CHAPTER 96……………………………..
: You, Me?
A shadow fell over Illeon’s head as he read the Holy Scripture.
“What, you think reading that book’s going to spit out some new answers?”
Balt sneered.
“What do you want, Balt?”
Illeon asked slowly, not lifting his eyes from the Scripture.
“Today’s paper.”
Thud.
Balt pulled a newspaper from his coat and tossed it onto the open pages.
Illeon glanced down.
[The New Emperor’s Shocking Secret!]
The headline blared across the front page. Illeon’s eyes narrowed.
Beneath it were detailed accusations — of mass slaughter disguised as holy rituals, of Illeon himself being the one who had disfigured the crown prince’s face with poison. It even exposed how Illeon had raised executioners in the cathedral’s basement to offer as sacrifices to God.
“What now? Guess you weren’t the only one who owned a newspaper.”
Illeon said nothing.
“Who’d have thought Dietrich, who doesn’t even have a fief, would buy one? And not even under his own name, either.”
Instead of anger, Illeon merely chuckled at the paper.
“He came here to destroy Avalon from the start. I expected him to pull something like this — so it’s not even surprising.”
Balt, who usually had a retort ready, was uncharacteristically silent today.
Inside the boutique — still holding traces of the murdered owner’s touch — only the sound of Illeon turning a page could be heard.
Finally, Balt spoke.
“You know, Illeon…”
He pulled something from his coat and thrust it in front of Illeon’s face — a scrapbook filled with records of Illeon’s secret deeds.
“When you said you’d become emperor, I thought something was off. So I did some digging of my own.”
The scrapbook contained even more than what the newspaper had revealed.
“That poison that melted Jeremy’s face — its main ingredient grows only in the warm southern territories year-round… strange, isn’t it? If I recall, the ruler of those lands is one Illeon Grederick.”
Balt stroked his chin, tapping at the picture of a red-berried plant.
“It’s called Aquinep. A powerful anesthetic used on human sacrifices, right? They say even elephants can’t wake after inhaling it.”
Illeon smiled faintly — but only with his lips, not his eyes.
“…I don’t know what you’re trying to say.”
“Really? A sharp guy like you pretending you don’t get it?”
When Illeon leaned closer to see the scrapbook, Balt quickly tucked it back inside his coat.
He tilted his head, studying Illeon.
“You know why I broke you out of prison?”
Illeon looked up. Balt’s gray eyes were filled with unmistakable disgust.
“I never said it, but… I enjoyed playing chess with you. Beyond being fellow dukes, I didn’t want to believe you were capable of that filth.”
“…”
“If you’d shown even a shred of remorse, I might’ve helped you raise an army. Maybe even saved Avalon from collapse.”
Illeon immediately understood what Balt meant.
“So, as one of Avalon’s pillars, you’ll just stand by and watch it fall?”
Illeon’s blue eyes turned icy.
Unfazed, Balt glanced around the boutique — admiring the fine dresses and fabrics left behind.
“You know, the woman who owned this place was innocent. Widowed young, had only a daughter.”
“And? You expect me to apologize for killing her?”
“…You really are hopeless.”
Balt shook his head, disgusted.
“As long as someone like you exists, Avalon has no future.”
“Balt.”
Illeon’s cold voice brushed his ear.
“Do you really think Avalon can be protected by nobility alone? I carry this burden as its guardian. Tell me — what have you done for Avalon?”
Balt crossed his arms and gave a long, lazy yawn — as though none of this concerned him.
“Don’t justify your greed as duty, Illeon. You’re just acting on your own desires.”
Illeon felt as if his entire life had just been denied.
“Don’t expect my help. I’m done wading in this filthy swamp.”
Balt looked at him with a face utterly free of regret. Illeon’s jaw tightened.
“You’d really let Avalon perish? You of all people?”
“Heh. Your Majesty the Great Emperor, seems there’s something you don’t know.”
Balt leaned an elbow on the table, smirking.
“I don’t really care if Avalon falls. If a new dynasty rises, that’s fine too — I’ll just be remembered as one of its founders.”
Illeon gave a cold laugh.
“Have you gone mad? A duke saying that?”
“After seeing the filth you’ve done, I suddenly feel an urge to repent — properly, before God.”
With an exaggerated gesture, Balt clasped his hands over his chest and closed his eyes in mock prayer. Then, snapping them open, he said:
“God just answered me — said He forgives me with boundless mercy.”
“…”
“But here’s the catch — He’s only forgiving me, not you.”
Balt straightened, clearly finished.
He turned and began to walk away. After a few steps, Illeon’s frigid voice came from behind.
“You trust them more than me, after all our years together? Or is it that you, like the rest of those fools, have fallen for the princess?”
Balt ignored him, continuing on.
“Or maybe you’re afraid of her gift?”
Balt stopped.
Turning his head slightly, he chuckled.
“Afraid? You should be the one afraid, Illeon.”
“…”
“I’ve done nothing to that girl. You can’t say the same, can you?”
He smirked.
Illeon clicked his tongue softly.
“You really don’t trust me.”
“Come on, Illeon. Be reasonable. You think I could ever trust the man who fed his own sister to monsters?”
“…”
Illeon stayed silent — he hadn’t expected Balt to have uncovered that.
“You’ve gotten smarter,” Illeon said slowly, “but your choices are still foolish.”
Balt shrugged easily.
“You once told me, ‘not every muscle needs to reach the brain,’ remember?”
“…”
“Well, I don’t think my judgment’s that foolish.”
Illeon asked one last question.
“You won’t regret this? If I win this war, I’ll have you killed.”
“Who’s killing who? You? Me?”
Balt threw his head back and laughed.
“I’ll be waiting for the day you try. If it ever comes.”
With a light step, Balt left the boutique. Illeon watched his back, his eyes cold.
As soon as Balt vanished, one of Illeon’s subordinates emerged from hiding.
“My lord, perhaps we should eliminate Duke Portman as well.”
The subordinate spoke carefully, seeing Illeon’s dark expression.
He was the same man who had once assassinated Ben, Erphia’s knight and Illeon’s loyal follower — the one Illeon had sent out long before his imprisonment, sparing him from Dietrich’s blade.
Illeon rested his chin on one hand, drumming his fingers on the table.
“…Annoying.”
Public opinion was already hard to sway, and with one newspaper, it was nearly impossible to reverse.
But that scrapbook in Balt’s possession contained nearly every sin Illeon had ever committed.
“I thought he was on my side. How troublesome.”
Illeon’s blue eyes turned toward his subordinate.
“For now, watch and wait. What matters most aren’t Balt — but the two in the royal palace.”
