Chapter 583: The Sword of the King
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 583: The Sword of the King
"Usurpation?"
In the room, so silent that even the sound of breathing was audible, Audrich’s voice remained raspy and low, as if he were slowly chewing over the word.
"You certainly have courage."
"Yes, it takes a great deal of courage to do this. After all, failure means losing everything. But I did it anyway, didn't I? Even if I was forced into it."
Albert pulled an exquisite gemstone from his robes and tossed it casually into the air.
The gem hovered, and a bright, soft radiance bloomed from within. Under this glow, the dim room was once again bathed in a hue of nobility.
This was a high-purity magic stone used for illumination. The fact that it could shine meant that...
"Has the Forbidden Spell been lifted?" In Audrich’s clouded eyes, the light of the magic stone was reflected.
"Are you surprised?"
Albert tilted his head, wanting to savor the expression of regret on the Emperor's face.
Unfortunately, it was difficult to discern any emotion on that gaunt, deathly frail countenance.
"You were too conceited, Your Majesty."
Albert stood up, clasping his hands behind his back as he admired the floating magic stone. It was merely a stone, yet he looked upon it as if it were a radiant crown.
"You believed that with the Forbidden Spell over the palace and the protection of the Royal Mage Corps and the Royal Knight Order, everything was foolproof. You thought we were all just clowns dancing in the palm of your hand, so you chose to watch from the shadows—just as you once sat back and watched the Royalist Faction and the Noble Faction tear at each other."
"But I suspect even you didn't expect your health to deteriorate so rapidly. It happened so fast that the situation has almost slipped from your control. After all, what authority does a decrepit, dying Emperor have left?"
"And of course, more importantly, you got one thing wrong."
"..." Audrich remained silent, listening. Or perhaps he simply lacked the strength to speak.
Seeing this, Albert’s tone grew more fervent. A fire that had been brewing within him for an unknown amount of time finally broke through its suppressed disguise and began to burn fiercely.
"You don't understand. The foundation of this empire—this vast empire—is the nobility, those in whose veins the Glory's Blood flows! You are the Emperor, the master of the empire. You should have stood on the same side as us, yet you betrayed us! For the sake of the power in your hands, to ensure no one could ever threaten you, you didn't hesitate to let filthy commoners climb over our heads and let them defile our glory. For that, you deserve to die."
"Do you still remember the pact between the First King and our ancestors? The First King and those of the Glory's Blood laid the foundation of the empire together. They pledged to share in the empire's prosperity. But you..."
Albert ground his teeth. "You tried to kick us off the ship just as the empire reached its peak!"
"..."
There was still a long silence. Audrich offered no reply.
"Those people..."
Realizing he had lost his composure, Albert reined in his emotions. His expression returned to a calm state, his eyes downcast. "Those knights, mages, neutrals, and great nobles—they were the most loyal people in the empire. They should have been loyal to you. Yes, we all should have been loyal to you. But you were so senile, so foolish, so selfish and conceited that you forced them to make the right choice."
"This outcome isn't because of anyone else. It is because of you—because of yourself, Your Majesty!"
"..."
Albert spoke each word like an indestructible battering ram, intending to shake the heart of this dying old man.
But from beginning to end, Audrich’s clouded eyes did not change in the slightest. He listened quietly to Albert’s words, and then... he raised his hand.
Albert, who had been speaking with such arrogance a moment ago, instantly turned wary and retreated several steps.
Audrich did nothing.
He simply stared at his own hand—a hand that looked as if it might shatter at any moment, a hand he could barely lift. Whatever he was thinking, he let out a soft sigh.
"Indeed, as you say, I am a senile and incompetent Emperor. I have held two identities in this life, yet I failed to play either of them well. That is what led to this end."
"Do you understand now? Since you understand, then please..."
"Kill me."
"Wha—"
Albert was stunned. "What did you say?"
"I said, kill me."
Audrich closed his eyes.
"As long as I am dead, you will get everything you want, won't you? Come, kill me. I will not resist, nor do I have the strength to."
"..."
Seeing Audrich so magnanimously offering up his life, Albert instead became suspicious and hesitant.
He didn't even dare to approach the imperial bed for a moment. He paced around the room, warily observing his surroundings for any potential traps.
Of course, there were no traps.
If the Emperor still had the strength to set a trap, he wouldn't be here; he would be on the scaffold, watching the heads of the Dion family roll.
After confirming there was no danger, Albert approached again. He drew a gem-encrusted dagger from his robes and slowly closed in on Audrich.
In this moment, Albert felt a strange sensation. If he simply thrust downward with force, the most noble Emperor of the empire would die easily by his hand.
But he stopped.
"Where is it?"
"..."
"Where is the Sword of the King?"
"..."
"Don't try to play dumb!"
Albert brought the dagger closer.
"A thousand years ago, to end the Great Turmoil, the First King and the knights of the Glory's Blood prayed for power beneath a Golden Tree. In the end, the heavens answered their plea and bestowed a sword symbolizing kingship... Where is that sword?"
"Do you enjoy listening to fairy tales as well?" Audrich asked.
"Fairy tales? Are you saying the Royal Curse and the backlash you suffer are also fairy tales? Don't make me laugh, Audrich! That sword grants every Emperor of the empire power far exceeding that of an ordinary Crown Bearer. It was with that Sword of the King that you slew the projection of the Silent Moon!"
Albert growled again, "Where have you hidden that sword!"
"..."
Audrich still did not answer. He acted as if he were ignoring the dagger that could take his life at any moment, casually closing his eyes.
The veins on Albert’s forehead throbbed, but he was helpless. What could you use to threaten a man who was already dying and even actively seeking death?
"Telling time won't help you, old man."
Albert straightened his clothes and stood up, looking down with disdain.
"I have prepared for so long. Do you think I wouldn't have anticipated this? If all you can do is hide the sword, then you are destined to fail."
"..."
"How pathetic."
Albert lowered his head as if in mourning.
"The once-great Emperor of the empire, the noble Audrich III, reduced to using such childish tricks. It’s laughable."
*
Soon, Albert walked out. The doors closed, and the two knights once again knelt and crossed their halberds as if nothing had happened.
"Aren't you going to kill him?"
The maid, who had been silent, suddenly leaned in and asked.
"The palace is basically under our control now. As long as the Emperor is dead, no one can stop you from taking the throne."
"I can't move against him yet," Albert said. "Though he is powerless, he is still the master of the Sword of the King and the true Emperor of this nation. If I strike him now, it will definitely trigger the sword's passive protection. It might even mark me as an enemy, and that would be troublesome."
"Is that so?"
"The order of things cannot be disrupted. We find the sword first."
Albert cast one last glance at the doors he had once found unimaginably grand. His lips curled into a mocking sneer.
"Let's go. Proceed according to plan. Once we confirm our Emperor truly can't do anything anymore, there won't be any problems."