episode_0158

The emperor’s health worsened.

“Damn. I am the emperor of this country… It won’t end like this…”

Problems that were unknown when magic stones were abundant were revealed as the years went by.

“Damn… that elf…”

Now he couldn’t even get out of bed.

“If you have magic stones, magic stones…!”

Magical power was also needed to maintain the body. As he weakened, the curse stirred as if it was trying to take his life.

“ㅡEven if the probability is low, I have no choice but to try… .”

Like a dying flame, he knew that his mana and his life were at stake.

It was then.

widely. A heavy hardcover book appeared by his bedside.

The pages fluttered open and flew in front of his eyes.

[Do you want power?]

“Ha. Now it doesn’t even look like a star.”

Hundreds of years ago, I was once called the Demon Emperor, so I immediately realized what that was.

But this was also an opportunity.

The emperor’s eyes sparkled.

“What do you want?”

[soul.]

“Dare you want the soul of this body?”

[It’s okay if it’s another soul. However, there will be more.]

“I’ll give you as much as I want. The empire is mine. All life living in this empire is also mine. Take as much as you want!”

[The contract is concluded. But such abstract payments are impossible. This place. your palace. A soul that has sworn allegiance to you. The time limit is 1 hour.]

A grave old man’s voice.

“ㅡHow dare you!!”

The Emperor growled lowly.

[59 minutes and 37 seconds left.]

A low voice echoed in my head.

“ㅡI understand.”

The emperor stood up. Just signing the contract gave me a lot of strength. How long has it been since I felt this way? Even as I ground my teeth, my mind was calm.

‘But what?’

The emperor felt a sense of déjà vu.

‘That voice.’

I feel like I’ve heard this before. But I couldn’t remember.

* * *

“Damn.”

Esteban returned to the palace after a few days and sighed.

“Nothing happened.”

Esteban couldn’t understand. The reactions of the lords were consistent.

[We don’t have enough space in our territory either.]

[yes. When you become emperor, go then.]

Even if you prepare a kite in advance, it won’t be enough.

No matter how bad the situation is, it is still unnatural.

“Can we call this an empire?”

The independence of each lord was very strong.

So much so that he roundly refused all the troops and supplies that Esteban requested.

Esteban, who had been looking at the documents for a long time, clicked his tongue.

“You’re out of your mind.”

Young Ji-min is not a slave. You can leave the territory at any time if you wish.

However, the thoughts of those who did not want to lower taxes were very consistent.

Just thinking about it makes me frown.

Before leaving the territory, you undergo screening.

And if they make all kinds of excuses to fail to pay a large amount of departure tax, they will be reduced to serfs and will not be able to leave their territory.

Anyone could see that it was unreasonable. But it’s not against the law. The toll tax for a territory is at the discretion of the lord.

Unlike slavery, serfdom is legal. They are treated as commoners and in debt to their lords, so they cannot even dream of leaving the territory.

By tying up Yeongjimin in that way, another rebellion eventually broke out.

“Your Majesty, they are like weeds anyway. Even if you cut them down, they will grow again anyway. Please provide some troops to extinguish the urgent fire immediately.”

Esteban was now confused as to whether he was the crown prince or a member of the poop disposal team.

“A soldier at the instigation of the lord killed my mother. Even if I die on the spot, I will not surrender.”

Maybe it’s because I’m tired, but even the things the worms said come to mind one by one.

Slurp. Esteban’s eyes closed.

“Prince. Do you like it that much?”

“Yes, oh my.”

My mother was a truly kind person.

“Cecilia, come here.”

“Yes, Empress.”

Her mother sat Cecilia on her lap and stroked her head affectionately.

“Hehe. You can call me mother.”

“…Hwang, does your mother love you?”

Cecilia asked cautiously. Momma’s expression hardened at Cecilia’s question, which was not childlike.

“……Your Majesty, ah. Prince, princess. This mother will make apple pie.”

When I think about it, my mother’s behavior at that time was very unnatural.

Although her mother is an empress, she is a kind person who is not jealous of the other concubines.

Naturally, even Cecilia, the Empress’s daughter, was treated like her own daughter.

No matter how arranged the marriage, I wonder if it was that difficult to say, “I love you” in front of my children.

When I think about it, I think I thought of Cecilia as my younger sister at the time.

The happiest time in my life.

“Mother, Cecilia. Where are you?”

It was when I headed towards my mother’s residence as usual.

The first time I smelled something, it smelled like iron. As I wandered around the house, raising my voice out of inexplicable anxiety, I found my mother lying covered in blood.

“Mother, mother!!”

There were countless knife marks on my mother’s back.

Who on earth is my mother, the empress…? . like this… . Who on earth… .

“Ugh… .”

I was too excited to notice.

My mother was crouching down as if protecting someone.

“Brother…?”

“You…”

It was Cecilia. The girl, who had just opened her eyes, asked blankly and suddenly began to shed tears.

“Brother, Empress… . Suddenly, people wearing masks… .”

Cecilia continued to say something, but nothing was heard.

All I could think was that my mother had died because of Cecilia.

Old memories come to mind.

One day I asked my mother.

“Doesn’t your mother hate Cecilia? I heard what my father and servants said. As His Majesty continues to increase his reserve, my mother’s position increases!”

The little boy was still fussing on his mother’s lap.

“…I wish I could keep living like this.”

The Empress muttered softly. It’s as if he knows this happiness won’t last long.

“Yes…?”

The boy tilted his head.

“It’s nothing… . Esteban you… . Yes, someday when I become an adult… . I’ll tell you someday.”

“Mother… ?”

The Empress had a very sad expression. As if he was going to die soon.

“I guess I can tell you this… . Rather, I… them… . I think of you as my colleague. I don’t hate you at all… . you also. I don’t want to hate them.”

The boy just nodded.

Although I didn’t understand it exactly, I felt that my mother didn’t truly hate them.

It was the same even after my mother was murdered.

‘Yes… Cecilia is my sister. That’s what my mother also said.’

“Abama. My mother was murdered. It’s so easy for a criminal to hide even in the imperial palace.”

“So?”

The emperor clenched his chin.

“…Yes?”

The emperor turned his head to see Esteban, who was embarrassed and unable to speak.

“What were the results of the investigation?”

The emperor looked at the chamberlain and the knight commander.

“He seems to be a person who knows the geography of the imperial palace well. Patrolling was going on normally, but no one found even a trace. Again…”

“I see, strengthen security for the time being.”

The Emperor cut him off before the Knight Commander could finish his report.

‘The Empress is dead. But is that the end? ‘Is that really the end?’

Everyone here could feel it.

The emperor looked annoyed.

“Abama?”

“If you have any business, please tell me.”

The emperor, sitting slanted on the throne, spoke coldly.

“…Momma, you passed away and you don’t feel anything?”

“Hmm. I see, I heard you were with Cecilia. Is Cecilia okay?”

The emperor said indifferently.

“Yes, thanks to the Empress.”

The chamberlain bowed his head.

“It’s amazing that the assassin left Cecilia unharmed.”

Esteban stormed out of the palace. There wasn’t even a greeting, but the emperor said nothing.

It was a few days later that I understood the emperor’s words.

“I can’t believe you are becoming empress.”

“As soon as the Empress passed away, this is…”

The maids who lost their master continued to whisper.

“Captain, no matter how much we investigated, there was no trace of anything. We even received help from wizards, but there was no sign of a break-in. If there is one, it is the main palace or annex palace that cannot be inspected. Other than that, there is no possibility… .”

“Watch your mouth, and you must not say anything suspicious about other concubines without evidence.”

“However, if external intrusion is impossible due to circumstances… .”

The article trailed off, but it felt suspicious to the boy who heard it.

“What does that mean!”

Esteban shouted.

“Well, Your Highness…”

“Then, you’re saying that the other concubines killed my mother!!”

“That’s not it, Your Highness.”

Young Esteban could not stand it any longer.

Esteban walked away with long strides. I must see Your Majesty again immediately.

It was then.

“Mom, is it okay for you to come out like this?”

Cecilia’s voice was heard.

And next to it.

“I can’t help it…”

The empress became empress this time. Cecilia’s biological mother was there.

And the moment I made eye contact with her.

“Ugh.”

When she saw Esteban, she took a step back as if she had seen something scary.