CHAPTER 144: EMPRESS ALTHEA IS DEAD

—Empress Althea’s Chambers—

The Empress lay on her bed, covered in a thick duvet, looking paler than before. Prince Caelum and Serena stood behind me, their expressions twisted in pain.

"You shouldn’t have stepped out. You should focus on recovering," I said with a frown.

But Althea shook her head, and a small smile played on her lips.

"I don’t mind dying, now that I know Solinthar is safe."

Her voice was weak, forcing my brows to knit.

I needed this woman alive. None of her offspring were good enough to take her place.

"Is there a way I can save you?" I asked, then turned to Caelum. "Is there a spell I could use to save her or at least prolong her lifespan?"

Caelum froze and wore a thoughtful expression. Seconds later, his eyes widened with realization, and he was about to speak—

But Serena quickly covered his mouth with her hand.

"That method is too dark... It taints the body and soul. I will not allow that method to be used on my mother."

She was decisive, and my eyes narrowed.

I wasn’t on good terms with the future Empress of this empire, and that bothered me a lot. Not because I felt threatened, but because I knew what I would do to her when the time came.

Honestly, I only felt bad for Empress Althea. She had given me her support and blind loyalty. It would be shameful if I killed her children shortly after her death.

"It’s alright, Great One... This old lady has lived. It’s my time to die—there’s no reason to fight it," Althea’s voice came from behind, and I shifted my attention back to her.

Her feeble hands reached for mine, and I took them.

My frown deepened upon realizing she was cold.

Unnaturally cold.

"I won’t be here to see you return Solinthar to its golden age, but I believe you will succeed. I only ask you to look after my family on this journey. Can you do that for me?" she asked, looking deep into my eyes.

I hesitated.

How could I protect the people who would stand against me after she’s gone?

"I promise," I lied with a straight face, and the Empress smiled.

Her lips parted to say something, but then she froze.

Her gaze, once fixed on me, suddenly turned distant—

It felt as if she was looking through me.

[Empress Althea is dead!]

"Mum?" Serena called out as she hastily walked past me, grabbing her mum by the shoulders and shaking her.

She screamed and buried her face in her mum’s robes, crying loudly.

Slowly, I rose to my feet as my brain raced.

Empress Althea’s death was truly heartbreaking...

But what would follow was bound to be much more terrifying.

Turning around, Caelum just stood there like a statue, gazing at his mother’s corpse, tears streaming down his eyes.

Letting out a heavy sigh, I shook my head and walked out of the room.

Outside the door, many people were gathered.

Selric and all the officials stood there with their heads lowered.

I looked past them to the rear of the group where Reina stood with a blank look in her eyes.

I made my way through the small crowd and walked up to her.

"Let’s go," I said and snapped my finger.

[Door activated]

We entered the rift and reappeared in the room assigned to me by the Empress.

"You should sleep first, you must be tired," I said while taking off my jacket.

However, Reina rushed forward and pulled the jacket off my shoulders.

"You’re not sad." Her voice came from behind, and I frowned. "I don’t know why, but I think I can feel what you feel now."

Ignoring her, I walked over to the window and sat at the edge, gazing out into the vast territory of Solinthar.

"The Empress was a good woman. One that believed in me and my dreams. It’s a shame I’m too broken to feel sad for her." I sighed heavily.

Reina was right.

I didn’t feel sad for the dead Empress.

Instead, I felt frustrated that things wouldn’t run smoothly from now on.

I hated that I would meet opposition and do things that would break the Empress’s heart.

A lot of people would die before the new empire I wished to build here was formed.

One that would force Serena to relinquish her power and share it with representatives from the six kingdoms.

The same way I forced the forces of the Three Kingdoms to kneel, I would force Solinthar to its knees—after taking a few lives.

I didn’t think I’d be able to keep my promise of protecting her family.

[Song of Harmony detected]

At that moment, the tunes returned, and my worries faded.

My gaze shifted toward my bed, where Reina sat while playing the flute, and a small smile played on my lips.

I felt extremely lucky to have come across her.

While the relief she brought was temporary, it came at times when I needed it most.

This was the first time in centuries I felt excited knowing I’d have a woman by my side for the rest of my life.

’I’ll keep her safe.’ I reminded myself, shutting my eyes.

After a few seconds, my eyes fluttered open, and I realized the sun had vanished—

Replaced by a full moon.

The city bells kept ringing, and loud wailing sounds echoed from everywhere.

"I slept leaning on the window frame?" I was genuinely shocked.

I didn’t even know I was that tired.

Instinctively, my eyes shifted to my bed.

Reina was asleep with my jacket draped over her like a blanket.

"She must have been tired," I smiled, then shifted my gaze to the moon once again.

Knock! Knock!

My brows furrowed, and I glanced toward the door.

"Come in," I said, and the door slowly swung open.

Serena walked in dressed in all black.

She froze halfway in, her eyes narrowing at the sight of Reina sleeping soundly on my bed with my jacket as a cover.

Her cold gaze shifted to me, filled with a thousand questions.

I watched her lips part and close over ten times, as if searching for the right words.

Sigh!

Letting out a heavy sigh, she shut her eyes and worked on her breathing for a few seconds before finally speaking.

"My mum is about to be cremated. I thought you would like to be there, since you had a good relationship with her," Serena said.