Josef looked at the Emperor.

Unlike the chaos outside the castle, a sharp silence hung between the two men as they faced each other with swords in their hands.

The Emperor was the first to speak.

“Do you intend to kill me?”

“No.”

Josef said, straightening his back. It felt as if every bone in his body was screaming. He swallowed a groan to endure the pain.

“I have children now too.”

“…”

“I cannot become a father who kills his own flesh and blood like you.”

“Hmph.”

The Emperor’s face twisted strangely as he snorted. Josef spoke in a low voice.

“This is my final respect to you.”

“…”

“Go beyond the Septen Mountains.”

There was a village where the old tribes of Olstein lived after being driven out by the Emperor following their defeat in power struggles.

“You will live quietly there until you die.”

“…”

“I’ll send necessary supplies. I can’t promise you’ll live luxuriously. I hear everything freezes quickly there.”

Josef silently adjusted the grip of his hand holding the sword. He had no intention of actually crossing swords with the Emperor. The Emperor would die easily with just two or three movements. It was an unnecessary fight.

The Emperor understood this point too. That’s what Josef felt.

“I’ve lived too long.”

The Emperor blurted out.

Since he was continuously staring into Josef’s eyes, the words sounded as if they were directed at Josef rather than being the Emperor’s self-reflection.

Perhaps that was actually the case.

“I wanted to become Emperor.”

“…”

“Not for the House of Restec. Solely for myself.”

Josef read the anger and hatred that had not yet been extinguished in the Emperor’s eyes.

“So I cannot bear to see the throne pass to you.”

It happened in an instant. The Emperor deeply stabbed his own stomach with the sword in his hand. There was no hesitation in the movement. Rather, it was Josef’s body that flinched.

“Wait!”

“Ugh… gah…”

As Josef stepped forward, the Emperor staggered backward toward the window. His hands were gripping the sword handle so tightly that his fingers were twisted.

“…I cannot give this sword to you… The empire’s blessing is not yours.”

“…”

“…Watch carefully…”

The Emperor, resting his arm on the windowsill, grimaced and smiled.

“…You made all of this happen.”

His body fell through the open window.

“Ahhh!”

Along with a dull impact sound, soldiers’ screams echoed.

Josef looked out the window.

He could see the blade protruding from the Emperor’s corpse as blood began to spread.

The first Emperor of the Olstein Empire had died in vain.

The Emperor hated Josef until the end. He could not tolerate dying by Josef’s hand or ending his days in hiding.

Thus, unwilling to even hand over the ceremonial sword of the Olstein imperial family, he took his own life with it embedded in his body.

Josef silently looked down at the soldiers gathering around the corpse.

‘Why did you have to hate me so much?’

‘For the sake of your life?’

That was all Josef had been curious about regarding the Emperor. But the Emperor ultimately ended his life without giving him a chance to ask, cursing him instead.

It was a fitting end for him.

* * *

Henrik, who had been staying at Brienne Castle receiving treatment, was finally able to leave his bed after a week.

Considering the injuries he had sustained, it was truly a miraculous recovery. However, he said that sensation had not yet returned to his left arm, which had been pierced by a spear.

“I’m fortunate it wasn’t amputated.”

Henrik said with a bitter smile. His left arm, supported by a splint, was tightly wrapped in bandages.

“That’s why you still need to recover, Henrik.”

Amelia said, looking worriedly at Henrik standing beside his horse. He had stubbornly insisted on going to Olstein, causing the guards to finally prepare a horse for him.

“I must go.”

Despite Amelia’s dissuasion, Henrik shook his head.

“His Highness should have reached Olstein by now. Or else…”

Henrik, who was about to continue, closed his mouth upon seeing Amelia’s expression.

A week had passed since the guards and soldiers who had followed Josef stayed at Brienne Castle for treatment.

Brienne had not lowered its state of alert, and Kut’s army remained at the port, guarding the territorial waters.

However, no more soldiers came from the empire. This might mean that Josef had arrived at Olstein Castle and successfully led the rebellion.

Or he might have met with misfortune somewhere, and the castle might still be in chaos.

Several guards whose injuries were not severe had already left Brienne, but Henrik, unable to wait for their return, had finally risen from his bed.

“…Or else.”

Amelia said softly.

“Even if not, please let me know.”

Her face had become as gaunt as Henrik’s. During this time, Amelia had followed Leonid as he arranged accommodations for the wounded and cleared the ravine filled with corpses.

She forced herself to focus on work because whenever she tried to think about what had happened to Josef, she felt her heart tightening. She didn’t feel the physical exhaustion. Several times a day, she had to suppress the urge to go out looking for Josef.

If Josef had died.

What should she do if she were to discover his corpse?

Amelia had been avoiding such fears. But now she could no longer postpone them.

“My Lady, please wait just five days.”

Henrik said solemnly.

“Within that time, I will surely bring news of His Highness.”

Amelia smiled bitterly.

“You don’t need to make such an unreasonable promise.”

Five days is barely enough time for just a one-way journey from Brienne to Olstein. But Henrik’s face was serious.

“I can do it.”

“Henrik.”

“So please don’t worry and wait.”

Henrik, bowing his head deeply, mounted his horse with one arm and instantly galloped toward the gate.

“…”

Watching Henrik’s desperate figure from behind, Amelia felt apologetic.

Henrik would want to assess the situation in Olstein with his own eyes as soon as possible. The guilt of not having protected Josef until the end remained within him.

However, Amelia was wishing that Henrik wouldn’t hurry like that.

If he was going to bring bad news, she wanted him to tell her as late as possible.

Yet at the same time, the five days and nights that Henrik had promised felt unbearably long.

Amelia let out a deep sigh.

Even she, who had always been careful not to become arrogant as a noble, could be extremely contradictory when it came to love.

* * *

His left arm had already fulfilled its role.

Henrik was certain of this as he pulled the reins with one hand. His left arm, which had been twisted after being pierced by a spear, was literally just attached to his body. He instinctively felt that it would never function properly again.

Perhaps this was a light punishment for failing to fulfill his duty to assist the Crown Prince. That’s why he could increase his speed to Olstein without hesitation.

When the edge of the watchtower came into view, the movement of the horse’s hooves on the ground slowed.

“…”

A black military flag was fluttering at the end of the watchtower roof, which normally maintained an indifferent grayish-white color without any decoration.

To be precise, it was the military flag used by the cavalry when conquering the continent. The reason Henrik recognized it was because the color of the flag was slightly faded.

Recognizing the familiar shape, Henrik urged his horse again.

The rebellion could no longer be called a rebellion. Because it had succeeded.

“Henrik! Hey, Henrik!”

An unexpected figure was calling him from the gate.

“Chamberlain!”

It was Chamberlain Thomas with a welcoming face. Except for his slightly disheveled hair and somewhat wrinkled doublet that was usually crisp, he looked normal as ever.

“You look terrible.”

The Chamberlain said with a playful expression. His eyes were slightly reddened, so it was an expression of relief.

“…It seems His Highness is safe.”

Henrik brought up the most important fact first. The Chamberlain nodded.

“His Majesty the Emperor took his own life.”

“…”

“Because of that, the nobles… Ah, that’s not important right now.”

Chamberlain, who would normally have started with unnecessary preambles and given lengthy explanations, spoke urgently as if there was a pressing matter.

“Please stop His Highness. I was waiting for you to do just that.”

“What?”

“Well…”

Just as Chamberlain was about to open his mouth, Josef suddenly appeared behind him.

“Who’s going to do what to whom?”

“Y-Your Highness!”

Unlike the Chamberlain, who turned around in alarm, Henrik stood dazed for a moment, losing his senses.

Then he immediately knelt on the ground and bowed his head.

“Your Highness, I apologize.”

“…”

“I failed to fulfill my responsibility to serve you. Please punish me.”

After a moment of silence, Josef’s voice was heard.

“So you’re alive.”

Henrik raised his head.

“That’s enough.”

Looking up at Josef’s face as he spoke matter-of-factly, Henrik felt something odd.

It wasn’t just because of the expression that seemed relieved that Henrik had returned safely. Nor was it because of his upper body that looked bulkier than usual due to the bandages wrapped tightly inside.

Despite appearing somewhat tired, his hair was perfectly groomed. His uniform was also brand new, never worn before. That appearance seemed very out of place with the scene of the castle waiting to be put in order, with old military flags fluttering and everything in disarray.

It was only after some time that Henrik realized why Josef had gone to such lengths to maintain such a neat appearance.

“…Your Highness.”

Henrik mentioned the fact that Josef would most want to hear.

“Lady Amelia is waiting for you.”

Only then did Josef grin.

“I see.”

Then he mounted his horse.

“Your Highness! You shouldn’t be moving yet!”

The Chamberlain cried out in distress, but such pleas could never stop Josef.

The war horse galloped away vigorously.