Chapter 22: Reckless

The emperor made an outright command that all the enchanters should open portals so the healers and materials needed will be sent to the designated regions because it would be useless if it just stayed there.

"But we need more soldiers and healers now!" Princess Beatrice insisted. "Those few numbers won't be enough; he cannot protect us in this kind of situation!" She added.

"What!? He literally let all his people flee,the duke asked.

The emperor's wives found them and sought protection. Prince Orion found them as well altogether with Stephen, the emperor's butler. He gave the new commandment of the emperor and that is to make the people leave the capital altogether with the brides and all his officials.

Their reaction was filled with disgust. How dare the emperor they thought was intelligent make such an idiotic verdict?

"He is letting us escape," Princess Beatrice said in shock.

"I'm not leaving, Stephen shook his head and stooped for a bow. "Although he asked for me to live, I'll stay with her even though I know there will be a high possibility that I might end up dead but I won't leave him alone," he stated.

"Me neither, I have given him my oath," Prince Orion stated. "You guys can go ahead and guide the people," he added.

"We will stay as well," one of the emperor's wives stated, although the others were surprised and reacted out of unbelief; they just went along.

"No," the honorary lady stated. "Leave," she said to the 5 brides.

"Spare your lives; you came from a neighboring country; we don't want foreigners to be included in this war," she instated.

"We are no longer foreign women in here; we are the emperor's wives," the other one said.

Prince Shannon cut the drama: "Then let us help the people to exile first; who is coming with me?" She pulled a whistle and blew.

From the distant, Prince Caster, his fiancé, came rushing. "I'll come with you," the honorary lady" stated, willing to fulfill her duty to save the people of the Silver Crest empire.

And the first prince finally faces the second prince. He is never an emperor in his eyes.

"Why are you carrying a kid in the battle field?" Words that seem so obvious but his reply was pure laughter.

"He is really insane," Seda commented in a mutter.

It is actually insane to bring a child on a battle field but this child is different.

He called the eternal threader, "Seda," giving him a signal that the emperor is all his. A grin appeared in his face and a bloodthirsty aura began to release. He went for an attack.

"It has been a very long time, isn't it? You became the emperor now," he exclaimed as he released slashes effortlessly like his arms were just moving like he was just playing.

"Don't you miss me?" Seda stated.

"How many times do I have to tell you to shut your mouth up during battle?" he said as he attacked while Seda was able to dodge it.

"Come on! Can't you feel my affection? Don't worry, you will be able to feel it every day as I caress your decapitated. I will keep it as a decoration in my room," Seda uttered as he prepared another attack.

"Don't need your cringy affection!" He remarked.

Alas, attack the generals, including the first prince, with the use of his sacred weapon. However, his lines were cut. It is all because of the little girl that the prince was carrying.

A heavy toxic aura was being released from that child and it flows into his lines, devouring like fire so he pulls back.

The first prince put her down and allowed her to deal with the threaders in the area.

It was just a little girl with half blonde and half black hair, with black eyes, and a doll-like appearance.

However, in a sudden attack, her face turns into a demon and releases a lethal poison that even kills the soil and the people around her.

The soldiers that have been toxicated by her poisonous smoke start to decay in an instant.

On the other hand,

Princess Shannon and the Honorary lady found the chief priest and the other priest from the temple assisting the evacuees.

There, the princess finally meets her mother again, Lady Sylvia, altogether with a whole battalion and blocks their way to exit. "We are all going to stay here in my palace," she remarked, claiming the title of the queen mother.

As the situation became more perilous, The emperor finally found the root of the imperial crisis.

"You better turn around," the first prince stated as the Emperor saw all his people behind him. Those that he was protecting.

"I'll say it only once; surrender and give the throne to me," the first prince threatened, "or else you will watch them decay in your very eyes," he said.

"No, do not do it," his officials mittered each on their own. "Do not be an idi*t, you id*ot"

And again, the words of the young man played in repeat on his head. He was prepared for his future defeat by giving him a much lighter loss. The emperor seals his sacred weapon as he accepts his half brother's condition.

The most cowardly—weak decision he committed in front of all his people.

From there, Prince Howard unleashes his sacred weapon and starts to beat him up in front of everyone.

Blood splatters on the ground; there is nothing but his limping body.

The cheer and mocking laughter of the enemy were all that was heard near him, but also the cry of his people behind him who are grieving for him.

The previous emperor did not make the first prince the heir of the throne because of how self-centered, heartless, and insecure he is.

He is so dependent on what people say and how his reputation will appear in front of everybody.

He is cunning and shrewd; he can do whatever or sacrifice anything to attain what he wants.

'I see, you use your head and compassion, old man,' he thought to his father.

After that, he was half naked while being displayed in shame in the middle of the city. No one from the emperor's side dares to take a glimpse out of respect.

A beautiful decoration for his enemies to see, a trophy generally for everyone because the first prince did not allow Seda to take his head.

Prince Howard decreed that all the officials were ridiculed and locked up, as well as the honorary lady and the high priest. However, he was still not satisfied; a fourth of the whole population were given as sacrifice lambs for demonstration. This is a warning to follow them out of fear. The pitiful emperor watched his people rot spontaneously. He was a murderer and now, making up for the things he did before, it was his time for peace but mess won't leave him alone.

The pathetic situation has fallen according to plan.

"Amon," a young woman calls him by name. "It's time; release the emperor," she commanded.

On the third evening, the Emperor went missing. They gave him a military uniform to cover up and wrapped him up with rags and he was transferred to a boat. They let the current take him towards the west.