Ancient Empire Calendar Year 1810
With Seth's victory, it was clear who Ricardo's last opponent was
Kislavein Dynasty Lord IV Orsman had only two sons left out of his 24 sons, everyone was now aware that the bloody throne games in the Kislavein Dynasty were nearing their end
The whole world was eagerly waiting to see who would be the next Lord of the Kislaveins, some even placed bets
While some thought Seth would win, others thought Ricardo would win
This curiosity would be revealed at the end of Seth and Ricardo's battle, but tonight the brothers would not be at bloody stabs
It was late at night, a young man from the senior class was walking towards Ricardo's room, hiding his presence perfectly
He was so well hidden that even if he stood right in front of people, not even their spirits would hear him
The young man standing in front of Ricardo's room knocked on the door
"I am not an assassin Young Lord Ricardo, your brother Young Lord Seth sent me, he wants to speak to you privately"
Ricardo was surprised by this unexpected invitation as he was preparing to attack with his sword pointed at the door ready to fight
Ricardo approached the door with careful steps, cast a speed spell and in the blink of an eye he passed behind the young man waiting behind the door
Ricardo put the sharpest part of his long and sharp sword against the young man's neck and asked in a low voice
"Would I come to a place that was clearly a trap?"
The young man smiled slightly, Ricardo got angry when he saw this
"Does this seem like a joke to you? If you want to die, you've come to the right place"
The young man felt fear to his core, he was nervous even though he didn't show it, he was starting to sweat, there was a slight tremor in his hands, but he didn't show it, he said in a calm voice
"Forgive me Young Lord Ricardo, I overstepped my limits, I didn't mean to make you angry, I'm just a messenger
Besides, if your brother had killed you before the last war, the whole world would have branded him a coward
He wouldn't be taken seriously by anyone, believe me Young Lord Ricardo, your brother just wants to talk"
Ricardo had used various spells to tell if the person in front of him was lying
His mother, Seliarnevre, had given him a lot of training to distinguish people who were lying
Ricardo sheathed his sword and took a step back
"Okay then, lead the way"
The duo walked quickly but silently through the corridors of the Academy
"How much longer is it and what else will my brother talk to me about"
"I don't know either, Young Lord Ricardo, I was only told to accompany you, here we are"
They had arrived at a very inconspicuous classroom at the far end of the academy corridors. Ricardo glanced around. He could only sense the presence of one person around him, but the others might have hidden their presence.
Hmm, a perfect place for an assassination, but I don't think Seth is someone who would do assassinations, anyway, we'll see now.
Ricardo entered the classroom with these thoughts. He was face to face with his older brother Seth, whom he had only seen once at the entrance ceremony and once in the arena.
Ricardo approached Seth with cautious steps. Seth poured some wine from the jug on the edge of the table into a glass, then stood up and handed the glass full of wine to Ricardo.
"Here, brother, don't be afraid, there is no poison in it. If you want, check it with a spell."
Ricardo directed his meaning to his eyes and with the spell called the eyes that see the truth, he made sure that there was no poison in the wine
He took the wine from Seth's hand and drank it, placing the glass on the table, Ricardo made sure that Seth was not planning anything
"What do you want, brother, what was your purpose in calling me here?"
Seth gestured with his hand and told Ricardo to sit down, but when Ricardo continued to stand, Seth stood up as well
"I just wanted to talk to you, not as enemies fighting for the throne, but as brothers"
Ricardo started laughing sarcastically
"I was never going to laugh, what are you talking about, Seth brother, are you a brother? We have never been brothers in this Dynasty since the day we were born, we were just enemies fighting for the throne"
"Is that so, who decided this? Our stepmothers tried to kill us as soon as we were born, our father never even looked at us except for our 14th birthday, even our mothers only thought of us as tools for their political future
Oh, as you said, we have been enemies in this Dynasty since the day we were born, but maybe it didn't have to be like this"
Ricardo with a surprised expression
"Where are you trying to get this, Seth"
Seth bowed his head and grabbed his hair with his hands as if he was pulling it out
"I'm tired Ricardo, I'm tired of killing my brothers, I'm tired of not being able to sleep every night, worrying if the assassin will come, I'm tired of it, I don't want the throne anymore, I'm tired of others dying because of me"
Seth fell to his knees, there was no trace of the man who had terrorized the arena just hours ago
Ricardo compared Seth's state to one of his sons from his previous life
"He looks just like him, I wonder if this is a chance to make up for my past mistake" Ricardo thought
As Ricardo looked at Seth, his past life started to flash before his eyes
Seeing Seth reminded me of my past my third son Bartholomeleus was just like him he was born in a time of endless wars my only son
I made his childhood which should have been the happiest time of his life miserable just like I did to my other sons this was my biggest regret my snowy mountain in my heart
I gave Bartho deadly training on war since his childhood I made him one of my best warriors I put him on the front lines of the battlefield I wish I hadn't done it I wish I hadn't gotten that boy involved in these things
Years followed one another Bartho's mental health began to deteriorate, I thought he was just pretending to escape the battlefield, I beat him in front of everyone, I swore, I humiliated him, I wish a wasp had stung me, I wouldn't have sworn and insulted him, I wish my bones had broken, I wouldn't have beaten him, I wish I had been a little more understanding
After that day, his mental health got worse, he locked himself in his room, while my father should have supported him, I pushed him to his limits until he got worse, and that was the point where the cup overflowed, I could never forget that day
My son was on his knees, in tears
"Father I beg you I can't take it anymore I can't take killing people my brothers my friends people's deaths I can't do this I beg you don't drag me into those wars please"
If only I had been a little kinder to him that day maybe things would have been different
I don't deserve to be called father I am not a father I always thought my father Clovis was a bad father but I am worse than him I wish I had hugged my son I wish I had comforted him maybe that was all he wanted from me but what did I do I beat him I broke his bones until they turned into dust I humiliated him in a loud voice that the whole palace could hear and I left without even looking back
"Heal him, you will be sent to the front lines the next day Bartholomeleus DO YOU UNDERSTAND! ?"
My son was lying on the ground like a dead corpse, he answered without looking at me "understood dad" this was the last time he would call me dad
The next day I was prepared for war, I was going to go to the battlefield wearing my armor and at that moment the butler came running to me, he was out of breath and told me that my son had committed suicide
My world had fallen apart, I fell to my knees, I was in shock, I couldn't get over this shock for hours, Bartho's death had destroyed my entire family, my sons and grandchildren were distant, cold, unresponsive and full of hatred towards me, they were right, I deserved all of this
Ricardo had faced his past that he was trying to forget. His similarity to Seth and Bartholomeleus may be the God of Heaven and Earth is giving me a chance to get rid of my past sins.
Ricardo got down on his knees and hugged Seth. Neither brother said anything for a long time. Ricardo broke the silence.
"I can't say that I fully understand you, but I had an acquaintance who felt the same way as you for a while. I always regretted not giving him enough support that day. You may perceive these words as if I just wanted to ease my conscience. I don't want to lie to you, but know that these words are sincere, brother. Don't blame yourself. Maybe if we weren't born in this Dynasty, we could all be very close brothers, even if we don't have this life, if we have another life, let's be good brothers."
Ricardo hugged Seth and Seth hugged Ricardo and the two brothers relaxed as they felt the wounds in their hearts close
Seth looked at Ricardo with emotional eyes, his eyes were filled with pure and true love for his brother
"Look Ricardo, I don't want to be a Dynasty Leader, I can't carry that burden but you can carry it, you have that potential too, you are strong, your eyes shine like a sage who has lived a hundred years, you should be a Dynasty Leader"
"You know what this means, brother"
"I know I have to die... I don't want anyone else to die because of me anymore, I don't want any more brothers to kill each other Ricardo, I don't want your hands to be stained with any more brother blood"
Ricardo grabbed Seth's hands and gripped them tightly
"Brother, my hands are already dirty, I killed three of my brothers Karlmen, Ferlas, Xanros, two of the three died in my hands and I ordered the death of one of them, I don't regret it and probably won't regret it for the rest of my life"
Seth patted Ricardo's head and there was a sweet smile on my face
"Don't be Ricardo, if you regret the ones you killed, if you are weak, your end will be like mine, but I cannot shake the regret of the deaths in my heart, I have so many regrets that I cannot count, my mother Tristan who trained me to this age, my master Zarek, my friends, my lovers, my comrades who sacrificed their lives for me, I know that all their sacrifices and efforts will be in vain, but I cannot wear Kislavein's Fiery Shirt, I cannot carry this burden"
Ricardo asked curiously
"So what do you want from me, brother?"
Seth stood up and walked towards the door, while his back was turned, he said one last thing
"I just wanted to make sure Ricardo, are you strong enough to wear this Fiery Shirt? Leave the rest to your brother. This will be our first and last conversation before the final battle."
Indeed, it would be like that. Ricardo could not have known, let alone predicted, he could not even have imagined what would happen on the day of the Final Battle.