Chapter 495: Chapter 495

(Ferdel POV)

The first time I met Caitel was when I was around seven years old.

It was a cold winter day; the 14th prince of Emperor Ivan, I only heard rumors regarding his meeting with Assisi in the corner of the garden where no light could reach.

An abandoned prince who wasn’t cared for, a child already pushed out of power.

I ran into him by chance, but I tried to find out who he was. It wouldn’t be too weird if the boy ended up dead.

I was young then, but I knew the truth about the world.

I knew the fact that he and I wouldn’t really fit in.

If Assisi hadn’t met him, I wouldn’t have met him.

If it weren’t for Silvia, I wouldn’t have even looked at him; I wasn’t interested and didn’t want to give him an ounce of affection.

That was what I thought.

Caitel went missing at the age of 13.

Right, the Palace fire of Caitel’s death case.

If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t even have a relationship with Caitel.

They thought he died at first. Seeing his palace burned to ashes, no one ever expected him to live. It was natural for anyone to assume that. Even I thought that he was dead.

I knew that he was a guy who was better off dead than alive. In that situation, his step-brother took over the regime, everyone who shared the blood was angered.

Even then, it felt utterly horrible that such a means was chosen.

Unlike Assisi, I knew that having contact with Caitel would only be signing up a death wish.

Even Caitel knew that. He and Assisi were children of prestigious families, and their friendship would be intimidating to the other members around them.

That was enough reason for people to point their swords at Caitel.

If the sixth prince weren’t stupid, he wouldn’t just leave that situation alone without verifying.

Thus, when Caitel returned, his survival shocked everyone. The sixth prince, who was already declared to be the Emperor’s heir in public, was also surprised.

After all, the person who shouldn’t be alive had returned.

Caitel had been dead for six whole years.

“Spare me, and I’ll give you everything you want.”

He was 19 then.

It hadn’t been long since Caitel had returned.

The sound of Caitel heading for someone’s bedroom at night.

No, he wasn’t exactly searching for someone.

It would be absurd to have the Viterbo mansion attacked, the most famous family in Agrigient; the best way to call it was that he came in like an assassin.

If we helped him, we would be provided with everything we needed.

What bullshit did that mean? I seriously wanted to ask if he was drunk, but I knew from the expression I saw with the night light that he was very much serious.

Without realizing it, I asked.

“What will you give?”

“Anything you want.”

I still had no idea what I was thinking then. Until now, I never knew whether the faint guilt feeling had stimulated that question or if I had the heart to help him.

I decided to help Caitel; that was the critical part.

Even if I didn’t accept the offer, he would have no problem making me work under him. It was clear that I would be held responsible for accepting the offer.

Nevertheless, I accepted.

And Caitel became the Emperor.

I never regretted that choice.

Caitel was a capable Emperor.

Right, he did everything to raise and create the Agrigient we knew, and he did so by going head-on into civil wars.

He had a natural ability to shine as an Emperor; no one could do what he did. The lonely life of an Emperor wasn’t a problem for Caitel, who grew up alone.

Sometimes, his cruel temper was a stumbling block, but my ability to cover it up managed Caitel’s faults. He had the best knowledge and was equally smart.

Orthodoxy, authority, charisma, and ability.

By just looking at the scene, who would turn down the offer from such a perfect Emperor who didn’t lack in any aspect?

I was lucky enough to be his Prime Minister; I was really lucky.

I wasn’t dissatisfied with the position he gave me. It must have been because he gave me a place comparable to the power of the Emperor. Although it was hard, I liked the fact that I could work at my own pace. Agrigient faced a crisis before Caitel disappeared, and I created the country I wanted.

That was rewarding.

Yes, they were good times.

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“Except for one.”

It was a relationship where one was dependent on the other, and they just annoyed each other to no end. That was Caitel and me, the position of Emperor and Prime Minister.

“Jero”

“Yes?”

Jero responded from the small spirit stone in a low voice. I tried to say something, but my thoughts weren’t adequately organized yet.

Well, it couldn’t be helped.

“Remember the papers I handed over in the past?”

“What documents are you talking about?”

“My financial journal.”

It was handwritten notes I had made during my time 20 years in office. It was a summary of the things I wished to see once someone inherited my position.

Even if I stayed far, the notes had been organized with the thought that the new person would feel a little at ease.

“Ah… yes. I remember. What about them?”

Jero didn’t seem to understand what I was talking about.

For me, that was the most crucial issue.

“Take it.”

“Huh… sorry?”

Jero seemed shocked; he seemed like he wanted to say something, but I ended the call. Anyway, I always knew that I would hand it over to Jero.

I felt dizzy, but the decision was already taken.

“It would be great if things could stay still.”

That would be a miracle.

Talking to myself, I smiled bitterly. I felt sad because I knew that this day would come.

“To catch a tiger in the absence of its keeper is a death wish.”

What else could I do? There was no other way.

There was nothing I could do to stop Caitel. Well, the good news was that he was more human than in the past! However, it was only in front of his daughter, whom he loved, so it was useless.

Caitel had changed.

He even surprises me with his changes. Right, he wasn’t even decent in the past. He was a walking disaster waiting to happen. More than ten people would die in Caitel’s hand a day; thus, the Imperial Palace always spilled blood.

Whenever the palace felt empty because of the war, I would feel relief, but all that would be for a short while.

I couldn’t help but frown. It was a short time, but I never regretted my choice to help Caitel and take up the throne, although such thoughts faded away with time.

A man’s nature would never change so easily.

“He improved, but…”

An unexpected problem.

Caitel was showing affection to his daughter, a devotion I never knew he could offer. Even if she was his daughter, I thought he wouldn’t love her because he knew what kind of blood flowed in her. After all, he was a man who had grown up in such an environment.

Caitel killed all of Agrigient’s contributors through different generations because they were related to the sixth prince and replaced the neighboring countries’ rulers because they either helped or supported the sixth prince.

When Emperor Hiblis insulted Caitel, I knew that Caitel would run around like a wild animal. All I could do was send my condolences to the man.

The Emperor of the Southern Empire laughed at Caitel without even knowing what kind of person he was. Like lightning, Caitel ravaged the Empire and took the king’s two daughters. Caitel defeated him, and he didn’t stop there; he killed all the royal family members.

“I think you knew best that enemies are everywhere.”

That was how it was. Everything was.

It was natural for enemies to appear anywhere. It wasn’t strange when people died. Someone had to die for Caitel to live. It was as if there was no tomorrow. Right, until Ria caught Caitel’s attention. Before that, Caitel was someone who didn’t value human life.

He had anything, but he was also the kind of man who would discard anything.

The people feared the invincible Emperor who had no weakness.

Every country was afraid of Caitel. The history of his victories had been written down in countless accounts, and the cruelty he showed when annihilating the royal family terrified the people terrified.

Thus, I had to make him more involved with Ria.

“Because you know well.”

It was his only weakness and the biggest weakness.

Even though I knew it, I never thought Caitel would change. It was something I couldn’t understand: Caitel, the war-loving freak, would give up warring and settle in the Imperial palace.

“It needs to end.”

Since there were enemies everywhere, I tried not to give any gaps to others. He was locking himself up; eventually, he would cover his ears and eyes then tie his arms and legs together.

However, Ria covered Caitel’s eyes and fled.

To a place out of his reach. Where he couldn’t protect her.

I knew what was happening, yet I couldn’t do anything. I stood and watched.

“I could do nothing.”

Things were already happening.