episode_0152

Valcaros Lantana von Staufen.

In the original story, no related information ever appeared. There was no point where the Emperor was specifically dealt with, nor were there any special side story episodes. Players, however, only inferred based on the stories of the princesses.

Was that why? The evaluation of Valcaros was not good.

[Category: Free Board]

[Title: No matter how I look at it, the Emperor is the root of all evil in the Rose arc]

Seriously, there’s no character as hateful as this bastard. He neglected his only blood relatives, his daughters, from a young age, and rarely showed his face. What’s more, when the Second Princess fell ill, he immediately confined the 8-year-old, not caring at all. In the end, the family broke apart. The close sisterly bond was also ruined. Elize suffered alone for over 10 years, falling into various mental illnesses and self-harm addiction, eventually dying by extreme choice before her lifespan ended. Charlotte was traumatized by it, leading to reduced social skills.

In the story, if the Headmaster is the absolute top in incompetence, this Emperor bastard is the absolute top in hatefulness.

[He really is a complete bastard.] -> They say even beasts cherish their offspring. -> If you read the Rose side story, your hatred for the Emperor boils over.

[Headmaster vs. Emperor] -> A battle of unlikability where superiority cannot be determined. -> Trash and waste, wow.

Everyone threw stones at him. I was no different. At the time, there was almost no given information. To notice something strange, our eyes were already biased. Hypotheses pieced together became solidified as a single proposition. It wasn’t particularly surprising.

‘That’s how it is.’

Understanding. It is only achieved after sufficient truth. If there is no light, steps are bound to go astray. Misunderstanding, misconception, distortion… that’s how we often refer to a deviation from understanding. At the same time, we live within such words.

‘However.’

This time was different. We were finally able to understand each other. The report on the illness, knowledge of the original work, actions discovered through inquiries… The unearthed clues soon wove into a single thread, revealing the truth. At the end of a long, long process, the situation was telling a completely opposite story. A story about a certain possibility.

‘Everything.’

Eyes that showed no emotion. A voice in which not even a shred of warmth could be felt. An indifferent attitude in all matters. The coldness of personally confining his daughter, and the strangely cold times. I realize that all those winters were love for you. I understand that it was the best dedication for you.

[Category: Q&A Board]

[Title: So why did the Emperor die in the story?]

When you enter the final chapter in the game, he suddenly dies. There’s no proper explanation given; you’re just playing, and then a sudden obituary is announced. The timing is just before the Grand Cathedral collapses, so it’s early in the final chapter… What happened to the Emperor? Did the cult take out the imperial family while destroying the church? Does anyone know what happened?

[That hasn’t been properly revealed yet.] -> There’s no separate official appearance. -> It’s an unresolved plot point, like the Headmaster (Prophet). -> What the heck, this game is full of unresolved plot points.

[There are a few theories.] -> There’s a theory that the cult assassinated him. -> There are nobles who incite rebellion, right? Like the Benity ducal family… Anyway, there’s also a theory that they silently took him out. -> Or there’s a theory that an existing chronic illness worsened. -> In fact, these are all just hypotheses, and nothing has been clearly revealed yet. -> Ugh, they’re talking around the fact that they don’t know so much.

[Honestly, I don’t care that the trashy Emperor died.] -> From a gameplay perspective, I felt it was a shame. He was a guy who would readily send support if you asked. -> If you rank him by supporter tier, he’d be at least Tier 2. -> The Emperor is an angel compared to the Headmaster, lol. -> Emperor, truly epic. -> Charlotte, turn off the Wi-Fi. -> The performance-focused players are immediately hyping up the Emperor. -> Always the same WWE.

A mysterious death. Valcaros always died a solitary death around the final chapter in all routes. He suddenly withdrew from the story, his exact cause of death never revealed. At the time, it remained an unresolved plot point, but now, the truth beyond it could be faced.

The Emperor’s cause of death was none other than illness.

‘Manastone Curse.’

He had died, fully embracing that curse. A story from approximately half a year from now. Elize had already taken her own life, but Valcaros, having received the illness, had no way to reverse it. Therefore, the Emperor had to die himself, unable to save his daughter. The end of the imperial family was thus so tragic.

-What… what should I live for now? -I couldn’t protect anything.

After the consecutive deaths of the two. Charlotte, left alone, wandered aimlessly. The imperial family had collapsed in an instant. The Rose, whom she had made her life’s goal, died, and even the Emperor, who had sustained the empire, died a solitary death. Charlotte was burdened with duties even before she could shake off her sorrow and confusion. Because she was the sole successor.

-Is this what it means to be an adult? -Tears won’t come.

Charlotte ascended to the throne. The tears that had once flowed endlessly gradually dried up with time. Her characteristic innocent appearance could no longer be found.

[EP41. The Emperor of the Old Empire]

-As she became an adult, the no-longer-young girl-

The Little Prince. The epithet that referred to her could no longer be followed by “young.” The girl who stepped into the world of adults sat on the Imperial Throne. Thus, the content of Charlotte’s narrative was that she inherited the throne in a world on the brink of destruction and confronted the impending catastrophe. This narrative was well-received for its beautiful portrayal of psychological conflict and gloom. In other words, it was a story fraught with anguish and misfortune.

-Answer me, Elize. -Can I, who couldn’t even save you… truly lead the Empire? -I’m afraid I won’t be able to save anyone this time either. -I am just endlessly small.

The guilt of not being able to protect her sister. The burden of the crown on her head. The sudden loneliness and confusion of the girl who became an adult. That’s why I didn’t like Charlotte’s story. Because it was so somber.

‘If it’s for pity.’

The misfortune of the imperial family stemmed from misunderstanding. The lack of communication soon bred misfortune. Perhaps. They might have had a different ending. Elize not giving up on life in the end. Valcaros finding a way to survive. Charlotte might have had a chance not to despair. If only there had been a brief opportunity for them to understand each other. That gap, like a single sheet of paper, made the story even more regrettable. Indeed, that is the nature of tragedy.

‘This time is different.’

An opportunity to understand each other. What wasn’t in the original story now existed. As mentioned earlier, if ignorance is the starting point of misunderstanding, then the remedy for it is none other than knowledge. I was taking it upon myself to become the knowledge in their story, mixed with misunderstanding. Through just a few words of conversation.

“”……””

The children were immersed in silence. In their hands was a thick book. It was none other than a directive written in the Emperor’s own hand. When we asked him about the past, he tossed us the book, saying it would be faster to read it themselves. There, Valcaros’s past actions and goals were meticulously recorded. The neatly arranged characters supplemented our ‘knowledge.’ The faint scent of ink spreading as the pages turned. The princesses seemed unable to fully process the situation yet.

“”……””

However. Even in confusion, the truth before one’s eyes remains unsullied. For if the aesthetic of falsehood is ever-changing, the aesthetic of truth is immutable. Truth, at least, never contains falsehood. It merely requires time to be accepted. I waited for the children’s confusion to subside.

“My mind can’t follow.”

“……”

“If what’s written in this book is true, then all His Majesty’s actions until now were for Elize…”

“You saw correctly. The First Princess’s words are right.”

Charlotte mumbled, looking bewildered. As if he heard the soft sound, Valcaros answered indifferently. His gaze still held a cold, indifferent hue. It was like a machine.

“Of course, my current self cannot understand, but it seems my past self had different thoughts.”

An expression of annoyance.

“To weigh the Empire against the Second Princess and choose the latter. It was a completely irrational choice. If only one had been sacrificed, everyone could have been at peace. If it were my current self, I would have personally beheaded the Second Princess. For the crime of carrying such a vulgar curse in a royal body.”

Sentences spat out casually. Words without a heart were so sharp. Yet, no one was hurt by them. Because they now knew what process had led to the heart being excised from that voice. Even his utterly cruel tongue was proof of days gone by.

“……”

Elize remained silent. The emotion reflected in her green eyes was difficult to discern. She was sinking into the confusing situation. Resentment, hatred, loneliness that had lasted for almost 10 years… to think that all of it was actually false. It was as if all the time she had lived until now had been nullified. Her slender fingers gripped the directive tightly.

[Directives for the Second Princess]

-Everything for my beloved daughter. -For Elize.

Such sentences were written on the open page. Elize couldn’t bring herself to turn the page. It seemed it would take quite some time to accept the confusion. It would be difficult to overturn 10 years of resentment with merely an hour of devotion. Once she knew the truth, she had no reason to oppose Valcaros, but humans do not live solely by reason. The deep emotional chasm, long established, was not easily resolved.

I turned away from the princesses and had a conversation.

“It seems the princesses need some time.”

“Indeed. I will give them a little space.”

The Emperor was still looking at us, not his daughters. He was giving his attention to whatever currently piqued his interest. He said.

“By the way, it’s surprising. I didn’t expect you to even uncover the part about the spell.”

“That’s because I have quite capable people by my side.”

“You are truly interesting, as expected.”

“You flatter me.”

“But it’s already too late.”

“What do you mean?”

“It means nothing will change.”

Lifeless pupils. The man’s eyes were like withered leaves.

“The spell is almost complete. In another fortnight, I will have taken all of the Second Princess’s curse. And I will end my life within a year.”

The predetermined fate remained unchanged.