Chapter 68
Brotherly Fight
Since it was a private space with no one else around, there was no need to formally address him as “Duke Habihit.”
Martin acted the same way.
He spoke with raw anger in his voice, without any pretense.
“Where did you hide her?”
“What?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know. I already know everything.”
Martin, speaking sharply, strode forward until he was right next to Ernant.
Ernant glanced at him sideways, then reached for the teacup in front of him.
Watching Ernant leisurely sip his tea, Martin asked again, his voice even rougher than before:
“Julia… where did you hide her?”
Martin had no intention of backing down.
It was already clear that Ernant had used Karl and Raymont to kidnap Julia.
That meant Julia must currently be in Ernant’s grasp.
He had probably sealed her abilities, taken away her weapons, and locked her in a space of his own making.
Remembering that, Martin barely held onto his composure as Ernant spoke in a calm voice:
“I’ll tell you, so why don’t you sit down first?”
Though Martin didn’t like Ernant’s indifferent tone, he was, at least, offering information about Julia.
Suppressing the boiling anger inside him, Martin perched on the sofa across from Ernant.
Ernant sipped his tea again and then asked his brother:
“Do you want Julia?”
“……”
Martin didn’t answer, but Ernant seemed to already know.
He knew exactly how much his brother desired Julia.
Martin, who had never shown interest in anything—not even the throne—now had that longing clearly reflected in his eyes.
Ernant guessed: the Martin who had always simply yielded might now finally show his teeth.
Might as well crush that thought completely with despair.
Resolved, Ernant slowly spoke:
“If you want Julia… I’m afraid you’ll never have her.”
“You’re not going to return her?”
“It’s more accurate to say I can’t return her. She’s not in my hands anymore.”
Ernant said calmly to the contorted Martin:
“Julia is dead.”
“Hah. You expect me to believe that—”
“It’s the truth. She jumped into the rift to escape from me, her abilities sealed.”
Ernant muttered to the silent Martin as if talking to himself:
“She probably died. Poor thing.”
After Ernant’s words, a heavy silence settled between them.
Martin showed no anger.
No sarcasm.
After a while, in a calm and gentle voice, he finally addressed Ernant:
“Ernant… my brother.”
“Why?”
“You don’t think I’ve left you alive because I couldn’t kill you, do you?”
Martin wasn’t asking for an answer. He continued:
“I’ve always had the power to kill you. From the moment I awakened my abilities, I could have burned you to ashes anytime.”
“……”
“But I didn’t. Because there was no need to. I didn’t care whether you took the throne or killed other brothers, it never interested me.”
Martin leaned forward slightly from the sofa, his golden eyes flashing like a predator’s as he stared at Ernant.
“Think carefully. Do you really think I still have no reason to kill you?”
“……”
“Julia is the first being to ever awaken desire in me. To get her back… I am fully willing to kill you.”
“……”
“Again, I’ll ask. Where did you hide Julia?”
Martin twitched his fingers as he asked.
If he detected even a hint of deceit, he would truly strangle Ernant.
He planned to cut off his breath before the imperial guards arrived and deal with the aftermath slowly.
But Ernant replied calmly:
“You didn’t listen to me just a minute ago, brother. Julia jumped into the rift to escape me. Most likely, she’s dead.”
“……”
“Do you need a witness? Though it will take a while. I cut off one of her legs as punishment for escaping. It will take time for her to hobble here.”
Martin scrutinized Ernant with sharp eyes.
Eyes capable of sensing even the faintest movements of a monster.
After a long moment, Martin realized the truth: Ernant’s words contained no lies.
“…Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“Julia…?”
Martin wiped his face with his hands, hiding his troubled expression, then asked suddenly:
“Which rift did she enter?”
“A small rift on the west coast of Hennes Island, my private uninhabited island. If you want, go and find her yourself. I hope she’s still alive and can be rescued, so I agree if you take action.”
Martin still glared at his brother with fierce eyes.
He wanted to kill him.
Even though Ernant had kindly revealed Julia’s location, she wouldn’t have been in danger if he hadn’t kidnapped her in the first place.
He truly wanted to kill the man in front of him, but—
“I need to hurry…”
There was no time to kill.
Recovering Julia was the priority.
Ernant was, after all, an emperor, and killing him would require a careful plan and a lot of time.
So killing him would have to wait until after Julia was safe.
Bang!
Martin slammed the door roughly as he left the audience chamber.
Alone, Ernant let out a long sigh.
Then:
Clang!
He threw his teacup to the floor with force.
Martin’s words repeated over and over in his mind:
“I’ve always had the power to kill you. From the moment I awakened my abilities, I could have burned you to ashes anytime.”
He had said he could have killed Ernant anytime, but didn’t because he didn’t care.
The arrogance typical of someone with awakened abilities was infuriating enough to want to kill.
But what Ernant could not tolerate even more was himself—for not being able to refute those words despite his hatred of Martin’s attitude.
Ernant already knew.
If Martin had wanted, he could have taken everything from him anytime.
The throne, his life, Julia—everything.
“I can’t lose… I absolutely can’t…”
Muttering to the empty air, Ernant rushed out of the audience chamber.
A steward, anxiously waiting in the hallway, hurriedly asked:
“Your Majesty, where are you going in such a rush—”
“The laboratory. I need to see how far today’s research has progressed.”
Ernant, who had not been chosen by the gods and had no innate abilities, still had hope.
The research being conducted in the underground lab, funded with huge investments and the sacrifice of countless death-row prisoners—
If it succeeded, he would gain powers like Martin’s.
No matter the cost, even if he had to sell his soul, he would gain abilities stronger than Martin’s.
Resolved, he headed for the underground lab.
Meanwhile, I had not simply been idling in the grand temple.
I thought hard.
How could I secretly inform the commander of my situation without being discovered by Ernant?
No revolutionary ideas came to mind.
I wanted to go directly to the garrison, but that was too dangerous.
Karl would still be with the commander.
If I went there, Ernant would find out my location through Karl, who had been planted as a spy in the knights.
I considered sending a communication device secretly… but that too was problematic.
Such devices were extremely rare, even the emperor had very few.
I could not ask Fritz to lend one just to communicate more conveniently with the commander.
Just staying here already caused enough trouble.
So, I finally chose to write a letter.
I immediately took pen and paper from the bedroom and began writing:
Greetings, Commander,
Were you able to defeat the Winter Queen?
I apologize for suddenly disappearing.
I ended up somewhere unusual while fleeing from a monster attack.
I am at the Grand Temple. Please do not tell anyone I am here. I will explain why later.
I did not mention that Karl and Raymont had kidnapped me.
The commander would never forgive a betrayer.
