Chapter 91 – Reign of Terror

In the Grand Audience Chamber of the imperial palace, cabinet ministers and those registered on the noble registry gathered in large numbers.

The summon was issued under the joint names of the Princess and the Prime Minister.

That fact alone was enough to explain the nature of today’s meeting.

The throne was empty, and the Empire had lost its master to lead the country.

None of those who came expected a light announcement.

“Prime Minister, is the agreement with Her Highness finalized?”

Those aligned with the Prime Minister asked in anxiety.

Before answering, the Prime Minister recalled what had happened a few days ago.

He had gone to find the Princess, who was in deep grief over the death of the Emperor, but had been unable to meet her due to Ryden’s obstruction, and the moment he met her was a day after that.

He had informed her of the details agreed upon the previous day, and after remaining in silence for a while, she spoke with an expression of having resolved something.

That she understood.

Recalling the memory of that day, the Prime Minister spoke to those staring intently at him.

“We have reached an agreement with Her Highness. Her Highness will ascend to the regency and permit the Council.”

Those who remembered the Princess’s usual demeanor could not hide their confusion.

“She… permitted that? It is strange that she complied without saying much.”

“At first she said nothing, but then she told me to prepare a grand audience. Although ascending to the regency cannot be the same as ascending the throne, she must have thought that level of formality was necessary since she would formally become the proxy ruler leading the country. I also agreed.”

Those present nodded, roughly imagining what was to come.

“The long, long era of the imperial family is finally coming to an end. It will be a historic day.”

“The Guild Federation will probably be the happiest. Didn’t they support the Council more than anyone else?”

“If that is the case, we can also look forward to financial support that was cut off to resume.”

“More importantly, Her Highness is later than usual. It is about time she arrived.”

When the buzzing reached its peak.

The massive gates of the Grand Audience Chamber opened, and someone appeared along with the knights of the Imperial Guard.

As if mourning the deceased Emperor.

The Princess was wearing a black dress.

She was originally a woman of intense impression, but on this day, even her eyes were different.

It was a gaze that overwhelmed everyone, on a completely different level from usual.

“Her Highness has arrived.”

Everyone gathered in the Grand Audience Chamber bowed respectfully toward her.

For she was virtually the last remaining member of the imperial family.

Receiving everyone’s hospitality, the Princess stopped her steps before long.

Before her, the vacant throne and the small seat of regency below it were visible.

Everyone expected her to ascend the seat of regency with one mind.

Only then would the chaotic political situation be settled to some extent.

However, defying everyone’s expectations, the seat she occupied was not the seat of regency, but the imperial throne.

Everyone in the Grand Audience Chamber was shocked, and among them, the Prime Minister was the most enraged.

“What are you all doing! Drag her down immediately! It is treason!”

The soldiers guarding the inside of the audience chamber attempted to move, but they were immediately blocked by the Imperial Guard knights.

The buzzing did not stop, and Ryden, who was with the Imperial Guard knights, unconsciously glanced at her as she sat on the throne.

‘So… that was what she meant?’

Having resolved everything the day before, she had called Ryden quietly and spoken to him.

To protect her by her side no matter what happened in the future.

The expression of Ryden, who recalled the memory, could not find its direction.

It was an extremely complex and tangled expression.

“Her Highness! That is a clear act of treason. Do you really not know the imperial law? According to the imperial prophecy passed down through generations…”

Ascending the imperial throne situated higher than anyone else.

The Princess, looking down with a chilling gaze, suppressed the Prime Minister’s mouth with her eyes alone.

It was the manifestation of authority.

“Listen. From now on, I am the State.”

Everyone froze.

Although they had much to say and many thoughts arose.

Strangely, their bodies were gradually, endlessly lowering themselves.

“I will issue only one clear command to you all. Do not disobey my words in the future.”

At this moment, the vampire nobles felt it with their entire bodies.

That the true Emperor, who had been hiding behind a false Emperor all this time, had revealed herself.

“Vestra Maiestas!”

Those who could not overcome the authority chanted in unison to welcome the new Emperor.

Among them was Prime Minister Noctis, who had been crying out treason just moments ago.

“Prime Minister.”

At her call.

Prime Minister Noctis walked out and stood in a place where he was clearly visible to her.

At the end of his gaze was she, who had ascended to an endlessly high position.

“I hear you were the first to bring up the Council in the previous private meeting.”

The Prime Minister, overwhelmed by authority, did not offer any resistance.

He only showed absolute loyalty.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I was the first to bring up that talk in the place where Your Majesty was absent.”

“Mentioning the Council itself is an insult to the imperial family.”

The Prime Minister did not resist.

“There is no room for doubt. It is an insult to the imperial family.”

The crimson eyes looking down at him were calm, without a single tremor.

“Commit suicide. And have this man’s head hung on display in the plaza.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Before anyone could step forward.

The Prime Minister snatched a soldier’s ceremonial sword and slit his own throat to commit suicide.

The bloody wind did not stop there.

It was merely the beginning.

Her coldly settled gaze lightly scanned the frozen audience chamber.

“All those who have advocated for the Council even once, step forward. Let me see your faces.”

Those who originally had strong antipathy toward the Council did not budge, but those who shared the Prime Minister’s will or thought similarly gathered in the middle of the Grand Audience Chamber.

Though they did not resist as they succumbed to authority, as if they knew what was to come, the bottom of their trousers was slowly becoming wet.

The new Emperor proclaimed to everyone.

“As of this moment, everyone who has advocated for the Council even once will be executed without exception. There is not a single exception. Since the mention itself was an insult to the imperial family. Commander of the Imperial Guard.”

Marcus, the Commander of the Imperial Guard, bowed to her with absolute precision, sharper than ever before.

“Yes, Your Majesty. From now on, I will have anyone who brings up the talk of the Council beheaded.”

“Keep in mind that there is not a single exception.”

Marcus was extremely excited.

That the fate of himself and the Imperial Guard, which he thought would end with the Emperor’s death,

would be revived because of her awakening.

For her authority had already reached him since long ago.

With a face brighter than anyone else’s, he displayed sincere loyalty.

“By imperial command, I will have them all beheaded without exception.”

“And confiscate all the assets of those executed. Since the state treasury is empty, we must fill it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will have everything returned to the state treasury without leaving a single thing behind.”

It was then.

“Her Highness!”

It was Ryden.

He rushed out to a spot where she could see him clearly, raising his voice while showing a knight’s bow.

“This is not right!”

The Commander of the Imperial Guard glared at him in anger.

‘That fellow!’

Ryden, completely unconcerned with his gaze, stepped forward to persuade her.

“Are you going to kill them all? The number of those who have advocated for the Council or thought about it even once is not just one or two.”

Behind Ryden.

The ministers and nobles who had gathered upon receiving the prior command were surrounded by the Imperial Guard knights.

If the persuasion failed, they were all destined to be beheaded.

“…”

The Emperor’s gaze fell upon him.

Her mouth was firmly shut, but she had no intention of scolding him.

As if ignoring him.

She spoke to Marcus.

“Execute it as it is.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Horrific screams followed behind Ryden.

Ryden froze in shock, just as he was.

“Sir Ryden. Raise your head.”

Ryden raised his head like a broken machine to look at her.

“I will not stop. If you dislike me being like this, you may leave.”

Of course, she knew that he would not be able to leave.

“Or just keep in mind the words I requested of you yesterday. To stay by my side until the end and protect me.”

She became a cold-blooded Emperor again, wielding her authority like a whip.

“The rest of you, listen. No act of insulting the imperial family will be tolerated from now on. I am the State, and the State is I.”

Everyone who had lost their reason and did not resist

bowed solemnly to her.

“Vestra Maiestas!”

* * *

Those who had advocated for the Council along with the Prime Minister were all hung on display in the plaza.

Furthermore, on that day, hundreds of political prisoners were dragged to the plaza and publicly executed under the pretext of insulting the imperial family.

However, that was merely the beginning.

The next day, even more people were dragged to the plaza and lost their lives, and the day after that, dozens of guillotines lined the plaza.

Thereafter, hundreds of people began to be publicly executed every day.

With the ascension of the new Emperor, the Reign of Terror had begun.

[Full application of imperial insult charges… Hundreds of political party and Council associates publicly executed daily -Imperial Daily-]

[Imperial Family: ‘No exceptions to insults’… Hundreds sent to the plaza daily -Capital News-]

Rashid looked at the headlines of the newspapers placed on his office desk.

He could not help but smile bitterly.

‘It has begun.’

The Reign of Terror began simultaneously with the awakening of the Empress of Blood.

‘Even if Kaiser fails, that woman will not stop. Since she will kill everyone who goes against her will.’

She would not care even if that numbered in the millions.

She was someone that sincere about protecting the imperial authority and the throne.

‘By the way. I did not expect this.’

In addition, his office also began to grow busy day after day with visiting guests.

Whether they heard the news from somewhere, the number of people voluntarily claiming to be heretics to avoid the imperial family’s bloodshed had increased.

Furthermore, the majority of them were high-ranking nobles or officials.

Rashid listened to the complaint of a certain count sitting across from him in the reception room.

“So, what you are saying, Count, is that you want me to arrest you instead?”

“Yes. I heard that you protected the representative of the Golden Age Party in that manner in the past. Is that not so?”

“Where on earth did you hear that story?”

“You might not have known, but it is quite famous. Moreover, are you not publicly supporting the Golden Age Party? Yet the imperial family has been unable to lay a finger on you.”

Rashid smiled as if to show him.

“That may be so. But, well, that is out of the question. I am a man of the Order, after all.”

“Then I request the same. Of course, I intend to reward you handsomely. No, I will accept whatever you propose.”

After the ascension of the new Emperor.

The entire imperial capital was blockaded.

The second bloody purge, led by the Imperial Guard, had begun.

Thus, those scheduled for execution who could not escape the imperial capital had no choice but to seek out the Order.

Here, Rashid was the best option they could choose.

When he reluctantly arrested the count like that,

this time, a marquis came to visit.

“Looking at how things are turning out, I must first survive. The Imperial Guard is running wild right now. Anyone related to the Council even once is being dragged to the plaza and having their head chopped off.”

“Even so, should someone who is a marquis voluntarily claim to be a heretic?”

The marquis spoke as if about to cry.

“Is that not the heaviest charge in the Order? To survive, I should stay here for as long as possible. Or is there a charge more serious than heresy? It is just a nominal charge anyway, is it not? Please apply whatever you want, Inquisitor, as you please.”

Rashid spoke as if showing generosity.

“Let’s just do this. Heresy is too severe, so I will arrest you under suspicion of being a Player instead. Identifying Players is at my discretion. That will be better for you. You can leave whenever you want.”

“Thank you very much for being so considerate.”

“Ah, and.”

Rashid was not a philanthropist.

“I hear that if you are executed in the plaza, all of your assets will be confiscated regardless of who you are?”

“Yes, I heard that too. It is an absurd measure, but everyone seems to have gone mad and is just complying.”

The marquis brought up a story he had happened to hear.

“There are widespread rumors that the Empress who ascended the throne this time possesses authority. I could not participate in the grand audience due to business, but if I had, I would have died right then and there.”

“Authority… It must be true. Otherwise, the current situation would be hard to explain.”

“No one can oppose an Emperor who possesses authority. If you resist, it is the end.”

“The Order is different. So you do not have to worry too much.”

Rashid suddenly had a thought.

That an opportunity to make a large sum of money had arisen.

“In that case, I will take exactly half. This is not limited only to you, Marquis, but is the same thing I told all the nobles who came to find me. No one pays more; it is the same standard for everyone. Instead, I will guarantee your safety, Marquis. No matter how powerful the imperial family is, they will not be able to pry into this place. That is the same even for an Emperor with authority.”

The marquis raised a question.

“Even for His Majesty the Emperor with authority?”

Would that be possible?

Only such questions lingered, but there was no change in Rashid’s attitude.

‘Because I can stop her authority.’

The Immortal Heart.

Was that truly just a simple treasure of the imperial family?

“Just trust me. In return, I will take the payment for sure. Half of your assets.”

Half of one’s assets.

But there was no choice if he wanted to live.

“It is not easy. I understand. Instead, make sure to protect me. If I die, it will be a moot point anyway.”

Rashid showed a deep smile.

“The Imperial Guard will not even be able to cross the entrance of the Basilica. Furthermore, this is the most authoritative place in the Order. Unless the imperial family is prepared to wage war against us, they will not be able to touch a single hair on your head, Marquis. I promise you.”