Published at 13th of October 2024 7:46 am

Chapter 255: Return (3)

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The capital of the Ernes Empire - The Imperial Palace.

The Emperor, who had been sitting quietly on the throne, carefully opened his eyes as the door opened.

Tap.

Tap...

Then, arriving in front of him with the sound of gentle footsteps was the current head of the Brutein family - Jeremiah,

"You've come..."

Although he opened his eyes, the Emperor averted his gaze, unable to face him, and opened his mouth.

"Yes. Jeremiah Von Schweig Brutein greets Your Imperial Majesty, The Sun of the Empire."

However, despite the Emperor's weak appearance, Jeremiah showed disciplined courtesy with unwavering loyalty.

"Haha. Hahaha...!"

At that, the Emperor of the Ernes Empire could only express his swirling complex emotions with a hollow laugh and finally spilled out the ramblings of a mere old man in a gloomy voice.

"Even in this situation, you still call me your Emperor…”

Ashamed, the Emperor rose from his throne and staggered closer to him.

Thud!

Then he knelt down and pressed his forehead hard against the floor.

The Emperor,

The highest authority in this nation,

Performed the deepest bow one could do.

"I’m sorry.”

"......"

"I'm sorry for being such an incompetent, powerless, and pathetic ruler…..."

"Your Majesty."

“I wanted to show that the Imperial Family doesn’t need to stand in Brutain’s care like a child benign fostered and protected….”

But.

"In the end, we were half-wits who couldn't even take proper steps..."

They were unable to stand without Brutein's help.

Unable to move forward without Brutein’s sacrifice.

"We are just... parasites that only gnaw at the lives of capable loyal subjects..."

"That's not true."

The fundamental cause of this war is at least the knots and plots Ferzen was involved in.

Of course, the Imperial family, who couldn't correct the mistakes because even when they were mindful of them, may also be guilty.

Didn’t he take clear advantage of Brutein’s position at the time?

Hasn’t Jeremiah made use of Imperial Authority to cover Ferzen’s mistakes?

Yet, the extremely consequential assumption that things might have been different if the Imperial family had maintained the right beliefs can be said to be a distorted greed and shifting of responsibility.

From the beginning, because that couldn't be allowed, his deceased younger brother - Ferzen had stepped up to the front lines.

Since he was the cause, he intended to end the consequences with himself as well.

Therefore, if we were to discuss right and wrong, the target should be the Brutein family.

In other words, the one who should kneel here was Jeremiah.

Also, whether it was okay to remain as the Imperial family's retainer even in this situation - that was also something Jeremiah had to ask.

So Jeremiah knelt down following the Emperor and said,

"Can I... remain here as Your Majesty's retainer until the end?"

Sob!

And hearing those words, the Emperor clenched his fists and let out a silent cry.

Seeing Brutein kneeling and bowing his head, he wondered why a corner of his heart felt so heavy.

He said the fault was solely Brutein's, but the Emperor did not agree with that.

In fact, while it's true that they were mindful of them, the fundamental reason why they couldn't maintain the right beliefs until the end was...

They also wanted to turn a blind eye to the stain itself that the Brutein family had deviated.

Rather than punishing and correcting the wrong, they feared the most the result of a crack called a stain opening up in the process and the Brutein family becoming no different from other nobles.

The wish for Brutein to remain forever in that perfect form, as an incorruptible loyal subject and pillar who never wields power for self-interest.

Perhaps the problem was that wish eventually turned into greed.

A monarch who can't even be an ideal to his subjects, but a monarch who holds an ideal for his subjects.

It was truly unsightly.

However, right and wrong were ambiguous.

And it would be meaningless to discuss it now.

Step.

With that, the Emperor, settling his thoughts, raised his staggering body and sat back on his throne.

Brutein, who has devoted unchanging loyalty for a long time.

If they want to remain in that form until the end, he too must remain as their Emperor until the end.

Tap.

And as Jeremiah, who received that silent affirmation, quietly stood by his side, the Emperor opened his mouth in a distant voice.

"To be able to receive your loyalty... it was truly an honor."

"Yes. I, too... was honored to be able to serve Your Majesty and the Imperial Princes."

The capital of the Ernes Empire, the Imperial Palace.

In the too-wide and large great hall, waiting for news of the final battle...

Only one Emperor and one loyal subject remained.

*****"Hmm."

The final front of the Ernes Imperial Army blocked their advance.

It naturally made the viewer tense, but Gremory, who was at the very front, had an indifferent expression.

The world seen through her one remaining eye was much narrower than she thought, but this would be the view from the top of the highest mountain one could climb while living as a human - so she didn't feel particularly regretful.

"The drawn spears and swords are like toys, and the solemn expressions are utterly ridiculous."

Non-existent arms.

A prosthetic right foot.

On the battlefield, Gremory's words, uttered in a state that could be called a cripple without hesitation, should have normally provoked ridicule, but the retainers of the Elmark Empire standing behind her held the reins of the horses with a more stable and reassuring expression than ever.

That's because the current existence of Gremory Elden Ishtar Elmark was a sword tempered to the extreme and the best weapon in this world.

Her body had been tempered by the mightiest crucible in this world, and it prevailed.

Her power challenged the absolute and found it wanting.

Ironically, because of this, many loyalists of the Elmark Empire couldn’t contain their gratitude for Ferzen, who served as the whetstone to sharpen who tempted their Empress.

If before Gremory could be compared to a beautiful jewel,

She now became a compressed diamond, without a single imperfection.

But in the end, wasn't it the one and only rival, Ferzen, who personally processed her?

Carving his own life as a chisel to process a diamond that cannot be born in this era.

He must be regretting it over and over again in the underworld.

"By the way..."

Gremory, turning her head slightly to the side, grins mischievously like a prankster.

"That old man's army is standing in a truly ambiguous position."

Corleone Wayne Barreta Alfred, who joined them at the final front of the Ernes Empire.

At first glance, he seemed to be positioned where he would inevitably suffer the greatest damage when a battle occurred.

But that position was also a place where he could thoroughly tear apart the left flank of the allies.

Indeed, is he there with the mindset of a loyal subject that will go down in history?

Or conversely, is he there with the mindset of a wicked traitor?

Well, it's ridiculous to worry about it.

Even though he was a nobleman of another empire, Gremory knew very well what kind of person he was, known as the Old Monster of the Alfred family.

History is only the diary of the victors.

Isn't that right?

Even from a distance.

Even if their gazes don't meet.

Gremory, who had a voiceless conversation with the old monster called Corleone Wayne Barreta Alfred, soon looked at the front with a relaxed expression.

If the trumpet sound of the Ernes Imperial Army announcing the beginning of the final battle would soon ring out...

What she had to do was to write a diary by dipping the pen tip in their blood, tears, and cries.

*****"You... do you not have a shred of conscience—!"

Despite being at the very front, the vanguard.

Prince Raymond couldn't contain his rising indignation and turned his head back, opening his mouth with a loud voice.

Corleone Wayne Barreta Alfred.

How could that old monster be here right now!

During the process of ordering the retreat, they had so earnestly instructed and controlled not to inform him of the news.

By forcibly squeezing through the gap, they ended up inviting a cunning fox.

There wasn't a single person who didn't know what structure the loyalty shown by the Alfred family took.

He wasn't a person loyal enough to devote loyalty to a falling empire until the end.

In fact, it would be ridiculous to even mention loyalty.

Because if his twisted desire wasn't based on an inferiority complex towards Brutein, he would have suffocated their hearts long ago and more.

Because a giant tree called Brutein was in place.

The shadow of Alfred, inferior to it, became a place where the imperial family could rest for a while.

And now that the relationship was broken, Alfred would not hesitate to try to devour them.

A falling empire was not a suitable foundation for them to grow into a new giant tree from their perspective.

"Do you... feel nothing after seeing his death?"

Even if it wasn't Ferzen.

"Do you not feel any emotion after seeing the special forces who marched to their deaths—!”

Had the old snake rejected his Country?

His Empire?

"Isn't this the hometown where we grew up and were born..."

Where was his greed for achievements?

Why wouldn’t his greed show itself now?

After spewing more hurtful words, Prince Raymond lowered his head,

Frustrated with reality,

Disillusioned with human nature,

And the nobles who had invited Corleone, watching Prince Raymond like that, grabbed the reins of the horses and walked forward.

"Your Highness. Do you really think it is appropriate to push the people into a war where defeat is certain?"

"......"

“Or Perhaps you simply wish to avenge Ferzen’s death?”

"Watch your words, Marquis-! You are talking to my Imperial Brother, the Prince–!”

"Your Imperial Highness. Did I say something wrong? The only one who could stand against Empress Gremory was Count Louerg. And at the point of his death, this war has no chance of victory, and even if we try to buy time, the only path left is to be thoroughly violated by the enemies."

Elizabeth wished to deny it, to say anything really,

But the cruel reality left her with no room for rebuttal.

So she clenched her fists and bit her lips.

"The treatment of a defeated nation will certainly not be good... but to tell them to risk a future where they can be together with their beloved lovers, parents, wives, and daughters for a battle with no chance of victory, isn't that too cruel? Immersed in the sadness of the death of the Second son of Brutein, you are trying to infect the people with that selfish madness to head towards a future where only ashes remain."

"Marquis!"

"Do you really have the conviction that they will devote their lives to this battle even after knowing all the circumstances? Truly! Can you give the order to blow the trumpet announcing the start of the battle with that conviction--! If this is patriotism... it would be better not to have it at all."

His logic was extremely emotional.

But that's why it was also powerful.

At that, Prince Raymond didn't say anything for a while, then tilted his head back, taking in the blue sky with his eyes, and opened his mouth.

“For you nobles…The Imperial Family was always the sovereign who had to change and adapt…”

“...Pardon me, Your Highness, but there’s nothing wrong with such a thing.”

“You see, Marquis. Resistance is the duty people of this nation. But confronting the enemies of the Empire is the duty of the Nation itself.”

And.

"The price paid for neglecting that duty... is to be ruled by the most vile human beings."

Therefore, even if he were to be recorded as the worst tyrant in future history.

Vowing not to lay down that duty, Prince Raymond raised his right hand.

Then, a loud and grand trumpet sound filling this entire battlefield rang out.

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