The Story of Dhanvanthri

twelve

Emperor of Bloodshed

.

Dhanvanthri was a man who hated. He hated everything to do with the Obelian Empire, he hated the people who would scorn the princess simply because she never held the Emperor's favour, he hated the new princess who wore smiles of hypocrisy as she enjoyed love while neglecting Athanasia's kindness, he hated the magicians in the tower who scorned his sister for having no mana, he hated the Alpheus Dukedom who raised the current princess and got prestige from her being crowned, but most of all, Dhanvanthri loathed his father, the Emperor.

So much hate in a single body, a strong emotion, an even stronger driving force. It was no wonder he went mad.

Dhanvanthri de Alger Obelia, neighbouring kingdoms knew of this name. It was like a horror story, a boogie man told to children, the monster you'd be terrified would creep into your window, the man who slaughtered his way up into a throne where he had no right of claiming on. Trunia Empire fell in three months, to a boy no older than eighteen. The whole Imperial Bloodline was slaughtered, every bastard child was nicked from the streets, every blood relating to the Imperial family was cleansed until not a single drop remained.

History recorded the incident as the Trunia Royal Purge, a glorified name for a senseless massacre. And the very instigator of this event was crowned Emperor and given a title, Emperor of Bloodshed. No one knew how but the matter of his existence was kept a secret from the Obelian Empire. And thus, the whole world knew of this terrifying psychopath except for the very country he came from. Whispers and rumours, some say he did it for revenge, some say he did it for love, some say he was simply mad.

But in the end, could they complain? They dare not. They can only live under the reign of this tyranny in silence for they needed peace. And so the Trunia Emperor was crowned, not even a single flicker of rebellion flame could ignite in the terrorised citizens.

"Wow, who wrote this?" Dhanvanthri asked Noah, closing the small article in amusement. "Am I that terrifying to the people?"

"Your Majesty," Noah paused. Then he smiled, "Have you forgotten your own actions?"

"No," Dhanvanthri drawled. "But this is amusing, they write as if I am the monster hiding in your closet. I didn't kill that many people, did I? And they're exaggerating, Leona's bastard child is still alive and living with that whore three blocks south of West Trunia's Red Light District. I did leave an Imperial Blood behind."

Noah sighed, "Your Majesty, leaving a single imperial blood behind just for insurance in case you die without an heir isn't exactly what people would call forgiving or merciful."

"I don't think I'm merciless," Dhanvanthri scoffed. "I didn't kill that bug in Obelia, did I? Nor did I murder that Emperor who is my father."

"I suspect Your Majesty had refrained from such actions due to your ability to be patient," Noah commented. "Never did I expect Your Majesty to truly allow them free for the murder of Princess Athanasia."

Dhanvanthri dropped his smile and looked at Noah, "Noah. Mind your tongue, I said I'm merciful to not humiliate them in front of the nobles, never did I say I won't drag their names through the mud until they'll beg for suicide."

Noah dare not say anything.

"My sister did no wrong and she had died for it. Yet all that little princess in the palace did was cry into the arms of her fiance," Dhanvanthri tapped his fingers on the table. "Not to mention continue living with that psychotic father of mine, pretending as if he hadn't murdered an innocent person on her behalf and showed no guilt after evidence came to light. Disgusting, that whole family is disgusting."

Noah got onto his knees, "My Sun, My Emperor, will you allow me to end them?"

"No," Dhanvanthri denied him. "You're my knight, don't dirty your hands touching the blood of such filth. Stay by my side."

Noah smiled, "You haven't changed, your majesty. You're still as ruthless as ever, the first time I saw you, you were making someone scrap their own flesh out using a spoon and then forcing them to eat their flesh."

"Oh that," Dhanvanthri tilted his head. "He was propositioning me and then tried to force it when I refused. I think he lost his ability to eat after that, last I heard, he starved to death."

"How ruthless," Noah smiled.

"You're just like me," Dhanvanthri scoffed. "What other people would follow someone such as myself unless they're just as crazy?"

"Ah, so you caught me," Noah chuckled. "Truly, my sun, you're the only person I'd follow in this world."

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Noah," Dhanvanthri tilted his head. "You wish to ask something, so speak."

Noah dropped the flattering facade, "Saicana is beginning to show seeds of declaring war against Trunia, what will you do, my Emperor?"

"War, huh?" Dhanvanthri toppled the empty glass on his table, "Can they wage war if their commander is dead?"

"Your Majesty?"

"To end a war before they start," Dhanvanthri stood up. "All you need to do is nip the bud before it blooms. Take away the head, remove the tail, pluck out the legs, and the body will rot. There won't be a war when there's no head to think with, no tail to guide by, and no legs to move as. Come, Noah, it seems I should remind people who I became Trunia Emperor once more."

Noah followed after, silently filled with awe and amusement. For all Dhanvanthri had said he was merciful and nicer than the article depicted him as. Noah knew his Emperor was anything but, for the man he followed was crueller than even any written history had recorded him as. The same man he had witnessed, as a child, making a grown man cry himself into oblivion and staved himself to death. The same man who murdered a whole family simply to stand on equal footing as the other Emperors.

All for the sake of a personal grudge.

- Lonely Emperor; Chapter 21 'A Cruel Man'

.

.

.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Genshin has consumed my life, this isn't a drill. I'm actually terrified of how addicted I am to the game. That aside, I keep getting hounded by my friend regarding the ML. So, I told them I'll reveal a hint about the ML in my author's note: He will appear only after Dhanvanthri hits fourteen and had his debutante ball. *cackles* As for the ML's looks and whatnot? Continue guessing :D