Chapter 28: Chapter 27
[User]
haha Yes.. It was good enough to kill some time.
[System]
A quiet, broken laugh escapes Liora's lips.
"Hah… ha…"
She coughs, blood staining her once-perfect lips. Her body trembles, her strength vanishing with every passing second.
Yet—even as death closes in—she smiles.
A slow, knowing smile, full of amusement, defiance… and something else.
"Good enough…?" she repeats, her voice barely a whisper now. "Then I suppose… I should be honored."
Her head tilts slightly, her dark eyes never leaving yours. Even now, even dying, she refuses to look away.
Then, at last—her body slumps.
Her fingers twitch one final time.
And Lady Liora—the cunning, the beautiful, the traitor—is dead.
A single drop of blood echoes as it splashes onto the marble floor.
The chamber remains deathly still.
The guards watch, unreadable. The scent of blood thickens in the air. The two women who once stood before you—gone.
You have played your game. You have won.
And yet, as you sit upon your throne, watching the last warmth fade from Liora's lifeless gaze…
Something lingers.
A whisper in the back of your mind.
A thought. A feeling.
And whether it is satisfaction… or something else…
Only you can say.
What do you do next?
[User]
hey, inform northern steppes that her warrior princess died a honor death killing the traitor inside our kingdom with the symbol of domdimdomdomdamadamdam.
[System]
The guards bow deeply before quickly departing, their footsteps echoing through the blood-stained chamber as they rush to deliver your message to the Northern Steppes.
Lady Asena's people will hear of her "honorable death." They will be told that she slayed a great traitor—that she died a warrior, blade in hand, fulfilling her duty to the Crown.
There will be no whispers of poison. No mention of betrayal.
Only the legend of a noble warrior who perished for the kingdom.
The Northern Warlords will mourn her. They may even seek vengeance. Or perhaps… they will send another warrior in her place, eager to earn glory in her stead.
You lean back upon your throne, surveying the silent chamber.
Two bodies lay before you, their blood slowly cooling upon the marble floor.
You killed your childhood friend.
You watched a duel to the death.
And when it was over—you struck down the victor yourself.
Your hands are stained with more than just blood.
Your rule is absolute. Your will is law.
And yet… something lingers.
Not regret. Not sorrow.
But the quiet realization that you enjoyed it.
The palace walls seem to breathe with anticipation.
The game is not over.
It will never be over.
Not until you decide it is.
What do you do next?
[User]
I don't know maybe next day royal court with king.
[System]
The Next Day – The Royal Court
The grand hall of the palace is alive with golden torchlight, the murmur of nobles, and the quiet shuffle of silk and armor. Ornate pillars stretch toward the ceiling, adorned with banners bearing your kingdom's sigil. The throne of the Emperor—your father—sits at the head of the chamber, towering above all.
You stand before him.
At your side, the court nobles and high-ranking officials whisper among themselves. They know what happened yesterday. They know that Lady Asena is dead. That Lady Liora is dead.
But no one speaks of it aloud.
Instead, the Emperor's voice booms through the chamber. "My heir. Approach."
You step forward.
His gaze is unreadable, his presence overwhelming. He is the ruler of the realm, the man who has shaped your fate since birth. And today, he will decide what comes next.
"I have heard the news," he says, his voice measured. "Two noblewomen dead. A traitor executed. A warrior fallen. And all of it... by your hand."
The room is silent.
The nobles watch, waiting.
The Emperor leans forward slightly. "Tell me, my child. Was this fate... or your own design?"
His piercing eyes lock onto yours.
He is not just asking for a report. He is testing you.
How do you respond?
[User]
I merely executed a spy that was within our walls for decade and gave the other one a chance to repent and provided opportunity to a princess. But unfortunately princess died. and the traitor didn't repent. then I took action on my own. You can ask anyone else.
[System]
The court falls silent.
For a long moment, the Emperor does not speak. His cold, calculating eyes study you, searching for something beneath your words—weakness, hesitation, regret.
He finds none.
Then, he laughs.
A deep, resonant chuckle, low and approving.
The nobles visibly relax. The tension in the room breaks like glass.
"Well spoken." The Emperor leans back upon his throne, his fingers tapping against the armrest.
"You acted decisively. You executed the traitor, tested the warrior, and kept your word—until it no longer served you."
He tilts his head, considering. "Clever."
The ministers exchange glances, some murmuring their agreement, others shifting uncomfortably.
"And yet…" The Emperor's voice lowers slightly. "You have now made enemies."
A pause.
Then—he smiles.
"Good."
The nobles exhale in relief. The court scribes quickly record his words.
He gestures toward you. "You will take my place one day. The throne is not kept by kindness or honor—it is kept by those willing to do what must be done."
His expression grows sharp. "However, blood alone does not make a ruler. A king must rule not just with fear, but with wisdom."
He leans forward.
"Tell me, my heir—how do you intend to rule the people who now watch you with both fear and awe?"
The court waits for your answer.
What do you say?