The Emperor’s Real Nature

“I, Douglas Fahlcrantz, have returned to report to your highness.”

Inside the Zodiac palace, in the audience chamber, Marquis Fahlcrantz, myself and also Liz, all knelt in front of the Emperor, and bowed our heads.

After returning to the capital, we instantly headed to the Imperial palace. Of course, because we needed to report everything that had occurred.

Furthermore, Liz had accompanied us to support me.

Unfortunately, with the wound I had, it was hard to walk around normally.

……….no, well, that’s not all it was.

Liz was with me also to make sure that I didn’t feel too sad or dejected.

“Hmm, good work.”

“Lord Fahlcrantz, and also Prince Rudolf and Lizbeth…….truly, we thank you for your hard work.”

Seated beside the Emperor, Queen Alicia gave her words of gratitude as well.

However, their expressions were completely different.

Unlike Queen Alicia who was clearly showing her gratitude from the bottom of her heart, the Emperor was clearly glaring at me.

This man really must hate the fact that I was still alive and breathing.

Now, I finally understand the meaning behind the expression the Emperor made when we first reported about the Duke Svalier’s rebellion.

After all, I was actually a cuckoo, born between the Emperor’s mistress and another man.

By the way, the other queen, Queen Katarina was currently yawning, seemingly uninterested in everything that was happening.

I’d say it was it quite the important matter but, her attitude……..I guess in a way, you could say that she too was big-shot in her own way.

“Then, report to me, what happened to the rebellious traitor, Yoran Von Svalier.”

“Sir!”

The Marquis then began to report the entire details of everything that had taken place.

Of course, including the fact that I was actually Duke Svalier’s son.

“………and that is all.”

“Something like that……….”

After hearing everything, Queen Alicia was left speechless.

Of course she was. She must have never even imagined that I wasn’t even related to the Emperor by blood.

To be honest, even I was pretty shocked when I first heard it.

But, in my case, I never really had interest in whoever my father actually was anyway.

The only father figure I care about in my life is Marquis Fahlcrantz, and him alone.

“………then, as an accomplice to Yoran’s crimes, Beatrice will be subjected to capital punishment. Likewise, her son Rudolf will also be given the capital punishment for his implicitness.”

“!?!”

Queen Alicia was further lost for words upon the Emperor’s declaration.

………of course, all of us, myself, Liz, and the Marquis were already expecting the Emperor to say this.

That’s why.

“Please wait a moment. In the subjugation of the rebellion led by Duke Svalier, the one who achieved the greatest exploits was none other than Prince Rudolf himself. If you were to deal such a  punishment upon him, I highly doubt the 5000 soldiers that witness his glory personally would remain quiet.”

The Marquis then further added [and that includes myself], to put a check on the Emperor.

Basically, he was implying that if he tried to kill me here, the Emperor would be making the Marquis his enemy.

To turn the top of the empire’s military into his enemy………it basically implied a fall of the Empire as a whole. Even if he was the Emperor, he understood the reality of the situation.

“hrnn…….!! Even the great ‘Obsidian war demon’ has become attached to scum like him!?”

The Emperor seemed to be taken over by rage as he stood up and pointed his finger at me.

But……..haha, his words just now made something very clear.

As I thought, the Emperor knew that I was Duke Svalier’s son from the very beginning.

When you consider that fact, everything until now begins to make a lot more sense.

Why did no one take action no matter how much Robin abused me, or no matter how much the servants scorned me? Why did he simply continue to avert his eyes from it all?

At first I thought it was simply because I was a bastard child, and since Beatrice had basically forced him to give me succession rights, he let it all pass to reduce the rising frustrations and discontent within the palace………or at least, that’s what I thought.

That as an Emperor, sometimes he had to make decisions like those as well. But, now that I know the truth, I realize that the reality was far simpler.

Basically, the Emperor was jealous of Duke Svalier.

That his mistress was in truth besotted with a man he often looked down on, and that as a man, he had lost to Duke Svalier, even though he was the Emperor.

And Marquis Fahlcrantz, and Liz had realized that as well.

“………Oh? Then your majesty, are you saying that you knowingly engaged a ‘scum’ to my beloved daughter? Am I hearing that correctly?”

“guh…………..”

Unable to retort back, the Emperor bit down on his lip. I assume that he also had a reason to make me Liz’s fiancé as well.

Normally, it was quite natural to absorb the top military families into the Imperial household so it made sense, but now that we know that he knew the truth all along, his real reasons had to be different.

“Could it be………you wanted to make Lord Fahlcrantz and Duke Svalier clash with each other……..?”

I intentionally muttered out loud.

Or perhaps by creating a connection between Marquis Fahlcrantz and Duke Svalier, he wanted to get rid of the strongest family in the empire by making them implicit to the Duke’s crimes as well?

And if I were to read even deeper into this, perhaps knowing full well that Wilhelm was supposedly in love with Liz, and thinking that Duke Svalier was going to gain the support of the Fahlcrantz family, he instead engaged her to me to put a restraint on the Duke……

In any case, this man really had thought all this through.

Seriously, envy is truly a powerful force…….

And then.

“………..regardless, for being complicit in Duke Svalier’s schemes, and bringing chaos to the Imperial household, Beatrice must be executed. As for Prince Rudolf……..ah, I suppose it should be simply Sir Rudolf? His status will be revoked and should be expelled from the Imperial palace.”

Queen Katarina who had seemed bored of everything until now, said all that with a beaming smile.

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