As expected, Joshua’s mark was fake.
However, there were still uncertain aspects.
Whether it was a one-time drawing on the wrist or a tattoo. The situation could change drastically depending on that.
“The idea of determining whether it’s real or fake, not bad. But you should think carefully, Duke Cabelased.”
Joshua walked towards Cabelased, pointing at his mark.
“When that mark is revealed to be fake, you won’t be able to escape the crime of impersonating a descendant of heaven to deceive the empire’s people, and the responsibility of insulting the imperial family.”
“…”
“I will also thoroughly hold you accountable later for doubting and insulting me, the crown prince and descendant of heaven. How about it? Is it alright to verify if the mark is real or fake now?”
Unlike moments ago when he showed bewilderment, Joshua now displayed a somewhat relaxed attitude.
Jieselgrante assumed the worst-case scenario.
If by any chance the mark on Joshua’s wrist was real.
If they couldn’t prove here that the mark on Joshua’s wrist was fake, the situation would become very complicated later.
It was when Jieselgrante started to ponder.
“…?”
Cabelased suddenly walked to the edge of the platform.
Naturally, not only her but everyone’s gaze turned to Cabelased.
Cabelased walked to the table and picked up a glass. Then he walked towards Joshua.
It was the moment Joshua’s brows furrowed sharply as he watched the situation, wondering what he was trying to do.
Cabelased tilted the glass he was holding. The water in the glass flowed down Joshua’s wrist.
Soon, the dye on his wrist spread and became blurry.
“…!”
Looking at that sight, Cabelased spoke meaningfully.
“This proves that one of the two people’s marks is false.”
Then he poured the remaining water in the glass over his own chest.
Unlike Joshua’s mark which blurred immediately upon contact with water, Cabelased’s mark remained unchanged.
The people in the grand temple were engulfed in confusion and shock.
This proved that the mark of the crown prince, whom they firmly believed to be a descendant of heaven, was fake, and Duke Cabelased’s mark was real.
“Arrest the empress who murdered the emperor and the crown prince who participated in it!”
The knight commander who had been observing the situation ordered the knights occupying the grand temple.
As knights protecting the empress and crown prince faced off against the emperor’s knights, the inside of the grand temple instantly became chaotic.
[This is the timeline separator]Realizing they had become targets of the knights surrounding the grand temple, the empress and Joshua chose to flee.
As many people had gathered from all over the empire to mourn the emperor, there were not a few knights to escort the empress and Joshua.
But the fact was they were numerically inferior.
“This way! Your Majesty the Empress, Your Highness the Crown Prince!”
Court Count Anwaz guided the empress and crown prince to a narrow path leading to a side door.
As they proceeded down the narrow path, Joshua said irritably.
“Where on earth did all those people come from?”
Court Count Anwaz drew in a sharp breath.
“Indeed…”
At Joshua’s question, the empress frowned.
Only the emperor and the head chamberlain knew exactly how many people were guarding the emperor.
Of course, they had predicted there would be more of the emperor’s guards besides those they often saw face to face.
But they never expected there would be enough people to occupy the huge grand temple.
“Court Count Anwaz.”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“Did you get a good look at the knights surrounding the grand temple?”
Blinking his eyes a few times, Court Count Anwaz answered.
“The situation was so urgent that I couldn’t look closely. Why do you ask?”
“You know well too. That the emperor didn’t particularly like the northern immigrant tribes.”
“Of course.”
Court Count Anwaz nodded and then closed his mouth.
Although she softened the expression by saying he didn’t particularly like them, in fact, the emperor had nearly persecuted the northern immigrant tribes.
It was because he was wary of their destructively strong power and cohesion.
“Come to think of it, there were some among the knights in the grand temple who had appearances similar to the northern immigrant tribes…”
At Joshua’s words, a somewhat unpleasant assumption flashed through Court Count Anwaz’s mind.
However, just as he was about to voice the thought that had come up, the exit began to come into view.
“Go out first and check the situation outside.”
Court Count Anwaz gave instructions to the knight in front. Then he turned back and added.
“For now, let’s return to the imperial palace and join up with the knights there.”
“We’ll have to do that.”
Both the crown prince and empress nodded.
In fact, there was no other way.
To deal with the numerous knights surrounding the grand temple, they needed to return to the imperial palace first and regroup.
But even as they were almost at the exit, the knights who had gone to check the situation outside had not returned.
“What happened to the knights who went ahead?”
It was when Court Count Anwaz asked another knight. A knight who had gone outside the grand temple returned.
“It’s safe outside!”
Thinking it was fortunate, Court Count Anwaz hurried his steps. But the moment they finally escaped the grand temple, his face turned pale.
“…!”
Joshua, who had been complaining towards Court Count Anwaz and the knights blocking the narrow path, also froze in place.
The exit was already blocked by knights in black uniforms.
“When time is of the essence, why are you just standing there instead of going out right away…!”
Belatedly recognizing the situation, the empress trembled with a sense of betrayal upon seeing a familiar face. Because the high priest was among the knights lined up holding weapons.
Grinding her teeth, the empress, unable to overcome her rising anger, shouted.
“High Priest…!”
At the empress’s gaze that seemed to say even chewing him up wouldn’t be enough, the high priest sidled to the side.
Even though he hid his body behind a tall knight’s back, he could clearly feel the empress’s anger.
[This is the timeline separator]Not only were the empress and crown prince captured in the middle of the emperor’s funeral, but when it was revealed that the crown prince’s mark was fake, the people gathered in the grand temple buzzed with excitement.
Of course, that wasn’t the only reason that made them excited.
It was the identity of the one with the real mark of the descendant of heaven.
After the knights who came to subdue the empress and crown prince left, Cabelased’s eulogy naturally continued at the center of the platform.
“Although there was a somewhat unsavory incident…”
The speed of speech was neither slow nor fast, but each word Cabelased uttered with sophisticated and precise pronunciation had the power to elevate people’s expectations.
His unwavering and upright posture revealed his flawless character, and his slightly raised chin allowed a glimpse of his arrogant yet noble nature.
Clap, clap. Clap clap clap!
As Cabelased’s eulogy ended, thunderous applause erupted.
Regardless of status, everyone blessed the birth of the new emperor with one heart and mind.
Because while one with the mark of the descendant of heaven reigned as emperor, the Facis Empire would be unprecedentedly wealthy and prosperous.
It was stability that finally came after Princess Trinity, who had been designated as the next emperor, died, and even the emperor who reigned as a tyrant died.
As Cabelased stood in an upright posture, slowly looking at the faces of the cheering people, his gaze stopped on Jieselgrante’s face.
As their eyes met, Cabelased showed a faint smile.
Jieselgrante also slightly raised the corners of her mouth as she looked at his face.
Rejoicing in reclaiming what had been taken.
[This is the timeline separator]“To commit such rudeness to me without solid evidence…”
The empress, who had been constantly moving her mouth even while being dragged to prison, felt a sharp gaze and turned her head.
An emaciated woman of unknown identity was glaring at the empress from beyond the iron bars.
“…”
The woman just glared at the empress without saying anything. Her gaze was so fierce that the empress was startled and stepped back.
However, she soon judged that this was not an entity to be feared.
Because the woman was standing beyond the iron bars.
As the empress glared back at the woman with an unpleasant feeling, she soon realized who the woman was.
“So you were the assassin of my daughter, Princess Trinity?”
A sneer flowed through the empress’s teeth.
Clank. Clank.
As if responding to the sneer, Baroness Oppenheimer suddenly grabbed the iron bars and started shaking them violently.
It seemed her broken arm had already healed.
The empress knew well how sturdy the iron bars were where Baroness Oppenheimer was confined, given she was imprisoned for first-degree murder. Nevertheless, fear took precedence for a moment.
She was shaking them so hard that it seemed the iron bars might break at any moment.
The empress deliberately pretended not to notice and turned her head away. And she continued to repeat words asserting her innocence.
“Everyone knows that His Majesty the Emperor passed away from old age, but falling for the tricks of those trying to frame me…”
It was as the empress was being led deeper into the prison by the knights’ hands.
A mocking laugh was heard from somewhere.
“Ha, what a sight for the great Her Majesty the Empress.”
Not stopping there, a murky voice continued to ridicule the empress.
The empress frowned and turned her head towards the direction the voice came from.
Baron Cypress, who was half-lying on the bed, walked sluggishly towards the empress and sneered.
“My, what brings such an esteemed person to this humble place? I hear you murdered His Majesty the Emperor… What method did you use? Poison? Or perhaps…”
“How rude!”
The empress cut off Baron Cypress’s words with a short shout.
And slowly approached where he was.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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