Chapter 4
Hey! Did you hear the rumor?
I heard this Empire’s Crown Prince was crazy about slaughter.
The white snowfield in the northern part of the empire where His Highness headed was dyed red and the air was crammed with blood scent.
He participated in war just to see the blood.
The civilians are all dead.
He poisoned the well, blocked off the escape route, and set it on fire.
I heard he eliminated the people who ran away to survive with his own hands.
The total number of casualties was about two small countries combined.
Can you imagine how many people died?
Of course, nobody can discredit His Highness’s countless achievements.
Someone might rebuke me for making a huge fuss without knowing anything.
However, it’s hard to believe that a noble figure was able to commit such mischief.
If the first emperor finds out, I can’t imagine how miserable he would be.
They must be very troubled about Avita’s future…
Anguished voices were circulating through the empire.
Even today, the people of Avita wanted a peaceful world in unison.
***
An officer guarding the entrance of the palace talked to his comrade.
“An alchemist died a few days ago.”
“Again?”
Then the officer lowered his voice.
“He went to the palace to offer an incantation potion, but he must get on His Highness’s nerve.”
“Not long ago, a nobleman also died.”
“Which nobleman?”
“I’m talking about the count from the province who boasted of having a large landmass.”
He recalled the count who walked through the palace with a haughty attitude.
“What about the count?”
“He said, now that you’ve become the Crown Prince, you should start thinking about your future. There’s a nice young lady among my relatives, so why don’t you meet her for once?”
The comrade nodded his head and said, “The count was greedy.”
“In the end, even his entire property was confiscated.”
Another officer, who was eyeing them from a distance, broke into the conversation.
“It’s not just that,”
He continued as he gained the attention of two officers.
“You know the royalty from another country that visited last time?”
They recalled the fat king of the neighborhood country who visited three months ago.
The king, who was constantly wiping away the sweat from his greasy face, brought a lot of specialties and precious treasures from his country.
“At that time, I was there to help carry his stuff,” Said the officer who broke into the conversation, as he recalled that day.
“Just in time, His Highness Signus wasn’t there so Lord Aslan, the second prince, greeted them instead.”
“That ‘Lord Aslan’?”
“Isn’t he sick?”
The officer only shook his shoulder as his comrades reacted with a grim look.
“It can’t be helped. He’s the king from another country, after all.”
Everyone was happy with the king’s visit. Because in that country there was a famous salt mountain.
Every time the king visited the Empire, he offered high-quality salt, and Avita’s royal family rewarded him with minerals and military support.
“He said he had a hard time coming all the way here and wished to replenish his fatigue after the journey. The problem is, the king kept holding onto Lord Aslan.”
Aslan, the second prince was kind and gentle, but he was also overly foolish. On the day the Imperial Palace was attacked, even if he was captured and tormented by the demons, he refused to reveal the other princes’ location.
“He had to rest, but the king didn’t let him go. He asked how old he was and if there was a woman he currently met, and other frivolous questions.”
“Crazy guy.”
The officer dropped his voice low as he went on talking.
“Then, His Highness Signus came.” The officer and his comrades, who were listening in tension, gulped.
“As you know, His Highness is extremely handsome. The king was very surprised to see him so that he couldn’t close his mouth and the princess, who had been aloof all the time, opened her eyes wide.”
They nodded their heads in agreement. The appearance of all the princes was stunning, but Signus was simply different.
“He fawned over him and completely ignored Lord Aslan, but then he moved toward His Highness, saying that he wished to give a blessing kiss to His Highness’s hand.”
The officer’s comrades gasped, swallowing their breath, and asked.
“Is he dead?”
“Yes. All, except for the king.” The officer clicked his tongue with a gaunt expression.
Anybody would know once they saw Signus. There was a sense of oppression around him. He had the charisma of a ruler with noble blood.
How senseless of the king to realize that only after everyone was dead.
“How is he still alive?” At his question, the officer shook his head.
“When His Highness went to the north, he also struck his country.”
His reason was Aslan. Aslan, who maintained the situation in his stead, fell down.
“Then they waged a war to save the king.”
Even the salt mountain burned into ashes along with the country and vanished. A country with its history was destroyed in Signus’ hands.
“He’s such an incompetent king.”
“Even if the king is senseless and dumb, what about his people?”
The officer, who brought this up first, answered.
“The Emperor was absent and His Highness is still young so they must think it’ll be easy to gain a victory.”
“It sounds easy, indeed. Someone couldn’t even go out for a drink after work because of that.”
The other officers felt sorry for their big appetite in front of their comrade’s misery.
At that time, the fairly crowded palace suddenly became quiet. The officer and his comrades knew very well what it meant and quickly shut up.
“Your Highness, welcome back!”
As soon as the strained voice burst out from the inside, the soldier and his comrades quickly bowed deeply.
A man passed by among the soldiers who lined up and bowed their heads at the front gate. The people who were walking on the street stopped.
His unruly dark as night hair that was hanging down his neck, combined with his white skin, stole people’s attention. His features were as beautiful as god’s masterpiece.
How about his body?
His broad shoulders and tall height, his amazing proportion was out of this world.
Besides, his golden eyes shone dazzlingly, as if it was stolen from the sun.
“…Oh my god.”
Originally, people were agitated by the appearance of Signus, the Crown Prince of the Empire.
Before they knew it, the officers looked at his back in a daze.
Dressed in a cape made of high-quality materials, he walked away. His cape fluttered roughly as he stepped away.
He was just walking, but anyone could feel his heavy charisma.
To the point, it was unbelievable that he was named a slaughter-crazed tyrant.
“…those dead people must have done something wrong.”
“….I suppose so.”
As expected, people were blinded with a good appearance.
***
High-ranking nobles gathered in a small assembly room.
“I can’t stand His Highness’s tyranny anymore.”
The young Viscount spoke again, “I’m sure all of you feel the same way. I called for this meeting to find the solution.”
At his words, the nobles expressed their frustration one by one.
“It’s already been a year since the first prince, Demian, went missing along with the general of the Dojino Knights. It’s still unknown whether they’re alive or not….”
“How about the second prince, Lord Aslan?”
At someone’s question, a middle-aged nobleman answered.
“It’s difficult. Lord Aslan still suffers from the aftermath of the attack,” the nobleman murmured bitterly.
“Even Sir Lerine, the vice-general of Dojino Knights who stood by His Highness’s side, sacrificed her life. To think he became a tyrant instead….”
The silence fell on the assembly room.
The fat nobleman, who looked bitterly at the already turned-cold tea, broke the silence.
“But…there’s no other way.”
The eyes of the other nobles were focused on one nobleman who was sweating profusely.
“His Highness was born with the power of a ruler. As the direct successor of Avita, he was protected by the dragon who defended the Empire.”
He continued, as he clasped his hands that trembled in fear, “How can a mere human being like us be able to stop him?”
“But it’s a matter of Avita’s future!” The Viscount, who hosted the meeting, cried out.
“His Highness was driven to madness. Don’t you know that precious salt mountain had been burned into ashes? We must find a way to save the country from His Highness whose judgment was sullied.”
At his words, the fat nobleman only rolled his eyes.
“Well, I get it. I’m willing to lend you my voice if you want.”
The faces of the viscount and several other nobles were filled with anticipation. It’s because that fat nobleman was the highest-ranking noble in the room. But they all went silent at his following words.
“But the appeal must be passed on by someone else. I refuse to do it.”
Only stillness flowed in the room.
His action was justified, as he valued his one and only life.
The Viscount, who had been thinking for a while, raised his head.
“But we still have Duke Cyben, this Empire’s leading figure.”
Even when Signus left the palace empty for quite a long time, no trouble ensued thanks to Duke Cyben’s capability.
The Dukedom of Cyben was a family that almost became in-laws with Signus.
“….”
Everyone’s eyes reached the empty chair. It was the chair of Duke Cyben.
“Would someone who hasn’t come willing to deliver the appeal?”
At that time, the tightly closed door opened, and a black haired man appeared.
“I was wondering why you’re hiding like a rat, turns out you were talking about me.”
The golden eyes that shone like a sun, bend into a half moon.
“You-Your Highness…..!”
Everyone jumped out from their seats, and tension filled the room.
Then the knight next to Signus, spoke.
“I’m Leo Paul Nergal, the 1st division general of Dojino Knights.”
At the figure of Leo, who stood by the door like a rock, the nobles opened their mouth wide.
You read our movement!
It’s frustrating enough to have a knight following him, and the escape route was blocked everywhere.
“Are you going to put forward an appeal?”
Crash-!
A teacup fell from the hand of a nobleman. Everyone’s complexion turned white.
Signus spoke as he stroked his chin playfully.
“What’s the substance?”
The faces of the nobles were horrified.
“…Your Highness!”
The nobles rose from their seats and bowed. They lay face down on the floor and shouted in unison.
“We’re concerned about Your Highness and the Empire’s state….!”
“I’ve committed a grave sin!”
“Your Highness, I will dedicate my whole fortune to the royal family if you wish!”
We’re going to die, they thought. The bodies of the frightened nobles were greatly shaken. Then the beautiful fingers that were tapping his chin since before, stopped.
“I should spare you.”
The nobles who thought they heard it wrong, raised their heads. Their gaze directly met with Signus’ dazzling smile.
Hope sprang out in the hearts of the nobles.
“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
“I will be forever grateful for your grace.”
“You can send someone to take my assets right away …”
Signus’ smile grew profound, “Forget about assets, ”
Signus looked at each of the nobles’ eyes, and continued, “Instead, give me your family.”
The face of the nobles crumbled instantly.
“If you refuse, I’ll destroy everything down to your administered area.”
After Signus’ words, the knights rushed in. Sobs burst out along with the voices of the knight who checked the identity of each noble.
His pompous golden eyes captured their poor figure. The corners of his mouth went up.
“It’s nice to see you crawl like an insect.”
And so, Avita’s respectable ruler turned his body away.
His wide back looked imposing, but it also looked like his cape was about to slip down.
The nobles thought so as they looked at his disappearing back in despair.
If only Sir Lerine was here. I wish she’d been by His Highness’ side.