“Theodore, you can barely stop shaking. You are really nervous.” As usual, Leon pointed the issue out directly. Today, it had been quite obvious in the first place though.

Theodore wasn't sure whether his response was even needed, but he replied anyway. “Of course, I am. I haven't seen Cedar in seven years.” Well, not quite. If he counted his interactions with Cedar back in that alternative world, it had only been three months. But Theodore had to admit that remembering how Cedar pierced his body with a sword wasn't quite a memory that made him less nervous in his brother's presence. Back then, he had longed to die, but things were different now.

A lot depended on this. This time around, Cedar had acted differently from before. Originally, he should only have shown up in another one and a half years. That he had moved now proved that something had altered the story. Theodore wasn't sure whether this was connected to Blanche's and his changed actions or to the fact that Cedar might have his memories of that horrible future too. That was exactly what Theodore worried about most. If Cedar actually did remember everything, he would never give up so easily and let his brother live happily with Blanche. He would probably interfere as much as he could.

Theodore couldn't even blame him for that, but he just hoped that he wouldn't have to face that issue. It would be better for everyone if neither Cedar nor Camille remembered that other timeline.

That was what Theodore had to find out right now. He had hated leaving Blanche behind in the summer mansion, especially since that witch that called herself empress was there too. But he couldn't risk her meeting the Cedar that might remember being her close friend and hearing about her death. First, he had to figure out what they needed to deal with. So, he had called his brother over and now waited for him while getting more nervous with every second.

Leonard, who was here to intervene in an emergency, could easily read the emperor's mood. Maybe he wanted to make it a bit better. After all, he tried to speak to Theodore to distract him. “I guess. But if this was a normal family reunion, it wouldn't be that bad. You have a difficult relationship with your brother though. From what I gathered, you don't hate him entirely, but you get along as well as fire and water.”

“You could summarize it like that.” Theodore sighed and began running his fingers through his hair before he forced himself to reply. “Cedar isn't a bad person on his own. He...has a lot of issues, but his mother caused them. If we just let him leave this power struggle, I think he could even be an ally. Don't tell anyone I said this, but Cedar is undefeated when it comes to convincing others and coming up with solutions no one else ever considered. I seriously think he would be a great minister as long as he just gives up on taking the crown from me.” But then again, it might be a bit arrogant to hope that his brother would just forget their rivalry.

The brothers had been trying to best one another ever since they had been introduced. Cedar had been raised with the expectation of having him surpass his brother one day, so he had been busy learning and training everything he could from a young age. Theodore had just seen that as a reason to put in more work to stabilize his position as the crown prince. Needless to say, that rivalry had escalated after the previous emperor's death.

It was mainly Camille's fault since she had been the one to tell Cedar to kill his brother. But either way, one had to admit that the brothers had quite a few problems.

Theodore lowered his gaze to stare at the notes he had taken for this meeting. Of course, those random words didn't help him much when he had to deal with the person he knew how to handle the least. With his enemies, he could be cruel. To his allies, he could be kind. But Cedar? Cedar fit in neither category. He was certainly an enemy, but it would be a lie to say that Theodore despised him. He suspected that it was partly because of their shared childhood and partly because he remembered a world in which Cedar had always been on Blanche's side even when Theodore had doubted her.

For that, he had to thank Cedar. Also for killing him, but that would probably lead to a strange conversation.

More than anything else, Theodore first had to find out whether Cedar remembered too. He had made a few notes of what he had to pay attention to. Small hints could already give it away, so he needed to be on guard. Theodore told himself that it would be fine, but in reality, he began worrying quite quickly. What if he messed up and became convinced that Cedar didn't remember when he did? Surely, his brother would use that chance to ruin him. Theodore knew why Cedar would wish for him to disappear after what he had done to Blanche, but right now, he was still able to fix things. He couldn't give up like that. So-

A knock on the door sounded.

Theodore almost flinched. When he lifted his head, he made eye contact with Leon for a moment. His secretary nodded and moved to the door while Theodore forced himself to sit more upright. He tried to seem at least a bit majestic as he waited for the door to be opened.

Somehow, he had expected chaos to follow as soon as he made eye contact. But that didn't happen.

Cedar had indeed been waiting by the entrance. As Leon made way, he stepped into the office, his posture straight and his head lifted high. He smiled at his brother as if he didn't have a care in the world, but even so, no one could deny that he exuded that aura of authority like most members of their family. Cedar seemed kind, but even a glance was enough to show that he certainly knew when to end that kindness.

That was the same persona Theodore had gotten used to. As a child, Cedar had always had an angelic smile, and he had appeared with it more and more often over the years. By the age of twelve, he had barely shown anything but that smile. But back then, one had still been able to break through that facade by surprising him with something. It seemed like that might not be possible anymore. Like the Cedar in their alternative future, this one seemed to have sealed away his feelings completely.

That thought was what reminded Theodore. He had to find out whether his brother had his memories like Blanche and Theodore had them. So, he began searching for similarities and differences.

Cedar physically looked the same as he had back in that other world. Of course, he had grown up a lot from when he had been fourteen. Now he was just a little smaller than Theodore in contrast to back when he had last visited the palace. That was the same. His constant smile was the same too. But there might be a small difference. Cedar didn't show any signs of hostility at the moment. He had always hidden them well, but after he had known that his brother had killed the woman he had loved, he had never been able to look at him with anything resembling kindness. Now it seemed different.

But Cedar was one of the best actors in this entire nation. One couldn't rely on this alone.

Theodore was so focused on trying to read Cedar that he almost forgot to pay attention to how much time passed. The silence had probably become unpleasant long ago, but his brother still beamed at him. Theodore didn't know what to start with. He had no clue what to tell the brother he had such a strange relationship with. So, he just stood up and walked over to look at him properly.

Standing in front of Cedar like this felt strange. The situation was so different. Theodore couldn't compare this to how it had been back in that other future, where Cedar had spread his influence in the capital as Theodore had been at war. He wasn't greeted with that cold look in his brother's eyes this time. It could be an act, but was it? It didn't feel like one.

But Theodore doubted that he could ever be sure of that. He could only rely on the most obvious hints right now. And even though he didn't trust this fully, that made him feel like Cedar didn't remember. If so, that would be a blessing.

Theodore got a bit relieved despite knowing that this was just a guess. The reply slipped out of his mouth before he could stop it. “I've never been so happy to see your stupid smile.” Because it proved that Cedar might not remember his brother as the murderer of the woman they both loved.

Without context, this might confuse Cedar a lot. But like usual, he didn't show that. He just beamed at his brother. “I am glad if I could light up your day at least a little. I am happy to see you again too, Theodore. It's been a while.” To him, it might have been seven years. That was truly a long time.

Theodore almost had to swallow as he wasn't sure whether to be more than happy to know that Cedar wouldn't try to pull Blanche away from him or whether to regret the fact that they still appeared as enemies. So, he spoke quickly to distract himself. “Yes, it's been a long time. I didn't actually expect you to stay in confinement for that long. You know that I only arrested your mother. You could have stayed in the palace if you wanted to.”

Somehow, Cedar's response wasn't surprising. It was the same as the one he had given Theodore upon explaining why he would leave with the dowager empress. “How could I leave Mother all alone in an unknown new palace? I had to stay by her side to keep her from getting lonely.” And to keep that woman from blowing up. After all, only Cedar could keep Camille from hurting others during her hysteric fits.

Theodore didn't like hearing that Cedar still seemed to feel responsible for that woman, who might as well be called the curse of their family. He couldn't quite tell Cedar to just drop her either though. He had to focus on what really mattered right now. He was a bit hesitant to address this so suddenly, but he wouldn't allow himself to stop here. “Let's sit down together. It might be good if we...have the chance to chat in peace.” He turned around and walked back to his desk. He took a seat on his chair and then gestured to the one on the other side. “Please sit.”

Cedar followed him without any concerns. “Thank you very much.” As he took a seat, he still had that far too happy smile on his face. It looked off, simply because it stayed on his lips for far too long. But Cedar managed to hide that fact well, even as he looked around the office and then spoke up. “It seems like you didn't change the office much. I only see a few new additions to Father's old things. The desk is new and that portrait is too.”

Theodore had just been about to relax, only to tense as he heard that. Right. The portrait. He glanced at the painting that hung to the side of his desk. Everyone else could see that masterpiece depicting him and his lover, but when it was Cedar, Theodore hesitated. Not only was there a chance of Cedar recognizing the woman in the picture, he could also understand that this painting was new. That Theodore had acted differently and that this might have happened because of changed memories of a different future.

But even as the emperor panicked, Cedar just smiled as he inspected the painting. “I think I remember those masterful brush strokes. Only Erneis can create such perfect portraits. He truly deserves to be a painter for the royal family. I still remember being in marvel upon seeing his creations first. He seems to have put a lot of effort into this piece.” He turned back to his brother and showed him a soft smile. “Is that the famous Lady Blanche beside you?”

Was that question voiced on purpose? Or did Cedar not just feign being so clueless? He didn't seem to recognize her. Was there really a chance that he didn't remember? He couldn't act that well, could he?

Theodore was even more on guard now. He barely dared to ask, but he forced himself to do it slowly. “Have you never met her?”

Cedar let out a small huff, and for a moment, his smile became a tiny bit more amused. “Theodore, you do remember where I spent the last few years, yes? What kind of question is that? Of course, I didn't meet someone that only entered noble society about two years ago. But I did meet Her Majesty seven years ago, so I can tell that this isn't her. So, there could only be one other woman whose painting you would hang up here. I heard a lot about her. That is Lady Blanche, correct?”

Right. If he really didn't remember the timeline in which Blanche had visited him and had become his friend, he hadn't met her in person at all until now.

Theodore really doubted that Cedar could act indifferent upon seeing Blanche again when he was grieving for her death. If he did remember, Cedar wouldn't have been able to keep himself from running over to see Blanche alive. Theodore had been similar right after waking up here, so he could probably rely on that. It was still a bit risky, but Theodore already felt relief well up inside him as he dared to hope that everything could be fine. He began smiling to himself and considered hiding it but then ended up replying. “Yes. She is the woman I love more than anything else.”

Cedar watched his brother's expression carefully, possibly to confirm how important this person was to Theodore. The response was quite obvious. “I see. Her Majesty would be hurt if she heard this. But then again, I have to admit that it wasn't too surprising. You truly are Father's son.”

Theodore hadn't minded that phrase in the past. After all, he was similar to his father in some regards. But now that he could just remember how he had failed to protect the one he loved from the vile wife that had taken the position of the empress, much like his father had, he hated the comparison. He rejected it quickly. “Yes, I am. But I'd rather not be compared to that spineless coward.”

Cedar didn't even feign shock. He just beamed back at his brother. “Oh, my. You seem to be upset with Father.”

Theodore didn't mind acknowledging that. “I am. I respect him as the former emperor and have to admit that he taught me a lot, but he messed up badly countless times. I cannot just ignore that. Rest assured that I will not repeat the mistakes he made.” And Alastair's first mistake had been leaving the tensions within the royal family untouched as they festered and began to threaten their nation. Theodore wouldn't let that happen. He would try to fix everything, which was why he was right here. “We should talk a bit.”

In response, Cedar only made himself more comfortable on his chair. “Naturally. I haven't seen you in so long. I would be elated to be able to talk to you. Especially since there is a huge problem we need to discuss, correct?” He had addressed the issue directly.

Theodore hadn't expected that, but he agreed. “If you already mention this, we should speak honestly from the very beginning. You were the one sending the supreme judge a letter about the trial, right?”

Like before, Cedar just beamed at his brother and replied in a tone that made it seem like he was speaking about nothing serious. “Yes. I do apologize for doing this behind your back, but I believed that having a neutral judge would be more helpful in such a case. I know that this matter is emotionally troublesome for you due to your personal involvement in this tragedy, but I would still like to ask for a fair trial. After all, the proof that convicted Mother last time was clearly fake.” He wasn't wrong about that.

But Theodore, who had falsified that evidence, wouldn't admit that. “I wish it was, Cedar. Do you not believe that I would like to trust her and live together as a family? But I am more than certain that your mother was involved in that incident.” They both knew that, so he wasn't even sure why he tried to convince his brother. Maybe he just wanted Cedar to acknowledge it at least once so that he could remind himself that his brother knew. “You do remember her testimony in front of the court, correct? She admitted to having known about two attacks when only the latter one had been made public in the first place.”

As expected, Cedar just found another excuse, his expression changing a bit to show what seemed to be a nervous smile. “But to actually accuse her of trying to kill her own son because of such a small mistake? Mother was nervous at that time. How couldn't she have been when she almost lost you?”

For a moment, Theodore thought about whether Cedar might actually be concerned about this. Then his brother's typical smile returned, and he had to give in with a sigh. “You know that she is more than capable of trying to kill her son. She did that often enough.” He considered trying to convince Cedar once more, but upon remembering the words he had heard leaving Camille's mouth in front of them both, he realized that this wouldn't help. He skipped that part. “But let's not talk about that now. You won't admit it anyway. Let me just be honest about your chances in this trial. It will take a while until we can have another investigation. Especially since it seems like your mother is not interested in holding the trial soon.”

Again, Cedar twisted the truth enough to make it seem believable. “I can see why that would seem odd to you. But I promise that Mother is merely scared of being convicted with fake evidence again. She just came back to the capital. She wishes to stay for a while longer.” Another excuse. He seemed to be able to give a lot of them.

Theodore had no need for those though. He held back a sigh. “Then I expect that you will stay in noble society for a while now. Fine. We will see how that ends.” He wasn't happy to give Cedar a chance to gain support from influential families nor did he wish to see Camille during events. But if he just sent them away, it would be quite obvious that he feared for his safety. Should the emperor show such fears, more people would target him. Theodore couldn't let that happen. He needed to prove the very opposite. That he wasn't scared even when Cedar was here now. If his brother could gain advantages with his social skills, Theodore would show his strength in return. That idea was what even made him suggest it. “As long as you are here, we will have to treat you like a member of royalty though. It's your birthday soon. Do you want to hold a party?” If the emperor held a party for his younger brother, it would certainly prove that he wasn't fearful.

But the plan was destroyed before it had begun.

Cedar didn't seem necessarily upset or happy about the suggestion. His smile stayed unmoving as before while he gave his response calmly. “No, I don't think so.” He rejected that with far too little hesitation. Shouldn't he wish to appear to be on friendly terms with his brother? That would make it easier for him to gain footing in the capital again.

Needless to say, Theodore was skeptical. “Really? Members of the royal family usually have quite lavish parties. As a person who wants to be emperor, I expected you to act the part a bit more.”

“How could I wish to claim your position, Theodore? I would never dare.” As usual, Cedar acted innocent. He knew exactly what the truth was, but it seemed like he wouldn't admit it. At least he positioned himself more regarding his brother's inquiry. “I do not wish for a party either. Since I am not residing in the palace at the moment, it would seem odd for me to celebrate here, don't you think? Especially since people believe that you think that I would try to challenge you.”

Theodore almost rolled his eyes upon hearing so much irony. Of course, he didn't and just asked another question. “Do you intend to celebrate in your mansion then?”

Cedar kept beaming. “I have no need for that. I believe we will go without a party this year.” That was more than odd. Wasn't Cedar the second prince of Artias? He was used to lavish celebrations. He should be happy about them after seven years in confinement. This finally gave him a chance to connect with possible allies again after all. Seemingly, he wasn't even thinking about that now.

That just made Theodore more suspicious, but he stayed quiet about it. “If you say so, we can do that. Tell me if you change your mind.”

After that, silence followed. It seemed like Cedar had nothing he wished to address, and Theodore was done with his most important topics. So, he just stayed quiet and waited. Neither of them addressed anything else, which led to a quite unpleasant atmosphere. At least it was unpleasant to Theodore. Cedar just seemed to ignore it entirely and kept smiling. As he eventually broke the silence, he spoke about useless things, asking how his brother had been and talking about his stay in confinement.

Nothing new was said, but at least Theodore could be certain that Cedar had no memories of a different future now. Otherwise, his brother would never have been able to sit down and just talk to him like that. Cedar would have been far too full of hatred should he have remembered what Theodore had done to Blanche. In that regard, the conversation helped erase some worries. But at the same time, Theodore was still scared of what might happen now.

What use had knowing what would happen in the future when things already changed now? He probably couldn't rely on his knowledge for too long anymore. This time, the power struggle would begin quicker. And this time, Theodore wouldn't surrender and gratefully accept being killed.

The memory of seeing Cedar stand above him with a bloody sword was enough to remind him of how serious this matter was.

Maybe that was why Theodore couldn't keep himself from speaking up just as this meeting was about to be over. “We don't have to be enemies, Cedar.”

Cedar, who had been in the middle of walking back to the door, stopped to face Theodore. Even now, he didn't even fake a serious expression. He just smiled at his brother like he had made a joke. “Of course not. We are brothers after all.” But they wanted the same crown. How could they forget that?

Theodore knew that it was unlikely that Cedar would give up. He still tried it. After all, he had nothing left to lose. “You know exactly what I mean, Cedar. Don't act dumb. This...is important.” He took a deep breath before he tried to continue. If he started slowly, maybe his brother would listen. “How about a truce?”

“A truce?” Cedar tilted his head slightly, but his interest seemed more fake. After all, he had to be aware of what his brother wanted.

Theodore still tried it. “Yes.” He took another deep breath before meeting his brother's gaze directly. “If you officially waver the right to the throne, we can end this whole power struggle. That would be better for all of Artias and keep our family name from being ruined. I'm not saying that this will take away your power. You just couldn't become emperor. But you can become a minister if you want to. You can influence the political landscape of our nation without holding the crown too. That doesn't sound too bad, right? Cedar, I know that it's not you who wants me dead. The person controlling you wants you to ruin me, but that was never your decision. If we just work together, I'm sure that this could work.”

It was a desperate attempt.

One that was only met with Cedar's unmoving smile. For a moment, he didn't reply and just stared at Theodore. Was he thinking about it? Theodore hoped that he considered it. But that might not have been it. When Cedar did speak, his words didn't cheer him up too much. “Do you remember the sword that used to hang on that side of the office?” Cedar turned his head to glance at the now empty frame that had once held the item he described now. “The decorative one Father loved. The one with the many gems in the handle. The one dull side and the sharper one on the other.” He faced Theodore again, and upon seeing his brother's expression, his smile just widened. “I see that you remember it. I just wanted to check.”

He wanted to know whether Theodore remembered how Cedar had threatened him at the young age of eight. During an argument, Cedar had just grabbed the sword to hold it to his brother's neck while swearing that he would kill him in the future.

Those weren't pleasant memories, but Theodore wouldn't let that intimidate him anymore. “You were eight when that happened. I was thirteen. We were children, and you had anger issues back then. That was never serious.”

Cedar didn't bring the necessary seriousness to the conversation now either. He just smiled at Theodore while speaking in a far too sweet tone. “Of course, that wasn't serious. It was a small struggle between children, one we should forget. But everything after that?” As he awakened even worse memories, he seemed to stare right into Theodore's eyes. “You do remember how Mother reacted after she heard about what you did to Father. She was quite honest about that. It would be better for you to take that seriously.” He was the one to say that.

Theodore got exasperated at this point. He hadn't wanted to raise his voice, but now he did. “I am! But I know that you don't want me dead. You don't have to help her. Without you, that woman is completely incapable. She is nothing but a hysteric mess that can't plot for her life. And you are the actual competitor for me too. Should you leave her side, she would lose immediately.”

That was his big hope. For Cedar to finally have enough. For him to leave that woman to break because of her own brutal plots. Without Cedar, Camille would soon run into danger and ruin her faction. That was a given. What they needed was for Cedar to change sides.

But how could that happen? No matter how old Cedar had been, he had always obeyed Camille without a second thought. Now it didn't seem different.

Cedar didn't budge in the slightest. He didn't react to the severity of all of this either. He just smiled. “You are saying harsh things, Theodore. How could I let Mother stay all alone? I would never leave her.”

Theodore should just stop here and let Cedar make his own choice. He knew that. But before he could help it, he balled his fists and clenched his jaw. He remembered so much, and the words just flowed out. “That woman hurt you more than anyone else. I remember all the times you visited the doctor because he had to treat bruises of all sorts. I remember when she was so explosive that servants called for you whenever she needed to be calmed, and that woman never thanked you for it once. Back then, you still showed your emotions. I can tell that you understood what she was doing to you too. You didn't like it at all. Do you know how scared you looked back when she caught us playing together with Mother? Do you-”

As he mentioned his own mother, Theodore was reminded of what he should have addressed far earlier. He doubted that he had a chance even with this, but it was worth an attempt.

Theodore lowered his voice to continue. “I know that you never wanted to hurt anyone. In fact, I'm sure that you hated that so many victims lost their lives to this whole struggle. Back then, during the assassination attempt on me...” Those were bad memories, but Theodore forced himself to face them in an attempt to change them. “I do not know whether it was part of an act, but you looked so worried when you found Mother. You rushed to her and checked her pulse. Then you tried first aid. You were the only person that did that. Everyone else focused on searching for me. And then, when you found me... Only your mother's guards were there, and you could easily have blamed it on the attackers, but you-” He didn't get to finish that thought.

Cedar already responded. “It has been a few years already. I fear that I could never visit her grave. I offer my sincere condolences for Lady Althea once again. She was a wonderful person, who didn't deserve to lose her life in such a horrible way. It was truly an awful incident.” As he spoke, he had that smile on his face still, his eyes meeting Theodore's gaze directly.

It felt like another punch in the gut.

Cedar was the only person who had ever wished Theodore condolences regarding his mother. He had repeated it multiple times when they had been alone. In front of Camille, he had never admitted to caring about Althea even a bit though. It made sense. The dowager empress would probably have choked him to death for that. But Cedar had cared for Althea too, at least a bit. He certainly hadn't hated her.

The brothers had even played together once after Althea had asked them to get along. That day had been quite fun until Camille had arrived. She had immediately accused Althea of trying to steal her son, had slapped the other woman and had then dragged away Cedar. The next day, Cedar had been covered in bandages and had refused to meet his brother's gaze despite clinging to that bright smile. From then on, he had only ever interacted with Theodore or Althea when he had been sure that his mother was busy. It was only another example of Camille traumatizing her son.

Cedar was probably aware of that too. He had never seemed like he was unaware of what his mother was doing to him. Instead, he just chose to accept that his every move was being controlled by that woman without ever talking back. He couldn't be happy like that. He had to be at his limit when it came to enduring everything she was throwing at him.

Theodore wasn't sure whether this meant that he had a chance to pull Cedar out of the prison he had been put in ever since he had been a child, but it was worth an attempt. Maybe it was dirty to use the name of Althea, whom Cedar had been fond of, when Theodore wanted to make him feel guilty, but he couldn't let that stop him. His mother would have wanted him to help his brother too. So, he did his best to convince him, even when Cedar never seemed to listen to what he said. “I know that you don't want to face this, but be honest with me for once, Cedar. You weren't happy about what happened back then either. I know that you didn't want Mother to die.” That was the part Theodore was certain about. The other half was far less clear, and Theodore actually had to guess here.

But when he compared the Cedar from this world and the one that had hated him for causing Blanche's death, he knew that it could be worse. At the moment, Cedar didn't hate his brother as much as he could. That might just offer a small chance, but this was more than enough for Theodore to at least try it. This was better than nothing.

So, Theodore swallowed and forced himself to speak. “And in the end...you didn't want me dead either, right?” He didn't receive a direct response, which he had expected. Even though he got more and more uncertain, he continued. “Your mother probably ordered you to kill me if you found me alive. But you never even tried to finish it. Instead, you were the one telling me what happened to Mother. You pulled me out of the bushes and made sure I didn't look at the bloody mess at the carriage. Maybe that was just your guilt speaking, but you showed me far too much kindness for someone who wishes for my death. You have to admit that too.” He held his breath after speaking. He stayed quiet and watched Cedar as he waited to hear what he desperately wanted his brother to say.

But he should have known what his little brother acted like.

Cedar didn't admit anything. Instead, that frustrating smile stayed on his lips as he let out a quiet laugh. “Theodore, you are saying strange things. Of course, I never wanted you dead. I'm your brother, aren't I? How could I want anything bad to happen to you? Neither Mother nor I are your enemy.” He put on a mask of fake concern, but it was true that he never lost his calm approach even while acting. “What happened was horrible, and I understand why you would hate the thought of being unable to convict the guilty parties in this conflict. But I promise that it wasn't us who attacked you.”

Of course, Cedar would say that. He would always stick to this version of the story and never admit to his mother's faults.

Theodore had known that, but he still ended up disappointed. The churning of his stomach made it hard to keep a straight expression while a mix of fury and grief filled him. He felt so many complicated emotions about this. He was angry because Cedar kept lying to his face, sad because his brother wouldn't give in and end this useless power struggle. And Theodore was also a bit desperate.

In that other world, he had become a tyrant emperor. He had gone to war and had become one of the best fighters in Artias. Theodore had seen the future and could use that knowledge to solve countless issues now. He could without a doubt protect Artias, control the economy and prevent crises.

But he had never seen a future in which he had won against Cedar.

Last time, Cedar had killed Theodore. At that point, the emperor had wished for his death and had happily handed over the crown, but it was a fact that Cedar had won after months of expanding his political and economic influence in the capital. If he wanted the crown, he could be a difficult enemy. How could Theodore be certain that he would win in such a terrible situation? To him, it seemed like he couldn't do anything that would guarantee his victory.

He could try to kill Cedar, but that...

The thought made Theodore sick to his stomach. If he considered just ending the dowager empress' life, he wouldn't care, but Cedar would truly become his enemy after that. And if Cedar wanted to see his brother burn, it would be almost impossible to maintain a stable nation afterward. Theodore couldn't take that risk. He had to win while playing a much longer game. That would make the result better, but it also carried more risks. Theodore didn't want any of the people he cared for, especially Blanche, to be threatened. He had to keep her safe more than anything else. And that would be hard when everyone knew that she was his weak spot.

It had been clear for a long time, but Theodore still got sick upon being confronted with this again. Suddenly, memories of how he had messed up in that other world filled his head and he just wanted to see Blanche to remind himself that she was fine here. It was usually fine to step away for a few hours, but right now, Blanche was staying at the summer residence so that she could avoid all the trouble in the capital. Theodore could only send a letter to her and try to remember how warm her hug felt. He couldn't actually go see her now. That was more than torturous. Whenever Theodore saw images of Blanche's execution appear in front of his inner eye, he wanted to touch her warm skin and feel her breathing against his skin. That alone made him ball his fists. He wanted to see Blanche again so badly.

Theodore moved without another warning before remembering that Cedar was here. He forced himself to stay calm a bit longer to at least bid him farewell. “I see that you still refuse to acknowledge the truth. Then it will be hard for us to discuss this seriously. We should speak about this when you're ready to face reality. Don't forget what I told you. You can end this with a single word. That is all.” He turned away to stare out of the window, partially to hide his growing disappointment and concern and partially to show that the conversation was over.

Cedar didn't even complain about being treated like this. Instead, he listened to the very end and then stood up. “I do not wish to take away more of your precious time. I shall leave now if you give me permission.” Now he was that formal when he might be trying to take Theodore's crown? That barely made sense.

But Theodore didn't point that out. He just wanted to get some peace to think about this clearly. “You may leave.”

That was all it took for Cedar. Slow steps sounded as he moved to the door. Then he stopped for a moment and spoke again though. “One more thing, Theodore...”

Maybe it was a foolish hope, but Theodore really expected his brother to address the previous conversation. As he turned around, his heart skipped a beat as he hoped for something that would help him.

Instead, he was met with Cedar's bright smile as he gestured to one of the documents on the table. “That law there should be reworked once more. You forgot about a small complication. Book four of the constitution. Law fifty-six. I just thought I would be audacious enough to point that out. Have a nice afternoon, Theodore.” With that, he stepped out.

He left Theodore alone in the room as the emperor couldn't feel anything but the growing fear of not being able to protect the woman he loved or the estranged brother. He might not be able to protect the entire nation either.