At midnight, the empire erupted into chaos.
Commoners screamed and fled their homes, searching for safety as an unknown army marched toward the fort.
"Rebellion!" The cry spread like wildfire, adults shouting in fear while children wailed, shattering the peace of the night.
In the imperial palace, the empress turned pale as her informant relayed the grim news: the emperor had been captured in his sleep, and Prince Maxmillian's forces had breached the fort, sealing off all exits to prevent any from escaping.
"Where is the Crown Prince?! Where's my son?!" the empress demanded, her voice quivering with panic.
Before the informant could respond, the empress's personal knight burst into the room, urgency in his every movement. "Empress, you must flee! Prince Lincoln is missing! He wasn't found in his chambers, and the army is advancing toward the palace!"
"My son... disappeared?!" The empress's voice faltered.
The informant frowned, trying to maintain composure. "Your Majesty, the prince has likely gone into hiding. We need to leave now and ensure your safety before Prince Maxmillian's forces reach the palace walls."
"Where are the imperial knights?" she asked, her desperation growing.
"They're preparing for battle as you commanded, but—"
Another scream echoed through the corridors, cutting off the knight's words. "Your Majesty, we must run! The Catharis family's army has breached the palace walls!"
"What?!"
At the mention of the Catharis army, the empress collapsed onto the floor, trembling uncontrollably. She had believed that Maxmillian's rebellion would be stifled, confident that she had blocked all his paths to power. She was certain that the three pillars of the empire would remain neutral, even if the second prince revolted. But she had miscalculated. The three families stayed silent, but the Catharis—those enigmatic, formidable warriors who once overthrew the mighty 34th emperor—had resurfaced, and with them, all her plans crumbled.
"Your Majesty, we must go!"
The empress's mind raced. She had anticipated rebellion, but not so soon. The secret army she had painstakingly built hadn't even been alerted. Now, with no time to lose, she could only rely on the palace knights to protect her as they fled.
No one was prepared for the rebellion; it struck like a bolt of lightning, catching everyone off guard—including the nobles who thought they were untouchable.
The high walls of the academy were quickly sealed, and the magicians in the tower began to gather, sensing the impending shift of power.
With most of the empire's strength now backing Prince Maxmillian, it was evident to all that by sunrise, a new emperor would claim the throne. The thought sent shivers through those loyal to Prince Lincoln, as they knew that this merciless prince would stop at nothing to secure his rule. Those in Lincoln's faction were certain to face execution, their fate sealed by the dawn of a new reign.
"Mom! Britanny!" Casimin called out urgently, his voice filled with worry as he searched for his mother and little sister.
"S-Son, I heard Prince Maxmillian has rebelled—" Krisha began, her voice trembling.
"Mom, don't worry about that right now," Casimin interrupted, his tone firm but gentle. "You need to find a safe place to hide. With the chaos, some assassins might take this opportunity to target nobles."
Krisha looked at her son, her eyes welling up with tears. Since her husband's exiled, she had been haunted by the fear that someone would come to harm them, especially her children. Her sons were strong, capable of defending the dukedom, but now, with the rebellion in full swing, she knew they would be drawn into the battle, supporting Prince Maxmillian to secure their family's status.
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Redemption of the Yandere Villain
Fantasy"Your sin is your very own existence." After dying Eugene reincarnated on earth and live his life atoning for his past life sins. When he thought that he could finally rest after being killed by his childhood friend ― he came back to his original wo...
