episode_0060

“Service, you have returned with a great achievement,” said Emperor from his throne, as Service knelt at a distance.

For a moment, he felt a prickling sensation.

“Compared to Your Majesty’s accomplishments, it is as insignificant as a drop of blood.”

Though he tried to appear nonchalant, he was quite taken aback.

‘What in the world has happened to the Emperor?’

The month spent crushing enemies across borders was by no means a short time.

Yet, in just that period,

the Emperor, who had been on the brink of death, had transformed completely.

Of course,

that wasn’t an issue.

While it was quite intimidating, to him now, it was as trivial as an insect’s fluttering wings.

Looking at it that way, it was merely a slight annoyance.

But when coupled with long-held desires, minor discomfort swiftly escalated into profound unease.

Even amidst cheers and flower bouquets, during the victory parade,

the happiness he had felt seemed tainted, as if cold water had been poured over it.

As the Emperor had to die for him to ascend the throne, seeing the rejuvenated Emperor inevitably stirred up discomfort within him.

“Service, if you wish to acknowledge your merit, speak of your desires.”

“Your Majesty—”

“That is not appropriate, Your Highness.”

Just as Service was about to speak, a raspy voice from behind interrupted.

The attendants flanking them fell silent instantly, the voice was so eerily unsettling.

“Viscount Pellios.”

The first thing that came to Service’s mind upon hearing that name was the incessant lightning magic that had plagued their journey to Eisen.

‘Could it be…! As I suspected.’

Finally, the pieces fell into place.

‘It’s unmistakable. That old man was indeed aiding Eos alongside the Flame Tower.’

It was almost a certainty.

Initially, it had been a vague conjecture after much deliberation, but now, facing the unpleasant schemer, he couldn’t shake the feeling that his assumption was correct.

“The Crown Prince, burdened with significant responsibilities, unilaterally declared war on the enemy despite leading the army to defend the borders. This act verges on treason. While it may be a great achievement, pardoning it easily would greatly undermine Your Majesty’s authority. Please, take decisive action.”

Naturally, Viscount Shurain erupted.

“Be cautious with your words! Treason! The Crown Prince led the army himself to protect and defend the borders. To cast doubt without evidence is truly outrageous and despicable!”

“What? Despicable? No evidence? The emotional equivalent of the letter given by the Prince of Perem has already been concluded! Moreover, isn’t the seal imprint on the ring the Crown Prince wears still intact? Where else do you need proof?”

“The emotional content and the seal can be manipulated by anyone with ill intentions!”

“Enough.”

Anticipating further meaningless arguments, the Emperor swiftly intervened.

“….”

“Service, answer this. Did you write the declarations of war?”

“It was not me, Your Majesty.”

“Then, was your seal stolen?”

“Most likely, it seems so.”

“Most likely…?”

“Regardless, I have apprehended the person suspected of being the culprit.”

“And who might that be?”

At Service’s call,

someone was soon brought forward by the soldiers, stumbling and bound with ropes.

His face was so battered that he could hardly speak.

“This man is Glentino Gerund, the scribe of my lord. He was seen loitering in front of my lodge on multiple occasions. While I was asleep, he was caught tampering with the ring and subdued on the spot.”

“Look here, Duke. Didn’t I say so? I did not suggest it was a setup. The Crown Prince is no fool, knowing full well the consequences of his actions. Why would he commit such an act?”

Despite Duke Shurain’s words, which seemed to console a crying child, Duke Felios remained steadfast in his initial opinion.

“If, hypothetically, the Crown Prince tortured that scribe and framed him, what would you do then?”

“What! Are you seriously suggesting that now?”

“Enough. This is your final warning. If you do not wish to be banished from the palace, I implore both Dukes to maintain decorum.”

The Emperor asked Servis, “Do you have any other evidence that he is the culprit?”

“If you cannot trust the testimony of the soldiers and doubt even my testimony as your son and the Crown Prince, then there is no other way for me to prove his guilt.”

“Can you swear to Aurora that your words are not false?”

“Yes, I swear to speak only the truth-”

Crash Bang!

For a moment, thunder roared loudly from outside.

“……”

“……”

“……”

“I can.”

In a peculiar turn of events, everyone fell into silence like mute statues, but Servis, undeterred, eventually completed the oath.

“Well, what in the world… thunder on a clear day…”

“Summer weather is inherently capricious, isn’t it? It seems like a storm is brewing soon.”

The Emperor wore a perplexed expression.

“I believe you, but mere oaths won’t prove his guilt. Similarly, proving your guilt would be impossible. Release this Glentino fellow. Since you have saved the empire, I will grant any reasonable request you make.”

“What do you mean?”

“Yes, within reason, I will grant you anything.”

After a brief pause, Servis spoke with a resolute expression.

“In that case, I request that you punish the traitor who defied my orders and the imperial decree by deserting.”

“……”

For a moment, the Emperor was speechless.

“Desertion… desertion…”

“I am also uncomfortable with this. However, to console the hearts of soldiers worn out by prolonged battles, those who disobey military orders must be punished to set a proper precedent. Otherwise, it will leave a stain on military discipline.”

“Yes, if indeed desertion occurred, punishment is necessary. Eos, step forward.”

Servis looked at Eos standing beside him with a worried expression.

The earlier fierceness had long vanished.

Of course, what lay beneath was entirely different from concern.

‘Putting on a show of death so poorly.’

Terdoan had realized early on that Eos’s death was a fake.

The humanoid golem was incredibly sophisticated.

Both externally and internally, it appeared so natural as if crafted by a god.

However, the two distinct senses of presence emanating from the golem were unmistakably non-human.

Terdoan’s incompetence in recognizing this was so glaringly contemptible due to the stark contrast in their essence.

Moreover.

The corpse with a pierced heart had seemingly vanished in the blink of an eye.

It seemed like a prank played by a spirit.

“Yes. Unauthorized departure from the military is a grave offense that must be swiftly addressed with execution, regardless of status. Otherwise, military discipline will falter.”

Following this, Duke Shurain supported the Crown Prince.

“That is correct, Your Majesty. Desertion before battle is a heinous crime that must be punished by death, regardless of one’s noble status.”

“So grave a sin left unpunished will surely cause a significant drop in the morale of the Imperial Army! Please, punish His Highness the Crown Prince for the sake of Mersen!”

Even the other courtiers.

They began fiercely voicing their opinions as if competing for loyalty to the future emperor.

***

For a moment, I felt dizzy.

Are these people really in their right minds?

They dare accuse me, who defeated the Perem Kingdom’s army, of desertion?

It was so absurd that words failed me.

And it was amusing.

Their argument had a fatal flaw.

“Desertion? What nonsense is this?”

I said with as nonchalant an expression as possible.

“Brother. Many soldiers know that you sneaked out of the camp. Instead of repenting, you try to deceive even His Majesty. It is quite regrettable as your younger brother.”

“You talk like a brother and yet indulge in such insolence.”

His sarcastic tone was quite effective.

The bulging vein on Servis’s forehead was evidence of that.

“Your Highness, His Majesty is listening as well. What vulgar words are these!”

Finally, Duke Shurain intervened.

“Why do you interfere when His Majesty is silent? Are you the Emperor, Duke Shurain?”

“What preposterous words!”

“Aren’t you saddened by your son’s death?”

“T-Terdoan died an honorable death for Mersen! I feel no sadness at all.”

He certainly seemed that way.

But what would his reaction be if he knew the truth?

Could he remain calm as he is now?

I already knew through the novel that Servis killed his biological father.

Just to be sure, I sent Rak to secretly investigate underground.

Servis was indeed not one to miss a good opportunity.

And even more astonishing was the truth yet to unfold.

In the end, Servis was destined to kill both Duke Shurain and the Empress.

“Your Highness, explain about the desertion.”

A smile had crept onto Duke Shurain’s lips.

Like the look of a predator gazing down at its firmly caught prey.

But can we really call it a trap when surrounded by such feeble logic?

“Desertion. I am speechless, Your Majesty.”

“Why do you speak like that? Explain in detail.”

The Emperor asked with a face full of affection.

“To use the term ‘desertion,’ one must have been part of a unit, whether as a soldier, commander, or holding any position within the military.”

“……”

“……”

A moment of silence hung in the air.

Servis beside me was only trembling violently in his eyes.

I gracefully turned around as if dancing to admire the faces of those struck dumb.

“As someone who merely rode in the carriage to assist, can I truly be considered part of the military? As a sinner turned prince? As someone who has not been given any official duty?”

I gently closed my eyes.

With my left hand behind me and my right hand placed on my left chest, I adopted a somewhat pitiful tone, as if striking an exaggerated pose like a court jester or a tragic actor.

“All I could do as a prince was to stumble upon something lucky like in Ribengard. I simply hurried to Eisen alone, considering those who kept delaying, forgetting their original mission. That’s all I did.”

“……”

“Desertion… If I am guilty of anything, it is merely trembling in anxiety at the thought of the Crown Prince coming from Eisen. The real sinners are those who have not arrived yet, the Grand Marshal and the Crown Prince, even as Perrem’s army retreats, even until my fiancée is chosen as Miss Eisen. Wouldn’t it be the General and the Crown Prince who have truly violated the imperial decree, fleeing with an army exceeding six million, dragging time until the end?”

“T-t-that’s, that’s…”

“W-w-well, what’s that…”

Despite the utter absurdity of the words, unable to come up with a fitting rebuttal, Shulein, along with many other courtiers, began to stammer.

“….”

And Servis simply smiled silently with sparkling eyes.

It wasn’t difficult to discern the forced smile’s underlying meaning.

His face trembled as if afflicted by convulsions, making it evident.