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DevilDarkness#0506

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In the afternoon Rio was walking in the Royal garden, enjoying the scenery while observing all the statues and pillars made on the boundary. Every statue had a stone slab near them, on which some stuff was written related to that person. For some it was their biggest achievements, while some had recorded their speeches or decisions that affected the empire. Even though the opportunity he was looking for wasn't made for him, but he still wanted to look for the clues, just cause it looked fun to solve the puzzle. He can also help Bernhardt a little if he found any clue sooner, but till now he had no luck.

It was tiring, yes, but he had nothing better to do with his time. Since he woke up late, he couldn't sleep in the daytime. He had no training since he was a guest here and was told to relax. Amelia was busy catching up with Rebecca, and everytime Rio met her now, he got ignored as soon as she started chatting up with her friend again. Bernhardt had some classes for him, Alfred was the same too. Ladies around the house were busy preparing for the grand celebration which would take place a day later for Becca's birthday. Esme and Myra were probably meeting with other royal guards and busy preparing for the outside visit that Rebecca advised that we will all go around the Haven city in the evening.Thus left alone bored in his room, Rio got out and started playing around with this puzzle.

It wasn't the only opportunity placed in the royal palace, as Rio already found 2 other things that he could take before others, but he didn't make any move on them and ignored them. Not because of any bullshit excuse of following the plot or something, but just cause he had a feeling some little eyes around the mansion were always watching his every action, and after what happened at the teleportation gate with Athena and Psyche, he didn't want to draw any more unwanted attention to him unnecessarily. Those things would still be there, waiting for him to come and pick them up for a long time, and he just has to be patient and get them when he's better prepared.

"From the blood in my bones, to the blade in my hands, everything I have is for this kingdom, and I will die a thousand times before I let any one of you pass through me."

Rio was busy reading up the story, when he heard someone reciting the lines written on the stone for him. He turned around and saw the king standing there behind him. He bowed as a courtesy and greeted him "Your majesty."

"You know, he is one of my favorites among my ancestors."magic

"King Casimir."

"Yes, he was the 3rd ruler after the formation of Schilla. And his reign was probably in the most troubled times. It was when new towers started emerging around the world, destroying the momentary peace that emerged after the emergence.

Casimir lost his father when he was 12 years old and he succeeded to the throne at the age of 9.

"He didn't even have his awakening ceremony when people expected him to lead them and save them from the unexpected. And yet he fulfilled his duties."

"He sounds like a good ruler." Rio said, clearly impressed by the story. Since he knew the plota and had read some books about the past, he could guess how messy that period must've been.

"He was. Casimir was the one who led everyone and joined the first adventure inside the towers. Instead of hiding in his palace, and giving out orders from the background, he preferred to stay at the forefront and charge forward. The lines I said were what he spoke while fighting against a horde of demons and monsters alone. He was the one who risked his life and brought peace to the empire again.

'Hero of hope' that was what people used to call him back then. If you roam around the Haven, you'll still see some families worshiping him like he was their God." Maximus finished his story, and Rio could just nod his head in return.

Rio wasn't as good as Athena when it came to reading people, but he could still see that Maximus held deep respect for the past king from the way he spoke about him. And he too quite liked this guy, he sounds like an awesome king. And according to the details of the novel, he was. Casimir was probably the bravest king, who only ever had love for Schilla in his heart. Hero of hope, what a suitable title for a guy like him.

If not for how much he suffered in his life, Rio had doubted if the man was a protagonist from all the achievements he had. But knowing his ending Rio was sure he was anything but the protagonist. Man was born with the golden spoon and black luck.

'But worry not. You'll be in good hands in the future.' Rio thought, remembering the slight suffering that still awaited the guy, whom even death couldn't free from the burdens.

"He was the nicest king among all my ancestors, strongest too. But do you know how he died?" King Maximus asked and Rio shook his head. "It wasn't the claws of a demon or fangs of a monster that ripped his heart. He was killed by his own people, people whom he protected standing in front of them, were the ones who stabbed his back."

Hearing his words which obviously were considered a secret knowledge among a select few, Rio met the King's gaze who finally looked away from the statue for the first time and turned to him. "He was killed because he solved all the outside threats but ignored the troubles brewing in his backyard. His most trusted advisor was the one who killed him and he could do nothing."

"Et tu, Brute?" Rio muttered the words the author of the story took an inspiration from. The fall of Julius Caesar, the king who was killed by his own chosen senators led by his own dear friend Brutus.

"Did you say something?" Maximus asked as he heard his words, but couldn't understand what it meant.

ƥαṇdαs ηθνε| Rio, coming back to reality, looked at the king, and finally decided to have the talk, "I asked, what you've been trying to hint at, your majesty. I'm sure this story wasn't just for my history lesson, but you, meaning to say something. So why don't you clear the air and explain what you meant?"

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A/N - Et tu Brute, is a roman saying which means you too, Brutus. These were the last words of Julius Ceaser when he found himself getting killed by all his trusted subordinates.