CH 112

The trip to the south and back would take about six months, and there was a possibility that he might not return in time for his daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony. Moreover, it was clear that the emperor would take advantage of Regis’ absence to put Jubelian under his surveillance, given his petty nature.

‘There’s not much time left…’ Regis clenched his fists, unable to suppress the growing rage inside of him. At that moment, the emperor simpered and swept the ring. Regis quickly realized that he was warning him. ‘Does he think I’m afraid of a mere thing like that? What a fool.’ Regis’ eyes became frigid, but the emperor, who was sat on the throne, could only see his lowered head. ‘I’ll make sure to tear you into pieces and kill you.’

The emperor, who was oblivious to Regis’ thoughts, wore a patronizing smile and opened his mouth. “So, you’re going to have to—”

All of a sudden, the door of the office creaked loudly as it was violently swung open.

“Y-You can’t do this…!” The emperor could hear the grand chamberlain trying to stop someone, but the uninvited guest was unyielding.

“Get lost,” he said. 

His petrifying voice made the grand chamberlain’s blood run cold as he stepped back in fear. The situation was more than enough for the emperor to call the head of the royal guards, but he only hardened his face and observed the intruder. The man was donning menacing black armor, similar to what a skeleton knight might wear. The emperor knew of only one person who would come in wearing such a thing.

“You rat! How did you…?!”

The intruder removed his helmet as he kept his eyes trained on the astonished emperor. His handsome face, which was hidden behind the helmet, was soon revealed. He gazed at the emperor with red eyes and opened his mouth.

“Long time no see.”

The emperor’s face crumpled roughly as he called the intruder’s name. “Maximillian.” Even though it was his son’s name, the emperor’s voice carried no affection. “The letter you sent arrived this morning. Why are you here so early?” The emperor inquired in a cautionary tone, but Max remained calm.

“Because I left right after sending the letter,” he said.

“Do you think that’s normal—” the emperor tried to scold his son, but Max retorted as he stared back at him.

“Isn’t it better than being late?” he uttered in a deep tone as if to intimidate his father, his fierce eyes resembling that of a beast’s.

The emperor, who thought his son would be as obedient as he was a few years ago, became stupefied. ‘This was a mistake on my part. I only called him back to keep the duke in check, but I never thought he would’ve grown into such a brutal person.’ Although he appeared calm on the outside, the emperor was actually terrified by his son’s attitude. He feared that his son might bare his teeth and attack him.

The emperor swallowed dryly and continued in a meek voice. “Still, people usually visit later to give the other party some time to prepare… Arriving so soon is considered bad etiquette.”

Max gave a cynical smile when he heard the emperor’s voice. It seemed that he had been knocked down a peg compared to the last time he had seen him. ‘I can’t believe a man like that is my father.’ Whether he intended to hide his feelings or not, Max’s eyes held clear contempt towards the emperor.

“Wouldn’t it be better to visit you sooner rather than later if I was planning on doing so anyway, Father?”

Pressured by his son’s menacing spirit, the emperor stiffened for a moment, then hurriedly answered. “I-I can wait a day or two!”

“Alright. I’ll keep that in mind from now on,” Max replied.

As if he were satisfied with his son’s slightly softened answer, the emperor relaxed his expression and opened his mouth. “You can leave for now as I still have some things to discuss with Duke Floyen.”

Max whipped his head around in surprise. ‘Master?’ He soon recognized the identity of the man facing the emperor, then harshly scrunched up his face. ‘Of all people…’ Now that his master had seen him, he wasn’t sure what was going to happen if he tried sending an official letter as the crown prince. In addition, his master was definitely going to use any means possible to prevent any secret exchange of letters.

Max stared at his master in discontent, then turned back to his father. “What have you been discussing with him?”

Under Max’s gaze, the emperor inhaled sharply. His eyes were so frightening that it made him forget all about Marquis Lennox at the southern border.

‘What if this guy attempts something while the duke is in the south…?’ He tried to dismiss this thought, but his mind kept filling up with horrifying speculations. The emperor stared at his son in fear when Duke Floyen spoke.

“Your Highness, I am receiving confidential orders from His Majesty. For now, I’d like for you to leave this place.”

At the duke’s words, the emperor felt like he could breathe again. ‘Yeah, get out of here!’

However, there was no way that the insane prince was going to listen to him. “Are you ordering around the crown prince, Duke Floyen?” Max’s red eyes were filled with spite as he stared widely at the duke. Instead of backing down, the duke, who was on the receiving end of his aggression, retaliated with his own warlike spirit.

“Then let me ask you this: are you defying an imperial order right now, Your Highness?”

When the duke brought up the issue of the imperial order, the crown prince silently glared at the emperor. The emperor’s breath hitched in his throat as he desperately tried to avoid his gaze.

“I’ll see you later then, Father.”

The emperor stared at Duke Floyen as his son turned and left the office. ‘Yes. Since Maximillian won’t listen to me, it’s best to make these two fight against each other for now.’

The emperor opened his mouth while keeping his determined gaze locked on Duke Floyen. “Continue protecting the capital for my sake.”

Regis smirked as he bowed. ‘I didn’t expect this, but thanks to him, everything worked out.’