Isekai Tyrant

Chapter XI - The Plot at Hand

The only skill Cadmael had with a slight advantage over Alastair was his skill in martial arts, especially his swordsmanship.

So to secure his grip on the title as crown prince, Cadmael joined the Imperial Knight's Order and started to serve in the empire's wars from the young age of fourteen.

Four years later, Alastair joined him.

In two years, Alastair achieved more in the battlefields than Cadmael could do in six years. And just like that, Alastair was made crown prince by the emperor when he returned from the war with a grand procession.

The following year, Alexander arranged The Flower Parade for his victorious son. Of all eligible ladies that were examined, it was the novel's heroine and protagonist Princess Roselle Briar Dubois of the Silva vassal kingdom who won as his fiancé.

Naturally, Cadmael was furious. Cadmael is older and became of marriageable age earlier than Alastair. The act of his father could only mean one thing- he never intended for him to be the next emperor.

Cadmael murdered Queen Diane while the two were conversing over some tea. The scene of his dead mother's corpse with a chest pierced from Cadmael's sword was seen by Alastair.

The palace was thrown into chaos. By the time the news of the queen's death reached Alexander, he and Cadmael had already faced each other in the vast throne room. It wasn't written what exchanged between them, but when Alastair bursted through the doors, his father had already bled to death whilst on the throne as Cadmael stood before him with bloody sword at hand.

Alastair and Cadmael fought over the throne. Both figuratively and literally. I mean, they were at the throne room after all.

In the end, Cadmael won through foul play. Alastair fled the palace bearing a greater hatred for his brother than ever. As he fled, he left behind his sword.

Many nobles and vassal kingdoms were displeased, including Roselle's kingdom. Through the first two years of his reign, Cadmael dealt with constant rebellion. During this turbulent time, he had also murdered his mother by poison.

He killed the king and queen of the Silva kingdom, and installed a puppet king which was Roselle's uncle. Her brother who was a close friend of Alastair, had also fled to avoid execution and settle score at a later time.

After Cadmael had tightened his iron hold or crushed every opposing domain, he then turned his swords for the glory of conquest. In the next three years, the world was beset with a series of wars waged by the bloodthirsty emperor.

It wasn't explicitly stated in the novel, but it was implied that over the course of his wicked rule, Cadmael slowly sunk deeper into his insanity.

The long disappearance of Alastair had people's tongues wagging that he had already long died. But there were still many supporters who hoped for his return and save them from the tyrannical Cadmael.

Because Cadmael is the only member of the imperial family that is definitely known to be alive, his council pressured him to marry and secure an heir.

As such, The Flower Parade begins once again.

Alastair hid in the Silva Kingdom behind a disguise and a new name. He entered the kingdom's royal knights until he ascended the ranks into one of its top knights. In the background, he schemed to break the Augustin empire from the inside and bring Cadmael down. His mind was gripped with hate, revenge was the only thing left in his mind.
Consequently, Roselle grieved for the loss of her family. Unable to handle the painful memories, bullying of her cousins, and the threat of possible marriage with Cadmael, she ran away.