Ch.237237. This gentleman… it’s not that he’s sick, but has he gone senile…

“Ahem! You’ve had a hard journey coming here.”

Emperor Malius, whom I met in the imperial reception room.

I had returned from Lucius territory as quickly as possible, but he looked much thinner than when I last saw him.

“Are you alright, Your Majesty?”

“I’ve been holding on until your arrival. *cough!!*”

“Now that I’ve brought the Saint, you needn’t worry anymore.”

Emperor Malius gazes intently at Saint Claudia sitting across from him.

“Haha… you’ve come a long way.”

“Y-Your Imperial Majesty, please don’t lower yourself to me.”

“*cough! cough!* How could I not humble myself before one who serves the sacred deity? Please don’t concern yourself with it.”

And then.

Emperor Malius adjusted his posture and continued.

“Saint Claudia. Could you give me some time to speak with Selden Alphonse alone?”

With that, Saint Claudia rose with a gentle smile.

After she left the reception room, Emperor Malius resumed speaking.

“…I spoke with Etherian last night, as you advised.”

“May I ask how she reacted?”

“I’m not quite sure yet, but she seemed shocked.”

“I imagine so. No matter how long ago it happened, she must have been carrying it in her heart.”

Emperor Malius hesitated, then lifted his head.

“Do you truly believe Etherian has been harboring that day’s events in her heart?”

As a reader of the original novel, it was obvious that Princess Etherian had kept that day’s events close to her heart.

Just before her death, after hearing the truth behind the incident from Welsran, she was devastated.

Princess Etherian feared her father.

From her perspective, her father was a man so blinded by the desire for power that he even killed his own brother.

Because the target could have been turned on her as well, she lived holding her breath.

Until her father, Emperor Malius, passed away…

That’s why.

In the original story, when she learned the truth, her anger and hatred toward her father transformed into sorrow and regret, and she crumbled miserably.

She must have felt suffocated.

After all, the person she needed to apologize to was no longer in this world.

“Does Your Imperial Majesty wish to be hated by your daughter?”

At my question, Emperor Malius hesitated again before showing a faint smile.

“There’s no father in this world who would want that. However, I’ve held back all this time knowing that the pain of being hurt by someone you trusted is even greater.”

“…Have you considered how Princess Etherian would feel if she learned the truth after your passing?”

“That’s…”

“From the beginning, silencing Butler Welsran was never going to resolve the issue.”

“…I suppose I’ve been quite lacking as a father.”

I smiled gently at the self-reproaching Emperor Malius.

“Not at all. Now that you’ve set things right, it will get better.”

“Then could you speak with Etherian for me?”

“While my conversation with Princess Etherian may not change much, I was planning to visit her anyway.”

“…Thank you.”

“In return, please continue receiving treatment from Saint Claudia.”

“Even if there’s no improvement?”

“Yes, because divine power can sometimes work miracles.”

Emperor Malius stared at me intently before continuing.

“What is it that you desire?”

“I’m not sure I understand what you mean.”

“You’ve been so considerate of me, I’d like to grant you something you want.”

Honestly, I’ve already achieved everything.

I’ve stopped the monster wave and successfully completed the coming-of-age ceremony.

Additionally, while not exactly like the original novel, Serion Lycus is progressing smoothly.

Now I just need to resolve Princess Etherian’s succession rights battle.

“I desire nothing.”

“Are you certain?”

“If Your Imperial Majesty remains in good health, I am truly satisfied.”

Emperor Malius showed a pleased smile.

“Selden Alphonse.”

“I await your command.”

“Then, though it may be presumptuous, may I ask you one favor?”

“Presumptuous? Your Imperial Majesty, please speak freely.”

“What do you think of Etherian?”

“Are you asking about her as a princess?”

“No. I’m asking from a romantic perspective.”

I’ve been asked the same question by Emperor Malius several times.

However, this time it felt more serious than casual.

What do I think of Princess Etherian?

From a romantic standpoint, she’s not bad.

Though she can be grumpy at times, seeing her often makes her seem cute.

But.

Marrying Princess Etherian would mean living in the prison-like imperial palace for the rest of my life.

Of course, if I loved her enough, I could endure it, but currently, I have absolutely no desire for that.

I’m a free spirit, after all.

“Princess Etherian is an admirable person, but she’s too good for me.”

“Too good, you say…”

“Yes.”

“Though she’s my daughter, I can’t help but think you’re too good for Etherian?”

“Your Imperial Majesty underestimates Princess Etherian too much.”

Emperor Malius seemed to contemplate something before his eyes suddenly lit up.

“You don’t want to live like a puppet, do you?”

“…Pardon?”

“Usually, men who marry queens don’t gain ruling rights over the continent.”

“Ah… is that so?”

“What if I told you that if you married Etherian, I’d be willing to hand over the imperial family and power to you entirely?”

I’m already desperate to live quietly, and he wants me to govern the Eastern Continent?

Even managing Lake territory alone feels overwhelming.

Is this man… not sick, but senile?

I collected myself and cleared my throat.

“I have no desire for power. And for now, Your Imperial Majesty’s treatment takes priority.”

Emperor Malius furrowed his brow, looking somewhat dissatisfied.

Then, he slowly rose to his feet.

“Very well. Let’s treat the illness first, then talk again.”

*

“Why did you come alone?”

Sophia Leighton enters the tavern demurely.

A friend I met in Lumestia and a close associate of Princess Etherian.

“Rohan and Lina went on a trip together.”

I was startled as Sophia sighed while taking a seat.

“T-They went on a trip together? Since when did they become so close?”

“Not long ago. Thanks to that, I feel like I’ve lost two friends.”

I remember noticing something unusual in the way Rohan Bricks looked at Lina Covet—so he succeeded?

Jawill Wilson should learn from him.

Though I’m hardly one to talk.

I raised my glass and laughed hollowly.

“Must be lonely?”

“What’s there to be lonely about? Life is meant to be lived alone anyway.”

“…You haven’t changed at all.”

“By the way, what brings you to Lumestia?”

After meeting Emperor Malius, I had tried to meet Princess Etherian but was rejected.

The shock seemed greater than expected.

Therefore.

I met with Sophia Leighton, who knows Princess Etherian and the imperial situation well.

I also had some other things to ask her.

“I have business at the palace.”

“Haven’t you met Princess Etherian recently?”

“Oh? You know about that?”

“Yeah, I frequently visit the palace to see Princess Etherian.”

“When did you last see her?”

“About a week ago?”

A week ago would be before Emperor Malius revealed the truth to Princess Etherian.

That means Sophia wouldn’t know about the princess’s current mood either.

“I see.”

“So you have business at the palace again?”

“Ah! I’m just stopping by briefly because of the defense array designs for Lake territory.”

After my vague explanation, Sophia took her glass and spoke.

“Will you be seeing Princess Etherian this time too?”

“I’m planning to stay at the palace for a few days.”

Sophia looked extremely surprised.

“Wow… you talk about staying at the palace for days so casually.”

“Huh?”

“Unless you’re part of the imperial family, staying at the palace isn’t easy.”

“Haha, is that so?”

“I thought you might be coming for another reason.”

“What reason?”

Sophia suddenly looked around cautiously before speaking carefully.

“Do you know that the atmosphere in the palace has been unusual lately?”

“…Huh?”

“It seems like the succession rights dispute is about to begin in earnest.”

I expected Sophia to know this as Princess Etherian’s closest confidant, but I’m surprised she’s discussing it so openly.

Blinking, I continued.

“…Is it okay to tell me this?”

“Aren’t you close with Princess Etherian anyway? You’ll find out whether you like it or not.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“And this might just be a rumor, but…”

Sophia trailed off.

Then, after looking around once more, she carefully spoke.

“…They say His Imperial Majesty has a terminal illness.”