Chapter 1. Kill the Empress
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Ā āGillotti, if you have anything important to say, be sure to consult with Your Empress. I’m sure you will!”Ā
āIf you hadnāt inherited that abilityā¦… Huh, why is it that there is only one fool like you left as crown prince, why!ā
“Keep that in mind, Gillotti. You must hold on to the Empress tightly. Keep it in mind ….!ā
āGillotti, Gillotti…”Ā
The voice of the dead grabbed and shook Gillottiās brain.
He wanted to scream out loud, but all he heard was the sound of whimpering, as if someone had blocked his mouth.
āI don’t want to. I don’t want to, father. I hate it!”
He struggled to get up, kicking off the bed with a thud.
His whole body was drenched in cold sweat.
He gritted his teeth as he grabbed on his throbbing forehead.
As soon as he was better, the Empress’ name came as a nightmare again.
Of course, it was always the voice of his father, the previous emperor, that strangled him.
He dreaded to look at his face, but his father’s shadow and voice kept appearing.
That alone was enough to scare Gillotti.
Huh, why do those two torment me like a curse even when theyāre dead?
Gillotti, who chewed the flesh inside his mouth and swallowed the cussing, pulled the rope and called the servants.
āHello! Get Natasha! What is Natasha doing here and not showing up!”
At Gillottiās shout, the servants moved hastily.
āOh, I see His Majesty is not feeling well today!ā
They closed their eyes, grabbed their trembling heart, and kept running.
After “the incident,” the Imperial Palace had turned into a sheet of ice.
The emperor had fallen or run out of time, and Natasha had covered his eyes and acted as if she was the master of this palace as well.
She took advantage of the situation, filled the court with her own people, driving out those who worked well in the main government positions, not to mention trying to control the imperial finances at will.
And that wasn’t all.
The sons of the concubines took over the palace and acted as if they were Princes as well.
This disregard for procedure and law caused some of the nobles to protest.
No one knew that Natasha Roanti was behind them.
Just one person.
The Emperor still embraced her and hung onto her, calling her “July sunshine” and “the only warmth left”.
In any case, things were not looking good for the current Tanatos.
The current emperor, who has no heir, has fallen at any rate, and the mistress of the emperor of unknown origin has continued her tyranny in the shadows, with her belly full.
Even the full and lazy nobles have recently gathered to worry about the current situation.
They hinted at their fears that if things continue as they were, this thousand-year empire, Tanatos, would be destroyed.
āI should have protected the Empress at that timeā¦!ā
The nobles in hiding pretended to regret it.
However, it was all in vain.
Who would really be able to prevent that mad emperor?
Even the Duke of Sunset, one of the three pillars of the empire, was slaughtered by the Emperor with his eyes wide open.
The Sunset had been a protective sacrament for generations, keeping the imperial family in check, but the Emperor just jumped barefoot out of the middle of the imperial palace and cut off the Dukeās head there like a madman.
It was a diabolical and brutal execution never to be seen again in history, and an incredibly appalling death even in the eyes of the nobles.
“Ah! They say ignorance is bravery! How can the Emperor be so brave and ignorant! It’s pathetic!”
There was a good reason why the Sunset family was called a pillar.
The history and political and economic influence it has contributed to the empire so far, and even the intricate diplomatic issues involved.
It was never a good idea to so easily, so simply and so cruelly eliminate a family that was a major pillar of the empire.
First, it was a loss of public sentiment, and second, it was an opportunity to shake the trust of the loyal subjects who had been the lifeblood of the empire.Ā
Is that all?
The lives of most of the small nobles and peasants who lived in the House of Sunset were destroyed.
The emperor had casually exploited the forcibly confiscated lands of the Sunset family.
The vassals of the family bravely fled with some of their goods before the emperor could take everything.
This was the highly respected Sunset family.
The vassals kept each other well hidden, hoping that one day their hidden heir would take it back. As if to mock them, the emperor burned the Sunset family’s house to the ground.
It was a delusion.
This was definitely a delusion.
Some of the nobles were already casually preparing to emigrate or go into exile.
However, it was a problem because everyone couldn’t just leave. They were nobles with money, so they could emigrate elsewhere…
The suffering of the commoners who had lived their entire lives here was incomparable to that of the nobles.
Summer was here, more than ever, and the life force was overflowing, but this summer for Tanatos was just dark and hopeless.Ā
Of course, there was always someone cheerful in the midst of it all.
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty, I hear you’re looking for Natasha?”
Natasha ran in front of the emperor, holding her round belly tightly.
Ā
As soon as Gillotti, who had taken the trouble to put on his uniform, saw Natasha, he pouted his lips as if to complain.
āWhat did I say? Didn’t I tell you that you should always be where I can see you as soon as I wake up?āĀ
āWell, a light walk is a must for pregnant women. This was all for the sake of our child.”
Natasha chuckled and held Gillotti.
She rubbed her soft cheek against his chest in a pampering manner, and soon Gillotti’s expression relaxed.
āNo, what walk do you do every day? In the morning, at night, any time.”Ā
āPlease don’t say that. I don’t want to get fat just because I have a child. What if I lose Your Majesty’s love? Natasha wants to be always beautiful for you.ā
Her weepy orange eyes shone with innocence.
Natasha’s words made Gillottiās pale face glow with desire.
He did not hesitate to advance to her lips.
He kissed her wildly and fiercely, like a ravenous beast hunting herbivores.
Natasha responded politely by wrapping her arms around his neck.
Sometimes she fled as if stricken with fear, sometimes she seduced him as if she was throwing him bait.
Each time, Gillotti fell head over heels in love with her.
āOh, Natasha…I want you.ā
āYes, no. No, no, not now. It’s a dangerous time.ā
She soothed him by rubbing her lips against Gillottiās, as if she was more disappointed.
āHeck, you say that all the time!ā
āPlease, please.”
āI’m not sure why heās so energetic when heās more and more exhausted.ā
Natasha swallowed a sigh several times behind her smiling face and held back her swearing.
The crown prince-turned-emperor could not possibly have learned to be considerate of others.
Not only was it in bed, but it was the same for the woman who had his child.
It was hard for Natasha to appease such an emperor every time, no matter how much she tried.
“Please, Natasha.ā
“Your Majesty, you have more urgent matters to attend to than me.ā
Natasha had to change the subject if she really thought it was a bad idea.
Natasha was just doing him a favor and reminding him of something important that he had almost forgotten.
āWe must first find a way to make His Majesty’s condition better for the Prophet Hartz. He is our last hope, isn’t he? We must hurry.ā
Gillottiās eyes changed at the mention of the prophet Hartz.
As if he had forgotten about it for a while, he scrunched up his face and rubbed his chin.
Hartz the Prophet, Prophet of the Exiled.
Finding him was not an easy task.
Gillotti spent a great deal of manpower and money looking for him, based on rumors.
If he (Hartz) hadn’t stopped by Tanatos, it would have been impossible to catch him. Fate, or rather the gods, helped him*. (*Gillotti)
The breath of Caimon, goddess of the harsh winter winds, caught his feet.
Even Hartz, the prophet who said he was free as the wind, had to kneel to the breath of this sharp winter god after all.
As if Hartz knew that resistance was pointless, he obediently followed the soldiers into the Imperial Palace.
That was two days ago.
Locked in the west tower, he still looked docile.
Since he was widely known as a man who was unpredictable, a lot of surveillance was put up.Ā
If it hadn’t been for a sudden seizure the day before yesterday, Gillotti would have pursued Hartz already.
āWe must hurry. What if something happens to His Majesty’s body again? Your Majesty, please love me to your heart’s content after you are well.”
Natasha hugged him, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment.
What she said was right.
He would have plenty of time to hold her once his body was feeling better, but if he missed the right time, he could cut that time in half.
āWise Natasha, you are right.ā
Gillotti hurried along the hurried path.
“Bring me that one who is locked in the west tower!”
Natasha patted her chest, feeling relieved and followed him.
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Hartz raised his head and took a slow, deep breath, catching the sunlight through the small window.
āThe soldiers will be here soon.ā
The west tower he was trapped in was as dark as any prison and the windows were small.
It was all due to the vicious Tanatos weather.
Even though the walls of the tower were surrounded by layers of tapestry, the cold air was still coming in.
Still, it was a heartwarming place with a fireplace, otherwise he would freeze to death indoors.
Hartz couldn’t help but sigh.
‘I can’t believe I have to endure another two and a half months in a place like this.’
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