Chapter 198: Alaric plans to Rebel against the Emperor

Julian slumped back against the wood of the chair, his breath coming in shallow hitches.

The vial had slipped from his lips and vanished into thin air the moment it was emptied, leaving no trace of its existence.

With this, he was sure he was ready to stand trial.

It would be gruesome to stand trial for a clear assassination of the Emperor, but he would do his best.

Let them bring the serum; it wouldn’t change anything. He would tell them he was Julian Von Astrea. He would tell them he was a victim of a curse he couldn’t remember. He would tell them he loved the Emperor like a loyal subject... Ah, that sounded so cringe just thinking about it.

The Emperor had tortured his mind so many times that he actually wished him dead. But he would have to sugarcoat his thoughts, and not in a very absurd way, because then, the Emperor would see through his lies.

I will be honest, but not let honesty be suspected. He thought, closing his eyes.

And through his words, the world would believe him.

The lock on the cellar door rattled, and Alaric walked in empty-handed.

He once again knelt in front of Julian and said,

"Kaelen will be here with the meal soon," he said, laying his head on Julian’s lap. "So, wait for a bit longer."

"Thank you, Lucien," Julian said and watched the wild golden hair of his lover, feeling his heart beat in that warm way again. "Em, Lucien,"

"Yes, Julian?"

"If I, in my right mind, had tried to kill the Emperor, what would you have done?"

Alaric did not hesitate and lifted his head, his blue eyes meeting Julian’s mismatched as he said,

"I would’ve looked for a way to cover up for you. And if that wasn’t possible, I would’ve run away with you. Or rather..." his eyes burned. "...I would’ve burned the Capital."

Julian felt a shiver run down his spine. Not a shiver from fear but the exhilarating feeling of the Duke’s devotion to him.

It was dangerous. Dangerously beautiful.

A warm and soft smile played on his lips as he nodded.

"Seriously, you’re just too much."

"It’s never too much when it involves you, Julian," he confessed and leaned his body forward. "I don’t care who or what I have to burn down. As long as I can see you on top of it, with a smile on your face, I will do just that."

Julian’s heart was hammering in his chest. A familiar and conquering feeling.

"I know what he did to you," Alaric said, lowering his gaze. "I heard it from the other Julian. He said it all for everyone present to hear. You... you suffered a lot in the palace, Julian. I wish to punish the Emperor, I wish to punish Aurelian for what he did to you, but I—"

"That’s enough, Lucien." Julian interrupted him, shaking his head. "It’s enough."

He felt Alaric’s grip on his lap tighten, not to bruise him, but to contain the feeling bottling in his chest.

"I understand how you feel. And I understand that the Emperor has wronged you greatly by keeping the late Duchess’s letters," the words choked in Julian’s throat. It was cruel, not just a simple wrong. It was beyond cruel, and he could only imagine how hurt and betrayed Alaric must feel. "...but there is nothing we can do. As long as he is the Emperor, as long as he is the Sun of the Empire, whatever we do to him, even if it is considered retaliation, will be seen as treason and rebellion before the court."

"What of it?" Alaric asked with a low, dangerous growl, and Julian’s voice hitched.

What did he just say?

"If I stage a rebellion and pull Aurelian down from his throne, I will be having my revenge. And I am also of royal blood. I can be the Emperor ins—" Julian suddenly pushed his head forward and slammed it into the Duke’s forehead.

That was a rather bad choice of action, given that the Duke’s head was stronger, but that at least got him to shut up.

"Ouch," Julian hissed at the pain.

His head was spinning with just that headbutt, but the Duke seemed fine.

"Why did you do that, Julian?" He asked, reaching his hand up to knead the throbbing forehead.

"It’s because you started speaking nonsense, Lucien." He said and quickly looked up at the door. Thankfully, it looked like they didn’t hear their conversation. It would be a grave issue if any of the golden guards heard Alaric trying to usurp the throne.

"Lucien, I understand where your anger is coming from. I really do. But staging an uprising, starting a civil war out of nowhere, is definitely not the answer."

Alaric parted his lips to speak, but he could not say anything to refute Julian’s words. A war would make the common people suffer. They would be subject to violence when all they wanted was to live in the peace created by this madman.

Yes, even if Aurelian had a few loose screws, he was still doing a great job as a sovereign. The lives of the common people were great, and there were no reports of starving villages even in places outside the capital.

He was doing a damn good job managing the nobles, aristocrats, and commoners, and that was why he had a lot of supporters.

It didn’t mean that Alaric wouldn’t do just as great a job if he were Emperor, but starting his reign with an usurpation, killing his brother just to sit on the throne, will give him the nickname of a cold-hearted tyrant.

Julian would rather suffer in silence than let that happen.

Besides, there was also Liora and Cassian. Even if the Emperor wasn’t exactly a great dad, he was their father. And having lost their mother right now, they must be devastated.

If something caused them to lose their father as well, they would be subject to a lot of pressure from the court and would forever be scarred beyond repair.

If there was a way to get back at the Emperor, whatever it was, Julian would take it, as long as they did not spill his blood on their hands.

He wanted the Emperor to know that people’s lives weren’t porcelain that he could have fun watching shatter.

"Alaric, I worry for the Empire and the Emperor’s children. Others do not have to suffer just because we wish to punish one man. So, please, do not do anything rash."