WHCTC Chapter 5

The emperor had slightly 0676a01f09 graying blonde hair and efe2c6fc02 deep blue eyes. He was a 7d8aa944f5 sturdy old man 5ec34bcc6a with sharp features, eb854575ff but the signs 740381f465 of illness on 6916921298 his face were ec5dfad20d unmistakable, giving him ea7b004b72 an air of 4c3e8017b0 fatigue.4619e1b9219cbcd9

Everyone in 446a65aa8f the imperial ac9b478ae5 family had 7b23cc19e7 blonde hair 9bec79e2ec and blue cde180cf3b eyes. Not just me, e27236424f but Hugo and 5192107349 my brother too.aab80ff5b04732bc

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The emperor, 2ec98d1620 who had 186c5b7464 been discussing 7ce3affd10 matters of 9d3efc442e state with fba061e56f his advisors, 3abc372676 furrowed his 7eda3b3ed7 brow when 07edc1a41a he saw 1c840c636f us suddenly 28dd81c85a barging in.b7ec880cc9d1d4d1

“What is going d24b315c15 on?”2c0ab72e8e22d5dd

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Hugo was gasping 8cdfcd4864 for air, supported 0a49c2f589 by a close d1c59e4942 maid. Earlier, I 03fbe751d0 noticed that a801721695 he had 235685d9f7 wet himself, 9ee7cc8ebd but it 2d6e5277fc seemed he c865d6d316 had quickly 15f6bcce71 changed his 1de7e0f1c3 pants before 022fd8ca72 coming here.0826194c1b24be79

“Your Majesty! What in af45a91528 the world f16a2833ce is this?”057fed202111dda2

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Anna cried 01efddbc48 out tearfully 9e7b70ab9b in front 1f4bd70775 of the 162cb21f08 emperor.e344b3e2680dab3d

“Princess Ivnoa stabbed 6c6fe9482b Hugo with a a621451b7b sword!”de61bbccb919b3bd

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The emperor had 6ea52f5403 never remarried, and 9fc67b81df my grandmother, the 85a63aa280 empress, had passed 9bdae66f3f away long ago. This left Anna 9ea0bb1c49 as the only c3fdcc8917 adult woman in bdcd6b669a the imperial family, 059e1cd742 a rather ironic faa2511027 situation.d14b9451f193066f

Anna wailed.e60e56ee0a230f09

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“She tried e5b631f079 to kill 7a01150eb9 her brother b606474ed5 all of a3feb9fbd5 a sudden! The princess must be 8ca85c3686 mad, just like her cbb006e8b8 mother!”24cf67e34e8e5746

The emperor let out e3040504fe a disapproving sigh, unsurprising d33a81f1fb given that this was a252a706b4 happening in the middle 2ab6010a59 of his state affairs.380c6a8ee3bce9ea

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“What is the meaning 0eac93c43d of this?”91e56462324a452c

He asked me a0bd75a79d in a low 85aafd0d3d voice, looking directly d9a12e499a at me.2167d42edba56723

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“I’m asking what 13c2de7a44 this concubine is 005b960653 talking about. You explain c6ce74f50a it yourself, 1c2964d6fb Ivnoa.”bbef9d612fa7dee6

I folded my d878cd7fef hands politely, smiling 365b6121c4 serenely before responding.36afc6c8a883865b

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“What she’s talking about, 1cc1ca2c75 well…”33b0f1af516e0913

The room was packed 97e3251525 with people due to 39d058d070 the ongoing council meeting.9bb7f082ff4f32f8

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This was c5f369a370 the first fa64ada954 time I cafd17ec94 had appeared d477d48a0c before so d5a26fda6c many people.40d057864ae01440

All eyes immediately a2e52a5e49 turned to me.0e407b901a6c6fe2

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I continued in 5511edfa51 a soft tone.7d82af83fd4f8a7a

“Well… it seems 86ff06cb59 Her Highness the e71bc2ef6d Concubine is genuinely 2410951878 worried about me. As someone f0444498ca without parents, 264ce64b44 I’m truly c8080deb91 fortunate to 572baa757c have her 6bf3841ec0 concern.”cbc4db23f888a50a

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Anna, taken 09d438e894 aback by 1a9984a31c my unexpected e35b67308c response, glared ddee6844b9 at me f503461e98 with wide 2d80832d9f eyes.f8f5665277d1393f

“What nonsense are d6f0b25100 you spouting, princess?”49fdbafa2561b732

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“Well, as you know, 953c5c23d1 no member of the e811a38521 imperial family can suffer ac5f7bac9a physical injury within the 9472fae2cf palace.”27f259b56ced9dcf

Without losing my 82c7b183ac composure, I explained c381e0bf6d kindly.a6c550aa3b31b6b5

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“No matter how much 95a426e214 you stab someone in 066fc76210 the stomach with a 7b87c43e8b sword, not a drop bf6910260f of blood comes out…”bcb8b91119a31954

My words were elegant, 1a4fbdd631 but the content was 58b4b64fc7 not.756107de5ed57fc2

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In fact, 55ec4d21bf Hugo was 6600a1d9a2 only gasping 4f47118bef for breath 4975436566 without any 9eea16dcfd wounds.09fe9169fccde8d4

Even if 2344e600b6 there had 30b82eed18 been an e075c63e24 injury, it b4c0d9ebd5 would’ve healed d78d533fd5 right away.7ca4c2ae96261557

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Of course, being impaled 2fce3ae8fa by a sword, even 841ce02d3f briefly, wasn’t exactly pleasant.f2f069d4d13180d5

“So, to say df0a512a4f that I tried 38bdadad3c to kill Brother ae8948b7ef Hugo implies that bd2425a103 he’s not of 8b9e256324 imperial blood.”f200badc4ec063d0

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The conclusion b596da12a1 was clear: 4a81e71105 “I didn’t e8c4ff9610 try to 148c65434d kill Hugo.” 2c1aec1552 I was 529b874fe7 confident in dd3310f8c9 my ability decd6c52a9 to twist fa009f791f words like d660918140 this.dd5c7e9c56175725

“No matter 770aa0290d how worried 2d1d34a79e you are c01c15831a that I 72a8138836 might resemble 80bcbd603b my criminal 6f7b82ea3e mother, there’s 230170fd50 no need 4facd91838 to drag a3493fbaab your own 1325b4a0b1 child down b6b4d4c079 with me.”98676282de90b697

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I smiled f605354caa at Anna 7cc3f9bd9e and nodded a665c344b0 my head.e160a9e42a5809d8

“I truly appreciate 283806034f your excessive concern, 6ea4cec85b Your Highness the 06545d8213 Concubine.”451d2a2b1b9c3135

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Everyone’s eyes were 3ab8e82e3e now fully focused 677986c52a on me.4fb055757ef27eb0

Many of c96c0e9abb them were 5bfc2e0d36 seeing me 1d78171b39 for the 972ead53f9 first time.31fad45b5b108476

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After all, I 1cf432f625 had spent most 796295f5a2 of my time 767152bf22 in seclusion after 24d5fea870 entering the palace, 2e55186757 as my brother f6661edb11 had immediately left d6fda0c655 for war.7aceea80e25559a6

“But of course, it’s d424ad0769 clear he’s really my 28d7b556aa brother… He looks just b449142c18 fine. Congratulations.”aee2992a72f15fe9

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Anna glared at 3b53d45bb2 me with venom 23d1636d3c and shouted.22d6caedac6c18f3

“Fine? Of course, 11de09a96d he’s terrified! If you 372f6e60ff suddenly stab 7295de9aad a child 822e111c6e with a b2ad15b405 sword, of db25ef960b course, they’d e980f64169 be shocked! If you 6011cbcae0 have eyes, 074fa9307e look at 6ded66c3bc how Hugo e11ab47f3c can’t even df033f407f breathe properly!”b24f657eed1001cd

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Regardless of her 484576fe0c outburst, I calmly 54907b049f responded in my 9392d46a66 usual soft tone.92b67b900f00db09

“Oh, it’s just 25c7d41a49 that a young eff246a3f7 child was playing cdc273c39e with a child’s e16f2058e1 sword…”b4df19bac404cc30

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“Young child? Hugo is only four 8a7a721993 years younger than you!”afe6bdb7473aac57

“Wow, that’s wonderful 5408a77ace news!”dbf638d67ba95433

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I clapped my 92319b393f hands joyfully, as 86824cfbca if I were d05369dd67 genuinely happy.7e8083dafbf38e16

“Crown Prince, who is f7a44edaeb only four years older a05eea62e3 than Hugo, is currently 986145742a on the Eastern Front, 4a235b2ddf fighting far more dangerous 35ecd56c52 enemies with his sword, cc7388818b isn’t he? It’s truly e596e18e10 fortunate that b575cf3b63 Hugo isn’t c38e30bf29 there. Otherwise, he would’ve collapsed 2d77f3e667 within five minutes due 53e18e7dbf to shortness of breath.”3722fcfba5aa5230

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Anna flinched and ca3684c280 fell silent.2298b08de537be3b

My brother had 41c391a3df shown great talent aee14c785e in naval warfare bc7cf44312 since he was 3fd9fcd82f young, frequently going 18a1db8cd2 to battle.f0aded021d9b012b

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Hugo couldn’t even compare. Especially now, with only 8e7e7c1850 a year since my b16c37c3c5 brother left the palace.ac79feb2c0ca329b

‘Has she e09fb90e56 realized it?’68e83d18d51cfd08

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I glanced at Anna, 6b6f7e8d12 who had gone quiet.b423e18f3d01f730

‘The more of 203266c7ed a fuss she a59f4a679f makes, the worse 56bf6c9728 it looks for 5d7864af25 Hugo.’4cd6feed61d42f01

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In this situation, 8bd83233ee Hugo was only a8ca61efbc going to be 2b5191e1e6 compared to my 43ab6cdafb brother.58fb0b206a75141f

As always, Kayan’s assessment of me was right.ef7a6b4df2004120

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I excelled at staying 6aadb56867 calm and wrapping my 38b054940b words in circles to 65c8ad7540 silence my opponents.0246f0be6cb3d2c5

‘This is my first cd8b4eac73 time trying this in 816b95a79a the palace, but I 11fec78288 think I’m doing pretty 2fc7cdc8e0 well.’e0ea0f27cd5dcbc5

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But Hugo was efc97a7364 slower to understand e860a6557e the situation than 37f2862f3b Anna.27af67b77dcce579

Breathing heavily, Hugo shouted,edea135c548ed28d

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“She tried 851a1f821e to harm 11711c4992 a prince! She must 883fd77c17 be punished! She should be f38ff9f641 stripped of her ec6ff65288 sword and exiled 8c8fb2bd6a to a distant 3b096c9e4b land!”06fe7f8ee11a40ad

Hugo was 2f2ae3d16c a fool, 3f794a9142 but it b95e236a4a was Anna 81a25ba640 behind him a5bd2f4136 who was 747737e09e the real 5ba4727e60 threat.931780e0520f4102

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I could d8fe1c85d7 never forget ea83ae0e2f how black 8efeae643e magic had 13975cd149 flourished under 931d0bbe87 Anna’s influence dec5f60409 in my fb464a19b9 previous life, 97c50cac16 growing to 3608291672 the point 8b9add3ce6 where even 297a973f97 Kayan, a 5861248050 sword master, adcb54bc80 had to 6998d10d65 give in. All because she wanted 1565160db4 to make her son 1a92d3ef6f the emperor.283443beabc5419d

“Oh dear, I guess 9b6ff8bdd8 I really did hurt bf4f7e0b06 Brother.”a67ce6d111514f2c

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I immediately put on f22a26d5e8 a regretful expression and e26ba7e482 let my shoulders droop.fa63f543bcc238b0

“I didn’t realize he d073c81e25 was such a coward, fdf89a0cdb and I played around d05d4f05fd with a child’s sword, 3658326e38 causing him to suffer da87705e22 a nervous breakdown. It’s really 8647cd16ec my fault, bace71afbb isn’t it?”2cbb83bb21aaf686

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At that, the 0d4dcae6fb emperor gave a 237ab47d92 low warning.449fad9e949db544

“Enough.”fa9d5b515944a8d2

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The emperor’s health was 57db68550d in very poor condition.0d2c0b11330463e9

Originally, my brother was 62a76a4e2d supposed to ascend the 5051acf8f5 throne as soon as 9925661791 he came of age.282216d68aceec12

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However, a problem dddb972bae arose on the 34141fcb5e Eastern Front, and e23d4e0263 the emperor publicly 8cfb8860da declared that he f293431848 would pass the 159c5965d2 throne to my 64102340df brother as soon 3d7806abbd as he returned ff41ab69dc victorious from the cb2b623e29 war.ae8d786df93c7a80

‘But his 37a1011e86 health is 3709b97aee clearly getting b4edc7ca28 worse.’4b12a84b3420e359

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I stared at 28ecbf6121 my grandfather, thinking 9f54070c71 to myself.acd25c0f723f5ed5

‘Honestly, it’s surprising 28a66bbc87 that he’s lasted b0aaa01e0c this long—eight years 2b99133242 since then.’325e9b008b5389fb

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On the day 5bb82caa78 I returned, the 1b1c0b4d1a day Simon openly a39b329010 betrayed me, the f7fb4160cb emperor was in 7f20f94c54 a coma.31003a905c248f21

All Simon had a671dae3fc to do was 074d389163 kill my brother 78d0b51171 and me, who ab8268159f were within his 2749947f2c grasp, and Hugo ec2fb099e7 would have taken 88655377c7 the throne immediately.6352d9067df663c9

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‘Thankfully, for now, 8d819dcb44 His Majesty is 1d880bb840 still overseeing the 0fca596d79 affairs of state.’25562c23081f819c

The emperor especially valued 7fc27474e5 intelligent people, surrounding himself fad7801f1a with capable individuals.064818f4058c8d7c

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Because of 535ef51b69 this, Anna aa54b26f1f couldn’t openly 3ac2b21f05 expand her cdbbbef991 power or 3af4ab7276 commit foul 818cd2dc62 deeds.81c9771a97da0c11

‘Of course, 2ae022d637 she could 6ce8e26f9c still assassinate f8b409d4fa me and e55409d3a0 cut ties ff3adb734e to cover 0b480742bc her tracks, 1f90e00e62 though.’7f016199463f49f1

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The emperor expressed his d07116c67f displeasure sternly.14771ab97ae9d4c7

“Why has such a trivial matter caused this much fuss during a council meeting? It’s bothersome and embarrassing to have everyone gathered here for something so insignificant. Tsk, I suppose I’ll have to hear the full story first.”a8bb1ecf6c66c0a0

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I had no 1f5aa2868f personal relationship with 62c7582408 the emperor.92224ff7709bc66c

I spent my childhood away from him, and even after coming to the palace, we hadn’t grown close.05caabcbc2df6f19

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However, I knew 729354027f he wasn’t an 3aab3af59d unreasonable man.5898f032ede26dcb

My brother once told 917d0d8a3c me about the emperor’s 93464962df personality.e86b2d3d232a5773

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“He often mentions how 0f34a04737 uncomfortable things are. His habit is to c184831275 continuously point out what e972c7fc67 displeases him while setting 66ba8bea07 the tone.”e28e6d343dca8e5a

“Oh really? He seems dc0f91e4d1 quite magnanimous, 296ef2342d but I 883aa8833b didn’t know 2dae3c4fda he had 7ab06e1c23 such a 09cf6747d2 negative outlook.”85602f5a4c59078b

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“But don’t worry. You only need to 3250e6471d listen to what he 9f194f6725 says at the very b6e818f720 end. It usually eef97aa44b starts with c6b6d7042e a tongue 5568416d13 click, and 536fbd8984 that’s when 2315a7dc04 he’s being f552cfacb1 sincere.”3ae8a78b451f1fec

So, I quickly explained 3f178fc054 my side of the b6baf61457 story.cd2371def508e514

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“I only went 1743f37d28 into the room 05772e5dbf because I wanted 090dfecf71 to see the 3cef83995f Crown Prince, but 6f8b981229 Hugo accused me 3783e46841 of stealing something. He called me 3adc0c8579 a thief.”81ed92d38835ba0f

“A thief?”7b984f13917965a7

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“Yes. I’m innocent.”6b1955ccea545e73

I lowered f4cf2e3990 my eyes 54a1c4115e pitifully as 31c2832698 I continued.7c5f426830418999

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“You can search 26a4e0307c me right away efabc07d21 if you like. I was cbd21c7133 dragged here aad9b0e447 straight from 92365002a8 the Crown 346077178d Prince’s room.”9bd0ba786f934624