Ch.24280. Everything Went Backwards.

# The Heart of the Empire

Though the system remained the same, everything else had changed.

It had become more vibrant than before, and far more… splendid and grandiose.

Either the roads had been expanded or the operation of carriages had become more active.

If previously there had been only five or six lanes of traffic in both directions combined, now there were easily seven or eight.

Some buildings and residential areas seemed to have been newly expanded and renovated, looking much better than before.

Even the slum districts appeared to have undergone some improvements, with higher standards of cleanliness than before.

Some structures were undergoing reconstruction, with work in full swing to increase their size and number of floors.

The expressions of laborers and workers showed not a trace of shadow, only brightness, making their future seem incredibly rewarding.

Massive construction was underway outside some sections of the fortress walls, where entrances had been opened through renovation, seemingly to create new residential areas beyond.

After riding in a carriage for over half a day and examining various places on foot,

Alesius could finally personally gauge that the heart of the empire had grown more solid and robust.

The eldest son of the current Berk Empire.

Though his identity could no longer be revealed.

Nevertheless, he was still a prince.

…Even if he himself had come to care little about that aspect now.

Life in the North had changed him in many ways.

It was nearly miraculous that he had survived.

Without any of the considerations due a prince, he had weathered all manner of hardships and trials… with only his own strength, that of his friends who had begged to follow him, and his comrades in the field.

And through it all, he had achieved some meaningful results.

“The world moves forward and drags along regardless of what I do.”

He murmured quietly while fidgeting with the iron mask covering his face.

Shortly after, an elegant four-horse carriage stopped nearby.

“It’s almost the scheduled time, Your Highness.”

“I told you not to call me that here.”

At his words, the blond-haired young man offered a perfunctory apology, saying, “I’m sorry.”

“Where did Ryunan go, and why are you alone, Veter?”

Alesius asked as he entered the surprisingly empty carriage interior.

“He went to pay his respects to his parents.”

“…And you?”

“I was disowned the moment I said I would follow Your Highness.”

Veter, the handsome blond youth, let out a cold laugh.

“……”

“In that sense, Ryunan’s family seems quite affectionate.”

“More like quick to calculate.”

Under the pretext of being affectionate, or indecisive, they could maintain connections with both sides.

They might find it difficult to rise to prominence or join the mainstream, but if their goal was survival and extending their lifeline rather than aiming for the pinnacle of power, it wasn’t the worst choice.

“Has our expectation changed at all?”

“…If it’s not forgiveness, then something must have happened in the imperial family. Being summoned on the pretext of recognizing your achievements… that’s just a formality.”

“Formality, huh.”

He had thought a great deal about this journey, making predictions and conjectures from various angles.

But there was no way to know anything for certain.

The only known fact was that Her Highness the Imperial Princess hadn’t made an official appearance in quite some time.

Though unofficially, she was said to have been glimpsed within the imperial palace recently…

“What’s surprising is that she’s still not being addressed as ‘Her Imperial Highness.'”

“……”

Alesius held a bitter smile on his lips.

Why had Father not designated a crown prince or princess?

It was simply… a reason not to be complacent.

Nothing more, nothing less.

It was obvious that Elhermina would become empress.

But truly, one never knows what might happen in this world.

And Alesius’s own existence was a tool used to prevent his magnificent sister from allowing even a moment’s carelessness.

Of course, Alesius himself had willingly played along with those expectations.

Though the reality was the opposite, he had accepted his political position as somewhat opposed to hers and had consistently shown such movements officially.

Therefore…

‘I knew, Father knew, and Sister knew it all.’

We all knew and proceeded this way.

So was he resentful of his position? Did he regret it?

He wasn’t sure.

His feelings were complicated.

It was the same when he was first cast away to the North.

And even now, having somehow endured and achieved success on his own.

What remained in his heart was neither lingering attachment nor petty anger… just frustration.

Though to those around him, it seemed to reflect as composure, magnanimity, and cool-headedness.

What a misunderstanding.

At some point the conversation ceased, and as he sat quietly, deep in thought,

the carriage stopped, and the door opened for identity verification.

“……”

This too was strange, if anything.

Once, this place had been his home.

Having to go through verification procedures to enter and exit… was something that could never have happened before.

Yet Alesius calmly handed over the order document that verified his identity, then received it back without issue.

The door closed, and the carriage moved again.

“It’s tiresome to repeat myself, but just in case, stay sharp.”

“…Who are you talking to?”

It may be home, but I’ve never let my guard down here.

To me, this place has been a gateway to asceticism, a cave of trials, and a valley of tasks.

“……”

It’s a strange thing.

Why… should we fear and be wary of our homeland rather than long for it?

It was difficult to understand.

====

After parting with his companions and waiting briefly in the guest room,

he was asked to come out into the corridor, and as he poked his head out the door.

“…So it’s Seras.”

A face both familiar and unfamiliar.

That person was properly there to greet him.

Seras opened her blue eyes boldly.

“Who else would it be? Did you think I was my sister?”

Despite their identical appearance except for her longer hair, their auras were polar opposites.

Even she had changed in many ways after Eras was excommunicated and expelled from the family.

When they reunited after being separated for over a year, she had truly changed beyond recognition.

With blue hair and now exuding the experience of a viscountess and head of her family.

Someone who could turn her youthful appearance into a weapon rather than a liability.

Once, she had been attached to him by his sister’s grace and the order of the then-head of Esdina.

…And now this woman was his sister’s closest confidant.

Her dress, predominantly blue with white trimming the edges to lighten the burden of color, gave an impression of being both classic and practical.

“I didn’t expect you to come greet me.”

“Officially, you haven’t returned. I’ve summoned the field commander and cavalry squadron supervisor of the Northern Front’s 16th Corps, Knight Reius, who repelled the invasion of the 8th Monster Corps that appeared in the Pagrabein region—not a prince of Berk.”

“Then your greeting is even more absurd, isn’t it?”

“…Nominally, I’m introducing talented individuals to His Majesty while paying my respects. There are several others besides you.”

“A smokescreen?”

A smokescreen to summon him?

Or is his very existence a smokescreen or disguise?

As he held back a wry smile, Seras spoke in her characteristically aggressive tone.

“You seem to shine only in times of crisis, as always.”

“Or perhaps you wished I had been this way all along, since I was dull and slow before?”

“No. If that were the case, I would have had more headaches over internal political issues.”

Challenging something known to be impossible? That’s beyond recklessness—it’s senseless.

The difference and gap between Alesius himself and his sister Elhermina was, in his thinking, that significant.

No matter how much others might chatter around him.

I pay no heed to trivial gossip and noise.

Though perhaps not to the extent of Father.

“……”

There had never been a precedent for calling an empress “His Majesty.”

Yet the heroic emperor of the time had made it happen.

The justification was firm, and those who objected were dismissed and ostracized in retaliation.

In some ways, it was an emotional measure unbecoming of an emperor…

Thus, the position of Alesius’s mother, the current Mado Empress, represented the emperor’s authority.

After all, she oversaw everything related to the empire’s magic arts while being the empress.

History would probably describe his father as both a devoted husband and an innovative figure.

And he truly was.

‘It’s not so bad to have one’s name recorded in history that way, I thought. I caused her a lot of heartache in many ways, so this much doesn’t even count as repayment.’

The Emperor had later expressed such personal sentiments as if they were nothing.

But that couldn’t have been the whole truth.

‘Take one to gain many.’

For us, such choices and decisions are inevitable.

Walking through the palace corridors that felt both familiar and alien, Alesius took in Seras’s long, neatly tied blue hair and asked.

“Where are we going?”

“Just follow me quietly.”

There were now truly few people who could speak to him this way in private.

Feeling both pity and regret about this, Alesius realized the path was somewhat familiar.

‘This direction is…’

Sure enough.

After more than 10 minutes of brisk walking, the place they arrived at was…

“……”

Alesius calmly steadied his breathing.

Even Seras seemed momentarily tense before the ornate door, pausing to take a deep breath.

“……”

She gave a signal to the elderly attendant positioned in front of the door, who announced the visitors’ presence to those inside.

-Enter.

A few seconds later, that voice was heard.

“Let’s go in.”

They entered through the door as it was opened for them.

“……”

Naturally, the interior was immensely spacious.

It was the imperial princess’s personal chamber that also served as her office.

She had combined her bedroom and office, saying it would be a waste of time to move between the two.

As a result, though it was a single space, it was clearly divided by partitions.

The interior, adorned in gold and red, was splendid but not extravagant, with a more pronounced classical elegance.

It was impressive how the potentially overwhelming redness had been subtly altered to create a more familiar texture.

The office area was cluttered with towers of books and various documents…

“It’s been neglected for quite some time.”

Alesius recognized it immediately.

“You can tell?”

“Given the nature of the space, even a day of neglect…”

Dust settles.

He didn’t know where the dust came from.

These things are truly persistent.

More persistent than sewer rats or vermin.

“……”

But Seras’s attitude was also strange.

She didn’t seem particularly intent on hiding this fact.

Indeed, she proceeded straight through the office toward the bedroom door.

“Just so you know, don’t be surprised.”

“That sounds rather ominous.”

After knocking, a few seconds passed.

Seras opened the door without waiting for permission.

“Have you come?”

And there was…

“……”

Alesius calmly bowed his head.

A young elf with silver hair.

But appearances aren’t everything.

Geornia Dei Adelveis.

The teacher and mentor of the Mado Empress herself, who had been known as a great mage and great magician long before that.

Why would such a person be here of all places?

“……”

It seems the ominous conjecture had become reality.

Behind the curtained bed, a presence was clearly felt.

As if about to be extinguished at any moment, with even the sound of breathing faint…

“I’ve returned.”

“Yes.”

Geornia habitually acknowledged Seras’s words.

From this alone, Alesius sensed that this situation had persisted for more than just a day or two.

“Your powers of observation have improved quite a bit, youngster.”

Geornia, having apparently noticed his perception, offered Alesius praise that wasn’t quite praise.

“An explanation?”

“Seeing with your own eyes would be appropriate.”

“…You’re not trying to pass the troublesome task to me, are you?”

“I’m just a feather.”

“Hmph! Impertinent!”

Geornia clicked her tongue loudly and gestured toward the bed.

“You know who’s there, don’t you?”

“……”

The voice he had heard earlier, before entering, must have been a magical measure.

From the moment he heard his sister’s voice despite no one being in the office, something was seriously wrong.

The attempt or technique itself wasn’t the issue.

It was ultimately a strategy to hide or conceal something.

“I had considered the possibility, just in case.”

“Is that so?”

“…How did this happen?”

Even without lifting the curtain, the state of his sister was clear to him.

And for that very reason, he didn’t want to confirm it with his own eyes.

To survive, Alesius had developed an almost superhuman ability to read atmospheres and signs.

The monsters and monster kings of each territory.

To detect their presence and counter their animal-like sensitivity and cunning… Alesius himself had to transcend the instincts of beasts.

Those who couldn’t achieve this either died, became disabled, or became dropouts unable to fight.

“It’s quite a long story. The lazy emperor sending you to me… he wants me to ramble on myself. Haa!”

“If it’s difficult, you can tell me later.”

“Would you not mind?”

Alesius shook his head.

Finally removing his iron mask, he let out a small sigh.

“I fear I might not be able to control my anger if I hear it.”

A large scar diagonally crossing his face.

His outstanding appearance, once praised for combining the advantages of both handsome and masculine features, had now completely lost its former traces, taking on the form of a warrior.

His blue eyes gazed into Geornia’s green-tinged eyes.

“If I must hear it, I will maintain silence while listening.”

“You seem to have some idea of what caused this.”

“I sincerely hope my expectations are wrong.”

Because if they weren’t.

I don’t think I could ever forgive that damned person, in any way… nor myself.

“……”

To prevent such a catastrophe, perhaps I should have, back then, dealt with that person…

……