Chapter 39: Aftermath

Chapter 39: Aftermath

The Imperial Capital was still in the process of rebuilding. Though the Holy Crusaders had been defeated, their invasion left deep scars across the land and its people. The city, once proud and bustling, bore the marks of destruction—crumbling structures, blood-stained streets, and the lingering scent of fire and steel.

Despite the devastation, life persisted. The people worked tirelessly, mending homes, clearing debris, and paying tribute to the fallen. The war was won, but its price had been steep.

The grand Imperial Palace, despite its high walls and towering spires, felt heavier than ever. And within its throne room, an even greater shift in power was about to unfold.

Inside the throne room, where golden banners embroidered with the Imperial Peacock hung, Prince Min Ye Kyaw Htin stood before the man who had once been his greatest adversary—his own brother.

Prince Aung now stood beside the Emperor's throne, his once-pristine golden armor still stained with the remnants of battle. His eyes, once filled with arrogance and pride, now held something deeper—regret, humility, and resolve.

Prince Min Ye Kyaw Htin, the former Crown Prince,bowed before him.

"Brother, you don't need to kneel before me," Prince Aung said, his voice almost uneasy.

Prince Min Ye Kyaw Htin kept his head lowered. "No, you are now the Regent of the Crown, and I am but a mere prince in service to the Emperor."

His brother hesitated. "Even though…?"

Prince Min Ye Kyaw Htin finally raised his head, 

"Please, let me. I have a sin to atone for—a debt that cannot be repaid easily. I was blinded by greed, by the pain of rejection. And for that, I must carry the weight of my past actions."

Prince Aung fingers clenched. 

Aung continued, shifting the conversation.

"How is the Eastern Front? How fares the war against the Alliance of Nations?"

Min Ye Kyaw Htin exhaled, clenching his arms. "The Eastern Alliance still holds strong, but their advance has slowed. Their forces suffered heavy losses after our victory in the capital. However, they are regrouping, and they will return."

Aung nodded, deep in thought.

"You want to handle at least that front?" his brother asked. "If you need any assistance, I can provide reinforcements—"

"No, it's alright. With my loyal servants, I will handle it myself," Prince Min Ye Kyaw Htin replied with quiet confidence. "The Imperial forces already drove the invaders from our lands. Only remnants of their forces remain. It is merely a matter of cleaning up what is left."

Crown Prince Aung studied him for a long moment before sighing. "Very well. At least allow me to send reinforcements for reconstruction and relief supplies. The people will need them."

A small smile touched Min's lips.

"Thank you."

A slight pause.

Min straightened his posture, stepping back. "Then, with your leave, Regent, I shall depart."

Aung watched as his older brother turned to go, his crimson royal cloak billowing behind him.

After Turing back Min thought 'for the first time in his life, he felt pride—not in himself, but in his brother.'

Three months ago

The Holy Crusaders had been vanquished, their forces obliterated, their leaders struck down by the power of the Supreme. What remained of them had surrendered, kneeling before Prince Aung, the man who had single-handedly shifted the fate of the Empire. Despite all of this, one man had refused to rest—Prince Aung.

He had not only fought on the battlefield, but he personally walked among the wounded, healing them with divine energy. He had ensured that both Imperial soldiers and former enemies received aid, refusing to let anyone die needlessly.

Many had wept as he embraced the soldiers he healed, whispering words of encouragement, apologizing for not arriving sooner. It was a sight no one could have imagined—a prince treating commoners, nobles, and even former enemies with the same kindness.

And watching it all unfold was Crown Prince Min Ye Kyaw Htin.

Min Ye Kyaw Htin stood atop the ruins of the outer wall, gazing down at the city below. His golden armor was stained with blood, his royal robes torn and dirtied from battle. He clenched his fists, his mind consumed with bitter realization.

"That bastard son of my father… how did he do it? How did he accomplish what I could not?"

He had always believed himself to be the rightful ruler.

He had trained in combat, studied politics, and surrounded himself with the greatest minds of the Empire.

Yet, when the capital was attacked, when the enemy forces breached the gates—he had been powerless. He had failed.

Despite all of his training, all of his efforts…

He had not been the one to save the Empire.

It was Aung.

His jealousy had blinded him, his arrogance had kept him from seeing the truth. He had spent years dismissing his younger brother, viewing him as a nuisance, an unwanted child born of a concubine.

But now—

As he watched Prince Aung walking through the wounded, healing the people with his divine power, embracing them, thanking them for their sacrifice…

He finally understood.

"That… is the qualification of a true leader."

A lump formed in his throat as guilt surged through his chest.

"I let my pride cost me everything—our teachers, the Royal Guards, the civilians who died protecting this city. I failed them. I failed the Empire."

For the first time in his life, Min Ye Kyaw Htin felt unworthy of the throne.

He turned and walked toward the man he once called a bastard, an unwanted prince.

A Brother's AtonementPrince Aung was kneeling beside an injured soldier, placing his hand on the man's chest. A golden glow radiated from his palm, and within moments, the soldier's wounds vanished.

The man sobbed in gratitude.

"Thank you… thank you, Your Highness," he whispered.

Prince Aung smiled, embracing the man as if they were equals, not prince and soldier.

Min Ye Kyaw Htin hesitated for a moment before stepping forward.

"Prince Aung."

Aung turned, his golden eyes softening. "Oh, Brother. Are you alright? Do you have any injuries?" His tone was filled with genuine concern.

Before Min Ye Kyaw Htin could respond, Aung reached out. "Please, let me heal you. I was late… I am so sorry."

Min Ye Kyaw Htin tensed.

He was the Crown Prince. The heir to the Empire. And yet, here was his younger brother—offering to heal him without hesitation, without pride.

"I… I am alright," he finally said, his voice quieter than before. "But what about you? You used too much of your power—are you sure you're not pushing yourself?"

Aung smiled. "I still have strength left."

There was no arrogance, no boasting—just a simple truth.

Min Ye Kyaw Htin took a deep breath.

"Let me ask you something, Aung."

Aung tilted his head. "Of course, Brother."

Min Ye Kyaw Htin looked at him directly, his gaze filled with something other than jealousy for the first time.

"What do you see when you look at commoners and nobles?"

Aung's answer was immediate.

"I see them as equals. They are all loyal subjects of the Empire. Every person has a role to play—without commoners, there would be no nobles. And without nobles, the Empire would not have its structure. But we must protect the common people above all else. They are the foundation of this nation."

Min Ye Kyaw Htin closed his eyes for a moment.

Then, he nodded.

"Good. You are ready now."

Then, he turned to face the surviving Imperial soldiers, nobles, and ministers.

He took a deep breath—

And spoke words that would change history forever.

"From this day forward, I, Min Ye Kyaw Htin, renounce my title as Crown Prince."

Silence.

The entire battlefield seemed to freeze.

"I will no longer sit upon the throne. The Second Prince, Aung, has proven himself to be the one who will lead us. He has done what I could not. He has saved the Empire."

His voice did not waver.

"As such, from this moment onward—Prince Aung shall be the Crown Prince and Regent of the Empire. As worthy as he is, may the Supreme bless him and this nation."

And then—

Min Ye Kyaw Htin knelt.

A gasp rippled through the crowd.

No one had ever seen the Imperial Crown Prince bow before anyone—not even the Emperor himself.

One by one, the nobles, the soldiers, and the citizens followed his lead.

They dropped to their knees, their voices rising in unison.

"Long live the Regent!"

"Long live the Empire!"

Aung stood still, his breath caught in his throat. He had expected opposition, resistance—not this overwhelming display of acceptance.

He looked down at Min Ye Kyaw Htin. His older brother, the man who once scorned him, was kneeling before him in surrender.

His throat tightened.

"Brother…"

Min Ye Kyaw Htin lifted his head, smiling for the first time in what felt like an eternity.

"Lead this Empire, Aung. Lead it to a future we can be proud of."

Tears stung Aung's eyes as he nodded.

"I will."

And as he looked at the sea of people kneeling before him, he knew—

This was just the beginning.

The Empire would rise again.

And he would be the one to lead it.

(Continue..,)