Even Though I Defeated the Demon Lord, My Wife and Daughter Treat Me Like Trash ~ I Found Out My Wife's Child Isn't Mine, and When I Confronted Her, She Got Mad and I Was Exiled. The Country's in Trouble Because the Demon Lord Came Back? Sorry, I'm Getting Remarried to a Princess, So I Can't Help. - Chapter 16: The Letter

Chapter 16: The Letter

It’s been a while since I’ve had a meal with Karnak.

Back when I lived with him and Old Man Barnes, it was Karnak who always prepared the meals.

Tonight’s menu was filled with my favorite dishes—and in large quantities.

“I’m happy to have your homemade cooking again, but I don’t know if I can eat all this.”

“You need to eat well to stay strong. You’re a bit thinner than you were two years ago.”

Well, the weight loss was mostly due to learning about Camilla’s betrayal. I could barely bring myself to eat after that…

But the familiar smell of the dishes I’d eaten since childhood stirred my appetite.

After a quick prayer, I took my first bite.

“Karnak, your cooking is as delicious as ever.”

“Haha… actually, this is Lady Liberka’s recipe.”

“My mother’s?”

“Yes. Before I lived with you and Barnes, I had never cooked before. But Lady Liberka gave me her recipes, and I tried to recreate the meals I remembered sharing with Emperor Vildreft.”

“I see, so this is my mother’s cooking.”

As I savored the food, chewing slowly to fully appreciate the taste, I decided to ask Karnak something that had been on my mind.

“I understand what happened to my father, but what about my mother? Why did she…?”

“…It was a combination of things—her poor health after childbirth, the stress from Emperor Vildreft’s assassination, and an outbreak of disease. We tried everything, but the treatments couldn’t save her…”

“I see… So, I understand why you raised me because of your connection with my father, but why was Old Man Barnes involved?”

“Lady Liberka… was Old Man Barnes’ adopted daughter. They weren’t related by blood.”

“Wait, his daughter!?”

“Yes. I don’t know all the details, but that’s what I was told.”

An adopted daughter, huh?

Maybe it’s similar to my situation with Emilia.

There’s so much I didn’t know.

“So, I guess that makes me Old Man Barnes’ adopted grandson.”

“…Yes, that’s right. By the way, Van.”

“What is it?”

“Are you really sure about this? Revealing your origins and aiming for power just for revenge… I won’t stop you, but there’s no turning back once you do.”

…Karnak’s words were probably right.

With everything happening so suddenly, I wasn’t thinking entirely rationally.

The son of the former emperor.

If someone like that suddenly appeared, it would cause all kinds of reactions.

Would everyone welcome me? If I’m honest… probably not.

Especially those who see themselves as the next emperor—they’ll no doubt see me as a serious threat.

—But I just can’t forgive them.

My wife of ten years had been betraying me all along.

And not just any betrayal—it was a conspiracy with someone I considered a friend.

Even if I try to forget, this humiliation will surely haunt me again and again.

More than that, there’s something suspicious about Albert.

It’s not just this betrayal—there’s something else that doesn’t sit right.

I feel like I have to do something about him.

“I’m ready.”

“I see. Understood. I’ll reach out to my old connections. But be prepared for things to take unexpected turns. Lord Jamirat was deeply devoted to Emperor Vildreft… but power changes people. In the worst case, he might see you as a threat and try to eliminate you.”

“Well, if it comes to that, I’ll just have to use force. I’ll return to the kingdom… and take my revenge directly on those who set me up.”

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

It’s been a few days since I arrived at Karnak’s house.

It seems Karnak reached out to some of his old connections and sent a letter to Emperor Jamirat.

While waiting for a reply, there wasn’t much for me to do, so I spent the time listening to Karnak share memories about my parents.

After keeping these secrets for decades, it felt like he was finally letting it all out, especially how highly he thought of my father.

My father lived modestly, always prioritizing the well-being of the empire’s people.

He worked tirelessly, often sacrificing sleep, and would even go out in disguise to listen to the concerns of the common people, using that to shape his policies.

Being an emperor sounded like a tough job, especially for someone with such a strong sense of responsibility.

I also spent some time exploring the imperial capital, trying to familiarize myself with the layout of the city and enjoying a rare bit of freedom.

For the past ten years, I had been working non-stop, hunting down remnants of the Demon Lord’s army.

Just when I thought I could rest, I was exiled from my country.

Not having anything urgent to do felt strange.

Then, just as I was thinking that, Karnak spoke up.

“Van, we received a reply from Emperor Jamirat.”

“And what does it say?”

“He wants to meet privately, not publicly.”