Chapter – 60
“From the outside… it also makes it easier to objectively see just how badly the country has fallen.”
“Your Majesty…”
“I know better than anyone that Hiten is not fit to become Emperor. That is precisely why I have refused to give him the position of Crown Prince.”
“…No one knows whether His Highness Crown Prince Edmund has returned or not.”
“Duke.”
The Emperor looked at Scari with pleading eyes.
“Do you remember the final oracle from the Temple twenty years ago?”
“…”
For a moment, Scari’s eyes wavered. Then he replied in a dark voice,
“That was literally the final oracle. It was delivered as the gods departed, and no one knows whether it can even be trusted.”
It was said that the Temple had always delivered oracles for the Imperial Family.
The most famous among them was:
“The future of Teylise lies in the messages it receives.”
But for nearly five hundred years, no oracles had appeared.
Corruption in the Temple had reached its peak, and the Emperor had decided to shut it down.
By then, the meaning of divine power had already diminished to something closer to “the power of service.”
Moreover, the Temple—created solely for the imperial family—and divine power used among the people were clearly derived from different sources.
In other words, there was no real connection between the Temple and divine power.
There was no reason to keep the Temple anymore.
“After all, it was an oracle meant for the imperial family, was it not? The imperial family sees the citizens of the empire as their own children. No parent would wish to take advice from those who live off their children’s taxes.”
And on the day the Temple was closed, a priest trembling in fear received the final oracle.
A great calamity shall soon descend and bring immense disaster. However, it shall ultimately be overcome by the power of Prelai, who has long protected the imperial family, and the Empire shall flourish once more.
And finally, the god declared:
I shall use all my remaining power for this purpose, and now I truly depart. The Temple may be closed.
And so, with this uneasy but final divine permission, the Temple was peacefully shut down.
Twenty years had passed since then.
The Emperor believed that the “great calamity” mentioned in the oracle referred to the disappearance of Crown Prince Edmund.
And thus, he could not abandon hope that Prelai’s power would ultimately bring him back.
“You know this already,” Scari said bitterly.
“You and Hou have both failed.”
“I will not abandon hope.”
The Emperor smiled faintly and took Scari’s hand.
“Your granddaughter… Kiana? She has returned as well. It cannot be a coincidence that these events occurred simultaneously.”
“…Pardon?”
“You mean they might be bound by fate.”
“Wh-what are you…”
“I once even dreamed of the Lady marrying our Ed.”
Scari, who had been gloomy until now, immediately turned serious.
“I hope Kiana lives her entire life in the Prelai ducal estate.”
The thought of Kiana marrying someone made him feel inexplicably irritated.
Even if that someone was the Crown Prince…
Scari recalled Edmund from his memories.
He had been a wonderful boy—so beloved by the Emperor.
Too naive! Though if that attacker really is the Crown Prince, he has become extremely ruthless.
A face without shadows, kind, gentle, and delicate in personality, outstanding in many fields…
Though he had gained a bit of weight from living too comfortably…
Too soft-hearted! Even if he was nearly a Sword Master.
In fact, despite that build, he had still reached the brink of Sword Mastery, which was even more impressive.
Kiana is too good for him!
Scari quickly reached a conclusion and said firmly,
“And Kiana has a reputation for being cruel and selfish. You are aware of that, I assume.”
“Ed is far too kind and trusting. Someone like the Lady would be perfect beside him.”
Even while weak, the Emperor’s eyes shone brightly.
It seemed he was extremely fond of Kiana.
Sensing danger, Scari hurriedly said,
“Kiana is terrible at judging people. She only cares about appearances.”
“Our Ed will be quite handsome once he loses a little weight. I’ll personally take care of that baby fat. He simply enjoys food too much.”
The Emperor likely intended to insist even if the Crown Prince were fifty years old that it was still “baby fat.”
“Our Kiana has no interest in food. She only sees it as fuel. Her interests are completely different.”
“Nonsense. If Ed introduces her to the world of fine cuisine, she’ll become healthier. It’s a perfect complementary relationship.”
In the end, Scari took a deep breath and declared firmly,
“Well then, Kiana already has a lover.”
He felt irritated even saying it out loud, but there was no helping it.
The Crown Prince was too troublesome.
Using that infamous “trash Marquis who could be eliminated anytime” as an excuse was convenient.
“Haha, young people date, break up, it happens. Take your time, take your time.”
“Our Kiana—”
Cough, cough. I’m ill… truly ill… Duke, you may go now.
In the end, Scari had no choice but to leave the palace.
He resolved to vent his inexplicable irritation on House Pervs.
Chapter – 05 Julius Has Returned
When I had just entered the manor, the ducal estate physician, Kaelon, was in the middle of reporting on Lord Julius and Daram.
“Lord Julius was handled with a sedative injection, and Lord Daram, after seeing that Lord Julius had fallen asleep, said that the long journey had been too exhausting and immediately went to bed.”
Hm. It was a treatment where it almost felt like the human and the beast had been switched… but anyway.
Kaelon continued his report.
“He wasn’t originally in a condition where his body should have aged that much…”
He kept his head lowered as he looked through his records.
“But because he rode continuously without rest for such a long time, his muscle condition was extremely poor.”
The one listening to the report was Joshua.
For some reason, Grandfather was still unable to leave the palace, so in the end, Joshua was the only Prelai left at the estate.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
As I entered, Kaelon gave me a brief bow and turned away. The back of the longtime ducal physician was now noticeably hunched.
Joshua let out a long sigh and collapsed into the reception room sofa.
“This damn miserable household…”
He muttered dramatically, rubbing his eyes like a tragic protagonist.
“If I’m not here, nothing works! Nothing!”
I sat across from him and asked honestly,
“What exactly did you do, brother?”
“I called Kaelon and told him to check on Lord Julius!”
“Wow, that’s amazing. Incredible. Truly admirable.”
I clapped and praised his achievement.
“My youngest sister, after confronting long-standing trauma and suffering deep emotional wounds, still managed to bravely secure the Pebble Ore contract.”
“……”
The small serpent wrapped around Joshua’s arm, Rhea, let out an amused hiss.
<Wow, she’s really good at messing with people.>
“Thanks for the compliment.”
I answered dutifully, then yawned at Joshua.
“Anyway, you can go now. You must be tired.”
“…You’re telling me to leave right now?”
“Is this even your house?”
“Ha! After I followed you all the way to the banquet hall because I was worried about you, you’re telling me to leave immediately? Huh? Why are you so cold-hearted?”
“Brother.”
I stared at Joshua and said,
“So what should the pitiful younger sister do for you right now?”
“…Prepare knights for tomorrow.”
Joshua ground his teeth as though realizing something.
“I didn’t want to go this far because of Leon… but I’ll have to finish off Pervs.”
Leon was the eldest son of House Pervs—the same person Rodrigo was so desperate to bring down.
Unlike most of House Pervs, Leon was quite diligent. However, he lacked social skills and intelligence, so despite his achievements, he was overshadowed by Rodrigo.
“Were you and Leon close, brother?”
“No. Why would I be close to that diligent idiot?”
Joshua answered immediately.
“But he did once give me a limited-edition belt.”
“Oh, I see.”
Suddenly moved, I clasped my hands together.
To think he would destroy an entire noble house for someone who had shown him that level of kindness…
“Brother… so you really do love me now.”
At my words, Joshua frowned.
“What are you talking about?”
“Ah, never mind.”
“You really shouldn’t go around thinking everyone likes you so much. Got it?”
Joshua shouted, getting more and more worked up.
“Soon, everyone in the Empire will end up liking you anyway!”
“……”
