Leone, walking down the hallway, smiled softly. The sound of a piano could be heard in the distance.
In that palace where the Emperor resided, there was only one person in the entire Empire authorized to play the piano.
The closer he got, the clearer the notes became. The performer was playing a difficult piece of music, one that demanded absolute mastery.
Despite being a complex piece of music, with tremolos, arpeggio chords, and leaps between keys, the execution was flawless. If he were to perform in the city at that moment, he would receive a standing ovation. Unfortunately, the artist had no interest in that.
Leone entered the room where the piano was and looked at the performer with a happy smile.
His younger brother, utterly stunning, played the black grand piano in front of the tall glass windows. With hair blacker than ebony, the sight of his long fingers pressing the ivory keys was, in itself, a work of art.
Despite the intense sunlight, his younger brother's performance evoked an endless darkness. It was impressive how he managed to execute pieces in major keys with such mastery. Leone watched his performance, swallowing a slight regret.
When the final note echoed, Leone applauded enthusiastically.
The pianist turned his head and looked at him. The younger brother, with his pupils as red as blood, offered a subtle smile.
"Cesare, your skills have improved ," Leone said as he approached.
His younger brother stood up and closed the piano lid. Leone, who secretly wanted to hear one more song, looked at him, unable to hide his disappointment.
The one who played better than any pianist in the capital, even without any interest in solo concerts, was Cesare, the Emperor's only brother.
Leone looked up and met his brother's eyes, who was taller than him. Although he was taller than average, Cesare was even more imposing, forcing Leone to crane his neck when he was beside him.
Dressed in his general's uniform, Cesare exuded a certain charm that won the hearts of the people. It wasn't just because of his royal blood; there seemed to be a consensus among everyone in the capital.
His physique, sculpted like a blade forged by a master, perfectly complemented the dark blue uniform. It was no wonder that his triumphant parade had set so many hearts racing.
Leone laughed and gave Cesare's forearm a light tap.
Perhaps I should join you on the violin. My hands have been rather still lately.
From a young age, they had learned musical instruments. Initially, they both learned violin and piano, but over time, each focused on mastering one of them.
The reason Leone mastered the violin and Cesare the piano was simple: Cesare's hands were larger.
As Cesare grew, his fingers lengthened, allowing him to comfortably reach the twelfth octave. Whenever Leone saw him play, he felt proud to suggest the piano to him.
Leaving the piano room behind, the brothers proceeded to the reception hall. Reserved for the Emperor's private guests, it was somewhat smaller than the official hall, but exuded a welcoming atmosphere, overlooking the courtyard.
While playfully placing sugar cubes in his black tea, Leone mixed jokes with candid comments.
— Your music has gained depth. Is it because you're in love?
- That's right.
Cesare replied with just two words, took a sip of his brandy tea, and fell silent.
— Uh… Never mind — Leone murmured, noticing his brother's reluctance.
Despite the rumors of the imminent wedding, Cesare remained silent. Leone felt a certain unease, but knew his brother well enough not to insist and focused only on his tea.
Cesare chuckled lightly at his brother's reaction, and Leone returned the smile.
Among the many children of the late emperor, Leone and Cesare were the only blood brothers. Although the emperor never had two children with the same woman, Leone and Cesare were twins, completely different in physique and appearance.
Leone vividly remembered the day the tragedy occurred.
Upon learning that his "little girl" had been kidnapped, Cesare, who was on the battlefield, immediately abandoned his post and returned to the empire. Although the child was rescued, he faced the Emperor's wrath for deserting and suffered floggings as punishment.
Leone wept as she approached with ointments, but her younger brother was already being cared for by his loyal knights.
The four horsemen who accompanied Cesare remained impassive, treating the wounds as if they were nothing.
With his torso wrapped in bandages, Cesare, then nineteen years old, maintained his usual posture and said:
"You should become the emperor."
"What…?"
"Not me. But you, brother."
Leone thought he must have misheard. However, Cesare continued speaking calmly, wiping the blood from his torn lips with the back of his hand.
"In five years, brother."
Cesare turned that vague declaration into reality, placing Leone on the throne. But, as a brother who ascended without an established power base, his journey did not end with the coronation.
After the end of the struggle for the throne, the defeated members of the royal family sought refuge in the Kingdom of Kalpen. Cesare's mother, a fallen princess of Kalpen, requested asylum for herself, asking for help. In response, Kalpen declared war on the empire, and Cesare went to the battlefield.
Despite the grim predictions, Cesare remained undeterred. The civil war had weakened Traon, while Kalpen possessed a formidable army. Even Leone tried to dissuade him, offering negotiations in exchange for concessions of imperial territory, but Cesare stood firm—and won.
'I was a little surprised to see King Kalpen's severed head, but…'
The king planned to execute Cesare's beloved child, accusing him of producing drugs based on information from a spy infiltrated into the empire.
Cesare, however, intervened before Leone could react, resulting in the king's defeat and execution. Only after his death was the plan involving Eileen revealed. What surprised everyone most was how Cesare had foreseen and condemned the king's actions.
'He's been acting really strange lately.'
"Leone," observed his brother with an intrigued expression. Cesare's sudden insistence on a triumphal arch was unusual; he never sought recognition for his achievements, even abdicating the throne in favor of his brother without hesitation.
His younger brother was now showing off and displaying his power. Because of this, the anti-imperial faction was completely demoralized.
'The same applies to his decision to marry Eileen Elrod.'
There were times when Leone subtly suggested that marrying her would be a good idea, given Cesare's affection for her. Even if there was no romantic love, it would be better than a political marriage. At the time, Cesare gave a clear reason for not marrying her.
— You once said that being with her would make her unhappy. And now you've chosen to marry Eileen Elrod after all.
The man had promised to let her enjoy simple pleasures, like playing with flowers and leaves, but upon returning to the empire after the war, he publicly proclaimed Eileen Elrod as his future wife to the entire kingdom.
It was disconcerting, especially since Leone knew that Cesare considered her only as a beloved child.
While Leone waited patiently for an explanation, Cesare's lips curved into a smile.
"After reflecting for about seven years, I changed my mind, " Cesare declared.
"That's another confusing statement ," Leone replied, puzzled by the sudden change.
Caesar was not a man who made cryptic comments. Having spent so much time on the battlefield, he was usually direct and as transparent as possible, without beating around the bush or playing games.
But lately, he seemed inclined to make cryptic statements, leading Leone to wonder what had changed. Perhaps Eileen Elrod was involved.
"Do you intend to bring Miss Elrod to the palace soon? I must greet her before the wedding, " Leone commented.
"All right ," Cesare replied casually, picking up the amaretto that came with his tea and examining it.
Then, out of nowhere, he dropped a bombshell:
Let's deal with the President of the Senate first. After the wedding.
— …Hmm. This won't be easy — Leone acknowledged.
Amidst the chaos of the imperial family, the aristocrats of parliament had risen to power. The parliamentary nobles still wielded considerable influence, and the President of the Senate was a key figure in the anti-imperial faction.
"I'm going to orchestrate a scandal soon, and I'll need your help ," Cesare stated, in a lazy tone as if he were discussing the weather.
"Do you have a plan? " Leone asked. "The old man is exceptionally shrewd."
Cesare's response was direct:
The President of the Senate will cause problems soon, and I intend to use that as bait.
It seemed as if he foresaw the events. Without much thought, Leone asked:
- Are you well?
Gemini's intuition suggested something was wrong. Cesare's willingness to trust the uncertain and move forward was atypical. But Cesare's response was clear and sharp:
- No.
Cesare licked his fingers, stained with amaretto crumbs, and laughed.
Brother, I'm afraid I'm losing my sanity.
It was rare for Cesare to talk about himself. His admission, unusual and sincere, shocked Leone.
— I'm trying to appear normal, but it's difficult. My mind won't rest. I can't stop thinking about who the cowards were who stoned my little girl. And the monsters who dismembered her body.
Cesare spoke with a terrifying calm, each word chilling Leone's blood.
That's why I'm rushing the wedding. Otherwise…
His gaze darkened, a cruel smile forming on his lips. His red irises gleamed with a menacing light, as if, at any moment, the man would unleash horrors beyond human comprehension.
I could end up wiping out half of the Traon Empire.
To be continued…