I Became the Master of the Empress

232 – 236

“Sniff… Wake up. Please, wake up.”

At the familiar tender voice, I slowly open my eyes.

Where is this…?

“Ugh… Theodora?”

Thanks to the faint light magic, I can see Theodora’s face.

“Are you okay?”

It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen her completely tear-streaked, making such a sad face.

“No… I’m not okay. Ugh!”

I try to move, but it feels like my body is pinned under heavy building debris.

And then, an excruciating pain as if being torn apart covers my whole body.

“Cough…”

Thick blood spills from my mouth along with unrecognizable fragments…

Did I sustain internal injuries?

The pain in my right hand is extraordinary.

Damn it… Is this the end?

“You… you can’t die. Devian, you can’t die.”

She strokes my face.

“Are… are you hurt anywhere?”

At my words, Theodora shouts.

“Is it important if I’m hurt right now? You… you’re about to die!”

Seeing her angry like this for the first time in a long while, I force a smile.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

*Gasp*… It’s nothing. So stop worrying about me and worry about yourself! How could you… throw yourself like that?”

“I had no time to think. And you… *sob*.”

It hurts.

It was painful at first, but now my right hand sends a searing pain as if it’s been burnt.

“Argh! Cough… cough.”

It’s so painful. I feel like I’m going to die.

My throat is so parched, I can hardly scream.

Every second is agony.

Tears flow without my knowing due to the intense pain.

“*Gasp*!”

“You… Are you okay? You’re alright, aren’t you?”

“*Gasp, gasp*.”

How long has it been since I last cried?

Like a child who has fallen while running, I can’t hold back the tears from the unbearable pain.

Unbearable pain.

The weight of debris embedded in the flesh, the burst skin, and exposed nerves in the air cause an insane amount of pain.

I grit my teeth and endure the pain as much as I can.

I’d rather… be dead.

Somehow, I want to be freed from this insane pain.

Just kill me! I wish to be killed…

In the midst of such despair.

The pain slowly subsides.

Theodora, trembling uncontrollably and shivering with sobs.

Her red eyes meet mine.

“I’m fi… fine. So…”

“Why… Why did you do that? You could have just run away, right? Or you could have just left me behind…”

My priority was to kill the Locust and save Theodora as much as possible, even over my own survival.

Theodora is the emperor.

Even if I die, the empire will go on, but if Theodora, whom I’ve taught all my ruling skills, dies, chaos will return.

That’s why I had to save Theodora at all costs… because she’s more important than me, that’s why I threw myself for her.

Moreover, in preparation for my death, I’ve laid the groundwork to make it easier for Theodora to seize power.

I’ve instructed Mary and Agrippa to actively support Theodora should I die.

But…

“You are… the Emperor, aren’t you?”

“Yes?”

“I mean… you’re more important to the empire than I am, right?”

The Emperor of this nation is unique.

His power is similar to that of Western emperors, yet his authority is akin to that of Eastern ones.

An Emperor revered by all, descendant of the first hero and the noble dragon.

A mythic progeny.

It’s not easy to change the Emperor’s seat, enjoyed by the Augustus family for generations.

In other words… if Theodora were to die, leaving Joy, who has no backing, to ascend to the throne, the empire would fall into chaos again.

To prevent the peace I’ve worked so hard to achieve from shattering, it’s best to keep her alive.

“Does… does that even make sense?! What nonsense are you spouting now?! What about you? You are… my husband, aren’t you?”

Theodora’s voice gradually loses its strength.

She probably understands the intent behind my words.

Her imperial faction is quite solid.

And if I die, the anti-imperial faction’s power will likely diminish.

Maybe 5:5, no, more like 3:7 in favor of the imperial faction.

Meaning, as the leader of the imperial faction, she would be in a very advantageous position to stabilize and take control of the regime.

That’s why, as my consciousness slowly fades, I look at Theodora and make a request.

“Could you… promise me just one thing?”

“No… I don’t want to! Why would you say that?! You’re not going to die! You won’t die!”

She turns her head away, covering her ears as if she doesn’t want to hear my words.

She’s so beautiful.

The white tears gathered in her red eyes shine brighter than any jewel, and the faint scent of rosemary emanating from her body is incredibly sweet.

Is it because I’m on the verge of death?

I seem to become more emotional.

Feeling my consciousness ebbing away, I speak.

“Don’t become… don’t become a tyrant, always think of the empire and its people… can you promise me that? And… you must be happy. I loved you very much.”

“Why… Why would you say that?! We must live together! We should plan to live together!”

The paladins and soldiers will probably clear the debris.

A few mana users stepping forward would clear it quickly.

I’m sleepy… so very sleepy.

Mother, I miss you so much today… Perhaps I’ll see you soon?

With that thought, consciousness slips away.

***

“Ah… No!”

Devian, who has lost consciousness.

I grab his shoulder and shout.

“Oh… Almighty! Please save him. Please!”

I touch his cheek, praying and praying again to the deity.

Please… please save him…

As she harbors that thought.

– Your Majesty! Your Grace! Where are you?!

– Your Majesty!

– Emperor Your Majesty!

I shout at the voices coming from above.

“We’re here! The Duke and I are here!”

I shout louder, in case they didn’t hear.

“We’re here! The Duke and I! Hurry and save us! Doctor! Bring a doctor!”

– We’ve found them! We’ve found His Majesty and His Grace. The voices came from here!

– Quickly, clear the debris!

“Honey. People will be here soon… so just hang on a little longer. Okay? There’s so much we haven’t done yet. If only you stay alive… I’ll do anything you ask. So please… just hold on a little longer, okay?”

I stroke the unconscious Devian’s cheek.

When every second feels like an hour.

– Thump.

The sound of something being cleared above makes me intuitively feel.

Soon… we can get out of here.

Please… Devian. You can’t die like this. Please… please…

Slowly, light seeps in from the sky.

“Devian. Do you see that light? People have come right up to us.”

As I stroke his cheek, his moan is faintly heard.

“It hurts…”

Seeing him in pain like this, when he usually doesn’t complain, feels like my heart is being torn apart. Tears keep flowing.

“Soon… you’ll be alright soon, okay?”

Then, looking at the debris on the ceiling, I shout.

“The Grand Duke is in critical condition! Hurry, quickly! Come help!”

– The Grand Duke is said to be in critical condition! Faster!

– But… if we’re not careful, it might collapse further…

“Damn it! If the Grand Duke dies now, I’ll hold you all accountable! Forget about my life and just clear it away quickly!”

After I say that… a few seconds later…

The debris from the ceiling is cleared away one by one, and soldiers begin to appear.

“Quickly, call for a doctor and a priest!”

As I cry out in urgency, his secretary, Sena, rushes in through the small entrance.

“What are you doing right now?! We need a doctor and a priest?!”

I’m furious that this buxom woman has entered when we urgently need to treat him.

“If you don’t get out right now, you’ll be executed…”

“I’m a nun and a doctor, so shut your mouth!”

What?

Saying so, she places her fingers on his neck, opens his eyelids, and says.

“Shine that light magic on the Grand Duke’s eyes! Quickly!”

“Just… wait a moment.”

As I shine the light magic on his eyes.

“The other side too.”

I shine it on the other side as well.

“He can still be saved! Heal!”

I cast a holy spell on him and look outside, saying.

“Please clear the debris quickly! Hurry.”

At Sena’s words, the knights come in and start clearing away the rocks.

“A nun?”

What? So, did I think that Devian and a nun were committing adultery?

I can’t make heads or tails of it. Just as I was about to panic.

Sena said.

“Yes. So please leave this place to me and hurry out, Your Imperial Majesty.”

Watching Sena skillfully treat him, I said.

“I was wrong before. I’m sorry, please save him.”

“Got it, so just go. You’re in the way!”

I nodded at Sena’s words.

“Devian… let’s meet alive. You must.”

***

“Devian… you’re okay now. I’m here.”

Sena uses holy magic to infuse his body with vitality.

The duke is in a dangerous state, bleeding profusely, but she believes the worst has been prevented.

‘I need to quickly clear the debris and stop the bleeding at the wound.’

Given how weak his pulse is right now, there must be a severe injury somewhere.

“Please clear the debris quickly.”

She speaks urgently, but the knights here share the same desire to save Devian.

However… they must be careful, as acting hastily could make things worse.

“If we clear it recklessly, it might collapse further. Just… please wait a little longer, Sister Sena.”

“Ugh…”

Even using holy magic, it’s less immediately effective than a potion.

If his pulse drops further, she’ll have to use a potion, but she only has one bottle right now.

Afraid of making things worse, she tries to stay as calm as possible.

‘Whew, stay calm. Sena… you can do this. Trust the knights first.’

So she waits calmly for the debris to be cleared.