Chapter 020: A Sigh

After dealing with the representatives of these two major factions, Austin III cast a casual glance among the nobles. Though his gaze seemed ordinary, it carried a hint of murderous intent… which instantly terrified everyone.
After that glance, the old emperor seemed to deliberately wait until everyone was filled with anxiety before suddenly sighing and saying, “You’ve all gone through quite a scare tonight… It’s been a long time since midnight until nearly dawn—this certainly isn’t something that brings peace. So, all of you may leave now.”
The young nobles who heard this were stunned. Such a major coup… would the old emperor really not pursue it further and just let it go? But… that didn’t seem like the old emperor’s style.
Sure enough, the old emperor chuckled softly again before continuing, “As for what you all did tonight… you surely know well enough. I’ll keep the doors of the Imperial Justice Department open all day. Go back now and think carefully about what mistakes you’ve made and what punishments you deserve. Once you’ve figured it out, go to the Justice Department to report. Don’t wait for me to come and ask you what you’ve done… Do you understand?”
The nobles from Prince Fisher’s faction remained calm, their expressions unchanged. But those who had supported the eldest prince immediately broke into cold sweats. Although the old emperor was in a good mood tonight and didn’t carry out mass killings, going to the Justice Department tomorrow might mean losing their titles…
But since the old emperor had made it clear he didn’t want to delve deeper, if they didn’t go, it might anger him, and things would become much harder.
Seeing the worried expressions on the young nobles, Austin III waved his hand impatiently and said, “All of you, leave! Go now! Don’t make me say it twice.”
The young nobles exchanged confused looks before quickly bowing and stumbling out of the hall. Those who moved faster stepped outside and saw the sea of corpses, and the night wind helped them calm down.
In this coup, it was already a miracle they had survived. How could they have time to worry about anything else now?

“Your Majesty…” The few remaining high nobles exchanged glances before kneeling halfway. “It is our incompetence and failure to act promptly that have led to such chaos. Please punish us!”
Austin III smiled as if nothing had happened, simply waving his hand. “It’s alright… It’s alright… I’m satisfied that you didn’t assist that traitor in his coup this time… I hope you’ll continue to contribute to the empire in the future… But it wouldn’t be proper to let you go like this. How about this—each of you will forfeit half a year’s salary. Spend that time at home reflecting on your mistakes!”
The nobles exchanged glances and understood the old emperor’s intention… He, Austin III, didn’t dare touch these deeply rooted nobles, but he would prevent them from handling state affairs for half a year… In other words, they couldn’t interfere in imperial matters during that time… That seemed unfair.
But under these circumstances, did they even have the right to argue?
Especially the military elders—it was already generous of the old emperor not to pursue their crimes…
As for the power vacuum and various benefits left behind after the Belinger family was stripped of its wealth, since they were to spend time reflecting, they naturally had no right to them. Yet even so, given the situation, they had no choice but to agree!
The nobles could only nod in acceptance.
Seeing their reaction, Austin III showed a strange expression before waving his hand. “Alright, alright… You’ve worked all night and are tired. Go now… We’ll deal with the rest later! Oh, Duke Green and Kimberly, stay behind. I have tasks for you.”
Hearing this, the nobles realized that Duke Green and Kimberly would likely receive some great benefits soon, but since they couldn’t touch them now, they could only nod and leave in frustration. As for what would happen next, no one could predict it.
Finally, after the nobles left, Prime Minister Kimberly stepped forward. “Your Majesty… What exactly is going on…”
Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly saw Austin III, who had seemed calm moments ago, wave his hand and then spew a mouthful of dark blood with a “whoosh”—drowning his magnificent robe in blood.

The two maids behind the old emperor had already started screaming, but suddenly a resolve flashed in his eyes. Then, as he raised his hand, with two swift movements, the two loyal maids collapsed in pools of blood, barely able to breathe and clearly doomed to die.

After doing all this, Austin III spat out a few more mouthfuls of blood. With a hint of regret, he glanced at the two maids and murmured, “Don’t blame me… If anyone is to be blamed, it’s you for knowing too much!”

The four remaining people in front of the throne remained expressionless at this sight…

Prince Fischer, however, smiled slightly and said, “Father, if you wanted these two maids dead, you only had to say so. Fischer would have done it for you, but why soil your own hands?”

Austin III shook his head slightly. “They knew too much; they had to die… But after all, they had served me for so long. I still hope that even in death, I can send them off with my own hands as some form of compensation for them… Fischer, remember to bury them with noble rites later. As for their families, please take care of them for me!”

Prince Fischer nodded. “Yes…”

Austin III gave a bitter smile, looked up at the ceiling, and then said calmly, “Abraham, Kimberly, Duke Green… You three are the people I trust the most. You know the current situation of the Gavin Empire better than I do… I’ve spent my whole life tending to this dilapidated palace, yet without any success. Now, thanks to this coup, the empire finally sees a glimmer of hope. Although the road ahead is difficult, there is still a chance for it to rise again… So I hope that during this time, you can wholeheartedly assist Fischer… and bring this palace to a new life…”

Abraham, Kimberly, and Duke Green exchanged glances before quickly bowing and saying in unison, “How could we dare not obey?”

Austin III sighed and continued, “I’m relieved to hear that… You’re different from those corrupt nobles. The future of the empire still lies in your hands… I’m very at ease…”

After saying that, Austin III looked outside at the sky. A hint of dawn was already visible, and it seemed a new day was about to begin.

Austin III shook his head, a hint of desolation in his eyes, before saying softly, “Well, I’ve said everything that needed to be said… You all may leave now… Let me and Prince Fischer talk alone about what comes next!”
Abraham, Kimberly, and Duke Green naturally understood that once dawn broke, it meant the old emperor’s life was in danger. He wanted to speak with Prince Fischer now, likely to leave some final instructions—things that they, as subordinates, were not meant to hear.
The few of them quickly bowed and withdrew.
Silence…
Once only Austin III and Prince Fischer remained in the grand hall, an overwhelming silence ensued. At that moment, black blood began to seep from Austin III’s lips. He weakly waved at Prince Fischer and said, “Come here…”
Prince Fischer nodded and stepped forward quickly.
Austin III glanced up at him and then spoke in an extremely calm tone, “Fischer… If I’m not mistaken, you’ve always known that your elder brother sent someone to poison me, right?”
Prince Fischer nodded. “Yes, Father…”
Austin III showed a strange expression before saying softly, “It seems true after all that there’s no family affection in the imperial family… But with things having come to this, what’s there left to say? Come here… I’ll tell you!”
As if he had anticipated this, Prince Fischer leaned in closely. After saying a few words in a calm tone, Austin III suddenly pushed him away and shouted, “Fischer… Remember what I’ve said!”
Prince Fischer nodded. “Fischer will remember!”
“Very good! Very good!” Austin III nodded repeatedly. “Then I still want to give you one last piece of advice, Fischer… My son, you must remember… Never be too extreme! Always leave a way out!!!”
After saying these words, the old emperor, who had reigned for over fifty years, took his last breath and slowly closed his eyes.
To die on one’s own throne as an emperor… It seemed like a rather decent end!
Prince Fischer looked at his father with a complex expression. Finally, he smiled faintly, showing a peculiar look. “Father, rest in peace…”
Then came a sigh.
Book 25: Life Is Like Chess