Read Novel Full Chapter 887: The Emperor’s Firmness
Chapter 887: The Emperor’s Firmness
Roswell fell silent. He hadn’t expected Ragan to say something so cold.
He hadn’t abandoned Cedric. On the contrary, he had done everything in his power to free him. Unfortunately, all his efforts had been in vain.
Cedric’s crimes were simply too grave. Even as prime minister, there was nothing he could do.
"The trial will be held in five days. I’ve already reviewed all the evidence against him." Ragan let out a mocking laugh. "I have to admit, your nephew truly is remarkable. He even dared to sign a cooperation agreement with Jakes to support the slave trade. From that deal alone, he received hundreds of millions of Sharn."
Ragan deliberately referred to Cedric as "your nephew" because, in his eyes, Cedric’s actions reflected directly on Roswell.
In other words, no matter what Cedric did, Roswell could never completely distance himself from it.
Roswell felt a surge of frustration, but he had nothing to say. In everyone’s eyes—including Ragan’s—Cedric’s actions were inseparable from Roswell’s influence as his uncle.
Even if he denied having anything to do with it, no one would believe him.
"Your Majesty," Roswell said respectfully, clasping his hands together and bowing his head slightly. "Can you show Cedric mercy?"
"Mercy?" Ragan raised an eyebrow. "Didn’t I already tell you? His crimes are grave. You know me better than anyone, Roswell. I despise the slave trade."
One of the first things Ragan had done after ascending the throne was abolish slavery throughout the empire.
He despised slavery with all his heart because he had witnessed firsthand just how cruel and tragic the lives of slaves truly were.
He had not hesitated to allocate a massive portion of the imperial budget to eradicate slavery throughout the empire.
Although he faced fierce opposition from slave traders at the time, he paid them no mind.
He was the emperor, and his word was absolute.
What he had never expected was that his second son—the one he had always been so proud of—would become involved in such a vile scheme.
It was impossible for him not to feel disappointed.
"Your Majesty, Cedric made a terrible mistake. But he is still your son," Roswell pleaded. "At the very least, please don’t punish him too harshly."
Ragan let out a cold snort.
"So what if he’s my son? A crime is still a crime. Besides, he’s a prince who bears great responsibility, yet he chose to abuse his authority. Do you really think I can simply ignore that?"
Roswell frowned. He hadn’t expected Ragan to remain so resolute, even when it came to his own son.
He had to find another way to save his nephew.
"Your Majesty—"
Before he could finish speaking, the throne room doors were thrown open, and a beautiful woman wearing glasses rushed inside.
"Your Majesty! I demand justice!"
The woman cried out hysterically.
Ragan glanced at her coldly. She was his first concubine—and Cedric’s mother—Cassandra.
"Why are you causing such a commotion? Didn’t the Kleith family teach you any manners?"
Ragan’s icy words made Cassandra freeze. Only then did she realize how reckless she had been.
As she looked up, she noticed her older brother standing beside the emperor.
Roswell met her eyes and gave a subtle shake of his head. Snapping out of her daze, Cassandra quickly lowered her head and bowed to Ragan.
"Concubine Cassandra humbly requests permission to speak, Your Majesty," she said respectfully, though her voice was hoarse.
Ragan gave a slight wave of his hand.
"Speak. What is it you want?"
Cassandra looked up, her voice trembling.
"Y-Your Majesty, please save my son, Cedric! He’s being held in the northern region! Please... don’t let him suffer!"
Tears welled in her eyes, which made her look even more pitiful.
Cedric was her only son. When she heard he’d been arrested, it was like her heart had been ripped out of her chest.
She never thought he’d end up in a situation like this. Just thinking about it filled her with grief and helplessness.
Ragan rested his cheek against his right palm.
"Do you know why he was arrested?"
Cassandra froze. The color drained from her face. She didn’t know the reason.
The only thing she had heard was that Cedric had been arrested by the imperial authorities.
"You don’t know, do you?" Ragan said with a mocking smile. "Your son, Cedric, has committed one of the gravest crimes in the empire. He’s involved in a slave-trading operation."
Cassandra’s eyes widened. Her body stiffened, and her breathing gradually became uneven.
"W-What are you saying, Your Majesty?" she cried in disbelief. "Cedric is involved in a slave-trading operation?"
"That’s right." Ragan gave a slight nod. "One of his supporters in the battle for the throne, Jakes, runs several illegal businesses in the northern region. One of them is the slave trade. And your beloved son, Cedric, approved the expansion of Jakes’s slave-trading network under the guise of opening a restaurant branch called Mermaid’s Tears. You graduated at the top of the Imperial Academy, Cassandra, so you should understand just how serious this matter is, shouldn’t you?"
Cassandra’s face turned deathly pale, as if every drop of blood had drained from it.
She staggered back a few steps, clutching her head.
"It... it can’t be... Cedric would never do something like that..."
Yet no matter how desperately she tried to deny it, the words had come from her own husband. Deep down, she knew they had to be true.
As the top graduate of the Imperial Academy decades ago, she understood better than anyone how serious this crime was.
Cedric’s case wasn’t just about his involvement in the slave trade. He was also accused of abusing his authority as a prince.
There were only two punishments awaiting him—exile or... death.
"No! Your Majesty!"
She looked up, tears streaming down her face.
"P-Please spare Cedric! H-He’s still young. Everyone makes mistakes, don’t they? P-Please... please don’t punish him..."
Cassandra lowered herself to the floor. Then, before Ragan and Roswell, she prostrated herself until her forehead touched the ground.
Her humble posture showed just how desperate she was.
Ragan’s expression turned complicated. No matter what had happened between them, Cassandra was still his wife, and Cedric was still his son.
But before he was a father, he was the emperor.
He had to be fair. Otherwise, he would betray the oath he had sworn before the entire empire when he ascended the throne.
Ragan glanced at Roswell beside him and gave him a meaningful look.
Understanding what he meant, Roswell immediately walked down the steps of the throne and approached Cassandra, who was still kneeling on the floor. He gently helped her to her feet.
When Cassandra realized who was helping her up, she looked at him in surprise.
"B-Brother?"
"Enough," Roswell said coldly.
Cassandra, who had feared him since childhood, immediately lowered her head.
Roswell turned toward Ragan and gave a respectful bow before leading Cassandra out of the throne room.
Cassandra was clearly unwilling to give up. She kept pleading with Ragan, but all she got in return was cold silence.
After they had left, Ragan closed his eyes and called out, "Orion."
Whoosh!
Orion appeared beside him and immediately bowed.
"How may I assist you, Your Majesty?"
Ragan suppressed the anger welling up inside him before asking,
"Tell me. Who ordered the Phantom Guard to capture Cedric in the northern region?"
Orion remained silent for a moment before replying in a trembling voice, "It was... Prince Nolan."