CHAPTER 456: WHY DID YOU BRING HER OUT?

Thirty minutes earlier, in the emperor’s dining hall where Hibbort regularly ate his meals, Astrid lowered her head and sipped some red wine after satisfying her hunger, speaking softly.

"Once Father finishes dinner, please return to rest as soon as possible."

Although Astrid had been swamped with duties these past few days, busier than ever before, she still visited twice daily, morning and evening, to pay her respects to the aging lion, mindful that Hibbort’s days were numbered.

Precisely because of this, she had witnessed Hibbort’s decline step by step, his bodily functions deteriorating irreversibly.

Hibbort nodded slightly upon hearing her words. His withered facial muscles twisted as he moved, his once-golden hair now dull and lifeless.

"Mm."

He murmured faintly, his weary blue eyes fixed on the silver-haired, crimson-eyed imperial princess before him.

"It brings me comfort to hear you say that..."

Neither Lucas nor Alistair, his two biological sons, showed him the care Astrid did.

Deep down, they probably wished for his death, so one could ascend the throne smoothly and inherit the empire, while the other could exploit the chaos following the emperor’s passing to attempt overturning the other’s rule.

Had he not recently feigned illness and then falsely summoned Duke Charles to the capital to strengthen loyalty, Alistair’s assassination attempt likely wouldn’t have advanced so quickly. It would probably have been delayed until Hibbort was truly bedridden and powerless.

Upon hearing this, Astrid sat upright with grace, setting aside her napkin. Her long, black-stockinged legs brushed lightly together, one slightly ahead of the other, as she spoke gently.

"Father doted on me since childhood. Now that your daughter has grown, it’s only natural I return that care."

One undeniable fact was that Hibbort had invested considerable affection in this adopted princess. Throughout Astrid’s twenty-odd years, though he hadn’t been granted every request, he’d indulged her in nearly every matter.

The original villainess princess’s wretched personality stemmed largely from this extreme coddling, the kind where he’d clear every obstacle from her path.

Hibbort gaze silently at Astrid for a moment before speaking.

"...That child must hate me deeply, right?"

He didn’t name her, but both people at the table understood exactly who he meant.

Astrid rubbed the base of her wineglass, then answered slowly.

"Mm."

"She’s extremely dissatisfied with Father’s past neglect and coldness."

During the years when a child needed parental love the most, Hibbort offered not a shred of fatherly warmth or care. Instead, he locked Amalia away in a cold, dark castle, forcing her to endure years of solitary existence.

Putting herself in Amalia’s shoes, Astrid doubted she could have endured such prolonged agony and misery if she’d been imprisoned in that ancient fortress at such a young age.

Day after day, facing only her own reflection, nearly losing the ability to speak, Amalia survived and proved, to some extent, that her character far surpassed ordinary people.

Those who are happy heal their entire lives with their childhood; those who are unfortunate spend their entire lives healing their childhood. This might not be the absolute truth, but it’s a common pattern.

Astrid completely understood Amalia’s hatred towards Hibbort, and sympathized with her refusal to forgive her biological father.

Even if Hibbort chose to abdicate in favor of the worthy, and Amalia willingly took the throne to shoulder the empire, between them, there remains not an ounce of familial affection.

"She has every right to hate me. To her, I was a terribly irresponsible father."

Hibbort stared at the dining table. Light from the crystal chandelier above danced across the table corner, creating dazzling specks that flickered among the rows of glass wineglasses.

"Still, I truly must thank her..."

"For being able to ascend the throne at this crucial moment, working toward the empire’s prosperity."

The emperor held supreme power, but also bore the immense responsibility of governing the empire. Sitting on that throne was far from the carefree existence outsiders imagined.

"Father... was your decision not to pass the empire to them also influenced by such considerations?"

Astrid’s crimson eyes narrowed slightly. Her moist, tender lips shimmered under the light, appearing coated with a glossy pinkish glaze.

"Those who only seek the privileges of being emperor, treating power as a tool to gratify themselves, lack any sense of responsibility as heirs, planning for the moment, not for eternity."

"Should such a person become emperor, they’d certainly leave behind the infamous legacy of a pleasure-seeking, foolish ruler in imperial history."

"Of course, this all assumes the empire’s history continues to be written at all."

Lucas was the most typical example. Astrid didn’t need to speculate much, she could easily guess that if that primitive beast, who thought only with his lower body, became emperor, his first order of business would be gathering beauties from across the land and indulging in nightly revelry within the palace.

As for the people’s livelihood? Completely unfamiliar.

"Your assessment of your two elder brothers is quite sharp..."

Hibbort’s voice was low, accompanied by a couple of coughs as he replied.

"But it’s accurate."

Focused solely on the privileges that come with being emperor and personal gain, yet never considering how to strengthen the nation, ignoring the coexistence of power and responsibility.

His two sons might barely manage as foolish rulers during peaceful times, but at this critical juncture, with the Kingdom of Velys launching a massive invasion and magical devices showing early potential, lazy, pleasure-seeking fools couldn’t hold the throne steady, let alone lead the empire through this unprecedented transformation unseen in centuries.

"In the end, this stems from my own incompetence."

Hibbort closed his eyes and sobbed loudly.

"The two princes obsess over power, neglecting family bonds, and their abilities and characters are far from outstanding. As their father, I failed to properly educate them."

Even Astrid before age eighteen, hadn’t raised her well either. Under his indulgence, she had gradually grown arrogant, willful, and disrespectful.

Although later Astrid became humble and graceful, treating others with warmth and courtesy, transforming into a magical prodigy even he found astonishing, and displaying exceptional political skill, none of this was directly due to Hibbort.

"..."

"Born into royalty, tasting the sweetness of power every day, naturally one would desire to go further, even at the cost of brotherly or father-son relationships."

The calm surface of the wine shimmered with tiny specks of light, the vivid red liquid mirroring Astrid’s clear, luminous eyes.

"This is history endlessly repeating itself, it’s the tragedy of royal family members. Father, you needn’t blame yourself."

Whether children become capable depends not only on education, but also on talent and environment. While Hibbort might have serious flaws in education, Lucas and Alistair couldn’t be considered faultless either.

After hearing Astrid’s words, Hibbort lowered his gaze to her red wine, speaking in a somber tone.

"True..."

"When one stands just one step away from supreme power, having tasted the sweet nectar trickling through the cracks, how can one resist the temptation to seize it?"

Candlelight flickered on the table. Upon hearing Hibbort’s words, Astrid unconsciously shifted her legs, her black high heels clicking sharply against the floor tiles.

On the surface, Hibbort was referring to Lucas and Alistair, but upon closer examination, the words could just as easily describe themselves.

Once Amalia ascended, as her supporter, he himself will become exactly what Hibbort described, standing just one step away from supreme power.

Not to mention, for Amalia’s sake, Astrid had indeed gathered support among many imperial nobles. After the crown prince’s death, she’d become the empire’s single largest political force. To usurp power and render the new emperor a mere figurehead wouldn’t be difficult.

Suppressing her doubts, Astrid continued along Hibbort’s line of conversation.

"Therefore, Father has already done quite well..."

This statement held no real issue. He might not have been a particularly qualified father, but as the iron-fisted emperor who led the empire out of hardships, his performance in his official duties was absolutely flawless.

As soon as she finished speaking, Hibbort stared deeply at Astrid for several seconds before finally speaking.

"I’m glad you could say these things to me."

No matter how one looked at it, his heart did feel a little better.

"Only heartfelt words," Astrid replied.

An awkward atmosphere lingered for nearly half a minute, then dissolved as Hibbort brought up another topic.

"...The fireworks for the coronation ceremony are nearly ready, according to the chief minister."

"On that day, Elizabeth Academy of Magic will suspend classes for one day to welcome the new emperor’s ascension."

This was one of the coronation events. Amalia will don the crown at Elizabeth Academy of Magic, then ride a carriage in a parade around the imperial capital.

Astrid nodded in response, softly adding:

"I’ve already arranged for the Royal Garment Workshop to prepare the ceremonial dress Amalia will wear for her coronation."

"They’ll use the most expensive fabrics, the finest craftsmanship, and perfect tailoring to celebrate the birth of the empire’s new ruler."

"Also, I’ll have the Empire Weekly’s editor-in-chief follow the entire process, fully documenting it and printing copies for circulation among the nobility."

When Hibbort ascended the throne, there was no Empire Weekly, nor magic capable of recording scenes into crystalline stones for long-term preservation.

Amalia would be the first imperial emperor whose coronation was fully documented with imagery.

"It’ll make a perfect special anniversary edition since the founding of Empire Weekly."

Just the scale of this coronation alone will leave a bold mark in the history books.

After discussing some details about the coronation ceremony with Hibbort, Astrid had just taken a sip of wine to moisten her throat when she heard him speak again.

"On that day, you will place the crown on Amalia’s head in my stead."

Hibbort had a premonition that by then, even walking might be extremely difficult for him. To be safe, it was better to entrust this task to Astrid.

"Also, announce Astrid Calliste as the new Imperial Regent."

Her highball glass tapped slightly against the table, causing the previously still liquid surface to waver in the light. Astrid paused momentarily, then naturally removed her fingers from the stem.

That single sentence had instantly injected tension into the previously warm father-daughter atmosphere.

Exercising caution, Astrid first chose to decline.

"Amalia has the ability to independently manage state affairs... she probably doesn’t need a regent’s assistance..."

The Imperial Regent of the Valeria Empire was typically a royal prince with imperial blood, appointed to assist young or severely ill emperors unable to govern, wielding power nearly equal to the emperor himself.

Although Amalia had a petite, childlike frame, she was actually already seventeen, nearly of age.

The difference with or without a regent like her was minimal. Besides, even without the title, Astrid could still assist Amalia in handling state affairs.

Concentrating full authority in the emperor’s hands was the most stable approach.

"After careful evaluation during this period, I’ve found Amalia indeed possesses exceptional ability, but lacks experience. She still needs your help as an older sister."

"Moreover, she was only recently named heir. Before that, she was a bastard daughter. After my death, many villains will likely emerge, seizing the opportunity to attack."

Hibbort lifted his head. His aged face resembled a withered pine tree, yet his dim eyes still held a trace of sharpness as they locked onto Astrid.

"She needs someone like you by her side."

When surrounded by wolves, Astrid’s presence was indispensable. With her assistance, Amalia could quickly mature into a capable new emperor, provided Astrid herself harbored no greedy ambitions.

The clock ticked steadily; the outdoor wind became nearly inaudible beneath the movement of the hands.

"Astrid..." Hibbort continued.

"Do you know how I felt when I learned my most beloved daughter had taken the person I detested most, the stain on my life, and brought her out from that ancient castle, plotting to involve her in the succession struggle?"

For Hibbort, this was an absolute red line. That momentary daze made him even doubt whether this adopted princess, who shared no blood with him, had harbored ulterior motives all along.

"I’m sorry, Father." Astrid’s eyelashes trembled slightly as she replied immediately.

On this matter, she had indeed unavoidably hurt the father who had always doted on her.

Yet Astrid didn’t regret it. Whether driven by her love for Amalia or her own moral principles, this was something she had wanted to do.

"Privately supporting a bastard daughter’s claim to the throne, and doing so as a non-royal princess, such a crime is tantamount to usurping the nation. Truly unforgivable."

Hibbort coughed several times, speaking softly.

"But one thing saved you."

"I saw Trin’s investigation results, your education of Amalia, your visits to towns, learning the empire’s operational mechanisms."

"If your goal was merely to install a puppet ruler, you wouldn’t have gone through the unnecessary effort of teaching Amalia various statecraft knowledge, instructing her how to govern the people."

And most importantly, if Astrid had intended to usurp the nation, she wouldn’t have needed to bring Amalia out at all. She could have simply remained in hiding, waiting for Lucas and Alistair to fight it out, then emerged to claim victory for herself.

In Hibbort’s view, Astrid bringing Amalia out was a brilliant move, but also resembled a critical mistake.

Brilliant because it gave him an out, causing him to abandon his immediate intention to deal with Astrid. A mistake because it allows a living person to leave that fortress, becoming the biggest vulnerability at his side.

"So from a personal standpoint, I can believe what you said in the study half a month ago."

"But even now, I remain deeply curious, why did you bring her out?"