[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-reborn-king":3,"chapter-the-reborn-king-the-reborn-king-chapter-387":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Reborn King",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1100844,1437,"Chapter 387: Heading for the Holy Land","the-reborn-king-chapter-387",387,"\u003Cp>Bardas walked through the palace and threw open the doors to the throne room. Seeing Theodosius at the end sitting on his throne, he walked down the long corridor that showed the past glory of the Empire. The states of the previous Emperors looked down upon him with their cold marble eye, judging him and everything that passed them. It was a glorious sight to anyone who laid eyes on it for the first time they saw it, but to Bardas, it was a sign of the decadence and slow collapse of the Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was once fine craftsmanship, showing every minute detail within the statues, slowly deteriorated as the craftsmanship took less and less care in capturing each small detail. From the first Emperor, whose face was filled with arrogance that they had deserved for carving the continent’s mightiest power, he watched as each following state lost the detail that showed what type of man they were, until only empty husks that only existed to follow tradition remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the throne, he wondered if, if he sat on it, he would be able to bring about the glory that they had lost? Would he once again be able to make Severia the undisputed power that it once was? But seeing the man who was the accumulation of decadence on the throne, he doubted it. His father’s reign was strong, but it didn’t lead to the recovery of the past glory. Only the Imperial family was made strong, whilst the rest of the nation crumbled, allowing the rise of men like Magnus to challenge for the top spot openly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bardas cleared his thoughts in his mind and made himself look subservient. Sinking his head into his shoulders and lowering his eyes, he fell to his knees like a scared child and didn’t dare to look up at Theodosius. \"Your Majesty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Theodosius looked down at Bardas with an empty look. \"Rise.\" Bardas waited a second before standing, his head still lowered. \"Is it done?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, Your Majesty. We are just waiting for you to reveal to the world the Maximus family’s betrayal.\" His voice was soft, lacking any of the confidence he used on Juluis. Peeking up, he saw Theodosius’ face frown slightly, but it quickly vanished, replaced with the cold, slyness he had become famous for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good.\" Getting off the throne, Bardas heard the heavy footsteps approach him. The fat hand rested on his shoulder, and Bardas made sure to flinch slightly at the touch. \"Make sure that the lord is blamed and executed for the crime of betraying the Imperial family. Don’t even leave his servants alive. Nothing can be traced back to us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood, Your Majesty.\" Bardas closed his eyes as Theodosius patted him on the shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will be needing you in the future.\" Theodosius smiled and leaned in closer, \"Is that alright, my son?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whatever you order, Your Majesty.\" Bardas stiffly smiled and looked up at his father, but quickly averted his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good. Leave me.\" Bardas bowed and walked off. Cato walked out from hiding behind the throne and went next to Theodosius. Looking at Bardas’ back, his eyes sharpened as he saw through the display of submission the bastard prince played.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He is now a loose end,\" Cato said coldly, but Theodoisus scoffed and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He is useful. Constance will need a submissive dog when he takes my place.\" Not seeing through his son’s act, Theodosisu took his place back on the throne. Cato looked at the emperor and wondered whether he should say anything, but held his tongue. Bardas was still useful, and when Constance returned, it wouldn’t be hard to have him disappear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is next?\" Moving on, Cato looked down at the throne. Theodosius sighed, playing with the ring stuck on his finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Send word to Constance. Tell him Julius is dead. Have someone confirm it before we release the official story to the nobility. Summon Albus back and keep watch of Cassius.\" Cato bowed and walked off. Looking at his son’s distant back, he smiled and closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julius sat and bounced around on a carriage. His once thick set of platinum hair was gone, replaced by a messy buzzcut, and he wore a blindfold, makeup drawn on underneath to create the illusion of severe burns. Wearing the robes of a priest of Sol, he was flanked by Bardas’ guards and was being led to the Holy Seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julius sat deep in thought. In a matter of weeks, his life had undergone a complete transformation. He knew of his father’s past actions against his brothers and always justified them as a necessary sacrifice for stability. When he killed his political rivals, it was necessary to survive. Julius had taken part in numerous political murders; it was something he did to prove his worth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lowering his head and grinding his teeth, he felt like an idiot. He knew his father disliked him as an heir, but he never expected it meant he would become one of his father’s victims. The fact that he was alive now could only be attributed to luck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’No.’ Juluis quickly corrected himself, his eyes under the bandage going cold, ’Father brought it upon himself. He made an enemy of all his children. Even if we all wish for the same thing, he is still our number one enemy.’Julius cruelly smiled to himself. He didn’t trust Bardas, but he knew that his bastard brother was a better schemer. It was how he survived for so long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’I will be your puppet for now, Bardas. But know your place.’Julius smirked and pulled down the badge slightly to look out the window. He was still a week away from the border with the Holy Seat. It was a risk to go to his younger brother like a beaten dog, but out of all of them, only Constance had the power and hate to oppose Theodosius without the ambition for the Severian throne.’If he joins the race for it, none of us has any hope anyway.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julius knew his limits. He had allies in the Empire, but Constance had the faith of the Empire under his control. A Crown Prince vs the Pope made an easy outcome, even if the nobility didn’t want the Pope lording over them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slipping the blindfold back on, he leaned back and rested. He hardly had any time to rest, and although the carriage was uncomfortable, it was better than a hard, cold floor. Slowly drifting off, the carriage rolled off into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gentlemen.\" Magnus stood at the head of a large table holding a glass of wine into the sky. Flanking down both ends of the table were his most loyal followers and accomplices. For generations, his family had been cultivating loyalty from the surrounding families. Paying their debts, supporting business endeavours, providing food during bad harvests and building infrastructure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Generation of planning and preparing since the family founder first strong-armed the title of Arch Duke from the then Emperor. Not only had it made the Maximus family incredibly wealthy, having a hand in nearly all their neighbouring vassals’ business, but it also allowed those who were blessed with the Maximus family’s help to make some of the best land within the Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Generations of planning had finally cultivated into a branch of deeply loyal allies who moved at the whims of the Maximus family. As for those the Maximus family helped in the past who were no longer loyal. They couldn’t move against the family. Their most important businesses would collapse the moment they tried to. Maximus was a cold man to his enemies, but for those loyal, he was their patron who supported everything they did, success or failure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Empire is on a steady decline. The Cicerio dynasty has seen our steady decline, which has led to the current tyrant who rules over us, Theodosius. A man who has killed his own blood to preserve power. I ask if we don’t act, who’s next?\" The men around all muttered in agreement. \"I have never desired the throne, but I am a man who believes in fate. And when one of the Emperor’s bastards who survived comes to me and wishes to change his home for the better, I must act.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men all nodded in agreement, some banging the table to show support. \"It would be against sol to ignore it, but most importantly, it would be wrong, as a man loyal to the Empire, to avoid the responsibility of finally bringing about justice this Empire so desperately needs.\" The men around the table were getting louder, and Magnus raised his hands to silence them. \"I understand what I am asking is treason against the Emperor, but if you stand with me, raise your glasses and drink with me. Together we will fix what is broken.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magnus looked around. Many of the men instantly raised their glasses, whilst a few hesitated but eventually did. He expected hesitation; it was natural, but seeing no one abstain filled him with joy. \"Thank you, my friends.\" Drinking his glass first, the rest followed suit. \"Now let us get to work.\" Sitting down, his eyes went hard and his face expressionless.\u003C\u002Fp>",1543,"2026-06-03T11:17:48.775Z","2026-06-03T11:17:51.400Z",1,"novelbin.me","6f3b183fe1e5189ca81275528fb1e0f5079b198ebbaf3744896c42388d67d7bd","the-reborn-king-chapter-388","the-reborn-king-chapter-386",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-reborn-king-cover.jpg"]