Second Life, I’m Dying Soon Chapter 99

Chapter 99

 

Empress Elizabeth slowly turned around. Not a trace of surprise showed on her shadowed face.

“What do you think I’m doing? I came to look for some materials.”

The empress hurriedly gathered the documents. Several bundles of rolled parchment disappeared into the sleeves of her dress.

“You speak as if I’ve come somewhere I’m not allowed.”

“Have you forgotten that access to the secret archive is restricted to the imperial family?”

Cecil’s sharp gaze shifted to the person standing behind the empress. The man, dressed in an ordinary attendant’s uniform, bowed politely. At a glance, he looked entirely innocent, as though he had done nothing wrong.

“I had quite a lot to carry. I needed a helping hand. After all, it would be improper for the Empress to carry all those heavy books herself.”

“A helping hand.”

Cecil tugged at the corner of his mouth. Though the man who followed the empress was practically a stranger, Cecil knew exactly who he was.

“Seems these days you even keep Kazarjan spies as attendants.”

“A spy? What nonsense are you talking about!”

The empress rushed up to Cecil in alarm. For a moment, she nearly lost control and raised her voice, but barely managed to restrain herself.

“Cecil, I heard you were gravely ill—have you lost your mind? Do you even realize what outrageous nonsense you’re spouting right now? How dare you try to pin such a baseless crime on me!”

“Unfortunately, my mind is perfectly sound. If anything, you seem to be the one not in your right mind, Mother.”

Cecil erased his mocking smile as he spoke. His cold eyes remained fixed on the attendant. There was no way he could mistake him. That man was definitely a Kazarjan spy he had dealt with in his previous life.

He himself had been the one who directly handed confidential documents to that spy. There was no room for misunderstanding here. The empress was now repeating exactly what he had done.

“Get out. Now.”

The order had barely been given when the attendant fled. He escaped so swiftly that he vanished in an instant. Finally left alone, Cecil let out a quiet sigh and placed the lantern he was holding on top of the bookshelf.

He grabbed the empress’s wrist tightly.

“I warn you—stop this.”

“Shut up. What do you think you know!”

“I told you clearly not to do this. You’re only going to hurt yourself.”

“…….”

“Leaking imperial secrets is treason.”

A flicker of agitation crossed the empress’s eyes. Realizing that Cecil saw through everything, a sudden chill ran down her spine.

The empress roughly shook off Cecil’s hand, as though it were something filthy.

“Don’t spout nonsense! Who would commit treason?”

“No matter what you do, you won’t stop Alexis from becoming emperor.”

With what little affection he had left, Cecil offered his mother sincere advice. At this rate, she was bound to meet a miserable end. Still, she was his mother—he couldn’t just stand by and watch her walk down the wrong path.

“Don’t you see? All of this is pointless.”

“Cecil, help me—even now it’s not too late.”

“No. I’ve chosen Alexis. So give up. This is my final warning.”

The smooth line of the empress’s jaw trembled. Suppressing her blazing rage, she snarled in a low voice.

“You treacherous little traitor! You’ll abandon me to the end and cling to Alexis instead? How obsessed with a man must you be! I cherished you so much!”

Despite the accusations, Cecil met her gaze head-on. In his eyes was a firm resolve that would not yield to any persuasion.

The empress ground her teeth.

“Disgusting, filthy child. I never should have given birth to you.”

“…….”

“Just you wait. We’ll see whether the Alexis you love so dearly truly ascends the throne.”

The empress shoved Cecil’s shoulder forcefully and left. He staggered backward and collided with a bookshelf, causing the lantern resting there to fall.

Crash. The sound of shattering glass seemed to symbolize a relationship beyond repair.

Cecil stared blankly at the dying flames, then shut his eyes tightly. So this is how it ends. At that moment, Cecil completely gave up on his mother.

The next day, Emperor Arnold Graham passed away.

The empire fell into deep mourning. Having reigned for thirty-six years, he had led the empire for a long time, and many grieved his death.

The atmosphere in the imperial palace also grew unsettled. The emperor’s condition had worsened day by day, so people had prepared themselves to some extent, but when the misfortune actually struck, confusion still followed.

For the moment, stabilizing the royal family took precedence over the war. The entire palace bustled with funeral arrangements. At the same time, preparations for the crown prince’s coronation had to be made.

Yet many were secretly relieved. His Majesty’s passing was undeniably tragic, but at the same time, would it not usher in a new era? The next emperor, Alexis Winter Graham, would surely govern the empire well.

Amidst such turmoil, fate continued along its own course.

Although the emperor’s funeral had already been held, by custom the imperial family had to wear black for a week. Cecil was no exception.

He wore a glossy black shirt and black trousers as he drank tea alone. As if waiting for something, he tapped the corner of his desk—tap, tap.

Just then, a knock broke his thoughts. Cecil lifted his head and faced the person who entered his study. Knight Commander Claude Vandel spoke with a resolute expression.

“We’ve… captured the traitor.”

Cecil let out a faint sigh without showing surprise. So Mother finally did it.

After their encounter in the archive, he had leaked information to Alexis in advance. Just as Cecil had predicted, the empress acted accordingly. She contacted Kazarjan with the spy and handed over imperial secrets.

The crown prince and elite knights, already stationed at the meeting site, raided the scene. Faced with irrefutable evidence, there was no room for denial. Confidential documents and a contract were being exchanged on the spot.

“Where is she?”

“She’s been imprisoned in the underground dungeon.”

“Has the interrogation already begun?”

Claude nodded. The empress had committed treason the day after the former emperor’s funeral. This undoubtedly placed Cecil in a very difficult position.

Treason was a grave crime warranting execution regardless of rank or status. If things went badly, Cecil could be implicated as well and stripped of his royal status.

Of course, as long as Alexis stood behind him, nothing truly dangerous would happen—but it was clear that the nobles’ outrage would be fierce.

“What’s the atmosphere like?”

“Given the severity of the matter…”

At Claude’s unfinished words, Cecil lowered his gaze to the edge of the desk. It was obvious how the situation was unfolding.

His mother would keep her mouth shut despite the clear evidence, and harsh torture would follow. Cecil’s stubborn temperament was something he had inherited directly from her.

Seeing Cecil’s darkened expression, Claude hesitantly made a suggestion.

“Would you like to go together?”

Cecil shook his head with a bitter smile.

“No. I’ll go later.”

His smile lacked all strength. Dressed entirely in black, his already bloodless face looked even paler.

Claude swallowed a sigh. At this moment, he was genuinely worried about Cecil’s well-being.

“I’ll report back to you.”

“Thank you.”

Once Claude left the study, Cecil collapsed forward onto the desk. Resting his head on his forearms, he had to swallow suffering he could tell no one.

Alexis came to see Cecil later that night.

As if struggling to find the words, he stroked Cecil for a long time before finally speaking.

“The empress confessed to everything.”

“…Is that so?”

Cecil smiled weakly.

“At least she didn’t hold out long. I suppose she couldn’t endure the torture.”

“There was no other way. That’s the procedure.”

“I’m not blaming you, Your Highness. It’s just…”

Alexis wrapped Cecil tightly in his arms. His large hand gently rubbed Cecil’s back.

“I know. It’s because she’s your mother.”

“What will happen to her? Will she be executed?”

“It’s under discussion. Opinions are divided, so it will take some time to reach an agreement.”

“…But the final decision is yours, Your Highness.”

His voice trembled pitifully. Cecil forced strength into his tongue and spoke as clearly as he could.

“Do whatever you must, but please—do not exile her to the Black Forest.”

“The Black Forest?”

“If you must take her life, then please end it without pain. Sending her to the Black Forest is too cruel.”

At that moment, Alexis felt a strange sense of déjà vu. It felt like he had dreamed of something similar before.

He could feel Cecil’s body trembling like a willow branch in his arms. As if to ease his anxiety, Alexis tightened his embrace around the frail body.

“I promise. I will never send her to the Black Forest.”

“…….”

“But I can’t guarantee her life. As you know, Empress Elizabeth brought harm to the empire.”

“I know. I respect your decision, Your Highness.”

“I’m sorry, Cecil.”

Alexis comforted him for a long time, feeling sorrow and pity for Cecil, who had been forced to abandon his only parent. No matter how much of a political enemy she was, executing his lover’s mother weighed heavily on Alexis as well.

But for the sake of the empire, a decision was unavoidable. Alexis let out a small sigh and stroked Cecil’s soft hair.

“I need to go meet the council of elders again. Now that we have her confession, the decision won’t be delayed much longer.”

“…….”

“I’ll tell your head attendant—if you can’t sleep, take a little sleeping medicine.”

“Yes.”

Alexis left after placing a brief kiss. Cecil saw him off, then walked to the window and gazed out at the dark imperial palace.

Three days before death.

Another long, sleepless night was passing by.