The Billionaire CEO Becomes the Youngest Emperor-Chapter 13 - : They’re running away!

Ah... damn it!

During my week of planning, one of the mistakes I was determined to avoid was, of course, staying as far away from trouble as possible. In other words, avoiding the main character — that walking disaster magnet who's always at the center of every dangerous mess.

Ha... ha... I bet someone's having a good laugh at my expense right now.

In Lucian's eyes, she was far more terrifying than any monster.

---

At the same time

Knock... knock... knock...

Seated behind a large, solid wooden desk, a man calmly flipped through documents. His upright posture and piercing gaze exuded natural authority, further emphasized by his short, perfectly groomed black hair.

— "Come in," he said in a calm voice.

The door opened, revealing the household's butler. His face betrayed a nervousness he couldn't quite hide as he cautiously approached the desk.

— "Reporting, sir."

The man behind the desk didn't even bother to look up. The silence stretched on, heavy and uncomfortable, until the butler finally continued, his voice slightly trembling:

— "The nobles of your faction have all rushed here. They were furious, so I led them to the reception hall before coming to inform you."

He paused, choosing his words carefully.

— "It happened after the imperial meeting. It seems the emperor has made... a terrible decision for the kingdom. And from what I've heard... Lucian plans to strip all the nobles of their titles and lands."

The sound of the butler's teeth grinding echoed through the room. Yet the man seated at the desk still didn't react.

Finally, he raised his eyes, revealing a cold yet weary gaze.

— "Do you think my information network is so pathetic that I wouldn't know about such trivial matters?"

Gulp.

The butler held his breath, frozen by the sudden, oppressive aura radiating from the man.

— "Get out of here. Tell those insects the situation will soon be under control. And if any of them dare to bother me again... they won't leave this manor in one piece."

— "Y-Yes, sir!"

The butler retreated hastily, as if the room had suddenly burst into flames.

Left alone, Darius Voldreck, third son of the late emperor and the second most powerful figure in the empire, dropped his mask.

— "DAMN IT!!!"

With a violent motion, he overturned his desk, sending papers flying in every direction. The charismatic duke had vanished, replaced by a man overcome with panic, fury... and fear.

— "You insignificant insect! You should've stayed in your place... And now you want to drag the entire kingdom down with you?!"

His breathing grew ragged, his eyes bloodshot.

— "That son of a bitch... He couldn't have done this alone. Someone... someone's pulling the strings from the shadows, I know it!"

Darius moved to a small table where two communication devices rested. Rare objects, each allowing a single contact. The fact that he possessed two spoke volumes about the importance of his allies.

He grabbed the first one and activated it. After a minute, a holographic figure appeared.

A red-haired woman with eyes as mocking as they were unreadable, a beautiful falcon perched on her shoulder. Lounging casually on a sofa, she flashed a sly, amused smile.

— "Oh, if it isn't my dear big brother Darius?" she teased, her voice dripping with false cheer. "What brings me the pleasure of this call? And no, I'm not saying that because I don't want to talk to you, of course."

Her sarcasm made Darius's teeth grind.

— "Don't play games, Iris. You know damn well what's happening."

— "Oh, I see. You're panicking. How entertaining."

— "Iris! If we don't act now, everything we've built over the years will be reduced to ashes!"

— "We?" she raised an eyebrow, her tone dripping with mockery. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was never part of your pathetic little conspiracies. This is your problem, not mine."

— "You dare... you little—!"

— "Calm down, Darius." She yawned exaggeratedly. "I'd even say this situation is an opportunity. After all, only you and our dear elder sister Selphia ever needed the nobles for your plans. As for me... I prefer to see how far this chaos will go."

Darius clenched his fists.

— "You're betraying your own family."

Iris's smile widened, cruel and sharp.

— "I was never one of you, dear brother. Oh, and a word of advice: don't lay a finger on Lucian. You know exactly why."

Before he could reply, the communication cut off.

— "That bitch... I knew she'd stab us in the back... This is all just a game to her, huh?"

Darius's jaw tightened, his rage barely contained.

— "You... Lucian... I'll destroy you both..."

His teeth grinding audibly, Darius activated the second device. This time, the response was immediate.

The figure that appeared bore such a striking resemblance to Iris that one might mistake them for reflections, only more mature.

Selphia Voldreck, second daughter of the late emperor.

She dined with elegance, a servant with an unsettling aura holding the communication device for her.

— "It had to burn for the turtle to finally crawl out of its shell," she murmured without even glancing up from her plate.

Darius swallowed, suddenly far less confident.

— "Elder sister... It's not that I hesitated, but... do you really think they can defeat Selene?"

Selphia slowly set down her utensils, dabbing her lips with a napkin with deliberate care.

— "I've already explained this, but apparently, you enjoy wasting my time."

Her voice hardened.

— "Because of your doubts, those divine beings agreed to show you why you should fear them far more than Selene."

Her eyes gleamed with barely contained fanaticism.

— "Come to my manor. See with your own eyes the power they're willing to grant us."

Darius shivered.

— "H-Have you... told the others?"

— "Don't be stupid." Her voice dripped with disdain. "I've always said only the two of us would rule this empire."

A twisted smile stretched across her face.

— "So come. Once you've witnessed their power... we'll celebrate... all night long."

The atmosphere turned heavy with a disturbing tension.

Darius gritted his teeth.

— "I'll be there in an hour."

He ended the call, a demented grin curling his lips.

— "Lucian... Your rebellion is pointless."

His eyes burned with newfound madness.

— "Die for the empire."

---

Back in the forest

The armored knight rushed toward Lucian and his guards, provoking an immediate response. The soldiers, on high alert, tightened their grips on their swords.

— "D-Don't come any closer!" one of the guards shouted, visibly tense.

Lucian, observing the situation, quickly realized his suspicions were correct.

— "Protect this child!" the knight bellowed, running toward them with a child in their arms.

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That voice... it was a woman? Ah ..

— "Damn it, damn it, damn it... what do I do?" Lucian's mind raced. "Do we run? But if I get involved with them, I'll definitely get dragged into this mess, right?"

Panic flickered in his eyes as he glanced between the knight and his own men. He knew every decision mattered.

— "But if I run... won't I end up as some bottom-tier villain? Just a stepping stone for the hero's glow-up?"

A chill ran down his spine at the thought.

The knight was now just ten steps away.

— "Then again... what if..."

A slow, wicked grin spread across Lucian's face.

— "***We're out of here." He gave a clear thumbs-down, his gesture unmistakable.

— "As you command!" his guards answered without the slighte

st hesitation.

— "Wha—?!" the knight's eyes widened in disbelief.

— "Son of a—!" the knight choked, watching the soldiers flee without a second thought.

They... actually left?!