Chapter 116: Flame Part 1: Tearing [VIP]
"Ah! Your Highness! Your Highness!"
The crowd was boiling again.
Including the nobles in the front row, almost everyone forgot about etiquette and shouted enthusiastically under the surging emotions.
The nobles also threw away their reserve and composure, shook off their companions' hands, and surrounded him with flowers in their hands.
"Your Highness! Your Highness! You're back! You're finally back!"
"Your Highness—we all miss you!"
"Are you really okay? We're so worried about you..."
"If the gods can hear my prayers, please transfer your sickness to me, I am willing to..."
"I do, too!"
"I want it too! I also ask to take on your pain!"
“…”
Sadness filled the square for a moment.
Yaris raised his pale, almost transparent wrist and gently stroked the hair of the lovely girls who came before him.
"I haven't seen you for a year and five months. You've both become more beautiful, blooming vibrantly like spring flowers, yet you remain completely unchanged, still as lovely and pure as pearls nurtured by moonlight."
"Your Highness—"
"Seeing you blossom like flowers has brightened my mood for the first time in a long time. Dr. Moss said that a genuine smile is the best medicine in the world."
"Uh-huh……"
People were moved by Yaris' words and immersed in the emotion of seeing each other again. The excitement and trembling called worship surged in their hearts, and unknowingly, they shed tears of happiness and joy.
…
After the simple greetings, Yaris walked up to the reviewing stand with the support of his brother and came before Emperor Edmund III.
"cousin--"
"Ah, dear cousin."
Edmund stepped forward and embraced his pale, slender, elf-like cousin. "In the one year and five months since we've been apart, I've seen you countless times in my dreams. Now that my dreams have finally become reality, I realize I've misremembered something crucial. Yaris, the real you is ten thousand times more beautiful than the you who appeared in my dreams."
"Yeah?"
Yaris smiled impatiently.
Edmund, however, held his hand tightly without regard for etiquette, his blue-black eyes, which looked like a storm approaching, stared stubbornly at his face.
"Your appearance hasn't changed at all compared to a year and five months ago, but it's become even more remarkable. Although you were beautiful before, you were just beautiful, not emitting a strong morbidity or strangeness that made me feel creepy. Now you are not so much a person as some kind of incredible existence that has completely transcended the human category... I don't know what kind of transformation you will undergo next, what you will eventually become, but——"
"You shouldn't project so many of your personal emotions onto me."
Yaris whispered, trying to pull his hands away from Edmund's tight grip.
Xiao Yun also sensed that the atmosphere was not right and whispered, "Let go, or you'll hurt his wrist."
"Yeah?"
Edmund looked at his roughly held hands with a little surprise, and carefully released them.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I didn't know you were so seriously ill. I admit I was very excited... Today might be the first time I've chosen my own destiny. Before, I was just drifting with the flow... But there's nothing I can do about it. I'm not as smart as you, nor as capable as Lucien. I've always been confused... Sometimes I don't even know who I am or where I am..."
"His Majesty--"
Julius, who was standing behind Edmund, couldn't help but say, "You..."
"Prime Minister Julius—"
Yaris looked at Julius calmly.
The short man lowered his head and silently stepped aside.
Edmund continued to babble, "Today I finally have a choice... It's more like being chosen than making a choice... I chose fate, and fate chose me..."
"What did you choose?"
Yaris made a sound that was gentle but also deep and ominous.
“I choose—May peace and prosperity always be upon my people!”
This is a fixed blessing phrase, usually used when the monarch is cheering the people, but it happens at the moment -
"Edmund, you—"
"I've made my choice."
Edmund lowered his eyelids, and when he opened them again, his eyes had transformed from the blue-black of an approaching storm into flames burning in the darkness! The whites of his eyes were black, and his pupils were red!
(This is--)
Xiao Yun was shocked, and the "golden blade" in his body slid into his palm uncontrollably.
However, he no longer cared about etiquette or explanation!
The moment he grasped the "Golden Blade", Xiao Yun strode forward, hiding Yaris behind him. The "Golden Blade" pointed directly at Edmund's forehead.
"Edmund—"
"Grand Marquis Gaura, what are you doing? Are you going to attack your emperor?"
"Edfen drew his sword, and pointed the tips of his swords at Xiao Yun.
Seeing this, Ansel and others also wanted to draw their swords, but Yaris stopped them with a look.
He stepped out of his brother's protection, walked up to Edmund, and lowered his proud head.
"His Majesty--"
”
, showing a creepy smile.
"sorry."
Yaris bowed politely. "But it would be my greatest honor if you could explain to everyone why the whites of your eyes just now disappeared and your pupils turned red!"
"Yaris, you are truly eloquent. Even in a situation like this, you can quickly turn the situation around."
"oh?"
Yaris looked up and frowned: "Your Majesty, I just have reasonable suspicion."
"His Majesty?"
Edmund looked at Xiao Yun and said, "Yaris, is the 'Your Majesty' you are referring to me or him?"
"Edmund!"
Xiao Yun and Yaris shouted in unison.
Edmund, however, sneered as if he hadn't heard their cries, and announced publicly: "I have received a terrible report. My dear cousin has forced others to shout 'Long live His Majesty Lucien' in private more than once! There can only be one His Majesty in the Empire, and that is me, Edmund III!"
"Edmund, Lucien has no intention of—"
"Forcing others to shout 'Long Live His Majesty Lucien' is already a de facto act of treason. Considering he's your only brother, I've never held it against him. But now—he's actually pointing his sword at me in public. This is an unforgivable crime of treason! He must be arrested immediately! Sent to the Tower of Punishment!"
"Edmund—"
Yaris exclaimed.
Upon receiving the order, the captain of the Royal Guards stepped forward and humbly pleaded, "Your Highness, His Majesty has ordered us to arrest the Grand Marquis of Gaura! Please do not obstruct us. We have no intention of harming your fragile body."
"If you want to arrest him, you must arrest me as well."
Yaris announced calmly.
"Yaris!"
Edmund looked at Xiao Yun fiercely and said, "Lucien, if you really care about your brother, you should have asked my knights to tie the rope around you."
"Shut up!"
Yaris said bluntly, "The claim that Lucien once forced others to shout 'Long Live His Majesty Lucien' is a treasonous accusation that only exists in your mouth and has no real evidence! He is now pointing his sword at you because you tried to hurt me. Before you explain to everyone why the whites of your eyes disappeared, my brother and I refuse to accept any accusations! Otherwise, you can throw us both into the Tower of Sin!"
"What!"
Edmund's pale cheeks showed a rare flush of color, as if he hadn't expected that the usually elegant and calm Yaris had another side that burned like a flame. "Your fragile body can't withstand the filth and torture of the Sin Tower, and today is your birthday."
"I just want to be with my brother."
Yaris said resolutely.
Xiao Yun suddenly grabbed his hand and said helplessly, "Brother, I was too careless and fell into the enemy's trap. Please give up on me! Don't argue with His Majesty in public for me anymore."
Things are indeed heading towards the worst possible scenario. Fortunately, we had a contingency plan—the Sin Tower is likely completely destroyed by now and has fallen under the control of Conte and the mage team.
[Brother, to prevent any accidents, we need to continue to delay time to ensure that everyone involved in the operation can complete their assigned tasks. By the way, we can also see what He wants to do to us.]
While answering his brother in his heart, Yaris looked at "Edmund" sadly: "I have a strange premonition——"
"What premonition?"
"I don't know, but—"
“Ahhhhhh—”
The crowd gathered in the square suddenly screamed.
"What is that!"
"Ahhh! What is that thing!"
"That's—"
Even the people on the reviewing stand looked up in surprise and screamed in shock and fear.
“Ahhhh—”
"What's going on?"
During the confrontation, Yaris raised his eyes and saw a strange black spot appearing high in the sky!
"What's this?"
Before he could finish his words, the black dot fell from the clear sky!
It turned out to be a person wearing a black cloak!
The man was still alive, twisting his limbs all the way down from the sky, screaming in fear and despair, and finally—
“Ahhhh—”
After a muffled sound, the crowd screamed in fear - the man in the black cloak fell from a high altitude and died in public in the square, his limbs twisted and his brain splattered.
“Oh my god…”
Almost everyone was frightened by this sudden bloody incident and turned pale and was at a loss.
The frail Yaris was so frightened by this sudden change that he broke out in a cold sweat, staggered, and almost fell down.
"Calm down!"
Xiao Yun quickly hugged him and shouted, "Don't look! Don't think about it!"
"But--"
Yaris's voice was trembling, and cold sweat kept coming out of his white forehead.
"Ulysses!"
Edmund called out.
"yes!"
The Mage Prime Minister disappeared in an instant and soon returned to the podium, holding a document stained with blood and brain matter. "According to the identity documents carried by the deceased, his name is Magis, he is from the Southern Plains, and currently lives in the academic district of the lower city."
"So they're students from the Lower Town..."
"Edmund" grinned, revealing a crescent-shaped smile, and cast a greedy gaze at Xiao Yun who was hugging Yaris tightly.
"What are you still standing there for! Separate them immediately! Take Lucien to the Tower of Sin for questioning, and Jaris must also be questioned individually after the celebration is over!"
"But--"
The Royal Guards knights looked hesitant.
It was not only because the two people the emperor wanted to arrest were of exceptionally noble status, but also because things that were beyond their understanding happened again and again today.
——Faced with so many incomprehensible situations, even those who swore allegiance to the royal family could not help but feel confused, doubtful, frustrated, and even collapsed.
"What? Are you going to disobey my orders?"
"No—we—"
“Ahhhhhh!”
The screams of the crowd were heard again from below.
One after another, black figures fell from the sky and died on the stone slabs of the square in an extremely tragic manner.
The people, seized by fear, panicked and screamed as they tried to escape from the corpses. Some even fell down in the panic. Chaos and panic filled the square.
"What the hell is going on!"
Yaris stood up with the help of his brother and looked at Edmund: "Why did this happen!"
"I want to know—"
"Your Majesty, the newly deceased are Karen, Dia, Alke, Arthur, and Moras... all young students living in the academic district."
Ulysses' voice was hoarse and cold. "Among them, Arthur, Dia, and Karen were arrested by patrolling Knights of the Guard for disturbing public order some time ago for shouting 'Long live His Majesty Lucien!'"
"So that's how it is..."
Yaris looked up from his brother's arms, his deep black eyes gazing at Edmund with grief. "They were just a bunch of impulsive young students! Even if they made mistakes, they shouldn't have... Why! Why! Why kill them! And with such cruel means! Edmund, answer me! Answer me!"
The weak and hoarse voice spread quickly throughout the entire square through the magic sound transmission system installed around the reviewing stand.
The people who were panicked by the falling corpses suddenly quieted down. Countless eyes stared at the emperor on the reviewing stand, and the terrible stories about the emperor that were secretly circulating came to mind again.
(Our emperor is no longer the original Edmund III!)
(His mind is controlled by the evil demon king. The lizard monsters by Lake Lilia, the Black Death in Dalavia, the black pyramid that appeared above the Dalavian capital...all of them are the work of the evil demon king who wants to invade our world!)
(Now, the Demon King is trying to capture and even kill our Holy Lord and Marquis Gora for treason! We must... must...)
"Edmund, why don't you answer my question?"
Yaris's voice echoed over the square like the breeze on the grassland.
The people looked up at him with expectation and longing, like a drowning man seeing a piece of driftwood.
"...Could the rumors be true? You are no longer the Edmund III I knew? Have you been possessed by the evil demon king, losing the basic dignity of being human, and becoming his accomplice in devouring light and justice?"
"If this is the truth, for the sake of my beloved motherland and people, my brothers and I will break the Holy Family's tradition of not interfering in regime change. We will call on all those who love this country as deeply as we do to rise up in resistance until light and justice return to the earth and the people once again embrace beautiful peace!"
Hearing these decisive speeches, people raised their hands and applauded enthusiastically, cheering and screaming until Yaris signaled them to be quiet.
"Now—please everyone remain quiet and listen to our emperor's explanation for the various anomalies surrounding him in recent years! I hope he can give a reasonable explanation. Because I really can't bear to become an enemy with my beloved cousin, and I don't want to see you go to the battlefield with your love for the motherland and trust in our brothers and lose your precious lives!"
"—As long as His Majesty can give us a reasonable explanation, we brothers will immediately kneel before him and swear allegiance to him! Never betray him! Even if we are arrested for something right after the birthday ceremony and imprisoned in the tower for life as traitors, we will have no complaints!"
Xiao Yun raised his head and announced loudly.
For a moment, the square was eerily quiet.
Including the knights of the Royal Guard who had sworn allegiance to the emperor, everyone's eyes were on Edmund III standing in front of the throne, waiting for his answer, or rather - explanation.
"His Majesty……"
Ulysses nudged the motionless Edmund and whispered, "Everyone is waiting for your answer."
"oh……"
Edmund nodded and raised his left hand, which was wearing the royal emblem ring.
People's attention was immediately attracted by the hand that was suddenly raised high, and they waited with bated breath.
However--
"assault!"
There was a loud shout, and an explosion sound was heard in the southeast direction of the square.
"ah--"
People in the southeast of the square were running around in panic like ants encountering a flood.
The magician appeared in front of Yaris urgently: "Report! Paladin Leon, located in the southeast of the square, suddenly led two hundred knights to attack civilians! The Knights Protector are trying their best to stop them!"
"What!"
Everyone was stunned when they heard this!
Yaris showed a painful expression: "Edmund! Are you crazy? They are all——"
"Rampants! Traitors!"
Edmund opened his mouth and uttered an emotionless note: "Kill them all!"
"you--"
Xiao Yun was angry.
The guards on the reviewing stand were also dumbfounded by this sudden change: "Your Majesty, this, this is..."
"Are you going to disobey my orders too?"
Edmund declared coldly, "Capture the two rebel leaders, Jaris and Lucien, immediately! Anyone who sympathizes with them or supports them will be considered an accomplice of the rebellion!"
"Has it finally come to this?"
Yaris looked up, grabbed the magic megaphone and shouted to everyone.
"People of the Empire! Do you hear me? Our Emperor! This foolish, tyrannical Emperor not only refuses to answer my questions, he even allows the Knights in the southeast corner of the square to attack innocent people at any time! Even if such a person is not possessed by the devil, his behavior is no different from that of a demon!"
"Stop them now! Arrest them! Immediately—"
"Edmund's" roar mixed into the PA system.
The guards knights came to their senses and rushed forward with their swords, but were stopped by Ansel and others who drew their swords.
"Step back! If you still have any love for your country and your people in your hearts!"
"Sorry! We are following orders!"
"Then—"
The war is about to break out.
Seeing this, Xiao Yun waved his sword to stop the guards who were rushing towards him and Yaris, and said to Yaris, "We must retreat as soon as possible!"
"I know, but—"
Cold sweat kept coming out of his forehead, and it was obvious that he was exhausted.
"I'll do it!"
Xiao Yun took the megaphone and shouted to the chaotic crowd below:
"——Don't worry, everyone! We are here! We have always been here! From now on, I will replace the emperor whose mind has been taken away by evil and become your protector! Everyone go home immediately! Those who are willing to defend the motherland with us can take up arms and join us as citizen volunteers! Hurry! Hurry!"
"Protect our motherland!"
“Fight for the country!”
"Take up arms immediately!"
"Long live! Long live! Long live the motherland!"
“…”
The inspired people echoed the shouts.
The angry and confused crowd screamed and cheered, and the shouts of "Long live" shook the square.
"Now--"
Xiao Yun grabbed Yaris's arm.
“Get out of here!”
"Um!"
…
…
"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"
"Cadres, get out of the way!"
Perhaps they were stunned by the loud shouts of the people that shook the square, or perhaps they were also shaken deep down in their hearts. The Knights Guards who were ordered by the emperor to intercept and arrest the "rebels" led by Xiao Yun were actually listless and retreated while fighting.
In the blink of an eye, Xiao Yun and others broke through the siege of the Knights Guard, left the reviewing stand, and returned to the carriage.
"Take my brother to the Sin Tower immediately to meet up with Conte and the others!"
"And you?"
Yaris, who was about to get in the car, asked Xiao Yun.
Xiao Yun glanced towards the southeast of the square and said, "I'll stay and help the people evacuate safely!"
"But--"
"Believe me!"
Hearing this, Yaris bit his lip and changed his words: "Pay attention to Angan!"
"Um."
Xiao Yun nodded, said goodbye to Yaris, and turned to head to the southeast corner of the square where it was the most chaotic.
…
The situation in the southeast corner of the square at 1 o'clock was more crazy than chaotic.
“Help! Help!”
“Why! Why!”
"Stop pushing! Stop pushing! It's dangerous!"
"Why would the army suddenly attack us?!"
“Help! Help—”
"Someone help me! Help!"
“…”
The unprepared civilians screamed and ran around. Most people did not expect that the poorly armed army would suddenly attack the unarmed civilians.
Although the Knights Protector tried their best to stop the crazy attacks of the Royal Knights and commanded the people to evacuate in an orderly manner, the Knights Protector were far inferior to the well-trained Royal Knights in terms of weapons and equipment, daily training, and even physical fitness. In the end, they were too weak.
Soon, the leading Paladin Leon broke through the defense line built by the Knights Protector.
With a hideous scar on his face, he held a spear and rode his horse towards the panicked people, driving away the people who had completely become headless flies like a hungry wolf driving away a flock of sheep.
In fact, until 1 o'clock, many people in the square still had the naive idea that "knights would protect civilians" in their hearts and doubted the accusations of the Yaris brothers.
Therefore, when they looked up and saw Lyon, who had broken through the defense line, riding his horse and charging towards the crowd like a demon, holding a bloody spear high in his hand, what they felt was not only fear, but also the collapse of their faith in the Royal Knights!
(It turns out everything is true!)
(It turns out that our emperor has really already—)
(Why! Why would the emperor allow his knights to attack civilians! I can't believe it!)
(What the hell happened!)
(in the end--)
"—Kill these cadres!"
On the reviewing stand, the voice of Emperor "Edmund III" sounded again.
"They are all accomplices of the traitors!"
"Yes, sir!"
At the command, more royal knights broke through the defense line built by the Knights Protector, rushed into the crowd, and killed indiscriminately.
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