you're not. Maybe I'll permit it just this once?"
"That is a task for Your Highness to do. I will concentrate on my duty to protect you."
Brillie replied calmly, sword raised.
If one wished to seize the throne, it was right that the claimant finish the job themselves.
As such, she would only faithfully carry out her assigned duty.
"... Yes, that's also one way."
Accepting that, Yuria stepped forward again.
Velder, seized by overwhelming terror, began to swing his sword wildly.
"Don't come any closer! I said stay away!"
"Oh, brother... How could anyone look this disgraceful? Now it just makes me want to end this quickly."
Resolutely, Yuria spoke and moved in faster.
At the same moment, Megarexor stepped forward and struck Velder down.
"Kugh!"
Velder let go of the sword hilt and rolled across the floor.
In a hurry, he tried to grab his sword again, but it was already far out of reach.
Slowly, Yuria shook her head and raised the dagger high.
"Goodbye. Let's never see each other again. Understood?"
"Stop, please spare my li— Kraaah... ugh...."
Velder swung his arms, only to be seized by a chilling sensation.
That sensation penetrated deep into his body, and before long, something hot began to pour out.
Yuria felt guilt for a brief moment, but as she withdrew the dagger, she forced herself to shake it off.
"Phew..."
Yuria looked at the blood staining the dagger and scowled.
Then she tossed the dagger aside and gazed quietly down at Velder.
Velder kept spurting blood, flinching repeatedly, and finally went completely limp.
"This seat was always meant to be mine. It turned out this way only because you took it."