Emperor’s Alternate - Chapter 90

It was a dim dawn, two months after Lecan had received the title of Duke of Tenekban.

A night when the moonlight shone brilliantly.

Because Lecan always maintained a strict routine, he was, of course, asleep at dawn. Someone had opened his bedroom door without permission, and until his hand instinctively reached for his sword, he had been in a deep sleep.

Even the many guards posted in the hallway seemed to have joined in; they simply bowed their heads in silence. Lecan stared in disbelief at the crowd of subordinates that had flooded into his chamber.

‘All of them… fully armed and here for me?’

His subordinates were dressed head to toe in layers of heavy armor, as if heading off to war, each holding various weapons. Even with helmets on, their faces were clearly visible. Most of them were the heads of the “neutral” noble houses, and some even held banners in their hands.

Benedict, too, was fully armed and even the strategists, known more for their intellect than combat, were dressed for war. Lecan’s expression turned icy cold.

“What do you all think you’re doing, barging in at dawn?”

“Please ascend the throne, Your Majesty.”

“Please become the new ruler of the Empire, Your Majesty.”

Those at the front knelt in unison, followed quickly by those standing behind. Seeing the resolute light in their eyes, Lecan realized this was no spontaneous act. It had been meticulously planned. While he had remained silent and turned away, they must have gathered and conspired behind his back.

“…If you don’t want to be executed on the spot as traitors, I suggest you stop using that disgusting title.”

“Your Majesty! If we delay any longer, the Abel Empire will attempt to usurp this nation! The people, too, are yearning for your heroic leadership! The justification is clear! We’ve already won over the gatekeepers guarding the palace. If we move while they’re off guard, we can seize the throne without bloodshed!”

“Silence!”

Even as Lecan raised his sword and shouted, they showed no signs of retreat this time.

“If Your Majesty abandons us now, we’re all as good as dead traitors by morning! We’ve already staked our lives on this revolution. If we must die by your hand, so be it! But our private forces are already marching toward the imperial palace. Even if Your Majesty refuses to act, the revolution has begun! You are our rightful lord, and whether you lead us or not, you cannot escape punishment. This fire has already been lit! Not even Your Majesty can extinguish the flames of the people!”

“You really have gone mad. Are you all trying to defy me?”

“The palace gates are already open! If Your Majesty refuses to lead the troops who rose believing in you, we will all take our own lives in penance for serving the wrong master!”

Lecan was so dumbfounded he couldn’t find words.

They were all practically begging to be killed. If he swung his sword, no one would stop him.

As Lecan strode forward with heavy steps, the sheer force of his presence made everyone flinch. In the very next moment, he swung his sword without hesitation — only for Benedict to intercept it with a sharp clash of steel.

“Brother! What’s done is done! The revolution has already begun!”

“Shut up. I’ll deal with you later.”

“Just pretend to be reluctant and accept everyone’s loyalty. Ascend the throne.”

“That mouth of yours… do I need to rip it apart to make you shut up?”

Shhk!

Swords clashed, and Benedict’s feet scraped against the floor as he was pushed back by the force. Even while sensing the threat to his life, he didn’t give up on trying to persuade him.

“Are you really going to let us all die? The longer Your Majesty delays your decision, the more the palace knights will— gah! I mean, if you keep swinging at me like you mean it—ow!—tensions will escalate! And that’ll only lead to more casualties, Your Majesty!”

“Shut up.”

“The people want you, Your Majesty! Stop being so damn modest — it’s a sickness at this point! Argh!”

But then…Leyesha.

What about Leyesha?

Lecan’s sword, which had been swinging mercilessly, froze mid-motion. Benedict cried out in exaggerated pain and tumbled to the floor, but Lecan barely registered it. A cold chill crawled over his skin.

“If Your Excellency stages a rebellion, I will probably be the first to know… the first to lose my life. Because I will be the first to strike the sword aimed at the Emperor.”

‘Leyesha is going to die? Her?’

Lecan hadn’t died. He had survived even in the heart of a volcanic eruption. He had certainly been furious and felt betrayed. But Leyesha, in the end, was still his subordinate, the one he was meant to bring back into his fold. He had never permitted her death.

Even now, though every one of these vassals had staked their lives on him, the face that came to mind first was Leyesha’s.

She had tried to kill him and still ridden the mana train all the way to him, her face stricken with fear that he might truly be dead. Lecan remembered the look of relief that washed over her when she realized he was alive. Her eyes had twisted as if on the verge of tears, yet shimmered with joy.

She hadn’t needed to say “I’m glad you’re alive.” Anyone could feel it.

He didn’t even fully understand what this feeling was yet. Only that he missed her constantly, that when she was near, he wanted to hold her so badly it made him lose all sense, made his usual restraint boil over and vanish.

‘And you expect me… to lose her?’

“…Your Majesty, please, we beg you! Lead us! Don’t abandon us!”

“……”

‘I have to save Leyesha.’

His mind was consumed by that single thought. He couldn’t afford any more delays. But at the same time, with everyone watching, he couldn’t just openly order Leyesha, the Empress Dowager’s chief lady-in-waiting, to be protected without raising suspicion.

So—

“…Very well.”

From Lecan’s lips finally came a word of acquiescence, almost like a surrender.

“……!”

The assembled vassals, who had all come prepared to risk death by his sword, instantly caught a glimmer of joy in their eyes.

Under their focused gaze, Lecan spoke in a slow voice but his declaration rang clear and sharp in everyone’s ears.

“From this day forward, the empire shall perish and be reborn.”

“…Your Majesty! We swear our lives to follow you!”

His loyal vassals cheered with joy and rose to their feet. As Lecan stepped forward, the armed nobles and knights parted on both sides like the Red Sea. Lecan donned the armor fastened by his strategist and quietly sheathed his sword.

Benedict was still sitting on the floor, coughing awkwardly from the shock of having been kicked by Lecan’s foot earlier.

“Brother, I’m definitely going to deserve a badge of the highest merit after this.”

“You, shut up.”

Lecan’s gaze turned cold. Now fully armored and clad in his complete military gear, the vassals couldn’t help but murmur in admiration. To anyone watching, he was unmistakably the rightful new emperor of the empire. Behind the long-awaited steps of their ruler, a procession of loyal vassals followed. It was the unstoppable flow of history.