The Emperor Who Was Chapter 2 : Chapter 2

Chapter . 2

A fratricidal war of killing and being killed broke out between blood brothers surrounding the capital.

My own brother Maximilian attacked leading the rebel forces. My half-brother Desmond, who rushed out of the Imperial Palace, commanded the Imperial Army to block him. Alexander, the eldest brother and illegitimate son who switched sides constantly, arrived leading a third force.

The mont the dragon’s eyes, having circled the capital of Armatia, captured all of them, the brothers raised their heads in unison to look at . Even though they seed ready to cross swords with each other at any mont.

‘They must have agreed on the fact that the opponent to be killed first is .’

The Emperor who gathered the traitors shaking the country with their lust for power in one place, the very person who instigated this board.

Even if I beca the enemy of all my brothers, I had no regrets. This civil war, arising as an extension of the war for the throne, was too long and horrific. Enemy nations had intervened, and at this rate, the civil war looked like it would last not just for decades but for a hundred years like in the old days. Yet, blinded by the throne, the brothers cared nothing for the people or the country.

My dragon flew high into the sky again. Just as its vast wings blocked the sun, it separated

from them, who did not take their eyes off each other.

Eventually, the dragon landed on top of the Dragon Tower.

Although the tower was designed for a dragon to land on, debris crumbled and fell. The head of a gargoyle decorating the tower was severed under the dragon’s claws and plumted down. My dragon was that big and strong.

‘However, he is not truly my dragon.’

The truth I could no longer ignore in the face of the pain rushing in as the price for breaking the contract.

Although this was the first ti I openly resisted like this, enduring the pain that had gradually accumulated in my body as the price for subtle disobedience all this ti had reached its limit.

My vision was dizzy, but I held on by leaning my body against Juratio.

‘I must not die before ending this.’

The dragon could not retreat even as I approached holding the sword, and could not move even when I leaned against his body and placed my hand on the brand. He only glared at

with ferocious eyes.

A circular brand with a pattern that was beautiful at a glance but truly terrible, identical to the brand on my chest. The cruelest curse branded by one’s own blood.

Ever since I fell victim to the conspiracy of my stepmother and half-brother, I struggled so hard to escape the curse, but eventually failed. But even if I couldn't solve my curse, if it’s the dragon’s curse…….

I opened my mouth.

“My dragon Michelon, I, Emperor Leontes, release you from the contract under two conditions.”

I had to stop the internal war surrounding the dragon, which was the core of the war for the throne. In front of the traitors gathered here today.

“Do not harm the people, and defend this country from foreign invasions. With this, I exclude you from the war for the throne. From now on, live freely without serving the Emperor’s orders.”

For those who ca this far coveting the throne, could there be any punishnt greater than witnessing the liberation of the dragon, the symbol of that power? Even so, if they do not stop fighting to the end and none of the Emperor’s children survive, the female cousin to whom I sent a secret ssage will inherit the throne.

A life where I was despised as an insignificant existence by them my whole life, and condemned as a tyrant indulging in luxury even though I sotis went hungry. Still, it was a refreshing conclusion.

-Why?

At that mont, I heard a voice. A voice transmitted to my head.

I looked into the dragon’s brilliant eyes. Dazzling as if staring directly at a small sun where golden particles were shattering…….

-So you could speak after all…….

A voice I had not heard in truly a long ti. It was a simple joy felt in the face of ruin.

-You deceived . You are not my contractor but a traitor. And now you say you will save ? Is this not also a conspiracy?

I did not deny his words. I did not make excuses either. I had no right to do so.

“Michelon.”

The na I had never called since I first gave it to him.

“This is the last opportunity given to you.”

The only thing I could give.

Michelon’s eyes beca sharp. However, the answer did not take long.

-I swear to obey that order.

Even because of the contract, the dragon cannot lie to . If those conditions are the reason for the termination of the contract, the sa applies even after the contract ends.

Barely squeezing out the last of my strength to lift the sword, I stabbed my brand, not the dragon’s brand, in front of the dragon who did not take his eyes off the tip of the sword.

The seal of the contract carved on my chest.

…A scream did not co out from the pain, but it was not the first ti I had experienced it…….

‘Still, the pain I caused myself is greater than the pain the enemies gave …….’

As I pulled out the sword, blood flowed out and fell onto the dragon’s brand.

The thod to erase the dragon’s brand, which I found out with great difficulty.

Unless the contractor’s own will is firm, it will never succeed. Please… Please… I am sincere!

And the dragon’s brand was erased. Cleanly. Without leaving any trace on him anymore.

To think I am the first person to erase a dragon’s brand. Joy arose amidst the pain.

The dragon’s vertically slit pupils widened. In front of the eyes that were always scary, I smiled for the first ti and said.

“…The brand of the contract was erased by the contractor’s blood……. So run away……. If you do not, the other descendants of the Dragon Slayer Emperor will contract with you again…….”

As I finished speaking, I closed my eyes.

Feeling relief that I had safely completed my last wish.

-You are hiding sothing from .

But the next mont, Michelon’s claw touched the wound on my chest.

-My brand, your heart, your blood, do you think I would not know what is hidden within all those connections?

As the dragon’s claw dug into the wound, the pain beca stronger. Since it is strong, it will end sooner.

Ultimately, if the dragon can harm , it ans he has been released from the contract. Because that was not included in the new conditions.

I closed my eyes in relief but ended up vomiting blood.

-Does it hurt?

The dragon asked.

-Not as much as you, who were stabbed countless tis by my sword.

Sohow, it seed I was also speaking through an inner voice like him, but I wasn't sure. Blood flowed out every ti I opened my mouth.

As mockery seeped into the dragon’s voice, he seed just like a human. A human I knew, a human who knew .

-Of course, how could His Noble Majesty the Emperor be in pain? Did you not burst into tears when you first commanded while sticking the sword into my brand? Compared to that ti.

-…Hurry. This is no ti for this.

It was then.

“There he is!”

“The crazy tyrant and the dragon are there!”

Hurried footsteps and shouts were heard from below. It seed the brothers had moved via magic. To catch , who had disappeared with the dragon, they hastily called a truce. They pretended not to hear when I asked to negotiate like that, they should have done this sooner.

-They are coming… Go quickly…….

-You told

to protect this country.

-You must leave now… Do not be used anymore…….

At least you, do not live like .

-I, Guardian Dragon Michelon, receive the last imperial order of Emperor Leontes II and shall protect Armatia.

This is not the ti to swear such things… What on earth are you trying to do…….

But it was already too late.

“Tyrant!”

“Leontes!”

“Your Majesty!”

The voices of the three brothers were heard. Barely opening my eyes, I saw devilish faces screaming and rushing madly toward . But even if they rushed, it was already too late. I had no intention of dying by their hands from the start.

My eyes closed. Peace was not far away. Michelon… Armatia… Master… Nanny… Mother… Now soon…….

At that mont, a scream tore through the atmosphere.

At the indescribably terrible sound, I inadvertently opened my closing eyes wide.

At that mont, the world that entered my eyes was being engulfed in flas. The whole world was exploding and swept away in white light. Would it be like this if the sun exploded?

But in truth, perhaps it is my existence that is exploding with pain.

‘Death is this painful.’

But soon, the conclusion to the pain of life.

I breathed my last like that.

***

“Your Highness Prince! Your Highness Prince!”

The afterlife was disappointing.

Since it was noisy like the secular world, it was a place that did not respect the rest of the dead. If it’s going to be like this, just throw

into hellfire imdiately.

“Your Highness, please wake up!”

However, it was a voice I had heard a lot sowhere.

I barely opened my eyes.

Then the face of the court physician ca into view.

How much did I suffer after taking the dicine this guy gave

during puberty?

I see I have fallen into the hell where this devilish guy fell. When is the hellfire coming…….

“Your Highness, does it hurt a lot?”

Asking the obvious; when the court physician reached out his hand, I imdiately swatted it away. Just because I fell into hell didn't an I had to suffer from this guy again.

But my hand swatting him away was small. Like a boy’s hand… No, it was truly a boy’s hand. Aside from the hand, my entire body that ca into view……. Above all, the place where that body was lying was my shabby room before I beca Emperor.

“Your Highness? Why are you doing this?”

Looking again at the court physician who asked in surprise, he looked exactly like he did in the old days. Different from when he wore luxurious clothes on a bloated body after rising to power for helping the Empress’s faction with their conspiracy.

I lost consciousness just like that.

***

When I woke up again, no one was there. I was alone in my quarters.

Just like the old days.

Looking in the mirror, I had beco a child, and looking at the calendar, it was a past date. Back to puberty.

I have truly traveled back in ti.

‘Did Michelon cause a regression?’

No matter how mighty a dragon is, it does not have such power.

However… the brand erased by blood, the contract broken by my own hands, the price, the imperial order… and the bloodline of the Armatia Imperial Family…….

My heart raced involuntarily, and I placed my hand on my chest.

Then sothing was felt. I put my hand under my clothes to check and found a scar.

Right above the heart, the trace where I stabbed the sword and Michelon buried his claws.

I took my hand off as if burned for a mont, but at a sudden thought, I took off my upper garnt and stood before the mirror.

‘It’s terrible.’

A scar standing out on pale skin.

But there was no brand.

It wasn't hidden under the sword mark and the dragon’s claw marks. Those marks were distinct and easily distinguishable.

‘Is this possible?’

Even in a situation where it was hard to control my body due to pain, I aid and stabbed that wretched brand, but to think such a result would co out.

I was happy. If I could exchange it for the brand, I wouldn't mind having any number of scars.

-I receive the imperial order and protect Armatia!

I stroked the scar unconsciously and recalled Michelon’s last words. The voices of the brothers calling , and the terrible scream that followed…….

Did he perhaps think that eliminating the imperial bloodlines fighting to possess him was the way to protect Armatia?

And in the process, things went wrong and I regressed.

Or maybe Michelon used the three of the imperial bloodline gathered there as a sacrifice to cast the unprecedented magic called regression.

But I have never heard of even a dragon using such magic.

‘Only Michelon would know the truth.’

To communicate with a dragon, I had to contract. Even so, if he didn't regress himself, contracting would be useless.

Amidst knowing nothing, my mind wavered.

‘If I run away like this… I could live quietly hiding in the mountains or sothing. Abandoning the status of an abandoned prince.’

…But if I do that, I abandon Michelon too. Leaving him, who saved , in the hands of my brothers. And the people who suffered during my reign, even if I was forced.

Above all, deep in my heart, I did not want to run away.

‘I am sick of a life lived just to survive.’

I do not know Michelon’s intent, but ultimately, the regressor is . The aning of the regression is established by .

Even if soone else saves , the one who completes that salvation is only myself.

I placed my hand on the scar on my chest and swore.

The proof of my regression. Also the proof that Armatia’s guardian dragon received the imperial order.

I will not be swayed by traitors again. I will protect those I could not protect as Emperor. My country, my people, my dragon, and myself.

Like that, I will beco a true monarch.

‘Even if I have to walk into the war for the throne, which I wanted to run away from so much, on my own feet.’

To do that, I had to beco strong.

But by what ans?

My mother died giving birth to . I grew up hated by my father and my own brother as the child who killed his mother.

-Mother scread and bled while giving birth to you! If not for you, she wouldn't have passed away so painfully!

If my own brother is like this, there is no need to ntion the relationship with my stepmother, half-brother, and the illegitimate eldest brother.

Even if I regressed, I have no faction and my power is weak.

‘My competitors are already strong.’

My own brother is the first prince and is supported by a powerful maternal cousin once removed. My half-brother is the son of Empress Rhiannon, who succeeded my mother. My illegitimate eldest brother is a Sword Master.

Although only the illegitimate brother is an adult now, they have already ford their own factions. Including the largest faction of the Emperor, none of the four factions in the court support .

I couldn't think of any way to gather power.

But I have already seen a power that surpasses theirs.

Regression. The greatest power I have ever seen.

‘If I can obtain that power.’

Considering the conditions under which that power manifested, besides Michelon, there were a total of four people of the Armatia imperial bloodline including , the Emperor.

‘All those qualified to contract with the dragon.’

The first Emperor Balaska, who founded Armatia, killed the evil dragon Calamitia, who had destroyed many countries. Facing death, Calamitia spoke.

-I am the last dragon. The descendants of the one who exterminated dragons shall be cursed forever.

-In that case, neither I nor my descendants shall exterminate dragons.

Balaska, having said that, killed the last dragon.

And then, the hero made the dragon that hatched from Calamitia’s egg the guardian divine beast of Armatia. Because dragons can leave eggs behind by themselves in their own mysterious way.

Since then, successive Emperors contracted with the dragon. That contract was only possible for those with magic power among Balaska’s bloodline.

That does not an the Emperor is a wizard. And he shouldn't be.

Because wizards are the evil assassins who killed the founding hero.