As the Sun Fades to Dusk

As the sun slowly dipped below the horizon, I summoned Theodora to my room. It was a spacious room—an office lavishly adorned with gold and silver leaf. Sitting directly across from me was a breathtaking beauty. She had long, straight, light-gray hair, and her eyes were a striking, ruby-red, framed by a cold, sharp gaze. Her eyebrows were a matching shade of gray. With a straight, elegant nose and small, dainty lips as red as cherries, she looked like the very personification of the biting northern wind.

Sitting before me, she commanded the room with an undeniable presence, as if to prove why she was rumored to be the most beautiful princess in the empire. She exuded an aura of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠nobility, pride, and frigid aloofness; indeed, no one in the entire empire possessed a pedigree as noble as hers. She was Theodora Augusta, the Crown Princess of the Empire and one of only two legitimate heirs to the throne. Once her coronation was complete, she would become the ruler of this empire. A mere figurehead, of course...

"Release Ipa, Grand Duke," she said, her voice cold as ice as she lifted her teacup.

Ignoring her demand, I simply delivered my own agenda. "Regrettably, we will discuss that later."

Theodora stared at me with frigid eyes. "What will it take for you to release her?"

Once again, I brushed past her question and brought up the plan I had been mapping out in my head. "Your coronation will take place soon. Likely sometime next month."

Before Valorang executed the late Emperor, he had already laid the groundwork for both Theodora's coronation and our wedding. The preparations had simply ground to a halt after I killed Valorang. Resuming them wouldn't take long. However, there would be many guests traveling from afar—the Emperor's Faction, Mary, and my older sister, Octavia. Giving ourselves a month of preparation was a safe estimate.

"Our wedding will be held immediately following the coronation."

I planned to hold the wedding on the very day of the coronation. The reason for such a tight schedule was simple: considering the sheer volume of work ahead of me, it was far more efficient to get both events out of the way at once. However, she knitted her delicate brow, clearly displeased by my words.

"If you abandon your greed now, this can still end amicably for you." She offered a feeble threat. But the reality of the situation was entirely stacked against her.

The Emperor's Faction, which had supported her in name only, had already defected to my side. The imperial capital was occupied by the soldiers of my Grand Duchy. Furthermore, the majority of the Imperial Parliament—the very core of the empire—backed me. Of course, they only followed me out of self-interest, but a political alliance was a political alliance. In short, every major political force in the empire supported me.

The only demographic still loyal to her was the common citizenry. But the populace was utterly powerless in the face of my military. Thus, at this very moment, she was cruelly, utterly alone. She had no one.

She likely had a vague grasp of her predicament already. MP Alexander would have informed her this morning of yesterday's events. She could no longer refuse. "That will not happen," I replied.

Grit. Even she must have realized her threats were empty. All she could do was grind her teeth in silent fury. Theodora was completely powerless.

To be frank, I didn't want this marriage either. I wasn't marrying the woman before me out of love. It wasn't that I had someone else in mind, but... this path would only bring misery to both of us. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Yet, it was a necessary sacrifice for the empire, its people, and indeed, every living soul in this world. We were merely the lambs offered up on the altar of necessity.

"You will regret this." She glared at me. Truthfully, she terrified me. Knowing her actions in the original novel, how could I not be afraid? The moment I showed a single vulnerability, she would stop at nothing to eliminate me. Right now, she was merely biding her time, waiting for the exact moment my grip on power faltered so she could tear me down and exact bloody vengeance on everyone who had stood by me.

But I couldn't afford to show weakness. My life was on the line, and I was the only one who could prepare the world for the descent of the Demon King. It was only right that I held the reins of power. Even if I tried to explain what I knew, they would only dismiss it as a convoluted political scheme. Therefore, I had to put a leash on her neck right now.

"Now, this is the contract guaranteed by the Imperial Parliament yesterday and signed by Deputy Speaker Alexander. Please review and sign it." She took the document I offered and began to read it slowly. Soon, her face contorted in disgust.

Slam! Theodora struck the tea table violently and stood up, her voice trembling with rage. "Are you... are you seriously asking me to surrender my veto power, the imperial estates, and command over the capital's military?!"

I nodded calmly. "Yes. And if you turn to the next page, you will find the clauses regarding the right to appoint and dismiss officials, as well as the establishment of the Grand Ducal Department—my direct administrative, executive, and judicial organ."

My relaxed tone made her tremble with indignation, her face flushing crimson. She looked like someone shaking from an unbearable humiliation. "Why don't you just kill me instead? Stop hiding behind these cowardly schemes. Kill me and take the throne yourself if you have the dignity to do so!"

I shook my head. "The citizens of the empire do not wish to see anyone other than a member of the Augustus family ascend the throne."

Imperial law dictated that only the lineage of the founding Emperor could claim the throne. Historically, those who violated that law and usurped power met miserable ends. It wasn't that I feared such a fate, but there was no reason to provoke the populace by committing an unforgivable act. If the citizens began to rebel, my future plans would be completely derailed.

Theodora sneered, her expression turning icy. "Ha. And if I refuse to sign? What will you do to me then?"

I let out a heavy sigh. "Haa..." She wore a triumphant look, as if she had realized I couldn't actually harm her. How foolish.

In truth, I had no desire to resort to petty threats. But when necessity demanded it, I had to play my part. Knowing exactly what kind of woman she was, I had no intention of half-assing it.

Click. I opened a small box resting beside me and turned it toward her. Keeping my voice as flat and emotionless as possible, I asked, "Do you recognize this?"

The moment she saw the contents, Theodora began to tremble violently. The color drained from her face, leaving her deathly pale. "N-No... Surely... Ipa?"

A single tear spilled from her ruby eyes. With trembling hands, she clutched the long lock of hair inside the box. Her expression was one of utter devastation as she gently caressed the hair, which was tied with a hairband adorned with a cute little sparrow ornament.

"N-No... It can't be..."

"She was a remarkably loyal... maid."

"Shut up!"

Glaring at me with murderous intent, Theodora pointed a shaking finger at me and screamed. "You! You are no different from that demonic Valorang! Both of you are nothing but treasonous usurpers trying to steal the empire!" Her grief and fury poured out in a torrent.

"Do you think... do you honestly think I would ever submit to a wretch like you?! You piece of trash!" She snatched the contract, her grip so tight the paper crumpled. "Just kill me! Kill me instead! If you expect me to hand the empire over to you on a silver platter, I would rather take my own life!"

Knowing her, she was entirely capable of doing just that. Beneath her fragile, exquisite exterior lay a woman of terrifying resolve. Because of that, I spoke with cold indifference. "I suggest you do not forget that the Empress Dowager and the Second Princess are currently residing in the Imperial Palace. Should anything happen to you, Your Highness, I cannot guarantee their safety."

It was a veiled threat, but unfortunately for Theodora, it was the absolute truth. If she were to die now, the fragile peace we had barely managed to secure would shatter, plunging the empire back into the fires of civil war. With Theodora gone, I could not simply stand by and watch Joy be forced into a marriage with Yohanes's son.

As the threat of what would happen to her family sunk in, Theodora bit her lip so hard it nearly bled. As long as she remained alive, I had no reason or desire to harm Joy or the Empress Dowager. Harming them would only reset all my progress. The Empress Dowager was beloved by both the nobility and the populace for her benevolent nature, and the Emperor's Faction desperately needed a princess of the Augustus bloodline to justify reclaiming power from me.

Of course, having just seen Ipa's hair, Theodora was in no state to analyze the situation rationally. She had completely lost her composure, consumed by sheer rage. That was precisely why I had ordered Ipa's hair to be cut and brought to me—to shake her to her very core.

And just as I had anticipated... Theodora glared at me, her ruby eyes brimming with unshed tears. She forced her tightly shut lips open. "You cowardly bastard..."

I wouldn't deny it. Even in my own eyes, words like "cowardly" and "despicable" suited me perfectly right now. I shrugged at her fierce glare. "So, what will it be?"

If she dug her heels in and refused to sign, my plans would be severely derailed. Leaving the imperial throne vacant for too long carried far too much political risk. There was a world of difference between a Grand Duke ruling the occupied empire through raw military force and ruling by borrowing the authority of the legitimate Empress. Even those who opposed me would at least have to pretend to obey my commands, as they were technically subjects of the Empress.

Yet, I couldn't simply allow Theodora to ascend the throne while retaining her dangerous imperial prerogatives. The authority of the Emperor was far too absolute. Crowning Joy instead was also out of the question, especially with Theodora, the rightful heir, still alive.

In the original novel, Joy was a fragile soul. After Theodora fled, Joy had been forced into a miserable marriage with Valorang, living a wretched life. I had no desire to drag her into this political meat grinder again. I knew all too well how horrific her life had been. While I had secretly agreed to her engagement with the Emperor's Faction, it was merely a temporary ruse to prevent the worst-case scenario. I had absolutely no intention of actually marrying Joy off to Yohanes's son.

Thus, if only Theodora and I sacrificed ourselves, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠everyone else could be happy. But since she was resisting so fiercely, and I had no other leverage, I decided to push the threat a little further. "Either you sign this now, or the Empress Dowager and the Second Princess will be tortured just like Ipa, until—"

Crash! Theodora hurled her teacup. Her face was flushed with pure indignation as a fresh tear rolled down her cheek. Her eyes locked onto mine, burning with a hatred so intense it felt as though she were trying to kill me with her gaze alone.

Haa... this doesn't feel good. She was only twenty. Having lived a life entirely removed from such brutal political warfare, it was only natural that she couldn't accept this reality. Unlike me, she didn't possess memories of a past life, nor had she been raised under the tyrannical thumb of Valorang. She had been sheltered from the harsh cruelties of the world... or perhaps her bond with Ipa had simply been that deep.

Having read the original novel, her current state felt somewhat foreign to me. I never would have imagined that the notoriously cold, ruthless Empress of the original story would weep like this over the death of a single maid and the captivity of her family. Because she had been such an unyielding figure in the novel, seeing her so vulnerable stirred a faint pang of guilt within me.

But if I were to defend myself... Ipa wasn't actually dead. According to the report I received today, she was doing quite well in the safehouse I had provided for her, even taking leisurely walks late at night. Technically speaking, I had never once claimed Ipa was dead or alive. I had merely guided her to draw her own conclusions.

Unaware of the truth, Theodora wept, unable to contain her fury. The Ice Princess, who always wore an impenetrable mask of indifference, was now trembling with a volatile mix of rage, sorrow, and humiliation. Slowly, the trembling of her slender shoulders began to subside. Her bloodshot eyes glared down at the table. Finally, she reached for the fountain pen resting before her...

Scratch, scratch! She signed her name in an elegant, flowing script, then looked up at me. "You... you will surely regret what you did today. No, I will make sure you regret it."

Her ruby eyes burned with a terrifying intensity. "I will make sure... you die a miserable... a truly miserable death, and I will throw your wretched corpse to the wild dogs." With that final curse, she stormed out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her.

"Haa..." I watched her furious departure, then looked down at the contract on the table. It was perfectly executed. After confirming there were no issues with the signatures, I gathered the papers. I would submit this to the Parliament later...

At that moment, a wave of exhaustion and a pounding headache washed over me, prompting me to lie down on the sofa. My head spun. I hadn't been sleeping well lately, running myself ragged trying to clean up the mess left behind by the late Grand Duke's rebellion. I was thoroughly exhausted.

"Phew... It hasn't... it hasn't even started yet." Three years. In the original novel, that was how long it took for the Demon King to descend when Valorang was still alive. Since I had killed Valorang, I had likely bought us a bit more time. In the meantime, I had to do everything in my power to stop the Demon Worshippers. And within two years, I had to dismantle the Emperor's Faction. The timeline was incredibly tight. Only then would I, the empire, and countless others stand a chance of survival...

It was somewhat amusing to feel this exhausted before the battle had even truly begun, but my head was throbbing mercilessly. Knock, knock! Hearing a rap on the door, I called out, "Who is it?"

"Your Grace, an envoy from the Parliament has arrived."

Recognizing the familiar voice, I pushed myself up from the sofa. "Ah... Agrippa. I'll be right out."

"Understood."

Stepping out of the room, I was greeted by the handsome, blonde-haired man. As we walked together toward the office, a sudden thought struck me. Ah... Theodora's parting words had been incredibly ominous. Perhaps I should start taking precautions against poisoning?

"Is something the matter?" Agrippa asked, noting my expression with concern.

"Yes. It's nothing major, but the Crown Princess might try to assassinate me. Keep a close eye on her until the wedding, and make sure our poison-testing protocols are absolutely airtight." She was a remarkably tenacious woman, after all.

Agrippa nodded. "I will see to it immediately, but Her Highness is no fool. Would she truly resort to something so reckless?"

He had a point. If I were to die now, the empire would instantly plunge back into civil war. Without me, the generals of our army would never remain docile; they would tear each other apart to seize my vacant seat. And yet... if she was truly blinded by vengeance... Knowing what she was capable of once consumed by revenge, I couldn't help but feel a sliver of dread.

To be honest, I took no pleasure in any of this. But if I didn't play this hand... neither I, nor the empire, nor even she herself would have any hope of survival. I let out a dry chuckle.

"What brings on the sudden laughter?" Agrippa asked, curious.

"Nothing. I was just feeling a bit resentful toward God." Why had the god of this world summoned me here of all places? I couldn't help but wonder what he had been thinking.

"You can ponder the mysteries of the divine later. The MPs are waiting for you."

"Right."

With that, I made my way toward the office.