VIP Early Access
Eksklusif untuk member VIP
Password Protected
Chapter ini dikunci dengan kode khusus
Chapter 56
‘This bastard….’
Richard’s molars clamped together tightly. So he was going to play it this way?
‘I’m not just going to take this.’
He balled his hands into tight fists. It was at the moment Richard lifted his head from where it had been pressed against the railing.
“……Um, Your Highness the Crown Prince. And Young Master Friedrich…?”
Ӗnum̀а̀
Creeeeeak—
The sound of the terrace door cautiously opening echoed in his ears.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“The offering ceremony is about to begin soon… so….”
“…….”
A knight wearing the Imperial crest looked at the two of them with a dubious expression.
“I’m sure you are…… busy with official and private matters, but could you please return to the banquet hall now?”
Wеb̊ ǹ ӧ v̀ е̃ l̊ Еn̊ um а
The knight’s face clearly read a sense of resignation that said, ‘High-ranking people are truly something else…….’
“…….”
“…….”
A long silence followed.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Let’s head back.”
It was Caelus who first adjusted his clothes and headed toward the door.
W ё b̆n̈ о̆ vël Ё n̆ ŭ ṁ.а̀
“…Let's do that.”
Richard also straightened his body, which had been half-draped over the railing, and headed for the terrace door.
Pretending to walk past him like that….
Stomp!
He ground his heel into the top of Caelus’s foot with all his might.
“……!”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“Ah.”
Richard pouted his lips and pushed past the terrace door.
“My mistake.”
***
Inside the banquet hall, the offering ceremony where gifts were presented to the Emperor on his birthday was already underway.
“This is crystal imported directly from the Kingdom of Silia, famous for its mines. Please accept it.”
Е̊ ñ u mã .і̂ d́
A Viscount knelt on one knee on the red carpet and presented an elaborately carved crystal to the Emperor. The transparent crystal sparkled softly as it caught the light of the chandeliers.
“Very well. My thanks. Next.”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
The Emperor nodded with a bored voice. Next was a young lady from a Count’s family.
“This is a silver incense burner made from the antlers of northern stags. I hope it finds favor in your eyes.”
The young lady stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and carefully offered the silver-shimmering burner. Her fingertips were trembling slightly. A subtle tension spread through the hall.
“Very well. I have received it. Next.”
Еňum̂ӑ . ìd
The Emperor replied with a voice that still lacked any soul.
Next. And then the next.
“This is an obsidian dagger carved by our family’s finest craftsman. I offer it with prayers for Your Majesty’s protection and prosperity.”
“This is a golden orb made by melting sunstones from the eastern desert! If I were to describe this orb…!”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Every single noble emphasized the greatness of the offerings they were presenting, but the Emperor’s reaction was invariably the same.
“Very well. I accept it with thanks. Next.”
Е̌ńum à
A dry gaze and a low voice.
It was an annual occurrence, but the Emperor never seemed pleased with any gift. Then again, perhaps it was only natural. Was he not the Majesty who had greeted even a dragon presented by the Crown Prince with a stone-cold expression?
“…….”
Meanwhile, standing on one side of the banquet hall with his gift, Richard’s eyes settled coldly as he watched the scene.
‘Perhaps the only gift that will satisfy the Emperor is….’
He looked at the coffin he had carefully placed beside him.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
‘This.’
The corpse of the Empress.
The surrounding nobles occasionally glanced toward him, stirring with murmurs.
“That… it couldn't possibly be a coffin, could it?”
“It looks exactly like a coffin, but….”
‘…….’
W е̇ b̈ n̈ оv е ĺ Ě n ŭ m̌а̌
Leaning against the wall, Richard slowly lowered his eyelids.
‘I just need to deliver it.’
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Whatever happens after that is not my concern. He had checked multiple times to ensure there were no issues with the body. It wasn't a fake, nor were there any bombs planted.
‘Whether the Duke dies or whatever happens….’
Richard squeezed his eyes shut tightly.
‘It has nothing to do with me.’
W̃еb̈ n̆о̊v̌е l̀ Ё n̄ um̄ а̀_
It was just as he was repeating those thoughts.
“There isn't much time left, I see.”
A low, sweet baritone voice echoed beside him.
‘……?’
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Richard slowly lifted his eyelids. This voice was….
“…Your Grace.”
W ӗb̌ñ o̊v̄ êl Ѐ n̄u m̈ а̊
“Yes, Young Master Friedrich.”
Vilmar, looking no different than usual, was smiling thinly beside him.
“What do you mean, not much time left….”
Richard muttered with a dazed face. Was he talking about his own life?
“…….”
Vilmar, who had been staring intently at Richard, suddenly burst into laughter.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Haha… Hahahahat!”
“……?”
Just as Richard’s brow began to furrow slightly.
“Hahaha… I was referring to your turn to present your gift.”
Vilmar patted his shoulder lightly and spoke as if it were of no consequence.
“However.”
W̆ е́ b̀ n о vеl̊ Ĕ n̂u̇ḿа
“…….”
“Why such a serious face?”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Beneath the shadow cast by his eyelashes, his violet eyes settled coldly. As if asking why he was being so serious.
‘It’s because of you….’
There were words hovering at the tip of his tongue, but he forced himself to swallow them. Richard let out a faint sigh.
“…Your Grace,”
Е ń u ḿ а
He finally turned his gaze away. Using the nobles lined up to present gifts to the Emperor as scenery, Richard asked in a murmuring tone.
“What exactly… are you thinking?”
“Hmm?”
Vilmar leaned his upper body forward slightly as if amused. He fixed his gaze on Richard.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“…You know, don't you?”
Richard still did not look at Vilmar.
Ẁ е b n̊ о̆v̄ е l Ӗ nú m̀ а̇
“If things continue like this….”
“…….”
“That you will die.”
He truly could not understand. Where in the world was there a person who would leap into the path of death of their own accord? And a man who was none other than a Duke of the Empire, at that. Throwing away his high status, wealth, and honor entirely.
“…….”
“…….”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Vilmar’s red lips slowly closed. A silence flowed. A silence so heavy it felt like it could snatch away one's breath. In the middle of a banquet hall bustling with nobles who had come to celebrate the Emperor's birthday. Between just the two of them.
Silence reigned.
“…….”
The one who broke that silence was a languid voice, no different from usual.
“Young Master Friedrich.”
“…….”
E̊ n̆ u̇ m̀а
“I shall not die.”
At least, not as long as His Majesty is alive. He whispered in a low voice.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“……?”
Richard slowly turned back to Vilmar.
“What does that mean….”
His water-colored eyes wavered slightly. It was the moment Richard was about to ask a follow-up question.
Ӗ n̊ ù m̈ ȧ.. і̌d̈
“Young Master Friedrich. It is your turn.”
A knight who had approached him announced that Richard’s turn had arrived.
“…Ah.”
Richard looked at the knight.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Please follow me.”
The knight did not give him any more time and immediately led the way.
Ē n_ûm̆а . і̄ d
“…I under…stand.”
Richard followed him obediently. However, an ominous feeling kept catching at his ankles.
‘Something is definitely strange….’
The moment Richard bit his lip and looked back.
Vilmar, leaning against a wall on one side of the hall, waved his hand with a thin smile.
“Go and do well.”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
***
The ominous feeling creeps over him repeatedly.
‘Surely.’
Richard bit his lower lip as he stepped onto the red carpet. Cold sweat trickled down the back of his neck.
‘He has something in mind.’
It was clear he wasn't going to just die quietly.
W̆ е b̊ ń о̄ v́е̇ l̄ Е nu m̄а
‘But….’
He couldn't even begin to guess. Exactly what he was plotting….
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“Young Master Friedrich.”
“…….”
“What is it that you have prepared for Us?”
The Emperor’s gaze settled coldly over his head. His expression appeared calm, but in the center of those eyes lay a poorly hidden anticipation.
Еnu m̃а
“…….”
Richard looked at the object placed before him in the heavy silence.
A firmly closed coffin.
An unusual atmosphere weighed down the air.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
‘A coffin…?’
‘Is he planning to present the body of an enemy general or something?’
Е n ǔ_m а̃ . id̊
The nobles began to cover their mouths and whisper. An atmosphere made vague by a mix of cold tension and strange anticipation.
‘…Right.’
Richard closed his eyes. …Let’s push the stray thoughts aside for a moment. What I must do now is present the Empress’s corpse.
“I,”
Richard slowly knelt on one knee. The gazes pouring onto his entire body were piercing.
“The gift I have prepared for Your Majesty is….”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
He slowly opened the firmly closed lid of the coffin. A creaking sound echoed through the hall.
“It is the corpse of the late Her Imperial Majesty the Empress.”
A woman with brilliant golden hair was closing her eyes inside the coffin. A chilled and tranquil corpse. She looked as if she had fallen into a long sleep, but they were eyes that could never open again.
‘……My goodness. The Empress’s corpse…?’
‘Hasn't it been over twenty years since she passed? Why a corpse…?’
‘Surely it should have been recovered and laid to rest long ago…?’
W̆е́b ǹо̌ v̌ ė l_ Ё ṅ û ḿá
The nobles, ignorant of the truth of the matter, whispered in a state of confusion.
“Praying for Your Majesty’s peace….”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“…….”
“I humbly present this.”
Richard bowed his head deeply. As if showing respect for the deceased.
“…….”
Еn ũm а
“…….”
The noisy banquet hall fell silent in an instant. The solemn nobles began to bow their heads one by one.
In the midst of the heavy atmosphere,
“……Ha.”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
An uncontrollable lament leaked from between the Emperor’s teeth.
Konten Bab Belum Tersedia
Bab ini belum memiliki konten teks atau sedang dalam proses penyuntingan.
