Chapter 5

(05)

“You must absolutely not raise your head first. You must not speak back. You must not show your back.”

“Yes, I know that well.”

The security guard and the knight dragged the black-haired maid down to the underground prison.

I briefly explained the situation to the knight and the attendant.

The middle-aged head servant responded,

“His Majesty wishes to receive a direct report on all matters related to treason.”

He then took me to the audience chamber.

All the way there, he recited the rules of the audience in detail.

“Do you think I’ve only seen His Majesty once or twice? Just be quiet and let me handle it.”

I couldn’t hold back and shot back at the head servant.

He gave me a strange look.

“Lady Jeilliris has only been on the throne for a year, and as far as I know, you have never requested to see Duke Valencius. What are you talking about?”

I made a mistake.

I sighed inwardly and shook my head.

“No, go quickly.”

The main palace occupied a vast expanse of mountainous land.

The audience chamber was a building built at quite a high position among them.

I climbed the wide stairs and reached it.

When I saw the stairs in front of the audience chamber, I paused for a moment and looked back.

The clear blue sky and the view of the capital, with its many tall towers, spread out before me.

Below, the heads of the treacherous prince and Jeilliris’s left arm had fallen.

This time, I would not let it happen again.

“What are you looking at?”

“No, I’m coming right away.”

The head servant opened the side door of the audience chamber.

It was a sight I had seen hundreds or thousands of times, even including my previous life, but it was magnificent every time.

Massive columns over 25 meters tall stood on either side, and the floor was decorated with marble and colorful gemstones.

The audience chamber ceiling was a dark blue color, adorned with thousands of glass lanterns holding candles.

Watching the flickering candle flames felt like gazing at the night sky.

“Prince Valencius?”

“How dare he come here dressed like that.”

“That bandit! Does he think he’s come to a ball or something?”

Similar reactions came from both sides of the columns.

It was disrespectful to come dressed in a gleaming white uniform with golden embellishments to a place where relatives had taken their own lives.

However, I wanted to act as shameless and brazen as possible.

The royal family members seated on the right side of the columns were not bound, while the five royal family members seated on the left were in handcuffs.

They were ‘those who had been kindly given the opportunity to take their own lives.’

The head servant hurried up to the platform and whispered something into the ear of Empress Jeilliris.

With my head lowered, I couldn’t see what kind of expression she was making.

“Duke Valencius, after the execution is over, do not return to Crimson Crescent Palace but wait.”

It was a reprieve.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

That was all I could say.

“Now, I will continue. Lusis, I have heard that you also attempted to kill me. Step forward and speak if you have any excuses.”

Jeilliris said.

I looked at the royal family members seated on the left side of the columns.

A royal family member with a bear-like build stepped forward, handcuffed.

Though his face bore bruises here and there, he still stood proud.

“I know you tried to obtain several swords engraved with incantation circuits by mail to your maternal family. Whom did you intend to give those swords to?”

“Your Majesty, what will you do if I don’t say?”

“I have already said that I would allow you to take your own life. Your honor will be preserved. Therefore, I have no choice but to interrogate the suspicious individuals.”

The mention of interrogating the suspicious individuals made Lusis grit his teeth.

I knew from my past life how it felt.

While it was called an interrogation, it was nothing more than torture.

Torture ordered by the emperor would have no mercy in the hands of the torturers.

“I sent the letter.”

“To whom did you send it?”

Lusis recited a list of names. They were all people who were already locked in the underground prison.

After listing the names, he looked in my direction.

Poison flashed in his heavily distorted face.

I took a step back in disbelief.

“And finally, I sent a letter to Duke Valencius.”

Damn it.

I nearly let out a stream of curses right then and there.

I was still not Jeilliris’s cherished subordinate.

The royal family members sitting along the right column cast shocked glances.

The four or five royal family members seated along the left column looked at him with scorn.

Perhaps they had already coordinated their stories.

Or maybe they picked up on it through intuition.

The fact that a letter was received was true.

I had expressed polite refusal the next day and burned it.

But I hadn’t even kept it.

However, I hadn’t informed the knights either.

In my previous life, I did not know what was for Jeilliris’s sake.

I did not want to see her suffer in such a heavy position as an emperor.

At the same time, I did not want her to die.

I could neither commit treason nor draw a line.

I did not realize that if they were not my allies, they were enemies.

I paid the price of foolishness and ignorance with the death of a dear person.

A story that must not be repeated, a tale that must be erased from time.

I stepped forward, kicking the marble floor, and spoke to her.

“Your Majesty! That bear-like man is insulting me with fox-like cunning.”

“Duke Valencius, have you forgotten the vow you made that day?”

“That fool who fainted after being hit with my wine bottle is now talking about vows.”

The knights stamped the ground to assert their weight.

Of course, I shouted defiantly, unblinking.

“How many words can that fool who barged into someone else’s room and was thrown out the window say?”

“I clearly prepared the armor I was to give you.”

“Do you think everything that comes out of your mouth is true? Why are you making such a fuss trying to kill me too? If you’re caught trying to commit treason, just drink some poison and die cleanly!”

I intentionally used vulgar language.

This was a reminder that such a rough and ignorant man could not have been involved in a meticulous treason plot, and an expression of the already existing conflict between Lusis and me.

It had been a while, so it did not come easily to my tongue, but I had to get reacquainted with it now.

Jeilliris raised one hand.

Everyone present, including me, fell silent.

“I take intentions rather heavily, but attempts I take seriously.”

The head servant and the knights nodded.

“I will not tell you to not even dream. However, if you attempt to turn a dream into reality, be prepared. I have said this repeatedly.”

She looked at the royal family members seated on her right.

Some of them flinched and averted their eyes.

“If we punish mere thoughts, who can remain seated there? It would not be enough to lock everyone in the underground prison.”

Clears of throats were heard here and there.

“Duke Valencius.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I have heard reports from the maids and knights of Crimson Crescent Palace. It seems you have lost heart and are living inebriated.”

“I beg your pardon, Your Majesty.”

“I know your actions are not right. However, that is not a death sentence. I will not ask what you have given up to escape into drinking.”

Her voice echoed coldly within the audience chamber.

“I hope you do not attempt to grasp what you have let go.”

It meant she would bury it regardless of whether it was tangible or not.

I bowed my head to express my gratitude.

“I thank you, Your Majesty.”

She chuckled lightly and turned back to Lusis.

“I have called you because I wish to ask the duke something.”

Her voice rose slightly.

From long experience, I knew she was wearing a sadistic smile now.

“Why were you in my wine storage?”

I took a deep breath and answered.

I had to be bold.

I needed to become a rude, disrespectful scoundrel, distanced from power.

Everyone should think I was unsuited for the title of duke.

Everyone should think I could not replace Jeilliris.

“Actually, I intended to steal a bottle of wine.”

“!”

At my outrageous comment, the knights placed their hands on their sword hilts, and the head servant ground his teeth in shock.

I didn’t give them a glance and lifted my head to look at the emperor seated on the golden throne.

“Duke Valencius! Who do you think you are raising your head in front of right now?”

I ignored the head servant’s shocked whisper.

Despite being twins, her face bore no youthful aura unlike mine.

It was because she had transformed her body, having achieved the title of Swordmaster.

Achieving that level at such a young age meant her physical enhancement acted as maturation rather than rejuvenation.

Naturally, her face did not differ at all from before the return.

White hair that seemed to have been cast from melted platinum and deep yellow eyes that looked as if adorned with gold.

A slim figure, tall and proud, as if showing off, sitting with crossed legs and looking down on her opponent.

A ruler with an arrogant and confident dragon-like aura.

The youngest swordmaster in the empire and a grand mage recognized by the Master of the Ivory Tower.

The one who took the throne at sixteen by slaughtering relatives and seizing power.

And for the next 40 years, a war hero who would suppress nine rebellions and lead five major wars to victory.

The tyrant who would gain infamy for near-plundering taxes to increase military armaments.

The emperor of the empire that dominates the continent.

And my twin sister.

Jeilliris Solethanon Solethanis.

She tilted her head.

“You attempted to steal my wine?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“How bold. Do you know whose you attempted to steal?”

Her restrained tone expressed her anger.

I held my head up high and said firmly.

“I apologize. However, please understand. Having drunk only cooking wine in Crimson Crescent Palace every day, I could not resist the fragrance.”

“Why did you drink cooking wine?”

“Because my maintenance funds have been drastically reduced, I have no money to buy proper wine.”

The knights looked at me with pity.

The head servant had already ordered the soldiers to prepare an extra bowl of poison for a self-inflicted death.

Yet, I smiled confidently and audaciously demanded.

“Did I not catch the would-be poisoner because I intended to steal some wine? Please forgive me just this once.”

The entire hallway fell into a deep silence.

The sound of the spring breeze blowing outside was the loudest presence in that place.

Breaking the silence was the highest authority present.

Jeilliris burst into laughter.

Her laughter echoed through the wide hall like a dragon’s roar.

“How bold indeed. Fine. Those who have saved my life once deserve to be forgiven once.”

“I thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Head servant, give this one a bottle of Desert Tear. It is a reward for saving my life.”

The head servant preparing the poison opened his eyes wide in disbelief.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll mix the poison with Desert Tear. Duke Valencius, the Empress has shown you favor. Thank her for gracing you with a precious drink for your final moments.”

The emperor clicked her tongue.

“Do not mix any poison; just give him the wine. I have decided to forgive him.”