Dark Dad's Rebirth - Chapter 15. What lies behind Hope (2)

Chapter 15. What lies behind Hope (2)

Caelius regretted his actions once he saw the consequences. He realized the harm he had caused Aria, even though he didn’t intend to harm the child she was carrying.

He realized he couldn’t stop many people from using the Grand Duke’s tome. It’s different to have a vague suspicion of the Emperor’s Mantle’s existence than to see it manifested.

Caelius acknowledged his role in the situation. He would have gone on his own in a few days.

He looked into the distance and saw the impressive Imperial Palace. Users rushed out of the great hall below the windows, hiding Aria, who was unaware of the situation.

As Aria moved away, Caelius felt himself losing his grip on reason. Eventually, she disappeared from his sight, and he left the Great Palace.

* * *

Caelius felt like the palace was new to him, even though he had lived there for almost half of his life.

He once dreamed of claiming everything for himself: the palace, the throne, and all the power it held.

But now, standing amid the opulence, he felt disconnected. His reflection in the mirror showed grey hair and lifeless eyes, seeming a world away from imperial grandeur. Strangely, he no longer craved power.

His mind was consumed by memories of Aria. He couldn’t get rid of the image of her face, filled with an emotion he couldn’t name but feared would destroy him.

It was amusing to watch Aria move around like a squirrel, mimicking his movements. She appeared foolish, but in reality, she was quicker than anyone, seeking his attention with loving eyes and lashing out with ruthless words when she was angry.

Looking back, Caelius was always lenient with Aria. He was even willing to give up the throne for her peace of mind.

Caelius walked slowly through the palace, savoring the memories of his childhood that flooded back as he passed through the familiar corridors. He took deliberate steps, reliving the past.

As he walked, a palace servant approached him with concern. “Grand Duke, why have you come without a letter?”

Caelius replied flatly, “What’s the use of a letter when I’m here to see my brother?” He left the confused servant behind.

Approaching the Emperor’s chamber, Caelius was surrounded by a swarm of escorts and felt a strange tension in the air. The chamberlain tried to stop him, citing the Emperor’s busy schedule, but Caelius ignored him and pushed open the door to the throne room.

Caelius startled Azekrisis with his sudden entry. Azekrisis was surprised by Caelius’ boldness. It is unusual to enter the Emperor’s office without proper notice.

Azekrisis quickly composed himself and hid any hint of embarrassment. As Caelius observed his brother, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed. His brother seemed distant and unfamiliar, unlike his once cheerful and gentle self.

Caelius felt nauseous and wondered how his relationship with his brother had come to this point.

He dismissed the idea with a bitter smile. Their relationship was likely built on lies anyway.

Caelius walked heavily to his office, and the knights around him became immediately tense. Some had fought alongside him in life-and-death battles, but now their loyalty felt distant and meaningless.

As a child, Caelius had imagined these knights standing by his side as he ascended to the throne. However, he now realizes that such fantasies are ridiculous and pointless.

Although the guards insisted otherwise, Caelius entered the throne room and locked eyes with Azekrisis. He stood rigidly, still displaying a hint of his former arrogance.

“Grand Duke, bow to the Emperor,” a servant reminded him, but Azekrisis responded casually, trying to dispel the tension in the air.

“It’s done. There’s no need for brotherly courtesy,” Caelius declared firmly, disregarding the expected formalities.

“Your Majesty…!”

Caelus’ directness cut short the servant’s protest. Azekrisis seemed disturbed. Caelius noticed that his brother’s appearance and build had not changed much since their youth.

Azekrisis wore the crown, but he seemed uncomfortable as emperor. Caelius suspected that Azekrisis was aware of this, which might explain his attempts to undermine him.

Azekrisis’s golden hair shone brightly. This was in sharp contrast to his recent orders to harm Aria. The incongruity made Caelius’s lips twitch with contempt.

Caelus finally broke the silence and said, “You seem to be doing well, brother.” Azekrisis felt uneasy and quickly continued, trying to hide his concern.

“I was genuinely worried when you disappeared for a while. You have no idea.”

Caelius nodded in response to the greeting. The knights relaxed their guard slightly. They thought the meeting between the two brothers would go smoothly.

But the calm was short-lived. In the blink of an eye, Caelius closed the distance between them, standing face-to-face with the Emperor.

“Thank goodness,” whispered Caelius amidst the sudden tension in the room.

Before anyone could react, Caelius’s hand was at Azekrisis’s throat, squeezing tightly. The startled Emperor struggled, attempting to reach for a hidden dagger, but Caelius swiftly disarmed him.

Although it would have been easy for Caelius to end Azekrisis’s life at that moment, he hesitated. He sought only Azekrisis’s crown, not his death. He wanted to ensure that he achieved his goal without unnecessary haste.

Caelius instantly thrust his longsword through Azekrisis’ chest, overpowering the golden glow that tried to shield him. The knights who sought to protect the Emperor were unable to reach him.

Caelius drove his sword deeper into the wound. He twisted his mouth as he did so. Aria’s voice echoed in his head.

  -” If I asked you to, would you give up the throne?”

-” Give up the dukedom and the imperial title. Hide your identity and name. Live in a small town in the south, away from the prying eyes of the world. Can you live like that?”

He had to have it. But now, he couldn’t. For old Caelius, power was his reason for living. Losing what he thought defined him from day one and living without the possibility of getting it back seemed impossible.

Caelius thought, ‘It’s done.’ He watched as the golden eyes gazed back at him in surprise.

The office, once peaceful, is now a bloodbath. The Emperor’s Azekrisis, which Caelius desired so much, is stained with blood and no longer serves its purpose.

Azekrisis’s body was infused with imperial power. It was his last line of defense to protect himself. However, Caelius was undaunted by this familiar sight. He swiftly cut off Azekrisis’s air supply with little resistance.

Caelius watched the golden glow of power fade away. He thought to himself, ‘If the gods punish me, I will not regret this decision,’ his eyes fixed on the fading light.

By now, Aria should be far from the capital, safe from harm.

The knights did not hesitate to drive their swords into Caelius’s back as soon as the last traces of power vanished. Caelius lay motionless, unable to scream, with so many blades piercing his body.

Knowing that he wouldn’t live if he killed Azekrisis like this, he didn’t fight back much.

Aria finally had the freedom she desperately wanted, and her life was no longer in danger.

Caelius coughed loudly, and then hot blood gurgled and poured from his mouth.

Caelius was not like Azekrisis, who shone until the very end. There was nothing around Caelius.