The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

Chapter 73 - CYNRIC DE LUNARIS

”HOW was the quarterly meeting?” the Emperor of the Empire asked.

”Same old boring stuff,” Wulfric answered, shrugging. ”If you didnʼt pester my lieutenant to attend, which resulted in him pestering me and even threatening to give me more work, I wouldnʼt have come.”

Cynric chuckled. In the whole Empire, no one dared to talk to him like this. Especially after he became the Emperor. But he didnʼt mind. Wulfricʼs attitude towards him gave him a sense of normalcy. As if he was still the same older brother who took care of him and spoiled him constantly when they were younger.

”Youʼre a general, itʼs only right that you do your duty. And attending the quarterly meeting, no matter how boring, is one of them.”

Wulfric only scoffed. He wanted to say that he didnʼt need that rank and the responsibilities that came with it. He just wanted to fight. To have an outlet for the abundant violent energy inside him. And being a soldier was the perfect solution. But ultimately, he chose not to say it.

He might not need this military rank, but Cynric does. He needed a strong army that would not betray him no matter what. Fenris Squad was that army. With his brother at the very helm, there would be no doubt for their loyalty.

If someone heard that thought, they might laugh at the Emperor. Instead of being too trustful of his brother, he should be guarding against him instead. After all, both of them were still young. How could he be sure that this brother wouldnʼt try to usurp the throne in the future?

Itʼs also one of the reasons why those high-ranking nobles and military officials opposed in promoting Wulfric to a general rank. Because this would give him too much power in his hands. What would they do if he indeed staged a coup dʼétat and seized the throne? They would end up having a tyrannical ruler. They still preferred the calm and gentle Emperor. At least, he was much easier to control.

What they didnʼt know was that Wulfric had no intention of being an Emperor. Why would he do that when he knew how troublesome it was? He didnʼt want to be restrained and the title of the ʼEmperorʼ would surely do that. He was simply not fit for that kind of job. If he ever became an emperor, he was sure that he would drove this Empire to war in no less than a year.

If those people would just look beyond what they see on the surface, then they would see that he was not really interested in that position. But sadly, they couldnʼt get passed this. And all they could see was his violent temper and overwhelming strength.

But Cynric was different. He knew just how much his younger brother hated this position. Thatʼs why heʼs confident that the other wouldnʼt betray him. Besides, even if he was trying to hide it, he knew Wulfric was still feeling guilty about the past. And Cynric had no qualms using that guilt to his advantage.

”Did you accept General Schwartzʼ invitation to attend the opening ceremony of the Imperial Military Academy?” Cynric asked, changing the topic.

Wulfric tsked. ”Are you the one responsible for that?”

”Well, I know it would be hard for you to reject General Schwartz, thatʼs why I asked him. If it was the others, Iʼm sure you would turn down without a second thought,” Cynric admitted honestly.

This was something not many knew, but his younger brother had a hard time dealing with General Schwartz. Probably because when Wulfric was younger – the period when he was very na?ve and innocent, he really looked up to the general like an idol. But if you asked him this now, this younger brother of his would definitely deny it.

Wulfric narrowed his eyes at Cynric. He wanted to threaten him to not do something like this again but he knew the other wouldnʼt listen. So, why should he waste his saliva? Heʼd just make sure not to interact frequently with General Schwarz just in case he fell into his brotherʼs scheming again.

Seeing his brotherʼs reaction, Cynric knew that Wulfric was really annoyed by what he did. So, he said;

”This coming school year would be the 3000th anniversary of the Imperial Military Academy. Itʼs an important year because it also coincided with the year our Moon Empire won the war of the four nations. The students admitted this year were all carefully selected. They would surely be the future pillars of our Empire. If you go and speak during the opening ceremony to welcome these incoming students, it would definitely improve your image among the young cadets.”

Wulfric brows furrowed. Again, with this ʼimageʼ shit. Why were Cynric and Leland so obsessed with that when he, the person involved, didnʼt even care? Besides, how could him speaking during that occasion helped with improving his image? He simply couldnʼt understand the logic of the two.

”Why do I even need to fix my ʼimageʼ?” he said irritably. ”I donʼt need the approval of anyone.”

Cynric sighed. ”I know. But this is important for the future of the Empire. Since I plan to pick the successor to the throne from your line. Itʼs better if your image becomes better. That way, choosing your son as the next Emperor wonʼt face too much opposition.”

Wulfric became even more annoyed hearing that. Now, he regretted coming here even more. ”Are you still talking about that nonsense?”

”Itʼs not nonsense. You know I donʼt plan to marry or even combine my genes with another person to have a child.”

Wulfric, of course, knew why Cynric was saying this. The other had been too emotionally, psychologically, and physically injured by their monster of a father. It left too much of a trauma in him that it was almost a miracle that he could still function today like a normal human being. But still.

”And you think I do?”

Cynric nodded. ”Even if you donʼt have that idea now. There will definitely be a person who would change your mind in the future.”

After his brother said that, a certain image of a black-haired teenager with a pair of big black eyes suddenly appeared in his mind.

Annoyed that he thought of Aster again, he just glared at his brother and walked out of the garden.