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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kie]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
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Chapter 25: The Wicked Selina (2)
Philip opened his eyes, bound to a chair.
In the pitch-black dungeon, devoid of even a sliver of light, it was impossible to tell whether it was day or night.
He could only adjust to the torchlight when someone entered and then readjust to the darkness when they left.
"His Majesty will be here soon, so please remain calm."
With these words, Luz untied the ropes binding Philip.
Philip smirked while rising from the chair, and knelt on one knee before the Emperor.
"I greet the one and only Sun of the Empire, Your Majesty."
"Rise."
"Thank you."
Philip, who had risen and was now sitting back in the chair, was dressed in tattered clothes.
The marks of several days of whipping were evident all over his body, and dried blood could be seen through the tears in his clothes.
"Are you the one blessed with the dragon's power, brother-in-law? Seeing you so unscathed after days of this, I think my sister chose well. "
The Emperor, with these words, commanded loudly.
"Someone, bring new clothes for my brother-in-law. The esteemed Grand Duke of Justia, whom we've all been waiting for, is arriving in the capital soon. How heartbroken would our nephew be to see you like this? Wouldn't it be terrible if his grief turned to rage, leading him to destroy this nation? Don't you agree, brother-in-law?"
At the Emperor's words, Philip burst into laughter, unable to contain his joy.
"So Janus is finally coming. Yes, yes. I must dress up and welcome him. I absolutely cannot meet him like this, especially not with the precious person he's coming with."
Philip continued without backing down.
"Our Janus is coming with his wife, our precious daughter-in-law. I trust Your Majesty isn't jealous that he married before the Crown Prince? If my nephew takes after his father, the jealousy would be immense. Jealous of Janus's power, jealous of his achievements on the battlefield, jealous even of his mate."
"How dare you! Who do you think you're talking to like that!"
The Emperor roared, striking Philip's face with his ringed fist.
Blood immediately flowed from the wound, but Philip laughed it off.
"Your Majesty, have you grown old? Your punch is weaker than a child's. Someone, bring His Majesty some nourishing food and arrange for exercise to improve his health… Cough!"
Before he could finish, the Emperor, unable to restrain himself, threw another punch, but Luz intervened.
"Your Majesty, this is unacceptable. You're giving the Grand Duke Justia a reason to rebel against the Imperial family. Please control yourself, Your Majesty!"
"I'll kill the Grand Duke and his Grand Duchess. I'll kill them all!"
At the Emperor's enraged words, Philip slumped in his chair, laughing with all his might.
"Ha, kill? How? Your Majesty, allow me to offer some heartfelt advice. The dragon's power undergoes its first awakening when the mate is found. The second awakening occurs when they unite. I heard this directly from Christa, so I know it well."
Philip's eyes gleamed with determination.
"After the second awakening, their power becomes incomparably stronger than the first."
The Emperor scoffed,
"So what? Do you think they're married just because they disappeared from the capital for 23 days and secretly went to a village at the edge of the empire? Do you think their marriage will stand if the Emperor of Sephia doesn't acknowledge it?"
"Whether you acknowledge it or not, Your Majesty, they are married. They were legally wed, so you'll have to recognize it. And they've already acknowledged each other as husband and wife… Ugh!"
Philip couldn't continue as the Emperor's fists rained down on him again.
"Keep talking, you insolent fool! If I say it's not, then it's not. Their marriage is null and void!"
"Your Majesty, if you continue, your clothes will be ruined. You need to attend the ball soon, please calm down."
Luz's plea brought the Emperor back to his senses. He wiped the blood from his hand and said,
"Brother-in-law, I'll take the daughter-in-law you cherish so much, so cease your futile attempts. I plan to send a welcoming party for her return when she arrives in the capital tomorrow. I'll order them to eliminate anyone who interferes with bringing her back, so don't try anything foolish."
The Emperor gestured, and the two knights guarding the room helped Philip to his feet.
"Escort him safely back to the Grand Duke's residence," the Emperor commanded.
Philip, who had been captured and brought to the Imperial Palace three days after his disappearance, was finally released from 20 days of confinement.
Although he could barely walk on his own, Philip smiled all the way home.
'Tomorrow. Finally, tomorrow I can see you, even more grown up.'
* * *
As soon as the ball ended, the Emperor went to the room where Count Arsene was staying.
It was quite different from the dark underground prison where no light could enter.
However, Count Arsene, who was using the room, could not be at ease.
"I greet the one and only Sun of the Empire, Your Majesty."
"At ease," the Emperor said as he sat down.
"You may have heard, but your daughter is returning to the capital tomorrow."
"Is that so?"
"Do you know why I kept you here?"
"How could I dare fathom Your Majesty's intentions?"
"You're good with flattery. Well, fine. I'll be frank. I kept you here in case you went somewhere and tried to restore your daughter's reputation."
The Emperor spoke as he poured wine into a glass from the decanter on the side table.
"Your stepson did a remarkable job. Spreading rumors to make Selina a villainess. Do you know how surprised I was when I first heard this? I looked into who came up with such a brilliant strategy, and it turned out to be none other than your stepson and new wife. Hahaha."
Count Arsene simply bowed his head in silence before the Emperor, who was laughing as if enjoying himself.
"It must be painful to see your daughter being insulted by everyone, but it's better than her dying, isn't it?"
Count Arsene's brow furrowed, as if the thought alone was agonizing.
The Emperor did not stop talking.
"Originally, I was going to send the Grand Duke straight to the border to separate them, and then summon Selina to the Imperial Palace to marry Eric as planned. But seeing how things are going, I don't need to lift a finger. People will oppose the Grand Duke and Selina on their own. With the entire Empire disapproving, what could they possibly do?"
Count Arsene sat silently, listening to the Emperor's words.
"Of course, I can't marry Selina to Eric right away in this state. If I bring in a woman who turned her back on her father and followed a man outside the capital without permission, what would people say about me? However, it's different if I take in the pitiful daughter of an old friend who has been trampled by everyone. The Imperial family is saving Selina."
Count Arsene, who had been sighing inwardly, asked, "Your Majesty, must you do this?"
"She dared to weigh my son against the Grand Duke, so this is only natural, isn't it?"
"Selina has never done such a thing."
"Yes, I know that, and you know that. Your wife, your son, they all know that. But right now, this is the truth. The woman who weighed the Crown Prince against the Grand Duke and chose the Grand Duke because he seemed easier, even shaming her family by following him to a military base. That's Selina."
"No."
The Emperor did not stop talking.
"The impudent woman who dared to do such a thing without knowing her place. Not only that, she even tormented the woman the Crown Prince loved to win him over. The woman who threatened people's lives to reach out to the Crown Prince. The wicked Selina."
"Stop it, my daughter is not that kind of person!"
"Go ahead and deny it all you want, but who will believe you? Now go back to your house and think about how to persuade your daughter."
"Why, why do you want Selina so much?"
At Count Arsene's question, the Emperor looked at him for a moment before speaking.
"It seems you haven't completely betrayed me."
"What do you mean? I have always been loyal to Your Majesty..."
"Spare me your talk of loyalty. You have the audacity to say that to me after sending your daughter to the Grand Duke? Just know that Selina will be further disgraced and eventually become a part of the Imperial family."
"Your Majesty!"
"Escort Count Arsene back to his residence. Discreetly."
"As you wish."
Thus, Count Arsene was released after 13 days of confinement.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kie]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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