LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 28
This episode is a side story.
“It got complicated. You know that, right?”
“I’m truly sorry…”
“Hiasen and Josephine?”
“Both of them are lying in the infirmary.”
Having relentlessly pursued and killed the demon Tenebraia before crossing the border was commendable. It wasn’t an easy task, even in the history of the Empire, so celebrating was not out of line.
However, the news about the existence of her daughter ‘Estasha’ leaking out sent a chill down Emperor Airogen’s spine.
Of all people, it was Hiasen and Josephine who witnessed it.
Hiasen was still young enough that he could be scolded into silence, but he knew better than anyone that Josephine’s blabbering would render any gag order useless.
“Let’s follow the principles.”
“Y-Yes…? You mean… by the rules?”
“We will crucify Tenebraia’s corpse and conduct the Burning Ceremony in the Acropolis Square.”
“Then her daughter will also…”
“What are you talking about?”
Airogen’s eyes gleamed coldly.
The trembling butler Varus placed his hand on Lord Barugo’s shoulder.
“The Burning Ceremony for Tenebraia shall last not three days but a week. How dare a demon touch the noble daughter of Kaizen, so she must receive a punishment befitting her actions?”
“Y-Yes… We will follow the command.”
“And I’m gravely worried about Princess Estasha’s health. Let’s put in all our efforts to ensure her swift recovery.”
“May I ask for the name of the Fourth Princess?”
“Name, yes, the name.”
Emperor Airogen paused, then responded.
“Estasha Latias de Kaizen.”
If Tenebraia was the shadow, let there be light for her.
*
The rightful heirs of the Kaizen imperial lineage are all considered to be Emperor Airogen’s biological children.
The Emperor’s children, Crown Prince Jade and Second Princess Josephine, are the most prominent.
Angelina, the First Princess, and Second Prince Feiran, backed by the powerful Zakario family, should not be underestimated either.
In comparison, the Third Prince Hiasen and Third Princess Niobe were still young and belonged to a lesser-known house, Count Aria’s family, hence they were almost excluded from the line of succession.
Thus, it was not surprising that their siblings treated Hiasen and Niobe comfortably, far removed from any political circumstances.
Yet, no one knew that the current Emperor Airogen had other biological children.
“She had the same blonde hair as us.”
Josephine’s voice still trembled.
In Kaizen, blonde hair did not just mean royalty.
It solely indicated the Emperor and his legitimate offspring from past emperors, as well as the current rightful heirs.
Since all of the Emperor’s rights emanate from the ‘royal seal,’ if a child were born before the Emperor ascended, they could not claim an inheritance.
Yet, the child that Josephine and Hiasen saw on the cross bore an unmistakably beautiful blonde hair and golden eyes that resembled their own.
Hiasen was still shaken from that shocking sight.
It felt like witnessing a living corpse.
Whatever one might imagine, it would be hard for a child’s mind to comprehend such a scene.
“Will we end up like that?”
“What do you mean, ‘we’?”
Angelina responded.
“I always thought it was natural for Brother Jade to become Emperor. But will he protect us even after he becomes Emperor?”
What if he could never become Emperor?
The unsettling thought crept in: would we end up like that?
“What nonsense. At the very least, Jade is your real brother. If anyone should be worried, it’s Hiasen.”
Of course, Jade wasn’t the sadistic type, more of the studious type, really.
“Verstappen, are you outside?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Has Father said anything yet?”
“He hasn’t mentioned anything to me.”
The Emperor was keeping quiet and the atmosphere was tense.
Under normal circumstances, even the ‘Dark Fortress’ that maintained the dormant volcano principle would be bustling right in the palace, heightening everyone’s senses.
Another large-scale purge?
Or was something even greater about to happen?
Everyone was merely awaiting the Emperor’s statement.
After a little while, Emperor Airogen’s guard, Verstappen, brought a message.
“Tomorrow at noon. There will be a Burning Ceremony at the Acropolis Square.”
“Burning Ceremony?”
“Yes, it seems a high-ranking demon has been captured from the Dark Fortress. I don’t know the details but an announcement was made to gather the citizens at the square to expose the demon’s heinous deeds.”
“What does that mean? There’s a demon?”
“Hiasen!”
Hiasen grabbed his head as he stood up.
Does that mean the tragedy at Yvonne Castle was the work of demons?
Just thinking about it made him nauseous, but more than that, he was worried for her safety.
“Then is that child okay? Is she alive?”
“I can’t say for certain…”
When he last saw her, she was already on the brink of life and death.
Her shoulder would have been dislocated, and even gasping for breath would have been a struggle.
The ghastly image of flesh splitting over a large nail was too horrifying to even recall.
Still, Hiasen demanded to be taken to her.
“Take me to that child. If you don’t know where she is, ask the butler.”
*
In truth, Hiasen had a hunch about where the girl might be.
Josephine and he waking up in this infirmary hinted that the larger infirmary had already been filled.
As soon as Verstappen got permission from the butler, Hiasen dashed to the infirmary where she lay.
The lobby was already thick with doctors and clergy, bustling with energy.
They seemed to be working in shifts to heal her.
It was the first time Hiasen had seen someone die in such a tragic manner.
Hoping against hope that the Empire’s finest could save her, Hiasen could only sit quietly in the waiting room and pray.
Minutes passed,
then hours.
“Hiasen, you were here.”
In the meantime, the voice of Crown Prince Jade brushed against Hiasen’s ears.
“Brother?”
“I’ve heard the details. The Emperor will be here soon.”
“Demon and princess, I still don’t fully grasp what is happening.”
“You’ll know soon enough. There’s no need to rush.”
“Is Brother Feiran not coming with you?”
“He probably heard the news and is on his way from the south. It might take a bit longer.”
As the Crown Prince said, the sound announcing the Emperor’s approach could be heard from afar.
Hiasen had a mountain of questions.
What in the world was the identity of that girl?
Why was there a demon in the palace?
Yet, even as the main doors of the central infirmary in the Zenith Palace swung wide open, the Emperor hardly stepped into the room.
He seemed to be communicating with his advisers outside.
And so, Emperor Airogen whisked away, much to Jade’s surprise.
“Barugo, the butler!”
Hiasen called out like grasping at straws.
Though his voice nearly drowned out, thankfully Jade helped him speak directly to the butler.
“How is your health?”
“That girl… what’s her name?”
Hiasen asked directly.
“I see you wanted to know the patient’s name. It’s Estasha.”
“Is that all?”
“Estasha Latias de Kaizen, Princess of the Kaizen Empire. Excuse me, but I must be off. I have urgent matters.”
Barugo turned brusquely away.
As he left the palace, he thought to himself.
The Emperor’s illegitimate child was immediately the Emperor’s disgrace.
Airogen, often referred to as the flawless Emperor, had made a decision that was somewhat puzzling to Barugo.
However, every decision must have its reasons.
That was also the stubbornness of Emperor Airogen.
Airogen severed the connection between his illegitimate child and the demon, even acknowledging the disgrace.
What reason could there be for him not to kill her, even though he could?
Barugo could only see her as tragically destined to live as the Emperor’s illegitimate child.
He was someone who understood that pain better than anyone.
*
“What? What did you say?”
“I… that…”
“Stop trembling and say it properly!!!”
“T-Te… Tenebraia has… gone dark! They were probably captured right before the border… Aaaagh!”
The plaster statue standing next to the room suddenly exploded.
The demon could barely draw a breath.
If he disturbed the man’s mood just a little, his life would be extinguished easier than a butcher’s pig.
‘How did it come to this…’
Tenebraia was the man’s most cherished youngest daughter.
The man’s anger had risen so high that he instead appeared calm.
The demon sensed that this was the most dangerous state the man could reach.
“I will dispatch a separate unit to find her…!”
“That’s enough. You did your best.”
“No! Just give me one more chance! Please!”
The Demon King’s finger flicked.
The one-horned demon lowered his eyes.
A fine red line began to etch around his neck.
It was blood-red.
The world began to tilt, and he couldn’t even emit a dying scream as his grotesque body thudded down.
“I’ll go myself.”