"Ancestor… I must beg your forgiveness. The crown prince is conspiring to usurp the throne," Maximilian began, his tone pleading.


    The elephant snorted and waved a massive trunk dismissively.


    [Enough! Another power struggle? I''ve warned you countless times—I will not interfere in imperial disputes. Do you mean to insult me by dragging me into your petty squabbles?]


    A gust of wind, heavy with power, shook Maximilian to his core. He raised his arms to shield himself, his voice cracking with desperation.


    "No, it''s not like that! The crown prince has allied with outsiders to hand over the empire. Please, help us, Ancestor!" sea??h thё Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The elephant paused, its trunk still. After a moment of contemplation, it let out a huff, clearly uninterested.


    [No, that''s not sufficient reason. From what I see, you deserve the mess you''re in. Go and face your punishment.]


    Maximilian''s mouth fell open, his frustration threatening to spill over. Useless ancestor! He finally understood why previous emperors had filled their records with curses about this entity.


    Before he could argue further, the elephant raised a trunk.


    [Do not disturb my peace any longer. I will return you to where you belong.]


    With a flick of its trunk, the emperor vanished. He reappeared abruptly in his bedchamber, startling the concubines who let out shrieks of terror and huddled together.


    Maximilian laughed bitterly, his frustration spilling out as helpless mirth. Outside the chamber, the clamor of the rebellion had grown louder, now reverberating just beyond his doors.


    "This is the emperor''s chamber? Hah, he lived in quite the lap of luxury."


    "Well, let''s take him down and extract his forbidden arts."


    "Don''t forget, young Michael—those techniques belong to us."


    "Of course, gentlemen. Rest assured."


    Maximilian gritted his teeth. If he had to die, he wouldn''t go alone.


    Maximilian I paced restlessly within his opulent bedchamber, his steps betraying his mounting anxiety. The silk drapes adorning the walls retained their elegance, and the magical candelabras allowed no darkness to creep into the room, their flames burning bright.


    Yet the emperor''s heart was sunk in utter despair. He chewed on his fingernails, his eyes filled with unease as they stared blankly into the void. The decision was made, but carrying it out would demand a terrible price.


    To summon "him," a sacrifice was required—a substantial one. But where, in this dire situation, could he find an offering of adequate value? Fear and hatred clouded the emperor''s gaze, his eyes settling on the concubines huddled together, trembling.


    "Even if I sacrificed all of them, it wouldn''t be enough…"


    If the offering fell short, "he" would unleash his wrath. Fear of this being gripped Maximilian''s body and mind. He glanced at the gold-encrusted bedposts. The chamber, filled with lavish treasures, seemed meaningless in the face of his impending doom.


    "How dare they! To challenge me, the emperor...!"


    But rage served no purpose. His fate was already spiraling out of his control. His footsteps, treading the crimson carpet, grew increasingly agitated.


    Sighs and groans escaped him. As if his thoughts weren''t tangled enough, the sound of the concubines'' quiet sobbing grated on his nerves.


    "Can''t you shut up?" he snapped.


    These women, chosen from across the empire for their beauty and charm, were now nothing but an annoyance. The emperor hurled insults at them, his voice dripping with disdain. The concubines, with their soft skin and radiant eyes—prized jewels in human form—flinched under his fury, their delicate lips trembling as they tried to suppress their sobs.


    The luxurious dresses and glittering jewelry that once symbolized their status now seemed meaningless. Huddled together like frightened rabbits, they clung to one another, their pale fingers entwined as they silently prayed to escape the emperor''s wrath.


    Maximilian looked upon them with undisguised contempt. Their feeble attempts to make themselves inconspicuous only irritated him further. Even their shallow breathing, muffled in fear, grated on his nerves.


    With a face twisted by anger and hatred, the emperor approached the window. Outside, the noise of enemy forces grew louder, their triumphant roars echoing through the night. They were already discussing the spoils of their presumed victory.


    "Damn it… the dogs from the Radiant Kingdom are here too," he muttered.


    Mixed with the sounds of combat were familiar voices—voices of the knights he had trusted his life to. They were now groveling to the enemy, mocking him, their emperor, with vile words to curry favor.


    Maximilian''s hands trembled with rage, his eyes ablaze with madness. Even the knights, whom he had unwaveringly trusted, had betrayed him. Consumed by his fury, he began to roar.


    "Treacherous, spineless scum! Have you forgotten your oaths of loyalty to me, your emperor? Bowing to foreign powers and turning against your master? Traitors, cursed flatterers!"


    There was nothing more he could do. The weight of betrayal and despair pressed down on him like a crushing boulder. The knowledge that there was nowhere to flee, no loyal followers to depend on, suffocated him.


    With eyes alight with insanity, Maximilian strode across the chamber. The dazzling light from the chandeliers couldn''t mask the shadow darkening his face.


    He paused before the fireplace, reaching for a hidden lever embedded in the wall above it. His fingers hesitated momentarily, the cold metal biting into his skin. Then, following the predetermined sequence, he turned the lever. A low rumble filled the room as the fireplace slid back, revealing a secret passageway. The massive wall creaked and groaned, the sound echoing ominously in the stillness of the chamber.


    Before him lay a passage leading to a hidden chamber. For years, it had been the sanctuary promising him eternal life and youth. Now, it resembled the gaping maw of a monstrous creature.


    Maximilian''s expression hardened. He turned to the concubines, who were trembling in fear, their faces pale. The women who once smiled sweetly and whispered soft words of comfort now cowered, their beauty marred by terror.


    He felt a twisted satisfaction at their fear.


    The air in the room grew tense, suffused with a palpable dread. At the same time, the protective barrier surrounding the chamber began to crack, faint lines spreading like a spider''s web.


    Maximilian drew a deep breath, suppressing his roiling emotions. His hand gestured toward the concubines, his expression demanding compliance.