I Became the Master of the Empress

226 – 230

As time passed, the day before the Pope’s execution ceremony.

I headed to the imperial prison myself to apologize and seek active cooperation from the holy knights for causing such an event.

Upon my arrival at the prison, I wonder if it’s my imagination that the Pope looks chubbier than usual?

“It’s been a while, Your Grace.”

“I’m sorry. I should have visited more often. I’ve been too busy with affairs outside to see you.”

Currently, ambassadors from various kingdoms are protesting against me, and internally, numerous nobles and cities are joining in the protest.

It would be a relief if that were all, but the sporadic protests within Roman have multiplied several times compared to before.

Almost twice the workload intensity since I first took power.

After reporting the outside situation to the Pope.

I gathered all the holy knights to give a speech.

The holy knights looking up at me on the podium.

Is it my imagination? They seem a bit plumper?

According to reports, they’ve been doing nothing but eating and playing with the scriptures. I didn’t expect them to have gained so much weight.

I finish preparing my speech, pondering whether I should put them to hard labor.

And then…

“Knights of the realm, I am deeply sorry to have summoned you to such a place.”

I bow my head in apology to the knights as I continue.

“As you are well aware, high-ranking demons lurk within the empire, constantly threatening our peace. To speak the truth, as long as I am in good health and maintain absolute power, they will gain no advantage.”

Driving them into darkness is an easy task.

Especially now that the intelligence department has identified a significant number of demon worshippers. If we capture them all, their activities will be halted for a considerable time.

“However, I have no intention of pursuing absolute power indefinitely. The long history of our empire has always aspired to the separation of powers, so my authority may crumble someday. Even if it doesn’t, the day will come when my life reaches its end.”

The knights look bewildered.

Ignoring their confusion, I press on.

“But the Locusts will always lurk in the shadows, ready to strike at us. They will target our next generation, or perhaps the one after that. Unlike us, with our finite lives, they possess eternal life. I am afraid. I have lost sleep over the fear that one day they will bring down our descendants and summon the Demon King.”

To be honest, my sleeplessness isn’t solely because of the Locusts.

It’s almost become a habit, which is a problem in itself.

But I continue to frame it as an issue caused by the Locusts.

“Our descendants will likely feel fear as well. They will be very afraid. They were scared when the demon worshippers were rampant, and now with high-ranking demons descending and biding their time, they will try to bring us down.”

I pause my speech and look at the knights.

Seeing respect and admiration in their eyes, I continue.

“That is why I have taken such actions. I, a humble man, have committed the sin of confining the holy Pope and the knights, who save the world from evil, in this dreary prison. I believe that when I die, the Almighty will personally punish me for this sin. But remember this one thing: I did this to prevent our fears from being passed down through generations, to break the cycle!”

-Thump!

I slam my fist down on the podium.

“Some may ask, why endure such hardship? Why not leave it to future generations? But merely watching evil grow is to commit another sin of negligence. That is why I had no choice but to commit this discourtesy to you. But I believe. I believe that your holy mission and righteousness must inevitably align with mine!”

As I deliver this speech…

-Duke Devian!

-A saint! The saint has returned.

“People outside say that I have colluded with demon worshippers, that I am a madman for power, that the empire must be overturned, that I must be executed. They claim I have fallen into evil. All nations and all humanity are united in persecuting me. Am I evil?”

-Saint! Saint!

“I am being insulted and called a minion of the Demon King. If things go wrong, I might be beheaded before the Locusts even enter Roma. But I will not bow to such infamy and violence. I will focus only on the neck of the Locusts. So prove them wrong, and show that I stand before the great El!”

-Duke Francesco!, Duke Francesco!

-The faithful one, chosen by El!

-Applause!

As thunderous applause and cheers fill the prison, I decide it’s time to get to the point.

“Do you share my conviction?! Are we truly united in this?”

“It’s the same!” I cannot allow only the Grand Duke to bear such a burden!

Their enthusiastic response is satisfying.

Moved by their reaction, I say,

“Then, are you prepared to be assaulted for tomorrow’s execution ceremony of His Holiness the Pope?”

Silence ensues for a moment.

Huh? Why is there no response?

“Are… Are you saying we should be assaulted?”

One asks with a bewildered expression, and I nod in affirmation.

“Yes! I have found a substitute, but he lacks divine power, which could arouse the demons’ suspicion. I plan to use you, who possess abundant divine power, to deceive their eyes.”

My confident words start to cause a stir among the paladins.

“What does that have to do with us being assaulted?”

“Really? Have you worked so hard that your mind has gone slightly astray?”

Faced with a reaction different from what I expected, I clear my throat and say,

“You might wonder why you need to be assaulted. The reason is simple. The imperial prison has been notoriously brutal since ancient times. If you, who have been there for over a month, appear unscathed, it will arouse their suspicion. And since you possess exceptional divine power, you can heal yourselves with it after the execution ceremony.”

“Your Grace, the Grand Duke! Isn’t that… Isn’t that too barbaric?”

“Isn’t that method too rough?”

Before the voices of dissent grow louder, I address the Pope.

“Your Holiness, could it be that what I am doing does not align with God’s will? I am afraid. What if what I am doing is not right? I fear I am on the wrong path!”

I say this as I kneel and look up at the Pope, feigning a look of utter despair.

“No! You are a saint! What you are doing is truly right. How could it not be, when you tarnish your own honor and risk danger, forsaking your comfort for this cause? Though I may be an unworthy Pope, you are truly faithful.”

The Pope readily says the words I hoped to hear, and I turn to look at the faces of the paladins.

“Oh! Since His Holiness himself has said so, I see that what I am doing is right.”

Fear creeps into their expressions.

It can’t be helped, can it? If your Pope says what I am doing is right, to object would be nothing less than defying God’s will.

“And so, both I and the Paladin Order have decided to follow the Grand Duke’s will. Oh El, please assist him.”

With this final push, if it’s not about beating the Paladin Order, then naturally, breaking a few bones is to be expected.

“Thank you, Your Holiness.”

Now, with nowhere to run, you might as well resign yourselves to breaking at least one bone.

As I smiled, the soldiers gradually encircled the paladins.

“Time is of the essence, so let’s make this quick. Flog them all!”

-aaargh!

That day, the imperial prison was filled with the harrowing screams of agony.

***

The following afternoon.

A prisoner, resembling the Pope, is tormented before being led to the scaffold.

The condemned, whipped and bleeding from wounds all over his body.

Though he appears to be in his sixties, with deep bloodstains on his back and shoulders, a fierce determination is evident in his eyes.

For today’s ordeal, a substantial fortune will fall to his children and grandchildren.

He was a serial killer in a certain village.

A man who took many lives and committed acts too vile to speak of.

Yet, he held his family dear.

His family, it is said, lives oppressed by the victims’ families in the village they once called home.

That’s why he eagerly accepted the offer I extended.

With enough money, one could settle in a new village or city.

Hence, the strong resolve in the eyes of this murderer.

How ironic.

As I roughly lead him by the yoke around his neck up to the platform…

-You madman! Aren’t you afraid of divine retribution?!

-To think you would attempt to kill His Holiness the Pope! You shall receive heavenly punishment!

-Stop the execution! Stop the execution!

Looking at the enraged crowd, I am reminded.

Of a time past… when the royals were slain.

Valoran stood just like this back then.

Now, I stand where Valoran once did.

Surrounded by the citizens of the empire.

They curse me with their eyes and mouths.