episode_0172

=======[Ernst]========

The air that night was particularly cold.

Is it because one piece of brotherly warmth has disappeared forever again?

Ernst sat in his office greeting a midnight visitor.

His younger sister, Leonor.

“… Brother.Marty is dead.”

Leonor was muttering softly, but her usual cheerful demeanor was nowhere to be seen.

Ernst remained silent and looked at his younger sister, who looked like she was about to collapse at any moment, expressionless.

“No, he was killed. Like Josef… . Even you know who did it… ?”

“… It must be the work of a monster.”

Leonor’s expression distorted.

His fists were shaking. He was full of murderous anger, as if he would pull out his sword at any moment.

“Fuck nonsense… ! Monster? Leopold’s bodyguard? On a subject that I clearly know is all lies!”

Unlike Leonor, who openly showed her anger, Ernst appeared calm throughout.

He just silently picked up the magic candle he had previously burned and lit it.

Like a statue made of steel, without expressing any emotion.

“No. It’s a monster.”

“It’s funny… !”

“If you don’t call it a monster, what else can you call it?”

Ernst sighed, exhaling magic candle smoke.

Leonor, who seemed ready to grab him by the collar at any moment, was also surprised by her brother’s words and had no choice but to flinch.

“… What?”

The dust that had been shaken off piled up in the ashtray.

“A mass of evil without a single shred of human heart. What could such an ugly thing that eats its own children be if not a monster? Leonor.”

Ernst revealed his true feelings to Leonor for the first time.

Ever since his youngest brother Josef died a long time ago, Ernst had not even considered Isabella a person.

Because I couldn’t understand my younger brother’s disappearance, I personally investigated and the results were shocking.

It was Isabella who killed Josef.

I couldn’t figure out the reason… That too was something I would find out a little later.

“If you know that well, your brother… !”

“So what do you want to do? Leonor. Tell me. Are you going to kill her with your own hands? Or, do you want me to kill that woman?”

“That’s right… !”

“Even though I know that if that woman dies at this point, we will all fall as we have lost the central point of our faction?”

Leonor was momentarily speechless.

Because Ernst’s words went straight to the heart of their situation.

Just as the key figure of the 1st Prince faction was not Leopold but the Margrave of Landenburg, the key figure of the 3rd Prince faction was also not Ernst.

For convenience, they are called the ‘Ernstists’, but in reality, it was an organization no different from Isabella’s faction.

A collection of trash collected by Isabella through dirty and lewd secret banquets and incomprehensible underworld transactions.

They were not particularly loyal to Ernst himself, and if Isabella died, they would scatter like grains of sand.

Ernst also knew it well. At least leaving them alone will only harm yourself.

However, now I couldn’t touch it.

Cancer cells that had been multiplying since he was a child who did not know anything yet, ten years ago.

By the time I reached the age where I could decide my own course of action, it had already grown beyond my control.

If you cut it out hastily, you too will lose everything.

“… So you’re just going to leave me alone? For your brother to ascend to the throne?

Ernst did not answer.

… It had to be that way. Until now.

In order to safely eliminate them, it was necessary to gather forces loyal to Ernst himself, and although the military achieved some success… As expected, there was still not enough time.

‘If only I had stayed at least three more years… .’

Ernst, who was muttering under his breath as if making excuses, soon let out a bitter smile.

If you think about it, it was also because of Isabella’s actions that time became so short.

She probably guessed it too.

Ernst was planning to gather his forces and get rid of Isabella and all the trash below him.

As a result, the current Ernst had no choice but to rely on the Isabella faction.

If he wants to become emperor.

There was a reason it had to be.

“Once Leopold ascends to the throne, do you think he will leave us alone? Although he tries to hide it, it is clear that his heart is filled with revenge for all of us.”

“That’s… !”

“Okay. It’s a natural grudge. Isabella Look what she did. They killed Empress Anna, sent Karl into exile in the north, and forced Eleonora to sell to another country. Now, my mother did something like that, and if Leopold becomes emperor… What do you think will happen to us?”

Leopold’s revenge will not stop with Isabella.

Not only Ernst, but also Leonor and Matthias would fall victim to his revenge.

That was the reason why Ernst pursued the throne he did not want.

He wanted to protect his younger siblings. And, he himself didn’t want to die either.

… It was like that until a week ago.

“Ha, you are so wise! we? Us? So, who among us is left? Josef died a long time ago. Mathias is dead too! Now all that’s left is you and me, so it’s my turn next!”

“Leonor.”

“Brother, you can wait calmly. If you die, Leopold will become emperor, so even that woman won’t touch you! But me? If she touches me too, how long will it take? You’re not going to tell me to die to make my brother emperor, or to become a prostitute worse than death!”

Leonor’s eyes were shaking violently with a mixture of anxiety, resentment, hatred, and fear.

Ernst, unable to look at his sister who looked like she was about to burst into tears, closed her eyes.

The sigh he let out turned into white smoke and floated around the room.

“… … okay. So… It won’t work.”

Ernst once again inhaled so much smoke that his lungs were full… ,

I let out a long, very long sigh.

As if he was throwing out everything that was holding him back, everything he had planned.

It was time to make a decision.

“… Brother?”

“Leonor. Yes, Leonor… . As you said, there are only two of us left now, you and me… . And, in the end, only one will remain.”

‘or not… ‘Not even one left.’

I couldn’t leave it like that. never.

Ernst extinguished his cigarette by crushing it in the ashtray and then got up.

Surprised, Leonor took a step back.

“Leonor. This is my final advice, so remember it well. Immediately, take only the important items and leave the palace. Find a place where no one will notice, other than the Rose Knights’ villa, and hide and wait for at least four days.”

“What? last? Now, what to say… ?”

” Within four days, if you hear news that Isabella has died or been imprisoned, you may return. But if nothing happens… Don’t come see me again. Either leave the empire and live with your identity hidden, or… Umm… , okay. It would be a good idea to visit Princess Aishangior and entrust her with her.”

The words were decisive and one-sided, as if they were leaving a will.

Leonor was taken aback by her brother’s sudden remark, and could only listen without being able to respond.

“Leopold will try to use you or kill you, but as a princess, he will protect you. If she had been so vicious that she would sell anyone who asked for her help for power, she would not have been chosen as the owner of the Sword of Oath. Under the princess, in Landenburg, find your life and live.”

“No, no. Wait a minute, what on earth are you talking about all of a sudden? What are you trying to do?”

“… Something I should have done a long time ago. Remember, Leonor. Right now. Leave without delaying even a moment. You understand what I’m saying, right?”

Ernst’s hand went to the long sword that was hanging on the wall.

Although it may not be the sword of oath, it is a long sword made of pure silver.

He didn’t have a better sword than this.

“Stop, if you’re going to do that, I’d rather join you… !”

Ernst naturally let go of Leonor’s hand, which tried to grab his brother’s shoulder, by simply opening his arm slightly.

In terms of pure force, he had an advantage over Leonor.

“It’s meaningless. Save your life, Leonor. That is my brother’s last wish.”

Ernst left his room without even waiting for Leonor’s answer.

In the imperial palace at dawn, when most of the servants were asleep, the prince with his sword walked without hesitation.

There was no one reckless enough to stop the prince, who said his mother had urgent business to attend to.

—-

Isabella’s bedroom was in full swing with passionate pleasure.

After the emperor’s death, does he no longer care about what others think?

The painful moans of men and women mixed together were clearly echoing in the hallway beyond the door.

If even a rumor had gotten out, it would have caused a huge uproar, but since there were not even a single bodyguard in the hallway of the inner room, Isabella’s actions would not have spread outside.

‘Okay, everyone will be in the room.’

I could guess why there were no guards.

By now, I am probably clinging to my master, enjoying the ‘grace bestowed by Her Majesty the Empress.’

It was a banquet of prostitutes and trash.

“Haaa… ! Okay, more… ! Hmm!”

Ernst knocked on the door, not paying attention to Isabella’s voice moaning like a prostitute.

The teaching stopped abruptly.