Chapter 12

Hi, everyone! So I looked back and noticed I made some mistakes regarding Itanistad’s rank. After being adopted by his uncle (who was previously a Viscount), they both became Barons through their bought title. But I had apparently mixed that up. It’s been fixed in previous chapters. Sorry for the mixup!

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It had been eight years. After wandering with a body and soul left tattered following the fall of her house, it was time to leave their home in Avery—the place where she had finally managed to settle down. Every member of the family looked back at the house they had painstakingly built and tended, unable to hide their lingering regret.

 

Standing by the main gate, Roabellin asked Estina in a low murmur.

 

“Aunt. Do you think… we’ll ever be able to come back to this house someday?”

 

“……No. I don’t know why, but I have a feeling that this is the last time. As if we’ll never be able to return here again…….”

 

“Perhaps so. Even if we don’t live here again…… I hope this house remains standing whenever we happen to visit. Even if someone else is living in it.”

 

Leaving their cherished home with hearts full of sorrow, they traveled through several candidate sites they had scouted over time, repeating the cycle of inspecting and moving on.

 

Ultimately, they settled in the southwestern tip of the continent—far from Prahenfelt, and even further from Aventador. It was the outskirts of a small nation called Zakt. This place was also at the foot of a mountain, with a peak behind it and a forest and small lake in front, situated far from the villages where people gathered.

 

“Since we have to hide even more strictly now, everyone must minimize contact with the villagers. When you have to go to the market, you must use the magic potion to change your eye and hair color.”

 

Estina distributed the magic potions to all the family members. Fortunately, because the house was surrounded by mountains, the herbs needed to craft the potions were easy to find.

 

Several days passed as they obtained their new home, cleaned it, and organized their belongings. During those days, Roabellin and Estina would spend their evenings telling the family about what they had experienced since leaving home. Lisa, Pheron, and Jeff cycled through tears, laughter, and shock; and Letis, who had been unaware of many things including the lineage of the Huga family, had now become a family member who shared their secrets.

 

Then, one night. It was the hour when everyone had retired to their rooms to sleep. Roabellin, who had been uncharacteristically distracted and dazed all day, came to the room of Estina, who was just about to go to bed.

 

“Hmm? What is it, Roa? Why is your face so pale?”

 

Estina immediately checked Roabellin’s complexion.

 

“Um, Aunt…….”

 

“Yes, what’s wrong?”

 

“I…….”

 

Roabellin hesitated for a moment, her anxious eyes looking down, before forcing a bright tone.

 

“It’s nothing. I’m just a little anxious and can’t sleep. I’m okay.”

 

“You can’t sleep? Then do you want to sleep in my bed together??”

 

Estina had been overprotective lately, feeling sorry for the hardships Roabellin endured in Prahenfelt. Roabellin couldn’t help but let out a small laugh at the way her aunt coddled her like a child.

 

“Hehe, no. I think I’m okay now. Goodnight, Aunt.”

 

“Well, if you feel bad while trying to sleep, come back. We can sleep here together.”

 

Roabellin gave Estina a faint smile and returned to her room.

 

The next morning, Roabellin finally emerged from her room with a tired face only after everyone was gathered around the dining table. Just as Lisa placed a bowl of soup she had carefully prepared before Roabellin—

 

“Ugh, urgh!”

 

Roabellin covered her mouth with her hand and rushed to the bathroom. After exchanging brief, puzzled glances with the family, Estina immediately followed her.

 

“Roa, are you okay? What happened?”

 

Fortunately, the nausea wasn’t severe, and Roabellin seemed to have regained some composure.

 

“Ugh, whew, ha…….”

 

Estina gently rubbed Roabellin’s back. After a moment of silence, Roabellin slowly spoke.

 

“Um, Aunt, I… my monthly cycle… it’s been a long time since it was due…….”

 

Estina’s eyes instantly widened like lanterns.

 

“What?”

 

“I went to tell you last night, but then I thought, what if I’m wrong? So I decided to wait a bit longer and came back.”

 

“Why would you hesitate about that! Let’s test it right away.”

 

Estina jumped up, led Roabellin to her room, and took out a pregnancy diagnostic reagent from her medicine cabinet.

 

“I made this just in case I might need it someday…….”

 

She pricked Roabellin’s fingertip, and when a single drop of blood was added to the reagent, the transparent liquid quickly turned golden. Watching this, Estina spoke blankly.

 

“……You succeeded, Roa. Your goal.”

 

At those words, Roabellin covered her mouth with both hands, looking as if she couldn’t believe it. Estina lowered her voice and said:

 

“Yes. Congratulations, Roa. Just as you planned, you have returned carrying the Emperor’s child.”

 

Though she offered congratulations, Estina’s heart was heavy as she looked at her young niece. It might have gone according to plan, but her worries did not fade easily. Roabellin’s heart was equally complicated.

 

“I achieved what I wanted……. I succeeded in returning to you safely with the child. But giving birth isn’t the end. Can I really be a good mother to this child? I’m anxious, and I feel strange.”

 

Seeing her worry about the child rather than rejoice in her success, Estina realized that Roabellin needed support and encouragement right now, not words of concern.

 

“First, you must become a strong mother, Roa. To protect this child when we have nothing.”

 

Estina pulled Roabellin into an embrace and rubbed her back. At Estina’s silent support, an indefinable emotion welled up in Roabellin’s chest and burst forth as tears.

 

“Sob, sob…….”

 

Roabellin sobbed for a long time in Estina’s arms. It was a mixture of relief, sorrow, anticipation, and fear.

 

 

***

 

 

The day of the tea party arrived. The front of the Imperial Palace was bustling with rare vitality. This was because dozens of carriages from noble families had been arriving in sequence since just after lunchtime.

 

Only the Emperor, his immediate family—the Empress and their children—and the Empress Dowager were permitted to pass through the palace gates while inside their carriages. Consequently, the young nobles of Vicentium had to disembark at the main gate and walk to the rear garden where the tea party was held.

 

They all had to walk a considerable distance in their most elaborate attire, yet no one complained. Caught up in the excitement that the Emperor viewed them as the next influential leaders of the empire, the young people’s expressions were bright. Among them was the exceptionally beautiful Marchioness-to-be, Elina Rodain.

 

‘Where is the Young Baron Ratnen? It’s been a while… do I look pretty enough today?’

 

While Elina was looking around for Terick, someone greeted her brightly.

 

“Hello, Lady Rodain!”

 

Turning around, she saw Sophia, the daughter of Count Philippe, whom she often saw at social parties.

 

“Oh, hello.”

 

When Elina responded with a smile, Sophia approached her side and began to walk with her. She whispered while partially hiding her mouth with a fan.

 

“It seems all the future heads of the powerful families in Vicentium and the leading stars of the social circle are here, don’t you think?”

 

Elina quietly nodded as she scanned the faces of the young nobles walking around them.

 

Suddenly, Sophia spotted something ahead and lowered her voice.

 

“Oh, look over there! Who is that handsome man? The tall gentleman with platinum-blonde hair!”

 

Shifting her gaze to where she pointed, Elina discovered Terick Ratnen, whom she had been so desperate to see.

 

‘Found him!’

 

He stood out like a crane among chickens, even in this crowd. He was truly exceptionally handsome. Seeing him dressed up for a party after only seeing him in business suits, she found it difficult to look away.

 

“Ah, that is Young Baron Ratnen.”

 

At her answer, Sophia’s eyes grew wide.

 

“Oh? Him? That man is the Young Viscount Terick Ratnen? Goodness, with a pretty face like that……? Well, I suppose because his looks are at that level…….”

 

Elina looked back at Sophia with a puzzled expression at the cryptic remark.

 

“Pardon? What do you mean by that……?”

 

Sophia didn’t hear Elina’s quiet voice and threw out her own question first.

 

“But how do you know him, My Lady?”

 

“He has visited the Marquis’s estate several times on business with my father. How do you know him, Lady Sophia?”

 

“Ah.”

 

After a quick glance around, Sophia covered her mouth with her fan and replied in a near-whisper.

 

“He is famous as the ‘Emperor of the Night.’ They say that while His Majesty the Emperor rules the daytime Vicentium, the Emperor of the night-time Vicentium is that man…….”

 

Elina’s eyes went round, not immediately understanding the implication.

 

“What does that mean? Is he doing something bad in the underworld?”

 

“It’s not that…….”

 

Sophia hesitated for a moment, but the urge to gossip easily overcame her caution.

 

“The rumors are a bit too scandalous to speak loudly. My Lady, let me whisper in your ear…….”

 

“……?”

 

The details she whispered into Elina’s ear were things Elina could never have imagined.

 

“T-That’s impossible…….”

 

The gentle and kind images Terick had shown her flashed through her mind. The face of a person with a bright and good impression did not connect at all with the filthy rumors Sophia had shared.

 

Satisfied by Elina’s sufficiently shocked reaction, Sophia continued excitedly but quietly.

 

“It’s my first time seeing him today, and he certainly doesn’t look like his rumors. But then again, you can’t judge a person by their looks. This is a very widely spread rumor, though. The… women of the brothels guaranteed it. They said it’s all true. Most of the young male nobles in Vicentium probably know this rumor. My brother told me specifically, warning me to be careful if Young Baron Ratnen ever approached me.”

 

Elina was dazed by the shocking story she hadn’t anticipated. She couldn’t even hear what Sophia said afterward.

 

Upon arriving at the rear garden, tea tables were beautifully set under the shade of midday trees. The tables were filled with various teas and high-end desserts, and on one side, a gazebo entwined with beautiful rose vines and a small fountain added a romantic atmosphere. On the other side, there was a large, well-maintained pond.

 

“Wow, if a small party in the garden is this grand, I wonder how beautiful the inside of the Emperor’s or Empress’s palace must be?”

 

The young guests, having caught a glimpse of the palace, talked excitedly, but Elina couldn’t hear any of it.

 

Terick, whom she had wanted to meet so badly, was over there. Even though it was his first time attending such an official social event in Vicentium, he was surrounded by many people. However, the more Elina thought about the rumors, the more disturbed she felt, so she turned her gaze away from him entirely.

 

Itanistad spotted Elina’s golden head from afar. He, too, had been looking for her.

 

After a long while, Itanistad finally managed to break away from the crowd and strode toward Elina.

 

“My Lady, here you are. It’s been a while.”

 

Itanistad greeted her warmly with a beautiful smile, but Elina took one look at his face and subtly turned her head away.

 

“……Hello.”

 

Despite her reaction, which seemed to radiate a cold chill, Itanistad did not lose his smile and tried to strike up a conversation again.

 

“Is this the first time since we met at my office?”

 

He was referring to the day Elina visited his office in downtown Vicentium under the pretext of hearing a business explanation. The two had talked enjoyably as they shared common interests, and their mutual favor had soared—or so he thought.

 

Itanistad tried to lead the conversation by recalling that day, but Elina’s response remained frigid.

 

“……Is that so. Young Viscount, I’m sorry, but I have business over there, so I must go.”

 

She left without even adding a polite “have a pleasant time.” It was a clear act of avoidance.

 

‘Why is she acting like that? Did I make a mistake?’

 

Troubled by her mysterious reaction, Itanistad continued to follow her with his eyes. Just then, the loud voice of an attendant rang out.

 

“Attention! His Majesty the Emperor is ascending the platform! Show your respect to His Majesty.”

 

The host of the party, Emperor Kaisertern, appeared. His face looked a bit sharper and darker than usual. However, unless one saw him frequently, such a subtle difference was hard to distinguish. The invited guests merely bowed deeply, overwhelmed by the majesty and pressure the young Emperor exuded.

 

“I welcome the next generation of leaders who will guide the future of the Empire. I hope you all have a wonderful time getting to know one another.”

 

After a brief welcome, he turned and went back inside. He planned to sit for a while and then slowly walk around to greet groups individually once the social atmosphere had matured.

 

The party atmosphere, which had briefly quieted at the Emperor’s appearance, soon became lively again. Some were talking about popular business items, some were enjoying the scent of tea in the rose-covered gazebo, and others were playing in small boats on the pond.

 

Every time Itanistad managed to pull away from the people swarming around him, he searched for Elina, and soon found her in a small boat with other ladies.

 

It was just as he was approaching the pond to talk to her once she disembarked.

 

“Aah!!!”

 

With a scream, the tiny boat capsized all too easily. One of the ladies had stood up, causing the small vessel to lose its balance and flip over.

 

“People fell into the water! Anyone who can swim! Hurry!!”

 

Seeing Elina fall into the water, Itanistad didn’t hesitate to shed his cumbersome jacket and shirt. Under the pouring sunlight, his solid physique was revealed.

 

He tossed his clothes aside and jumped into the water, rescuing Elina first.

 

“My Lady, are you alright? Here, wrap this around you for now.”

 

He draped his own jacket over Elina, who was soaking wet. Whether from the cold or the shock of falling into the water, her body was trembling violently.

 

Seeing her shivering, Itanistad gently cupped her cheek and brushed it with his thumb. It was an instinctive action to calm her down. Elina’s eyes trembled slightly at his tender touch. Leaving her there, Itanistad turned and dove back into the pond.

 

In the meantime, others had extended long branches to rescue the other ladies, and a palace servant who could swim had jumped in to save another. After rescuing the last person, Itanistad returned to Elina immediately. Sophia had come to Elina’s side to look after her.

 

Watching Itanistad walk toward them, Sophia covered her mouth with her fan and whispered rapidly to Elina.

 

“My goodness……! What is with that body? Is that kind of muscle even possible on such a pretty face? What kind of nobleman has a body like that……. Wow.”

 

Having regained her senses, Elina also couldn’t help but widen her eyes at his broad shoulders and well-developed muscles, which she was seeing for the first time. She had already been smitten with him, but after seeing his sculpted upper body, the rumors she had heard earlier didn’t even cross her mind anymore. Combined with the gratitude of him saving her from the water, her uneasy feelings had significantly faded.

 

“My Lady, do you feel a bit better now?”

 

“Ah, aah.”

 

Only after he asked did Elina realize she had been staring at him with her mouth slightly open.

 

“Yes, yes. Thanks to your immediate rescue, I didn’t swallow much water, and thanks to the jacket, I don’t think I’ll catch a cold. Really…… thank you.”

 

Satisfied with finally having a proper conversation with her, Itanistad smiled.

 

“I’m truly glad. I was happy that I happened to be nearby and could be the one to save you.”

 

Just then, Elina, who was about to say something, let out a small sneeze.

 

“Achoo!”

 

At that moment, a palace maid and a servant approached the two. The maid spoke politely to Elina first.

 

“We apologize for such an incident happening at the palace. His Majesty the Emperor has instructed us to take you inside to assist you. Please wash up and change into new clothes.”

 

The servant who came with her added: “His Majesty wishes to separately reward Young Baron Ratnen for saving his guests. You should also dry yourself, Young Viscount.”

 

Both in need of such help, they stood up.

 

“I’ll be back, Young Viscount. You must stay here in the garden until I return.”

 

Itanistad gave a slight nod, and Elina smiled at him before turning away.

 

Although they went inside around the same time, Itanistad was faster due to his simpler attire. As he was once again surrounded by a crowd, another servant approached him.

 

 

***

 

 

Actually, the picture Kaisertern had painted when he originally planned the tea party was quite different.

 

He had intended to personally give Terick a tour of the Imperial Palace and introduce him to the influential nobility. He also wanted to summon Yuli, who bore such a striking resemblance to Terick, to introduce them to one another and see just how much they looked alike standing side-by-side.

 

‘I thought it would be delightful and fascinating since the two people I like resemble each other so much.’

 

But with Yuli gone, that plan had become impossible, and he had even less emotional bandwidth to spare for Terick. Consequently, even while hosting the tea party, Kaisertern’s mind was filled with nothing but Yuli. Every time he caught a glimpse of blonde hair in a slightly brighter tone, or someone with a height and build similar to hers, he would urgently look their way, only to be met with repeated disappointment.

 

‘I’m certain she isn’t here… At this point, is this an obsession or a disease?’

 

While sighing to himself, Kaisertern heard a loud commotion coming from a distance. As he approached the pond, he witnessed the disturbance from afar. The situation was mostly being resolved as the people who had fallen into the water were being rescued. However, what caught his eye was Terick’s bare torso. On Terick’s back as he stood talking to Elina, Kaisertern discovered something unexpectedly familiar.

 

‘That… isn’t that the same tattoo that was on Yuli’s back?’

 

Because his head was so full of Yuli, he immediately recognized that Terick had a tattoo almost identical to Yuli’s, in the exact same location.

 

 

***

 

 

While Itanistad was talking, surrounded by people, an attendant approached and requested a whisper.

 

“Young Viscount, His Majesty the Emperor is looking for you. Please follow me.”

 

‘Is he calling me because we couldn’t talk separately today?’

 

Thinking nothing of it, Itanistad followed the attendant to the Emperor’s private office located in the main palace.

 

“You summoned me, Your Majesty?”

 

Kaisertern, who had been sitting at his desk lost in thought with his chin resting on his interlaced fingers, quietly looked up to see him enter the office.

 

“Ah, have a seat. I invited you, yet I haven’t had a chance to speak with you today.”

 

“It is quite alright. Thanks to your invitation, I was able to become acquainted with many people today.”

 

“I see. That is fortunate. Oh, and I saw the commotion at the pond. I want to commend you for rescuing my guests. I will send a separate token of gratitude to the Viscount’s estate.”

 

“No, Your Majesty. I am grateful for your words alone. Someone else would have saved them if I hadn’t.”

 

“The fact remains that you saved my guests, so please do not decline. Oh, by the way… I happened to see your body back there.”

 

“……?”

 

Itanistad reflexively looked up to meet Kaisertern’s eyes, his face stiffening at the unexpected remark.

 

“You have a tattoo on your back.”

 

“…….”

 

“I was curious because it was in such an unusual spot with a peculiar pattern. What does it mean?”

 

Kaisertern spoke in a light tone as if it were mere curiosity, but from the flow of the conversation, Itanistad knew: the Emperor had called him to this room specifically to ask this.

 

“Ah, so you saw it.”

 

He answered vaguely while organizing his thoughts.

 

‘Does he know something? If so, how much? Or is it because it’s similar to some pattern he knows?’

 

Itanistad struggled to maintain a composed face while agonizing over how to respond.

 

‘How much should I reveal? If I tell the truth, my identity and location might be exposed to the Aventador royal family. It would also be difficult to explain why I’ve been lying about my status to the Emperor and the fact that I bought my title.’

 

In a split second, countless thoughts flashed through Itanistad’s mind.

 

‘Let’s give a vague excuse. I’ll worry about the details after I get out of this situation.’

 

Having finished his internal calculation, Itanistad spoke.

 

“Ah, this is something my father had engraved on me when I was young. It was recommended by a close friend of his, a merchant who traveled to many countries.”

 

“Hmm. And the meaning?”

 

“Your Majesty surely knows that some nobles engrave tattoos that their families can recognize in preparation for situations like war. That was the purpose, and… it is also a character in an ancient language from the eastern part of the continent symbolizing wealth. They say fortune follows those who carry this tattoo.”

 

Itanistad thought it was a fairly reasonable excuse, but a question mark appeared in Kaisertern’s mind.

 

‘The Archmage, who was a prince of Aventador in the east, said it was a character he didn’t recognize. At least one of them is lying. There’s something more to this.’

 

Kaisertern dismissed Itanistad, saying he understood, and then summoned one of his informants.

 

“Investigate Young Baron Ratnen.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. What aspects should I look into?”

 

“Focus on his origins, background, and family relations.”

 

 

***

 

 

A few days later, the informant returned to report the findings to Kaisertern.

 

“Baron Ratnen purchased his title.”

 

Kaisertern was inwardly surprised, as he had naturally assumed Terick was a noble by birth due to his refined dignity and perfect etiquette.

 

“Then, was he originally from a commoner merchant family?”

 

“Not exactly. It is said that Baron Ratnen was originally ‘Viscount Biston’ of the Kingdom of Aventador. Eight years ago, he suddenly immigrated to Karsen in Prahenfelt with his family.”

 

One of Kaisertern’s eyebrows shot up at the unexpected news.

 

“Even if it’s an Imperial Barony… a Viscounty of another kingdom bought a lower rank?”

 

“Yes. And there is one more thing. Viscount Biston did not have a son of that age. According to the investigation, Viscount Biston’s actual son is several years younger.”

 

The wrinkles on Kaisertern’s brow deepened at the string of strange facts.

 

“A Count’s family suddenly emigrating to buy a foreign title… that definitely looks like they were fleeing. Find out what happened to the Biston family and their surroundings eight years ago.”

 

In just two days, the informant returned with the answers the Emperor wanted. It was a feat made possible by the Emperor’s dense information network spread across the continent.

 

“There were no records of the Biston family causing any trouble. However, the Biston family were relatives of a Ducal house in Aventador called Hertenes. They weren’t extremely close in terms of bloodline, but they were known to have been in close contact.”

 

Kaisertern’s eyes widened at the unexpected name.

 

“The Hertenes Ducal house? You mean the family that produces the Queens?”

 

‘Roabellin’s family…’

 

“Yes, that is correct. It is a family classified as semi-royalty because they have produced Queens for a thousand years.”

 

“Yes, I know. They were utterly destroyed eight years ago.”

 

The informant, unaware that Kaisertern had personally gone to see the ruined Ducal castle back then, was inwardly impressed by the Emperor’s knowledge of foreign affairs.

 

“Yes, sir. While it was never revealed who did it or why, that is the case. At the time of the incident, not only the main Hertenes house but also their close relatives were massacred. It appears the Biston family fled to avoid that fate.”

 

Kaisertern sank back into thought, resting his chin on his hand.

 

‘Fine, so Baron Ratnen was actually a distant relative of Roabellin. Then, where did Terick—who wasn’t originally Biston’s son—suddenly appear from to move to Prahenfelt with them…?’

 

Suddenly, a realization struck Kaisertern’s mind.

 

‘A boy who had to hide his name and flee at the time Hertenes was destroyed. A boy with the same platinum-blonde hair as Roabellin…’

 

Kaisertern was startled by the sudden thought. He dismissed the informant for a moment and urgently contacted Iskal via the communication orb.

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. What is it?”

 

“Can you perform this kind of investigation?”

 

As Iskal listened to the Emperor’s instructions, which sounded more like a request, surprise and admiration washed over his face.

 

After ending the communication, Kaisertern called the informant back in and gave him the next order immediately.

 

“On the outskirts of Vicentium, toward the Magic Tower, lies my private estate. There is a large grave there. It’s a single mound, but quite a few bodies are buried within. Take people there secretly right now and exhume the bodies in that grave.”

 

The informant’s eyes widened at the completely unexpected command. However, he waited quietly for the Emperor to finish.

 

“The Archmage will examine the bodies on-site. Dig them up carefully, and once the investigation is finished, rebury them exactly as they were.”

 

“Yes, I understand.”

 

The loyal informant bowed without a word and left immediately to carry out the order.

 

 

***

 

 

Itanistad’s footsteps were slow as he left the Emperor’s study. He was deep in thought. He really hadn’t expected the Emperor to suddenly show interest in his tattoo.

 

‘I managed to brush it off for now… but it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I have to be more careful from now on.’

 

In a troubled state, Itanistad left the main palace and headed for the garden. When he returned, the party seemed to be nearing its end. A significant number of attendees had already gone home, but fortunately, Elina was still there waiting for him.

 

“My Lady, you haven’t left yet!”

 

Itanistad’s face brightened as he approached her. The moment he saw Elina, the oppressive situation from moments ago evaporated from his mind.

 

“I heard you were called by His Majesty, so I waited. I have something to say…”

 

“I see. Thank you for waiting.”

 

Itanistad naturally offered his arm to escort her out. It was a gesture to walk and talk together toward the palace entrance where their carriages were waiting.

 

After walking in silence along the well-paved path for a moment, Elina spoke up hesitantly.

 

“Um, Young Baron.”

 

“Yes, My Lady.”

 

“I… I heard that rumor. The one about you…”

 

Itanistad’s face immediately turned pale. He knew exactly what kind of rumors were circulating about him. He had hoped she, of all people, wouldn’t find out.

 

“I am truly grateful for you saving me today. But regardless of that, honestly… the rumors are disappointing. To be honest, I thought you were… no, it doesn’t matter. It’s all meaningless now.”

 

Itanistad stopped walking and turned to face Elina. The brilliant sunset was painting his serious face in shades of orange.

 

“My Lady. I am aware of the rumors circulating about me. They are complete nonsense. I am not that kind of man.”

 

At the sincerity in his voice, Elina looked up and met his eyes. Her desire to believe him clashed with the feeling that she shouldn’t.

 

“The rumor has spread throughout all of Vicentium, and yet it’s not true?”

 

“Yes. I told all the men who surrounded me earlier and asked about it that it was nonsense, but they wouldn’t believe me at all. Would you believe me if I explained how that rumor started? Would you give me a chance to explain myself?”

 

Elina struggled for a moment, but looking at his beautiful face and desperate gaze, she couldn’t find it in her heart to refuse.

 

‘Right, I’m not just blindly believing him. I’m giving him a chance to explain.’

 

In the end, her desire to believe won out.

 

“If it leads to a clear explanation, then yes.”

 

“Thank you, My Lady. Then please give me about two hours of your time. I’m going to meet the people who will be my witnesses. If I go alone and tell you later, you might think I conspired with them.”

 

“Very well.”

 

 

***

 

 

“My goodness. I’m not going to believe any rumors from now on. I can’t believe such nonsense could spread so far.”

 

They were on their way out of a brothel after hearing the whole story from the very people who had started the rumors. Elina could only let out a hollow laugh. Or rather, it was a laugh born half from absurdity and half from relief and joy.

 

“I’m glad the misunderstanding has been cleared.”

 

Elina, looking at Itanistad as he spoke with a gentle smile, suddenly asked:

 

“Why did you just leave such a ridiculous rumor alone? You don’t seem like someone who would enjoy that kind of reputation…”

 

“I told everyone who asked that it wasn’t true, but those explanations don’t spread as well as scandalous rumors. I had almost given up, but… I didn’t want you, of all people, to misunderstand me as that kind of man. Thank you for believing me.”

 

As he spoke, the tips of Itanistad’s ears turned red, and Elina’s cheeks flushed as she listened.

 

“Only me? Why…?”

 

“Because I was afraid you would avoid me.”

 

Even though she was shy, Elina found him adorable for answering so honestly and felt a sudden urge to tease him.

 

“Actually, when I heard that rumor, I did find myself imagining the ‘extraordinarily vigorous’ Young Baron from the stories. After all, that part of the rumor wasn’t exactly ‘disproven’ just now, was it?”

 

Even as she said it playfully, she felt she might have gone too far. Elina was flustered by her own hidden thoughts slipping out, but she tried her best to maintain her composure.

 

‘I-I just wanted to tease him a bit. It’s not like I’m actually curious about that…!’

 

At the unexpectedly bold remark, Itanistad’s eyes went wide as he looked down at her.

 

“Oh? Unlike the rumors, is the Young Baron a man who finds such topics difficult?”

 

When Elina spoke with a deliberate air of aloofness, the gentlemanly look in Itanistad’s eyes shifted. He reached out and interlaced his fingers with hers.

 

“So that’s the kind of genre you prefer, My Lady.”

 

This time, it was Elina’s eyes that went wide. The curve of his lips as he smiled at her looked playful, but a dangerous aura was emanating from his eyes. Itanistad spoke in a lowered voice.

 

“I don’t have those kinds of conversations with other women. However… I would like to have one with you.”

 

Her heart throbbed wildly at the sudden change in his voice and gaze.

 

The sons of the Huga family, much like the daughters, possessed a natural talent for winning the hearts of the opposite sex. Along with their striking appearance, it was a legacy passed down through generations of the Huga lineage.

 

Whether Itanistad intended it or not, Elina’s heart had long since been completely stolen by him.

 

“I said two hours, but we finished quite early. Since we have time left, may I invite you to my home, My Lady? I’d like to hear… exactly what you were imagining about me.”

 

Itanistad placed one hand behind his back and offered the other to her, bowing halfway in a polite gesture of invitation. Swallowing hard without realizing it, Elina answered in a trembling voice.

 

“……I’d like that.”

 

 

***

 

 

After the night the Emperor issued his suspicious orders, morning arrived. Despite the early hour, the Archmage’s request for a private audience with the Emperor was granted immediately. Kaisertern’s eyes naturally drifted toward Iskal’s tired face and soil-stained shoes as he entered the room.

 

“How did it go?”

 

Kaisertern threw the question out impatiently, not even giving Iskal time to pay his respects.

 

“I investigated and cross-referenced the familial relationships of the bodies one by one. Among the hundred or so remains, the only ones sharing a family bond were a boy around seven or eight years old and an adult male and female presumed to be his parents.”

 

It was the same investigation Heymelic had conducted previously. Of course, neither the man who ordered it nor the man who executed it knew that the same search had already been performed once before.

 

As Kaisertern listened to the report, he noticed a discrepancy.

 

‘That means…… Roabellin’s body isn’t in that grave?’

 

At the unexpected result, Kaisertern’s brow furrowed. After a moment of silent contemplation, he spoke heavily.

 

“I’m talking about Roabellin Hertenes.”

 

At the mention of the unexpected name from the Emperor’s lips, Iskal snapped his head up.

 

Kaisertern had not told him whose grave it was. Consequently, Iskal had failed to connect this strange burial site to the Hertenes Ducal house. Since he was unaware that Roabellin and Kaisertern shared a childhood connection, he never imagined the Emperor would have personally recovered the bodies of the Ducal family.

 

“I believe she had an older brother and a younger brother. Is that correct? You were a prince of Aventador, and Hertenes was a family closely tied to the royalty, so there is no way you wouldn’t know.”

 

“……Ah. Yes. I recall it being so.”

 

Iskal wondered why he was asking, but he kept his answer as simple as possible and remained tight-lipped, fearing he might let something slip. As the person who had helped Roabellin escape, he had much to be guilty about. However, Kaisertern was lost in thought and did not notice the change in his expression.

 

‘Then perhaps, Roabellin and her older brother, whose bodies are missing, might be alive. ……If I assume that Terick Ratnen is, in fact, Roabellin’s older brother.’

 

Thinking of it that way, it struck him that Terick, a “pretty” type of handsome man, bore a strong resemblance to the Roabellin in his hazy childhood memories. Just as Kaisertern was thinking he should summon Terick Ratnen to verify this, Iskal spoke up cautiously.

 

“However, Your Majesty. There was something peculiar.”

 

Kaisertern stopped his musings and looked up at Iskal.

 

“It appeared that the grave had been dug up once before.”

 

Seeing Kaisertern’s brow twitch, Iskal continued.

 

“For some unknown reason, it looked as if the bodies had been taken out of the coffins and then thrown back in haphazardly before being covered with dirt. The coffins were at the very bottom, and the corpses were piled randomly on top of them. We finished our investigation and put them back properly.”

 

Kaisertern’s face distorted with rage. Even if Roabellin wasn’t in that grave, the bodies were at the very least her family and retainers. Furthermore, the grave had been created on his private land under his direct orders as Emperor. It was nothing short of an insult to both the Hertenes family and the Emperor himself. Kaisertern gave an order in a low, sunken voice.

 

“Investigate who did this.”

 

However, just as Iskal bowed to take his leave, Kaisertern called him back.

 

“Wait, before you go. Is it possible for you to make someone vividly see a memory from a specific point in the past? Like hypnosis, for example.”

 

It was a somewhat sudden question, but Iskal lowered his head slightly and answered immediately.

 

“Yes, it is possible. Visualizing someone’s memory so that others can see it is difficult and requires a great sacrifice from the subject, but allowing a person to revisit their own memory within their mind is not hard.”

 

“That’s a relief. Then perform it on me.”

 

“Right now, sire?”

 

“Yes. The point in time I want to see is the evening of the hunting competition during the King of Aventador’s birth anniversary festival eight years ago.”

 

Iskal could not fathom the intent behind this strange request.

 

“Ah, so you were in Aventador back then.”

 

“I was. I went as a diplomatic envoy. I don’t recall seeing you during that festival.”

 

“By then, I was no longer a prince but a Grand Duke. It was when I was pretending to live in the Grand Duchy while actually staying at the Magic Tower.”

 

“If you had been at the palace, we would have met then.”

 

“I suppose so.”

 

Iskal, flashing a sad smile as he remembered those days, stepped directly in front of Kaisertern to cast the spell.

 

“If it was a hunting competition, it must have been the last day of the festival.”

 

Kaisertern sat in his chair, entrusting his head to Iskal’s hands and closing his eyes.

 

“It seems so.”

 

“Understood. Please close your eyes and focus on the memory of that moment.”

 

As Iskal chanted a complex incantation, he wrapped the white-light mana gathered in his hands around Kaisertern’s head. Kaisertern’s vision, though his eyes were closed, seemed to fill with white light before a completely different landscape unfolded before him, like a screen switching on. It was the scenery of the Aventador Royal Hunting Grounds from eight years ago.

 

Kaisertern was walking along a forest path on horseback, appearing as a 15-year-old boy on the verge of exploding with frustration. As he surveyed his surroundings with wonder, Iskal’s voice echoed in his mind. It was the Iskal standing before him in reality speaking to him.

 

{Your Majesty, have you arrived correctly at the desired moment?}

 

‘Ah.’

 

At the sudden sound of his voice, Kaisertern realized with a start that he was neither dreaming nor in reality.

 

“Yes. I am seeing the moment I wanted.”

 

{That is good. Feel free to look around. It is also possible to skip to specific parts as you wish.}

 

“Excellent. I understand.”

 

A moment later, the girl who appeared before Kaisertern when he encountered a leopard. The pretty girl with platinum-blonde hair and violet eyes whom he had longed to see even in his dreams. Kaisertern could finally see clearly the face that had become faint in his mind. His eyes widened as he looked at the girl.

 

‘Roabellin…… it’s Yuli?!’

 

Though she was only twelve, he could tell at a glance that Roabellin was Yuli’s younger self. The twenty-year-old Yuli was clearly an adult version of the twelve-year-old Roabellin.

 

‘Roabellin is Yuli? How…….’

 

After a moment of daze, Kaisertern skipped ahead to the memory in the cabin. The young Roabellin was shivering, soaked by the rain. Even though it was a memory, a chill washed over the current Kaisertern as he watched. He watched the scene again where he removed Roabellin’s outer garments as she lost consciousness to warm her body.

 

‘Surely, around here…….’

 

He focused intently on the tattoo on her back. Although it was dark, the shape was familiar enough from multiple viewings that he could recognize it with near certainty.

 

‘Yes. This is the same tattoo I saw on Yuli’s back, and on Terick Ratnen’s as well.’

 

Stunned by the shock, Kaisertern requested the end of the magic a moment later in a low, muffled voice.

 

“I have seen enough. Terminate it now.”

 

As Kaisertern slowly woke from the semi-sleep state, his golden eyes were deeply shadowed.

 

“Your Majesty, are you alright?”

 

“Yes. You did well. By the way, you—”

 

Kaisertern started to ask if he had ever met Roabellin Hertenes back when he was a prince, but he cut himself off and remained silent.

 

‘Even if Iskal knew her childhood face, how would it help in the search for Yuli? She can change her appearance with magic potions anyway, and Iskal is already searching using her mana signature rather than her appearance. There’s no need to speak unnecessary words.’

 

This was born from Kaisertern’s habit of giving subordinates only the minimum information necessary to carry out their duties, regardless of his trust in Iskal. As an Emperor who handled a vast amount of sensitive intelligence, he knew better than to leak unnecessary information.

 

From Iskal’s perspective—having helped Roabellin escape, knowing the location of the Avery house, and even possessing a communication orb linked to Estina—this was a very fortunate habit. Although Iskal himself currently didn’t know her location since Roabellin and her family had moved after their escape, if the Emperor had pressed him for details about Roabellin, he would have had to tell too many lies.

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. What were you going to say……?”

 

“Nothing. You may go.”

 

Once Iskal left the study, Kaisertern finally let out a deep sigh.

 

‘So that was it. Yuli…… was Roabellin. Roabellin was alive and came to me. Just how…….’

 

Ruffling his hair roughly and sighing, the suspicious behaviors and habits of Yuli began to surface in his mind one by one.

 

‘Yes, there were many things that didn’t sit right for someone of commoner origin.’

 

He recalled her instantly recognizing the taste of Aventador Earl Grey and the way she skillfully prepared tea. He remembered her dining with perfect etiquette at a high-end restaurant during the Vicent Festival and knowing dishes only nobles would have tasted. Even when they danced together, he could tell she had been properly trained.

 

And above all, when the two first met in a Vicentium alleyway. He had certainly seen the thin, golden divine power emanating from her hands as she treated a puppy. It was the exact same divine power used by the twelve-year-old Roabellin in the memory he just saw.

 

‘They were the same, so why didn’t I investigate her as the same person from the beginning? To think I failed to recognize her despite so many clues.’

 

He felt absurd for not realizing Yuli was Roabellin, despite seeing her hair and eye color and knowing how rare that combination was.

 

‘I suppose I assumed they were different because young Roabellin used divine power while Yuli used mana. And I believed without a hint of doubt all this time that Roabellin was dead.’

 

He recalled the ruined Ducal castle and the charred bodies he had seen with his own eyes on the day of the massacre.

 

‘That child, born as the precious daughter of a special family, came to me after enduring all sorts of hardships. How could I not recognize Roabellin when she was right in front of me, even though I missed her all this time?’

 

This time, the image of Yuli as a maid with a piteous face came to mind.

 

‘Perhaps she couldn’t speak because of some circumstance and was waiting for me to recognize her? Could she have been hurt because I failed to realize who she was?…….’

 

Kaisertern was tormented by a sense of self-reproach he could hardly bear.

 

‘I should have recognized her when she was by my side. What if I can never find Yuli—no, Roabellin—again?’

 

Growing anxious, Kaisertern immediately had an attendant summon Count Raymond. Called in the early morning, he bowed with a puzzled face.

 

“Evan. Double the number of people searching for Yuli. However, you must search quietly and secretly.”

 

“Double the current number, sire?”

 

Too many people were already mobilized for what was supposedly a search for a “favored maid.” He wanted to ask if they were looking for a member of the imperial family, but sensing Kaisertern’s love for her, he kept his mouth shut.

 

“Understood.”

 

Count Raymond received the order and withdrew immediately.

 

After thinking for a moment after he left, Kaisertern wrote a brief order to Iskal and told an attendant to deliver it.

 

“As I mentioned before, it is highly likely Yuli is altering her appearance. Therefore, there is a limit to searching by looks, and you cannot scour the entire continent alone. Inform the mages of the Imperial Magic Department of her mana signature and have them join the search.”

 

After sending the order to Iskal, Kaisertern tried to organize the chaotic thoughts in his head.

 

‘Why did Roabellin come to the Imperial Palace? Was it, as she said before, to live comfortably by gaining the Emperor’s favor? Because her family was ruined and she had no other path to look forward to? Or did she really come to become a concubine, only to change her mind for some reason? I was always sincere with Roabellin, but did she ever love me?’

 

Countless questions he wanted to ask Roabellin kept surfacing. He wanted to find her, hold her, and ask her everything.

 

Even though he had doubled the search party, the anxiety that he might not find her did not subside. Eventually, Kaisertern lunged out of his seat. Startled by the sudden movement, the attendant standing nearby asked:

 

“Oh, Your Majesty. Where are you going so suddenly?”

 

“I cannot simply leave it to others and wait idly in the palace. I am going to find Yuli myself.”

 

Leaving the stunned attendant behind, Kaisertern left the palace and resumed his personal search, which had been briefly interrupted by schedules like the tea party.

 

However, despite so many people giving their all to the search, her whereabouts remained a mystery. He thought he would find her quickly since she could hardly use her divine power. He couldn’t find even a trace of where she had gone.

 

“Roabellin, where on earth are you hiding? Are you even…… alive?”

 

Starting the search with hope in the morning, falling asleep with the despair of failing again at night, and embracing new hope when morning came again—with each passing day of this cycle, Kaisertern’s heart became a little more tattered. His expression grew sharper, and his feelings for Roabellin gradually turned obsessive.

 

Then one day, Iskal came to him with a different story.

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

Iskal paid his respects and observed Kaisertern’s face.

 

“You look very worn out.”

 

While Roabellin’s departure was her own choice, it was made possible through Iskal’s help. Thus, Iskal felt nothing but guilt toward Kaisertern. Especially seeing Kaisertern—who hadn’t even blinked on horrific battlefields—struggling so much that it showed on his face.

 

‘I cannot help him find Roabellin, but I must do my best to help him uncover other truths.’

 

That was Iskal’s own way of atonement.

 

“I am fine. More importantly, what is it?”

 

“It’s about the grave you had me investigate.”

 

A cold light immediately flickered in Kaisertern’s shadowed eyes.

 

“Since it appeared to have been dug up before, I back-traced the mana signatures of those who had visited that site. Because there were many people and the traces were faint, it took some time. Among them was someone with significant mana, and following their trail led to…….”

 

Iskal hesitated even after getting this far. But he had to say it.

 

“……It was Prince Heymelic.”

 

Kaisertern’s eyes widened at the unexpected name.

 

“You mean Heymelic…… who is currently confined?”

 

“Judging by the fact that the trail led back to the Imperial Palace at the time, it seems it was before his confinement.”

 

At the sudden influx of unexpected information, Kaisertern’s thoughts moved rapidly.

 

‘He was the temporary Emperor, so all information would have gathered to him; he might have known about the Huga family. Seeing as he checked through someone with mana, he must have conducted the same investigation I did. If so, it’s highly likely Heymelic also knew Roabellin was alive. Why was he trying to confirm that?’

 

Kaisertern fell into silent thought, but Iskal guessed that his mind was currently racing at an incredible speed. Thus, he remained silent and waited, cautiously bringing up his next point only when Kaisertern’s thoughts seemed to have settled.

 

“Your Majesty. This is a slightly different matter, but I judged it to be of high importance and wish to report it immediately.”

 

Kaisertern, having organized the various suspicions surfacing in his mind, looked back up at Iskal.

 

“Very well. What is it?”

 

“I apologize for bringing up stories of both your older brothers in succession, but…… a loyal subordinate of Grand Duke Schlett has learned of his treasonous intentions and cautiously informed me.”

 

Knowing roughly of Radak’s crimes, Iskal wanted to eliminate him immediately as he was a threat to Roabellin. However, Radak was a member of the imperial family and the first in line for the throne. Therefore, proving his treason was more effective than dealing with him directly. Iskal intended to let the Emperor investigate Radak officially.

 

One of Kaisertern’s eyebrows shot up.

 

“Grand Duke Schlett?”

 

To him, Radak was the brother with whom he had maintained a relatively tolerable relationship compared to the other two. Kaisertern had watched him from a distance, neither fully trusting nor antagonizing him.

 

“Yes. I had secured his person in advance, but the report was delayed as I prioritized the investigation and search for Yuli. My apologies.”

 

“He is certainly the type to do such a thing. You did well. Bring him in immediately.”

 

“Yes. However, before that, perhaps you should hear the testimony of his subordinate and others first.”

 

“Are the witnesses already secured?”

 

Even if he was the Emperor, the opponent was a Grand Duke of the Empire. It was a prickly matter to simply drag him in and interrogate him without clear evidence.

 

“Yes, I have prepared several people who were once his men. It would be better to hear their testimonies first and clarify the charges before summoning him.”

 

Looking at Iskal, who handled matters so perfectly to his liking, a somewhat random thought suddenly occurred to Kaisertern.

 

“This isn’t the time to say this, but… have you ever thought about becoming something like a Prime Minister rather than an Archmage in Prahenfelt?”

 

Iskal smiled at the sudden recruitment offer.

 

“I am grateful for the high praise. Being the Prime Minister of the Empire is truly an honor, but I intend to return to my proper place when the time comes.”

 

“That’s a pity. Is this ‘proper place’ you speak of the Magic Tower? Or the kingdom that was originally yours?”

 

“……It will be one of those, whichever it may be.”

 

Iskal avoided the answer with a faint smile. Kaisertern read the answer in his expression.

 

“If you ever need the Empire’s support to reclaim your throne, say the word.”

 

Iskal bowed with a thin smile.

 

“Thank you.”

 

 

***

 

 

The next day. The Emperor, key ministers, and Iskal gathered in the audience chamber.

 

First, Iskal summoned Letis. As previously agreed, she calmly testified regarding the charges against Radak. As she explained that Radak had targeted Yuli and intended to claim her because of the legend surrounding her family, Kaisertern’s golden eyes flickered with a surging rage.

 

Following this, several of Radak’s subordinates, whom Iskal had previously won over, were called in one by one to testify. Through the testimonies of multiple individuals, the treason charges against Radak gained multi-dimensional depth. The attending ministers wore expressions of shock and bewilderment. Shortly after, Kaisertern issued an order.

 

“Bring the Grand Duke Schlett before me.”

 

Iskal bowed to Kaisertern, stepped outside the chamber, and cast a summoning spell. In the next moment, Radak suddenly tumbled out of the air and sprawled onto the floor. He rolled across the ground, bound tightly like a dried corvina. Iskal placed a hand on the head of the still-disoriented Radak and concentrated his mind. As Iskal’s voice echoed in Radak’s head, one of his memories was reshaped slightly differently.

 

‘On the night you came to the vicinity of the Emperor’s villa, you tried to capture Yuli, but Sir Berfen blocked you, and you failed. You then turned back for the time being. Regarding what happened after that, you know nothing. At some point, you were suddenly captured by me.’

 

The words Iskal whispered became concrete images that seeped into Radak’s mind, soon becoming indistinguishable from his original memories. This was done to eliminate any evidence of Iskal himself spiriting Roabellin away. Only then did Iskal lift the status ailment magic he had placed on him.

 

“Uh… what? Where… why am I here…?”

 

Radak, who suddenly regained consciousness while prostrate before the audience chamber, floundered, not knowing why he was there. As soon as Radak came to his senses, Iskal pushed him, still bound, into the chamber. Before he knew it, he had been shoved into the center of the hall, standing before the Emperor.

 

Kaisertern’s dignified figure sitting upon the imperial throne came into view. Due to the sunlight pouring in through the window behind the throne, Radak found it difficult to look directly at Kaisertern’s face.

 

“Ah…!”

 

Squinting against the glare, he looked around and realized that many people—including the Minister of Home Affairs, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of the Imperial Household, the Archmage, and the secretary—were lined up before the Emperor. After a moment of deathly silence, Kaisertern spoke heavily.

 

“Does the Grand Duke of Schlett have something to hide from me?”

 

“What is this so suddenly…?”

 

At the abrupt question, Radak blinked, feigning an innocent expression while trying to grasp the situation. However, a vivid sense of unease slid coldly down his spine.

 

“Is that so? Are you certain that you are always my truthful and faithful subject?”

 

Radak’s eyes darted busily, searching for someone to rely on, but he saw no one who seemed likely to take his side.

 

‘Damn it, what is going on?’

 

Swallowing hard, he had no choice but to answer.

 

“O-of course…”

 

“Fine. In that case, whether you simply answer my questions or answer them under the spell of truth, your response would always be the same, wouldn’t it?”

 

The mention of a truth spell turned his vague unease into pitch-black terror. But he couldn’t give any other answer in this situation.

 

‘On the off-chance that the spell is weak compared to my defensive power… there’s a possibility it won’t work on me. There’s more hope in that than refusing the truth spell now.’

 

Having quickly made his calculations, Radak managed to open his mouth.

 

“Y-ye… yes…”

 

At his small, crawling response, Kaisertern curled one corner of his mouth very slightly, as if he had heard the answer he wanted. It was more of a distorted sneer than a smile, making his face look strangely cruel.

 

“Very well. Archmage, step forward.”

 

Since the fact that the Master of the Magic Tower was serving as the Archmage of a specific nation had to remain a secret, Iskal had changed his appearance to something entirely different from the start. A short, ill-tempered-looking, middle-aged bald man stepped forward.

 

“Cast the spell of truth upon the Grand Duke Schlett, forcing him to speak only the truth.”

 

Iskal replied by simply bowing halfway in silence and approached Radak. Gathering mana in his hand, he shoved a mass of mana that looked like a white bead into Radak’s mouth.

 

Radak’s eyes widened in horror, but that was all. He felt nothing in his body.

 

‘Could it be that my mana exceeded the Archmage’s and neutralized it easily…?’

 

While Radak was indulging in this momentary wishful thinking, Kaisertern’s question flew at him.

 

“Grand Duke. Do you wish to become Emperor?”

 

Radak’s eyes widened, as he hadn’t expected such a question from the start. But in the next moment, his mouth moved against his will, turning the thoughts he had kept secret into words.

 

“I do.”

 

Surprised by his own words—and the informal tone—Radak immediately clamped his mouth shut like a clam. But everyone present had heard him clearly.

 

In truth, for those who had heard all the testimonies before Radak entered, the answer wasn’t particularly surprising. The only one shocked by the answer was the one who gave it.

 

 

***

 

 

After a few more interrogations, Radak’s treason charges were easily confirmed.

 

“The trial is over. Everyone except for the criminal and the Archmage may leave.”

 

At Kaisertern’s dismissal, only three people remained in the vast audience chamber.

 

“Archmage. Is there a way for me to look into the criminal’s memories, other than pulling them out and visualizing them for everyone to see?”

 

After thinking for a moment, Iskal answered cautiously.

 

“Yes. It is possible if I cast the magic from the outside so that Your Majesty can look into them.”

 

“Good. Then let me see the criminal’s memories. Not all of them, but only those related to Roabellin.”

 

Iskal flinched at the name ‘Roabellin’ coming from Kaisertern’s mouth, but he immediately forced a natural smile.

 

“Yes, I understand. Sit facing the criminal. I will connect you.”

 

Kaisertern sat before Radak, and Iskal knocked Radak unconscious to ensure a smooth process.

 

“Now, close your eyes and concentrate. We will trace back through the memories regarding your chosen subject, starting from the most recent.”

 

Following Iskal’s instructions, Kaisertern placed his hand on Radak’s head.

 

“Ah, and while looking into the memories, please be careful not to inadvertently use your own mana. This is a highly sophisticated and delicate mental magic that involves traversing the Grand Duke Schlett’s mind; if Your Majesty’s powerful mana flows in, it could disrupt the signal.”

 

At Iskal’s reminder, Kaisertern took a deep breath and checked his mana once more.

 

“Understood. I will be careful.”

 

“Yes, then we shall begin.”

 

Iskal went behind Radak and placed his hand on Radak’s head, overlapping with Kaisertern’s hand. As he muttered a complex incantation and concentrated mana in his palm, a brilliant light burst forth from his hand. Simultaneously, Kaisertern’s vision brightened and then went dark.

 

In the next moment, a scene from Radak’s memory unfolded before his eyes—or rather, inside Kaisertern’s head. The circumstances of Radak failing to capture Roabellin in the forest near the villa were things he had already heard during Letis’s testimony.

 

Kaisertern’s face crumpled as he watched Radak roughly snatching away Roabellin, who had collapsed after exhausting her divine power.

 

Soon, the memory shifted further back, and the location changed to the Duke Schlett’s residence.

 

In his room, Radak was concentrating. He was in the middle of installing mana traps throughout the forest of the Grand Duchy that connected to Aire.

 

‘Aha, so then. Those mana traps were installed by Radak himself.’

 

As Kaisertern recalled the memory of that time, the door opened and Letis entered.

 

“Did you call, Grand Duke?”

 

“Yes, go out on patrol toward the forest in the direction of Aire now. Find the daughter of Huga and bring her here. I heard she left the Hot Spring Palace a short while ago, so there’s a high probability she’ll enter through there.”

 

Letis bowed her head without a word and left. Kaisertern was able to piece together the cause and effect by combining this with his own memories of that day.

 

‘That day, I was suspicious of a knight patrolling outside the Grand Duchy… as I thought. He knew Roabellin was Huga’s daughter and was trying to take her. If I hadn’t gone to the forest and brought her back then…’

 

While Kaisertern bit his lip, the scene changed again.

 

Scenes of Radak holding the collapsed Roabellin in the rain and taking her to the imperial clinic, learning her identity, and trying to seduce her passed by in succession.

 

A sigh escaped him involuntarily when he saw the scene where Radak visited the confined Heymelic before Roabellin entered the palace and heard the story that she was alive.

 

‘If only I had known that back then…’

 

The fact that Heymelic, not just Radak, knew about Huga and was targeting her was new information.

 

‘So Heymelic was dreaming of treason even while confined for treason.’

 

As Kaisertern continued to piece together the puzzles of the past, a new scene unfolded before him.

 

‘This is the Imperial Palace.’

 

Radak was walking with quick strides through a familiar palace corridor. The place he arrived at was none other than Kaisertern’s own room—the one he had used right until becoming Emperor.

 

‘It’s the Third Prince’s Palace. Exactly when was this?’

 

The current Chief Attendant, who was then the Third Prince’s attendant, opened the door looking younger. In the eyes of Radak as he entered the room, he saw the adult-form Kaisertern sitting there.

 

‘Ah, yes. Just when I had finished my explosion.’

 

Although his age was fifteen, it was the point when he had suddenly grown into an adult form. From here, it was a part Kaisertern himself remembered, though he couldn’t recall the detailed conversation because it was so long ago.

 

From Radak, he felt a mixture of surprise, envy, and fear. These were likely feelings toward his younger brother, who, unlike himself, had finished the explosion in just three days. However, Radak did not show those emotions outwardly and struck up a friendly conversation.

 

“Hey, Kai! Wow, you finally had your explosion! Congratulations. You’ve grown so impressively!”

 

The fifteen-year-old Kaisertern replied bluntly to the boisterous praise.

 

“Yeah, thanks.”

 

Radak circled Kaisertern with a bright expression, examining every part of his adult form.

 

“It’s amazing. Finishing the explosion in just three days. Who on earth is the lady who caused you to explode like this?”

 

In truth, at that time, Kaisertern hadn’t wanted to talk about Roabellin. It was a boyish heart wanting to keep his first love as his own secret. But even when he tried to brush it off, Radak persistently asked.

 

“What does it matter? Are you just shy? Just tell me, okay?”

 

Even though his body had become an adult’s, Kaisertern was still fifteen. At the time, he was wary of Heymelic, who had subtly bullied him for a long time, but he trusted Radak to some extent because of his friendly attitude. So, in the end, he spoke honestly.

 

“…It’s the daughter of Duke Hertenes of the Kingdom of Aventador.”

 

Having heard the answer he wanted, Radak hid his true intentions and flashed a playful smile.

 

“Aha, so it’s the young lady you met while visiting this time? Did you fall in love as soon as you met her?”

 

“Love? That’s…!”

 

Kaisertern tried to protest, embarrassed by the word ‘love,’ but Radak didn’t let him.

 

“Your body reacted to your heart and performed an explosion. Then that’s love. How did you meet?”

 

Radak was silver-tongued and good at lightening the mood. He asked how the two met and what kind of person she was, and they shared a pleasant conversation before Radak stood up.

 

“You’ll be visiting the Hertenes lady again soon. Think carefully about what you’ll say when you meet her, and whether you’ll propose right away. Your whole body probably aches and feels sore, so for now, get some rest.”

 

And upon leaving the Third Prince’s Palace, Radak went straight to the temporary Emperor, Heymelic.

 

As soon as Radak entered the Emperor’s private office and closed the door, Heymelic threw a question at him.

 

“How did it go? Did you find out?”

 

“Of course.”

 

At Radak’s confident answer, a mean smile hung on Heymelic’s lips.

 

“As expected, you handle that Kai fellow well. He might not trust me, but he trusts you. Chuckle, what a fool… So, who is it?”

 

Radak shrugged as if it were no big deal and answered.

 

“He fell for it because I pretended to worry about him. He’s just a kid. He says she’s the only daughter of Duke Hertenes of the Kingdom of Aventador.”

 

“Hmph, I sent him as a diplomatic envoy and he managed to squeeze in a romance during that time. I thought he might have met some commoner on the street since it was so sudden, but he met the only daughter of a Ducal house? Ha…”

 

Heymelic felt an inferiority complex toward Kaisertern regarding not only his ability but also his status. Heymelic himself was the son of a concubine, and the first love that caused him to explode was the daughter of a local lord he met while on a royal progress. It was the result of him being involuntarily moved by her. Since she was the one who made him explode, he did bring her to the Imperial Palace. But using the excuse of her low status, he had only granted his first love a single concubine’s position.

 

Thinking while tapping the armrest of his chair with a dissatisfied face, Heymelic suddenly realized a word was stuck in his memory.

 

“By the way, Duke Hertenes? I feel like I’ve heard that somewhere before. Is it a famous family? Well, it doesn’t matter. It’s a family I’m going to wipe out anyway.”

 

At the unexpectedly drastic talk, Radak’s eyes also went round this time.

 

“Ah, you’re not just killing that girl? You’re going to eliminate the whole family?”

 

Heymelic was satisfied with Radak’s surprised reaction and deliberately adopted an even more arrogant gaze.

 

“Why leave any seeds of future trouble? If you’re the Emperor of Great Prahenfelt, you should have this kind of scale. It’s important in itself to prevent him from being with the woman who made him explode. But the family of the one he gave his heart to has to disappear for even a monster like him to experience something like despair.”

 

These were too cruel to be words spoken about a young brother. Nonetheless, instead of stopping him, Radak nodded slowly as if it were natural.

 

“I suppose. That brat has been arrogant since he was a kid. We need to show him that there are things in this world that don’t go his way.”

 

“Then when and how will you do it?”

 

“Starting with the Archmage, I’ll send the mages affiliated with the Imperial Palace and the knights directly under the Emperor to wipe them out at once. Now that we’ve mentioned it, I should have them depart this very day.”

 

“Today? Isn’t that too soon?”

 

“It’ll get troublesome if we dawdle and Kai goes to that Ducal house first. Imagine if he’s already there and fights back. If he officially opposes us, we won’t be able to handle the aftermath.”

 

“Ah…”

 

“Just keep a close eye on Kai’s movements. Ha… I already feel good thinking about him crying and making a scene later.”

 

Not a hint of guilt could be found anywhere on the face of Heymelic as he spoke.

 

“If we can break his spirit by getting rid of some foreign girl, it’s a very profitable trade. Isn’t that right? Chuckles.”

 

“That’s true. I really wish I could be right next to him when he hears the news. I want to see the expression on his face when he hears it.”

 

The two brothers chuckled, sharing their cruel emotions.

 

Radak’s memories regarding Roabellin ended there.

 

Even after cutting the connection with Radak, Kaisertern could not open his eyes for a long while. Shock and rage had consumed his entire body, making it difficult to even breathe calmly. Suppressing this boiling rage so it wouldn’t explode was the best he could do right now.

 

“…”

 

Although Iskal, watching from the front, didn’t know the exact situation, he could tell that Kaisertern’s mind was in total, messy disarray. This was because he could feel the mana surging wildly from his rage-consumed body. Iskal stood silently before him, waiting for Kaisertern to calm his anger on his own.

 

Radak’s memory ended there, but Kaisertern was well aware of what happened afterward.

 

‘Because I personally saw the burnt, collapsed Ducal castle and the bodies.’

 

He vividly remembered his heart at the time, when it felt as if the whole world was collapsing.

 

‘Killing the girl his younger brother first gave his heart to was, to Heymelic, like stepping on a toy his brother liked. That horrific massacre was merely something done to torment me…’

 

His heart ached as if pierced.

 

‘Because I told Radak your name… your innocent family was slaughtered, and you lost everything and came to live in hiding. Because of me…’

 

Kaisertern’s face twisted in agony. After taking deep breaths for a long while and finally managing to control his anger, Kaisertern opened his eyes. He immediately summoned Count Raymond.

 

“Did you call, Your Majesty?”

 

“About Heymelic.”

 

When the Emperor brought up an unexpected name, Count Raymond found it hard to hide his puzzled expression.

 

“Yes. The one who is confined…”

 

“Yes. Go take men immediately and drag him out. Transfer him to the dungeon of the Third Annex.”

 

Count Raymond’s eyes immediately went wide.

 

“What? That place is…”

 

“Yes. I have found evidence that he attempted treason again while in confinement.”

 

This time, even Iskal’s eyes, listening from the side, went wide.

 

“What?! I-I understand.”

 

“And.”

 

Kaisertern looked at the unconscious, limp Radak with a face full of loathing and said:

 

“On your way out, drag this man out as well and put him in the same dungeon.”

 

“Ah… even the Grand Duke of Schlett, you mean?”

 

Count Raymond, surprised by the sudden, successive orders, flurried.

 

“…Grand Duke?”

 

Kaisertern frowned, displeased by the title ‘Grand Duke’ used to refer to Radak.

 

“Since the charges have been confirmed, he is now merely a criminal. Strip him of the title of Grand Duke of Schlett and all his property, and reclaim the surname of Prahenfelt as well. Tell everyone to treat him as a criminal from now on.”

 

His voice was deeply lowered with rage. Surprised by Kaisertern’s unusual atmosphere, Count Raymond didn’t ask further and called his subordinates to drag Radak out. Once Count Raymond left, Iskal, standing by his side, asked quietly.

 

“In the memories you saw, you found new charges against Prince Heymelic.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Since he was already confined on treason charges, there were no more crimes to add even if new treason charges were discovered.

 

However, the important part for Kaisertern was that he had ‘intended to kill Roabellin and her immediate family,’ and Kaisertern wanted to punish Heymelic on that count. He wanted to atone to her and her family in this way.

 

But as Heymelic had said, Roabellin was merely the daughter of a foreign Ducal house. It was difficult to punish the Emperor of that time under imperial law for what he did to a foreign noble family. Therefore, he had no choice but to make a big deal out of the fact that he had plotted treason even during confinement and punish him severely.

 

Instead of explaining all these thoughts, Kaisertern simply answered with a small nod.

 

“I intend to punish him so that he will regret it for the rest of his life.”

 

Iskal asked cautiously.

 

“If it’s the dungeon of the Third Annex…”

 

“Yes. He will never see the sunlight again. He won’t even be able to die; he’ll live in agony, wishing he were dead instead. I’ll make him feel for himself that hell isn’t necessarily a place you can only go to after you die.”

 

Iskal once again felt the burning rage seething in Kaisertern’s chest from his voice, as he emphasized every single word.

 

No matter how much treason was involved, executing an immediate member of the imperial family would meet with great opposition. Even if he pushed through with the execution, there was a possibility that public sentiment would turn, calling him an emperor who killed his own brothers.

 

‘And there will surely be those who try to take advantage of that wavering public sentiment.’

 

Therefore, Kaisertern had to punish Heymelic in a way that he wouldn’t die but would experience the greatest pain while alive, and no place was as suitable for that as the dungeon of the Third Annex.

 

It was a place where not a single ray of sunlight had entered since it was built. Sewage and filth were mixed on the floors and walls, and there were far more rats and insects than humans. The criminals who entered that place would often go mad before long.

 

The most terrifying part of that dungeon was the fact that none of the criminals who entered had ever come out alive. No, no one had come out even after dying. This was because even the bodies of dead criminals were not recovered. The severe stench coming from the dungeon was not just the smell of the sewers.

 

This fact, combined with rumors that original spirits haunted the dungeon, led people who knew about the Third Annex dungeon to say, ‘The criminal imprisoned in this dungeon will have both their body and soul trapped here forever.’

 

‘Publicly, it’s enough to say that I sent them to a dungeon within the Imperial Palace without killing them. Most people won’t care later whether a traitor came out of the dungeon alive anyway.’

 

And there was one more reason why Kaisertern did not kill Heymelic.

 

‘In the future, my Empress might want to take her revenge personally… so I cannot end it. Wait there for now. You won’t go peacefully. Heymelic, Radak.’

 

Kaisertern’s expression turned cruel, and his golden eyes sank into a dark shade.

 

 

***

 

 

“Whew… the sunshine is so lovely.”

 

Roabellin stepped out into the courtyard, stretching her limbs as she squinted against the bright light. A yawn escaped her naturally as her body uncurled. Watching her, Lisa spoke with a look of pity. These days, Lisa felt less like a maid and more like a nanny or a doting aunt.

 

“My lady, even if you lack energy, you must keep coming out like this to soak up the sun and move your body. That’s the only way your appetite will return.”

 

Roabellin moved her body side to side, answering weakly.

 

“Sometimes, just sitting up in bed makes my stomach churn. It’s not that I don’t have an appetite; it’s that even the smell of food is agonizing.”

 

Indeed, Roabellin was suffering from severe morning sickness. Because she found it difficult to even bear the scent of cooking, the rest of the household had to join her in eating simple meals that didn’t give off strong aromas.

 

“I’m so sorry, everyone. Maybe I should just take a walk around the neighborhood during mealtimes?”

 

Feeling guilty toward the household, Roabellin suggested an alternative, but Lisa immediately vetoed it.

 

“In that condition? Alone? Every single mealtime? Have you lost your mind? Who knows if someone has sent assassins after you?”

 

Lisa poured out nagging remarks at a speed that would put a professional interrogator to shame.

 

“A-ah… no… okay, okay. I won’t go. But everyone is so uncomfortable because of me.”

 

At her reply, Lisa sighed.

 

“Goodness… the one who is most uncomfortable and struggling right now is you, my lady. Who are you trying to be considerate of? Don’t feel sorry, just stay at ease and let us take care of you. You returned after succeeding in your goal; you’re allowed to act a bit haughty and be served.”

 

Lisa’s tone was blunt, but her voice was warm.

 

“Has it been two weeks? Three? You’ve barely eaten a thing. Even if you force a spoonful down, you vomit it right back up. You’re wasting away by the day… our hearts are practically burnt to a crisp from worry.”

 

Roabellin forced a bright smile as she looked at the worrying Lisa.

 

“It’ll pass soon. Once the morning sickness is over, I’m going to eat everything I’ve been craving. Don’t you dare scold me for eating too much then.”

 

“Once you’re able to eat, I’ll be bringing you food without rest. Just you wait.”

 

As the two engaged in their light bickering, Estina approached and sat beside them.

 

“I’m worried because Roa can’t eat much… but let’s try to hang in there a little longer. I’m working hard on developing a potion to ease morning sickness.”

 

“Thanks, Auntie. I hope it’s finished soon.”

 

Estina watched Roabellin, who was smiling broadly at her, and suddenly mentioned something that had crossed her mind.

 

“I heard something interesting. They say morning sickness is a maternal immune response, right?”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

“There’s a theory that the more genetically different the baby is from the mother, the more severe the morning sickness. Of course, pregnancy symptoms vary so much between individuals that you can’t generalize.”

 

“The more different from the mother?”

 

“Right. In other words, the more the baby resembles the father.”

 

Hearing that, Roabellin couldn’t help but picture Kaisertern’s face. The realization that she had created this child with him, and that his child was growing inside her, made her face flush crimson. Then, another thought occurred to her.

 

“But Auntie, our family’s genes are incredibly strong. Direct descendants always have platinum blonde hair, and if it’s a girl, almost always purple eyes. Even for sons, the eye color is somewhat fixed.”

 

“True. But did you forget? The most remarkable trait of our family’s genetic power.”

 

Estina smiled mischievously and continued.

 

“If the child’s father is a legitimate king, the first child born to a direct-line daughter of ours is always born with black hair and blue eyes. Well, let’s see for ourselves whether a legitimate Emperor is sitting in Prahenfeldt or not.”

 

Estina winked playfully at Roabellin.

 

“Oh, surely not… Hahaha.”

 

Roabellin started to say, “There’s no way a man that great isn’t a legitimate king,” but then she thought of Kaisertern again. This time, a sharp pang of longing hit her chest. She swallowed her words and finished with an awkward laugh.

 

Yet, on the other hand, a sense of anticipation began to stir—wondering what the baby would look like and who they would resemble. Roabellin gently stroked her lower abdomen, which hadn’t yet begun to show. The presence of the baby, which had felt surreal until now, suddenly felt a little more tangible.

 

“Is there really a person in here…?”

 

Beside her, Estina and Lisa gently held the hands of the murmuring Roabellin. It was a peaceful, warm afternoon, the likes of which she hadn’t experienced once during her lonely adventures away from home.

 

 

***

 

 

Time flowed for Iskal as well. For several months, Iskal spent most of his time in Aventador. This was because he was putting great effort into a project to sway public sentiment.

 

A few months ago, on the day Kaisertern had looked at Radak’s memories and boiled over with rage, Iskal had briefly intercepted Radak while he was being transferred to the dungeon to see the same memories Kaisertern had viewed.

 

‘The Emperor said he confirmed Heymelic’s treasonous intent after seeing Radak’s memories related to Roabellin. I wonder if Heymelic also knows her identity and the legend of Huga… I have to check.’

 

To help Estina, he needed to know the truth. Upon confirming the reality, he was struck with horror in a slightly different sense than Kaisertern.

 

‘Heymelic did that to Hertenes? Yes, the records of the private audience between the King and Queen seemed suspicious too. I planned to investigate it eventually, but for it to pop up in such an unexpected place…’

 

Like Kaisertern, Iskal had to take a moment to breathe and manage his shock and anger.

 

‘Neither I nor Estina can punish him directly now, but at least the Emperor intends to punish him severely, so perhaps it’s a blessing in disguise.’

 

Regardless, the Aventador royal family had sent people with the same intention; they had simply failed due to the timing.

 

‘If Heymelic hadn’t sent his men, the ones sent by my uncle would have done the exact same thing that day. They killed off the branch families and seized all the wealth of both the direct and branch lines… Fine. If the Emperor punishes Heymelic, then my uncle and his family are my responsibility.’

 

While stoking his fighting spirit by picturing the face of Euraxiz, who had also poisoned his father, Iskal suddenly thought of Estina.

 

‘Estina believes my uncle did everything. I must tell her that, at least for that day, the true culprit was Heymelic.’

 

Iskal knew well that Estina and Roabellin had lived in fear for the past eight years, thinking the King of Aventador might be searching for them.

 

‘The Aventador royal family almost certainly doesn’t believe they are alive. I need to tell them so they can live with a bit more peace of mind.’

 

Iskal took out his communication device for the first time in a while and tried to contact Estina. He felt a slight flutter of excitement at the thought of speaking with her after so long. Telling her the truth about the massacre might be a good excuse to call. However, no matter how many times he tried, Estina did not answer.

 

‘Maybe she missed the first few calls, but this many…’

 

With a darkened expression, Iskal let out a sigh.

 

‘Estina is avoiding the Aventador royal family, and it’s common for royalty and the Imperial household to be in contact. Since she knows I have a connection with the Emperor, she must be cutting off contact with me for safety.’

 

It was a perfectly understandable misunderstanding. Yet, he couldn’t help the ache in his chest. It was fine if he couldn’t reach her right now. But he became terrified that he might never see her again.

 

‘It can’t be helped. First, I must create a place where Estina can return. I’ll prepare a position worthy of her and wait. So that whenever we meet again, I can clear the misunderstanding and propose immediately.’

 

Strengthened by his resolve for her, Iskal focused on his planned infiltration of Aventador.

 

 

***

 

 

Soon after, a bizarre rumor began to circulate in Aselenton, the capital of Aventador. The rumor that started among a few nobles quickly spread among the commoners.

 

“Did you hear that? About the late King?”

 

“Ah, that? I heard it too. That the current King did it, right?”

 

“Yeah, doesn’t it seem true? The late King was young and had no other illnesses.”

 

“I think so too. Someone said we should look at who benefited most from his death.”

 

“Oh, you’re right. Actually, the late King had a son, the Prince, but the current King ended up on the throne instead.”

 

“Exactly. They said it was because the Prince was too young, but it’s still strange. Oh, and Hertenes was completely destroyed back then too. They say the King did that as well?”

 

“What? Why would the royal family do that to their bonded family?”

 

“Well… maybe because he’s not the legitimate king? If it’s true he killed his own brother to take the throne.”

 

“Ah, because he lacked legitimacy, he couldn’t marry his son to the daughter of Huga, but he couldn’t let her marry anyone else either? Hey, wait, this actually sounds plausible.”

 

Iskal’s agents, subtly blended among the commoners, spread the rumors in every corner.

 

It was already a time of hardship with no good news. The rumors, primarily spread in taverns and marketplaces, became increasingly exaggerated and detailed.

 

“Hmph, it’s because a man like that is on the throne that we have plagues every few years and constant crop failures!”

 

“They say back when we had a Queen from the Huga family, things like this never happened!”

 

The rumor that the people were suffering because of an immoral king—and that the blessings had been withdrawn from Aventador because the King destroyed Huga, the blessing of the god Dominador—spread like it had wings. In proportion to the speed of the rumors, public sentiment toward the royal family chilled rapidly.

 

In the study of the Aselenton villa of the Grand Duchy of Lexton, Iskal greeted his loyal subordinate, Grent, who entered after knocking.

 

“Your Highness, the rumors among the commoners are spreading as planned.”

 

Iskal smiled thinly.

 

“Good. Once the anger of the absolute majority—the commoners—boils over, the nobles who support me can use that as an excuse to take the actions they want. Now it’s time to work on the neutral faction of nobles.”

 

Grent also smiled and bowed his head.

 

“Understood. What narrative should we use?”

 

“Something more specific. Pose as an acquaintance of those who served my late father in the royal palace. Spread stories describing the symptoms of poisoning at the time of his passing.”

 

“Should I find books related to that poison and place them in the noble council library?”

 

“No, that’s fine. If there’s a mysterious magic or herb, they’ll inevitably send someone to the Magic Tower anyway. Contact the Magic Tower and coordinate our stories in advance.”

 

“Since Your Highness is the Master of the Magic Tower, things move quite smoothly. Understood.”

 

Iskal wanted to solidify the legitimacy of his throne without shedding unnecessary blood. Therefore, he did not rush, starting with a war of public opinion and slowly tightening the net around the current royal family.

 

***

 

 

Euraxiz and Skark, due to their temperaments, had very few people who were truly loyal to them. Euraxiz, in particular, had lost a lot of public support due to his cruel nature and poor governance.

 

Therefore, the nobles who had supported the previous King, Erik, secretly hoped his son Iskal would take the throne. In this situation, triggered by the rumors in the capital, the atmosphere shifted quietly and quickly toward Iskal. Since it was a dangerous rumor, the nobles only shared it secretly with those who were clearly on their side. Thus, the rumor did not reach Euraxiz’s ears until it was quite widespread.

 

Meanwhile, the Council of Nobles was drafting a “Request for Clarification” to be submitted to Euraxiz.

 

The content was: ‘Since suspicions are being raised regarding your involvement in the mysterious death of the previous King, clarify the matter through legitimate procedures.’

 

It was a clarification process that couldn’t be requested based on mere gossip. However, this rumor was plausible with circumstantial evidence, and there was the reliable presence of Iskal to replace the current king. It was, in effect, a challenge to the sitting King.

 

Before long, the Council of Nobles requested a meeting with Iskal.

 

“Your Highness, people from the Council of Nobles have arrived.”

 

The nobles, led into the drawing room by the butler, paid their respects to Iskal and pushed a prepared document toward him.

 

“Your Highness, we are preparing to submit a request for clarification to the King. We have come to seek your advice beforehand.”

 

Until now, Iskal had feigned total ignorance, acting as if the rumors had nothing to do with him. But now was the time to step forward and push the matter. After quickly scanning the request, he spoke.

 

“No matter how plausible it is, it must have been difficult to come to me and demand clarification from the sitting King based only on suspicion. Have men guard the entrance to the ‘King’s Conservatory’ and the entrance to the archives within the temple. Do it immediately, as we don’t know when word might leak.”

 

The faces of the nobles brightened as they heard exactly the answer they wanted. It meant Iskal had joined their cause.

 

Shortly thereafter, the request for clarification was submitted to Euraxiz. Euraxiz, who had not known about the unfolding situation, could not hide his panic.

 

“H-how dare you present this to the King! Do you suspect me of being a murderer?!”

 

The King’s voice rose, but Marquis Talon, the chairman of the Council of Nobles, answered calmly.

 

“Your Majesty. We are truly sorry, but this is according to legitimate procedures. If the content of these rumors is entirely false, there is no problem, is there? Your Majesty simply needs to prove that these rumors are groundless.”

 

Despite his infamous temper, Euraxiz was left speechless by the mention of “legitimate procedures.” Furthermore, since the entire conversation was being recorded, there was nothing he could do. He answered through gritted teeth.

 

“…Fine, I understand. I will investigate and clarify, so leave me for now.”

 

But Marquis Talon was not an easy man.

 

“Then, Your Majesty, will the clarification be completed in a week?”

 

A week. It was a ridiculously short deadline.

 

“No, I have to investigate how my brother died from the beginning; how does that timeframe make sense?”

 

To the agitated Euraxiz, Marquis Talon countered skillfully.

 

“Since an investigation must have been conducted at the time of the late King’s passing, couldn’t you shorten the time significantly by starting with those materials?”

 

He said this knowing full well that Euraxiz had practically conducted no investigation.

 

“…At that time, things were chaotic because I had to take over the throne so suddenly. I couldn’t conduct a proper investigation.”

 

“Your brother died under mysterious circumstances; surely you wouldn’t have just tried to bury it without even starting an investigation.”

 

Marquis Talon didn’t yield a single inch.

 

‘Damn it.’

 

Euraxiz clutched his throbbing forehead and answered.

 

“Fine, fine. I get it. I’ll try my best to meet the one-week deadline.”

 

Only then did Marquis Talon wear a satisfied smile.

 

 

***

 

 

Kaisertern spent several busy days interrogating Heymelic with a truth spell to confirm the charges publicly and imprisoning him and Radak in the dungeon. He also didn’t forget to take care of the late Emperor’s First and Second Consorts—the mothers of Heymelic and Radak—who had tormented his own mother, the Empress.

 

“Inform them that their sons have been imprisoned in the dungeon of the Third Annex on treason charges. And if they come to see their sons, let them have a very good look.”

 

The Chief Attendant, who knew well how the First and Second Consorts had treated the young Kaisertern, asked.

 

“Your Majesty… will that be enough? Since they are now the mothers of traitors, you could at least have them live out their remaining days in a convent…”

 

He meant that since a good excuse had arisen, it was an opportunity to take revenge on them if he wished. The Chief Attendant spoke cautiously, fearing he might touch Kaisertern’s childhood wounds, but Kaisertern looked unexpectedly calm.

 

“No, that will be enough for them.”

 

‘Sending Heymelic and Radak there—when they could have just been confined—was Roabellin’s revenge, not revenge for my childhood.’

 

Certainly, the things he suffered during his childhood were painful memories. However, as he ascended the throne, he let go of most of his personal grudges. The mere fact that he had become Emperor was the most effective revenge against his two half-brothers and their mothers.

 

Therefore, he felt no need to separately punish the former consorts, who had done nothing to Roabellin.

 

“What punishment could be more severe than seeing their only sons, who were once noble princes, in that state? And confirming with their own eyes the fact that they can never leave that place. It will likely be more than they can bear.”

 

And Kaisertern’s prediction was correct.

 

The late Emperor’s First and Second Consorts, who rushed over as soon as they heard the news, collapsed in wails after seeing their sons, who had turned into the likeness of beasts within a week.

 

Soon, word reached the palace that the First Consort had begun to waste away from illness, and the Second Consort spent her days alternating between crying, laughing, and screaming.