How To End This Marriage-Chapter 98: The Emperor’s Confession

"Didn’t you plan all this to get her out of your way? To secure the throne for yourself?" the supreme god taunted the emperor.

"Yes, I did. I did everything to claim the throne. My mother wanted it too. But she never attained the position of a concubine; she was treated like any other woman who didn’t even deserve the title of a wife. So I pursued it. What’s wrong with that?" the emperor retorted, his voice filled with frustration.

"I wanted the title at any cost, but she kept obstructing my path. Libena, the former duchess of Ablia, my sister, always stood in my way. Why would I stop? She whispered in my ear that she wanted me to ascend the throne."

"She continually told me that she wanted me to obtain the title I deserved. But when it came to the throne, she stepped back. When she was offered the throne, she didn’t decline, nor did she recommend me, but agreed to take it. So how should I have regarded her? Like a sister or like an adversary?" The emperor’s anger intensified.

"So, you hired the mercenaries?" the supreme god inquired.

"Yes, I did. I didn’t seek your assistance. I managed it on my own. I replaced the driver of their carriage. I transformed them into highly skilled mercenaries, instructing them to leave the driver’s seat empty once they reached the cliff. They complied. However, that wasn’t enough for me. I craved more. I yearned to see her in agony. I wanted her to weep and beg for her life."

"So, I arrived at the location. I donned the attire of those mercenaries. I concealed my face and approached the carriage. She was pounding on the carriage door in fear, with her husband present. When they attempted to exit, I thrust my sword through her, causing her unimaginable pain. That moment brought me profound satisfaction. Her terror, her agony, her cries were gratifying. You claimed I had never wielded my sword before. I did. I used it to end her life, plunging it into her body repeatedly to let her blood flow."

"I repeated the same with the duke. But he was innocent. He succumbed to shock, requiring little effort on my part. The problem arose when their son wasn’t in the carriage. That’s when my plans went awry. Nevertheless, it didn’t go entirely wrong. I shoved them off the cliff, and their bodies were shattered against a massive rock beneath," he recounted with a maniacal grin.

"Your greed knows no bounds. You truly are the embodiment of avarice," the supreme god remarked.

"That sounds like a compliment, my lord," the emperor replied, bowing his head. However, their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a sound.

"Who’s there? Show yourself immediately!" the emperor demanded, fear evident in his voice.

"Who’s there? Reveal yourself!" The Emperor rose to his throne, shouting, his heart pounding.

"Let me investigate," the supreme god, in his ethereal form, swiftly moved toward the entrance, finding no one but a shattered vase, a clear sign that someone had been present.

"Who could it be?" The Emperor wondered aloud.

"No, no, this secret can’t be exposed like this. I must take action," the Emperor muttered, his panic growing.

"What do you plan to do?" the supreme god inquired.

"I’ll do whatever is necessary," the Emperor replied and hurriedly made his way through the palace, his path accompanied by a dwindling number of guards. Eventually, he reached an abandoned, desolate part of the palace, shrouded in darkness and foreboding. Here, he discovered a cottage and rushed inside.

"Your majesty, what brings you here? Is there something you require?" The cottage was permeated with the scent of mercenaries and alcohol.

"Where are the two I assigned a job to years ago?" he asked, his tone laced with anger.

"Your majesty, they have already retired. But why the sudden inquiry? Can we be of assistance to you?" the mercenary inquired, perplexed.

"I asked a question. Where are the two I assigned for the job?" he pressed.

"Anger is not beneficial for your health, your majesty!" the supreme god taunted from behind.

"They are residing at the back of the cottage," the mercenary revealed, still bewildered.

"I’ll be on my way then," the Emperor replied and hastened to the rear of the cottage, where there was a small dwelling illuminated by flickering torches. He approached and knocked on the door.

"Who’s there at this late hour?" one of the mercenaries called out, opening the door.

"Ah, your majesty? What brings you here? I would have come to you if you needed to meet," the mercenary remarked.

"So that you could bear witness to the crimes I’ve committed?" the Emperor sneered. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"Your majesty, what are you saying? I would never make such a mistake. I am loyal to you," the mercenary protested, his words cut short as a sword thrust through his abdomen, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Your majesty," he gasped, struggling to speak coherently.

"If someone overheard my conversation, they might use these men as evidence against me. I cannot allow them to live. Death is the only means to put an end to this matter," the Emperor declared, moving on to the next mercenary in the house.

"Your majesty," the second mercenary began, but the sword struck him as well, ending his life instantly. The room was now awash with blood.

"I’ve done it. I’ve eliminated these mercenaries. There will be no evidence against me now. No one can threaten me," the Emperor declared, his voice tinged with a maniacal edge.

"You are nothing more than a savage!" the supreme god exclaimed.

As the Emperor turned around, he found himself confronted by the royal guards and the judicial team.

"Your secrets have been unveiled, Zudicus!" the supreme god taunted once more.

"No, I can’t be exposed like this," he muttered under his breath.

"Your Majesty, you stand accused of numerous crimes. You are no longer fit to occupy the throne. Your reign as emperor has been terminated," the judicial team announced.

"No, the throne is rightfully mine. I am the rightful ruler," the emperor feigned madness.

"I executed them because they committed a crime. As the emperor, I have that authority, don’t I?" he argued.

"Your Majesty, Crown Prince Maximus, your son, has already disclosed your confession regarding the murder of the former duchess, Libena Agnes. He guided us here, as he had long suspected your involvement in these crimes. You sent people to abduct the duchess and had them killed to conceal the truth. You falsely framed innocent individuals for crimes they did not commit, and, most notably, you have been engaging in the grave offense of praying to dark energies," the judicial representative explained, while the royal guards stepped closer with handcuffs in hand.

"No, I did nothing. Bring Maximus here. He will attest to my innocence," the emperor pleaded.

"I’m here, Father. I arrived with them. I didn’t directly summon the judicial team, but I have been monitoring your actions for a while. You dispatched agents to abduct the duchess. You orchestrated the murders to hide the truth. You wrongly accused the innocent and, most significantly, you’ve been committing a heinous crime by worshiping dark forces," Maximus confronted his father.

"You have been praying to dark forces and compelling others to do the same, claiming them to be gods. This is a serious transgression within the empire, and you’ve crossed a line," he added.

"No, I do not worship any dark energy. The supreme god is the true deity, the source of everything," the Emperor shouted.

"Guards, take him to prison and detain him in isolation. He will be investigated according to the law. There shall be no special treatment. From this point forward, he is dethroned," Maximus proclaimed.

"No!" the emperor bellowed.

"Restrain him, apply the handcuffs, and place him as I’ve directed. We must make him reveal the truth. I want to ascertain the whereabouts of the duchess and the princess," Maximus ordered before leaving the area. The emperor’s screams persisted. The supreme god Marcus seethed with anger as his grand designs unraveled one by one.

"I warned you that your son would become a substantial obstacle in my path. And now, he’s the one who has stripped you of your throne," the supreme god said.

"Now he’s driven me to the brink. He no longer merits existence," the supreme god declared, moving away from the emperor, who was still shouting. As he advanced toward Maximus, he noticed a black aura encircling the crown prince and tried to move through it.

"Are you the malevolent energy entwined around my father?" Maximus inquired, causing the supreme god to chuckle.

"Sharp lad. But your intelligence has become a hindrance. Hence, your intelligence no longer belongs here," he stated, attempting to encircle Maximus once more. However, something prevented him, pushing him out of the young prince’s body.

"Why can’t I possess him?" he questioned.

"Dark energy cannot thwart me in fulfilling my duty," Maximus said, taking a step forward.