Chapter – 32
Because of the Emperor’s sudden visit, I returned to my room first. The spy maid asked in a flustered voice,
“His Majesty… what kind of request could he be making?”
“Well…”
Whenever past emperors had a personal and important request for the Prellai family, they always came directly to the Prellai ducal residence. That was because Prellai could control summoned beasts and use supernatural power. So whenever the Emperor faced a difficult matter, he would come in person to ask for help.
The Prellai ducal family had always been the most loyal and trustworthy servants of the imperial family.
“But what kind of difficult request would require this…?”
And when the Emperor made such a request, the head of the Prellai family would gather all family members and choose an appropriate summoned beast. That meant this would be a discussion centered around summoning.
As Grandfather prepared to receive the Emperor, he spoke to me in a low voice.
“Kiana, make sure you come.”
Normally, I would have never gone out, even if the Emperor personally visited and Grandfather called for me—I would have used illness as an excuse. That was why I understood why he said that to me.
I naturally sat down in front of the mirror and began choosing a hair ornament.
‘I know why he came…’
In the original story, the Emperor also visited the Prellai residence. I knew he would come eventually—but I didn’t expect it to be this soon.
“Hmm…”
With the help of the spy maid, I changed into a formal dress. After quickly getting ready, I followed the butler’s guidance to the reception room.
It was time to meet the Emperor.
‘Oh dear… he looks fine on the outside, but…’
The moment I saw the Emperor in the reception room, I sighed inwardly.
The Emperor had silver hair and blue eyes—a rather handsome middle-aged man—but his face clearly showed signs of illness. He was much younger than Grandfather, yet the hand holding his cane trembled.
“I greet Your Majesty the Emperor. I am Kiana Prellai.”
“It has been a while, young lady. I heard you returned from the academy a few days ago.”
The Emperor smiled kindly as he replied.
Normally, when the Emperor visited the Prellai residence, all direct members of the family had to gather. That meant even Joshua was present, wearing a displeased expression. No matter how unruly Joshua was, he still had to bow before the Emperor’s authority.
“Alex is away, so… this is all the direct family for now.”
Grandfather spoke politely.
“If there is anything you wish from us, please speak freely. According to the ancient covenant, we will do whatever we can.”
His respectful words carried the weight of a long-standing oath—the vow of loyalty made by the first head of the family, Elica Prellai, to the first Emperor, Edmund Tailize.
“As always, the Prellai family will do its utmost to fulfill Your Majesty’s request.”
Anyone in the Prellai family could control summoned beasts, but even the imperial family did not know the specifics of their individual abilities. So when the Emperor made a request, the Prellai family would hold a discussion and resolve the matter using an appropriate ability.
That was why the head of the Prellai family and their direct relatives stayed in the capital instead of the duchy.
Usually, the abilities of the direct family were enough. But if not, they would contact collateral branches. Sometimes, like Melissa, there were people in the collateral line who could control summoned beasts. That was why, ten years ago, a collateral member named Julius had come from the northern outskirts to the capital.
“As you know, I too have done many things for the Tailize imperial family until reaching this old age.”
“Cough, cough… Duke, you’ve become more talkative since I last saw you.”
“I’ve decided to speak my mind freely now. It feels quite refreshing.”
The Emperor muttered quietly, “Showing off…” before clearing his throat.
“Ahem… well…”
His blue eyes trembled slightly.
“In truth, my body is no longer in good condition. Right now, I am only able to move thanks to painkillers and stimulants given by the royal physician.”
Ah, so that’s how he managed to come here despite being bedridden—it was the power of drugs.
The Emperor sat upright and continued,
“I was told that in exchange for being able to move today, I will suffer even greater pain for the next couple of months and may lose consciousness entirely.”
Joshua subtly gestured to me with his eyes. What kind of request is so important that he came here after taking such harsh medication?—that was what it meant.
Even Grandfather looked tense as the Emperor slowly spoke.
“You may have heard… Orca caused a commotion last night, claiming he saw Ed.”
Ed.
At that name, both Grandfather and I flinched slightly. It was the nickname of the Crown Prince Edmund—the one the Emperor cherished deeply. That name itself came from the first Emperor.
“According to Hiton, Orca was drunk and hallucinating…”
The Emperor’s deep blue eyes were filled with worry.
“However, Your Majesty,”
Grandfather let out a small sigh and replied calmly,
“As I have told you many times, even the Prellai family cannot locate a missing Crown Prince…”
“No, I did not come to make such an unreasonable demand. I simply have a small wish.”
The Emperor continued in a sorrowful tone.
“If there is even a chance the Crown Prince is alive… I wish to go, with my own feet, and pray at the Tailize Tree.”
‘As expected…’
In the original story, the Emperor made the exact same request. The only difference was that the timing had been moved forward because the Crown Prince had acted sooner than expected.
“As a parent who loves his child.”
The Tailize Tree.
Long ago, a massive tree grew where the first Emperor, Edmund Tailize, was buried. It was named the Tailize Tree.
However… calling it a tree was misleading. It wasn’t truly a tree.
Because what it loved most was not water or sunlight—but jewels.
Still, since it looked like a tree, it was called the “Tailize Tree.”
Whenever emperors faced difficulties, they would go to the Tailize Tree and pray for their descendants to be protected.
Of course, they would offer jewels—the thing the tree loved most.
When jewels were placed against its trunk, the tree would glow and absorb them. The more it liked a jewel, the more it would sway its branches in delight.
Through repeated offerings, the emperors discovered several rules:
The larger and heavier the jewel, the more it liked it—especially Eli stones. As expected, the first Emperor had been rather materialistic.
The tree resembled him in many ways.
It preferred offerings placed at higher positions. The first Emperor had disliked bowing his head.
And offerings couldn’t be made just anywhere—some things were forbidden.
Animals could not approach the Tailize Tree. The first Emperor had disliked non-human creatures.
Perhaps because it was sacred, no insects, birds, or squirrels ever came near it.
The Emperor sighed.
“I wish to offer the largest and heaviest Eli stone I possess… at the highest place possible.”
Eli stones were beautiful, but far too heavy to even be used as jewelry.
If it was the largest one owned by the Emperor, it must be enormous.
“Ah…”
“Is there no way?”
“Hmm…”
Grandfather fell into thought, looking troubled.
Summoned beasts were still beasts—they wouldn’t go near the Tailize Tree. Their special abilities weren’t helpful either. Purification or human transformation abilities were useless in this case.
Ppi-yak was no exception. It couldn’t carry something as heavy as an Eli stone. And besides, it hadn’t even returned yet.
‘Of course, hardly anyone even knows Ppi-yak is my summoned beast…’
The only places I had taken it were the clubhouse and Cesare’s residence. The Emperor probably assumed, like before, that I couldn’t use summoning at all.
“And there is also the limitation that this must be done today…”
Grandfather muttered, clearly troubled. There didn’t seem to be any suitable summoner even among the collateral family—and even if there were, there wasn’t enough time to summon them.
“…You mean a place far higher than what human hands can reach.”
“That’s right.”
Silence fell.
The Emperor looked at Grandfather with a desperate expression. But that didn’t mean Grandfather could promise something impossible.
After all, even in the original story, this request couldn’t be fulfilled.
‘Sigh…’
According to the original story, the Emperor’s condition would soon worsen, and he would lose consciousness.
That was why he couldn’t stop Hiton when he later accused the Prellai family of treason.
‘By then… the Empress had already been deposed, and the Emperor was as good as a living corpse.’
Was it really worth stepping in for someone who wouldn’t even be able to help later?
Joshua also looked uninterested, idly swinging his foot.
But…
Joshua’s young face looked too healthy, while Grandfather’s old face looked too tired.
‘He looks pitiful… still unable to step down as head of the family at his age because of useless grandchildren…’
In the end, I swallowed and broke the silence.
“Your Majesty.”
Then I asked calmly,
“Would it not be possible to shoot the jewel upward with an arrow as an offering?”
The Emperor looked slightly puzzled but answered kindly,
“I considered that as well, but an arrow cannot bear the weight of an Eli stone.”
“May I ask how heavy it is?”
“44 pelrot.”
It might have been a slightly rude question, but the Emperor answered sincerely.
Wow… 44 pelrot. There was no way an arrow could handle that.
“Then, Your Majesty,”
I said calmly,
“I believe I can solve that problem.”
