Wicked Husband-Chapter 23 - 22

Leone, walking down the corridor, smiled softly. The sound of a piano could be heard from far away.

There was only one person in the Empire who could play the piano in the palace where the Emperor lived.

The closer he got, the clearer the piano notes became. The performer was playing a difficult song that required extreme mastery.

Although it was a difficult song, with tremolo, arpeggio chords, and jumps between keys, the performance was flawless. Even if he were to perform in the city right now, he would receive a standing ovation. Unfortunately, the artist was not interested in such things.

Leone entered the room where the piano stood and looked at the performer with a happy smile.

His younger brother looked beautiful as he played the black grand piano in front of the tall floor-to-ceiling windows. With hair blacker than ebony, the sight of his long fingers pressing the ivory keys was a work of art in itself.

Despite the bright sunlight, his younger brother’s performance resembled endless darkness. It was a wonder that he could play pieces that were in major so well. Leone watched his performance while swallowing a little regret.

When the last key was touched and the performance had ended, Leone applauded enthusiastically.

The performer turned his head and looked at Leone. The younger brother, whose eyes were as red as blood, smiled faintly.

"Cesare, your skills have improved," Leone said as he approached him.

His younger brother got up from his chair and closed the piano lid. Leone, who secretly wanted to hear one more song, looked at his younger brother, unable to hide his regret.

A person who could play better than most pianists in the capital, even though he had no interest in solo concerts, was Cesare, the Emperor’s only brother.

Leone glanced up at his brother, who towered over him. While Leone himself was taller than the average adult male, his younger brother surpassed even that height, requiring him to crane his neck when they stood side by side.

Dressed in the uniform of a general, Cesare exuded a certain charm that endeared him to people’s hearts. It wasn’t solely due to his royal lineage. Rather, it seemed to be a consensus among everyone in the capital.

His physique, sculpted like a master craftsman’s sword, complemented the deep blue uniform flawlessly. It was no wonder that Cesare’s triumphant procession left many hearts aflutter.

Leone chuckled and lightly tapped Cesare’s forearm.

"Perhaps I should join you with the violin. My hands have been feeling quite still lately."

His brother had taken up musical instruments from a young age. Initially, they both learned to play the violin and piano, but as they grew older, each focused on mastering one instrument.

The reason for Leone’s proficiency in the violin and Cesare’s expertise in the piano was straightforward: Cesare’s hands were larger.

As Cesare matured, his fingers lengthened, enabling him to comfortably reach the twelfth octave. Whenever Leone watched his brother play the piano, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in having suggested the instrument to him.

Leaving the piano room behind, the brothers made their way to the reception hall. Reserved for the Emperor’s private guests, it was slightly smaller than the official reception hall but exuded a cosy ambiance with its view of the courtyard.

As Leone playfully dropped sugar cubes into his black tea, he interjected a blend of jokes and earnest remarks.

"Your playing has gained depth. Is it because you’re in love?"

"That’s it."

Cesare replied with just two words, taking a sip of his brandy-infused tea before falling silent.

"Uh... Forget it," Leone muttered, sensing Cesare’s reticence.

Even as news of the impending marriage spread, Cesare remained tight-lipped. Leone felt a twinge of discomfort, but he knew his brother well enough not to press the matter and simply focused on his tea.

Cesare chuckled softly at his brother’s reaction, and Leone returned the smile.

Among the numerous offspring of the late emperor, Leone and Cesare were the only biological siblings. While the late emperor never had two children from the same woman, Leone and Cesare were unique as fraternal twins, differing greatly in both physique and appearance.

Leone vividly recalled the day when tragedy struck.

Upon learning of his kidnapped child, Cesare, who was then on the battlefield, immediately abandoned his post and returned to the empire. Although the child was eventually rescued, Cesare faced the Emperor’s wrath for his impetuous act of desertion, enduring a personal punishment of lashes.

Leone wept as he approached Cesare with ointment, but his younger brother was already being tended to by his loyal knights.

The four knights accompanying Cesare remained stoic, treating his injuries as though they were inconsequential.

With his upper body swathed in bandages, the nineteen-year-old Cesare maintained his usual indifferent demeanor as he spoke.

"You should become emperor."

"What...?"

"Not I, my brother."

Leone thought he had heard wrong. However, Cesare continued speaking calmly, wiping the blood flowing from his torn lip with the back of his hand.

"Five years from now, brother."

Cesare turned that empty declaration into reality, effectively placing Leone on the throne. However, as a brother who rose from humble beginnings without any established power base, his journey didn’t end with his ascent to power.

Following the conclusion of the throne battle, the vanquished members of the royal family sought refuge in the Kalpen Kingdom. Cesare’s mother, a former princess of Kalpen, sought sanctuary for herself and her son, appealing for assistance. In response, Kalpen declared war against the empire, prompting Cesare to embark on a campaign.

Despite dire predictions of their demise, Cesare remained undeterred. The civil war had left Traon significantly weakened, while Kalpen boasted a formidable army. Even Leone attempted to dissuade Cesare, offering negotiations in exchange for concessions of empire territory.

However, Cesare remained resolute and took to the battlefield, emerging victorious in the face of adversity.

’I was a little surprised to see King Kalpen’s head cut off, but...’

The king planned to have Cesare’s beloved child executed by accusing her of manufacturing dr*gs through a spy that was planted in the empire.

Cesare, however, intervened before Leone could react appropriately, resulting in his eventual defeat and execution. It was only after his demise that the King’s scheme involving Eileen was unveiled. Yet, what astonished many was how Cesare had discerned and condemned the King’s actions.

’It’s quite strange these days.’

Leone remarked, gazing at his brother with a puzzled expression. Cesare’s sudden insistence on a triumphal arch was out of character; he had never sought external validation for his accomplishments, even relinquishing the throne to his elder brother without hesitation.

His younger brother ran wild and showed off. Thanks to this, the anti-imperial faction was completely discouraged.

’The same goes for his decision to marry Eileen Elrod.’

There had been times when he had subtly asked Cesare if marrying her would be a good idea, given how much he cherished and adored her. Even if there were no romantic feelings, it would be better than a politically strategic marriage. At the time, his brother had given a clear reason for not marrying.

"You once said being with her would make her unhappy. Yet, now you’ve chosen to marry Eileen Elrod, after all."

He had promised to let her enjoy simple pleasures like playing with flowers and blades of grass, yet upon his return to the empire, he publicly proclaimed Eileen Elrod as his future wife to the entire realm.

It was perplexing, especially since Leone knew Cesare regarded Eileen as nothing more than a beloved child.

As Leone patiently awaited Cesare’s explanation, his younger brother’s lips curved into a smile.

"After pondering it for about seven years, I’ve had a change of heart," Cesare declared.

"That’s another confounding statement," Leone responded, puzzled by Cesare’s sudden shift in perspective.

Cesare’s tendency to utter seemingly nonsensical remarks was a departure from his usual straightforwardness. Having spent extensive time on the battlefield, Cesare typically favoured clear, intuitive communication over abstract concepts or social banter.

But lately, he seemed prone to making cryptic statements, leaving Leone to wonder what had prompted this change in his brother. Perhaps Eileen Elrod was somehow involved.

"You plan to bring Lady Elrod to the palace soon. I should greet her before the wedding," Leone remarked.

"That’s fine," Cesare replied casually, reaching for the amaretto accompanying his tea and inspecting it.

Then, out of the blue, he dropped a bombshell.

"We’ll deal with the Speaker of the Senate first. After the wedding."

"...Hmm. That won’t be easy," Leone acknowledged.

Amidst the turmoil within the Imperial family, the nobles in parliament had risen to power. Despite the establishment of Imperial authority, they remained entrenched in the past, ever eager to assert their influence. The Senate President, in particular, was a pivotal figure in the anti-imperial faction.

"I’ll orchestrate a scandal soon, and I’ll need your help," Cesare stated lazily, adopting a tone suited for afternoon tea.

"Do you have a plan? The old man is exceptionally cunning," Leone inquired.

Cesare’s response was matter-of-fact. "The Speaker of the Senate is bound to stir up trouble soon, and I intend to use it as bait."

It sounded as if he had foreseen events unfolding. Without much thought, Leone asked, "Are you alright?"

The intuition of being twins hinted at something amiss. Cesare’s willingness to trust uncertain matters and forge ahead with his plans was uncharacteristic. But Cesare’s response was sharp and clear.

"No."

As Cesare nonchalantly licked his fingers, smeared with amaretto crumbs, he chuckled.

"Brother, I fear I might be losing my mind."

It was rare for Cesare to delve into personal matters. His uncharacteristically candid admission left Leone stunned.

"I’m doing my best to maintain a semblance of normalcy, but it’s proving challenging. I can’t shake off thoughts like, who were the ones throwing stones at my child? And who were the ones dismembering bodies?" Cesare’s voice remained calm and composed, but it sent shivers down Leone’s spine.

"So, I’m expediting the wedding. Otherwise..."

His gaze turned sinister, a wicked grin spreading across his lips. The crimson hue of his eyes flickered ominously, as if they were on the brink of unleashing untold horrors.

"I might just end up decimating half the Traon Empire’s population."

***