🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 73
Of course, Jerus knew that this protest would be meaningless.
After all, it involved bringing down a grand ducal family of the empire—specifically, the emperor’s own uncle.
Even the most thoughtless person wouldn’t act without evidence.
Surely, the emperor must have obtained proof that Grand Duke Baharman was planning a rebellion.
But… this is the only way to clearly draw the line with Grand Duke Baharman.
The tyranny of a foreign monarch was a perfect justification to interfere in that nation’s politics, and officially, Belzesti still did not know that Grand Duke Baharman was plotting treason.
From the perspective of Belzesti’s envoy, the emperor’s act of imprisoning Baharman in the underground dungeon would seem no different from tyranny.
No fool would ignore an opportunity to speak the truth while securing practical benefit.
If one refuses a gift, surely arrows of suspicion will rain down.
Grand Duke Baharman, imprisoned for the absurd reason of merely displeasing a spirit mage, while Belzesti’s envoy turned a blind eye, waiting for the duke to be removed, clearly had something to hide, possibly destroying evidence.
So Jerus had to protest to Emperor Rohineas, if only to avoid suspicion.
“Ha… but… if we do that, Your Majesty will appear to be protecting Grand Duke Baharman. If it’s revealed that you’ve made any deal with him…”
“Tsk. Your problem is worrying too much. How can any progress be made that way?”
Jerus sighed and continued.
“All communication with Grand Duke Baharman was conducted under strict security. Besides, now that his estate has collapsed, there’s no evidence that the Belzesti Empire could use to link themselves to the duke.”
Even if the duke went mad and tried to involve Belzesti, it would be impossible without physical evidence.
“The only problem is that we haven’t heard any news about the reincarnation yet…”
Jerus’ green eyes darkened further.
Brushing his hair back with a sigh, he raised his head.
“First, we must draw a clear line with the duke. Let’s go.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
His bowed aide followed Jerus.
“Ah, the Marquis Hasseluna of Belzesti.”
Inside the first interrogation room of the underground prison.
Emperor Rohineas sat cross-legged in the chair on the main seat, resting his chin on his armrest, lips curling slightly.
“Have you come to watch the criminal, too?”
Raising his torso lazily, the emperor leaned back and spoke.
Hearing his title, “Marquis Hasseluna,” Grand Duke Baharman, tied messily to a wooden chair, perked up and turned to look.
Jerus averted his gaze and bowed to the emperor.
“Your Majesty, I did not come here to gawk at the criminal.”
“Then?”
“I have come to ask Your Majesty whether Grand Duke Baharman is truly guilty.”
“Oh?”
The emperor’s pale pink eyes curved without warmth.
“So, you suggest that I am questioning an innocent man?”
“In Elberk, is it not illegal to imprison someone in an underground dungeon merely for displeasing another?”
“Haha.”
The emperor laughed as if amused.
Hearing the laughter echo throughout the interrogation room, Jerus felt a sudden sense of discomfort.
Something was off.
Usually, when the emperor interrogated a great noble, at least three other nobles would attend to check the emperor’s arbitrary judgment.
Yet in this interrogation room, no nobles were present.
Only the emperor, knights, and the prisoners kneeling in restraints were there.
What…?
Jerus flinched without realizing it.
“Very well.”
After a long laugh, the emperor raised a hand lazily.
“The suspicions you, Marquis, have raised are justified. I shall clear them for you.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the door opened, and Violetti, dressed neatly in uniform, entered.
“I am Violetti de Chevilla, head of the Chevilla family and aide to Grand Duke Serenia, here to pay respects to His Majesty the Emperor.”
Violetti’s calm voice resonated through the interrogation room.
Jerus’ green eyes carefully examined her.
Grand Duke Serenia…
The emperor’s right-hand, the young grand duke who returned victorious news from the Elberk-Semel War, a master of the sword.
The one Dante, the sorcerer, repeatedly warned me to watch carefully.
Jerus stiffened involuntarily and widened his eyes as a thought struck him.
…Wait.
His gaze swept the first interrogation room quickly.
Grand Duke Baharman, the duchess, the duke’s child, and their servants.
But among them, there was no man with gray hair and purple eyes.
Dante is not here.
Jerus’ eyes gleamed. The fact that the one who knew the reincarnation’s whereabouts hadn’t been captured filled him with a rush of exhilaration.
There’s still a chance.
He had to find Dante and bring him to Belzesti, no matter what.
Filled with that thought, Emperor Rohineas’ voice reached his ears.
“Countess Chevilla, recite the crimes of the criminal.”
Jerus snapped to attention at the emperor’s calm, indifferent tone.
Violetti bowed in response to the order.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
With the soft rustle of paper, her calm voice continued.
“The crimes of Chesent de Baharman, head of the Baharman family and uncle to the current emperor, are as follows. He, coveting the throne that his nephew rightfully ascended through proper and legal means…”
Violetti continued to recite Baharman’s charges without breaking her composure.
The duke, glaring at the emperor as if to kill him, grew paler with each charge.
It seemed he never imagined that even minor misappropriations and theft would be uncovered.
Jerus’ expression was not much different.
He had expected the revelation of treason, but not that every small wrongdoing would be exposed.
…Good thing we drew the line early.
If he had known how careless this man was, he wouldn’t have aligned with him at all.
…Blinded by the quest to find the reincarnation of the former Emperor Bellarisian, this was a mistake.
Had he collaborated with such a person, he wouldn’t have completed his mission but would have been dragged into troublesome matters.
Hiding his slightly trembling hands behind him, Jerus took a deep breath to calm his emotions.
The important thing now was to find the sorcerer Dante.
He could not let past mistakes ruin his mission.
“Now, Marquis Hasseluna.”
After Violetti finished reciting Baharman’s crimes, the emperor smiled and spoke.
“Do you still think Chesent de Baharman is not guilty?”
“…I overstepped. Please forgive me with your infinite mercy.”
Jerus bowed slowly to the emperor.
The emperor’s pink eyes curved lazily.
“I forgive your rudeness, Marquis.”
A dark hall, surrounded by black drapery, held a solemnity far beyond what a nine-year-old child could handle.
Cutting through the suffocating air came a woman’s indifferent voice.
“Hurry, Your Majesty.”
“……”
“You must make a choice.”
Duke Cervante stepped closer to Bellarisian.
The faint shadow covering Bellarisian’s face was swallowed entirely by darkness.
The child’s purple eyes flinched.
“N-No…!”
“Your Majesty.”
A strong grip clutched the child’s fragile shoulders as if to crush them.
Bellarisian’s face went pale from merciless pain.
In his ear, the duke whispered:
“You must choose whether to bring in the lacking resources through war to save your people, or to ignore the starving citizens as they suffer.”
“……”
“Making such a choice is the destiny that comes with the position of emperor.”
The duke stepped back after coldly pronouncing it as if delivering a death sentence.
Biting his lips, Bellarisian clenched his tiny fists.
A drought covered the entire continent.
Crops had withered, livestock—and even drinking water—were scarce.
The treasury, prepared for disasters, was empty. The emperor’s personal funds barely covered maintenance, making relief impossible.
…And a powerless nine-year-old puppet emperor had no authority to demand the nobles’ private wealth.
It was clear that his own country’s resources could not save the starving citizens.
But…
Bellarisian lowered his head slightly.
If he waged war, the nearest country would almost certainly be the target.
Sending an expedition during a drought was a huge burden.
The only country directly bordering Belzesti was the impoverished Haspen Kingdom, severely damaged by drought.
To take resources from that nation would be to push its citizens into the jaws of death.
To save his own people or the people of another nation.
Either choice would stain the young Bellarisian’s hands with blood.
“Your Majesty.”
“……”
“Make your choice quickly.”
Duke Cervante pressed indifferently.
Tears ran down the small pale cheeks.
“Gah…!”
Without warning, the child’s eyes snapped open.
