Reclaiming the Throne (4)
The emperor—no, the former emperor—lay pierced through the chest by a sword, blood flowing from the wound, but otherwise pristine. Just once. His life had been ended by that single blade in his chest.
Arthur silently removed the crown from the former emperor's head and gazed down at it with eyes full of complex emotions. Then, slowly, he placed it atop his own head, and the Immortal Crown began to glow brighter and brighter. As if acknowledging Arthur. As if unleashing its power for him. No one would now deny Arthur's legitimacy. Not even the Imperial Knights who guarded the emperor.
So... I sank part of the conjured walls into the earth. I cleared suitable spots on the east, west, south, and north walls for gates.
Now then, shall we go meet Arthur, who has achieved what he desired?
The lineage of the Romanian Empire lists the name Lucius Altrius a total of three times.
First, the Knight King: Lucius Altorius Caesar. The king who founded the Kingdom of Romania and the first knight, a hero acknowledged by the gods.
Second, the last king of Romania who elevated the kingdom to an empire, and the first emperor: Lucius Altrius II. The great-grandson of the Knight King, an emperor who devoted his life to stabilizing the nation of Romania and who died young, sacrificing himself for his country.
And third: the ill-fated crown prince whose throne was usurped by his uncle, who spent years honing his blade before finally slaying his uncle and reclaiming the imperial seat: Lucius Altrius III.
Each of these three emperors has their own legends, but because they share the same name, many enthusiasts have woven their stories into one grand tale. The most widely known of these is the Romanian Kingsaga.
News of the former emperor's death spread like wildfire. What happened in the emperor's audience chamber was quickly relayed by the castle servants, and it even reached the Imperial Knights who had rushed back to Sirius at full gallop.
"This can't be..."
The captain of the Imperial Knights, who hadn't rested a moment on the journey, entered the audience chamber. The sight that greeted him was utterly devastating. The emperor's personal guards lay bisected and dead. The opulent chamber was a mess of blood from the slain. And there, the emperor dead with a sword in his chest, and a young man sitting on the bloodstained throne, wearing the Immortal Crown.
"You...!"
Who would dare assassinate Romania's emperor? Who would dare steal the Immortal Crown and wear it? Who would dare sit on the emperor's throne? Who would dare. Dare!
"You bastard!!!!"
The captain of the Imperial Knights roared in fury, drawing the sword at his waist.
"For the crime of slaying His Imperial Majesty, you will not die easily!"
"His Imperial Majesty..."
Arthur regarded the captain calmly and spoke in a low voice.
"You call a child-persecuting murderer, a throne-stealer with no right to it, 'His Imperial Majesty'?"
"What?!"
"Disappointing."
In that instant, a rumor flashed through the captain's mind.
The son of the previous emperor, exiled by the current one, has returned.
"You... no, you are..."
"I have come to reclaim what was taken from me long ago."
Arthur rose from the throne, pulling the sword from the former emperor's chest as he spoke.
"My name is Lucius Altrius III. The rightful emperor of Romania, and the avenger seeking to take back what was stolen."
Arthur swung the sword. Lightly. It severed the former emperor's head.
"The false emperor who stole my throne is dead. Now the imperial throne of this empire returns to me. The righteousness of my will and actions will be judged by the dazzling light of justice, the god of law, Shamash. If I am not the rightful heir to the throne, let the gods punish me."
Thud.
The severed head rolled limply down the dais steps. Unaware of his impending death to the end, it bore expressions of doubt, disbelief, and panic.
"How... how could this..."
The captain could say no more. The emperor's death, Arthur's appearance—none of it made sense.
Looking at him, Arthur spoke softly.
"Captain of the Imperial Knights. What will you do now? Continue your loyalty to the dead false emperor?"
The captain gazed at the former emperor's head on the floor. A greedy man, yes, but still an emperor. One who bore the blood of great kings. Now his head, stripped of the Immortal Crown, lay abandoned and limp.
"I... no, I..."
The former emperor wasn't a good man. Greedy, favoring his cronies over the Imperial Knights. When the crown prince and his sister suddenly vanished one day, leaving the throne vacant, and he took it... doubts had lingered. But they couldn't be voiced. Loyalty was sworn to the man on the throne. Even if the Immortal Crown on his head glowed faintly like fireflies, he was emperor.
The captain could only bow his head.
"I..."
He looked up at the young man before the throne. A youth whose childish features faintly remained. The Immortal Crown on his head shone like the sun. He was rightful. Legitimate.
"I pledge my loyalty only to His Imperial Majesty."
And so the captain of the Imperial Knights bowed his head once more.
"However... even a false emperor once ruled this empire. Please grant us the chance to tend to his body..."
Arthur paused, then replied.
"His head must be displayed in Sirius Square to publicize his crimes and exact justice."
"Then at least allow us to retrieve and bury the body."
Arthur nodded slightly.
"Permitted. And..."
His eyes turned cold.
"Bring me the son of the false emperor."
"Arthur."
I approached Arthur in the now-empty audience chamber, where he emanated a faint killing intent.
"......"
"Arthur."
I called his name again.
"Teacher..."
"What do you plan to do with that man's son?"
"Pay back exactly what Vivi and I suffered."
"Suffered?"
"Yes. Like Vivi writhing in agony from poison. Like me, forced to flee into exile."
I nodded faintly. I understood Arthur's feelings well enough.
But.
"Children don't choose their parents, Arthur."
"......"
"You mustn't pass parents' sins onto their children."
"But..."
"Arthur."
I spoke calmly, patting his back.
"For now, sort out the castle's affairs and wait for Vivi. The rest can be handled slowly."
"Teacher..."
Arthur spat out the resentment knotted in his chest.
"Teacher can say that because it's not your fight..."
"Arthur."
"Do you know how I've lived these past eight years? Every time my sister suffered, I wanted to take her place. Fleeing desperately, I thought countless times that if I'd just died, she'd be free."
Sticky resentment. Years of pent-up vengeance poured from Arthur's lips as thick grudge.
"Why! That man coveted the throne?! Why wasn't being the emperor's brother and uncle enough?! He was decent when we were kids! What the hell happened!!"
"Desire is an innate instinct of life."
I patted his back slowly as I spoke.
"The desire to live. To fill your belly. To possess what you lack. To bear children and continue your line. All those desires sustain life."
"......"
As living beings, we can't fully defy them.
"He was simply swept away by them."
"......"
I wasn't sure if these words comforted him.
"Arthur. Send someone to fetch Vivi and the others. And prepare Sirius."
"Teacher..."
"Arthur. You've done well. You've reclaimed what's yours, and no one threatens you now. So... relax a little."
"But..."
"Arthur."
I gently pushed him onto the throne.
"For now, savor this victory."
Honestly, it was a victory pieced together from rumors, schemes, and deception—no real battle. But a win was a win.
"Teacher..."
"Yes, Arthur."
"Could you... hold my hand for a bit?"
His voice drained of strength, like a puppet with cut strings. Despite achieving long-cherished revenge, the resentment lingered, leaving him exhausted.
I carefully took his hand.
"Rest for now, Arthur."
I'll relay the message to Vivi myself. Arthur didn't seem in any state to give orders.
"Sweet dreams, Arthur."
May peace return to the child whose heart rotted from vengeance, hatred, and grudges.
