I Became a Slave to the Man I Abandoned Novel (Completed) - Chapter 154

With Nox Rainerio now seated as the interim Emperor, the council meeting proceeded under the clear leadership of the noble faction. Or rather, they should now be called the ‘Imperial Faction’, as Nox Rainerio’s succession to the throne was all but set in stone.

There was no other imperial family member to put forward. Even if there was someone with a faint trace of imperial blood, they surely wouldn’t have a higher claim to the succession than Nox Rainerio. The nobles who had previously belonged to the Emperor’s faction and the neutral faction could only watch as Nox Rainerio, the former leader of the noble faction, put his name forward as the next Emperor.

Nox spoke, as if granting a favor. “First, there will be the funeral of the former Emperor.”

“It would be best to keep the funeral as simple as possible. It wouldn’t do us any good for news of such an internal incident to spread widely outside,” said Marquis Dimitri Anderlas. It was clearly flattery, but Nox didn’t mind it. It was a good way to diminish the former Emperor’s influence.

“Simplify His Majesty’s funeral, you say?!”

“Surely the reason for the former Emperor’s death will circulate, but is there truly a need to widely publicize that he was murdered by a noble he considered his right-hand man?”

“But…!”

Nox subtly twitched a finger. The chief eunuch, standing beside him, raised his hand. As he raised his hand, everyone fell silent. With their silence, Nox slowly spoke.

“Regarding the funeral, I am indeed saddened. However, I do believe Marquis Anderlas has a point.” Nox had no intention of merely holding onto the power that had fallen into his hands. “Nevertheless, I promise to do my utmost to extract the name of the one who incited Khalid Via, who murdered the former Emperor, Feltion Andras Daidalonz.”

A strange atmosphere swept through the council chamber at his words. Both Khalid and Feltion had been unusually obsessed with Nox Rainerio. While no one knew why Khalid Via had betrayed the Emperor, if one were to guess the biggest reason, Nox Rainerio would undoubtedly be at its core.

‘But he’ll find the one who incited him?’

Did that mean Nox Rainerio truly had no influence whatsoever over Khalid Via’s actions? Or did he have another agenda? No one dared to speak easily.

“Therefore, you all,” Nox said in a relaxed tone, “return home and wait.”

This was both a command and a notification. Everything was a prearranged game. It felt as though they were puppets dancing in the palm of Nox Rainerio’s hand.

He might have known the Emperor would die. Perhaps Khalid Via had even been incited by him. But there was no evidence anywhere. Nox Rainerio hadn’t even had his coronation, yet he already seemed to be sitting on the throne, backed by his supporting factions.

“…Please, Your Grace, you must find the one who incited Duke Khalid Via—no, the criminal.”

“If such a person exists, they will be found,” Nox replied indifferently. A noble who had originally been part of Feltion’s faction gritted his teeth. But that was all; he soon turned and left the council chamber. Others who had been observing Nox and his supporting factions also began to leave the council room one by one.

After all, the order to “return home and wait” had already been given, effectively expelling them. There was nothing to gain by stubbornly remaining seated.

One of the nobles, exiting the council chamber, spoke to his attendant.

“Tell the bribed guards in the palace to monitor and report on Khalid Via in the dungeon.”

“Understood.”

“…What’s his confidence about?” The noble couldn’t predict anything. If Nox Rainerio had truly manipulated Khalid Via with personal feelings, it seemed strange for him to be so actively seeking out the instigator. If Nox had incited it, it would be logical to execute Khalid Via as quickly as possible for assassinating the Emperor. But Nox Rainerio said he would find the instigator. Without a second thought, that meant Khalid Via would be ‘tortured.’

After the nobles left, Marquis Anderlas spoke to Nox, who was still seated in the Emperor’s chair.

“…What are you planning to do with Khalid Via?”

Instead of answering, Nox called the chief eunuch.

“Chief Eunuch.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

The chief eunuch’s chosen title was ‘Your Highness.’ Though he was the only remaining imperial family member, he hadn’t formally inherited the throne yet. Nox gave a faint smile, thinking he was trying hard, but ignored it and conveyed his command.

“Summon the palace’s best torturer.”

“Pardon?”

“Why? Didn’t I tell you?” Nox’s face showed boredom. “That I would do my utmost to find the instigator.”

The chief eunuch felt cold sweat trickling down his back. No matter how much he gazed into Nox’s dark eyes, he couldn’t discern what lay within. His eyes were like a black sea; he couldn’t fathom their depth or what they held.

“For a while, I will reside in the palace and take over the duties His Imperial Majesty oversaw.”

“Ah, understood.”

“Oh, and.” Nox Rainerio rose from his seat and descended, saying, “Dismiss all attendants except yourself as soon as possible.”

“…Yes.”

It was a given. There was no benefit in keeping those who had served the Emperor more deeply than anyone else close by. The only reason for keeping the chief eunuch, who was arguably the most prominent among them, was simple: a bare minimum of system maintenance was necessary. The chief eunuch thought he didn’t know what would become of him once the initial arrangements were complete.

As Nox Rainerio walked through the center and exited the door, Marquis Dimitri Anderlas followed him. No matter what anyone said, he was Nox’s confidant. Those who had now become Nox’s faction, virtually the Emperor’s, couldn’t hide their smiles.

At this moment, no one in the imperial palace could stop Nox Rainerio. If only there were an imperial child, the chief eunuch sighed inwardly, but it was already a forgotten regret. Instead of the blood-stained office, Nox Rainerio entered another room on the same floor and commanded the palace attendants, “Move all the documents you were reviewing to the next room. Though things have come to this, the imperial palace must not fail in its function.”

His excuse was plausible. And as he had said before, he had the right. In this situation where the Emperor was absent, the attendants could not defy the command of Nox, the only one who inherited imperial blood.

The court attendants exchanged countless glances, but whenever Nox’s gaze swept over them, they submissively lowered their eyes. Powerless, they could only move as the currents of authority dictated.

‘It would be good to have a complete turnover,’ Nox thought to himself, meticulously prioritizing as he considered the attendants who had grown accustomed to the Emperor, Feltion.

As Nox Rainerio entered the Emperor’s former residence, preparations were being made in the dungeon below to extract information from Khalid Via about who had incited him.

Creak, creak.

The dungeon was damp and dark. A humid smell permeated the air, and Khalid’s tightly bound hands and feet throbbed. He lifted his head at the creaking sound.

Beyond the iron bars, a brown-stained tray slowly rolled forward. The person pushing it had strikingly white hair, even in the dimness. It was impossible to tell if they were old or simply had white hair, and their face was half-covered by a mask. When they reached the bars, the guards standing there opened the gate.

Creak. The enigmatic figure entered the cell with the tray. Khalid Via stared at him with eyes that glowed blue even in the darkness. Seeing his gaze, the unknown man chuckled.

“His Imperial Majesty. No, it would be more accurate to say the former Emperor, now.” His voice had a peculiar quality. It sounded youthful, yet the ending rasped, giving it an old man’s tone. Unable to conceal his amusement, he picked up something from the tray. It was a small pair of tongs, with extremely sharp points.

“His Royal Highness, Duke Rainerio. No, no.” He shook his head like someone whose mind was not quite sound. “The new Emperor, His Majesty, commanded me to extract the name of the one who ordered the assassination of the former Emperor from your lips.”

Khalid gritted his teeth. While he couldn’t fully read Nox’s thoughts, Khalid swore to himself that he would take all the blame and vanish from this world. He would give Nox a future where he might finally be happy. He couldn’t drag Nox into his own hell any longer.

“So, please do not bear too much ill will towards me,” the torturer grinned. “I am merely following orders.” He brought the iron tongs he was holding closer to Khalid’s bound hand.

He would start with the fingernails.

Creak. The iron tongs, forced under his fingernail, opened wide. Khalid gritted his teeth. Veins bulged in his neck and jaw. He widened his eyes and twitched his body, but his tightly bound frame could not escape.

Creak, creak.

The tongs dug deeper under the nail, and then, with a CRUNCH, the fingernail shattered. Khalid’s entire body trembled violently. Even with half his face covered, the torturer’s smile was unmistakable.

“This is just the beginning,” he purred. “You still have sturdy fingers, joints to twist, skin to peel. Everything that will bring me pleasure remains.”

Even through the agonizing pain of his severed fingertip, Khalid thought of Nox. The face he would never see again. He recalled that dispassionate face he had stared at for so long in their last moments and resolved to endure to the very end.

This was Khalid Via’s last gift.

The final offering from a man who had once loved, and still loved, him.

Even if it crumbled into nothingness within Nox, utterly meaningless.

Still.