~CHAPTER 98~
Yulias heard the sound that signaled an enemy raid and suddenly had a thought.
How did it come to this?
Honestly, Yulias had truly intended to kill the man when he heard that Harvich was preparing for war.
Even if the imperial palace fell, he could take at least one life.
If he could call Tereo and kill him together, that would be perfect.
For that reason, upon hearing that the northern knights had moved, he sent a note to Tereo telling him to return.
He did not expect a reply.
However, the messenger bird came back this time, not dead, but with an unexpected answer.
[Because of the note you sent, the princess collapsed. Please stop now.]
Yulias had clearly intended to kill the man and had fully prepared.
Yet, at Tereo’s note, his resolve broke.
I became emperor only for Lincia.
It’s as if I am the villain tormenting Lincia’s life…
No, in truth, Lincia had shown several times that she was uneasy around me.
I just didn’t want to believe it.
***
On the day the late emperor passed without naming a proper successor, Yulias sensed death.
He was a bastard, so he was far from the line of succession, yet still a royal, and naturally the weak and useless were the first to die.
Fortunately, during this chaotic time, Lincia was at the academy, and the palace, filled with blood and screams, only had her.
What he cherished most had already been given to his sister, so he was alone.
“When you go to the academy, you can take one servant, right?”
“Yes.”
“Other palace servants won’t want to go. Did you find a suitable one?”
“…Not yet.”
“Take Anna.”
“Anna is your maid. What will you do?”
“I’ve always managed fine on my own.”
He spoke as if it was nothing, but Yulias was not okay.
But for now, that was fortunate.
He did not yet have the power to protect the lives of those he loved. If they had been nearby, he could only have watched helplessly as their lives crumbled.
What Yulias, waiting for death in the palace, wanted most was to see Lincia’s face.
His sister smiling innocently. The sister who had only given him love in this harsh palace. The sister who would not hesitate to steal the emperor’s books for him.
Yet even after several days, he did not die. Though careful in his actions, considering other princes had already perished, it was remarkable that the bastard Yulias was still alive.
And the empress was still unharmed.
After a few more days, Yulias realized one unavoidable truth, whether he wanted to or not.
Ah, I was not even worth killing to them.
I was not human.
I deluded myself into thinking Lincia treated me as a person.
With nothing, I could not possess anything nor protect what I loved.
Thus, Yulias steadily began preparing his rebellion.
He was clever and knew how to use his situation.
Moreover, more nobles than he thought held resentment toward the royal family, given the suspicious circumstances of the emperor’s sudden death.
“If you wish to claim the throne, it would be better for everyone if you kept your distance from the Third Princess.”
“…I see.”
Yulias readily accepted the advice of those aiding the rebellion.
After all, I decided to rebel to protect Lincia, so I cannot put her in danger.
The innocent sister, unaware of what he intended to say, welcomed Yulias warmly after a long time.
“Yuli, let’s run away together.”
How long could a royal with succession rights survive if he ran away?
Of course, Yulias might survive. To them, he was not human.
But Lincia?
The palace knights would surely hunt Lincia down and kill her. Unlike Yulias, she had never received the emperor’s affection.
Even though Lincia was at the academy, there were forces aiming to harm her. She remained naive, unaware of who protected her.
“Let’s run far away and live like the three of us did when we were children.”
Yulias liked Lincia’s naive side, yet at such moments, he felt deeply frustrated.
“When do you mean, sister?”
“…When Anna and the three of us were happy together.”
Yulias pushed Lincia’s hand away. Her eyes shook violently.
“It’s time to graduate.”
“…”
“And, sister. If we leave together, we will all die. If you want to die, do it alone.”
“Why, why do you say such harsh things?”
“I can barely take care of myself. Sister, if you graduate from the academy and go to the palace, lie low and survive. If you try marriage schemes, at least you can protect your fragile life.”
Lincia seemed deeply hurt, but he did not regret his words.
Several nobles who sided with the man who had become emperor, the first prince, were killed. Others, without intent to rebel, were also struck down.
It was a chilling fear that gripped his heart.
Later, he heard the emperor was seeking the fifth prince, the bastard, himself.
Keeping distance from Lincia had been wise. But the longer they were apart, the harder it was to figure out how to close the gap.
Still, our sister is kind. Even if she dislikes me a little now, she will understand when I become emperor.
In truth, after nearly seven years of struggle, Yulias succeeded in ascending the throne.
He thought he had lived well with Lincia in the palace after becoming emperor. She was the first with whom he formed a proper attachment. Yulias had never learned how to apologize.
He did not know he needed to seek forgiveness.
If she hated me that much, why didn’t she say so? If she despised and loathed me, she should have said it earlier.
Why did my sister never tell me anything?
Yulias ended up alone.
“How could you try to take the princess like that?”
“I don’t know! How could that have been the best choice? Threatening her life… I can’t understand it…”
He truly was alone.
Yulias soothed the angry Anna with sleep-inducing scent and placed her in the carriage. The method he chose to gain warmth as a lonely beast was kidnapping.
Even that failed spectacularly.
“Are you listening?”
“Yes. I don’t need the throne. I want independence in the duchy.”
Harvich raised an eyebrow. The man was overly obedient, as if he had given up everything.
“I’ll grant everything. Now, return to your sister.”
After all this, all this talk of my sister…
It was highly inappropriate for the man who had made Lincia pregnant to try to delay the civil war by talking like this.
Harvich crossed his arms and set his jaw.
“I’ll handle it myself.”
At Harvich’s firm words, Yulias frowned.
The man’s expression shifted, as if something displeased him.
“Why did you suddenly change your mind?”
“No, my sister collapsed. Shouldn’t her husband go? She is carrying your child, after all.”
Yulias gestured to call a servant.
“My sister is carrying your child and wearing herself out. We can’t just stay here.”
Harvich did not think Yulias truly worried about Lincia.
He assumed it was just to divert attention or buy time. However, Yulias said no more afterward.
He simply cooperated earnestly in negotiations with Harvich, as if determined to send him back as quickly as possible.
A chill crept into a corner of his heart.
Thank you very much🌺🌺🌺