1 I was Prince Arthur, the Emperor’s third son and Commander of the Imperial Armies. Yet when the enemy struck, I was lounging in The Nightingale’s Nest, a common brothel, with a mute courtesan named Elara in my arms, sipping fine spirits as flames consumed the city. In my past life, I had led the charge, breaking enemy lines until they retreated fifty miles beyond the walls—or so I believed. But it was a trap. Before I could rest, Crown Prince Lysander dragged me before the Emperor, accusing me of treason. My own soldiers, their faces twisted with rage, snarled, "You sent us to die! Our arrows were rotten—you betrayed us!" Then came my wife, Seraphina. She presented a forged letter, denounced my "greed," and wept over our unconsummated marriage. Lysander, feigning sorrow, declared, "Brother, you sacrificed our people for the throne." The Emperor had no choice. I was executed publicly, my corpse left to rot on the walls as Lysander took the throne and Seraphina became Empress. Now, my eyes snap open—I’m back. Back to the day the enemy attacks. … “Brother Arthur, this is a rare aromatic blend from the Golden Crescent, specially procured for you. Even merely inhaling its scent is said to invigorate the body.” Prince Lysander, a picture of geniality, prepared to hand me the wooden box, a faint, pleasant aroma already wafting from it. His smile was warm, humble. How could I have ever imagined that this man would later snatch the executioner’s blade and personally sever my limbs? At present, Emperor Sylas was ailing, and Lysander, as the Crown Prince, was overseeing the state. He merely needed to wait, and the entire kingdom would be his. So why, in my past life, had he twisted truth into lies to frame me? Was he truly willing to sacrifice an entire city’s populace just to eliminate me? I subtly recoiled, a slight frown creasing my brow. “My apologies, brother. After a severe injury I sustained in the borderlands, my physicians strictly warned me that I have an adverse reaction to certain exotic compounds. I fear I cannot accept His Highness’s kind offer.” A flicker of annoyance danced in Lysander’s eyes, quickly suppressed. He lowered his gaze, feigning a bitter smile. “Forgive me, brother. I was careless.” In the Emperor’s presence, Lysander handed the wooden box to the court physician, his expression open and earnest. “Please, Physician, examine this thoroughly for my brother’s sake!” Lysander’s feigned slight, his air of wounded dignity, was plain for all to see. The atmosphere in the Emperor’s private chambers grew heavy with unspoken sympathy for him. Emperor Sylas couldn’t help but scold me. “Years spent in the borderlands have made you insolent, Arthur. Lysander is your elder brother, and the heir to the throne. How dare you refuse a gift from him?” At that moment, the court physician confirmed, “Your Majesty, this aromatic powder is crafted from precious ingredients, truly a rare and valuable item.” Could the incense truly be harmless? Then why, in my past life, had I woken up disheveled, lying intimately with a man, bringing such disgrace upon the Imperial family that Emperor Sylas had, in his rage, stripped me of my royal title? Lysander’s lips curled into a fleeting, triumphant smirk in my direction, then he turned, bowing respectfully to Emperor Sylas. “My brother has been away from the capital for many years, Your Majesty. It is only natural that he feels somewhat estranged from us.” He spoke of the fading warmth between Imperial brothers, his voice growing increasingly despondent. Yet, he was the one who had recommended my posting to the borderlands, and he was the one who, just recently, had proposed my recall. What game was he playing? As expected, Emperor Sylas’s anger flared, dissolving into a harsh fit of coughing. With an imperial decree, he commanded that I must burn Lysander’s aromatic blend upon my return to my estate. I saw the distinct sigh of relief that Lysander couldn’t quite hide. A chill snaked down my spine. The incense had to be poisoned! But in my previous life, my own household healer had examined it, reaching the same conclusion as this court physician. The moment I stepped back into my mansion, Seraphina, my wife, rushed forward, flanked by her maidservants and attendants, urging me to bathe and change. “His Majesty has decreed the burning of the incense, my lord. We must hasten to obey, lest we incur the Emperor’s wrath.” Watching Seraphina’s eager face, a cold dread settled in my heart. She already knew everything that had transpired in the palace, even before I arrived. Was she afraid a moment’s delay might spoil her evening’s cruel spectacle? 2 Seraphina’s involvement was what I found most difficult to accept. She was not only my lawfully wedded wife, but she had once saved my life. So why, then, would she conspire to destroy me? I met Seraphina’s gaze as she prepared to unfasten my robes, and asked, my voice low and earnest, “Seraphina, have I not treated you well?” She blushed, a shy smile gracing her lips, and nodded. “My lord has been exceedingly kind to me.” Her innocent demeanor left me momentarily stunned. In my past life, it was she who had testified that I reveled in wanton slaughter, convincing everyone that I had intentionally allowed the enemy into the city. So I pressed gently, my voice soft as silk, “Years ago, when you saved my life, I gave you a personal jade pendant. Would you be willing to show it to me again?” Seraphina paused, a thoughtful expression on her face. “Of course, my lord. I shall retrieve it from my family estate at once.” I smiled faintly, gently pushing her hands away. “You go ahead and prepare the incense. I’ll join you after I’ve bathed.” The moment Seraphina left, I summoned my shadow guards. “Investigate several matters. Spare no expense.” In this life, I would protect myself. And I would protect this city. While Seraphina was occupied with the incense, I secretly made my way to Veridian City’s most renowned brothel, The Nightingale’s Nest. I selected a few courtesans, but it was the silent, plain-faced Elara that I pulled close, sharing my wine with her. Late into the night, Seraphina suddenly kicked open my chamber door. “You’re here drinking and carousing while the enemy is at the city gates!” In my previous life, I had heard her frantic news back at my mansion, and without a second thought, without even sending scouts to verify the threat, I had charged out with my personal guard. But then, her eyes had been filled with genuine panic. This time, as I sat here, playing the part of a dissolute rake, her anxiety seemed to hold a perverse undercurrent of excitement. I had hidden myself in a brothel, and she still found me. It seemed this night’s performance, she was determined to drag me into. I took a slow sip of wine, feigning disinterest. “You’ve come to the wrong person, my lady. The Imperial Guard of Veridian City falls under Prince Lysander’s command. The city’s safety is his responsibility.” Seraphina let out a frustrated, almost shrill gasp, her composure cracking. “Arthur! Is that a human thing to say?! And you call yourself a Commander! At a time of such devastation, you speak of division of labor?” Her voice rose. “Do you think I’m lying to you? Your presence here in a brothel is disappointing, but how could I joke about something so grave?” With that, she flung open the window. Sure enough, in the distance, plumes of fire flickered atop the city walls, and the sounds of screams echoed through the night. Yet, I remained unmoved. I even leaned in closer to Elara, gently brushing her hair, feeding her wine from my lips to hers. Seraphina, infuriated, hurled a wine pot at the table. “Arthur, as a member of the Royal Family, can you truly indulge in pleasure while abandoning our people? You are utterly debauched and shameless!” She stomped her foot in exasperation. “Quickly, send your army to engage them! If they breach the city, every citizen will suffer!” I leisurely picked up a pastry from the table, taking a bite. “I advise you to summon Prince Lysander. I dare not move my troops within the city without explicit Imperial orders.” Seraphina’s eyes blazed, brimming with tears. “You speak of being the Commander of the Imperial Armies, yet you are nothing but a coward, bound by archaic rules! You would disregard the lives of our people to avoid offending the Crown!” I was moments away from applauding her passionate speech when Prince Lysander, flanked by a few of his personal guards, arrived. “Brother Arthur! What are you still doing here? Quickly, command your forces to engage the enemy!” I casually plucked a grape Elara offered with my lips. “Your Highness, you command the Imperial Guard. Why aren’t you fulfilling your duties, instead of watching me drink in a brothel?” In my previous life, Lysander’s Imperial Guard had been severely lacking in battle-ready equipment. I had promptly diverted a portion of my own army’s resources to him. Both the horses and the bows had been perfectly functional then. For Lysander’s safety, I had even personally requested to lead the front lines, and from the city walls, I had watched the enemy retreat with my own eyes. To guard against deception, I had even dispatched a small, elite unit to scout the enemy lines, confirming their panicked flight before I returned to my mansion to rest. But when I woke, the city was filled with wails of agony, bodies littered the streets, and the citizens glared at me with such hatred they wished to flay me alive. How could it have happened? 3 As I pondered this, several of my Senior Officers burst into the room. “Commander Arthur! The enemy is upon us! Why are we still not engaging?” Their faces were a mixture of panic and fury. I took a slow sip of wine, my gaze dismissive. “The Imperial Guard, who are responsible for the city’s safety, haven’t moved. Why are you so frantic?” One of the officers roughly kicked aside a courtesan who was playing the lute. “The enemy is practically at our gates, and you’re here indulging in drink and pleasure? Are you still the Commander we revered? This is war! Not a theatrical performance!” I glanced at his sheathed blade. “Did His Highness Prince Lysander permit you to carry arms within the city? The Imperial Guard knows the city’s layout better than we do. If you insist on fighting, you should follow Prince Lysander’s orders.” The officers gripped their sword hilts, their voices low with fury. “Commander, what do you take us for? What do you take the lives of the city’s people for? How dare you privately transfer military authority!” “Outside are regular army units! The Imperial Guard alone cannot possibly withstand them!” I leaned further into Elara, playing the part of a defiant wastrel. “As you can see, I have a beautiful woman in my arms. How can I possibly leave? Now that I’m back in the capital, I realize I suffered too much in the borderlands. I’m actually considering resigning my commission to His Majesty and living as a carefree lord. How wonderful that would be!” Lysander’s face was etched with pain. “Brother Arthur! When I suggested your posting to the borderlands, it was only to temper you. I never imagined you would harbor such resentment towards me. Had I known, I would have simply allowed you to remain a powerless lord!” Seraphina choked back tears, her voice trembling. “To think that the hero I once admired is nothing more than a spineless coward with no ambition! You tormented prisoners and plundered villagers in the borderlands, then threatened me into silence. All of it, it seems, was to vent your resentment against the Imperial family for sending you away!” Seraphina then produced a scroll bearing the blood-sealed grievances of ten thousand villagers from the borderlands, displaying it for all to see. Everyone in the room turned to me, their eyes filled with a mixture of pity and disgust. In my previous life, Seraphina had endlessly produced such ‘evidence,’ constantly denouncing my cruelty and selfishness to the world, placing all the casualties of the war squarely on my shoulders. In an instant, the army and the populace were consumed by hatred for me. Nothing short of my death would quell their outrage. When Lysander had hacked at my limbs, the exhilaration and wild triumph in his eyes had been barely concealed. I narrowed my eyes, watching Seraphina’s performance. At this moment, her eyes were filled with fury and disappointment, but the faint upward curve of her lips betrayed her true feelings. Everyone in the room stared at me, their eyes bloodshot. “Commander, do you respect the armor on your back? Do you respect those who have followed you through life and death?” “We misjudged you! We chose the wrong master!” “If the enemy breaches the city today, every life lost will be because of you!” “Upon our return, we will inform everyone of what transpired here today. We will collectively petition for your court-martial!” I calmly poured myself another glass of wine. “Are you quite finished? You stand here, condemning me, yet you still haven’t moved to face the enemy. If they truly breach the city, won’t you share in the responsibility?” I raised my cup to Lysander. “Your Highness, the primary responsibility for Veridian City’s safety lies with the Imperial Guard under your command. At such a critical juncture, you’re not on the front lines but here, judging me. I can’t help but question your true intentions.” Lysander pointed at me, his voice a furious snarl. “You are truly twisting truth into lies! You are beyond reason!” I offered a cool smile. “I rather think it is you who is twisting truth into lies!” Lysander glared at me, a smirk playing on his lips. “I will lead my forces now. But I wonder how you will explain yourself to His Majesty later!” Lysander and his men hadn’t even left The Nightingale’s Nest when a voice boomed, stopping them in their tracks. “The Emperor is here!” Everyone immediately rose to offer their respects. Panic flickered in Lysander’s eyes. “Father, your son is rushing to meet the enemy. I fear I cannot attend to you here!” Seraphina looked at me triumphantly. “Your Majesty, have you come to punish Arthur? As a Commander, he has utterly disregarded human lives!” Emperor Sylas frowned, then glanced at his head eunuch, his presence commanding without needing to raise his voice. He walked to the central seat and settled down. Everyone present looked at me with a mixture of pity and schadenfreude. Lysander no longer seemed in a hurry to leave. “Father, your son specifically came to ask Brother Arthur to dispatch his troops to face the enemy. I never imagined he would claim he was too busy indulging in revelry to leave. It is truly disappointing.” Seraphina quickly knelt, presenting the scroll of blood-sealed grievances. “Your Majesty, your humble servant also wishes to present evidence. I implore you to thoroughly investigate Commander Arthur! Deliver justice for the people of the borderlands, and for the people of Veridian City!” I suppressed my anger, rising to my knees before Emperor Sylas. “Your Majesty, I beg your forgiveness! Your son was compelled to seek your presence in this lowly establishment! Because Prince Lysander has committed treason and colluded with the enemy, time is of the essence!” 4 Everyone in the room instantly turned their gaze to me, kneeling there. Lysander’s face was a storm of shifting emotions. He immediately pointed at me, his voice trembling with manufactured rage. “Arthur! I refrained from reporting you to His Majesty out of brotherly affection, yet you abandon the battle, then turn around and accuse me! What are your true intentions?!” Seraphina’s expression was complex. She covered her face, weeping. “Arthur, I never thought you were such a man! To escape punishment for your dereliction of duty, you would even frame the Crown Prince! Do you know this is a capital offense?! Do you wish to condemn an entire household?” Several Senior Officers quickly knelt. “Your Majesty, with external enemies invading, the Third Prince is still consumed by sibling rivalry. We refuse to serve under such a man!” Lysander, seizing the moment, made a passionate plea. “Father, the battle is paramount! Your son can overlook my brother’s wild accusations. I am even willing to lead the Imperial Guard and march out under Brother Arthur’s command. Please, Your Majesty, issue the order at once!” Lysander’s personal guard and the Senior Officers were nearly moved to tears. They all looked at him with profound admiration, then bowed with clasped hands. “Please, Your Majesty, command Commander Arthur to lead the army and meet the enemy!” I watched their concerted performance with cold eyes, my face expressionless. “I am quite drunk tonight, I fear, and unable to lead the army. To avoid delaying the war, I humbly request to be relieved of my commission as Commander.” Lysander stared at me as if I were mad. “Brother Arthur! At such a critical moment, you repeatedly refuse to engage the enemy. Perhaps you are the true traitor!” I countered coldly, “In that case, I ask His Majesty to send both Prince Lysander and myself to the Ministry of Justice for interrogation!” A flash of terror crossed Lysander’s eyes, but he quickly recovered, his tone earnest. “Once the war is over, your humble servant will naturally cooperate with His Majesty to uncover the truth. But now, the battle is urgent! It is still not too late to settle this matter after the enemy has been repelled!” Emperor Sylas, who had remained silent, cleared his throat. “I have already dispatched a portion of the Royal Guards to inspect the city walls. How the enemy could have reached the outskirts of the capital without a trace is indeed suspicious.” Lysander immediately grew agitated. “Brother Arthur’s army is stationed thirty miles outside the city! How could the enemy have bypassed them to reach the city’s perimeter? Does this not prove that he is the one colluding with the enemy?!” Several Senior Officers exchanged knowing glances, as if a profound revelation had just struck them. “No wonder the Commander ordered us to forgo our daily drills and simply rest in camp! He was clearing the way for them!” I scoffed inwardly. I had led these troops through countless campaigns. Allowing them a few days of rest was a boon, yet in their mouths, it became evidence of treason. At that moment, a sudden white flash erupted from somewhere within the city. My heart settled. The trap was sprung. I slowly raised my head, sweeping my gaze across the assembled faces, then turned to Emperor Sylas. “Since Prince Lysander and I each have our own claims, and giving command to either of us presents a risk, perhaps His Majesty should personally lead the defense!” After a short interval, a group of Royal Guards escorted Emperor Sylas to the city walls. Below the walls, a group of enemy soldiers were hoisting a massive battering ram against the city gate. In the distance, more raised their bows, shouting taunts and firing flaming arrows into the city. Several Senior Officers, desperate to engage, grabbed nearby bows and prepared to fire. I snatched the bows from their hands and flung them aside. Lysander’s eyes narrowed, sharp and dangerous. “Brother Arthur, if you won’t lead, fine! But why do you prevent us from defending the city?!” Seraphina’s eyes were bloodshot. She pointed at a few fallen guards’ bodies, weeping. “Arthur, open your eyes! Look at them! They died because of you! If the enemy breaches the city, there will be countless more casualties! How will you atone for that?!” The Senior Officers were so distraught, tears welled in their eyes. “You may be afraid to die, but we are not! If you continue to prevent us from fighting, do not blame us for disobeying orders!” I pointed at the bows I had thrown aside, my voice cutting through their anger. “If you do not wish to simply gift your arrows to the enemy, then by all means, fire away!” Everyone on the city walls froze. One officer even picked up a bow, examining it closely. Seraphina’s expression tightened with unease. “How did you know the bow was faulty?” I glanced at her. “I never said the bow was faulty!” Lysander quickly pulled Seraphina away. “If you cast aside the bow, it must be faulty! Are you trying to deflect blame with words? You accuse me of treason, but where is your proof? What we see now weighs even more heavily against you!” “This bow… the bowstring is skewed!” a Senior Officer exclaimed in astonishment. “The city’s armory falls under His Highness Prince Lysander’s command,” I said, bowing deeply to Emperor Sylas. “Could this not also be considered evidence of his collusion?” Lysander’s emotions flared. His breathing grew heavy, completely losing his usual cultured demeanor. He pointed at me, shouting, “Brother Arthur! On the day you returned to the capital, you presented me with a batch of weaponry, claiming it would bolster the Imperial Guard’s strength. So this was the trap you set for me! Thankfully, I didn’t listen to your suggestion to remove the Lyra sigil. The sigil is still on the bow hilt! You won’t frame me!” A Royal Guard picked up the bow and handed it to Emperor Sylas. The Emperor glanced at the Lyra sigil, then his eyes turned icy as he looked at me. “How do you explain this?”
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