A week silently rolled by after the attack on the royal palace, the public still remaining in the dark about what happened. Rumors and speculation continued to swirl throughout the entire empire as people desperately sought answers. While the royal family had stated that the full investigation was still underway and making good progress, there had been no further news or updates provided to the anxious populace. The only progress that could be seen was the fact that amidst the uncertainty, the process of rebuilding and reinforcing the empire's walls had begun in earnest.
With the authorities maintaining a tight-lipped stance on the matter, the populace was left frustrated and unsatisfied.
A palpable sense of mourning gripped the nation. Countless families, friends, and lovers were grieving the loss of their loved ones, who perished when a catastrophic explosion caused the collapse of a section of the fortified walls.
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"Your Majesty, the whereabouts of the former crown prince and his royal guards still remain a mystery, but please rest assured my men are still continuing the search thoroughly," a royal knight said, kneeling in front of the emperor and empress of the Seoul Empire.
The knight's words hung heavy in the air, as the ruling monarchs reluctantly processing the troubling news. The emperor didn't particularly care about the former crown prince himself, but he couldn't deny the strategic importance of controlling the prince's elite royal guards. His son had personally trained the knights to be the strongest in the empire, and the emperor was keenly aware that no army could hold a candle to their formidable capabilities.
After a moment of tense silence, the emperor's brow furrowed, his voice stern as he addressed the knight. "This is unacceptable. Double your efforts and leave no stone unturned until you've found them. The most elite of the royal guard cannot be frolicking off in the empire and be doing whatever they please, a heavy punishment will await them all when they return."
If someone were to ask the emperor why he had dethroned Joonghyuk from his position as crown prince, the truth would be simple. Joonghyuk was too cunning, too unpredictable, and too independent for the emperor to keep firmly under his thumb. To have Joonghyuk remain crown prince would be as illogical as leaving a wild predator to prowl in the castle halls. Even one misstep, one turn of the back and he would be torn to pieces.
Of course, his son's contempt for him was justified. After what he'd done to the boy's mother… but it was a necessary sacrifice. Even if he could see his former wife's visage reflected in Joonghyuk and Mia's eyes every time he looked at them, it was for the sake of his bloodline, for the future of the empire. And just like back then, the emperor chose the empire's future when he ousted his son from the family.
With a heavy sigh, the emperor acknowledged the root of his decision. The truth was a bitter one, laced with guilt, fear, and the heavy burden of absolute power.
"…yes, I made the right choice," the emperor looked to the empress sitting next to him in her throne, searching her eyes for any bit of disagreement as he took her hand in his own, " didn't I, my dear?"
Internally, the empress rolled her eyes at the man. How was he still questioning this? She's talked it over with him time and time again, convincing him of all the advantages of having that cretin of a prince kicked out of the family. Her husband hadn't possessed even an ounce of regard for Yoo Joonghyuk then. But even if he was suddenly choosing now to grow a miniscule amount of sympathy for the former prince, all was already said and done at this point.
"Of course, my husband," the empress lightly reassured him, "Joonghyuk was a force to be reckoned with, nothing could be done to control him."
Her gaze hardened as she continued. "Everyone is relieved that he has been dethroned. With him removed from the line of succession, the stability of the empire is ensured now that his presence is no longer looming over us."
That hesitation that her fickle husband possessed was exactly why she deserved power over the empire. It was a sign of weakness, and weakness would not be tolerated in the world they lived in. It was a miracle that the empire hadn't already been wrestled from her foolish husband's grip. But that was why the emperor was so lucky to have her as his wife. The empress knew her relentless ambition would make up for her husband's shortcomings, keeping the power over the empire in the hands that they rightfully belonged to.
Kicking out his bastard of a son from the family was probably the only good choice that the man next to her had made in all his years of ruling, and even then, it wouldn't have been possible without her influence.
To finally be empress and have her son as crown prince, she had always dreamed of this moment. Being in second place was never an option the empress would accept, especially when she came after the emperor's former wife, that pathetic excuse of a woman. That woman won't even be a spec in history now that the empire had a new empress, her rule will be known and revered for generations to come.
While she would happily accept Joonghyuk's disappearance as an opportunity to consolidate her own power, what she hadn't been expecting was for his elite guard to follow suit. In one command, Joonghyuk could have his entire force go against the royal palace's remaining guards. It may not be enough to take down the palace entirely, but it was enough to leave an irreversible amount of damage if he so chose to do so.
It was still nothing to worry over, though. Even if he had his precious elite guard at his beck and call now, that was all he had at his disposal. Joonghyuk as of now had nothing, no funds, no home, nothing but the clothes on his back. He couldn't be starting a war with his precious little sister at his side, still so young and unprotected.
Whenever they manage to apprehend the knights that abandoned their positions to follow Joonghyuk, the empress made a mental note to have a portion of them tortured and executed publicly, to deter anyone else daring to support that man even after he was dethroned. Though she wanted anyone that turned their back on her executed, unfortunately some had to remain alive so they could be commanded under the control of her son, the new crown prince.
The empress's gaze shifted to the royal guard kneeling before them, her expression hardening into something spiteful. "Make sure you find them," she commanded, her voice laced with venom. "We cannot afford to underestimate the former crown prince and his elite guards. We don't know what kind of plan they may be hatching."
"If you are able to locate the former prince and his men, bring them back to the palace," the empress continued, her eyes narrowing. "I want them to swear their allegiance to the crown, to ensure that the empire's wellbeing is maintained."
The royal guard, sensing the underlying tension in the empress's words, nodded solemnly. "It will be done, Your Majesty."
As the guard departed, the empress allowed herself a small, triumphant smile. With Joonghyuk out of the picture and his elite forces bound to come under her control, her path to absolute power had become even clearer. The emperor, still unaware of his wife's true ambitions, remained oblivious to the brewing storm that threatened to engulf the very foundations of the Seoul Empire.
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Dokja's eyes fluttered open, and he found himself suspended weightlessly in a vast, aquatic expanse. The water surrounding him was luminous, casting a serene, otherworldly glow. Speckles of light flitted wildly over his body as they shone through the liquid. The pressure of the water pressed softly against his skin, enveloping him in a flowing embrace as it carried him to an unknown destination. He looked around, bewildered, as he realized he could breathe effortlessly beneath the surface.
The environment was entirely foreign, devoid of any recognizable landmarks or signs of life.
Wondering why he was in this aquatic limbo, Dokja stretched out his limbs, testing the buoyancy of the water. Strangely enough there was barely any resistance, the sensation of water still lingered but he could move his limbs freely. In the back of his head, he had the distinct feeling that he was not alone, that some unseen presence lurked within the depths as Dokja felt its gaze raising the hairs on the back of his neck, but his eyes could discern nothing beyond the shimmering, luminous expanse.
As Dokja swam through the vast depths, he was struck by the eerie absence of any marine life. The water around him was devoid of the vibrant colors and creatures one might expect to find in the ocean.
Frowning, he continued his exploration, his movements effortless and graceful in the weightless environment. Suddenly, a peculiar sight caught his eye – a shimmering bubble, floating serenely in the distance.
Curiosity piqued, Dokja swam towards the strange anomaly, his eyes narrowing as he studied it more closely. As he got closer, he noticed the bubble contained a jellyfish-like creature, but without the characteristic tentacles.
Reaching out tentatively, Dokja extended his hand, his fingertips brushing against the translucent surface of the bubble.
The next moment…nothing.
He found himself back in the familiar surroundings of his own room, the dream-like world fading from his consciousness. Dokja blinked, disoriented by how fast his awareness had returned to him. He sat up, his heart racing as he tried to make sense of the vivid and perplexing dream he had just experienced.
"Was it real?" he murmured, his gaze darting around the room, as if expecting to find some remnant of the underwater world he had just inhabited. The memory of the jellyfish-like creature and the eerie, luminous water lingered in his mind.
Dokja's stomach suddenly squeezed, a sharp pain inflicted on the area. He felt an uncomfortable sensation as it seemed to churn, a bitter burning sensation crawling up the back of his throat.
Without hesitation, Dokja sprang from his bed and rushed towards the bathroom, his steps quickening with each passing moment. Kneeling in front of the toilet bowl, he braced himself as his body convulsed, emptying the contents of his stomach.
The acrid taste and the burning sensation in his throat were unpleasant, but Dokja found a sense of relief as the nausea subsided after a few minutes. He remained kneeling, taking deep breaths and wiping the sweat from his brow, his mind still reeling from the intensity of the experience.
"What's going on?" he wondered, his voice hoarse and strained.
Had he consumed something that disagreed with him? Was this a symptom of something more serious? Dokja's thoughts raced as he tried to piece together the events that had led to this unpleasant turn of events.
Slowly, he rose from the bathroom floor, his legs feeling slightly unsteady. He made his way to the sink, splashing some cool water on his face in an attempt to regain his composure.
Despite the persistent nausea and vomiting that had been plaguing him for the past few days, Dokja tried to remain positive. He reasoned that it was likely due to something he had eaten, and he didn't want to dwell on it too much, especially not on this important day.
For today was the day that Joonghyuk would officially be elevated to the rank of duke. It was a momentous occasion, and Dokja was determined to give Joonghyuk all the support he could for this occasion.
Pushing aside his lingering concerns, Dokja quickly took a bath and started to prepare himself for the day. Once he had finished, Dokja turned his attention to the outfit that he had prepared for the day. It was a simple tailored suit: deep, rich black, paired with a crisp, white shirt and a subtle, patterned tie.
With his appearance now in order, Dokja took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for the festivities ahead, resolved to fully immerse himself in the celebration of Joonghyuk's newfound title.
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"It's really too bad we can't do the ceremony in the church, I can only imagine the looks on everyone's faces…" 'especially the royal family's' was left unsaid.
In response to Sangah's wistful murmurings, Joonghyuk let out a sigh.
"No, I would prefer something like this," he said calmly, glancing around the mansion's ballroom. The day prior it had been decorated with seating for the bestowment of his title. "I don't like pompous grandiosity, unlike my dear stepbrother. Only my close friends and family need to be here, anything else is unnecessary."
Joonghyuk met Sangah's gaze, his eyes reflecting a quiet sincerity.
Sangah nodded slowly, understanding dawning on her face.
"Ah, I see" she said, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I thought you'd go straight for the palace's throat with this occasion and make some grand political statement, I never would've guessed you were the sentimental type. But if that's what you desire, then I'll do as told."
Joonghyuk nodded gratefully. "I'm glad we're on the same page. Now, let's focus on getting everything in place."
Sangah's gaze swept across the room, and a warm smile spread across her face as she spotted the entrance opening to reveal their friends and allies gathered together.
"I'm so glad that all of you are already here!" she exclaimed, her steps quickening as she approached the group.
Said group was comprised of the Underworld family accompanied by Sooyoung, Heewon, and Jiwon. Beside them stood the Lee family, and after them were the members of Joonghyuk's elite guard, Hyunsung and Jihye standing leading the knights in with Yoo Mia by their sides. All their faces alight with eager anticipation.
They lightly bowed to Sangah, then the Underworld Duke turned his attention to Joonghyuk, "Thank you for having us... Your Grace."
Everyone was shocked when they heard the news of the restoration of the Kaizenix Duchy, and Joonghyuk's impending inheritance of it. Had Yoo Sangah and Yoo Joonghyuk not gone to them personally to unveil the situation, they all would've thought that it was a massive hoax. While whispers of the Kaizenix Duchy and its vast treasures had never stopped, the revelation was sure to cause a massive uproar when it reached the public's eyes. Hades could already see the headlines that would be made about it.
Joonghyuk blinked at him, but then let out a small huff of amusement "Your Grace, I'm not a duke just yet."
Duke Hades patted his shoulders, " It's better to get used to it earlier, isn't it?"
"Now that everyone is here, let's go and start the ceremony!" Sangah said with an excited clap of her hands. Everyone nodded and ushered to their designated seats.
With the start of the ceremony marked the revival of the Kaizenix Ducal and the return to its former glory. It was now Yoo Joonghyuk's responsibility as duke to allow the domain to become the most glorious and prestigious in the land, capable of rivaling even the royal family itself.
It was the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the Kaizenix Ducal.