Chapter 11: The Bloody Road to the Throne
Morning arrived gently but still without mercy.
The light of dawn filled through the tall glass windows in the duke's hall, painting the walls in golden color; everything looked perfect—too perfect for what Valen went through the other day.
Too perfect for what Valen remembered.
Valen sat beside Ellara's bed; he didn't dare to breathe loudly, as if even that would shatter the fragile peace.
Ellara slept quietly.
No blood under the sheets, no marks or wounds on her skin.
She looked as healthy as you can get, as if she wasn't the one whose shoulders got pierced by the sword.
Her eyes flickered.
Valen took a sigh of relief.
Slowly, her eyes opened slowly.
She blinked once and twice, and then she looked at her surroundings.
"Valen"
She murmured in a slow voice.
The sound of her voice eased the tension in Valen's heart.
His voice trembled as he said,
"You're awake."
Ellara looked surprised to see the worry on Valen's face.
And then she shifted her stance, stretching her arms out to yawn.
She asked.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Did something happen to me?"
Valen's eyes widened, and he gulped.
He asked carefully.
"Don't you remember yesterday?"
Ellara was bothered by the question.
She replied fast.
"What do you mean yesterday?"
Valen trembled from the answer.
He forced a smile upon his mouth and started to walk out of the room.
Ellara looked at Valen's back and asked.
"What do you mean by yesterday, Valen? Tell me."
Valen turned around to Ellara and then said
"Nothing, I was just checking if you are not old enough to have dementia."
Ellara frowned and said quietly,
"You are lying; when you lie, you always put up a smile like that."
Valen replied quickly.
"You can remember how I lie, so I remember it too; maybe I did it on purpose."
Ellara smiled.
Valen then continued.
"Just rest for now; I will check up on you later."
Ellara scoffed.
"Or maybe you will be too lazy to get up from bed."
Valen laughed and started to walk out of the room.
Ellara looked at his back and murmured to herself.
"You look scared, Valen."
The wind blew colder outside.
Valen started to walk and walk until he reached the balcony, which overlooked the inner gardens of the estate.
The morning light clung to the leaves of the trees below.
Birds sang through the day as if unaware of the hatred in the world.
Valen put his hands on the stone railing, then he gripped it tightly.
He thought to himself.
"How does she not remember, or is she pretending not to? No, it can't be; why would she pretend? But even so, no one can wipe their memory or anyone else's; only those in the seventh realm or higher are capable of doing it. Even my father is only peak sixth."
Thoughts clashed in Valen's mind until one stood out amongst the others.
"Did she also see the death inside me, and now she thinks I'm some kind of monster? Will I have to kill her also? But I hoped she wouldn't remember it. Did the gods answer my wish?"
Valen stiffened.
Then he felt a chill.
A smile behind his back.
He slowly turned his head back. And surely enough.
Duke Diable Veridian stood behind him, his presence absolute.
"You erased her memories," Valen said, looking at the garden below.
Diable replied, asking
"Did I really?"
Valen questioned himself.
"Only a seventh realm reacher is capable of doing it...so, does she really hate me?"
Diable asked further.
"Did you want her memories to disappear?"
"Yes."
Valen said quietly.
Valen replied further.
"Did the gods answer my prayers?"
Diable looked at the heavens above and said
"It does not matter if the gods or a man or even if the devil fulfilled your wish; the point is it is complete."
Valen remembered the attack and asked
"If the attacker were to attack The son of the duke who was on a secret trip—someone inside the castle would have had to reveal it to the masked figures."
Valen looked coldly at his father and continued.
"I wonder who that would be."
Diable did not talk for a moment.
There was a moment of silence between them.
Like blades being drawn out and pointed but not swung.
Diable broke the silence and said.
"I merely tested the new emperor to see if he would be worthy of the throne."
Valen replied.
"I didn't ask for the test; I didn't even ask for the throne."
Diable stood firm on his goal and spoke while looking at the sun.
"No emperor ever does; the throne calls out to those who are worthy."
He continued.
"Remember, you don't choose the throne; the throne chooses you. You can run from it for a moment but not long enough."
Valen stood there silent, letting the words sink into his mind and soul, and then the mind snapped.
"What was the power that awakened?"
Diable answered.
"An S-rank blessing, the blessing of death that took control of your body to unlock the blessing by half."
Valen understood.
Diable turned around, announcing
"Get ready; we are leaving for the capital. The Emperor wishes to see you."
Valen questioned
"Why?"
Diable appeared before him in a flash.
"To determine if you are a threat or an ally."
Valen didn't dare to ask which one he was, as he knew it already.
Valen went to his room quietly to get ready.
The road to the capital was long.
The journey to the capital took hours.
Dirt paths were starting to get replaced by the stone roads. Imperial banners started to reveal themselves in the path.
Valen watched it all in silence.
Suddenly Diable asked.
"Do you know the truth of the Veridian House?"
Valen replied while looking out the window.
"That we serve the empire, and that our founder was the disciple of the unknown emperor, the first emperor."
Diable clenched his fist and said.
"That is only half the truth."
Valen turned his head towards Diable.
Diable continued.
"The founder of Veridian House was the nephew of the unknown emperor, making his fath-----."
"Making his father the brother of the unknown emperor."
"Correct," the diable replied.
Valen frowned.
"Then what about the other two duchies as well related to us?"
Diable denied.
"Not only was our founder related; the rest were just his students."
Diable looked right at Valen and started to fill his mind again.
"You must become the Emperor.
He said it as if passing a law.
Valen agreed.
Finally the capital was on the horizon.
It rose before them like a mountain.
Tall marble towers pierced through skies, white bridges connected every part, and rivers were flowing with clean water, reflecting everything as it is.
The royal palace was at the center; it stood out in the whole capital.
Valen's known world felt insignificant in front of the colossal capital.
They got out of the carriage.
A red carpet was waiting for them to step on it; servants bowed as they entered through the colossal gates of the palace.
Then--
"Valen!"
A boy appeared.
Blonde hair, blue eyes, and what you would expect in a royal golden robe mended with white fabric.
Valen looked at him and recognized him.
"I know you; you are the only son of the Emperor, Crown Prince Alexander August Verdian."
Alexander smiled.
"Hey, so you do know me, but your body isn't exactly what I expected."
Valen frowned.
"What did you expect?"
Alexander giggled.
"Someone taller or more sturdy, anyway, let's go; I can show you around the palace."
End of Chapter 11
Author's note: Hey guys, so there will be 2 chapters every week until March 1 because my exams are still a nuisance, and the next chapter will be out in 1 or 2 hours, so please tell me, did you like this one?