Chapter 226
“At first, I tried to separate the past from the present—to weigh Kazhan’s sins with detached objectivity.”
But as she sifted through the memories, a pattern emerged. One only she, the sole keeper of the full truth, could discern.
Kazhan, returned as someone utterly unlike Cain. The nobles who’d despised her in perfect unison. The maids who’d offered no loyalty. The imperial consort who’d hated her enough to risk death at first sight.
Individually, each made sense. But together?
‘This feels orchestrated. As if someone rigged the game against me.’
“I thought it was His Majesty’s doing at first. But it wasn’t. That’s when I remembered the Duke—the one who tampered with my memories.”
The puzzle pieces clicked. Whether through bloodline abilities or whispered influence, Duke Barilio had both the means and motive.
“Was it also you who erased His Majesty’s memories at the banquet celebrating Mikael’s return? Just like you stole my memories of Cain’s true identity.”
“With all due respect, Your Majesty,”
Jebiken countered, shaking his head.
“I am bound by the Blood Covenant. I swore never to harm the Emperor—how could I commit such treason?”
His rebuttal was sound. The Tennilath ability’s grip was absolute—the very reason Kazhan had never doubted him.
But Ysaris saw differently. Jebiken wielded too much power for a mere vassal. His influence stretched so wide, one might mistake the Emperor for his puppet.
“Duke Barilio. You met Cain before he awakened the Tennilath ability.”
A new suspicion crystallized.
‘What if this man forced Cain’s awakening?’
‘And if so—’
“Had you already used your ability by then? You could’ve tricked Cain into believing you’d forged the Blood Covenant… when you never did.”
“……!”
A sharp inhale. Then silence.
Unlike baseless accusations, this was easily proven. The Blood Covenant could only be forged once per person—a second attempt would reveal the truth.
When Jebiken failed to refute her immediately, his gaze flicked to Kazhan. The Emperor’s crimson eyes burned into him.
“Duke Barilio.”
“It was for Uzephia.”
Jebiken spoke swiftly, before judgment could fall. Every move he’d made had a purpose.
“Hear me. I acted not for personal gain, but for the empire’s glory. Did I not place Your Majesty on the throne to save our declining nation when the Tennilath power was lost?”
He’d lived austerely by noble standards. Though wealth and influence inevitably followed his position, he’d mostly stayed within legal bounds.
A few bribes, minor crimes—who doesn’t indulge?
“As Her Majesty noted, I initially distanced her due to Chernian’s… irregularities. But upon learning of her purifier bloodline, I fully supported—”
“We’ll forge the Blood Covenant anew.”
Kazhan’s sword slid from its scabbard with a lethal whisper.
“And you will confess everything. No omissions. Starting with the truth of Ysaris’s accusations.”
He didn’t strike. Even as Emperor, he couldn’t execute a pillar of the empire without irrefutable proof.
But the blade’s gleam said enough.
‘This is your last chance to speak’
“But if Duke Barilio truly manipulated both the Emperor and Empress at will… If the tragedy that spread through the entire empire originated from him—”
“Your fate will be decided afterward.”
And that fate would almost certainly be death.
A razor-sharp rebuttal burst from Jebiken as he grasped the implication.
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