Game of the Monarch

When she gave birth to a son, the Empress believed he would definitely become the crown prince. Even if he wasn’t the eldest son, he was her son, the blood son of the Empress while Yushin was just the son of a low-level maid. She didn’t think the two of them were comparable.

However, the Emperor strictly adhered to the rule where the eldest son would succeed the throne. The Empress was greatly disappointed by that and began to regard Yushin, the Crown Prince, as a thorn in her eye.

Yushin’s childhood was filled with countless assassination attempts; at some point, he couldn’t trust anyone and couldn’t recklessly put anything in his mouth. If he wasn’t always suspicious and wary, then he couldn’t survive.

Feeling threatened by Yushin’s persistent survival, the Empress sent him to the northern front. The northern front of the Jae Nation was the frontline facing a dense forest where the barbaric minority and the evildoers lived. 

It was a front that needed to be maintained in order to protect the country. It was also a front that was never ending. It was a front that was so dangerous that there were even talks of sending the most dangerous criminals in order to use them, but that was where the Empress sent the Crown Prince.

At that time, Yushin was only ten years old. She told everyone that it was for him to show the dignity and dedication of the Imperial Family to the people, but the Empress only had one real reason - go and die there. However, this was the Empress’s big mistake.

Yushin did not die. No, not only did he not die, but he created his own power in the north. 

After serving on the northern front for seven years, he trained himself to become a powerful man worthy of being called a fully fledged warrior and subjugated fifteen barbarian tribes that posed a threat to the northern front. The decisive blow was when he stopped the living calamity known as the Giant Mountain Dragon. 

The Giant Mountain Dragon was a massive earth dragon that was more than 500 meters long. It was a giant dragon that woke up every 200 to 300 years, but its existence had been a headache for the Jae Nation for a very long time. 

Once it woke up from its hibernation and began to move around, it caused tremendous amounts of damage. However, it didn’t directly attack humans. For the Giant Mountain Dragon, humans were no different than bugs that were crushed under its foot. But, it was so big that by just moving, farmlands were destroyed, villages were obliterated and castles were crushed. Simply put, it was a walking disaster.

200,000 troops had to be organized and thoroughly prepared in order to stop this giant dragon from advancing. And at the cost of the soldiers’ lives, the northern front would buy enough time for the 200,000 troops to do just that. 

However, Yushin stopped the Giant Mountain Dragon. He led the soldiers as well as the fifteen tribes that had submitted to him and inflicted great damage on the Giant Mountain Dragon. At the very last moment, Yushin cut through one of its eyes and with a roar, the dragon turned its giant body and fled back into its cave. 

From that point on, Yushin became a hero of the kingdom. It was the first time in the history of the Jae Nation where the country hadn’t been devastated despite the Giant Mountain Dragon waking up.

Now, Yushin was a Crown Prince who was enthusiastically supported by the citizens and had received the sworn loyalty of the elite troops stationed in the northern front.

The Empress had gritted her teeth. It was obvious what the fate of her son and herself would be if Yushin was the Crown Prince. 

The position of an Emperor wasn’t one where he could leave his rival alone. And considering the hostility and all the scheming she had done behind the scenes, death was inevitable. 

In the end, the Empress made one last move. She contacted a coven of witches in the remote southern region and asked them for a curse. However, the recipient of the curse wasn’t Yushin. Afterall, a truly strong warrior could overcome a curse and the Empress believed Yushin was definitely capable of doing that. But could the warrior’s family do the same?

It was Yushin’s mother that the Empress cursed. When he heard that his mother had collapsed, he rushed back to the palace in a hurry.

And there, the Empress made a deal with him: Leave this country.

Yushin had become someone that she couldn’t kill even if she wanted to. He had both the Emperor’s favor and the people’s admiration as well as strong military backing. The capital’s political realm also recognized Yushin as the next emperor and had begun to stand behind him. 

At this point, if Yushin were to die, those involved in his death would face the same ending. That was why the Empress didn’t kill him and made him leave on his own. To leave behind the treasured weapon, Cloud Dragon Blade and leave the Imperial Palace, that was her condition. Since the weapon served as a guide, it would inform others of the owner's status. In other words, if the weapon was left in the palace, it couldn't be proven if Yushin was alive or dead.

Yushin had no other choice but to accept the Empress’s proposal. He had never longed for the Emperor’s position in the first place. He had just done his best to survive and this had been the result.

But now, because of his current position, his mother might die… He felt like everything was futile. Now that things had gotten to this point, doing his utmost to survive these past years seemed to have been in vain.

In the end, Yushin accepted the Empress’s proposal and left the Southern Continent on a boat with those she had gathered in advance. Later on, they handed him over to the Ghosts and he had lived helplessly until he met Elizabeth.

***

“...This is my story.”

Milton frowned after he heard everything from him.

“You… Are you trying to ask me for advice?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I heard that you had also established your position on your own and rose to the throne. Please, advise me on the way forward.”

That was why he had cooperated with Elizabeth after hearing her talk about Milton. Yushin thought that Milton would tell him what he should do since Milton had been in a similar position as himself before. 

However, after listening to Yushin, Milton looked as if he thought it was ridiculous.

“What a load of bullshit to act pitiful after giving up so easily when you had both talent and a golden spoon.” 

“Your Majesty?”

Yushin was flustered. Although there were some words he didn’t understand, it seemed as though Milton found him to be pathetic. 

“You and I are the same? Don’t make me laugh. If you were in my shoes, you’d have died much sooner.”

“Dad, say something nice.”

Elizabeth stepped in from the side, but Milton merely shrugged.

“Daughter, I can only say nice things if there’s anything good to talk about.” 

“......”

Elizabeth puffed up her cheeks, but surprisingly, Milton ignored her pouting and spoke to Yushin.

“You and I are different. Do you know how?”

“I’m...not sure, Your Majesty.”

“I’m a hero who lived carrying all the burdens that I ever had and you’re a selfish person who knows nothing but himself even though you’ve been blessed with circumstances and talent.”

“......”

Yushin frowned.

“What you said… is difficult to accept. I have never lived for myself.”

Yushin was sure about that. 

If he truly was a selfish human being as Milton said, then he would have triumphed over the Empress on a political front and had her killed. And even when his mother had been in danger, he would have closed his eyes and sacrificed her for his ambition. 

But what value would there be in a throne when he had to trample on others and shed the blood of his blood relatives? That was why he had withdrawn. So why did he have to listen to someone calling him selfish?

Milton spoke.

“The reason you’re selfish is because you’ve only done what you wanted to do.”

“...Your Majesty?”

Milton continued, “I don’t want to face my stepmother, so let’s just go to the battlefield. I’ve been living in a war zone but my mother’s been taken hostage, so let’s just submit.”

At Milton’s words, Yushin’s expression hardened. 

Milton looked him straight in the eye as he continued to talk.

“You’ve just chosen the easy path each time, didn’t you? That is the height of selfishness.”

“Then what should I have done? Should I have started a civil war?”

“If it was me, I would have been smarter about it but... well, bluntly put, that’s one way.”

“Grand Duke, now I see that you’re the type of person that I despise the most. Have you always been an authoritarian who would step all over people as long as it’s for power?”

“Yeah, I’m an authoritarian. So what?”

“...Ha?”

Yushin’s contempt only grew at Milton’s calm admission, however, he became speechless with Milton’s following words.

“Then I’ll ask you. Do you think your people will be okay while you’re like this?”

“......”

Yushin was silent. 

Milton had pointed out something he had never even thought about. 

“I don’t know the situation in your country, but… just because the Empress removed you from her sight doesn’t mean that everything is over. She’ll most likely need to put a knife against the people who were supporting you. That’s the only way she’ll regain power.”

It was true. The Empress that Yushin knew really would do that.

“I know you suffered quite a lot at a young age. However, the process of surviving through that hardship and making numerous contributions weren’t done by yourself.”

Yushin’s eyes widened. 

“Some may have sacrificed their lives to fight for you, and others may have devoted their entire lives to serve you as their master. Don’t you agree?’

Yushin immediately recalled his subordinates who shared his joy and sorrow on the northern front.

[Your Highness! Please go on ahead, I’ll stop them.]

[You must survive, Your Highness. You must survive now for the next time.]

[I’ll buy some time. Escort His Highness away!]

The northern front was hell itself. And in that hell, Yushin had suffered numerous defeats and life threatening crises. And each time, there had been subordinates who sacrificed their lives so that he wouldn’t have to. They had all been willing to give up their lives in order to save him. They all hoped that Yushin would become the Emperor and change the Jae Nation. 

As he saw Yushin’s complexion getting darker, Milton got to the point. 

“Aren’t you ashamed to face them?”

“......”

Yushin could only close his eyes tightly. The phrase, ‘Even if he had ten mouths, he couldn’t say anything,’ seemed to have been made for this moment. After a long while, Yushin slowly spoke.

“Your Majesty… What would you have done?”

Milton answered the question without hesitation.

“I’d have carried them all.”

“All of them, Your Majesty?”

“That’s right. Their lives, their dreams, their futures, and even their families’ resentments… I would have lived carrying all that.”

“......”

“That’s why I wouldn’t have been able to give up and I couldn’t have lost. My loss would also have been the loss of my friends who gave everything to me.”

“......”

“What do you think now? Do you still think We. Are. The. Same?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

Yushin shook his head. He and Milton were different. They were so different he couldn’t help but wonder how two humans could be so different.

Milton stood up.

“Since my daughter said to say something nice… I’ll say just one thing.”

“I’ll listen carefully.”

Milton spoke to Yushin, whose eyes were wide and somber.

“If you give up, that’s where the game ends.”

“...Game, Your Majesty?”

“It’s just something. Never mind. Anyway… damn it, it’s a really great saying.”

Yushin gave a bitter smile as he watched Milton grumble.

“I think I understand what you mean, Your Majesty.”

“That’s good then.”

When Milton left, Yushin crumpled as if he had lost all his strength.”

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m al… no. Actually, I’m not. I feel like I’ve been psychologically beaten up.”

“Dad, you’re too much… He’s usually not that stern.”

“Because of that, I’ve gotten a lot of help.”

Then, Yushin looked Elizabeth straight in the eyes.

“Elizabeth.”

“W… What?”

Fluster, Elizabeth blushed. Yushin spoke to her.

“I must return to my country.”

“......”

This time, Elizabeth felt like she was drained of energy.

***

A few weeks later.

With Empress Leila’s cooperation, Yushin boarded the ship captained by Robin.

“If you take this ship, you’ll easily reach the Southern Continent. On your way, I’d like you to stop by the witch’s territory and deliver my letter to Bianca Cornelius. The curse on your mother will be broken then.”

“I am indebted to your grace, Your Imperial Majesty.”

Yushin took the letter from Leila with both hands.

Then, he looked around before smiling bitterly.

‘She didn’t come.’

Elizabeth couldn’t be seen amongst the people who had gathered to say their farewells. 

Leila spoke when she saw him looking like that.

“My daughter asked me to deliver a message.”

“What is it, Your Majesty?”

“3 years.”

“......”

“I don’t know what it means, but she said you would understand.”

“Yes… it’s enough.”

A smile graced Yushin’s mouth.

And he boarded the ship without hesitation.

‘3 years… I better hurry.’

***

Turning back the time… a few weeks ago.

Right after the conversation with Milton, Yushin had said he would be returning to his country. As Elizabeth felt herself drained of energy, she realized something at the same time.

‘Ah… I… this man…’

The moment she realized this, tears began to drop from her eyes. She had known that all first loves end in failure, but she had never thought that it would occur to her, Elizabeth von Lester, as well.

At that moment, Yushin spoke.

“I will return to my country, take back my place, and set the country to rights. And then…”

Yushin continued with a nervous look.

“After that, will you become my wife?”

“......”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened. Once the shock had passed, she turned shy like any other girl would as she nodded softly.

“Yes.”

Yushin pulled her into his arms and embraced her.

***

“Older sister? You’re not seeing him off?”

Sabria spoke to Elizabeth as they watched the ship leave from atop a wall. Elizabeth smiled at her younger sister.

“You don’t have to worry.”

“Why no?”

“Because we’ll definitely meet again.”

The story of Elizabeth and Yushin. It would become a love story that was just as long lasting as the story of Milton Forrest and Leila von Lester.

And it had only just begun. 

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Author's Note:

Hello. I'm Shijoon, the author of Game of the Monarch.

I am happy I was able able to share my work with the overseas readers through Wuxiaworld.

Thank you to all the readers who have read and loved my work.

I will do my best to repay your generous love with better works.

Thank you.