Chapter 421 [Bonus Chapter] Foolish Hearts

"I had been waiting for you, brother." Joaquin's eyes shone with blood lust, unfazed by the domineering aura the seventh prince was exuding. "Hernan, take everyone out and execute my orders."

"But Your Majesty!" Hernan's face contorted when all he received from the emperor was a glare. His heart thudded, balling his hands into a tight fist. Hernan was aware Joaquin was telling them to go, not because wanted to protect them. Hell. No.

Joaquin would tell them to draw their swords or be his shields if he didn't feel like fighting. However, Hernan couldn't help but feel slightly demotivated by the emperor's orders. How could it not?

Roman was one of the best swordsmen in Maganti. Although Carlos had won against the seventh prince in the past, that was because the eighth prince had used underhanded means. The main point here was that Roman was a threat to Joaquin.

The crown prince, now crowned the emperor, was a master swordsman as well. But Hernan was a person who didn't like to take a gamble with a fifty-fifty chance of survival. But Joaquin… was already set to end Roman himself.

Having no power to stop the emperor, Hernan ground his teeth and bowed. He yelled when he turned on his heel and faced the few ministers present.

"You heard His Majesty!" his voice echoed, snapping everyone back to their senses. "Go now!"

Hernan motioned his arm at the other exit to give the seventh prince and the emperor some space to fight all out. Fortunately, Roman wasn't the type to chase after small flies like them. When Hernan looked back for the last time, he ground his teeth and wished for Joaquin's safety.

While Hernan and the ministers fled, Roman stood motionless on the same spot. His eyes, however, never left Joaquin's figure. Just like him, Joaquin sized him up from head to toe and amusement instantly flickered in his silver eyes.

"How amusing," muttered Joaquin to his brother, who was standing before him like he was in his best shape. "No wonder your guerrillas were able to breach the Imperial Palace. You created a path for them."

Joaquin walked on the same spot until he was fully facing Roman, pointing his sword at him. "Not just that… but it seemed you had recovered in such a short time. I wonder why."

"Joaquin Imperial," called Roman under his breath, eyes glinting. "Do you see what is now going on in this place? Lives are being taken, blood dyeing the ground, and cries for help echo and would soon reach the heavens."

"Is this the kind of empire you wanted?!" Roman's voice echoed like thunder, panting for air at the increasing anger filling his chest. Outside, this place was nothing but a heartbreaking sight to behold, but what was even more disheartening was that… this war wasn't a war against another empire or kingdom.

The real horror of this day was that they… were fighting amongst themselves.

"Those people outside were the people our royal family promised to protect, Joaquin. They were the ones the knights pledged to fight for, not the people they should fight to death. You are killing our land, Your Majesty." Roman seethed in anger. His grip around his sword trembled in rage the more he stared at Joaquin's remorseless smirk, despite causing this mayhem.

"Killing our land?" Joaquin snorted. "No, Rome. I am not killing our land… I am rebuilding it to create a land only a strong can survive."

"Only the strong… you mean only monsters can survive?" Roman corrected, making Joaquin arch a brow.

"So you knew…" Joaquin narrowed his eyes. "No wonder you are fighting on your own two feet, despite getting your limbs severed just days ago."

The emperor licked his lips, his intrigue increasing. "Who helped you?"

"You know who helped me."

"Aries knows nothing about them."

"You showed her how you disgraced our father." Roman's eyes dilated slightly, swallowing down the tension in his throat. "Our Father, Joaquin. The man whose blood runs in our very veins… you disgraced that man."

"That man deserved it," Joaquin stressed without the slightest shame. "That is what he gets for holding on to the dead. How this empire came to this day is partly his fault. Your father created me, and thus I created him."

Roman's jaw tightened at the stupidest reasoning for his brother's actions. It was unbelievably stupid he felt like throwing up.

"You are foolish, Joaquin." Roman shook his head, realizing this conversation was no longer needed. Joaquin would believe everything he wanted to believe, and shun other facts just so he wouldn't regret his actions. The crown prince, now the emperor, had fallen too deep into the abyss of ambition and greed. He was blinded and unable to see the light.

Even so, Roman couldn't help but mumble things through his gritted teeth.

"Father…" he bent his knees, eyes glinting at Joaquin. "… never deserves such cruel punishment!"

CLASH!

In a blink of an eye, their swords produced a deafening clang of metals as Roman lurched forward while Joaquin blocked his attack easily. While the seventh prince was grinding his teeth, Joaquin was smirking deviously.

Nove l B(in).C OM

"You… do not understand Father's heart." Roman breathed out, pushing the sword between them until both blades rattled from either force.

"Hah… no, Rome. I understand him full well."

CLASH!

This time, Joaquin pushed his sword and kicked Roman's metal plates, causing the latter to hop back. While their feet landed on the floor several feet away from each other, Roman shook his head.

"I might sound like finding an excuse for Father, but… for a man who had lost his beloved son once, no one can blame him if he wanted his other son to be perfect to avoid an untimely death." Roman's voice shook and his neck underneath his armor turned taut. "For you, Father simply held onto the ghost of his deceased son. But for him, he simply wanted you to survive the vile environment with the crown you are carrying, even if it means sacrificing a father and son bond."

Roman took a stance once again, watching Joaquin's expression turn cold. "But you will not accept that, will you? Because if you do, you'll only question every decision you made until now."

CLASH!

Their swords once again clashed, but this time, Joaquin only held his sword with one hand. His expression was unfazed by everything Roman spewed.

"You're right, Rome," came out a rasped voice. "I will never acknowledge your truth… even if it was, in fact, the truth."

And with that, the two clashed with their sword. Every blow grew heavy and fatal. A match that they were aware would only be over if one of them died, and neither of them wanted to lose their life.