How to Live as a Tyrant’s Spoiled Brat Chapter 5

How to live as a tyrant’s spoiled brat Episode 5

(05)

“Never, ever raise your head first. Never talk back. Never turn your back.”

“Yeah. I know that too.”

The guards and knights dragged the black-haired maid into the dungeon.

I explained the whole story to the knight and his attendants.

The middle-aged chamberlain answered,

“His Majesty wishes to be personally informed of all matters relating to the treason.”

Then he took me to the audience room.

He kept reciting the audience rules one after another as he went.

“Do you think I’ve only seen Your Majesty once or twice? I’ll take care of it, so please be quiet.”

Eventually, I couldn’t stand it anymore and ended up yelling at the attendant.

The attendant gave me a strange look.

“It has been a year since Lady Jaylilith ascended the throne, and as far as I know, she has not sought out His Highness the Grand Duke Valen. What do you mean?”

I made a mistake.

I sighed inwardly and shook my head.

“No. Let’s go quickly.”

The main palace occupied a wide area of mountains.

The audience room was a building built at a fairly high location among them.

I climbed the wide stairs and got there.

When I saw the stairs in front of the audience room, I stopped for a moment and looked back.

There was a panoramic view of the capital city with its clear blue sky and many tall towers.

Below this, the head of the traitorous prince and the left arm of Jaylilith fell off.

This time, I will never let it happen.

“What are you looking at?”

“No, I won’t. I’ll be there soon.”

The chamberlain opened the side door of the audience room.

It was a sight I had seen hundreds or thousands of times, including in my past life, but it was magnificent every time I saw it.

Huge pillars over 25 meters high lined the left and right, and the floor was paved with marble and colorful crystals.

The ceiling of the audience room was dark blue and was filled with thousands of candles hung from glass lanterns.

Looking at the flickering candles, it felt like looking at the night sky.

“Prince Valen?”

“You came to a place like this wearing clothes like that.”

“That rascal. Does he think he’s at a ball or something?”

Similar reactions came from both sides of the pillar.

It was not polite to come to the funeral of one’s relatives in a shiny white uniform with flashy gold decorations.

But I wanted to be as rude and inconspicuous as possible.

The royal family members sitting on the right side of the pillar were not tied down, while the five royal family members sitting on the left side of the pillar were handcuffed.

They were ‘those who were mercifully given the opportunity to commit suicide.’

The chamberlain ran up to the platform and whispered something in Emperor Jayrillis’ ear.

I lowered my head so I couldn’t see what expression she was making.

“Archduke Valencian. After the executions are over, do not return to the Red Moon Palace. Wait.”

It was a reprieve.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

That was all I could say.

“Okay. Then I will finish listening. Lucius. I heard that you also tried to kill Jim. Come here and tell me what you have to say in defense.”

Jaylilith said.

I looked at the royal family sitting on the left of the pillar.

A royal family member as big as a bear walked out in handcuffs.

He had bruises here and there on his face, but he still looked confident.

“I know that you sent a letter to your maternal relatives to obtain several swords with enchanted circuits. To whom did you give them?”

“Your Majesty. What will you do if I don’t tell you?”

“I have already told you that I will allow you to commit suicide. Your honor will be preserved. So I have no choice but to question those who are suspicious.”

Lucius gritted his teeth at the suggestion that he would interrogate those he suspected.

I know because I experienced it in my past life.

It’s called interrogation, but it’s just torture.

Since it is torture personally ordered by the Emperor, there is no mercy in the hands of the torture technicians.

“I sent the letter.”

“Who did you send it to?”

Lucius recited a list of names, all of whom were already locked in the dungeons.

He looked at me as he recited the list.

A venomous expression appeared on his distorted face.

I took a step back, thinking, “No way.”

“And finally, I sent a letter to Archduke Valencian.”

What the hell.

I almost blurted out the words right then and there.

I wasn’t yet a bittersweet fan of Jaylilith.

The royal family sitting along the right pillar looked on in shock.

The four or five members of the royal family sitting along the left pillar looked at me with astonishment.

I don’t know if we’ve already matched the words.

Or maybe you just figured it out.

It was true that I received the letter.

The next day, I politely refused and burned it.

I didn’t even keep that letter.

But he didn’t even tell the knights.

In my previous life, I didn’t know what was for Jaylilith.

I didn’t want to see her suffer in such an important position as the emperor.

At the same time, I didn’t want to kill her.

I could neither participate in the rebellion nor draw the line.

I didn’t know that if you’re not on my side, you’re my enemy.

I paid the price for my foolishness and stupidity with the death of someone dear to me.

It is an old story that should not be repeated, a story that should disappear into time.

I kicked the marble floor and took a step forward, speaking to her.

“Your Majesty! That bear-like man is insulting me with his fox-like tricks.”

“Archduke Valencian. Have you forgotten the oath you took that day?”

“The guy who passed out after being hit by my wine bottle is swearing like an oath.”

The knights stomped their boots on the floor to take their weight.

Of course, I shouted confidently without even blinking an eye.

“There’s a lot to say about a guy who broke into someone else’s room in a group and got thrown out the window.”

“I have definitely prepared the armor to give you.”

“Do you think that if this comes out of your mouth, it’s all nonsense? Why are you making a fuss to make me commit suicide too? If you were caught trying to rebel, you should just drink some poison and get away with it!”

I deliberately used vulgar vocabulary.

This was a tool to remind me of common sense and to express that there was already a conflict between me and Russus, as it would be impossible to drag such a violent and ignorant person into a rebellion that should have been thorough.

It had been so long that it didn’t stick well in my mouth, but now I had to get used to it again.

Jaylilith raised one hand.

Everyone in the audience, including me, was silent.

“The burden is not on the intention, but on the attempt.”

The chamberlain and the knights nodded.

“I won’t tell you not to dream. But if you want to make your dreams a reality, be prepared. That’s what Jim said over and over again.”

She looked at the royal family sitting on her right.

Some of them flinched and averted their eyes.

“If you punish people just by thinking about it, who would sit there? Even if you lock them all up in the dungeons, it won’t be enough.”

There were coughs here and there.

“Valencianus.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I heard the report from the Red Moon Palace maids and knights. They say she is drunk and living with a broken heart.”

“I am embarrassed.”

“I know your conduct is not right, but it is not a death sentence. I will not ask what you gave up and what you escaped with in alcohol.”

Her voice rang coldly in the audience room.

“I hope you never try to hold on to what you’ve let go of.”

It meant that he would ask without questioning whether it was true or not.

I bowed my head and expressed my gratitude.

“I am so grateful to you.”

She chuckled and looked back at Lucius.

“I won’t say anything. You just say nothing and commit suicide.”

Lucius returned to his place.

Next, a blonde royal walked out. She looked like she wanted to say something.

Jaylilith told her.

“I have also given your maid permission to commit suicide, just like you. Don’t worry, your family will not be punished.”

Okay.

I let out a sigh of relief.

“I am so grateful to you.”

The blonde woman bowed her head politely.

“I understand that you are the son of a concubine of His Majesty the Emperor. You are neither a swordsman nor a magician, and your maternal family is not great either.”

The emperor continued speaking.

“Why did you participate so actively in the rebellion? Even if you were to pull Jim down, there wouldn’t be much left for you.”

“My older brother achieved the title of Sword Expert at the age of twenty-five.”

Jaylilith made an “Ah” expression.

The blond prince continued speaking.

“He died in battle a year ago while fighting Her Majesty, who was the princess at the time.”

“I remember. He was a brilliant swordsman with bright brown hair. I almost cut off Jim’s wrist in a surprise attack. I tried to persuade him, but he wouldn’t listen.”

“Do you need any more reasons?”

The emperor shook his head.

A deep shadow fell over her beautiful face.

“Enough.”

After that, Jaylilith called the three royals sitting on the left of the pillar and heard their stories.

Of course, her verdict was not changed.

It was exactly the same as before.

But something has changed.

I was sitting on the right side of the pillar, and Jaylilith didn’t drink the poison.

There is no such thing as salting the body of a blonde royal and sending it to her maternal family.

We do not allow honorable suicide and do not send people to the guillotine.

I think we can consider that we have gotten the first button off well.

“Alcohol.”

At her words, the attendants held up their glasses and headed towards the five royal family members on the left of the pillar.

Poisoned wine was poured into each glass.

She also took a glass of unpoisoned wine.

“Drink.”

The five royal family members on the left of the pillar raised their glasses.

Some had their eyes tightly shut, while others opened them wide.

But no one screamed or threw their glasses.

Both the concubine and the non-concubine emptied their glasses with their own hands.

Soon they quietly and slowly sank into their chairs.

It was the end of the traitors.

The bodies were carried out one by one on stretchers.

The emperor, who had been looking at them indifferently, turned his head to me.

“Archduke Valencian, prostrate yourself before me.”

It was a familiar voice.

A bright voice with a fiery thrill.

I did as she said, walked up to the stage, knelt down on the red carpet, and prostrated myself.

“They say the maid put onyx, the ‘nailless poison,’ into the wine.”

Onyx was a poison that, once poisoned, would cause a fever, stinging, and tickling sensation, and would cause one to scratch their entire body until their fingernails fell off and they would die.

Among the many poisons, it was renowned for its terrible pain until death.

Of course, Jaylilith, who had drunk this in her past life, didn’t lift a finger.

“If I had drunk it without knowing, even if it was a burden, it wouldn’t have been very pleasant. I appreciate your loyalty and dedication.”

“I am so grateful.”

“But Jim called me over because he had something to ask the Grand Duke.”

Her voice rose slightly.

I knew from long experience that she was smiling sadistically now.

“Why were you in Jim’s wine cellar?”

I took a deep breath and answered.

I had to be shameless.

He had to become a rude scoundrel and distance himself from power.

I had to make everyone think that I was unworthy of the title of Grand Duke.

I had to make everyone think that I couldn’t replace Jaylilith.

“Actually, I also tried to steal a bottle of wine.”

“!”

At my outrageous remark, the knights of the guard put their hands on their swords, and the chamberlain chattered his teeth.

I didn’t even spare them a glance and just looked up at the Emperor sitting on the golden throne.

“Archduke Valen! Who are you to raise your head in front of right now?”

I ignored the attendant’s horrified whispers.

Even though she was my twin sister, her face didn’t have that boyish aura that I had.

This was because his body, which had once shed its layers upon ascending to Sword Master, had transformed into its best state.

Because he reached that level at such a young age, his physical reconstruction worked as maturity rather than rejuvenation.

Of course, her face was not the same as before she regressed.

White hair that looks like melted platinum and deep yellow eyes that look like they’re inlaid with gold.

A woman with a slender figure and tall stature, sitting with her back straight and legs crossed, looking down at the other person.

A monarch with an arrogant and confident dragon-like appearance.

The youngest sword master in the empire and a great magician recognized by the Ivory Tower Lord.

A man who started a rebellion at the age of sixteen, killed his relatives, and seized the throne.

And a war hero who suppressed nine rebellions and led five great wars to victory over the next 40 years.

A tyrant who would become resentful of the people for his taxation that bordered on plunder to strengthen his military.

Emperor of the empire that rules the continent.

And my twin sister.

Jaylilith Soletaraon Soletaras.

She tilted her head.

“You tried to steal Jim’s wine?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“How impudent. Do you know who you were trying to steal from?”

She expressed her anger in a restrained tone.

I held my head up stiffly and spoke firmly.

“I’m sorry, but please understand. I couldn’t stand the smell of cooking wine after drinking it every day at the Red Moon Palace.”

“Why did you drink cooking wine?”

“The cost of maintaining dignity is halved, so I can’t afford to buy and drink decent wine.”

The knights looked at me with pity.

The commander called his soldiers in advance and ordered them to prepare another bowl of poison for suicide.

But I smiled confidently and shamelessly demanded.

“Didn’t I catch the attempted poisoner because I tried to steal the wine? Please let me off the hook just this once.”

The entire hallway became frozen in silence.

The sound of the spring breeze blowing outside was the loudest in this place.

The one who broke the silence was the highest person in the place.

Jaylilith burst into laughter.

Her laughter echoed through the wide hall like a dragon’s roar.

“How brazen. Good. Whoever saves my life once deserves to be forgiven once.”

“I am so grateful to you.”

“Your Majesty, give this man a bottle of Tears of the Wasteland. It is a reward for saving my life.”

The attendant who was preparing the poison opened his eyes wide as if he had misheard.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will take poison from the tears of the wasteland. Grand Duke Valen. Your Majesty has been considerate of the Grand Duke. Be grateful to the Emperor for decorating the end with precious wine.”

The emperor clicked his tongue.

“Don’t give him any medicine, just give him wine. I have decided to forgive him.”