TOPWL 267
The empress had to persuade the emperor to officially transfer the throne. However, the emperor remained stubborn after he lost Azil. The empress used many methods to break the emperor’s pride. The emperor’s health wasn’t good from the start, so he couldn’t endure the empress’s tyranny. He eventually collapsed and became like a living corpse.
“He says he wants to see you.”
The emperor wanted to see him? Yudit found it strange.
“You don’t have to meet him if you don’t want to,” Khalid said.
Yudit’s body was weak after the birth. He could walk slowly, but his wrists and ankles still ached, and he felt pain in his lower body. Yudit thought for a moment and shook his head.
“No, I’ll meet him. I’m curious about what he’ll say, and I think it’s better to see him.”
Khalid nodded at Yudit’s words.
“I’ll arrange a meeting then.”
“…Hey.”
“Hmm?”
“Thank you, Khalid.”
“For what?”
“For everything.”
Khalid worked alone while Yudit recovered from the childbirth. He stabilized the internal and external affairs, organized the army, and handled the discussions about reparations. Yudit did most of the work he could manage from his bed, but Khalid handled almost every task that required a physical presence.
“That’s a strange thing to say. It’s only natural.”
Khalid stood by Yudit’s side and offered his arm. Yudit naturally linked his arm with Khalid’s.
“You’ll stay for dinner, right?”
“Hmm…”
Yudit never felt good when he met the emperor, so he briefly thought about skipping the meal. However, he soon nodded.
“I will.”
He felt like things would be fine now.
***
“St-Stop, I don’t want to eat anymore.”
“Just one more bite.”
Khalid held the strawberry sherbet to Yudit’s lips. Yudit glared at Khalid with a troubled look but opened his mouth.
“This is really the last one.”
“I promise.”
Yudit ate the sherbet only after he got a promise. The sweet, sour, and crunchy taste stimulated his mouth pleasantly.
“I always eat too much when I dine with Khalid.”
“It’s because you usually eat too little.”
“I think it’s right to eat less. My belly won’t go down at this rate.”
Yudit looked down at his swollen belly with concern.
“I thought it would disappear right after the birth…”
“Don’t worry about it too much. I’ll love you whether you become a huge fat person or a skinny stick.”
“I’ll practice my swordsmanship again as soon as I recover,” Yudit muttered as he touched his sword’s hilt.
Yudit lost half of his guards in this war. He planned to recover the bodies of Bagon, Garen, and Darion for their funerals soon. However, Edmond, Darius, and Shane survived. Shane’s condition was the most serious, but he managed to survive several crises. He was conscious and started eating, so Yudit heard he’d be able to stand up soon. It was a relief.
“I’ll ask Shane to be Lu’s godfather.”
“Alright.”
“I’m thinking about making Edmond Lu’s assistant guard. What do you think?”
“…Edmond?”
“Yes, Edmond.”
Edmond shut himself away after Garen died. Edmond was also recovering from injuries to his arms and legs, but his recovery was slow because he didn’t eat or drink. He wouldn’t easily recover from the shock of losing someone he grew up with like a brother.
Yudit wanted Edmond to serve as an assistant guard for a year rather than sending him back. His skills improved during the war, and Yudit felt he shouldn’t just let Edmond go like this.
“It seems you’ve already decided. Go ahead.”
“Alright.”
Yudit closed the discussion and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
“Oh, I had something to ask.”
“Anything.”
“How did you sneak the emperor out?”
The emperor’s absence was the reason the empress’s army left the castle in the last battle. The empress realized there was a spy inside when she found the emperor missing during the shift change. She felt anxious because a spy could open the gates at any time. She tried to reduce Yudit’s soldiers before the reinforcements arrived, but her haste led to her defeat.
“I didn’t sneak him out.”
Yudit looked confused, so Khalid smiled.
“My grandfather told me about a secret palace space when I was young. He told me to keep it a secret because even the emperor didn’t know about it. Maybe he foresaw the storms in my life.”
The duke’s family was once part of the Imperial family. It wasn’t strange for his grandfather to know the palace’s secrets.
“Did you hide the emperor there?”
“Yes. The spies helped move the emperor’s quarters near that spot. That maid you mentioned was also a big help. She set fire to the emperor’s original room.”
The idea of setting fire to the emperor’s room wasn’t something just anyone could think of. Yudit stared at Khalid with a dazed look at the maid’s bold actions.
“He vanished right in front of dozens of soldiers, so they must’ve been confused. The empress probably thought the gates would open quickly once the reinforcements gathered. Their urgency led us to victory.”
Yudit finally understood the situation.
“You worked hard.”
“It was nothing. Are you going to see the emperor now?”
“I should.”
“Give him a blow if he says something strange.”
“To a man who might die today?”
“You should have a chance for a final revenge.”
Yudit chuckled at the childish remark.
“I’ll think about it.”
The soldiers bowed when Yudit arrived at the emperor’s room with his guards.
“I came to see His Majesty.”
The soldiers opened the door without a word. Yudit looked at the path to the emperor. This path used to be so difficult, but now…
Yudit moved forward without hesitation. The door closed behind him. A disgusting scent grew stronger as he approached the emperor. The room smelled like a corpse. They tried to hide it with incense, but the mix of smells was even more nauseating. It was amazing that the two servants sat by the emperor’s side so calmly.
“It’s better to ventilate the room.”
Yudit pointed to the window, and a servant opened it. The air felt better once the wind blew in. Yudit stood by the emperor’s side.
“I’ve come as you requested.”
The emperor opened his eyes slowly. His eyelids were stuck together with dried discharge. The emperor looked around with unfocused eyes and gestured to Yudit.
“Tell… the others… to leave.”
Yudit spoke to the servants.
“Leave us alone for a moment.”
The servants bowed and left without hesitation. The emperor spoke once they were alone.
“My… son.”
His voice was raspy. Yudit looked down at the emperor. The emperor spoke again with effort as if he thought Yudit didn’t hear him.
“My… beloved son.”
“…Speak, Your Majesty.”
“You must… punish those… wicked people.”
“Do you mean the empress and your two sons?”
“She is… not my empress!”
The emperor raised his voice and coughed. Yudit handed him a handkerchief. The cloth turned red with blood and saliva when the emperor wiped his mouth.
“So they… aren’t my children… either.”
“Then who are your children?”
“Only Azil… and you.”
The emperor looked at Yudit as if he asked something obvious.
“So you must kill them all right now… and bring their heads… to me.”
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