NOVEL NEXT Chapter 110: Rebellion [2]
"Brother..."
Euric sighs, "The empire is no longer peaceful. I'm sure after this rebellion there's more inner conflict. So I only hope Prince Maxmilian can rule better than his father."
Eugene thought about it and wanted to laugh.
Yup. There's no way it would be peaceful because Maxmilian is another madman, far worse than the 34th emperor. He might make the empire richer and stronger but his desire is another thing. If another empire annoys him or a small kingdom dares to challenge him, he'll send no envoy but an army. So yeah, he couldn't be considered an improvement over the previous emperor.
Casimin glanced at his bracelet and said, "The empress's private army has arrived."
Euric frowned. "Where are they?"
Casimin's expression turned intrigued. "According to my informant, they're engaged in battle with the Catharis army. Their objective is to capture the empress alive."
Euric's eyes widened in surprise. "The Catharis army?! Are you serious?!"
Casimin nodded.
Euric's expression shifted to one of admiration. "After several years following the death of the 34th emperor, the Catharis family has finally reemerged. How did Prince Maxmillian gain their favor?"
"Prince Maxmillian probably has no direct connection with them," Casimin explained. "However, the Catharis family has been observing the imperial family for decades. It's not surprising that they chose to support the rightful heir to the throne. The empress's greed reminds them of the 34th emperor, whom they despise most."
"I want to see the Catharis Army!"
Eugene glanced at his brother Euric's fanatic expression and couldn't help but chuckle.
"Then why don't we go and watch?"
Euric's eyes widened in surprise. "Watch? Just watch?"
Casimin smiled. "The Catharis army is the strongest in the empire, even stronger than the grand dukedom's forces. Their battalion alone could dismantle a kingdom."
Euric glanced at his little brother and coughed, reflecting on the immense support they had received when the grand duke sought Eugene's hand in marriage. It was clear now why, even after their father's exile, they had never felt pressured. Their backing alone made other nobles wary. Add to that Eugene's status as one of the empire's strongest warriors and a rare dualist, and it was no surprise they had such influence.
"Then I'll open a teleportation gate."
Before Euric could react, in just a wave of hand, a portal appeared before them.
In the forest behind the Imperial Palace, two armies faced off. The empress, desperate to flee, found her every move thwarted. As she tried to escape, the enemy soldiers seemed to materialize out of nowhere, blocking her path and taunting her like a cat playing with its prey.
"Daimon!" The empress screamed in fury. "How is it that an old man like you is still alive? You should have gone to the grave with the 34th emperor!"
Daimon, unperturbed, watched as the empress's frustration grew.
Yittiel and Yittieo stood casually behind their father and grandfather, their expressions calm as they observed the empress's increasing desperation. The empress was cornered, and her army, paralyzed by fear of causing unnecessary casualties, was unable to mount a counterattack.
"Shouldn't you have expected this after drugging the emperor to secure your position as empress?" Daimon clicked his tongue. "Do you know how devastated my grandson was when the throne, which was rightfully his, was stolen by a mere prostitute like you?"
The empress huffs, hatred is visible in her eyes.
She glared at them, her hatred palpable. "A man loving another man—your family only spreads diseases! Look at the state of the three pillars of the empire. Your family's influence has normalized this abomination!" She laughed maniacally. "You powerful men are so greedy and ambitious that you want to dominate your same kind, and it's revolting how you deprive women of their rights to marry into noble houses!"
When Eugene and his brothers arrived, the empress's harsh words echoed through the surrounding forest.
"What, what what?!"
Euric was too stunned by the empress's words to know where to put his hands.
"Daimon, you are too self-righteous. Just thinking about what your family is doing makes me vomit in disgust. Oh, and the current grandduke is your adopted son's son, right? Look at this—locking up men and making them pregnant. Also, the young master of the Shradinza family was taken by your great-grandson. How is that? Just thinking about it makes me sick!"
Euric and Casimin's face ashen.
Eugene was not surprised but his brothers looked pale upon hearing such information.
"Also, I wouldn't be this crazy if your grandson hadn't been raping my husband!"
The empress finally couldn't hold back her tears and screamed, "Daimon, your family should be punished by the heavens for such conduct. Thinking about my husband being pressed by another man—who would be in their right mind?! Oh, but you wouldn't understand. As a woman, probably only Celisha, the former Marchioness, would understand me!"
Eugene lowered his gaze.
Empress, what do you expect? This is Artha. The craziest thing here isn't same-sex love or infidelity; it's the lack of freedom and equality that pushes people into the abyss."
"Daimon! Iselus is mine! It's your grandson who is taking what's supposed to be mine!"
"Nonsense." Yittiel laughed, "My twin brother has been in love since Iselus was born. It's you who's greedy enough to take advantage of someone, breaking my good twin's heart."
"Now, you can only blame yourself because you're the cause of my twin's madness."
Eugene raised an eyebrow, noticing something peculiar about the Catharis brothers. He could sense it—the same dark energy that he carried. But how? They were all exuding an evil aura, yet remained undetected by the heavens. Meanwhile, if he made the slightest mistake in concealing his own energy, it would immediately draw attention from the heavens.
It seemed the empress had realized her fate was sealed. With no chance of escape, she let out all her emotions, saying whatever came to mind.
Kaizer and the others arrived as well, along with the army they commanded.
Prince Maxmilian immediately caught the empress's attention.
"Maxmilian! Where is my son!"
Maxmilian's dark eyes bore onto the empress and smirked coldly, "You son? He's locked up. After your execution, I'll torture him as an act of revenge for your sin."
The empress, nearly collapsing from what she had just heard, screamed in desperation, "Maxmilian, you are truly a monster! If you have the ability, torture me—the one who caused your downfall! My son had nothing to do with my crimes!"
Maxmilian's voice was cold and unyielding as he responded, "But he has your blood. Didn't you tell me once that I should blame my mother for everything because I am her flesh and blood? Now, I'm just returning the favor, keeping in mind what you taught me. Look, I've applied it perfectly."
His words dripped with a chilling satisfaction, a reminder of the twisted logic he had learned from her.
The empress's screams pierced the air, her voice filled with uncontrollable rage and despair. "Ah! Ah! Ah! Maxmilian, I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I should have killed you when you were just a child!"
Maxmilian's laughter echoed through the chaos, cold and sinister. "That's too bad," he replied, his tone dripping with malice. "I survived."
With a desperate, almost hysterical shout, the empress commanded her forces, "Attack! Kill them all!" She no longer cared about her losses or the inevitable outcome. Her mind was consumed by a singular, vengeful desire—to take down the man who had captured and would soon torture her son.
Her army hesitated for only a moment before surging forward, driven by fear and loyalty, though deep down, they knew this was a battle they could not win.
The Catharis Army moved with practiced precision, needing no commands. As soon as the empress's soldiers advanced, they met a swift and brutal defense, counterattacking with lethal efficiency. The empress's forces faltered, unable to withstand the overwhelming power of the Catharis soldiers.
Eugene, Casimin, and Euric stood nearby, watching the scene unfold. They didn't even glance in the empress's direction anymore. The outcome was clear—the battle was over before it truly began. The victor was evident at a single glance.
"Don't kill the empress, just break her legs—lest she run again," Maxmilian ordered his soldiers, his voice cold and authoritative. The empress, now defenseless with her guards defeated, was left with no hope of escape. Maxmilian's command ensured that she would be captured alive, her defeat complete.
"Maxmilian, even in hell, I'll hunt you once you hurt my son!" the empress screamed, her voice filled with venom and desperation.
Despite her powerless situation, her defiance remained, echoing through the battlefield like a curse. Maxmilian's expression remained unmoved, his eyes cold as steel.
After hours of battle, the army returned to the palace, dragging the empress's unconscious body along. The captured nobles were paraded into the bloodied hall, where Maxmillian, drenched in blood and exuding a cold, ruthless aura, awaited them. He sat upon the golden throne, the crown held in his hand, surveying the scene below with a chilling detachment.
The once noisy palace fell silent as black flags were raised high, marking the new era under the rebel forces. The black flags, which had signaled the arrival of the unknown army, now dominated the skyline, symbolizing their victory and the change of power within the empire.
The people watched in hushed confusion. The black flags made it clear: the rebels had triumphed, and the empire had a new emperor. But questions lingered—who was this new ruler? Who had orchestrated the rebellion?
News spread quickly to neighboring empires and kingdoms, bringing an unexpected wave of rejoicing at the fall of the mighty empire. Yet, the jubilation was short-lived. As dusk approached, a new announcement came, revealing the identity of the new emperor: Prince Maxmilian.
The empire was now under the rule of Maxmilian, a figure who had already earned the reputation of a tyrant, echoing the feared legacy of the 34th emperor.
"Long live your majesty!"
As the sun rose, the heads of the three pillars of the empire stepped forward to announce the crimes of the royal family, with a particular focus on the empress. The revelation of her greed and corruption stirred anger among the populace.
The execution ground was prepared, and a crowd gathered, eager to witness the death of the empress. They now saw a chance for redemption under the new regime.
They accepted Prince Maxmilian as their new ruler and respected his decisive action. The new emperor's strong will to eradicate the greediness of the previous regime won the people's support, as they hoped for a brighter future free from the shadows of past injustices.
Lincoln, imprisoned in a hidden room, stared blankly at the ceiling, his mind racing.
Everything had happened so swiftly.
One moment he was asleep, and the next, he was taken away by his brother. After enduring a night of brutal torture, he felt as though his very soul was being torn apart.
Maxmilian had proclaimed that his mother would be executed the following day. Lincoln's tears were not for her imminent death but for the suffering that awaited him. The future seemed bleak and filled with torment, and he couldn't escape the crushing despair of what was to come.
He couldn't close his legs.
Whenever Lincoln attempted to move, a gush of white liquid would spill out, causing him to be paralyzed in place. Each movement brought a wave of pain and rendered him immobile, compounding his sense of helplessness and dread.
There's no chain restraining him, but the powerful magic circle that envelops him saps his strength, rendering him immobile. That night, he could only endure as his stepbrother violated him, unable to escape or resist due to the relentless drain of the enchantment.
There is a small bulge on his stomach, reminding him of the white liquid that Maxmilian injected deep inside. It feels uncomfortable that he wants to clean himself.
A tattoo also appeared on his hypogastric area after sharing a night with his brother.
Can he still escape?