Psychotic Interest (2)

Arden Licovich Palatine, was the current emperor of Harchen Empire who ascended the throne at the age of 28 when the former Emperor died from a curse. He was currently 35 this year and twenty years older than his younger brother.

Arden was also known as Emperor Light because he is one of the rare light mages in the Empire and possibly one of the best rulers in history.

According to the novel, Emperor Arden wasn't interested in being a ruler because he preferred making money and conducting businesses. Politics was a place that stressed and sucked the life out of him so he at a young age, has already planned to pave the way for his younger brother, Agnus.

Thinking simply, Arden who wasn't interested in ruling the throne and wants to be a businessman, plans to dump the monarch title towards the oblivious Agnus.

Who would have expected that his younger brother was also thinking the same thing? Agnus, who was not interested in the throne has painstakingly schemed to make sure his older brother became the Emperor.

Agnus Scelles Palatine, a genius mage who prefers to haul himself inside a library and conduct magic research, was Arden's younger brother.

He was an individual who only cares about magic development and research.

When the two brothers found out about each others' plans, it was young Agnus who threw a large tantrum and disappeared for two years. Eventually, the former Emperor died at a young age due to a curse and Arden was forced to ascend the throne.

Aside from minor problems regarding nobility, his path was paved smoothly for him by Agnus, who worked behind the scenes and had the backing of the Mage Tower.

When Arden's authority has finally settled throughout the Empire, Agnus came back and mockingly said, "Big brother, I did great, right? So don't die and continue ruling as the king. Paperwork is something I can't deal with. You have to live up until 100 so that my life will remain peaceful. "

Arden was so angry when he came back that the palace was a chaos for three days and three nights.

"You still have the guts to say that, you brat?!"

But as time passed by, Arden gradually resigned to his fate of being the Emperor. Although his brother was smart and powerful, Agnus didn't care about the Empire.

He somehow cares about Arden but this only stems on the idea that if Arden was gone, Agnus might be forced to rule. Arden was Agnus' insurance.

Right now, Arden was married to Empress Ilyah. They were betrothed at a young age, got married early and gave birth to a son early. This was due to the former Emperor's urging and to secure the royal family's bloodline.

Arden's son was Leopold Ernis Palatine who was nine this year. He was the Emperor's only son.

Although Agnus shouldn't have been worried of being next in line for the throne due to Leopold's existence, reality was quite different. Arden didn't think that his son, Leopold, was fit to be a ruler.

Leopold was weak, timid and didn't have the iron will that a ruler must have. He was too soft and too kind, an easy prey that could be eaten and broken. If he were to ascend the throne, the empire would continue to decline.

Which is why if something were to happen to Arden, Agnus would end up being the next Emperor.

Unfortunately, Agnus who cares about nothing but magic deliberately ruined his own reputation and made people think he was a crazy psychopath who was only arrogant because his brother was the Emperor.

Arden was at his wit's end due to this so he finally resigned to his fate and assumed the position of Emperor, both in his heart and mind. Because his younger brother was a selfish brat who only cares about what he wants, the burden of the whole empire and its citizens fell on Arden.

Meanwhile, Agnus worked behind the scenes as Lord Reinstrom and made sure that his brother's ruling was smooth, discreetly eliminating those people who made it hard for Arden.

Some would assume that this was brotherly love but this was really just Agnus being too selfish.

At the present date, Agnus still prefers to masquerade as Lord Reinstrom because he was able to do anything and everything he wants without people bothering him.

Well, aside from the old geezer who illegally experiments on humans and the Mage Council who fusses over everything, no one really dares to cross Agnus when he was Lord Reinstrom.

Now that the old geezer was gone, the Mage Council was bound to be in quite a shock.

Naturally, since Agnus did the dirty work and got rid of one of Arden and the Empire's many problems, it was Arden's time to shine and recommend the position of Tower Master to him infront of the group of old hags.

This was why the two were alone in Arden's office.

Arden was once again feeling an indescribable headache while the selfish Agnus didn't care and handed over the evidence, intending to leave without a report.

"You are so... You think I'm going to let you dump this paperwork on me? " Arden murmured while massaging his temples. The news of the Tower Master and the Mage Tower conducting human experiments were a shock to him.

The Mage Tower has always been reputable in the Empire. If word got out that people were being experimented on to further magic development, the citizens would go on a riot.

And the brat Agnus, his younger brother, killed the mastermind already.

"Big brother, I've done the physical work, you should do the written and oral now. Ah, and recommend me to be the next Tower Master. I'm going to perform a thorough cleaning on my new home and redecorate the place."

His new home being the 'Mage Tower'.

Arden sighed.

"It's not easy to explain this to the people. Not to mention you killed Rogen without letting him confess his crimes in public."

"The only thing I know is that Master died because he was ridden with guilt for all the crimes he did!"

Arden looked at his younger brother who was saying this in a nonchalant voice.

He couldn't help but sigh again.

'More paperwork..'

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