It was something he had already guessed. The wizard who stood in his way in that village had already cursed him twice before.
In addition, there was something that Frisia had spoken about.
A dream about a novel in which their future was revealed. Viscount Rowaine was the main character in that dream—the main character who overcomes evil against all odds and finally marries Aslei, her husband.
‘I will become the Demon King.’
Aslei turned around with a cold face. Blood was dripping from the tip of his sword. Frisia died, and his life was shattered.
His happiness would never return.
Aslei was sure that the letter Julien had received was from Marianne. Because of her attitude toward him.
It was clear from that that she, too, had the same dream as Frisia.
He assumed that, conceivably, Marianne instructed him to poison Prince Aaron in Mulia, the capital of the duchy.
Even if she hadn’t sent the letter, he didn’t care.
Marianne had been condemned once she had made his Frisia uneasy. For trying to get between him and her, she deserved to die.
‘Please wait, my beloved.’
He also intended to go to Frisia’s side once he had wholly avenged her. He had already abandoned all hope in this world.
❁ ❁ ❁
Duke Atreille wondered what was happening. His forces were waiting within a day’s reach of the capital. It must have been the same with the Knights of the Duke of Tintalion.
But, just as the news that his daughter was assassinated arrived, more reports came that the emperor, with the only one remaining prince, was also dead.
Duke Atreille, who had been hastily convening nobles and forming public opinion, was taken aback.
‘The emperor died?’
What a dire situation for the emperor to die when the only stupid Julien was left. However, he was confident that he could mobilize the nobles to dethrone Julien and make another member of the royal family emperor.
He and Duke Tintalion are members of the royal imperial family, but they were one of many.
He excluded headstrong candidates that would overpower aristocracy. Some would balance power with nobles. And lastly, and most preferably, were those that would be puppets! He already made a list of such people… … .
— Then he received information his son-in-law had caused an accident. It was an ‘accident’ that he thought was impossible.
‘Are you saying he is a monster?’
The imperial battle mage corps of the imperial guard, not belonging to the Mage Tower, were the troops the emperor was very proud of. It was also why Julien dared to have the ambition of exterminating the Duchess.
Even if Duke Tintalion went on a rampage, he thought the Imperial Guard and Wizards would protect him!
However, when the lid of Pandora’s box was removed, they were horribly defeated.
With only a fraction of his knights at hand, the Duke had invaded the imperial palace.
All nobles flocked to Duke Atreille. The emperor and prince were slaughtered; it was treason, and the traitor, Duke Tintalion had to be punished.
But by what means?
It was rumored that the Duke lost his sanity with grief over the loss of his wife. He was said to be sitting on the emperor’s throne, covered in blood.
“I am a traitor. Because I killed the emperor and the prince who murdered my wife… … . Whoever wants to put an end to me let them come to the imperial palace!”
Even if they did not come, he said he would destroy them—anyone who sympathized with Julien and the emperor and assisted even a small speck in slaying his wife.
All the nobles froze in shock and fear at his declaration. The exception was the Duke of Atreille and the nobles associated with him who worked hard to save his daughter.
However, the Duke of Atreille felt the same thrill.
‘He’s crazy, he’s crazy, but… … Aslei Tintalion has the power to do that.’
“Duke, what should I do?”
The nobles flocked like a bee swarm and asked Duke Atreille. To be honest, the Duke of Atreille did not know how to answer.
His crazy son-in-law seemed to be holding out even though the stench of rotting corpses vibrated in the imperial palace. Mobilizing his army to strike him would seem like the simple solution, but he risked having that army slain.
The Mage Tower had been shut down for quite some time, and those with skills comparable to Aslei’s were putting up their hands to leave them out of it.
He tried to request a knight comparable to Aslei in reputation, but he didn’t want to come forward unless Aslei was slaughtering the capital’s citizens.
Some nobles rushed to the person closest in succession to the throne and asked how to help, but when they heard rumors about the emperor and the prince, they ran away with their tail between their legs.
It was something he had already guessed. The wizard who stood in his way in that village had already cursed him twice before.
In addition, there was something that Frisia had spoken about.
A dream about a novel in which their future was revealed. Viscount Rowaine was the main character in that dream—the main character who overcomes evil against all odds and finally marries Aslei, her husband.
‘I will become the Demon King.’
Aslei turned around with a cold face. Blood was dripping from the tip of his sword. Frisia died, and his life was shattered.
His happiness would never return.
Aslei was sure that the letter Julien had received was from Marianne. Because of her attitude toward him.
It was clear from that that she, too, had the same dream as Frisia.
He assumed that, conceivably, Marianne instructed him to poison Prince Aaron in Mulia, the capital of the duchy.
Even if she hadn’t sent the letter, he didn’t care.
Marianne had been condemned once she had made his Frisia uneasy. For trying to get between him and her, she deserved to die.
‘Please wait, my beloved.’
He also intended to go to Frisia’s side once he had wholly avenged her. He had already abandoned all hope in this world.
❁ ❁ ❁
Duke Atreille wondered what was happening. His forces were waiting within a day’s reach of the capital. It must have been the same with the Knights of the Duke of Tintalion.
But, just as the news that his daughter was assassinated arrived, more reports came that the emperor, with the only one remaining prince, was also dead.
Duke Atreille, who had been hastily convening nobles and forming public opinion, was taken aback.
‘The emperor died?’
What a dire situation for the emperor to die when the only stupid Julien was left. However, he was confident that he could mobilize the nobles to dethrone Julien and make another member of the royal family emperor.
He and Duke Tintalion are members of the royal imperial family, but they were one of many.
He excluded headstrong candidates that would overpower aristocracy. Some would balance power with nobles. And lastly, and most preferably, were those that would be puppets! He already made a list of such people… … .
— Then he received information his son-in-law had caused an accident. It was an ‘accident’ that he thought was impossible.
‘Are you saying he is a monster?’
The imperial battle mage corps of the imperial guard, not belonging to the Mage Tower, were the troops the emperor was very proud of. It was also why Julien dared to have the ambition of exterminating the Duchess.
Even if Duke Tintalion went on a rampage, he thought the Imperial Guard and Wizards would protect him!
However, when the lid of Pandora’s box was removed, they were horribly defeated.
With only a fraction of his knights at hand, the Duke had invaded the imperial palace.
All nobles flocked to Duke Atreille. The emperor and prince were slaughtered; it was treason, and the traitor, Duke Tintalion had to be punished.
But by what means?
It was rumored that the Duke lost his sanity with grief over the loss of his wife. He was said to be sitting on the emperor’s throne, covered in blood.
“I am a traitor. Because I killed the emperor and the prince who murdered my wife… … . Whoever wants to put an end to me let them come to the imperial palace!”
Even if they did not come, he said he would destroy them—anyone who sympathized with Julien and the emperor and assisted even a small speck in slaying his wife.
All the nobles froze in shock and fear at his declaration. The exception was the Duke of Atreille and the nobles associated with him who worked hard to save his daughter.
However, the Duke of Atreille felt the same thrill.
‘He’s crazy, he’s crazy, but… … Aslei Tintalion has the power to do that.’
“Duke, what should I do?”
The nobles flocked like a bee swarm and asked Duke Atreille. To be honest, the Duke of Atreille did not know how to answer.
His crazy son-in-law seemed to be holding out even though the stench of rotting corpses vibrated in the imperial palace. Mobilizing his army to strike him would seem like the simple solution, but he risked having that army slain.
The Mage Tower had been shut down for quite some time, and those with skills comparable to Aslei’s were putting up their hands to leave them out of it.
He tried to request a knight comparable to Aslei in reputation, but he didn’t want to come forward unless Aslei was slaughtering the capital’s citizens.
Some nobles rushed to the person closest in succession to the throne and asked how to help, but when they heard rumors about the emperor and the prince, they ran away with their tail between their legs.
