NOVEL NEXT Chapter 269
Anton Caprice, who was enjoying a comfortable retirement, had a particular fondness for his grandson. Having worn the Emperor’s crown due to the untimely death of his wife and having to fight against an unprecedented enemy invasion, he now spent his days resting in a small villa, adorned only with his wife’s portrait.
The state of the nation certainly wasn’t conducive to relaxation, but Anton trusted Rose’s abilities and thought he deserved a little break. Being Emperor was no easy task—he had spent more than half his reign in war. There were moments when he felt that being an outsider to the Audrich bloodline meant that the country’s downfall was inevitable, times when he tried desperately to hold the nation’s life by studying maps all day and issuing orders to build fortifications.
Amidst it all, there emerged Walter Hellhound, who pulled the holy sword and saved the nation like a comet. Despite his erratic behavior, he not only rescued the empire militarily but also swept away all administrative duties as the Chancellor—how could a father-in-law not be fond of him? There was no way the grandson born between his beloved eldest daughter and his favorite son-in-law could be anything less than adorable.
Rose quietly watched her father play with Sherlock. Seeing Anton’s joyful reaction as the baby smiled, he turned his head toward his daughter.
“You must have it tough, my daughter. The world is still in chaos, and yet a precious little one has been born.”
“You struggled too, Father.”
Rose shook her head. On one hand, Anton had also worn the Emperor’s crown in equally awkward circumstances. After Olga, the Empress, passed away shortly after giving birth to Alex, he had to manage the country while taking care of both young Rose and the newborn Alex.
At least, the situation was somewhat better—Olga died before the war broke out. Anton Caprice accepted his position with composure. However, he knew that the tasks facing the current Emperor were far heavier than those he had once carried.
“I gave up on being your mother. I couldn’t do it. But Rose, you will be both the father to this son and the mother too. That’s… that’s a much harder task.”
“To be a shield that protects the country, a father to my son, and a leader who possesses both dignity and virtue for the people. You’ve handed down a difficult mission and stepped aside, Father.”
“I gave you that crown because I believe you can manage it.”
“Indeed. I believe I can do it, without a doubt.”
Rose glanced back at her steel helmet resting in Anton’s room. It wasn’t one that concealed her face, but a sturdy helmet that covered everything from her forehead to her ears. Until now, she had never worn a helmet on the battlefield. That was part of her unique style. She had been able to survive while flaunting her appearance because, in the first place, armor was merely a symbol of unnecessary resolve for her.
When heading into battle, Rose would wear plate armor over her chainmail and tighten her clothing. That was a means to steady her heart, which could waver due to the divine protection. In actuality, wearing steel armor did little to enhance her physical strength. Indeed, in most cases, her armor did not even possess simple defensive spells.
However, things were different as she prepared for this campaign. Through a special request to the Imperial Forger, she ordered powerful protective magic to be imbued in the armor she would wear. The Magic Tower took the Emperor’s request immediately, reforging her armor almost as if it were brand new. They even provided her with a hefty steel helmet befitting the Emperor’s dignity.
Jenis Harker personally supervised this forging work to show her respect for the Emperor before heading north. Her armor bore the craftsmanship of the Great Sage. Rose had no doubt that what she received was the most powerful armor in the world.
But if the powerful armor made by the Magic Tower guaranteed absolute safety, there would be no reason for the empire to struggle this much until now.
Rose gently stroked her neck.
“I’m going to finish this war, Father.”
“That’s good. They say there’s a remarkable figure, a very headstrong commander who will stubbornly resist you.”
Rose nodded. She was afraid of Jenis. She recalled just how audacious Jenis had been in her resistance. Yet, when the crucial moment arrived, how desperately she had begged for help. The Emperor felt an uneasy premonition about this war. With hesitation, she brought up a topic with her father.
“I recently realized that death has always loomed close by.”
“You mean the incident with the Demon King?”
“Yes. And now, it doesn’t have to be the Demon King; anyone could kill me. I’m scared. It’s a kind of fear I’ve never felt before… and a chilling sensation.”
Anton remained silent. Though he had fought valiantly to protect the empire, the former Emperor had never personally faced the battlefield, so he couldn’t hastily assume or empathize with the Emperor’s current situation.
“Dying cannot be helped. This fight will lead to, at best, the fiercest battles we have ever faced. The Duke Helmut, who has betrayed us, is said to be the enemy commander aiming his weapons at us.”
“It’s a shame to have lost a promising figure, but he was nothing but worthless trash.”
“Father, if I do not make it back from this battle… please take the crown again instead of putting Alex on the throne.”
At Rose’s request, Anton frowned. The grip of the grandfather holding his grandson tightened, causing the infant to quiver and burst into tears. Anton hurriedly panicked and calmed the child by gently rocking him back and forth.
Rose watched the scene of her son being soothed by his grandfather with an impassive expression.
“What in the world are you saying, my daughter?”
“It’s not that I don’t trust Alex. But if I vanish, he will be unable to bear the responsibilities of Emperor because of the shock. Only you can protect this infant until he grows up. Please, I beg you—”
“You’re not going to die.”
Anton declared firmly. Rose smiled and nodded her head.
“Of course. But for the first time, I’m truly preparing myself for death as I wield my weapon. I should at least leave a basic will… a very basic will.”
“What this child needs are a mother and father, not a grandfather and uncle. Don’t commit sins against your son because of your loyalty to the state.”
“I have a bad feeling about this. I fear this operation will lead to the permanent destruction of something. Or perhaps it has already begun to destroy. The enemy will resist in ways we can’t imagine—with unfathomable ferocity. Countless people may die, and we may lose several heroes. Statistically, death is not equal; yet once it approaches, it does not show mercy to anyone.”
“It’ll be alright. I don’t often speak lightly of such matters. It’ll be okay, my daughter.”
Rose walked over to Anton and kissed the infant’s forehead. The Emperor quietly stepped out of the villa to give the grandfather more time to hold his grandchild. It was a serene villa in a quiet location.
While quietly looking up at the sky, an old man slowly approached and bowed to the Emperor. The Emperor smiled as he grasped the man’s hand.
“Your Majesty…”
“What brings you here, Father? Did you come to see my father?”
The Marquess Hellhound, a quiet nobleman content with his position, held no real power or ambition. He had always remained in the background, even when he could have stood tall as the father of the Hero and the future father-in-law of the Crown Princess.
While Walter intentionally suppressed his relatives’ influence, fundamentally, the Hellhound family prided themselves on adhering to the natural order without overreaching their capacity. They were the most respected family in peaceful times.
“I have… something to deliver to Your Majesty… that I had forgotten…”
Rose supported the old Hellhound as they walked together. The Marquess handed her a well-sealed envelope. Rose frowned at the golden seal imprinted on the envelope.
“Father, what on earth is this…?”
“My son… my son once said that one day, due to unfortunate circumstances, it seemed the day would come when Your Majesty might fall. In that case, if he found himself unable to act, he asked me to deliver this letter when you would once again begin to take up your armor and weapons.”
“You do realize this is a last will, right?”
“Of course I noticed. But what can be done? That child was the brightest in our family. If his role in the world was to die, so be it; I could not protest.”
Once the Marquess spoke these words, he quietly walked into the villa to meet the former Emperor. From the warm welcome Anton gave the Marquess, it appeared that they had made plans beforehand. Rose walked far from the villa, trembling as she opened the letter envelope. The contents were not long. It was Walter’s handwriting. Though trembling with fear, the message was indeed written in the hand of Walter Hellhound.
“Did the outcome of my stubbornness survive? I’m sorry to have burdened you with too much at once. But I know you will rise again, and I’ve seen you rise again. I’m sorry for leaving explanations with others instead of you, but I had no choice. I ignored you because I couldn’t manage everything well.
Just the thought of death fills me with fear. That’s why I cannot leave behind a long will. I still haven’t come to terms with this issue, which is why I can’t leave you with a smiling farewell. Just looking at you surely makes me want to burst into tears. Just the thought of your face is enough to make me want to cry.
But if I’m already absent from this world and have left you with my last attachment, I want to remind you once again that all the choices I made were for your happiness before saving the world.
Rose Caprice, woman born to be Emperor. A woman who hid beneath impenetrable armor, unaware of the spirit of benevolence. The time we spent together was too short to completely change you, but I hope the world I left behind has changed you enough.
Be happy. Though the one man you loved may be gone, instead love this world. Love everyone among those you must govern. Now you have no more shells to breathe from. The strength of your hands alone cannot shine as brightly as before. And please have faith in the ones I left behind. I love you, Rose. I love you even now, and I loved you until my final moment. I’m so sorry I couldn’t share my last farewell with you. But even before that, I’m so grateful that you were my Rose.”
The Emperor did not cry. Instead, Rose quietly folded the letter, returned it to the envelope, and stared at the sky with a troubled expression for quite a while.
The blue sky turned crimson, and Rose Caprice remained standing there until the sunset dimmed and the black night sky descended.
There are losses in the world that cannot be forgotten. There are scars that endlessly carve your heart. Yet, there are no scars that cannot be lived with. There is no loss that cannot be borne.
What she lost was not just Walter, but the entire life she had envisioned alongside him, the future she had dreamed of. Suddenly, the thought that she could not let her son experience the same fate flashed across her mind.
The stars in the night sky twinkled indifferently. The turmoil left in the Emperor’s heart echoed loudly.