?
"Even if the child was unwanted, how could we go so far as to kill him? Why? What's wrong with him? What exactly is wrong with him?"
Although the matter did not concern her personally, she could not understand it with her mind.
Whatever the case, blood does not become water. Even Deyarin, although she was always cursing her brother and wishing for his death, she worried about him when he got sick. This is what blood ties are, a relationship from which one cannot break away.
However, the Emperor and the Second Prince, and the Second Prince and the Third Prince, despite being father and sons, were all on guard and watchful of each other. What is the reason, I wonder?
“Because he is afraid that his right will be violated and the throne will be given to Sibyan.”
“Ah…”
If she had not met the Emperor, she would have said that this was just a silly worry and nothing more.
But after she saw him, she understood why the Second Prince was so afraid.
Although the Second Prince committed many misdeeds, he was not without accomplishments as a prince. However, the appearance of Ceres alone made the Emperor ignore all these achievements as if they had not happened.
And not because the Emperor sincerely saw him as his successor.
Even with Sirius, he would give him hope with one hand, then withdraw it with the other.
If Sirius had been as greedy as the Second Prince, he would have gone mad under the pressure.
“But apparently, he was not destined to die. While escaping from the assassins, he accidentally ran in front of the emperor’s convoy who was on a hunting trip.”
“Oh my God, who is everywhere...”
In such seemingly random incidents, one sometimes senses that there is intent behind them.
In the end, the Emperor spared Charlotte and Sibian, and out of curiosity, granted Sibian the title of "Third Prince" and a palace of his own.
Since then, the Second Prince has been trying with all his might to get rid of them, but the Emperor stopped him.
The Emperor was protecting the Third Prince. He did not lavish love on him, nor did he completely abandon the Second Prince, but he made them rivals in constant competition.
“Now that the First Prince has appeared, there is no longer a need for the Third Prince. Many of the supporters will leave him and move to the First Prince’s side. Then, Sibyan and I will face a harsh winter without cover.”
“This much…?”
"This palace is a battlefield, and everyone can change their allegiance at any moment. Everyone is fighting to survive, so the transition will be quick."
Charlotte said this with a faint smile that concealed the bitterness of reality.
“Before the First Prince appeared, I was going to overthrow the Second Prince and put Sibyan on the throne… but I don’t need that anymore.”
“So, all it takes is to overthrow the Second Prince?”
Diaren asked to be sure, and Charlotte replied without hesitation:
“Yes. Sybian is my dear child… but he is also the son of the Second Prince. Whenever I look at him, conflicting feelings struggle within me. He is my child… but he is also of his blood.”
How much turmoil she suffered while raising her enemy's son.
A child she truly loves, and a tool with which she can bring down her enemy. She wondered every moment how she should deal with him.
“If I can only overthrow the Second Prince… and prevent his eternal dream of reaching the throne from being realized, then I will have no desire for the throne.”
“…”
“So, please, ascend to the throne. I will support you to the best of my ability.”
Charlotte pleaded with Sirius, her eyes shining with desperate hope.
It is difficult to imagine such a sparkle in the eyes of such a kind woman. How many times has she hidden that light, swallowed poison, and lived in silence?
After she finished speaking, Sirius finally opened his mouth:
“I don't care about the throne.”
“…!”
Even Dearyn looked at him in astonishment.
“So, why did you reveal your identity...?”
“Bandin’s overthrow comes first.”
“Ah…”
They may not know what the outcome will be, but at least they have a common goal.
The fall of the second prince.
Sirius may not have as fierce a desire for revenge in his heart as Charlotte, but he knew that he had to be brought down in order to survive.
“Until then, I will cooperate with the Third Prince’s Palace.”
“Thank you very much, His Highness the First Prince.”
Charlotte finally smiled, and bowed to him with a deep bow.
“Starting from now, the Third Prince’s Palace will cease all public activities, and we will follow the First Prince’s orders without discussion.”
With this, everyone inside the Third Prince's Palace would realize that survival lay in the alliance with the First Prince.
If they could attract the nobles who had previously supported the Third Prince, they would have a suitable power base.
And the rest? It depends on the gravity of Ceres.
“But I think that won't be a problem.”
Sirius, seriously discussing politics with Charlotte, looked like a stately prince even if he stood on his head.
—
After Charlotte left, Dearian wiped the sweat from her brow and flopped onto the sofa.
“Oh... Oh my God...”
Her life, which revolved around eating and sleeping, suddenly turned into political intrigue.
Overthrowing the Second Prince, allying with the Third Prince, winning the Emperor’s favor, building a supporter base…
And all this with the possibility that her neck could be cut at any moment.
Is this really the reality of her life now?
Living in the imperial palace was like putting your neck on a guillotine every day.
Sirius was softly stroking her hair. His strangeness at such a moment was remarkable. He is the central figure in the midst of all the events, yet he seems the calmest.
“How did you live in a place like this, Sirius?”
“Because I was born in it.”
“And can you continue to live in it?”
Sirius paused, then said:
“If two homes are with me.”
“…”
Even in these fateful moments, he did not forget to deliver his passionate speech.
Darren sighed, then asked again:
“The Second Prince will be overthrown, the Third Prince will hide outside the palace, and the Emperor will die. What will you do?”
“I will become the emperor, most likely.”
But it didn't make her feel any excitement.
There are those who would burn their lives in pursuit of the throne, but as for Sirius, it seems as if he does not want this burden even if it is presented to him.
The late Empress Olivia also had no ambitions for the throne, and perhaps that is why she suffered a bad fate.
The greedy are often more aggressive in defending what they have, and therefore lose less than the good.
Even after everything the Second Prince had done, he had nothing to lose.
“Even if the Second Prince disappears, another bad person will definitely appear in his place.”
Forces that challenge the absolute always arise.
Djarin was worried: Could an unambitious absolute ruler like Ceres really maintain his place?
But, even so, there was no way Dearen would stay by Sirius' side after he became emperor. She had never dreamed of a position so lofty.
“We have to defeat Endean first, then think about what comes next.”
"… Yes."
He was right.
Even if they ran away and hid, Endean would not stop chasing. He wouldn't rest until he saw Sirius' head severed in front of him.
And perhaps, alongside the head of Ceres, the head of Dearyn will also be placed…
As it stood, Dearyn was Sirius's strongest ally, and the one who got the Second Prince into the biggest trouble.
Therefore, he will not leave her alive, out of anger. Even if she hid in a temple, he would find a way to kill her. And he will challenge the ruler herself just to get Deyarin out of there.
“…My life is on the line too.”
Which path has her life descended?
Deyarin sighed and covered her face with both hands.
She was swept away by the current, to the point where there was no coming back.
“I will protect you, Diarren.”
Dearyn laughed bitterly at Sirius's statement.
Sirius originally couldn't live without Deyaren, but now it was Deyaren who couldn't live without Sirius's protection.
However, she had several opportunities to escape.
Even in the palace, she could retreat and come back. After entering the Third Prince's Palace, she could have resigned without bearing any responsibility. Even before the ceremony, Sirius himself offered her the chance to escape.
However, the one who couldn't let Sirius go in the end… was Dearyn herself.
However, emotion is emotion, and action is work.
“Since I got to this state for you, it’s only natural that you protect me.”
"Yes."
“…And what about the reward?”
Even if it is Ceres, matters must be decided carefully.
Diarine has long exceeded her working hours.
She succeeded in bringing back the prince, after she was just a maid in a noble palace. But she did not receive this assignment from anyone. No one asked her to get tired, or risk her life, but she did.
This is not the end of the matter, but rather the beginning of a more difficult road.
And all this, without any personal benefit. Only for Sirius.
“I, good priestess, why am I so good...”
Dearyn shed a small tear as she did so, then opened her eyes seriously again.
Since it's too late to back down, you must get what you deserve.
Now that Sirius is a real prince, what can he give her?
"anything."
“….”
Dearyn was silent for a moment.
Yes, that's how it always is.
Her heavy breaths were drawn in front of this dull display.
“If I ask for money, you'll give me what I want, right?”
"Yes."
“Even if I asked for the entire state treasury to be emptied?”
“Whenever it's full, take it again.”
“I knew you would say that.”
Obtaining rewards through a balanced agreement is preferable,
But when a person is like Sirius, and simply says, “Take it all, I don't care,” the taking itself becomes difficult.
This does not seem as if you are getting what you deserve, but rather as if you are blackmailing him!