He’s My Real Brother, Duke Chapter 127

 

Cassian whispered quietly, holding Rune’s tiny hand tightly.

 

“We’ll play with my winged toy, every day.”

 

Rune mumbled, fidgeting with his fern hands.

 

“…wings?”

 

“Yeah, it flies around in the sky.”

 

“Ooh…”

 

Rune’s eyes twinkled. I watched them, feeling a bit of mixed emotions.

 

I wondered if they would ever get to know each other.

 

Would Cassian be able to heal the ache in Rune’s heart that lingered like a grudge and often burst out?

 

I let out a small sigh and looked around.

 

“I want everyone to be happy, and by the way, those orphanage bastards…”

 

When all was said and done, the orphanage people would pay for what they did.

 

Looking out over the manor’s front courtyard from the garden, I suddenly realized that it was long past time for Knox to return from his trip to the palace, and today, it seemed, he had something very important to do.

 

“Astel, I’m going to go convince the Emperor.”

 

“What?”

 

The moment he whispered, the silver lamp on the nightstand went out. The atmosphere turned grim, like a villain’s scheming in the dark of night. I looked at his side face, dark with puzzlement.

 

“The Emperor will be… on our side, so don’t worry, and have a good dream.”

 

It was as if I had heard him say in my sleep that he would convince the emperor on his own. 

 

I rubbed the corners of my eyes and looked at Rune and my brother, then carefully headed out of the garden.

 

To my relief, it wasn’t some unknown knight standing there, but Lord Retro, who had volunteered to be my bodyguard the other day. 

 

I couldn’t tell if he was on gardening duty or guard duty today, but it was nice to see him. 

 

With him, I could ask him anything I wanted to know. I grinned at him, smiling broadly.

 

“Lord Retro!”

 

But he still shouted as I approached, as if I were a stranger and out of place.

 

“Hah!”

 

…I was shocked.

 

‘Did I scare him too much?’

 

After feeling sorry for him for a moment, I spoke carefully, my voice trembling.

 

“Well, His Excellency the Duke has not yet returned from the palace, has he?”

 

“Yes, my lady, he has not. He’s been busy getting acquainted with His Majesty.”

 

“Oh…”

 

I tugged at the hem of my robe repeatedly with a worried look on my face. 

 

Knox was sure he could convince the Emperor, and I believed him, but this was the Emperor of a huge empire. 

 

I wondered if it would be difficult for him to deal with it all day and night, listening to my questioning words.

 

“Besides, I’m even more worried that he’ll be home later than promised…”

 

Lord Retro, seemingly oblivious to my feelings, finally stopped trembling and said cheerfully.

 

“Ah, indeed, you are worried about His Majesty the Emperor, I am afraid. I hear that they are to be alone today, and even every day, and that alone with His Excellency, and I wonder how much more so when you are so quick and thin to live…?”

 

“…?”

 

“Ah, Astel, you’re not worried about the demons or the Emperor, you’re worried about him, the Duke…?”

 

Lord Retro scratched his head, looking as if he wasn’t convinced, even though he was the one who put the words out of his mouth first. 

 

My lips curled downward, and I replied gloomily, “Yes, His Excellency the Duke has a big heart, even if it doesn’t look like it.”

 

“Ah, my lady, yes…”

 

Lord Retro pulled a water bottle from the side of his sword holder and drank repeatedly. 

 

Strangely, it burned his throat.

 

🐾

 

At that moment, the Duke of Anais, who was a ‘big-hearted’ man by Astel standards, was alone with the Emperor.

 

Or more accurately, he was staring at the Emperor with a cold gaze that seemed to bore into him.

 

“Greetings, Your Imperial Majesty.”

 

Despite the Duke of Anais’ dry expression, the Emperor wore a hint of annoyance.

 

He looked questioningly at the list of those who had requested his presence.

 

“I was wondering.”

 

“…”

 

“Why the Duke, who is so unwilling to meet with me, insists on meeting with me every day.”

 

The Duke of Anais remained silent, staring down at his tea or into the Emperor’s eyes, until the tea in front of him grew cold.

 

The Emperor looked at the Duke with a frown of annoyance.

 

“Is it because of the Demon War? I promised to provide you with all the supplies you need, or was there a problem?”

 

“This is not how I express my dissatisfaction.”

 

In the run-up to the war, the atmosphere of praise for the heroic Duke was at its peak.

 

For the emperor, who was supposed to be the infallible heavenly monarch, the situation was uncomfortable and absurd.

 

“First of all, it’s… to get acquainted with His Majesty.”

 

Astel didn’t know it yet, but he had gotten quite a bit of information. He still didn’t know exactly what the big plan was.

 

‘I don’t know what exactly she’s hiding, but… whatever she wants.’

 

If he stayed silent and followed her orders, he’d find out everything, even about her strange relationship with Cassian Gray, who was as unpleasant as the splinter under his fingernail.

 

To do so, it was necessary to make the Emperor’s private meeting with him as favorable as possible.

 

Duke Anais gave the Emperor a stern stare.

 

“For now, we have searched all the Duke of Cornwall’s residences.”

 

“A search?”

 

“Yes. And we found something suspicious.”

 

The Duke of Anais had several secrets he had not yet shared with anyone.

 

And they were enough to make the Emperor’s brow furrow.

 

“There’s a movement afoot to make the Emperor High King.”

 

“…What?”

 

“Did you know about it?”

 

“…”

 

“Apparently it’s been planned for years, centered around warlocks like the Duke of Cornwall, but it never seemed to reach the Emperor’s ears.”

 

The Emperor glared angrily at the calm-faced Duke of Anais.

 

“What do you mean you didn’t realize you were carrying it?”

 

“Because it’s a harmless move, so far, no?”

 

“…”

 

“But we don’t know what the future holds.”

 

A vein formed in his temple.

 

“I’ll show you a few proofs next time we meet.”

 

The Emperor stared at the Duke with a bloodshot glare.

 

“No, tell me everything.”

 

“That would be hard.”

 

He smiled softly, in a manner that was unlike the bluntness of his refusal. It was a smile he would only show Astel.

 

“Not even my most precious person knows yet.”

 

Duke Anais got up to his seat.

 

Now that he managed to get on the Emperor’s nerves, he decided to search the palace for better information.

 

🐾

 

The Emperor, finished with his tense conversation with the Duke, scratched his forehead. 

 

But the conclusion of all his worries was in fact the Crown Prince.

 

“The Crown Prince is suspicious. He’s plotting to steal the throne…”

 

It was a ridiculous rumor.

 

After the Emperor’s death, the Crown Prince would take the throne immediately.

 

But a recent report from the imperial physician said that he had been cured and could live for another thirty years or more.

 

He recalled his son’s face furrowing in anticipation at the monthly health check-up, as soon as the emperor’s condition was confirmed.

 

‘I wonder if this is not a rumor, …a nonsense rumor.’

 

The Duke of Anais’ report was short.

 

That the Crown Prince was aiming for his position.

 

But the Emperor wasn’t stupid enough to listen to the beast and strike down his son.

 

But…

 

— ‘Your Majesty, I, the Empress, hereby beg you. Please abort the child.’

 

The problem was the Empress’ plea. 

 

The Emperor didn’t love her as much as he loved himself, but he had a certain amount of respect for the woman who had stood by his side for so many years.

 

For some time now, she had been speaking of the Crown Prince. At first, he laughed in disbelief at her nonsense.

 

— ‘Nonsense, it’s nonsense.’

 

— ‘Your Majesty has been rumored to be in the presence of strange warlocks, including the Duke of Cornwall. I have secretly checked and found…’

 

— ‘…I’ve heard rumors that he’s been in a relationship with the Duke of Cornwall, but how can a noble bloodline of the imperial family be in association with a dark magic, and how did you keep him in line to the throne?

 

— ‘…So I beg of you, Your Majesty, if you find it difficult to abort the child, please do so. You are the only one who can change the outcome.’

 

The emperor rubbed the corners of his eyes.

 

— ‘Not long ago, we were informed that a monster had appeared in the Crown Prince’s palace.’

 

Everyone’s favorite stoner, an old man, has been brought into the palace.

 

Furthermore, the Crown Prince seemed to have a strong aversion to having the Emperor or Empress in his palace.

 

As if he had something to hide.

 

He thought to discipline his son, who was becoming more and more unworthy of being Crown Prince.

 

🐾

 

The Emperor investigated and found the Crown Prince’s strange behavior.

 

His behavior was odd, and the Emperor realized his behavior in a supposed dark magician casually walking in and out of the Crown Prince’s palace. 

 

His involvement with the Duke of Cornwall, and his history of attempting to rise above the Emperor and rule on his own.

 

He was naturally a rather vicious man, but he was somewhat tolerant of his children.

 

So he summoned the Crown Prince and tried to discipline him again and again.

 

But the Crown Prince came out firmly, saying that he had done nothing wrong. So it was. 

 

The Emperor made the Crown Prince kneel for several days in front of the great gates of his palace.

 

In full view of all the servants and maids.

 

It was extremely humiliating to punish a man who would soon be the ruler of the empire with a punishment meant only for children.

 

“You are still my only heir, so kneel before me, and crush your ambition.”

 

The Crown Prince knelt at the front door of the Imperial Palace and chewed the flesh in his mouth constantly.

 

The raw flesh tasted like blood, but he didn’t care about it.

 

The day passed in the first dawn. The Crown Prince’s heart, and the Emperor’s heart, began to harden.

 

The Emperor summoned his son to a private room in the palace.

 

“Do you realize what you have done wrong?”

 

“…”

 

“We will search the Crown Prince’s palace.”

 

“…Your Majesty.”

 

The Crown Prince, bowed before the Emperor, and stared up at him in the provocation

.

His gaze was fiery. The stern discipline would only drive a deeper gap between them.

 

“No, Father.”

 

Still, the Emperor’s face warmed slightly at being called father.

 

The Crown Prince’s demeanor was different, of course. He clenched his fists in silence, repeatedly fidgeting with something in his sleeve.

 

“Yes, son, get up.”

 

The Emperor looked at his son as he slowly rose to his feet.

 

“Have you reflected?”

 

The Crown Prince then walked over to the Emperor and gently embraced his father. It was the first hug he had felt since childhood. 

 

Feeling the warmth of his son, so much older than he was, the Emperor knew that everything would now fall into place.

 

He had thought the Duke of Anais’ ecstasy was something that could be passed off as nothing more than a minor inconvenience…

 

“Thank you…”

 

A cold sensation tingled at the nape of his back, and then chilled him from head to toe.