Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: The Twins' Fate
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Arsen had always been a smiling child. His clear laughter had the power to make anyone who heard it smile along with him. He was that kind of child, and he truly looked so beautiful, yet Dillaina felt a chill run down her spine for some reason.
“What’s wrong? This early in the morning.”
It must be because of the situation. The Emperor was missing, the princes were clashing over power and dragging the nobles into it. Unknown knights were ransacking the palace, making it no different from a state of semi-war.
‘No. It’s more dangerous than semi-war.’
In a war, there would at least be soldiers to protect them. But with even the Imperial Defense Minister involved in the chaos, there was no way out—it was utterly hopeless.
A crisis unlike any other in her life. As Dillaina blankly bit her lip, Arsen tilted his head and approached his mother. He gently burrowed into her embrace and greeted her.
“Mother. What’s wrong?”
“…Arsen, this isn’t the time.”
“What’s going on?”
“Jin. Change your clothes.”
Not into comfortable attire, but into something ready for fleeing at any moment. Dillaina knelt and gripped Arsen’s shoulders firmly.
“His Imperial Majesty the Emperor has gone missing. Marib and Gail have raised their forces to secure the seal. I’m not sure if they’ll come all the way here, but—”
“Ah.”
“…Arsen?”
Arsen smiled even more brightly and patted the back of his mother’s hand. As if to say everything would be fine, so don’t worry.
“Of course they’ll come all the way here. Gail might hesitate, but Prince Marib will try to kill us. He knows you sided with Gail, doesn’t he?”
But the words coming from his mouth were cruel, accurately grasping the reality. Even if it was to balance the two princes’ powers, from Marib’s perspective, it was as good as Dillaina taking Gail’s side. It would be best to wipe them all out now and clean house for the future.
“Arsen.”
“But don’t worry. The factions not supporting either brother will help us. First, let’s change clothes. Jin, what should we wear today?”
Arsen turned to Jin with a bright smile. He fully understood the situation, yet his actions didn’t match it at all. Jin bit his lip hard and stared at Arsen.
“Arsen. This isn’t something to smile about.”
“Why not? I think it’s not so bad. Mother, they say a crisis is an opportunity, right? For daring to cause chaos in the imperial palace, the brothers will surely be punished.”
The survivor of the two princes would become the victor.
But the word “victory” inevitably implied sacrifice. The forces would be whittled down in the fierce clash, and with clever handling, an unexpected opportunity could arise.
“What happens if both brothers are gone, and even Father is gone?”
Arsen and Jin. In terms of succession order, they had the highest chance of becoming the next emperor. Jin grabbed Arsen’s arm as if it were absurd.
“That’s talk for after we survive. That’s why Prince Marib is trying to kill us—to prevent that.”
“…Us?”
“Lady Dillaina! A moment!”
“What is it?”
As Dillaina stepped out at the head attendant’s call, Arsen hugged Jin and whispered. As if wondering why he thought of it as “us.”
“If the closer twin to the throne dies, the imperial line is completely severed.”
“…….”
“If I die, the imperial line ends, right? Would brother kill me?”
At Arsen’s whisper, Jin felt his breath catch in his throat.
“Gail’s curse is also tied to Bariel.”
“I know. So they’ll try to capture Gail alive. Whether it’s true or not, they’ll announce the curse is lifted and then deal with him. The trial for treason will be astonishingly short.”
Arsen hugged Jin even tighter. Jin awkwardly placed his hand on Arsen’s waist and hesitated. He could push him away if he wanted, but somehow he couldn’t.
“Jin. My poor little brother Jin.”
“Arsen.”
“Listen carefully to what I say from now on. This is for you. Furthermore, it’s to save Mother, and beyond that, to save Bariel.”
Arsen murmured as he carefully examined Jin’s face, which mirrored his own. His brother, born with a fate to harm him. The brother who had always lived in the shadows because of it.
“Move for my sake.”
So, keep staying in the shadows like that.
“Do everything you can in the coming situation to save me. In terms of rank or the oracle, once this is over, I’m the only one who can turn things around. If I live, you live. And Mother lives too.”
Arsen stroked Jin’s face and emphasized lowly once more.
“The fact that Prince Marib seized the seal is proof Father is still alive. Showing Father’s body would be the surest way to solidify the succession.”
No need for bureaucrats to argue back and forth. Pass it to the next successor and frame Gail for treason—done. But getting involved in this dogfight meant the situation had gotten quite tangled.
And that was an opportunity for everyone except Marib and Gail.
“Jin. You have to prove it to everyone. That you’re not the one out to get me. Now is the time. If you don’t do well, it’s all over.”
Rustle. Arsen stroked Jin’s hair and smiled. If you’re not trying to kill me, then do whatever it takes to save and protect me—that was the intent. Jin looked at his brother with calm eyes.
“I won’t harm you.”
“But others don’t think that way, and that’s the problem.”
“…Arsen. Do you know something I don’t? It sounds like it.”
Boom! Crash!
As he was about to say more, a commotion erupted outside. Arsen spun around as if to say enough and headed to the dressing room.
“Then shall we change? Let’s wear the same outfit today.”
They usually had slight differences, but today it was best to look identical. That way, blades aimed at Arsen might mistakenly fly toward Jin.
Bang! Bang!
They tried to change, but no attendants came when called. The noise outside was no joke. Arsen, finished first, grabbed Jin’s shoulder and smiled brightly.
“Smile. Like me.”
“…….”
“Come on.”
At Arsen’s urging, Jin reluctantly lifted the corners of his mouth. Dimples faintly formed, but Arsen didn’t notice. He was just gazing into Jin’s blue eyes.
“Good. You look cool like this.”
“Don’t joke. Arsen.”
“Hahaha.”
Boom!
“Prince Arsen! Prince Jin!”
“Come this way, this way!”
At that moment, attendants burst through the door in panic. Pale-faced, they each scooped up Arsen and Jin, then floundered toward the inner room.
“What about Mother?”
Jin noticed blood on the attendant’s sleeve.
“Mother!?”
“Arsen! Jin!”
Creak!
They entered the annex of the annex and flung open the door to the garden, where Dillaina’s voice came. She was running toward them, clutching her cumbersome skirt.
“Hurry! We’re getting out of here!”
“This way! Dillaina, Arsen, and Jin are here!”
“Seal all the exits to the outside!”
“We have to go to the Magic Department. The Magic Department! Arsen! Jin!”
“Grab them! Gail’s co-conspirators! Kill them!”
“Hurry, run!”
Faint shouts from unfamiliar soldiers echoed from afar. The main gate had clearly been breached. Probably Marib’s soldiers. Jin clung to the neck of the attendant carrying him and squeezed his eyes shut.
‘The garden is this vast.’
It was his first time running without a horse. The ragged breathing—uncertain whose it was—the trampled grass, the occasional cool breeze. Everything felt like a dream. Just yesterday, he hadn’t anticipated this at all.
Splat.
Then it happened. The running attendant stopped abruptly.
“Where are you all rushing off to in such a hurry?”
It was Marib. His tightly bound hair was the same, but disheveled beyond imagination. His face was marred with wounds, his clothes stained with blood and dirt.
The attendant hugged Jin tightly and stepped back. The heartbeat pounding chest to chest was fierce.
“Marib! What is the meaning of this?!”
Dillaina stepped forward, shielding the princes. Though a consort, by blood she was his mother. Just as Arsen and Jin were Marib’s brothers.
“Not content with harming His Imperial Majesty, now this recklessness! Aren’t you ashamed as Bariel’s First Prince?”
Behind them, the pursuing soldiers appeared. Surrounded on all sides. Marib ahead, armed men behind. No matter which way, death seemed inevitable.
“Recklessness. That must refer to you siding with Gail. Are you hiding him?”
“What?”
Dillaina’s face paled at Marib’s words. Hiding him? Didn’t that mean the battle was tilting in Marib’s favor?
“No, this has nothing to do with us. We haven’t seen Gail. For the princes’ dignity, let us pass. Have pity on these children…….”
“Nothing to do with you?”
As Marib approached slowly, Dillaina instinctively stepped back. Jin pushed the attendant away and blocked her front.
“B-Brother, please don’t do this.”
Seeing that, Arsen quickly stood beside Jin. The expressionless twins. Marib frowned and twitched his sword. He couldn’t tell Arsen from Jin.
“Arsen! Jin!”
Dillaina hugged her two sons and crouched down. The attendants were subdued by soldiers and forced to the ground. A cold wind sliced between them. It felt like the aura of death.
“Who is Arsen?”
“…Why do you ask?”
Marib didn’t answer Jin’s question. An ominous silence stretched. He sized them up, leveling his sword at the children’s necks.
“Dillaina. You must pay the price for holding Gail’s hand. Hand over one son. For your family’s sake, I won’t kill you all.”
Her pupils dilated. Her hands trembled, but her mind went blank, unable to even notice.
“Or you all die here.”
At Marib’s words, she looked down at the two sons in her arms. With her own hands? A son? Absurd, but the whole situation was already absurd.
“Mother.”
Then, Arsen called her cautiously. A glance urging her to think why Marib asked “who is Arsen.” The one bound by the oracle, not easily killed.
“Mother.”
Jin called her next. Unlike Arsen, his eyes were moist. As if realizing the approaching fate, he called her name pleadingly.
‘I’m sorry.’
Dillaina finally released Jin’s hand. The child looked at his now-empty palm and turned around. Dillaina, holding Arsen, was shedding tears. Arsen twitched his brow with his usual expression.
‘Hurry.’
Jin looked at Marib and bit his lip hard. Like his mother, tears streamed down, but unlike his usual emptiness, clear emotion showed.
“You must be Jin.”
“…….”
Rage. For the first time, Marib felt Jin was truly alive. But what could he do? He had passed the point of no return, and to move forward, he had no choice but to swing the sword.
Shing!
As Marib drew his sword, Jin closed his eyes. As the blade tip descended toward the child’s head.
Boom! Bang!
Sudden explosions around them. Marib hesitated and halted his strike. Turning, he saw Ian standing there.
“…Ian?”
Ian confirmed the face of the child before Marib. A scar running straight from forehead to chin. Blood trickled, though not as thick as the tears.
“…Sheathe your sword.”
The moment the twins’ fate diverged.
It was the birth of the Emperor.