Published: January 4, 2026
Albert――if Audrey adds the honorific "sama" when calling him, it must be that Albard.
Albert Alarate.
My elder brother, born as the second prince and crown prince for decades.
An ambitious man who attempted a coup to force our then-emperor Father to abdicate, but I anticipated it and stopped him.
A coup, in other words, is rebellion, and under imperial law, the principal offender is punished by decapitation, and in some cases, extermination of the entire clan.
Clan extermination means the entire family is massacred—this could include Albert’s children, his wife, and even relatives by marriage.
Such is the severity of the crime of rebellion under imperial law.
Therefore, I devised a plan.
Albert’s rebellion was deemed a “failed attempt, but he desisted at the last moment and committed suicide,” so all the guilt fell on him alone, thus avoiding clan extermination.
“All of Albert’s children should be in the Imperial Capital. Because of that incident, they are effectively under the surveillance of the Imperial Household Ministry.”
Audrey nodded slightly at my words.
With a preface of “I understand,” she answered my question.
“Apparently, after that incident, one of Prince Albert’s concubines fled and gave birth to a son six months later.”
“Six months…”
“Yes. If it were a girl, it would confirm the child was fathered by the man she was intimate with, and that’s enough time to convince those around her.”
“I see…”
I stroked my chin, thinking it over.
“Is it really Albert’s child—no.”
I shook my head. It was no longer the time to be fixated on that.
After all, “the empress herself took action.”
I changed the subject to ask Audrey.
“Is it certain that Albert was involved with her?”
“Yes. Several eunuchs testified to that. We investigated, and there are records as well.”
I nodded.
The emperor—and the crown prince, effectively a semi-emperor—had their sexual encounters officially recorded.
If it happened secretly outside, that might be unknown, but since she was a concubine, the encounter would have taken place in Albert’s mansion.
Therefore, the records would be meticulously maintained.
“Her childbirth was six months after Prince Albert’s death, a full-term delivery. Not premature or overdue.”
“I see.”
I nodded.
The crown prince is considered a “semi-emperor” under the empire’s system.
At the time, I was prince thirteen by birth, meaning I was Albert’s brother by blood, but as crown prince and prince we were lord and vassal.
This “semi-emperor” status applied in various ways.
For example, many eunuchs were assigned to Albert’s mansion, taking care of his primary wife and concubines.
Assigning eunuchs, who are castrated and thus infertile, is a strong measure to prevent illicit affairs and preserve the purity of the royal bloodline.
Since such a drastic action was taken, other strict measures were similarly enforced.
Multiple eunuchs’ testimonies mean it’s almost certain the woman who stayed at Albert’s mansion was only with Albert.
And if the childbirth was a normal delivery six months after Albert’s death, the child must be Albert’s.
“Of course, this is circumstantial evidence…”
“No, that Albert…”
I slowly extended my hand, manifesting Leviathan.
A sword with a form generally perceived as “ominous” appeared before Audrey and me.
Leviathan—formerly Leviathan.
The water demon sword for which Albert sacrificed 120 people to retrieve.
That single episode reveals a part of Albert’s character.
“Albert would have known about the pregnancy while alive. Being Albert, he surely investigated. If the woman survived... it means Albert had certainty despite his suspicious nature.”
“I see.”
Though circumstantial, it’s not uncommon for a person's character to equate to solid evidence.
Albert’s case is one such example.
Albert cared nothing for the lives of his subordinates and was intensely obsessed with the imperial throne.
Naturally, he would never tolerate his children—whom he expected to succeed to the throne—having the blood of an illegitimate man mixed in.