Chapter 605: The King of Pride (Part 9)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 605: The King of Pride (Part 9)
"I am the foundation that has allowed this Empire to endure for a thousand years, that has made it flourish for a millennium, and that has allowed the Leopold family to rule for ten centuries... It is me! It is me! IT IS ME!!!"
His roar was deafening, like the howl of a wild beast. Albert’s eyes were bloodshot, his face contorted into a hideous mask that bore no resemblance to the calculating, patient man he had pretended to be for decades.
It was as if a rigid shell had been shattered, finally exposing a pathetic, laughable core of fragility.
But as the shell cracked, so too did his crumbling sanity and humanity. A terrifying aura began to rise from a body that should have possessed no cultivation at all. He raised the Sword of Kings high; an indescribable darkness and stench now oozed from the blade that was once the Empire’s supreme symbol of authority.
A silver-white figure flickered past like a white pigeon. Taking advantage of Albert’s madness, Celicia’s rapier pierced his heart with surgical precision.
Cold intent surged.
The divine power to freeze all things instantly turned his beating heart into a block of ice. Simultaneously, a vast portion of the flesh on Albert’s torso was flash-frozen.
And yet...
"You don't understand... You don't understand at all!"
Albert, whose heart had already turned to ice, seemed completely oblivious. He continued to roar in fury:
"Everything the Leopolds possess today was granted by me!"
A foul wind howled as the Sword of Kings trembled.
Celicia’s mind raced. She raised her blade to parry, yet she still felt an almost unstoppable, terrifying force crash into her.
She stumbled back, wiping blood from the corner of her mouth. Her gaze did not return to Albert, but remained fixed on the sword.
"As I thought... is it the Sword of Kings itself?"
A hint of mockery touched Celicia’s eyes.
Dion, who had attempted to seize the First Prince’s body by transplanting his brain, was now being controlled by the Sword of Kings in turn. Was this retribution, or simply the inevitable cycle of karma?
"Since the time of the First King, I am the one who granted him the power to quell chaos and rebuild order! For the next thousand years, whenever the Imperial Family faced a crisis, I was the only reason your Leopold family survived until now!"
A giant, blood-red eye opened upon the Sword of Kings, glaring at Celicia with pure rage. However, the voice issued from Albert’s mouth:
"How dare you betray me?! Abandon me?! Sever me?! How dare you!!"
"Because you went too far. Through the Imperial Family and the authority of the throne, you have been constantly eroding the Empire’s foundations, endlessly gorging yourself on the blood of the entire nation."
Standing amidst ten thousand floating motes of golden light, Celicia remained expressionless.
"So we resist. It is as simple as that."
"Resist? Shut up! What right do you have to speak of resistance?!"
The darkness continued to flow. Root-like tentacles writhed and burrowed deep into Albert’s flesh.
Just like the roots of that massive Golden Tree that had once anchored itself within the entire Empire.
"Have you not considered... what happens if I am gone? What if the thousand-year reign of the Empire is broken? What if the Leopolds are swept into the dust of history?"
Albert’s mouth opened and closed, but the one asking the questions was the Sword of Kings—the blade that had witnessed, maintained, and ruled the Empire for a millennium.
"What if the rules established by the First King are destroyed? What if the throne is usurped or ended in the future? What if chaos descends upon this Empire once more?! Without me, such things are inevitable!! The blood of the Imperial Family flows through your veins—do you truly not care about such things?"
"The status of the Imperial Family? Perhaps I do care, in a way."
Celicia answered softly. She turned around, gazing out at the distant city, just as her father, the Emperor, had loved to do.
"But if such a day truly comes, I think... then let it happen."
Her gaze swept across the magnificent, sprawling Upper District and the cramped, narrow Lower District.
She saw the debauchery of the noble and the wealthy, and the numb existence of the lowly and the poor.
Some stood on high, looking down upon all living things.
Others were at the very bottom, looking up with longing.
All of this was the city; all of this was the country.
The Empire was still vibrant, still powerful. Despite the ups and downs of a thousand years, it was still far from its end.
But beneath the prosperous exterior, countless rotting roots had grown. Innumerable parasites clung to the branches of the Empire, devouring its sweet sap in great gulps.
The nutrients of a tree do not come from nothing. That sap... was the blood of others.
"What did you say?" The Sword of Kings seemed not to have heard her clearly.
"I said, if a day comes when the Empire has rotted to the point where the common people fear and loathe the name 'Leopold'... then let the so-called chaos and end come."
Celicia turned back to face the Sword of Kings, her answer devoid of hesitation.
"Just as the soil needs to be turned occasionally for saplings to grow better, when the Leopolds become the filth obstructing that growth, being turned back into the dust and mud is the best thing for the vast majority of people, isn't it?"
"No... no..."
"That is the true 'rule' of the world."
"No... no... Shut up! Shut up! With words like those, are you even fit to carry the royal bloodline? Shouldn't your only thought be how to maintain the Empire’s rule?"
"It may sound like I'm unfit for the bloodline, but as long as I can make the Empire better, the rule of the Imperial Family will naturally endure. If my descendants do a poor job... then we return to what we just discussed."
Celicia’s frost-flower eyelashes lowered slightly, her tone calm. "In any case, a new Empire will be reborn from the ruins. Why should I care about such a thing?"
"No... Shut up, shut up!!"
Dense veins throbbed on Albert’s head—it was unclear if they were truly veins or roots burrowing into his brain.
"You... the Imperial Family only needed to obediently offer sacrifices to me! I would have made the Empire eternal, made the Imperial Family eternal! You only needed to be like those commoners—obediently offering up your blood!! Traitor, you traitor to the crown! You are just like your senile father, you are both..."
"I'm sorry, but I don't have the habit of being someone's livestock."
A cold flash of light interrupted Albert’s roar. A sharp sword intent poured out with Celicia’s strike, whistling like a sudden downpour, instantly severing the hand Albert used to hold the sword.
But in the span of a single breath, the tangled roots pulled the severed arm back into place.
Celicia did not give up. Her silver-white hair flew as an even more terrifying, absolute cold descended upon the area.
The Divine Blessing of the Ice-Snow Goddess was stimulated to its limit. Snow-white patterns extended through the air as every trace of moisture in the atmosphere was thoroughly frozen.
Albert was no exception. The spreading darkness finally seemed to be congealed by the extreme cold.
But...
Crack.
Just as before, Celicia’s attack failed to achieve much. The congealed frost shattered almost immediately. The terrifying, foul darkness erupted once more. Reflected in Albert’s eyes—filled with madness and rage—the Sword of Kings swung gently.
In an instant, the earth trembled.
An invisible force rose from the ground, striking an unknown point.
There was the clear, sickening sound of flesh being torn.
The scene shifted. The silver-white figure was now collapsed on the ground, her white dress stained with brilliant crimson. Her rapier lay discarded to the side, pitifully snapped in two.
Everything ended so suddenly... yet so predictably.
"I don't know where you got the courage to tell the Indra King to step back."
The blood-red eye on the Sword of Kings curved slightly. Seeing Celicia lying helpless, Albert regained a fraction of his former poise and calm. He laughed coldly:
"But did you forget? Even if the roots are severed, a great tree does not wither so quickly. Besides, I am a Sacred Artifact personally bestowed by a God. You are a mere Fifth-Tier Martial Artist—what made you think you could face me alone?"
A cold night wind blew through the shattered low walls, wailing and winding like a dirge.
But for whom was this dirge sung?
"Yes... the roots are severed, but the Golden Tree still exists."
Celicia slowly reached out her hand, as if she absurdly intended to snap the giant tree with her bare fingers...
But from her perspective, she wasn't dreaming of snapping a tree from a distance. At this moment, she was reaching out to grasp something in her palm.
"But if I can't solve all the problems right here, then everything in the past, everything now, and everything in the future... wouldn't it all be meaningless?"
"That is why I am here."
*
"Brother... Big brother, pass the ball!"
"Heh, catch!"
The sun shone brightly, and the air was filled with the scent of flowers.
The flowers in the Royal Garden always bloomed earlier than anywhere else in the city. While snow still lingered on the streets, this place was already a riot of color.
On such a rare, beautiful day, even one's mood became much brighter.
Ten-year-old Albert and eight-year-old Andrew were running across the lawn. The two of them were kicking a ball with several noisy palace maids, who were trying to make sure the princes had fun while simultaneously worrying they might trip.
Laughter filled the air, bringing a touch of warmth even to the Imperial Palace.
At this time, the princes were young; their physiological and personality flaws had not yet manifested. The Emperor was in his prime, and the entire Empire bowed before his majesty. This was perhaps the most beautiful moment of all—a rare glimmer of familial affection flickering within these palace walls.
And little Celicia, her cheeks still holding a bit of baby fat, sat on a stone bench where her feet couldn't reach the ground. She held a white porcelain cup in both hands and tilted her head back, gulping the contents down in one go.
"How is it?"
Audrich sat opposite her. Seeing Celicia finish, he asked with a smile:
"The coffee your father brewed isn't bad, right?"
"Hmm..."
Celicia paused thoughtfully. "It seems Father hasn't personally brewed coffee in a long time. I suggest..."
"Alright, alright, I know what you mean. You don't have to be so indirect even when you're mocking your father."
Audrich interrupted Celicia, waving his hand helplessly.
Sunlight spilled into the courtyard. Audrich watched Celicia, whose small face was still scrunched up from the bitterness. He turned to look at the two brothers running playfully on the lawn, their relationship harmonious. The smile on his face deepened; for him, this was the most perfect scene imaginable.
"I'm sorry," Audrich said suddenly.
"What do you mean, Father?" Celicia asked softly.
"You think I shouldn't apologize?"
"No, it's just that there are too many things you should apologize for. I'm not sure which one this is."
"Pfft... Hahaha!"
Audrich let out a hearty laugh. The white pigeons nesting in the courtyard were startled, taking flight into the blue sky.
"The thing I need to apologize for now is only that one thing, I suppose."
Audrich’s smile faded as he said:
"I'm sorry for suddenly making you shoulder so much."
"..."
"What's wrong? You're not speaking. Are you truly angry because you think I'm being too unfair?"
"No... I'm just surprised. I didn't expect you to apologize for something like this. After all, I am your daughter, and the royal blood flows in my veins... so all of this is only natural, isn't it?"
"...Yes, you are my daughter."
Audrich looked at the two brothers kicking the ball. His expression darkened for a moment, but then he seemed to realize something and smiled with relief. "I am very gratified."
"Thank you."
"Right, take this."
"This is?"
Celicia took the object Audrich handed her. It was an ornate treasure chest, carved with lifelike reliefs symbolizing the Imperial Family.
"An Imperial Decree," Audrich said. "My final decree, and my final command as Emperor."
"..."
Celicia’s hand paused as she went to open the box. But after two or three seconds, under Audrich’s watchful gaze, she opened it.
The box was heavy, but inside was merely a roll of parchment tied with a golden cord, looking incredibly prestigious.
In truth, this paper was heavy in another sense. Everyone knew what an Emperor’s final command entailed. It could fix any legal flaws in Celicia’s claim, allowing her to logically and legitimately... become the new Empress of the Empire.
This was the thing Albert had always sought but could never obtain, forcing him to seek other paths.
Now, it was right before Celicia’s eyes.
But Celicia stroked the parchment, stared at it for a moment, and then suddenly shook her head, closing the box.
"Thank you, Father. But I don't need this anymore."
"Why?"
"Because I've realized that for an Emperor, legitimacy is indeed important, but it is not the most important thing."
"Oh? What does Celicia think is the most important thing for an Emperor?"
Celicia didn't answer.
She simply looked at Audrich and asked seriously:
"Father... have you ever eaten black bread?"
"..."
Audrich was stunned. Then... he burst into laughter again, a laugh ten times more joyous than the one before.
"It seems I have nothing left to teach you."
"You didn't teach me much to begin with, Father."
"True... I wasn't a good Emperor, nor was I a good father."
Audrich reined in his emotions, finally looking a bit sad as he whispered:
"Then, from now on, you will be all alone."
"All alone?"
Celicia chewed on the words. Suddenly, she tilted her head and said:
"Actually... not really."
A handsome face appeared in Celicia’s mind.
That guy was always unreliable, a flirt, and had a sharp tongue... but no matter what, she knew he would stay with her until the very end.
"Besides, even if it's just to make that guy stay obediently by my side—and to completely deal with certain philandering cats—I have to pick up my pace."
Celicia stood up.
"Well, I can't stay distracted for too long. Goodbye, Father."
"Yes, goodbye, Celicia."
Audrich waved his hand, then suddenly remembered something and smiled:
"Oh, wait. Now I should say... Goodbye, Your Majesty."
*
Celicia’s hand closed on empty air.
In her fair, slender palm, there appeared to be nothing. But at that moment, the wind howled, and infinite golden motes of light converged, constructing a sword within her grasp.
The Sword of Kings.
But this was not the Sword of Kings that flaunted the supreme authority of the throne. Rather... because it was held in Celicia’s hand, it was called the Sword of Kings.
The true Sword of Kings.
"I do not care if, a thousand years from now, the Empire still bears the name Leopold."
"Nor do I care about the so-called eternal, noble status you speak of."
"I only care that at this very moment, they... so many people, have chosen me!"
Celicia stood up and pointed. The radiance falling from the Golden Great Tree leaped, danced, and condensed following her movement... like tens of thousands of people shouting in unison.
Shouting... Long live the Empress!
"Therefore."
Celicia’s beautiful face was cold and stern as she looked down at the pale, terrified Albert. Her majestic voice echoed, each word like a divine command:
"At this moment... I am the Emperor!"
"I am—the Empire!!"
And so.
Heaven and earth roared as a brilliant crown descended from the sky!