Prelude: The Traitor's Night (IV)
285 Words
The Traitor’s Night
IV. Fratricide and Usurpation
By the time the fighting quieted, the eastern sky was still dark.
Dying flames flickered in the mud amid corpses and broken armor. Conrad stood quietly. Not far away, Darius remained half-kneeling, eyes open, staring into the endless rainy night.
After a long moment, Conrad stepped forward and gently closed those eyes. The gesture was surprisingly tender, like brushing against a lost fragment of time.
He straightened, wiped the blood from his hands with a white handkerchief, and when he looked up again, his face had returned to its usual gentle composure.
“Pass the orders,” he said calmly. “The late emperor was assassinated by Baili death squads during the northern campaign and has passed away. This prince, by the late emperor’s oral decree, assumes temporary command to stabilize the army and secure the border.”
Magnus Sun approached, clutching a wound. “My lord, Quentin Mo escaped with the Azure Blade. If he reaches the capital first—” Conrad cut him off.
“Let him. Tonight, it was Quentin who colluded with foreign enemies, let in Baili assassins, stole the Azure Blade, and murdered the emperor. In such wind and rain, a few deaths and escapes in the palace are hardly surprising.” He gazed south, eyes distant. “The empress dowager values sentiment deeply.
Upon hearing the news, she likely won’t wish to live alone. As for the children—precious princes and princesses—they would not be able to endure such shock...”
“Shall we send shadow guards south immediately and seal the capital gates?” Hawke Chen asked.
“Seal them. Pursue him. But don’t kill everyone...not yet...”
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