"Pathetic old man... truly you deserve death." Damien's voice carried across the silent throne room. "But I am fair. If anyone here can defend him, I will allow it."
His gaze shifted to Bertha.
"Yes... I am here because you attacked my Orario. What do you have to say about that?"
Bertha stepped forward, her young face pale but her voice steady. "I ask that you spare us. Our Empire... it is truly not great in your eyes. I know that. Corrupt you may think, but there is nothing we can do about it. The dragons have ruled the empire in secret for more than three hundred years. It was either serve and do as they say... or total annihilation."
Damien smiled, impressed by the girl. "Step forward."
She did, passing through her father and brother who were still bound to the ground.
"You are bold. But I like that. I sense no evil in your heart. In fact, I would even wager that you are a victim here....being forced to marry your father."
"I do not think it is a tradition here, correct?" said Damien.
"No. It was not. But the dragons implemented it," she spoke.
Damien raised an eyebrow, then connected the dots in his mind. "I see..."
He looked at the girls in the Emperor's harem. Most of them looked like family members...sisters instead of sister wives.
"So your bloodline is cursed to be controlled by the dragons. And to guarantee none of you will ever turn, they have you marry your siblings and close family... correct?"
"Yes, Lord. You are correct," Bertha spoke.
Damien touched the golden radiant sword he had placed earlier....a beautiful piece of art he had collected from the Ice Garden and learned about from Riveria.
"Tell me, girl... do you recognize this weapon?"
"Yes, I do. It is..."
Damien raised his hand. "Don't. Stop."
She obeyed. He looked at the soldiers and the wives. "You there. Does any of you recognize this sword?"
None of them spoke. They all stayed silent.
"Bertha Charlemagne. Tell your family and soldiers what this sword is."
"Joyeuse... or Joyful. It is the great sword of King Charlemagne, the founder of the Empire," said Bertha.
Damien smiled and stood. He walked toward Bertha and pointed the sword at her neck.
"Joyeuse is a unique sword, isn't it, Bertha? It has a special power. Do you know it?"
"No, my Lord." She shook in fear and closed her eyes, expecting his attack.
"King Charlemagne used to judge and spare his enemies using it. He even used it in courts....sort of like this one. The sword is called Joyeuse because it glowed joyfully whenever it detected a corrupted and evil mind. It was happy to be the blade that would cut the head of the corrupted."
He lowered the sword.
"It does not glow for death, Bertha. Because you are a kind soul born in this awful environment. You retained a good heart even with what you have gone through."
He pointed the sword at the Emperor. "But you, Darlain..."
The sword glowed in joy.
"...are a dead man."
He cut his head off in one swift motion.
....
He moved through the room, cutting the head of anyone the sword glowed against. In the end, nine concubines of thirty survived. Most generals and commanders died. All princes of the empire died.
Damien wiped the blood from the blade and walked toward Bertha, who was hiding behind the throne, crying in fear. He walked to her and offered his hand.
"May I?"
She was shaking, terrified, but she took his hand. He helped her up and guided her to sit on the throne.
"Unfortunately, I had to kill quite a bit of your family and high-ranking members." He smiled and stabbed the sword between her feet. "But that just means you have just won yourself a throne battle! And now, you are the rightful heir to the Empire's Throne. Empress Bertha Charlemagne."
Bertha didn't even know what to say. Everything had happened so fast...the blood, the cries, the pain. All of it was gone.
But did she truly hate this man?
He had killed her family. But what family is it that teaches a little child how to service a man—and that man being her father and brothers? What kind of family had aunts, mothers, cousins, and sisters intermarrying each other? What kind of family throws hot oil into the slums to see how the poor squirm? What kind of family throws food to the dogs and cattle because the poor still haven't earned it?
If anything, this man....Damien Ardent.....was right.
"The sword grants a great deal of power. So none will be able to face you in this kingdom. It is also a gift from the God of Shadows." The shadows moved, and a massive Lizard Man shadow emerged. In Orario, the Lizard Man wouldn't amount to much.....a squad of Level Fours could easily take one down. But outside Orario, in the Empire, the Lizard Man was akin to a calamity...Especially now that they've lost the One Eyed Black Dragon's false falna
"I will give you one year. In one year, I will be back. If I see that your empire has improved and become something worthy of existing, then I will let you be. If not..." His eyes glowed in a rainbow hue. "...I will wipe it off the map completely."
He turned to leave, then remembered.
"Oh... and send half of the current treasury to Orario. If you feel it is too much and you need it to establish your rule, do it in one year....after you have proven yourself."
He walked toward the exit and saw a mural of a dragon on the wall. "Oh... what god do you all worship?"
"We worship the might of the dragons," she spoke.
"Nah. That won't do. From now on, you worship the Shadow Monarch....Damien Ardent."
He smiled and began to float.
"Good luck, Empress. I will see you in a year."
/*\
If you Like this story! Check out my other story ! Sukuna in DC! And Fate/Dc Universe: The Master
AND
If you wish to read more or simply support me just because ? than check out my patréon at
"https://www.patréon.com/Riadooo"
You can Get Access to 3 More Chapters OR 7 More Chapters if you want !