CHAPTER 507: ABDICATING THE THRONE

A retirement. That was unexpected.

Aurelius didn’t know how to react to this news. Normally, he would be overjoyed, finally having what he had worked for all these years.

He didn’t feel the way he expected. The thrill and excitement wasn’t there.

His eyes trailed in the direction where Silvanius had been staring. A portrait of him and Bethany.

When he came into Silvanius’s private chamber he was stunned to find it there. He thought Silvanius had gotten rid of all the paintings which had Bethany in them. He never imagined the emperor kept one back in his private chamber.

Aurelius sneered at Silvanius. He wasn’t expecting this from his father of all people

"You think you can abandon the throne after this chaos. Nice try father." Aurelius spat each word through his gritted teeth. Abrielle’s head darted between Aurelius and Silvanius. She was a bit lost in their dynamics

Silvanius laughed, Aurelius had a screwed mind just like him. His first child was the one who resembled him the most.

"I have already spoken to the court. They also approve of it " Silvanius chimed with a soft smile. Aurelius’s brows twitched.

He consulted the court before even telling him. Aurelius hissed, his eyes glaring at Silvanius who still had that smile on his face.

"Why would you do that? When did you even consult them, you haven’t left your quarters for days?" He questions. He wasn’t expecting this to suddenly pop up out of nowhere.

It felt more and more like Silvanius was abandoning his responsibility to him. "I sent out the letters and the replies came in this morning. The court trusts you, Aurelius, and it makes me genuinely proud."

Silvanius said with a light heart. His eyes pointed at the pile of letters on the table right. Aurelius had noticed those letters earlier, he never could have guessed the content.

He was a bit dumbfounded by Silvanius’s praise. He was proud of him.

Aurelius scoffed with a smug expression. "Of course, you will be proud of your most reliable worker." The prince spoke as if he were a Silvanius slave. A round of soft laughter filled the air. There was a teasing tone in his voice. He was secretly elated but would never admit it.

Abrielle’s soft laugh really had a calming effect. Silvanius could not help but laugh. He was glad Aurelius decided to visit him. He thought Aurelius was still mad at him because of his mother.

A soft smile quirked on his lips. Maybe he was overthinking things. His son didn’t hate him.

Aurelius rolled his eyes and then proceeded towards the table where the letters were kept. There were several letters from even people he thought hated his existence. Those who were Seraphina’s allies.

The majority of them all agreed on the coronation. Even those who were previously against him. The late queen’s influence has reduced, leaving Theodore without enough support.

"If you don’t mind. I will be stepping out for a while, " Abrielle suddenly blurted, then left Silvanius’s bedside. She was sitting in his bed earlier casually sipping tea with her father. They were talking about random topics, which reminded her of Abrielle’s relationship with Pierre.

Abrielle was lucky to have two loving father figures. Hazel wasn’t that lucky, she barely knew her father when he passed away in an accident.

Before the princess left the room she winked mischievously at Aurelius. Aurelius’s eyes glinted with amusement. It felt like she could read his mind and his slightest body language.

He wanted to speak privately with Silvanius but was too proud to admit it. The door creaked closed after she was gone.

"Her family were the one behind the movement," Silvanius mentioned before Aurelius even asked what was the true reason behind his decision.

He glanced at his father, a man who looked more like his elder brother than his father.

Unlike the Von Drakkar family, who were also claimed to descend from the gods. The Caephyr’s family ancestors, Cassius, had taught his children a lot of magic knowledge which went beyond health and battle prowess.

His children passed down the knowledge to the next generation, making the Caephyr family have a lot of powerful mages. Their magic core was cultivated in a way that their body biology changed, making them age much more slowly.

Some descendants were even powerful enough to fool with time completely.

Although the Von Drakkar family didn’t have fine mages like them. They were powerful in their own way, having the most powerful warriors.

"It was never your intention to pass the throne." Aurelius deadpanned, a smirk playing on his lips. "I thought as much."

Silvanius placed the tea cup he had in his hand on the side drawer, then slowly rose to his feet. The emperor approached a window, his fingers holding the helm of the curtains..

Directly opposite him was the tower where the fake body of Bethany was hung. An image which haunted him for years. Some nights, when he glanced at the Window, he saw her there just like that morning.

Seraphin kept the body at a spot he could easily see. "I had planned on this for a while. This is just the perfect opportunity." Silvanius answered

He heard Aurelius’s footsteps approach him. "What do you plan on doing after you abdicate the throne?" The young prince, curious, asked his father. His keen gaze was watching him.

"I have spent most of my years in Emberlynx. I think it is right, I see the empire I spent years building, and maybe visit Draconia. I owe the Nightshades a visit for what they did for us. " The emperor shared his plans for his future adventure.

Aurelius chuckled lightly. "Don’t do anything silly out there and be careful, Father, we look so much alike that a lot of people might mistake you for me." Aurelius hinted

Aurelius travelled a lot due to his duties and adventurous nature, during which he met a lot of acquaintances, some of whom didn’t end up on good terms.

"I will be fine," Silvanius replied. He let go of the curtains and then turned to Aurelius. His face turned a bit serious. He was about to ask something which had been bothering him.

Aurelius’s eyes turned sharp, recognising the look on Silvanius’s eyes. "What do you plan on doing with your siblings after you take the throne?"

Aurelius sighed. He had been thinking about it. How was he going to handle Seraphina’s children? They weren’t much of a threat but there was no saying how their mother’s death affected them.

"Don’t worry I won’t kill your children. I will keep far enough from the capital out of my sight but still close enough to watch them. Especially Lyra I think it’s also time she gets married."