Chapter 12 Signing the Deal

April 15, 1124 Saturday

Three days later…

Chapter 78, page 523

October 17th 1324

Empire of Illah

Lemroz, Capital City

The empress never expected that the leader of the northern Civil War was the crown prince she believed to be dead. The former Crown Prince, Matthias, along with his men and allies, laid siege to the capital.

He pushed open the grand doors of the throne room, where the newly crowned Emperor sat.

"Brother," Joaquin said, his voice weary, though a faint spark lingered in his eyes. "You're alive." He unsheathed his sword.

Matthias mistook the words for relief, but he couldn't bring himself to believe that the brother who had conspired with the empress would feel any joy at his survival.

"Let's end this now," Joaquin declared.