“With the blood flowing in my body…”

I looked down at Sir Monique who knelt, with his head down. I could not see the silver-haired young man’s expression because of his hanging hair when he recited the oath of blood, which was the long and tight bond that had been formed since the first emperors’ era.

“…Swearing on my life and heart…”

In order to realize my ideal, I needed those who were absolutely loyal to me no matter what. So, he approached Sir Monique, the successor of the Monique family to obtain his absolute loyalty, in other words, the “oath of blood.’

However, he was very weary about the existence of the oath. It was a great blessing for the imperial family, but it was a double-edged sword and a symbol of humiliation to the Monique family. Actually, the blood oath was no more than the shackles of the Monique family, a royal family during the first emperor’s war of conquest, to protect the kingdom and the people.

“I dedicate my life…”

I trusted his reassuring eyes when he said he would be loyal to the imperial family even without such an oath. At first, I didn’t trust him, but I began to build trust in him gradually. Despite the difference in age and status, I’ve trusted him so much that I began to regard him as my friend. My trust in him was so strong that I even thought of having him marry my only sister, the only survivor of the bloody throne succession battle among my brothers who were all killed in the process.

Despite my absolute trust, he was kneeling, with his head down, and reciting the oath of blood to have the woman I loved, saying he wanted her who might not become pregnant all her life instead of my sister who would add honor to his family.

‘Sorry, Your Majesty. I really love that woman from the bottom of my heart.”

I could still remember her desperate screaming hovering in my ear…

I closed my eyes, while looking down at Sir Monique who was done swearing. Dozens of times I was torn between my intense desire to take her away from him and my logical thinking that I should never lose this young man that I trusted most.

“Let me grant your wish…”

When I began to utter the phrases of the promised covenant to accept the oath, I saw his navy blue eyes filled with joy. I also noticed the woman’s golden eyes well with tears, and my sister Ernia shuddering with shame.

“…It’s the oath of blood engraved on the lion and spear. ”

So, I sent the only woman I loved to my most trusted friend.

***

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty.”

“Oh, honey, come on, my little girl.”

I hugged and lifted the little girl who toddled along to me and opened her hands. She, pulling my hair and bursting into laughter, was so lovely. I liked my figure reflected in her golden eyes that exactly looked like hers, so I humored her with a bright smile.

She smiled gently, looking at me. Even after ten years passed since I saw her first, she still looked the same. I noticed the empress slowly raising her body with her head down and Rublis looking at me earnestly.

I let out a sigh suddenly.

Ariel lu Shana Castina. She was a woman born to the Duke Heidel, who was the powerful member of the noble faction, and got married to me to be the empress for political purposes.

I felt sorry for her who barely maintained her status as the empress because her family was ruined. Since she was a very cold woman, I couldn’t feel any affection for her even though I did my best. So, I just felt sorry for Rublis who regarded her as his real mother. Since he grew up without receiving a mother’s love, he could not leave Jeremiah for a moment when she entered the palace.

Although I knew that Rublis was looking at the little girl with envy, I took pains to ignore his glance and stroked the girl’s cheeks held in my arms. A lion was supposed to raise its cub strong. Likewise, Rublis was the crown prince who would rule the empire in the future, so I had to be stern and tough to him rather than being generous and kind to him as my son.

***

“… Your Majesty. You’ve come to life again.”

“… Oh, nice to see you, High Priest. It’s been a while.”

I woke up from a very long dream at his repeated calling. As I lifted my heavy eyelids, I saw a young man with long white hair. I also saw Rube looking at me with trembling eyes and Earl Penril frowning a bit.

Suddenly I realized that I had not much time left. I also realized the fact that the High Priest forcibly awakened me by maximizing my remaining energy, so my son could receive my will according to the imperial customs.

“Given your expressions… it seems like there is not much time left for me.”

“Sorry, Your Majesty, yes, that’s right.”

“I see…High Priest, and Earl Penril, listen to me well, so I can leave a will. ”

“Your Majesty, Daddy!”

“I taught you how to control your emotions. Why can’t you control your emotions still? Tut, tut. You should not be so weak-minded as the next emperor of this country.”

My heart ached, but I rebuked Rube coldly, who called me with a trembling voice. Then, ignoring my son who got hurt, I opened my mouth, turning to the High Priest.

“I, Mircan Lu Shana Castina, the 33rd emperor of the great Castina Empire, would like to leave a will before returning to the Lord’s arms. It is the current crown prince, Rublis Kamaludin Shana Castina, who will inherit the throne after me to be the 34th emperor of the empire. ”

“I confirm it in the name of Vita.”

“Also, make sure that there is no change in the status of the captain of each knight division and the prime minister over the next five years.”

“I confirm it in the name of Vita.”

“Finally…” I glanced at Rube who fixed his eyes at me.

I was worried about him when he was young because he looked overly arrogant, but fortunately, he grew up well without being rebellious, and I was proud of him for that.

Then I got concerned about him these days because he seemed to be distressed a lot because of a woman like I was during my younger days. Although I felt so sorry for his angst and nervousness, I felt relieved that he had a discerning eye for women. If his partner were the silver-haired woman who was like my child, I could not ask for anymore… Even if she was not his partner, I felt I could support his choice because he had my trust now.

“The woman who will be Rublis’s wife…”

“…”

“Let me leave it to Rublis to choose the woman that he wants as his wife. It doesn’t matter as long as he wants her even if she has disqualifying factors. This is my last will.”

“… Your Majesty, Daddy? ”

“High Priest, certify and confirm what I just said.”

“…I also confirm it in the name of Vita.”

I believed in God, because there was vivid evidence to prove His existence. However, I could not express it because the temple was partly responsible for impoverishing the people. I was aware of the High Priest’s petition, but I ignored it because I had to keep a distance from the temple to rebuild the crumbling imperial power and keep the noble faction at bay.

And now I was using the name of God until the last minute. I had the High Priest who hated the noble faction certify my will, so he could turn his back against them further. Because the emperor had limited authority over the temple, I had to use him against the top priests as much as possible. The High Priest was smiling bitterly at me because he already noticed my intentions.

“Thank you, High Priest, and I’m sorry. ”

“… You don’t have to be sorry, Your Majesty. ”

“Now it seems like there is really little time left for me… Let me meet them for the last time.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

I saw the Lord Chamberlain, who spent a long time with me, heading to the waiting room, wiping tears. Soon I saw Duke Lars and his wife as well as my sister Ernia and his family.

I smiled at Duke Lars, who quickly came straight to my bedside.