After their carriage pulled up to the front entrance, Luke, Olivia, Jack and Judith exited the carriage and were greeted by an entire army of imperial knights and soldiers guarding the front yard.
An imperial knight greeted the four at the front entrance before leading them inside.
Luke could feel all their eyes on him even though most were wearing helmets. The servants also came out to get a look at him.
He felt a little uncomfortable with all this attention. Perhaps noticing that, Olivia grabbed his hand and whispered:
"Where is all your bravado when you stood up to me or proudly proclaimed how you will protect everyone?"
He blushed a little.
"Why are there so many of you here first thing in the morning?" Judith asked the imperial knight in front of them as they walked, "Did some foolish king declare war on the empire and His Majesty is preparing forces?"
"Not quite…" the imperial knight stopped, "I would say it's a bigger issue…"
"How so?"
"Lord Berkley's son, Arnold came to the palace last night." face pale, the man explained.
Their eyes widened.
"Earlier, we heard from Ardark professors that he could cast a spell powerful enough to kill an ancient dragon—which earned him the name Dragon Killer, a title no one else alive today can claim. So, it's likely possible he can even use teleportation like Freya York can."
"…Was anyone hurt?" Olivia asked in a smaller voice.
"Fortunately, no one was gravely injured." The knight continued walking, "However, Sir Arthur was hit so hard that he fell unconscious and is yet to wake up. Doctors say that he might have suffered a concussion after being hit in the head."
"By Arnold…?"
"Yes… He tried to attack Arnold."
"…That idiot…" Judith whispered under her breath.
"His Majesty is waiting for you in the dining room, Princess." The knight said to Olivia after coming to a stop in the middle of a two-way hall next to the stairs that headed up. "He says that there is something he needs to discuss with you so the rest of the family isn't present. I will take everyone else to see Lord Berkley."
"I would like to see how Lord Marcus is doing first. It would not be proper for his daughter-in-law to worry about other matters when he lays injured in a bed somewhere."
"Please follow me then." The knight then took a left turn.
After walking for a minute, they arrived at the servant quarter right at the end of the west wing. This is also where the palace's medical staff are stationed. The rest are the employees who were given housing here.
the hallway was filled with imperial knights keeping a close eye on anyone and everyone, their hands on their weapons.
What could they do to Arnold even with all this caution, thought Luke, an army of ants with venom still can't win against a dragon even if there's a million of them. They can't even cut its skin.
Upon noticing the group, one of the knights hurriedly stepped aside and opened the sliding door.
**
Gathered in the room was Adrianna, Celeste, Jeanne (Marcus' concubine), Anna and Anais.
"How is he?" Olivia gave Adrianna a side hug and greeted the rest.
On the bed lay a man covered in bandages, the sheets stained with blood.
"…Arnold did not only break his bones but shattered his skin, muscle tissue and used aura to damage his veins." Shaking, Adrianna spoke through gritted teeth, "He wanted to make sure his father never opposes him again."
"…Mother, this is still reversible." Celeste said while holding Adrianna's hand, "The best doctors in the empire will visit the palace later today and do their best to make sure he walks again."
"I know… I know he did not want to cripple his father for life… If that was his intention, he would have gone for the spine… But why did it have to be like this?"
'Shouldn't they be grateful Brother didn't retaliate with the same intention as they did?'
If they didn't go after him with the intent to kill then all of this could have been avoided.
Is a second Hero really that big of a deal? Then again, Arnold could just tell them he knows of someone else right? But if he were to say this, would they even believe him, the man who threatened another Hero and disrespected the emperor?
"Have you heard what happened in detail yet?" Judith placed a hand on Adrianna's shoulder.
"No, His Majesty wants the entire family to gather first before he discusses what happened so far and what are his intentions for the future."
"He wants the whole Berkley House to gather?"
"Yes. Including, Marcus' great uncle's side of the family—Arthur's adoptive father." Adrianna looked at Olivia. "Since you are marrying into the House, you should naturally be there as well."
"…Yes, Mother." Olivia's eyes rested on the unconscious Marcus, an unreadable expression on her face.
"Mom, something like this could get Al executed." Anna, sharing the same pale face as Olivia, said while holding back tears.
"…That might be on the table at the gathering." Adrianna said grimly, "Of all the things he could have done alternatively, why did he have to prove people right?"
"He became the very thing the world painted him out to be."
"A murdering tyrant."
"Yes… I don't even know if he's still the same little brother I grew up with."
"Uhm…" Anais spoke up, "Arthur said that he was possessed by a demon… Was all of that true?"
Everyone suddenly looked at Luke. Not turning away from their gazes, he shook his head.
Their eyes lowered to the floor.
"Y-Your Majesty!"
The knights scrambled outside, likely making way for the emperor.
A moment later, the doors swung open. In stepped the emperor—not the symbol of regal might, but a man worn thin. Deep bags hung beneath his eyes, and his hair was tousled, falling messily across his face. Though he still wore his royal garb, there was no trace of majesty about him—only a black cloud so heavy it seemed almost visible.
"I come as a friend of the family. Do not lower your heads," he said flatly, dismissing his guards with a wave. As the doors shut behind him, he dragged a chair to the center of the room and sat down heavily, exhaling through clenched teeth.
"I've danced like a fool. Boasted like a court jester. Cheered like a simpleton about how powerful my Great Nobles are—how they rival the Ten Testaments themselves." He gave a bitter laugh, tilting his head back toward the ceiling. "And in my pride, I believed they could handle anything the world threw at us."
He paused. The room held its breath.
"I was blind. My pride placed my closest allies—my friends—in danger. And in doing so… I've only provoked the evil god."
Luke's fists clenched instinctively.
The emperor lowered his gaze, eyes dim.
"I am an old, tired man who nearly sacrificed everything—all for a hero still in his infancy." His cane tapped against the marble floor, each beat like a ticking clock. "If that god chooses to retaliate, who will protect this nation then?"
He shook his head.
"We cannot rely on Freya York. Her focus lies elsewhere—gathering allies, preparing for a demon invasion that may not come for another century. A century only she will see. And reaching her is near impossible now. You'd think she barely cares for us at all."
He looked up again, eyes still empty.
"If she were here… things would've ended differently."
A heavy silence followed.
"Even among humans," he continued, "there are those who wish the Hero harm. That, I expected and prepared for. But I thought they'd be cultists—extremists, nobodies. Not a demon lord… stronger than the Demon King itself."
"A-Arnold had… a demon lord inside him?" Olivia gasped, eyes wide with disbelief.
The emperor nodded grimly. "That is what Sir Arthur claimed—he sensed the presence only moments after being accepting by the Holy Sword. He slayed Arnold shortly after that."
He looked at Anais, "I cannot believe I am asking this but does your brother speak the truth? Was that boy possessed by a demon when he murdered your classmate?"
"I-I'm not sure…"
"Ah, that is fine… So many things happened in just one day… Now even Oracle Angelica has joined Arnold's side."
Hearing that, the entire room gasped.
"The Oracle of Melis!? How did that happen!?" Olivia was the one who yelled out that question.
While she has shown her neutrality in this matter—neither applauding Arnold nor condemning his actions, this seems to be the most significant turn of events for her. Luke knows the imperial family is religious and therefore view the Oracle like a true emissary from the divine realm, unlike how the non-religious folk just see a human blessed by gods.
Maybe it's similar to a fan being betrayed by the idol they liked? But Luke was happy with the result. He believed Arnold in the right all along and having such a prominent figure believe the same thing stirred up happiness inside him.
Now it's only a matter of waiting for more people to realize he was right about that foolish "hero".
"I truly would like to know… Hopefully, it is not because she means to betray humanity and aid the evil god in killing Sir Arthur. I sent knights to the inn she is staying in last night and she was happy to tell us how she, a few members of the Testaments and an entire Inquisition Order, stands with the evil god." He put his hands on his face, "We are truly standing on a cliff, overlooking a bottomless pit while a rock pushes us forward."
1. Oppose Arnold for the last time and finally piss him off to the point where he kills anyone.
2. Lose a Hero and face casualties in the near future when the demons invade, casualties that could have been prevented if there were two heroes.
"Why was Arnold here last night?" Adrianna asked, "Did he come here just to threaten you?"
"…Not quite. It was about something outside my expectations—he asked for a fair fight."
"…What?"
"A competition of sorts, one that goes to the death. The prize… I am not even sure what he wants it to be. Perhaps it's your brother's life that's the prize itself." Jurnick looked at Anais again, "He wants the entire empire—no, perhaps the world—to come and see how your brother dies a slow death."
"H-How do we know that is the most likely outcome!?" she shot back.
"He beat my Great Nobles and killed an ancient dragon—both of these without sustaining even a cut. Do you believe such a man can be surpassed in a mere month?"
"That's how long he gave Arthur…?"
"Indeed… He said he wants Arthur to prepare himself. I… I do not see the outcome ending in our favor." Jurnick rubbed his face as he mumbled, "Goddess Melis, I pray Freya York and Justice does not side with this evil god… They are our only hope."
"How the hell did Al kill an ancient dragon…Did he hide this power from us all this time?"
"He mentioned something about a martial spirit. I sent a messenger to the Murim Martial Alliance to verify if it is truly possible for someone to gain that much strength merely from awakening one's inner spirit. If so, there must be someone at that school that went through the same awakening and can match him in strength."
It is highly possible the leader is strong enough. After all, rumors say that he is equal to his older brother—Serz's former leader—in strength. It's widely known that this man, Siegfried Dragneud has a martial spirit, the source of his incredible power.
But the organization has never involved themselves with the empire, whether it be lending aid during war or defending the nation during a monster wave, like what happened in Nuaria city.
"If they refuse to help, I will exile them all from this empire."
They aren't centered in the empire but they are a still a partner of many institutions, including the Ardark Academy itself. Being kicked out by the emperor would deal a massive blow to their operations. They may even be impacted financially by this.
A knock came from the door before anyone could bring up their doubts. Jurnick ignored it but the person just came inside with an "excuse me."
It was Ronia, leader of the second largest faction and the first princess aiming for the throne.
Luke was immediately on guard as he recalled something Olivia told him yesterday when they slept over at the palace.
-"If you ever meet my sister, Ronia, never show weakness because she will exploit that and chain you to her for life. She's the devil itself."
"Father, you look unwell." Eyebrows arched, she placed a hand on Jurnick's shoulder, "Please take a day off tomorrow. I will handle things along with the Prime Minister."
"You are too kind, daughter. But I cannot do that." He patted her hand, "We may not be in a war, but it is imperative that my people know I will not hide away while an evil god walk our streets."
"Father, it is clear by now that no one can defeat him. Sir Arthur's death is all but guaranteed."
"…" Jurnick frowned a bit but he sighed as if realizing frustration at this point would be useless.
"But what if he joins our side willingly and gives up on his revenge?"
"What?" hearing that, Jurnick looked up incredulously.
"I promise that for the good of the empire and its future, I shall make him an ally that will join us in the fight against the Demon King."
Luke had a bad feeling about this.