Chapter 825
Chapter 825
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 825
Chapter Title: The Tyrant for You
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"Kneel."
Though spoken softly, the voice laced with power echoed far and wide.
Yet no one obeyed my command. They all glanced at one another, gauging the mood. Had they not yet grasped the gravity of the situation? Or did they still refuse to accept me?
I tightened my grip on the sword. Bastard or not, imperial blood flowed through my veins. Once I killed them, they would have no choice but to acknowledge me.
I was about to start with those nearest to me.
Thud.
Someone dropped to their knees before me.
It was a middle-aged man in his fifties with neatly combed gray hair. His eyes were sharp as daggers, and his clothes were impeccably pressed without a single wrinkle. His attire gave me a rough idea of his personality.
"...We congratulate Your Majesty on your ascension to the throne. With the legendary Holy Grail's power now in Your Majesty's hands, the empire's future shines bright."
Duke Nepalson Deriorien, the empire's prime minister, knelt and bowed his head to me.
He probably didn't truly accept me. Prime ministers were clever. No fool could hold that position in the empire. He had realized that knights and soldiers alone couldn't match my strength, so he bowed to survive.
Starting with Nepalson, the nobles dropped to their knees like dominoes, heads lowered. Every faction and clique had its followers, and these were the prime minister's.
Their momentum spread in all directions.
"I, Luteon Brangrasia, shall serve His Imperial Majesty the Emperor."
The grand general, the military's true top authority, knelt. Those loyal to him—nobles, knights, and soldiers—followed suit.
I removed my helmet. I was the only one here armed.
I turned my head to gaze at a woman. She was an elderly lady in flowing white robes. Her faded hair was elegantly pinned up. Her face was gentle, exuding a serene, benevolent aura.
High Priestess Penelope Portwell, one of the top leaders of the Celestial Church, the empire's state religion.
No emperor had ever dared trifle with the Celestial Church. The founding emperor had been chosen by the Celestial God himself. And the Holy Grail's origins lay with the church. It was one of the empire's foundations.
Thus, the Bellacarros imperial family could not deny the Celestial Church.
Of course, such rules didn't apply to me. If they got in my way, I'd slaughter them all right here.
Perhaps sensing my intent, Penelope slowly bent her knee.
"On behalf of the Celestial Church, we celebrate the birth of a new emperor. May the Celestial God's light and the Holy Grail's blessings shine upon the empire and Your Majesty."
Starting with her, the holy knights and priests knelt before me.
Most of those present had now submitted.
But some still stood tall, unbowed.
The second prince and the other imperial heirs with claims to the throne, along with their followers.
I walked toward the second prince.
A man with blue hair and a beauty mark under his right eye. Calissas Bellacarros glared at me with unwavering eyes.
"This... this defies the heavens! Even if you killed our father and usurped the throne, do you think the people will accept you?!"
"They will."
Calissas's guard knights drew their swords and charged at me with battle cries. I swung once. The knights tore apart in an instant. To block even a single strike of mine required at least sword master level.
"Those who can't will all die."
I stepped up to Calissas. He stared straight at me. Tougher than the first prince.
"You will die the most miserably, and the gods will shred your soul to pieces!"
"I like your spirit. As a reward, I'll kill all who follow you."
"You mad bastard! They haven't done anything wrong...!"
Slash.
Calissas's head flew through the air. Before it hit the ground, I summoned clone swords.
Thirty clone swords zipped through the space, butchering his followers.
Thirty swords massacred over three hundred men. It didn't take long.
When I dispelled the clone swords, the princes all knelt on the floor. All but one—the third princess excluded.
Ophelia Bellacarros had slunk away the moment I killed Calissas. I watched her fleeing for her life to escape this place.
She wore a lavish blue dress befitting a princess, her long light-purple hair swaying. Her E-cup breasts were ample, her face stunningly beautiful. She was hailed as the most beautiful among the princesses.
And she was the second empress's daughter. She was desperately running because I'd killed the first and second princes, figuring she was next. Especially knowing how her mother had treated me—she must be terrified.
'You're thinking wrong. I have no intention of killing you.'
Too beautiful to kill. My retainers would bitch about blood ties, but who cared.
I extended my hand toward the fleeing Ophelia. She was quite far now. Focusing my mind, I unleashed telekinesis. An invisible force seized her.
"Kyaaaaah!"
Ophelia was dragged back toward me. I released my armor and grabbed her by the hair.
"Aaaah!"
"Did you think you could escape my grasp?"
"L-Let me go! You think my mother will just sit still for this?!"
"I'm counting on her not to. She's done plenty to me. Oh, and you've wronged me plenty too. Remember two years ago?"
"Two years ago...?"
"From your face, you don't. You locked me in the servants' storeroom for three days. It was snowing hard. Without that ragged blanket, I'd have frozen to death."
"Someone like you should've died then!"
Ophelia shouted. She'd somewhat realized I wasn't going to kill her. And she trusted her mother, the second empress.
I understood. The second empress was formidable. She'd manipulated the foolish emperor from the shadows, effectively ruling the empire. Even the empress and first consort had deferred to her.
"I remember your coming-of-age ceremony a year ago too. You shredded my ceremonial robes with a knife. Thanks to you, I had to attend in these mourning clothes. The servants snickered. Lucky the ceremony was so pathetic no guests came."
I reached out and tore her dress. No matter how fancy, ripped cloth was just rags. I stripped her bare, removing her undergarments, shoes, and jewelry.
"Kyaaaaaaaah!"
Ophelia screamed, frantically covering her ample breasts and privates with her hands. I'd already glimpsed her pussy and smirked. It was a pretty pink, and hairless—congenital baldness.
Ophelia struggled. I tightened my grip on her hair, and she quieted a bit.
"Grand General."
"...Yes, Your Majesty. What are your commands?"
Luteon approached and bowed. Most deferential.
"Bring every imperial family member in the palace."
"Your Majesty, if I may humbly suggest—show mercy. They are all of the imperial bloodline."
"Grand General. Don't make me repeat myself."
Irritated, I snapped, and Luteon silently stepped back.
"...I shall obey Your Majesty's will."
Luteon led knights and soldiers away. He'd round up the imperial family scattered throughout this vast palace. He might let some slip on purpose... If so, I'd execute him and his family.
Dragging Ophelia by the hair, I entered the Great Hall.
The Great Hall was deathly silent. The nobles, having assessed the situation, knelt with heads bowed.
"Your Majesty, the hall is filthy. Postpone the banquet and let us clean first..."
"Prime Minister. Shut up."
The quick-witted prime minister did.
"Music."
The orchestra resumed. With lively tunes and Ophelia's screams as backdrop, I strode the red carpet to the throne.
Sitting on the throne, I shoved Ophelia down and placed my foot on her ample breast. She groaned. She tried to flee, but no chance. She couldn't escape my foot.
I surveyed the room and spoke.
"Today is a joyous day. My sibling's coming-of-age and my ascension to the throne. Enjoy the banquet. There may never be a day this merry again."
"......"
Their faces remained stiff. No one had the guts to revel beside countless blood-soaked corpses.
The fifth consort Jermina, whom I'd ravaged before, huddled on a distant throne wrapped in cloth, trembling. Her staying put showed her cunning.
"This is awkward... Everyone's frozen stiff. Must I teach you how to enjoy a banquet?"
"N-No, Your Majesty! Everyone, enjoy the banquet! Court orchestra, play louder! Summon jesters and dancers! Bring wine for His Majesty!"
The prime minister shouted. He gestured, swiftly directing. Maids bustled, and the nobles began "enjoying" the banquet. Even if fake, it looked convincing enough.
I gazed into the air.
Just today's Tyrant Points alone came to about 700,000. Not bad if I kept earning like this.
Clack, clack.
Someone approached beside me.
A brown-haired maid. She kept her head down, avoiding my eyes. She carried a tray with fine wine and a goblet. Her face was quite to my taste.
I rolled my eyes toward the prime minister. He was directing people everywhere. Sharp as ever.
"Y-Your Majesty... I-I've brought the w-wine."
The maid trembled pathetically. Her averted face paled further. Because I was stepping on the third princess, Ophelia.
I took the goblet.
"Pour."
"Y-Yes, Your Majesty."
Her hands shook uncontrollably. Wine splashed over the rim onto my hand.
"Eek! S-Sorry! Your Majesty! P-Please spare me!"
"Haha. Kill you over a little spilled wine? The wine on my hand... you clean it."
"P-Pardon...?"
"Lick it up."
I released the goblet and offered my hand. Her lips parted. Her quivering crimson tongue lapped at my fingers.
It tickled; I chuckled. She froze in surprise.
"Keep licking."
"Y-Yes... Your Majesty..."
The maid desperately licked my fingers. I liked it. I pulled her into my arms and toyed with her. Her texture was exquisite.
Honestly, less beautiful than Ophelia, but I'd save Ophelia for the second empress's sake.
"Hic, huh..."
The maid reacted to my touch. As I went to strip her dress, the Great Hall doors opened. Luteon entered. Regrettable, but I set the maid down. Plenty of time later anyway.
Luteon had brought the imperial family as ordered. Not by force—they were royalty, after all.
I quickly scanned them. From the fourth and fifth princes, sixth princess, down to the youngest. All heirs with succession rights were here. Not that it mattered now.
The empress, mother of the first prince, glared murderously. The first consort avoided my eyes—timid unlike her son. The rest from third to eighth consorts were present. Everyone but one: the second empress.
"...Luteon. No sign of the second empress, Morgana. Did you let her slip?"
Thud.
Luteon dropped to his knees.
"...My deepest apologies. Punish this servant."
"Don't piss me off—answer the question."
"When I stormed the second empress's quarters, she used magic to fly into the sky and escape. It is undoubtedly my failure... Punish me as you see fit. I accept any penalty gladly."