"So you've co to kill , my son?"
Cornel nodded, confirming.
"May I hear your reason?" asked the King.
"War is coming, and any mistake could lead to our destruction by our enemies. As I said before, Gaulunaro is not united; everyone has their own interests. All we can do is try to reach a consensus, forcing them to unite.
But I can't do it. I'm not the King, and I don't have the ability to command them."
Cornel's voice was indifferent. He had long settled on his decision, and nothing could sway him.
"Father, you are now the King of Gaulunaro, yet you are plagued by illness. Continuing this way will only delay the efficiency of our war, and you might be manipulated by ministers and nobles to make choices detrintal to us.
All I can do is formally establish royal authority before the outbreak of war, or your death during warti would be a severe blow to our morale, potentially igniting a power struggle."
"Even if you pass the throne to , your presence might beco a banner for the opposition, perhaps they would resist in your na, or you might soon judge wrong and thus try to stop ."
Countless speculations had long ford in his mind. Cornel's return to the capital this ti was to kill the King, to kill his father.
"Who are you?"
The King asked.
"Gaulunaro."
Cornel replied.
"I'm very curious; not long ago, you were just an ordinary child. What exactly changed you? Made you beco like this."
The King felt no fear at all, as if death was but an ordinary matter to him, unworthy of fear, neither hoped nor anticipated.
"A Viking."
Cornel said, appearing sowhat perplexed.
"I did not know him for long, maybe a few hours? He was an anomaly, disliked war, just wanted to find a place to pass his life casually, yet he was eventually caught up in this conflict. Reasonably, soone like him should reject slaughter, but in the end, this anomaly died like a warrior, finding value in his life.
At first, I didn't understand why he did it, undertaking what he detested most, sacrificing his life for it, enduring great pain in the end, yet willingly for greater benefit.
Now I think I understand; so things must be done by soone, for ideals and purposes neither noble nor filthy."
"Have you thought about the cost? Regardless of the reason, you will commit evil, err, and such a person must be punished, whether a God exists in this world or not. Are you prepared?"
The King asked.
"My grandfather offered himself as a sacrifice, bringing about today's Gaulunaro, so what is it for to offer myself?"
Cornel said expressionless.
"Gaulunaro shall endure forever, Father."
The King was stunned for a long ti before laughing heartily. He patted Cornel's shoulder vigorously as if in admiration, continuing for quite a while before stopping.
"No, there's no need for that, child. Doing this, your throne will face controversy; people will attack you, spit on you, perhaps you'll beco the next Mad King."
"Are you begging for rcy? Hoping I let you live?" Cornel asked.
The King shook his head with a smile, and then his sickly face revealed anger.
"No, I just want to say, you don't need to beco a sacrifice."
The King slowly sat up from the sunken sickbed, his withered, emaciated arms bursting with an incredible strength. He looked like a dying man, yet the fla of life tenaciously burned within, as he slowly climbed out of bed, stood up after a long absence, sowhat shaky, but finally stable.
"My father, your grandfather, paved the way for , now let pave the way for you, Cornel Garrell."
The King donned the dust-covered robe, placing the honorable crown on his head.
The illusions in his eyes seed to finally clear away, the King saw clearly the figure at the door, the one-ard Corey smiling at him.
"Let live a little longer, child."
Everything seed to revert to a long ti ago, recalling the night before that blood banquet. He turned towards Cornel and said.
"Now, I am going to do sothing important."
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