The Villain’s Cheat Code: When a Gamer Becomes the Evil God’s Sidekick

Dong!

The palace gates slowly opened, and a crowd of nobles and ministers poured in.

Aubrey, supported by his attendants, slowly approached the throne and sat down steadily.

The moment the nobles and officials entered, they began their daily quarrels.

It seemed as if they had an endless list of matters to report to the emperor every day.

Among these, the most attention-grabbing issue was undoubtedly the incident of the Second Prince being assaulted.

Such an event concerning a prince could hardly be concealed.

Several ribs were broken...

This could almost be considered an assassination attempt.

The nobles set aside their own affairs and fervently discussed the prince's injuries.

"This matter must be thoroughly investigated!"

"The prince's dignity is tied to the honor of the entire royal family!"

The old emperor rested one elbow on the armrest, supporting his face with his fist.

He silently watched the ministers below, who were incessantly debating.

He seemed somewhat uninterested.

But soon, a report caught Aubrey's attention.

"Your Majesty! The residence of Count Viktor has been demolished..."

This news had nearly become the talk of the entire capital.

The renowned Count Viktor, a member of the council, known for his formidable strength and resolute actions, had his home destroyed—this was beyond anyone's expectations.

The last time such news of a residence being destroyed spread, it was Viktor who had demolished Jace Reiser's mansion.

That incident forced the Reiser family to publicly yield to the Kravina family and offer compensation.

Jace himself had fled the capital, never daring to return.

But that was not the main point. The ministers continued their report.

"After his residence was destroyed, Count Viktor and his family are preparing to return to Bryston."

Bryston—Viktor's domain.

Hearing this news, many nobles visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

To be honest, they didn't even know why.

It was just that hearing Viktor's name brought an oppressive feeling.

After all, in just a few months, Viktor had transformed from a reviled figure to one admired by all.

His presence alone dimmed the brilliance of all the talents in the capital.

Now, hearing that Viktor was leaving the capital, many people felt relieved.

Upon hearing this news, the emperor merely nodded indifferently, saying nothing more.

The emperor's prolonged silence cast a heavy atmosphere over the palace.

Even the ministers fell silent.

It was only then that they noticed something seemed different about the emperor today.

Finally, Aubrey spoke.

His first question was directed at the ministers below.

"Where is Owiser? Has he awakened?"

A minister, hearing the question, quickly stepped forward to report to the emperor:

"Your Majesty, the Second Prince has regained consciousness, and his injuries are under control, though he still needs rest."

Aubrey nodded and straightened his posture.

"Bring Owiser here and tell him."

"Someone wishes to see him."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

A guard received the order and hurriedly left.

The other nobles and ministers exchanged puzzled glances, unable to understand what the emperor intended.

Why would His Majesty summon the gravely injured Owiser?

After a while, the guard returned, pushing a wheelchair with Owiser seated in it.

The Second Prince, heavily injured, had his chest wrapped in bandages, presenting a pitiful sight.

"Father..."

As he entered, he attempted to stand and salute the emperor, but the pain in his body made it impossible. He could only offer a bitter smile.

Seeing the Second Prince in such a state, Aubrey waved dismissively.

"Dispense with the formalities."

"Give him a seat."

Servants brought over a chair, and the guards carefully moved the Second Prince onto it.

Owiser sat heavily in the chair before turning to face the emperor again.

"Thank you, Father."

The emperor turned to look at Owiser and asked:

"Owiser, how many years has it been since your mother left the palace?"

The Second Prince was puzzled but still replied.

"Father, it has been sixteen years."

Aubrey leaned back in his chair, letting out a sigh.

"Sixteen years, is it?"

"Have you thought about her?"

The Second Prince was stunned.

His mother had been gone for sixteen years, and to be honest, he could barely remember her face.

Let alone hold any feelings for her.

However, given that his father was asking this in front of all the nobles and ministers, he adjusted his expression.

His face took on a sorrowful look, his furrowed brows seemingly conveying the pain of longing.

"Mother has been gone for sixteen years. During this time, I have always missed her."

"I constantly hope that life could return to how it was back then."

Hearing this, Aubrey laughed, though it was unclear whether it was out of amusement or mockery.

"Is that so?"

He straightened his posture once more and, in the bewildered gazes of the ministers, said unhurriedly:

"Claudia, come meet your child."

At the mention of this name, the entire hall fell silent.

Everyone froze, especially the Second Prince, whose facial muscles stiffened completely, his eyes widening in disbelief.

Under everyone's gaze, a woman slowly emerged from the passage beside the throne.

She wore luxurious garments adorned with golden threads, the hem embedded with thin, shimmering emeralds. Her golden earrings and bracelets sparkled as well.

Following behind her were several maids, all respectfully bowing their heads.@@novelbin@@

An aura of grace and nobility radiated from her, and the crown on her head gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight.

She stood beside the emperor, her head slightly lowered, a gentle smile on her face as she looked at the Second Prince, speaking softly:

"It has been a long time."

"My child."

...

The nobles, upon seeing Claudia, were filled with shock.

The majesty in Claudia's eyes enveloped everyone present, silencing the ministers entirely.

There was no mistaking it.

After fifteen years, the Empress had returned!

The ministers stood frozen, staring at Claudia with mouths agape, unable to utter a word.

By her age, Claudia, like Aubrey, was nearing sixty.

Yet she still looked youthful, appearing more like a woman in her thirties.

The most shocked of all was the Second Prince.

Sitting in his chair, he stared dumbfounded at the regal woman before him.

That was his mother, Claudia.

He still remembered.

Years ago, when his parents had fallen out, his mother had resolutely left the capital, leaving the empire behind.

At that time, he was only fourteen.

And now, she had returned.

Still as dignified and elegant as she had been fifteen years ago.

"Mother... Mother?"

The Second Prince's voice trembled as he uttered in disbelief.

No one knew why Claudia had chosen to return now.

But even after her departure, the title of Empress had always remained hers, as Aubrey had never appointed a successor.

Claudia approached the Second Prince, circling him as if inspecting something.

The Second Prince didn’t understand her actions.

Truthfully, he felt no emotional attachment to this long-absent woman.

His feelings were calm to the point of indifference.

Yet being scrutinized by Claudia brought him an inexplicable sense of unease.

It was as if needles were piercing his skin, a mix of pain and emptiness.

Finally, Claudia stopped in front of the Second Prince, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Recover well, my child."

"We will have more time together in the future."

With that, Claudia clasped her hands in front of her skirt, lowered her gaze slightly, and exuded an air of composure and grace.

She then bowed gently to Aubrey before turning and leaving.

The Second Prince sat in his chair, his gaze fixed on Claudia's departing figure, watching her leave.

...

The news of Claudia’s appearance in the palace caused an uproar in the capital.

The streets and alleys buzzed with discussions, and every newspaper headline was about "The Return of the Imperial Empress."

In mere moments, the news had spread throughout the noble circles.

After all, the Empress’s iron-fisted methods had left a deep impression on everyone.

She was the one who had personally sent her own family to the execution platform.

The true culprit behind the extinction of the Stork family.

After purging the Stork family, Claudia had left the empire, vanishing for fifteen years.

No one knew why she had chosen to leave after committing "righteous patricide."

But at the time of her departure, another piece of news had surfaced.

The emperor’s other wife, the daughter of the Grand Duke of the Kant Kingdom, had died in childbirth after giving birth to Aurelianne.

For a time, all blame was directed at Aubrey.

Likewise, no one understood why, in a single night, both of the emperor’s wives had departed from his life...

...

That morning, Aurelianne was strolling in the garden.

She made it a habit to adjust her mood in the palace gardens, and during these moments, she was often alone.

But today was different.

While picking flowers, Aurelianne sensed an unfamiliar presence approaching from behind.

She turned around to find a woman dressed in luxurious attire, crowned with a radiant tiara, smiling warmly at her.

The tiara... Aurelianne took special note of it.

But she did not recognize the woman.

Before she could ask, Claudia spoke first:

"You must be Aurelianne, correct?"

Hearing the woman’s gentle voice, Aurelianne felt a strange sense of comfort and nodded blankly.

"And you are...?"

"You probably have never seen me before."

Claudia walked closer, looking at Aurelianne with a soft expression, reaching out to touch her face.

There was a hint of nostalgia in her eyes.

"You are so beautiful... even more so than your mother."

Aurelianne blinked.

Mother?

The word felt distant to her.

She had always been told that her mother had died in childbirth.

She had never known maternal love and had no concept of what a mother was.

But the woman before her was overwhelmingly gentle.

Bathed in sunlight, she seemed to radiate a maternal glow.

Aurelianne found herself momentarily lost in thought.

If she had a mother...

What would she be like?

So she asked:

"Did you know my mother?"

Claudia merely smiled and replied:

"I didn’t just know your mother. I knew your father, your two brothers."

"And your teacher—Viktor Kravina."

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