I Became the Master of the Empress

302

Two nights after the death sentence in court.

I gaze at the moon filtering through the bars.

Is this how I am to die?

I do not know why I have fallen into this place, but I feel utterly despondent.

I only wanted to live.

If I were to possess someone, at least let it be a healthy person.

—

It feels unjust to die after suffering only as the son of such a tyrant.

But I’m relieved that my mother and sister seem to be safe.

My family, whom I briefly met during my trial.

They all shed tears with worried expressions.

Mary, too, was shaking, her face twisted with the intent to kill the judge who sentenced me to death.

It seems he didn’t really want me to die after all.

If I die, he becomes the future heir.

He seems like a good guy…

But when will the death sentence be carried out?

***

Pulvia met with Alfred to save her son.

“I have sought the Emperor’s permission. Surely, with the Emperor intervening, we can consider the life of Prince Debian saved.”

At those words, Pulvia let out a sigh of relief.

“That’s a relief. I was afraid I might lose my son again…”

“However, while we have saved his life, it will be difficult to secure his release from prison. We have decided to make appropriate threats to Valoran and the Empire.”

Pulvia looked puzzled at Alfred’s words.

“Threats… you say?”

“To say he will be in prison for several years is to imply that we cannot predict what Valoran might do. In other words… we have resolved to declare war on the Empire if Debian dies.”

At those words, Pulvia nodded, seemingly satisfied.

“Brother Leon has made a significant decision for me.”

At that, Alfred silently nodded in agreement.

For the United Kingdom to go to war with the Empire is akin to engaging in a battle that is hard to win.

And even Leon III, due to his nephew, finds it no easy choice to wage war against the Empire.

Given the doubts surrounding Leon III’s intelligence domestically, it’s understandable.

Thus, Leon III has meticulously prepared to persuade the council of the United Kingdom.

If war breaks out with the Empire, they will strike the Empire’s port cities, sinking both ships and war vessels.

Even if the United Kingdom is overwhelmingly strong in naval battles, the Empire’s concentrated naval training is burdensome, so they are forming public opinion to decisively break it this time.

Of course, Pulvia is unaware of such complex politics, but she has come to realize just how significant a decision her brother has made.

It’s easy to say, but still.

“Yes, it has taken a long time to prepare. Valoran will likely not dare to harm Prince Debian recklessly.”

—

—

Her homeland, the United Kingdom, is a powerful nation that even empires find daunting.

However, the Emperor would not be foolish enough to wage war against the United Kingdom by killing Deviant.

Unless, of course, time passes and the navy grows stronger?

For the empire, which cannot cross the sea with a strong army, it would be a meaningless war.

The Emperor will seek to protect Deviant.

And Fulvia felt a sense of relief, believing that this time she had saved Deviant.

***

Right now, Valoran is feeling extremely displeased.

Valoran, who had sentenced Deviant to death.

Alfred, who comes to threaten and coax him every day, visited today with someone else.

“Your Grace, it’s been a while.”

With the Emperor’s local official.

Valoran’s fierce glare.

“Indeed, it has been a while. What brings you here?”

The official responds with a smile.

“I have come on the Emperor’s orders to file an objection regarding the judgment of Prince Deviant.”

“An objection, you say?”

“Upon reviewing the case of Prince Deviant, His Majesty the Emperor has concluded that Your Grace imposed an education bordering on abuse, which led Prince Deviant to feel threatened and attempt to flee to his ‘maternal family.’”

Valoran glares at Alfred and replies to the official.

“Regardless, it is true that he attempted to flee to a foreign land.”

“The prince was in a situation where he had no choice but to escape.”

At the official’s words, Valoran struggled to contain his anger.

‘If that scoundrel does not permit it, the execution of Deviant cannot be carried out.’

To execute the heir of a noble rank, the Emperor’s permission is required.

That’s why he had packaged it neatly for the central government, but now that the Emperor has intervened, Valoran is irritated.

He sensed that Alfred and the United Kingdom had meddled.

‘Fulvia has stepped in again.’

Since the Emperor has intervened, Valoran’s options are limited.

Suppressing his anger internally, he spoke with a neutral expression.

“So, what is it that His Majesty the Emperor desires?”

“What Lord Deviant did was certainly wrong, but considering the circumstances, it does not warrant taking his life,” he concluded. “Therefore, we demand a reduction to a prison sentence and ensure his safety.”

At that moment, Alfred stepped forward and spoke.

“If Lord Deviant’s safety is guaranteed, we will continue to provide financial support to the Grand Duchy and maintain our trading rights.”

In other words, if Deviant were to die, there would be no more support and the trading rights would be revoked. Baloran struggled to suppress his rising blood pressure.

“That’s a threat.”

At Baloran’s words, Alfred nodded.

“Indeed. We cannot understand. He is not your only son, is he?”

Baloran waved his hand dismissively, as if he didn’t want to hear any more.

He turned to the local governor.

“Convey to His Majesty the Emperor that I will comply with his orders.”

Now was not the time to fight the Emperor.

So, he had no choice but to swallow his bitter feelings and let it go this once.

Just as Baloran was about to conclude, Alfred spoke again.

“Your Grace, the Grand Duke. Are you aware that our King believes in superstitions?”

Baloran’s expression turned incredulous at the sudden mention of superstitions.

“A king of a nation believing in superstitions?”

“As you all know, we are exploring the New World. Consequently, we cannot help but hear about various folk beliefs.”

Baloran, unsure of what point Alfred was trying to make, listened silently with a blank face.

“There is a superstition in the New World that the desire to kill and curse others ultimately leads to death. Therefore, if Lord Deviant were to die due to superstition… we would certainly consider it a result of your wishes, Your Grace Baloran, and we have resolved to take revenge on behalf of our King’s nephew… at a national level.”

Regardless of the reasons, the declaration that if Deviant died, the United Kingdom would not shy away from war with the Empire.

This statement was a clever strategy by the United Kingdom to prevent the covert assassination of Deviant in prison, demonstrating a strong will to ensure that Baloran and the Emperor did not misjudge the situation.

And that thunderous declaration left the local governor in a difficult position.

“What… what do you mean?”

“Please convey our King’s intentions to His Majesty the Emperor.”

With that, Alfred left the room.

-Quiver… quiver.

Ignoring the presence of the local governor, Baloran headed towards the Grand Duchess’s quarters.

-Bang!

As the door shattered, Baloran saw Fulvia and her daughters together.

“Is it you?! Did you concoct this ridiculous scheme?!”

The expression on Valoran’s face was so filled with rage that Octavia and Mary trembled like aspen leaves.

“Calm down! Father!”

Seeing him poised to draw his sword and swing it at any moment, Octavia stepped forward to try to soothe Valoran, but…

– Crack!

“Eek!”

“Sister?!”

Mary rushed to support the collapsing Octavia.

The moment she turned her head, hoping for Valoran’s help, he lunged forward and swung his fist at Fulvia’s face.

– Thud!

“Ugh!”

“You wretched woman! How dare you oppose what your husband does?!”

– Thud! Thud!

“Cough!”

“Die! Die, you ungrateful wretch!”

After hitting her face, he went so far as to stomp on Fulvia’s stomach, prompting Mary to hurriedly rise and intervene.

“Father?! You’ll kill Mother!”

She desperately clutched Valoran’s hand, but his eyes had lost all reason.

The humiliation of bowing his head to the emperor who had taken away his beloved first love had inflicted a deep wound on his pride.

“Shut up! You whore!”

– Thud!

“Ugh!”

Somewhere along the way, Fulvia had started to spit blood.

“Mother?! Stop it!”

As Mary pushed Valoran with all her might, he fell back, sprawling on the ground.

He grabbed Mary by the hair and hurled her against the wall.

– Thud!

“Ah…”

Seeing her youngest daughter collide with the wall with such force that it nearly crumbled, Fulvia’s eyes trembled violently.

“Cough, Mary… Cough, cough. Don’t touch Mary!”

—

Valoran, indifferent to the dying voice of Fulvia, glared at her with bloodshot eyes.

“Alright! Today, I’ll kill you in one blow!”

-Whack!

Octavia watched Valoran’s merciless violence.

She clung to him in tears multiple times, but each time, she was met with his blows.

Octavia, endlessly weeping as she witnessed her mother being brutalized by his fists and feet.

“Stop it! Please… no….”

She is not as strong as Mary….

Exhausted by the continued violence, Octavia could do nothing but sit down and scream in despair.

Fulvia no longer reacted to his fists.

“You b*tch! You filthy whore! You dare humiliate me?!”

Valoran pounded on Fulvia with a menacing fury.

Octavia stared blankly at her unconscious mother.

No slight tremor, no breath from her mother.

Thus, the Grand Duchess Fulvia departed from this world.

To protect her son, she left this world.

***

It’s been three weeks since I was imprisoned.

I’ve received a death sentence, but the execution hasn’t been carried out, filling me with dread.

Not knowing when I will die makes each day a continuous cycle of fear.

Today seems to have passed safely, but what about tomorrow? The day after?

When will I die?

The uncertainty of when I might vanish into the executioner’s mist gnaws at my heart with great terror.

“What’s happening outside?”

I miss my family so much.

-Clank.

A white letter slipped through the bars with the food.

“What is this?”

As I carefully picked up the letter.

A letter from my sister Octavia.

—

– Squeak.

Carefully tearing it open, he read the letter slowly, his eyes widening in shock.

“Mother… has passed away?”