It was the priestess who broke the silence. Her voice was smooth and beautiful.
Dowager Empress, have you seen the painting of the Emperor Kentius the third, who was the deceased emperor’s father and the current emperor’s grandfather?
Of course.
Then how could you make such an accusation?
The priestess laughed quietly.
The dowager empress replied,
But the priestess does not know much about the royal family.
The building I live in includes a temple that was gifted by the Emperor Kentius. In it is a painting of him to commemorate him.
S… so?
It is a painting of Emperor Kentius when he was in his 20s. I heard that he looked shockingly similar to our Emperor Lucretius. I couldn’t see for myself, as you can imagine due to my eyes, but that is what everyone said to me. If you look in the royal library and the vault, it shouldn’t be very hard to find a painting of Emperor Kentius, and then you will be able to see for yourself.
The room fell into a deafening silence once again.
That was the end of the dowager empress’s attempt to thwart Lucretius off the throne. No one could openly doubt the priestess’s words. That would be similar to going against the god himself.
The dowager empress had no choice but to hand over the black box.
The priestess took the box from her and handed it to the new emperor. She then kissed him on his forehead with a blessing.
Please become a kind and generous emperor.
It was clear now, even to an ignorant foreigner like me. He was officially the new emperor of this empire.
The prince, I mean the emperor, opened the box and took out a thin gold band. He put it on his finger.
Was this it? Was everything over now? I felt relieved.
Why did they call me here then? The chancellor said they called for me to talk about last night…
Then suddenly, the dowager empress turned towards me. All her anger was now directed at me. Her expression was shockingly scary.
W, what’s happening?
Before I could understand the meaning of her glare, she screamed as she pointed at me,
That woman! Take her to the dungeon! She is an accomplice to the emperor’s murderer!
N, no!
The dowager empress’s voice filled the room. Her maids flinched. They hesitated at first but started walking towards me to follow her order. They were going to drag me to jail!
I glanced at the prince, I mean, the emperor. He had his arms crossed and watching the scene with interest. Was he going to just watch me go to jail? He wasn’t going to forget about his accomplice and his promise last night, or was he?
I couldn’t be sure if he would help me. Therefore, I had to save myself.
I collapse to the floor and started crying.
I cried out as loudly as I could. My throat was so sore from crying last night. My voice was almost gone. My face was red and swollen. I looked atrocious, which helped my case.
I screamed,
Please hear me out before you send me to the dungeon! I saw the face of the assassin!
The room suddenly buzzed with excitement.
What…!
Is that true?
Oh my god!
The high-ranking officials all jumped around frantically. They looked ridiculous.
The dowager empress walked toward me with the help from her maids. She was so pregnant that she walked funny. Her eyes sharpened.
You really saw the murderer’s face?
I looked up and said confidently,
Yes. I saw him.
The Emperor interrupted.
Then why didn’t you say so yesterday?
I turned to him. Looking straight into his green eyes, I raised my voice and replied confidently,
Because there wasn’t an official meeting yesterday. It was too informal with too many unnecessary ears. I have been waiting for the right time, just like now, where all the most important figures are in one place.
I glared at him in silence. I hoped he got my message.
‘You better help me now, or else I’m going to tell them about you.’
I couldn’t stand the pain! I hated darkness too. If I was tortured in the dungeon, it wouldn’t take much for me to spill the truth.
I was sure he got the message. He looked calm throughout this meeting until now. His eyes started to waver.
He sighed quietly. Before the dowager empress could say something, he stepped forward towards me.
Then please tell me. As his son, it is my duty to avenge my father. If you help me, I will thank your courage with a ‘reward.'
He emphasized the word, reminding me of his promise last night.
The dowager empress glared at the emperor and turned to me.
She looked at me with fake kindness and asked me softly,
Alright, tell us then. What did he look like? Did he tell you who hired him?
I knew what she wanted me to say. She wanted me to say the new emperor was the one who was behind the murder. Perhaps if I did, she would let me live.
However, lady, you were going to send me to a dungeon only a minute ago. Your fake kindness can’t full me.
…Of course, this didn’t mean that I trusted the new emperor completely either.
…
I thought fast for a few seconds.
Whose side should I take? The dowager empress or the new emperor?
If I sided with the emperor, his position will be secured, and the dowager empress would become powerless to do anything. If I sided with the dowager empress, it would give her a good chance. This would be the best chance she would ever get from anyone.
…
It was not a difficult decision. This world belonged to the emperor. The only heir to the throne. I was the only one who could bring him down.
Perhaps I had the upper hand in all this. I knew his worst weakness. I knew the weakness of the emperor.
Siding with the dowager empress would be too risky. It was clearly the wrong decision.
Besides, who would believe me if I said the truth? The heir killing his own father the emperor in person? No one.
The dowager empress probably thought Lucretius hired someone for the job. Who would imagine the prince would commit the murder himself?
This meant telling the truth would mean my death.
I finally organized my thoughts. I had to say the right words. I couldn’t make any mistakes.
By the time I entered the bedroom, the former emperor was already… dead.
We already heard that part!
The dowager empress said to me in frustration. She seemed hysterical, which confirmed that I made the right decision.
I took a deep breath. All I had to do now was to lie convincingly.
A window was already opened. I saw a man in a servant outfit jumping out the window.
The right window was indeed opened.
The emperor agreed.
I didn’t see it, but he must have opened a window before escaping through the secret path. Goodman. I completely forgot to do it myself last night.
I continued,
Yes, that window. Before he jumped off, I saw his face.
