The Emperor Who Was Chapter 16 : Chapter 16

Chapter .16

Among the many spells I beca able to use since gaining magic power, assassination magic was special.

'There is no learning like experiencing it directly with your body.'

I used a magic modified from one of those. Utilizing the water elent that the knights were providing in abundance right now.

Regardless of whether they were spit droplets or teardrops, I mixed and froze them, then instantly moved those crystals with wind magic. Perhaps because my circles had increased by one, the fusion control was surprisingly easy.

"Huk!"

"Ugh!"

"Kuk!"

In the next mont, various groans rang out.

The place where the horizontal line drawn across both shoulders ets the vertical line coming down from the nape of the neck; pressing that spot with ice makes the hair on the nape stand up and sends chills down the spine. Even if one touches it imdiately, the ice disappears like wind, leaving no trace.

I couldn't stab a dagger or strangle them according to the standard, but the effect was beyond imagination.

"What are you doing!"

The First Prince frowned.

However, the loyal knights ignored his temper.

"Aaaack!"

"I will kill you!"

"I will kill you!"

Because the knights shouted louder and drew their swords.

Indeed, my cousins. Without even knowing what had just happened to them, they were instinctively reacting to the killing intent that struck their vital points directly.

Unlike , who couldn't even cry thinking I was being killed by an evil spirit when attacked by real assassination magic for intimidation purposes before the regression.

"Co out!"

"I will kill you all!"

"He is hiding here, surely hiding!"

"Stop it!"

"I will kill you!"

"Stop! Will you not stop!"

Eventually, Maximilian kicked his chair and stood up, shouting. In the commotion, chairs and tables were all overturned. Only then did the knights barely co to their senses at the First Prince's fierce anger.

Those who had been brandishing swords blinked and looked around.

And soon they discovered people looking inside from the wide-open doorway.

It was because the maid had hurriedly gone out and brought people.

"Our Prince, you are safe! How scared I was!"

The maid burst into tears upon seeing . But in those eyes shedding tears profusely, joy flashed. The anxious look of fearing she might be replaced by a young and pretty woman like the Empress's faction spy was nowhere to be seen.

"The First Prince's knights pointed swords at the Second Prince! I thought the Second Prince was going to pass away!"

The maid scread at the top of her lungs with clear vocalization even while crying.

As expected of a spy for the Bastard Prince's faction. Even amidst bewildernt, she imdiately utilizes the opportunity to attack the enemy given to her.

Of course, catch the stepmother with the maternal uncle, and catch the real brother with the half-brother. The strategy fit perfectly.

People began to chatter all at once.

"Oh my, to draw swords in a place where the young Prince is present!"

"Either assassinate quietly or why do such a barbaric act openly in the Imperial Palace!"

"It is not like that!"

A knight tried to say sothing, but when people's glares poured on him all at once, he shut his mouth.

"Knights flocked in a group to a place with only a woman and a boy and drew their swords; if not to kill, what on earth is it?"

"Indeed, I am curious. Speak quickly."

"Tsk tsk, for those who call themselves the First Prince's knights to behave so rowdily."

Befitting a spy of the Bastard Prince's faction, she brought the Empress's faction, the Bastard Prince's faction, and the Emperor's faction evenly. Leaving out only the First Prince's faction.

The knights' faces turned pale, and the First Prince's eyes burned with anger.

If there is anything he hates more than losing dignity in front of people, it is his dignity being diminished because of .

"Sob, I-I am sorry. I ended up serving plain water... but there was really nothing to serve!"

The maid wailed. The whispering of the people grew louder.

"Oh my, did they brandish swords just because the reception was poor?"

"Since the First Prince is a person of strong pride. But still, for knights to point swords at a woman and a boy. Moreover, he is a Prince, and although the maid is a commoner, is this not the Imperial Palace?"

"I have committed a mortal sin. I also wanted to serve the First Prince and the knights well! But there was really nothing, would I have done so otherwise? Still, I gave milk to the First Prince, and as the Second Prince, he did his best, sob!"

The maid's acting was getting better and better. My bastard brother should reward his loyal subject.

"Dear , they must have overturned the table because the reception was poor, oh my."

"The one receiving poor treatnt is actually Prince Leontes."

"Thinking about that, Her Majesty the Empress is also too much."

The First Prince's faction, who ca running belatedly panting, quickly bit onto the Empress's faction.

"But the First Prince, far from generously embracing his unfortunate brother, is so angry just because the reception was poor......."

"Neither of them can be called generous, ahem."

"He is soone who casts aside even his own brother, so how much worse to a stepbrother?"

However, with the Empress's faction, the Emperor's faction, and the Bastard Prince's faction mixed together, the chaos beca worse. Because one is not a courtier if they miss the rare opportunity where the First Prince's arrogant knights are bowing their heads unable to even breathe.

"Brother, were you angry because my reception was humble? I understand. But please do not harm the powerless maid."

As I wrapped up the maid's masterful acting that struck the heartstrings of the courtiers, Maximilian ground his teeth and glared at . Because even if he denied my words here, it would only look like a pathetic excuse.

The more elegant I looked now, the rougher he looked. If that is the relationship people see between us, I have no choice but to lead it that way.

However, in the next mont, Maximilian smiled nonchalantly. Brushing off people's glares as if they were nothing.

"I have already told you the way not to live so humbly like this. The choice is yours."

My brother, who tenaciously tells

to co under him, lifted the milk cup in his hand. I thought he spilled it all when he kicked the table earlier, but he was still holding it. Not spilling it even after moving like that was more knight-like than the knights who brandished swords.

He put the milk cup to his lips and emptied it at once. Moving his Adam's apple largely as if to show off.

"I was treated well. Thank you, my brother. Next ti, I will treat you."

My brother had a talent for making even common expressions of gratitude sound like threats.

Maximilian turned around sharply and left. The knights hurriedly followed him.

The people who had flocked to the doorway hurriedly stepped aside, and the First Prince's faction followed them. People from other factions also followed with faces full of anticipation.

However, many still lingered and ca in, clumsily setting up the table and chairs pretending to help, looking around my shabby residence to their heart's content, and then left.

-They say Prince Maximilian's knights were fed water! (Note: 'Fed water' is an idiom for being screwed over/deceived, but literally ans drinking water here, creating a double aning.)

-You an they drank water, not alcohol, in our country?

-And raw plain water at that!

-Oh dear, how did such a thing happen!

-Prince Leontes gathered them all and fed them personally.

-Prince Leontes did?!

That day, rumors spread quickly within the court that I had served plain water to the knights.

-The First Prince could not control his anger and hatred and tried to kill the Second Prince. How can such a thing happen between real brothers? Even if he is lacking, he is a younger brother. Is this not sothing that would make the late Empress turn in her grave? I am greatly concerned about the future of the country.

The Empress's faction expressed concern.

-They say Prince Leontes acted disrespectfully to Prince Maximilian. No matter how bad their relationship is, to do that to his brother and the legitimate heir; even if he suffered a sword fight, what can he say?

The First Prince's faction refuted.

However, no one believed that a Prince poor enough to feed water to knights would have done such a reckless thing.

But the First Prince's faction was not one to admit defeat ekly. With indomitable will, they dragged the Empress's faction in like a water ghost.

-Her Majesty the Empress is abusing the Second Prince by giving him only milk and plain water. That is why his health is weak. It is no wonder he lost his reason enough to dare act disrespectfully to his brother. It is understandable. That is why the First Prince also willingly and rcifully forgave his brother.

-Indeed, Her Majesty the Empress is a cold-hearted person. Just look at how she treats Marquis Steiner who is illegitimate. The state of the country is unspeakable because she favors only Prince Desmond and tornts others, even Princes. It is understandable why the Princes are on bad terms with each other.

The Bastard Prince's faction, which produced a loyal subject who contributed greatly to this situation, also chid in.

-What is all this about? Whether it is the Empress, the First Prince, or the illegitimate son, it is funny to see the people who should be most ashad blaming each other. In the end, everyone is at fault. It is no wonder His Majesty the Emperor is indifferent.

The Emperor's faction, omitting the Emperor's fault of neglecting the abuse inflicted on , showed off hypocrisy pretending to be the most gentle.

Thus, Maximilian did not forgive the knights who lowered his prestige.

"Did you hear? They say that sturdy knight is sick. He collapsed in the slums! If even filth got on that beautiful blond hair! Just thinking about it tears my heart apart."

"As soon as I heard the news, I ran to visit, but the stench from the slums was overwhelming. The mont I crossed the threshold, I was the one who fainted this ti."

"I did not just hear about it, I saw it myself. Seeing those dignified knights unable to co to their senses from the terrible sll and collapsing like a single flower was so pitiful, I could not take my eyes off it more than a classic tragedy. Every courtier must not miss it and watch. Because it is a lesson given by the Prince."

"I heard Prince Maximilian said this was the first ti he gave such an order to you, so consider it an honor? He is a truly generous person."

Masters of gossip dominate the social circles. The talented people courtiers value highly are ultimately those who are good at badmouthing.

Although they exaggerated, it was true that Maximilian gave an order to the knights to patrol the slums.

Since they are collateral royals and main forces in factional fights, discarding them entirely would be a loss for the First Prince himself.

However, for such people, there is no punishnt like the humiliation of becoming a spectacle to low-born people.

'Indeed, next to making enemies fight each other, having an enemy punish an enemy is rewarding.'

For a while, Maximilian went around with older retainers instead of the peer knights he used to sweep through the Imperial Palace with in high spirits, and he certainly looked less arrogant. It was thanks to .

"There are rumors that the Prince has gone mad from starvation."

Goldmund, who ca to see

under the pretext of examination, said carefully.

It was because the Empress's faction laid the groundwork ahead of the audience, and the First Prince's faction chid in through gritted teeth.

"I know."

If it were

before the regression, I would have been mortally ashad of such rumors, but having already died once, I was nonchalant.

Why should the victim be ashad of what the perpetrator should be ashad of? In the end, that is the perpetrator's logic.

The day before the audience, the Empress sent a gift. The maid who ca alone this ti, not even with Goldmund, was not the initial noblewoman either.

"Prince Leontes, have you been well?"

Cecile Lauderdale.

Desmond's maternal cousin and the Empress's niece.

Sending such a big shot was proof that the Empress still suspected . The Empress who was not satisfied even after I fed cold water to my own brother.

"Her Majesty the Empress cherishes Your Highness this much."

Saying that, Cecile spread out a set of luxurious clothes.

"It is a formal outfit specially bestowed by Her Majesty for Your Highness. The command is to wear this formal outfit and have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor with the dignity befitting a Prince."

Clothes woven with gold and silver threads and decorated with jewels. Not only the dragon of Armatia but also a phoenix were beautifully embroidered together. The crest of Roncer.