Chương 15: Shocking Revelation

--- The night, the downfall of Grand Duke Marcelo's household occurred ---

The night was heavy with silence as Izan made his way through the dimly lit corridors of the Imperial Palace. The flickering torchlight cast long shadows on the stone walls, but Izan moved with the grace of someone who had long mastered the art of stealth. His footsteps were nearly soundless, a testament to both his training and the months of secrecy that had brought him to this moment. For too long, he had been forced to pretend, to feign weakness, to endure humiliation, all in the service of uncovering the truth.

And now, at last, that truth was within his grasp.

When he reached the door to his father's study, Izan paused, his hand hovering over the polished wood. He had prepared for this moment, but the reality of it still sent a surge of adrenaline through his veins. He took a deep breath, steadying himself, and knocked twice, the sound echoing in the stillness.

"Enter," came the deep, weary voice of the Emperor.

Izan pushed the door open and stepped inside, closing it quietly behind him. The Emperor sat behind a grand desk, papers scattered before him, a goblet of wine untouched at his elbow. His face was etched with the strain of leadership, but as soon as his eyes landed on Izan, something shifted.

The Emperor's gaze narrowed, confusion flickering across his features. Izan was standing, fully upright, unaided. The chair he had been confined to for years was absent, as though it had never existed.

"Izan…?" The Emperor's voice was barely more than a whisper, disbelief coloring every word. He shot up from his seat, nearly knocking it over in his haste, and took a few steps closer. "You… you're walking... You can walk?"

Izan met his father's shocked gaze, his expression calm yet intense. "Yes, Father. I can walk."

The Emperor's eyes widened further, his breath catching in his throat. He reached out as if to touch Izan, needing to confirm what he was seeing. His hand trembled slightly as it made contact with Izan's arm, the solidity of his son's form grounding the surreal moment. "How…? What happened? How is this possible?"

Izan placed his hand over his father's, a gesture of reassurance and resolve. "I've been able to walk for some time now," he explained, his voice steady. "After the attack, my injuries were severe, but I recovered. I chose to keep it a secret, to allowed them to think I was crippled so I could uncover the truth without raising suspicion."

The Emperor staggered back a step, his mind racing to catch up with the revelation. "Why… them? why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I needed to uncover the truth, Father," Izan replied, his eyes darkening with the gravity of what he was about to reveal. "The truth about those who seek to destroy our family, to destroy this empire."

The Emperor stared at his son, his emotions warring within him. Relief, confusion, and a deep, gnawing sense of betrayal battled for dominance, but before he could speak, Izan continued.

"There is more," Izan said, his tone darkening as he reached into his tunic and pulled out a stack of neatly folded papers. He placed them on the Emperor's desk with a somber expression. "These are my findings. They concern Grand Duke Marcelo."

The Emperor's face hardened at the mention of Marcelo's name, his gaze snapping to the papers on the desk. "What... What did you discover? "

"I have uncovered proof that Marcelo has committed heinous crimes against this empire and against our family." Izan said, his voice low and deadly. "He framed the Montclair family, leading to their unjust execution. They were innocent, Father, loyal to the late Empress, and Marcelo destroyed them to consolidate his own power."

The Emperor's face drained of color, his legs nearly giving out beneath him as he reached for the edge of the desk to steady himself. "The Montclairs… innocent?" His voice was strangled, disbelief and horror intertwining.

He remembered the Montclairs well, particularly Lady Ireen Montclair, who had been like a sister to the Empress. Their execution had been a scandal that had shaken the empire to its core, and at the time, the evidence against them had seemed damning. But to hear that it had all been a fabrication… the Emperor's hands trembled slightly as he reached for the papers.

"Yes father," Izan continued, his voice growing colder as he recounted the horrors he had uncovered. "The Montclairs, are not the one behind the assassination of the late empress. Marcelo was the one who orchestrated it, and took advantage of your grief to further his own ambitions."

The Emperor's eyes widened in horror, the words hitting him like a physical blow. "No… that's impossible… he wouldn't… it cannot be...." the emperor's voice trembled with emotions.

"He did, Father," Izan interrupted, his voice firm. "I wish it were not true, Father. But the evidence is undeniable. Marcelo has been playing us all, manipulating us from the shadows."

The Emperor's hand clenched into a fist, his knuckles white as he struggled to contain his rage. But it wasn't just anger that coursed through him, it was regret, deep and bitter. He had loved the Montclairs, had trusted Marcelo implicitly, and now he realized that he had been played for a fool.

"I trusted him," the Emperor said, his voice thick with grief. "I trusted him, and I condemned innocent people to death. How could I have been so blind?"

Izan felt a pang of sympathy for his father, but he knew that there was no time for pity. "Father, Marcelo didn't stop with the Montclairs or the Empress. The assassination attempt that left me pretending to be crippled, was all Marcelo."

The Emperor's eyes snapped back to Izan, a new wave of shock and anger washing over him. "Marcelo… tried to kill you?"

"Yes Father." Izan confirmed.

The Emperor's hands shook as he tried to process the enormity of the betrayal. The room spun around him, his heart pounding painfully in his chest. "Marcelo… he… killed my wife? He tried to kill my son? It was too devastating to fully comprehend.

The Emperor's vision blurred with unshed tears, a mix of rage, sorrow, and guilt consuming him. He felt as though his entire world had been shattered, the foundation of his trust crumbling to dust. "This… this cannot stand" he whispered, his voice trembling with the force of his emotions. "He must be executed, and his household must be eradicated. He cannot be allowed to live after what he's done."

Izan nodded, and placed a reassuring hand on his father's shoulder. "And we must also find the Montclair daughter, who was sold off in slavery and restore her honor, if she is still alive."

The Emperor nodded slowly, his eyes filled with a cold resolve. He stood, and for a moment, he looked every inch the ruler he was supposed to be, commanding, decisive, and unwavering. "You are right, Izan. Guards! "

Two guards appeared almost immediately at the door, their expressions alert and ready.

"Send word to the Imperial Court," the Emperor commanded, his voice cold and authoritative. "Duke Marcelo and his entire household are to be executed immediately for treason against the crown. Assemble the council at once."

The guards saluted sharply and rushed off to carry out the orders. The Emperor turned back to Izan, his expression a mix of pride and deep sorrow. "Izan, I'm so sorry. I should have seen the truth. I should have protected you better."

Izan shook his head, his heart heavy with the weight of his father's remorse. "You couldn't have known, Father. Marcelo was a master of deception. But now, we can bring him to justice. And mother can now rest in peace."

The Emperor took a deep, shuddering breath, his shoulders slumping under the weight of his guilt. "The Montclairs… the Empress… how could I have been so blind?"

"Father, we can't change the past," Izan said, his voice softening. "But we can make sure Marcelo pays for what he's done. Let me lead the execution. I want to be the one to end him."

The Emperor looked into his son's eyes, seeing the steely resolve that had carried him through so much. He knew that this was a burden Izan needed to carry, a justice he needed to see through himself. With a heavy heart, he nodded. "Very well, my son. You will lead the execution. Marcelo's life ends tonight."

Izan nodded, a cold fire burning in his chest. He turned on his heel, heading for the door. "I'll make sure it's done. I'll make sure he pays for everything."