Chapter 100: Storm: Determination of Treason [VIP]

For a moment, everyone in the room was silent.

Lias' words were so heavy and heartbreaking, even though everyone had expected this statement.

In other words, the more everyone secretly worries about something, the more painful it becomes when it is spoken out, and the more difficult it is to face.

for a long time--

Xiao Yun spoke slowly, "Lias, I promise you, I will kill you before you completely turn into a monster. I will never let you become a monster that harms your wife and children."

"Thanks……"

Lias' eyes were filled with tears as he looked at Xiao Yun with eyes filled with longing and admiration. "I finally understand why you're loved by so many people... Because even standing next to your brother, you shine like the sun, bringing hope and warmth to people... You're right. An emperor's incompetence is a crime against his subjects. As emperor, he should..."

"We are not gathered here to criticize Edmund's mistakes or to examine his motives, but to resolve the problems that lie before the Dalavians as quickly as possible."

Xiao Yun said calmly, "The Black Death broke out in the summer and autumn, not only causing a massive loss of population in Dalavia, but also delaying the autumn harvest. If the winter wheat fails again, many people in Dalavia will starve to death next spring, even if the king dispatches food in a timely manner."

"Yes... because of this incident, I haven't been able to sleep for several days..."

Adlon stammered, "This is a very serious problem. If something happens in Dalavia, on the northern border, the Rus and Monglis might not dare to openly invade due to their own concerns. However, the steppe tribes, large and small, living in the border areas will definitely take the opportunity to raid south... Then..."

“By then, Dalaviya will no longer be Dalaviya.”

"You make a lot of sense."

Adlon hung his head in frustration.

Upon seeing this, several local earls under his command expressed their opinions.

"I don't understand... Why does His Majesty treat Dalavia like this? Aren't the Dalavians his subjects, and aren't the Dalavian land his land?"

"What good will the fall of Dalaviya do him?"

"If the evidence wasn't all before me and irrefutable, I would never have believed that the emperor would actually commit treason!"

"Dalavia has been shedding blood, sweat, and tears for the empire for hundreds of years. Why is it so..."

“…”

"Mr. Lucien, you come from a holy family with a long history, wisdom, and divine favor. Can you answer these questions for us?"

"I--"

Xiao Yun took a breath and said calmly, "Perhaps I can answer your questions."

"Why? Your Majesty, why did you treat Dalaviya like this?"

Everyone asked in unison.

"Because of jealousy, because of anxiety, because of fear."

"Even when he ascended the throne at the age of fourteen, he developed an intense jealousy of my brother. Compared to his brother's beauty, excellence, and deep love, he seemed so incompetent and insignificant. These negative emotions darkened his character, filling him with fear and hatred."

"After I was crowned the Grand Marquis of Gaura, his inner unease grew even more intense. He knew he was incompetent and unpopular, and he lacked confidence. He suspected his brother was plotting to overthrow him and place me on the throne! To maintain his throne, he became increasingly desperate, resorting to any despicable means, as long as he thought it would work!"

"—Treason is the most serious crime! Especially when the person being accused of treason is the Emperor of the Empire!"

"I fully understand your confusion and anxiety at this moment."

Xiao Yun looked at everyone confidently: "Most people have been indoctrinated since childhood with the concept that the emperor is equal to the country and that the emperor cannot commit treason. But in fact, the emperor is only the supreme ruler of the country, and the people and land he rules are the country! Therefore, the emperor can also commit treason! And when the emperor commits treason, he will bring unimaginable disaster and misfortune to the country and its people!"

"...Why did he send wheat seeds contaminated with 'demon spores' to Dalavia? What good would it do him to turn the Dalavians into monsters?"

Adlon couldn't help but ask loudly.

Upon hearing this, everyone at the scene looked at Xiao Yun intently.

Xiao Yun took a breath and spoke slowly, "Because he knows he's losing the support of the people and his control over the army. He has neither the ability nor the intention to rebuild the people's trust in him. He thinks that as long as he turns the soldiers in the army into brutal zombies who have no ability to think and completely obey his orders, he can continue to rule the people!"

"...Sadly, if Lord Lucien hadn't discovered in time that the wheat seeds in the royal capital had been poisoned, this conspiracy would have already been initially accomplished."

Haras said sadly.

Xiao Yun looked at Lias and said, "The biggest contributor to this matter is Lias. He was the one who reminded me."

"I, I, I'm not a hero... I just, I just want to express my gratitude to you..."

"Whatever your reason was, you reminded me that there was something wrong with the wheat seeds, and ultimately discovered the emperor's conspiracy. You are the true hero."

Lias's chubby cheeks flushed red.

He had been mocked by the emperor, his colleagues and even his subordinates for years as being stupid and incompetent, but for the first time he felt the joy of being recognized.

"You are a man of high moral character. That alone puts you far above most of your colleagues."

"Thank you! Thank you!"

Lias shed tears of emotion.

Xiao Yun continued to explain his attitude to everyone.

"My brother and I have never been ambitious, and we have no desire or ambition for the seemingly noble but inherently dark title of Emperor. However, if Edmund refuses to repent and attempts to turn the people of this land into slaves, beasts of burden, or even mindless walking corpses, we brothers will stand up without hesitation to end his evil rule and return happiness and peace to the people!"

"Long live His Majesty Lucien!"

Adrien couldn't help but yell.

Adlon shot him a look, but Adrien ignored it.

even--

"Long live! Long live!"

Everyone except Adlon started shouting, including Haras.

Xiao Yun raised his hand, signaling everyone to calm down.

"Please don't shout 'Long live' or anything like that at me, lest others mistakenly think that I am opposing Edmund in order to become emperor."

"But……"

"I have no desire for the throne."

Xiao Yun said emphatically, raised his hand, and drew the rune of "Goddess of Justice" on his chest.

This action made Adlon's eyes suddenly become cloudy. His strong hands clenched and then unclenched, clenched and unclenched again, as if he was completely unaware of what he was doing.

"Lord Adlon——"

"ah?"

Adlon looked at Xiao Yun in astonishment.

"I respect your loyalty and have never thought of forcing you to join our camp. My only hope for you is to carefully consider the pros and cons and refrain from making decisions that would harm the Dalavian people."

"I will not betray the people of Dalaviya, all I have done is..."

Adlon took a deep breath, looked at Xiao Yun's face, and said painfully and hesitantly: "The knight's oath must be observed, but for justice and fairness... If words of persuasion cannot change His Majesty's heart, I will join you without hesitation!"

"Father!"

Adrien shouted, "What do you mean by 'if words of persuasion cannot change His Majesty's mind'? You're going to the capital?"

"Um."

Adlon nodded sternly. "Even if he is an incorrigible evil emperor, I must abide by the rules of chivalry and end my relationship with his sword master in an honorable manner."

"And then? Do you think you can leave the capital alive?"

Xiao Yun asked Adlon in return.

Everyone was shocked when they heard this.

Adlon's face suddenly became as stiff as a statue.

"He went to great lengths to send wheat seeds infected with 'demon spores' to Dalavia in order to secure an army that would obey his orders. How could he possibly be polite to you, who offered you this? He'll trick you into eating food containing 'demon spores', just like he did to Lias, and turn you into his puppet!"

"But—but…"

Adlon's dry lips trembled and he couldn't finish his words.

The others also looked overwhelmed and frustrated because of the truth revealed by Xiao Yun.

"Father, Lord Lucien is right. You shouldn't have gone to the capital and put yourself in such great danger..."

Adrian looked at his father pleadingly: "If you become the commander-in-chief of Edmund's army, what should I do? What should Dalavia do?"

"But Archduchess Anna—"

"You don't have to worry about her safety."

Xiao Yun said calmly, "She and Queen Dowager Catherine are both Edmund's staunchest supporters. After hearing the news that my brother and I had raised the banner of rebellion, she would even be the first to step forward and write a letter to reprimand us and publicly sever ties with us!"

…

…

The meeting ended at dusk.

Xiao Yun walked out of the conference room and saw the sun turn into a large rose-colored disk and sink silently into the horizon. The moon slowly rose into the sky, covering the world with a hazy and beautiful silver gauze.

Winter Castle was quiet.

Xiao Yun returned to his room accompanied by his servants. When he passed by Rosamary Garden, he stopped and took a deep breath of the fragrant air.

"Rosa Marie has been knocked down by the heavy rain... In a few days, the remaining fragrance will no longer exist..."

Romila's voice sounded depressingly.

Xiao Yun looked up and saw the succubus squatting on a tree, looking like a skinned monkey.

"You got into trouble again and got punished?"

"The old man didn't give me any trouble this time. I was just unlucky. I ran into the 'Priest of the Sea God' on the way."

Romila cursed and spat out a crystal bottle.

"Give--"

"What's this?"

"A personal letter from Kairusha."

"letter?"

"He has returned to Monglis. Before leaving, he met with Her Royal Highness the Princess and wrote a letter for me to deliver."

"Why?"

Xiao Yun didn't understand: "He can go to Maga to meet his brother, why can't he——"

"He said you'll understand after you read this letter."

Xiao Yun opened the crystal bottle, pulled out the tightly rolled parchment, and slowly unfolded it.

[Lucien

I'm sorry that I returned to Monglis without meeting you. It's not that I didn't want to meet you, but I was afraid that you would change your mind after meeting you.

I have no time left. I must fulfill my promise to you and your brother before my death. I will do my best to assist you and fulfill Yaris's dream, to place you on the throne.

Regarding my journey to the Great Desert of Death, which many people are concerned about:

I can only say that the Holy Family is a family that should not exist, and it is a miracle that the high priest system has been passed down to this day.

Your brother is also a miracle.

He was born with the devil of death, which made people want to protect him and die for him.

Even I, seeing that he possesses unparalleled beauty and extraordinary talent, is so proud and longs for freedom... but is deliberately deprived of a healthy body and the dignity of being a human being, like a flower with all its thorns pulled out, living in a magnificent palace and receiving malicious offerings, would feel a strong sadness deep in my heart.

I'm glad he's not a woman because if he were, it would have been a devastating disaster.

No man could be so cruel as to be separated from such a beautiful and delicate wife, and every other man would be tempted to steal her away and keep her for himself.

In order for you to live well in a world without him, after talking with your brother all night, I finally made up my mind to follow his request and not tell you anything I saw after entering the ruins of the Eternal Empire in the deepest part of the Death Desert.

Because once this information is made public, it will cause unimaginable damage to the world.

Besides, your brother... the misfortune he must endure in his life may have just begun. No one can save him, at least I am sure that I cannot save him, not even by sacrificing the entire Monglis.

The only thing I can do is to help you as much as I can, to fulfill his wish, so that he doesn't leave this world with great sadness and regret.

at last--

Cherish the present and love him well.]

“…”

After reading the letter, Xiao Yun did not show any particular surprise.

"--Why?"

Romila looked at him puzzledly: "Why do you look so calm?"

"Because I know Kairusha well enough, I know he is a mature and stable person. He must have made this decision after careful consideration."

"Even if he returns to Monglis without meeting you?"

"Um."

Xiao Yun nodded: "I accept the reasons he gave in the letter and I will continue to trust him as always."

"All right……"

Romila scratched her head and said awkwardly, "Actually...actually, when he met with Her Royal Highness the Princess, the old man and I were both there. I overheard their entire conversation, but—"

"But what?"

"The old guy actually wiped my memory afterwards! Not a single drop left!"

"oh?"

Xiao Yun stroked his chin: "Is there really not a drop left?"

"That's right! Damn old bastard! One day I'm going to make him kneel down and call me Master!"

Romila said angrily.

Xiao Yun didn't bother to pay attention to him. He carefully put the letter away and returned to his room.