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Leone, walking along the corridor, smiled quietly.
The sounds of a piano drifted from afar.
In the Empire, there was only one person who could play the piano in the palace where the Emperor resided.
Leone quickened his pace, feeling a slight excitement.
The closer he got, the clearer the sounds became.
The performer was reproducing a most complex piece, requiring virtuosic skill, with frightening precision.
Tremolo, arpeggio, jumps between keys—despite the extreme complexity of the work, no flaw could be found in the performance.
This performer could have easily given a solo concert in the capital and won a standing ovation, but unfortunately, the musician had no interest in that at all.
Entering the piano room, Leone looked at the performer with a warm smile.
His younger brother, playing on a black grand piano by a high window that reached the ceiling, was beautiful.
His hair, blacker than ebony, and his long fingers pressing the ivory keys, were a work of art in themselves.
However, contrary to the bright sunlight, his brother's playing was reminiscent of a dark night.
Though he could play bright melodies.
Leone, swallowing a slight regret, continued to listen.
When the last note sounded, Leone erupted in thunderous applause.
The musician turned his head and looked at Leone.
His brother, with eyes the color of fresh blood, smiled weakly.
Leone approached him.
"Cesare, you have become even more skillful."
His brother rose from his seat and closed the piano lid.
Leone, who secretly wished to hear another piece, couldn't hide his disappointment and looked at his brother.
In his gaze, there was more weapon than art.
And yet, he played better than most pianists in the capital.
This was the Emperor's only brother—Cesare.
Leone tilted his head back, looking at his brother.
He himself was taller than average, but his brother eclipsed him significantly.
Because of this, he always had to look up at his brother.
His brother, in the uniform of a commander-in-chief, possessed the ability to evoke awe in the hearts of people.
And it wasn't just because he was a relative of the Emperor—probably any resident of the capital would think so.
His body, hard and sharp as a blade forged by a master, perfectly matched the dark blue uniform.
It was no wonder many fell in love with Cesare just seeing him at the victory parade.
Leone smirked and lightly tapped Cesare on the shoulder.
"I should practice the violin too...
I feel like I've completely lost my touch."
The brothers had studied music since childhood.
Both had mastered the violin and piano, but later divided the instruments between them.
The reason Leone played the violin and Cesare the piano was simple: Cesare had large hands.
As an adult, his brother could easily span intervals of 12 notes.
Every time he watched him play, Leone felt internally proud that he had once suggested he take up the piano.
The brothers left the music room and headed to the reception hall.
This was a room the Emperor used only for private meetings.
It was smaller than the official hall, but it offered a view of the inner courtyard, creating a cozy atmosphere.
Adding a sugar cube to his tea, Leone dropped a phrase in which joke and truth were mixed:
"Depth has appeared in your playing.
Is it because of being in love?"
"As if that were the only reason."
Cesare limited himself to a single phrase, then fell silent, sipping tea with cognac.
Leone grimaced and murmured:
"You... oh.
Fine, as you wish."
He had already raised the topic of marriage, but Cesare hadn't opened up.
Though it was annoying, Leone knew his character and so just continued drinking tea.
His brother snorted in response to his brother's reaction.
Leone, looking at him, also laughed.
Leone and Cesare were the only full brothers among the many descendants of the previous Emperor.
Though the previous Emperor didn't have two children by one woman, Leone and Cesare were born as twins.
True, being fraternal, they differed greatly in both appearance and build.
*‘Eileen Elodd.’*
At that name, Leone involuntarily remembered an incident.
He still remembered that day.
Learning that his favorite child had been kidnapped, Cesare, who was on the battlefield, immediately deserted and returned to the capital.
The child was saved, but the Emperor's wrath could not be avoided.
He was furious that the Prince, whom he especially trusted, had committed such a foolish act as desertion, and personally whipped him.
Leone came to Cesare with ointment in tears, but his brother was already surrounded by his knights, who were treating him.
The four knights following Cesare were expressionless.
As if such wounds were a common matter for them.
The nineteen-year-old Cesare, with his torso bandaged, maintained the same indifferent expression when he said:
"I will become Emperor."
"What?.."
"No, you."
Leone thought he had misheard.
But Cesare, wiping the blood flowing from his split lips, calmly continued:
"It will take five years, brother."
And Cesare turned his insane words into reality.
He truly made Leone Emperor.
But the brothers rose from the very bottom, without support.
And even after taking the throne, their trials did not end.
When the struggle for the throne came to an end, the defeated members of the Imperial family fled to the Kingdom of Calpen.
Their mother, a former princess of Calpen, fled with her son and asked for support.
Calpen declared war on the Empire, and Cesare went on a campaign.
Everyone thought he would perish.
Traon was weakened by civil war, while Calpen was famous for its powerful army.
Even Leone urged Cesare to give up part of the territory and start negotiations.
But Cesare went to war and still emerged victorious.
*‘True, he surprised us a bit by cutting off the head of the King of Calpen...’*
The King, through his spies in the Empire, had planned to frame Cesare’s child, accusing her of manufacturing drugs, and execute her.
But Cesare had thwarted this even before the plan was put into action, and beheaded the King immediately after his defeat.
The King’s plot against Eileen was revealed only after his death.
It was surprising how Cesare had guessed and punished him.
*‘He’s been strange lately.’*
Leone looked intently at his brother.
Even the request for a triumphal arch was uncharacteristic of Cesare.
He never needed recognition of his merits by others—he had even given the throne to his brother.
But now his brother was literally raging, demonstratively putting his merits on display.
Thanks to this, the anti-monarchists were completely suppressed.
*‘And the decision to marry Eileen Elodd too...’*
Once, Leone had hinted that since he loved and cherished her so much, why not marry her.
Then his brother had clearly answered that he would not do so, giving a clear reason.
"You said that if you kept her near, she would become unhappy.
And in the end, you’re marrying young Lady Elodd."
He had claimed he would let her play with flowers and herbs, but upon returning to the capital, he immediately announced to the whole Empire that Eileen Elodd belonged to him.
It was truly surprising.
After all, Leone knew better than anyone that Cesare considered Eileen only his child.
Interesting, what would his brother answer?
Leone waited in silence, and Cesare smirked crookedly.
"After seven years of reflection in solitude, one's opinion can change, you know?"
"Your riddles again."
Another change was his love for obscure statements.
Having spent much time in the war, Cesare had preferred clear and direct talk.
He hadn't liked metaphors, allegories, and the flowery talk stylized by High Society.
But now he himself had begun to speak in riddles.
What had changed his brother?
Most likely, the reason was Eileen Elodd.
"Bring young Lady Elodd to the palace soon.
You should greet her before the wedding."
"Certainly."
Cesare, examining the amaretti served with the tea, suddenly dropped a bomb:
"First, I’ll deal with the Chairman of the Senate.
After the wedding."
"Hmm.
It won't be easy."
While the Imperial family was busy fighting for the throne, the nobles in parliament had significantly strengthened their power.
Even now, when the Emperor's power was established, they hadn't forgotten the past and were waiting for an opportunity to strike.
The Chairman of the Senate was the central figure of the anti-monarchists.
"I’ll create a scandal and remove him.
I only need your support."
"Do you have a plan?
That old man is a real snake."
His brother answered in a lazy tone, suitable for afternoon tea:
"The Chairman of the Senate will soon make a mistake, and I will take advantage of it."
It was as if he already saw the future.
However, acting by relying on non-obvious things was uncharacteristic of his brother.
Leone involuntarily asked:
"Are you all right?"
Twin intuition told him that something was wrong.
Cesare’s answer was clear:
"No."
Breaking an amaretti in half, Cesare licked his fingers, stained with crumbs, and smirked:
"Brother.
It seems I’ve gone a bit mad."
Cesare rarely spoke of his feelings.
Hearing such blunt words from his brother, Leone tensed.
"I’m trying my best to behave normally, but it’s damn hard.
I’m constantly thinking.
Who threw a stone at my child?
Who cut the body into pieces?
That’s what I’m thinking."
Cesare’s slow speech sounded perfectly calm.
And that made it even scarier.
"That’s why I’m rushing to get married.
Otherwise..."
His long eyes curved in a mocking squint.
His red pupils flashed with a dangerous glint, as if on the verge of an explosion.
"It seems I’ll slaughter half the population of Traon."