Kill the Emperor Chapter 85 : Chapter 85

Translator: AkazaTL

Pr/Ed: Sol IX

***

Chapter 85 : The King and I (2)

Friedrich swung the dagger while shutting his eyes tightly.

He had already made up his mind even before coming here.

To try persuading the Grand Duke with true sincerity, and if the Grand Duke still did not listen to his request.

I an, if that rumor was true…….

‘Father, I am sorry. My siblings, sorry. Mother, forgive this unworthy son.’

He decided to end it like this.

Of course, fear rushed in suddenly.

But if this was the only way to protect his family, he had to put his resolution into action.

“Young Lord, what are you doing?”

However, the dagger that was heading as if to pierce Friedrich’s Adam’s apple at any mont was blocked by Hein’s hand and could not advance any further.

“Haa…….”

Letting out a short sigh, Hein took the dagger held in Friedrich’s hand away too easily, like taking candy from a baby’s hand.

“Young Lord, you should not keep such a dangerous object by your side. Let’s say I will keep this.”

“The Grand Duke is…… strong…… and wise. You are a person not lacking to obtain this country.”

Friedrich, whose final resolution also returned to nothing due to Hein’s quick response, said with empty eyes.

“Grand Duke, if you truly intend to carry this country…… rather behead in this seat.”

“Young Lord!”

“If I can entrust the country to a person like the Grand Duke…… I am fine with dying anyti. Grand Duke, rather behead in this seat and achieve your will. And please take pity on and let my parents and siblings continue their humble lives. I beg you. Grand Duke!”

A 14-year-old boy attempting a ‘deal’ genuinely risking his own life.

From the mouth of Hein who had him in front…….

“Haha!”

A low laughter burst out.

He was trying his best in his own way, but watching Friedrich’s legs trembling violently, he couldn't hold back his laughter.

“I am sorry, Young Lord. Please do not misunderstand, I did not an to ridicule the resolve you showed. Rather, I was moved by the spirit you showed.”

This wasn't a lie.

Just the fact that a 14-year-old boy could show this much spirit against himself ant Friedrich had the qualities to be a King.

Hein was convinced once again that his choice was right.

‘If it’s this kid, he will be able to operate this country quite well even if I don't pay attention to trivial matters.’

After eting eyes with Friedrich who was still kneeling, Hein spoke.

“Young Lord, I tell you once again. The person who will beco a monarch must not touch his knees to the ground carelessly.”

“…….”

“And one more thing, you must not show tears this easily either.”

“Grand Duke, but I…….”

“I will ask you just one thing. Were there perhaps people by your side saying strange things regarding the throne succession issue in the past few days?”

“……!”

Friedrich did not answer, but judging by his flinching expression, Hein’s guess seed to be true.

“Did they perhaps say that after I sit the Young Lord on the puppet throne, I will force abdication over a few years? Did they say that after receiving the abdication, I will dispose of the Young Lord and his family without a mouse or bird knowing?”

“…….”

“They must have also said that the reason I chose the Young Lord was because you did not have a proper power base.”

“Th-That is correct.”

“Young Lord, the reason I chose you was because I had the conviction that the Young Lord possessed the qualities of a monarch most needed in this country. There is no other reason excluding this.”

“But Grand Duke, I have…… nothing I possess. Even the qualities the Grand Duke ntioned…….”

“Ascend to the throne, Young Lord. And you just have to do what you can do.”

Towards Friedrich shaking his head with an anxious expression, Hein shook his head side to side.

“If by one in a million, one in ten million chance, the Young Lord has lacking points, I will do my best to fill the gap.”

“Grand Duke!”

“Haa…… I will withdraw the remark that I will return to the territory after the succession ceremony. I will remain by Your Majesty’s side, even with my lacking body, and protect Your Majesty and this country.”

The title Hein used to call Friedrich changed from ‘Young Lord’ to ‘Your Majesty.’

“Thank you. Thank you so much. Grand Duke…….”

And Friedrich, confirming this fact, burst into tears once again and bowed his head while kneeling.

The scene of a boy who would beco King in a few days holding onto the trousers of a powerful subject holding his lifeline and pouring out tears was, in a way, a truly pitiful thing.

“Your Majesty, please rise.”

“Th-Thank you. Grand Duke. Sob. Thank you so much.”

Whether he was relieved only after getting the answer he wanted from Hein, only then did Friedrich take the hand Hein held out.

‘Rest assured. Your Majesty, of course, I also have sothing I want. But that is not this country.’

Watching Friedrich saying thank you already several tis while holding his hand, Hein spoke.

“From now on, I will protect Your Majesty. However, what I worry about is whether Your Majesty will regret this choice of holding onto today in the future.”

“Pardon?”

“Because even if you regret it when that ti cos, you won't be able to reverse the current choice.”

“No. Grand Duke, absolutely, I will absolutely not regret it.”

Friedrich raised his hand dampened with tears and waved it.

“Well. You will probably regret it.”

Hein took out a handkerchief and wiped his own hand dampened with Friedrich’s tears as he spoke.

“Because as long as I am in this seat, Your Majesty will co to fear in the future.”

***

Three days later.

The King succession ceremony proclaiming that ‘Friedrich Rosbach’ succeeded the throne of Zodiac was held grandly.

And after one week’s ti passed.

An invitation sent by the Empire arrived.

***

‘Sacred Festival’.

The Empire’s largest festival is held every year to commorate the glorious mont when the Akrishima Empire’s first Emperor ‘Ulpanian Tercios’ established the Empire.

The Sacred Festival, usually held especially grandly in units of 10 years, scattered invitations issued in the Emperor’s na to all countries in the continent to commorate Ulpanian’s glory this year.

“……Therefore, for this reason, I, the Emperor, request attendance from your country, and hope you will shine the seat commorating the Empire’s glory in a blessed place. That is all, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm…….”

A groan leaked from Friedrich’s mouth after confirming the content of the letter sent by the Emperor.

“Is it true that the most recent ti the Emperor sent a Sacred Festival invitation letter was 10 years ago?”

“That is correct. Your Majesty.”

“Who visited as a congratulatory envoy back then?”

“Duke Ludwig, the younger brother of the Late King, visited.”

“Hmm…….”

Heavy groans that didn't match that youthful face burst out consecutively from Friedrich’s mouth.

He was well aware of ‘Ludwig’s’ end as well.

Ludwig, who incurred the Emperor’s wrath for an unknown reason while staying in the Empire, could not return to Zodiac and had to be confined in the Imperial Capital for 5 years.

After Zodiac made all kinds of efforts to cater to the Emperor’s mood, he could barely return to his ho country, but.

Having had to spend days under the threat of life in the hands of the capricious Emperor for a long ti, he passed away before even a year passed since returning to Zodiac.

‘What should be done…….’

Since the situation was like this, Friedrich’s worry had no choice but to deepen.

It was not sothing where he could send just anyone as an invitation envoy commorating the Empire’s biggest event.

At least a blood relative of the King had to be sent.

But…….

‘Father…….’

Considering that his younger siblings were too young to take on the role of envoy, there was only one option given to Friedrich.

But he could not bear to send his father to a place where he didn't know what kind of suffering he might undergo.

Right at that mont when Friedrich fell into a worry with no answer…….

“Your Majesty, if Your Majesty permits, I will visit as the envoy group.”

Hein raised his hand and volunteered to go to the Empire.

“The Grand Duke?”

“Yes. The reason the Empire demands the visit of high-ranking royalty as an envoy group is for them to know the circumstances of each country in detail through the congratulatory envoy. Then, even if I, who oversaw the country’s state affairs until recently and possess the title of Grand Duke, visit, I believe there will be nothing for the Empire to make an issue of.”

“That is true, but the Grand Duke is the pillar of this country. Perhaps…….”

Just as he said, Hein had sufficient qualifications as an envoy.

But just because he was qualified, the King could not readily accept the request as he could not drive him into a deadly place.

Instead of nodding, Friedrich could not bring himself to say ominous words and blurred the end of his sentence.

“If it is true that I am the pillar of this country, all the more reason I should go as the envoy. Now when circumstances inside and outside the country are chaotic, I believe I should not show an appearance of refusing a dangerous place while holding a heavy responsibility.”

“Grand Duke…….”

Despite Hein’s repeated volunteering, Friedrich could not make a decision easily.

“Your Majesty, please trust this humble subject.”

“……Then, will the Grand Duke take on this heavy responsibility?”

Eventually, Friedrich had no choice but to nod.

***

“I am sorry. Grand Duke.”

The Great Hall where all other ministers had retired.

In the space where only the two of them remained with Hein, the King was bowing his head to Hein again.

“Because I am unworthy, I ended up pushing the heavy burden my family should handle onto the Grand Duke again. I am sorry for being such an unworthy King who relies on the Grand Duke every ti…….”

Was the guilt driving him into a deadly place where he didn't know whether he could return safely or not?

Friedrich could not face Hein’s face even while bowing his head.

“Do you rember the words I told you on the day you visited my office previously?”

“I rember, Grand Duke.”

“That day, I told Your Majesty. That you should value your knees, and you should not show tears easily. But it seems I have to tell you one more thing.”

“Speak.”

“Your Majesty, you should not say sorry to a subject this frequently either.”

“Grand Duke…….”

Hein’s firm appearance that seed to know no wavering.

Whether it beca a comfort, only then could Friedrich show at least a weak smile.

“Do not worry, Your Majesty.”

After stepping one step further away from Friedrich, Hein bowed his head once and spoke.

“Without any trouble, I will return like that.”

***

‘What is that terribly ugly lunatic trying to do by calling people together again?’

Hein walked the hallway leaving Friedrich behind.

His expression was quite different from when he comforted the King a while ago.

In Hein’s eyes tracing the mories of the Empire’s current Emperor ‘Calinero,’ there was only coldness filling it without a shred of warmth.

‘By now, the Emperor’s heart must have already leaned towards the 1st Prince. Perhaps he intends to proclaim the 1st Prince as the Crown Prince at this Sacred Festival…….’

According to the mories of the previous life, the 1st Prince being invested as Crown Prince happens a little more ti later.

But there is no guarantee that it will proceed like that in this life as well.

‘Because Calinero is a lunatic impossible to predict at all. Predicting the actions of that crazy capricious madman here is impossible.’

The facts Hein could be certain of regarding the current Imperial succession diagram were as follows.

First, the current Emperor Calinero’s love for the 1st Prince is overwhelming enough to be greater than the sum of love for all other princes.

Second, however, the 1st Prince who receives the Emperor’s love has an atrocious reputation among major nobles and royalty due to his violence and capriciousness resembling his father closely.

Third, aiming for this gap, other princes are eyeing the next succession right to the throne while riding on the backs of huge nobles sponsoring them.

The last fourth is exactly…….

‘The Empire’s 9th Prince, Gillian Tercios, is in a situation where he is pushed to the very rear in the succession war without receiving anyone’s sponsorship due to his humble origin.’

The mont he recalled the old friend he missed so much.

A smile that looked colder than perennial snow ford on Hein’s lips.

The reason Hein volunteered as the envoy for the Sacred Festival wasn't solely to resolve the King’s worry.

No, rather than that, it is true that the wish to et his old friend around this ti was much bigger.

And he also wanted to check the situation of the Empire and each country.

‘Envoys will be dispatched from all countries in the continent. I will check directly with my own eyes what flow the continent is riding and co back.’

Clunk.

Returning to the office, Hein crossed his arms and closed his eyes while sitting in the chair.

Was it because the eting he had been waiting for approached right before his eyes?

Hein, who could not calm his excitent easily, let out a big breath.

‘Wait, Gillian. I will go to your side soon.’