I Became the Emperor’s Sleeping Pill - Chapter 75

Schedule: Tuesday and Friday

Chapter 11 – Rebellion

Edin found Raz seated, seemingly anticipating his arrival. He scowled.

“You’ve come, Your Majesty.”

“Where is the Empress’s knight?”

“She isn’t here.”

Edin, caught off guard, felt a surge of anger. He hadn’t anticipated Raz’s preemptive move.

“Bring her to me at once!” He roared, his sword pointed at the Empress.

“Your Majesty!” One of the Empress’s knights stepped forward, shielding Raz. Without hesitation, Edin struck, ending the knight’s life with a single stroke.

The other guards paled, but Raz remained impassive. A flicker of a smile touched her lips as Edin cut down another knight. Enraged, Edin slaughtered the remaining guards. They were innocent, yet they perished, guilty only of their association with House Benneretti.

Only after every knight sent by her father lay dead did Raz rise from her chair.

“Finished?”

“Now, do you intend to take my head as well?”

Raz knew Edin couldn’t kill her easily. Even an emperor couldn’t readily execute the Empress of the Empire. This, and other safeguards, emboldened her.

Edin glared at her, eyes blazing.

“Bring herbefore me. Now.”

“Your Majesty! An emergency! The northern border…!” A royal knight rushed in, his report of a heretical uprising cutting through the tension. Edin turned, listened, then fixed Raz with a chilling stare.

“So it begins.”

Raz’s lips curved into a smile at Edin’s grim expression.

“Do you have time for this, Your Majesty? Shouldn’t you be dealing with that dark magic, along with your precious Nyxna?”

“Empress!”

“Yes! I am the Empress of this Empire!”

“The Empress you have so coldly neglected and treated with such disdain! Do you understand?!” Tears welled in Raz’s bloodshot eyes.

“The price for the deaths of my people, for the humiliation you’ve heaped upon me, will be your demise!”

“I will take the throne from you!”

Edin let out a hollow laugh. He’d been aware of Duke Benneretti’s ambition, convinced it was the reason behind his mother’s fate. But the idea of the Empress, not the Duke, ascending the throne was unexpected.

Or perhaps, it was inevitable. A non-royal ascending the throne would be difficult. This was the easiest path. That cunning old fox. He’d never liked the Duke.

Edin looked down at Raz, proclaiming her intent to usurp his position. He regarded her with the disgust he reserved for anyone bearing the Benneretti’s name, though he had occasionally felt a flicker of pity. Now, even that seemed wasted. The sheer loathing he felt was almost a physical sensation. He bit the inside of his cheek to contain his rage.

“Consider yourself fortunate that your title as Empress is the only thing preventing me from ending your life this very instant.”

He knew he couldn’t kill her here. Having already instigated a rebellion using the heretics, she would undoubtedly have a dark magic escape route prepared.

As Edin predicted, Raz, having already hidden Seiren, was ready to vanish using dark magic. His words about sparing her because she was Empress brought back memories of her coronation.

She had been so excited then, dreaming of creating a peaceful and prosperous empire alongside Edin. She had even tolerated his indifference.

She had believed that after sharing his rut and bearing him a son, his hatred would lessen. A foolish dream, now shattered.

Yet, a last thread of hope remained. Edin’s reluctance to kill her because of her title gave her the urge to offer him one final chance.

“It’s not too late. Accept me, and I will not touch your throne. Make me your true wife, grant me the right to bear your heir, and House Benneretti will help you achieve everything you desire…”

“Silence.” Edin’s voice was glacial, laced with a threatening pheromone that drained the color from Raz’s face.

“Your words are repulsive. I have no intention of accepting you. I made that clear to your father on the day of your coronation.”

“I was forced to spend my rut with you because of the late Empress’s damned last will.” Edin scowled in disgust.

“You have conspired with your father in this rebellion. This is the end of your reign as Empress. I will be glad to be rid of you.”