"I did not expect this from you."
"To think that you would not only harm Eldric's family but also try to kill me so that you can become the Emperor.....you truly disappoint me, Garrick."
Charles was heartbroken.
He was sad. What he was feeling the most wasn't anger towards Garrick; it was disappointment. He had never expected his son to fall this low. Charles felt too disappointed to even look at Garrick. Meanwhile, Garrick felt the anger in his heart only increasing. Charles's hands were on his hips. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm his nerves. If he wasn't such an experienced man, then by now, his son, Garrick, would have been lying on the ground dead. It was taking all of his control to keep himself under control.
But Charles knew that he could not do this. After all, no matter what Garrick did, he was still his son. Garrick was still his own blood. "All I ever wanted from you is to be a good son. Why is it so difficult?" Charles murmured in a low tone. But Garrick and Alfred failed to hear him since their cultivation was suppressed. After a moment of heavy silence, Charles opened his eyes and looked at his son, who was nothing but the biggest piece of living disappointment in Charles's eyes. "Garrick, I gave you everything." He began in a whispering tone but was loud enough for Garrick to hear. "I gave you the Key to this Empire." Garrick, who had just lowered his head, began shaking his head while repeatedly saying no. "I gave you power!!"
"Wealth!!"
"Status!!!"
"I gave you everything that a man would need in his life."
"Yet, despite having all that...!!"
"All that wasn't enough for you."
"You just....!!" Charles paused as he realized that his anger was once again taking over his head. While tilting his head, he closed his eyes. His expression showed that one of him was trying to contain his anger. "Why?" Charles opened his eyes and asked. "Why did you do it, son?" This time, there was disappointment and sadness in his eyes. "I loved you more than anything."
"When you were born, I was the happiest man in this whole world."
"When you became a Peak 5th-order cultivator, there was no one more prouder than me." "When you successfully led our troops to win the war against the Silver Moon Kingdom, I celebrated your victory more than anyone."
"Whenever you needed something, I have never failed to give that to you."
"Because you, I never considered remarrying after your mother died." This time, tears started gathering in his eyes. "After you were born, I took the oath that you will be my only son and you will be the successor to the throne." After saying that, a drop of tear came out of his left eye and rolled down his cheek. "So why?" Charles fell to his knees in front of Garrick and asked in a choked tone. This was the second time Garrick had seen his father cry. The first time was when their mom was found dead in their bedroom. But this time, Garrick felt no sympathy for this father. In fact, Charles's words only have helped him better understand the type of man his father was. Those tears weren't for him. Those tears didn't come because he was disappointed in his son. It came for a complete different reason. "You didn't give me what I wanted, so I took things into my own hands." After a moment of silence, Garrick spoke.
This was the first time, Garrick was speaking without being afraid of the Emperor. Now that he was caught, he knew that his life was already over. In his mind, he had already prepared himself to die. Since he was going to die, why bother being afraid? It was better to be completely honest with his feelings so that the Emperor could know just how much he had grown to dislike him. Charles's eyes became cold, but he did not interrupt his son. He continued to stare at Garrick's eyes. "For many centuries, you showed me the dream of becoming the next Emperor."
"From the moment I learned to speak, you held my hands and told me that I was destined to be the next Emperor." "Everything that I did since I was a child was meant to groom me as the next Emperor." "In my whole existence, I have always put the interest of the Dune Sovereignty before me." This time, Garrick's voice became loud. He was almost screaming at Charles. "And who was it that taught me this very principle?" Hearing this, Charles became silent. He realized this mistake. He never expected Garrick to hold on to this one principle stubbornly. "I sacrificed countless things for this!!"
"I sacrificed my feelings."
"I severed relationships....!!"
"I sacrificed everything about me."
"But what did I get in return?" Garrick's eyes had turned red from anger. "Nothing!!" "That promise of becoming the Emperor never was fulfilled."
"Instead, during the tough times of the Empire, my suggestions were ignored."
"My advice was met with cold and angry responses."
"My genuine care for the greater good of the Empire was seen as me being mentally unstable and too focused on the Istarin Empire." Hearing all this, Charles lowered his head. He couldn't deny Garrick's words. "My loyalty to the throne and the Crown was met with doubt, question, and punishment."
"So tell me, why shouldn't I have taken things into my own hands?" Garrick asked in a cold tone. "What I was seeing is the downfall of this Empire." "The very man that led this Empire to this grand stage was also leading this Empire to its downfall." "Your beloved Prime Minister was secretly abusing his power to promote and fill the pockets of his wife's family. But despite knowing some part of it, you decided to remain silent or completely ignore this matter."
"Even during this tough time, you allowed the Prime Minister to put his family before the interest of this Empire. But when it comes to me, I am expected to put the interest of the Empire before my desires. Why is that?"
"I may be the Crown Prince of this Empire, but that bastard Eldric was the Prime Minister, and his position was much more important than mine in this Empire, yet he gets to do whatever he want. But when it's about me, suddenly, I am expected to follow all the rules and regulations."
"And if I show too much concern, I get punished for being to obsessed. Why is that?" Garrick angrily asked Charles. But Charles could not reply. Most of what Garrick said was on point.
Seeing this, Garrick continued. "I realized that it was time for the new generation to take over."
"But knowing the prideful and egotistical man you are, you would never willingly give up the throne to me. So I had to use some indirect means."
Slap!!!
Just as Garrick finished taking, Charles slapped him again. "But that still doesn't give you the right to try to take your own father's life." This time, Charles was barely holding back. He almost used his full power in his slap. From the slap, Garrick fell to the ground. The right cheek was bleeding. Half of his neck and throat were covered in his blood. But ignoring the pain, Garrick sat up and coldly stared at Charles. "Is there anything else that you want to say in your defense?" Charles asked while taking a long, deep breath. "Nothing!! I believe I have said I what wanted." Charles felt even more anger because he wasn't even pleading for mercy. "Alright!! From now on, you and your subordinates will be put in the deepest layer of Prison for an indefinite period."
"Evans!!!" Evans mysteriously appeared behind Charles. Seeing Garrick staring at him in deep shock, Evans felt very uncomfortable. He did not make any eye contact with Garrick. He looked in some other direction. Although it was his job to keep an eye on Garrick, there was no denying the feeling of guilt in his heart. After all, Garrick has always treated him and others very well. "Your Majesty, do you need something from me?" Evans asked in a low tone. Meanwhile, Garrick finally understood how the Emperor knew everything. 'Evans, you bastard!!!' If Garrick had some bits of his power left, then he would have done everything to make sure that this bastard was dead. "Go and arrest that woman in Garrick's room!!" "This time, I will personally kill her." Evans disappeared from the room before Garrick could say anything. Garrick knew that it was already too late. He accepted that Emma was as good as dead. What Charles was doing was only increasing his anger and dissatisfaction towards Charles even more. 'I swear, one day, I will kill you for everything.' Garrick made a silent oath in his heart. After a moment, Evans returned, but this time, he looked shaken. "Where is she?" Charles asked, seeing that he hadn't brought Emma. "Your Majesty, I did not find Emma." Hearing this, Garrick felt relieved. "But I found the corpse of your butler in the bedroom." ----------------