Chapter 67 – The Betrayal of the EmpireImperial Palace – The Throne Room of Veridion
The grand throne room was eerily silent.
The nobles of the empire, the high-ranking military officials, and the heads of the great noble houses stood gathered before the golden throne of Emperor Kaelith Aurelian Veridion.
And on that throne, the emperor sat in absolute silence.
His golden eyes, filled with restrained fury, burned into the marble floor beneath him. His fingers curled tightly around the armrests, his jaw clenched so hard it looked as if he was barely containing his rage.
Leonhardt Valerian Everhart was gone.
The strongest heir the empire had ever seen, the one destined to be the future Grand Duke, the swordmaster who had led them to the brink of absolute victory—had abandoned everything.
For a woman.
A woman he refused to name.
For a moment, no one dared to speak. The weight of the emperor's fury was suffocating, pressing down on every noble in the room like an invisible force.
Then, finally, the silence was shattered.
"Your Majesty…"
A high-ranking noble, the Duke of Zephiron, stepped forward cautiously. His voice was steady, but there was an undeniable edge of tension in his tone.
"This matter… how shall we handle it?"
The emperor's fingers twitched against the golden throne.
He exhaled slowly, his voice cold and sharp like a blade.
"Leonhardt Valerian Everhart has committed treason."
The nobles stiffened.
The emperor's golden eyes flickered with dangerous light as he continued.
"He abandoned his empire. He abandoned his duty. He turned his back on the land that raised him, the people who revered him, and the future that was promised to him."
His words echoed through the vast chamber, each one carrying the weight of absolute condemnation.
Then, with measured calmness, he delivered the final blow:
"He chose a woman over the empire."
The court erupted into murmurs.
Some nobles looked shocked.
Some looked furious.
Some simply looked terrified.
Leonhardt was a legend. A genius unmatched in sword and magic. A warrior who carved his name into history before he even reached adulthood.
And now—he was a traitor.
The emperor's voice cut through the murmurs like a blade.
"He will no longer be recognized as a noble of Veridion."
A collective gasp swept through the room.
The emperor's golden eyes swept over the gathered nobles.
"From this day forth, Leonhardt Valerian Everhart is an exile. His name will be erased from noble records. His achievements will no longer belong to this empire."
A few nobles tensed.
One of the older ministers hesitated before stepping forward.
"Your Majesty," he began carefully, "declaring him a traitor is… dangerous."
The emperor's gaze snapped toward him, cold and merciless.
"Dangerous?" he repeated.
The minister hesitated but forced himself to continue.
"The people revere him. The knights worship him. The soldiers follow him without hesitation. He is…" He swallowed. "Too influential."
There was an unspoken fear in his words.
Leonhardt was not just a noble. He was a living legend.
Would the people accept his exile? Would the military?
The emperor's expression did not change.
"…Then we make them accept it."
His voice was final.
"The empire must not appear weak."
He leaned forward slightly, his golden gaze sweeping across the nobles.
"We will tell the world the truth."**
"That the heir to the Grand Dukedom—"
"Abandoned his duty."
"Abandoned his empire."
"And betrayed his people."
The words hung in the air, suffocating and absolute.
For a long moment, the nobles said nothing.
Then, slowly, they bowed their heads.
"…As Your Majesty commands."
The Grand Dukedom – The Everhart Manor
The air in the Grand Duke's office was tense.
Aldric Everhart stood by the massive window, staring out over his estate. His cold blue eyes reflected none of his thoughts.
Behind him, his wife—Eleanor Everhart, the world's strongest magician—stood with arms crossed, her crimson eyes unreadable.
The empire had declared their son a traitor.
The Grand Duke's grip on his sword tightened slightly.
Eleanor sighed, her voice soft yet sharp.
"…So, he really did it."
Aldric remained silent.
He wasn't surprised.
Leonhardt had always been… different.
Even as a child, his eyes held a depth beyond his years. He carried himself with a purpose, a goal that no one could quite grasp.
And now—he had chosen his path.
Eleanor exhaled, rubbing her temples.
"What do we do?" she murmured.
Aldric finally spoke.
"…Nothing."
Eleanor frowned.
"Nothing?"
Aldric's blue eyes remained on the horizon.
"…Leonhardt is no longer a child." His voice was calm. "This was his decision. And now, it is our burden to bear."
Eleanor clicked her tongue, looking away.
For a long time, neither of them spoke.
Then, finally, Eleanor let out a short, bitter laugh.
"…The emperor is a fool if he thinks declaring Leonhardt a traitor will make the world forget him."
Aldric's lips curled into the faintest of smirks.
"…Indeed."
Because no matter how much the emperor tried to erase him—
Leonhardt Valerian Everhart would not be forgotten.
Not by the empire.
Not by history.
And certainly not by those who still remained loyal to him.
The Kingdom of Aurion – The Night Queen's Declaration
In the Kingdom of Aurion, another announcement shook the world.
Before the gathered nobles and the people, the Night Queen stood tall—her celestial silver hair glowing under the moonlight, her deep violet eyes shining with untold power.
"The war is over."
Her voice was clear and absolute.
The nobles bowed their heads, not daring to defy her.
One noble hesitantly stepped forward.
"…Your Majesty, what of the empire?"
Aetheria's expression remained unreadable.
Then, softly, she spoke.
"The empire will not attack."
A pause.
Then—her violet eyes gleamed coldly.
"But if they do—"
A dark, overwhelming pressure filled the air.
"I will destroy them myself."
The nobles fell silent.
Because they knew—this was no mere warning.
It was a promise.