episode_0009

“Follow me.”

As expected, silence was not the only answer. When I didn’t respond, the emperor eventually gave up on pressing me for an answer.

After giving some instructions to the nearby maids, he began to walk slowly, and I followed him. Following closely behind were the eunuchs and a few guards. Fortunately, the captain of the guard on the empress’s side was not present.

My mind was in turmoil. How could the emperor possibly be unaware of my visit outside the palace? Perhaps… he was just pretending not to know. The emperor in my memory would have been entirely capable of that. Since the empress’s death, the emperor had never shown any kindness to the crown prince. He always looked at him with a stern expression, his eyes filled with disdain. Of course, it was understandable, given that the poisoned crown prince constantly engaged in wicked behavior.

Looking at the emperor’s back, memories surged vividly. The storm of emotions that arose made it clear. The exiled prince Eos harbored deep hatred towards the emperor. It was because he betrayed his mother, the former empress, and committed adultery, resulting in the birth of the current crown prince, Servis Caldevrion. But as someone who had read the novel, I knew well that it wasn’t betrayal; it was a trap. The adultery was nothing but a set-up. The emperor himself was also a victim.

He loved the former empress more than anyone else. Like most heroes, he was just a generous man who enjoyed drinking. That was why he fell so easily into the trap set by Duke Shulane. He drank the drugged wine and ended up in bed with his daughter. This chilling tragedy occurred on a day when the former empress was about to give birth.

Lost in contemplation of the tangled relationship between the emperor and the crown prince, I suddenly found myself seated at an elaborate dining table, where all sorts of dishes were being served one after another. The maids kept bringing out dish after dish. From beef, pork, chicken, and duck to various types of fish, all sorts of steaming dishes made from different kinds of meat were being piled onto large and small plates, emitting a tantalizing aroma, with seaweed even sizzling on top. There wasn’t a single thing that didn’t look appetizing. My eyes were as delighted as my nose.

The various and sweet scents were harmoniously mingling, enchanting my nose in real time.

After the possession, it was a splendid meal I had never experienced before.

As the table filled up, the emperor’s gaze turned towards me.

“That child is probably far from arriving, so let’s start without waiting for him.”

Utensils were placed where the emperor’s gaze lingered. It seemed to be Elaine’s spot.

If this meal was a gesture of gratitude for saving his son, then it wouldn’t be so bad. It would be a good opportunity to get closer to Elaine.

However, as I recalled her lying on the bed just moments ago, I felt a sudden dryness in my throat.

Gulp, gulp, gulp— I quickly emptied the wine in my glass and cautiously observed the emperor’s reaction.

His slightly stiff, indifferent face no longer showed any intention of probing me.

But perhaps due to my near-death experience, my appetite seemed to have multiplied several times over.

I tried to restrain myself as much as possible, but I began to swiftly empty each plate.

***

A look of bewilderment crossed the emperor’s face. Though it was only a faint shadow of doubt, as an emperor who had held his throne for many years, such an expression was rare.

It was definitely strange.

The vague unease he felt when he saw the prince leaving the bedroom.

That ambiguous feeling.

Once seated at the dining table, it became as vivid as a landscape painting.

It was an incredibly unfamiliar sight.

The young man before him didn’t seem at all like the son he knew.

The voracious appetite he displayed was something he had never seen before.

He had always been a picky eater since childhood, right after weaning. As befitting someone with noble elven blood running deep within.

He abhorred eating grass and consumed meat only out of necessity for survival.

But the young man before him now…

He had the hungry eyes of a beggar who had starved for at least a month.

He devoured all kinds of food, not discriminating between greens and meats.

Like a ravenous boar, he hastily consumed various dishes.

Who would even steal it, yet he glances around as if someone might. Even though he was using a fork and knife, he was putting everything in his mouth before even chewing. It was such an unfamiliar sight. Was he just now discovering another side of his son that he hadn’t known about? No. That couldn’t be. It didn’t make sense to discover a side of him after 19 long years that he had never seen before. This was simply a different being. The emperor’s pupils shook violently. “Could it be that he only looks similar, but isn’t my son…?” Of course, it was still just a hypothesis. The emperor tried to verify it with every bit of imagination possible. But no matter how much he thought about it, that seemed absolutely impossible. His head involuntarily tilted. The silvery hair shining coldly like a moonlit winter lake was an undeniable proof of his status as the empress’s son. His emerald eyes, tinged with bright light, were the same. Furthermore, his sharp gaze and chiseled features were exactly like his own face. As much as his appearance, he was undeniably his son. It made sense. Then why did it feel like that? As if he had become someone else. Like he had gone mad. Come to think of it, it was the same last night. It was the day he asked for the empress’s crown. He had clearly sworn to curse everything. The resentment his son held was not something easily forgiven just because death was imminent. Yet last night, he didn’t resent. Did that really make sense? Because he so desperately wished for his son’s forgiveness, he believed without question, without scrutiny. The emperor’s eyebrows twitched. Now he understood the discomfort from earlier. In the eyes looking at him, there was no longer the same hatred as before. Not even a faint trace remained. It was certain. That too wouldn’t just disappear overnight. And that wasn’t the only strange thing.

Recently, just about a month ago.

The Crown Prince’s behavior was also something that could not be easily understood.

His relentless mischief, carried out without any regard for others, suddenly came to a halt.

After that, he spent entire days cooped up in the Crown Prince’s palace.

Yet, even so.

In the early mornings when few people were around, he took solitary walks without fail, every single day.

What was even more peculiar was the content of these walks.

Touching the trees and standing still.

Pressing his face against the ground.

He even dipped his hand into the palace pond, or so I heard.

I had never heard of such habits among elves.

Even if such habits existed, shortly after his mother’s death, the Crown Prince completely abandoned the abilities of the elves.

The Emperor closed his eyes and lowered his head.

Still, it couldn’t be madness.

He just wanted to believe that. He had no other choice.

Whatever happened.

It was something he wanted to believe, that hope still remained.

It was then, as the Crown Prince bit into a large chicken leg, that a sinister thought flashed like lightning.

Could it be…?

Had his soul been exchanged with another being…?

If not, there was no way to explain the Crown Prince’s current state.

But such unbelievable things only happened in myths, didn’t they…?

Swallowing dry saliva, the Emperor’s eyes met the Crown Prince’s.

Eyes that no longer hated himself.

Eyes that even faintly formed a smile.

A sight that his past son would never have shown.

In that case, there was nothing else to be done now.

The Emperor let out a small sigh.

It seemed that confirmation was necessary.

***

The gaze that has been staring fixedly at me since earlier is quite burdensome.

The Emperor seemed to have no intention of filling his stomach.

With his chin resting on his clasped hands.

For quite some time, he had simply been staring directly at my face.

It was extremely uncomfortable. It felt like I might really collapse at any moment.

Thud—

I set down the chopsticks, covered in seasoning and oil, and wiped my mouth.

Then, I gazed at the Emperor with a composed look.

Seeing a slight surprise in my gaze, it seemed like he was suspecting me.

Sure enough.

Breaking the long silence, the Emperor finally spoke.

“Rumor has it that the son of the Countess Rebolern has returned to the knighthood.”

As expected.

It was a test to confirm if he truly was my son.

I have entertained the thought several times that perhaps I might raise doubts in the Emperor, his father, considering my actions thus far.

In the eyes of the Emperor, my current behavior must seem rather peculiar.

The Countess Rebolern.

She was a widow and once the nursemaid of the Crown Prince Eos.

Also, she was one of over ten victims known to have been killed by Eos.

And sadly,

she, who was a close friend of the former Empress and adored Eos like her own son, had no son of her own.

From a young age, she had only one daughter, who grew up as a close childhood friend of Eos, a daughter named Astia Rebolern.

– From now on, I will join the Imperial Knights to protect you. You are too weak to become an Emperor.

– Please, say such things after winning a single match at least.

– Are you, are you just going easy on me because I’m your older sister?

Though they always bickered and played around the palace, due to manipulated notoriety, they had become sworn enemies.

I exchanged glances with the Emperor.

The sharpness in my gaze was probably reminiscent of my father.

I spoke casually without averting my eyes.

“The Countess has no son, does she? Surely, Your Majesty, you haven’t forgotten about Astia?”

The Emperor seemed taken aback, likely because I had stared too intently.

Yet, there was a strange sense of relief in his expression, as if he felt assured that the conversation partner was indeed his son.

“…”

“While we’re on the subject, Your Highness, I have a request.”

The Emperor nodded stiffly. It was as if he wanted me to just get it over with.

Still, his pupils trembled imperceptibly, as if he didn’t expect me to ask for anything.

“I am considering bringing Astia back under my protection.”

“Are you… saying this now…?”

The Emperor’s face showed signs of anger at such an unreasonable statement.

His clenched fist seemed ready to slam the table at any moment.

His piercing glare made me feel as though he was thinking, “Well, if that’s how it is,” and it pricked at my face.

“Of course, I have no intention of forcing her. If she doesn’t want to, I will choose someone else to accompany me.”

The emperor pondered for a while and eventually granted permission.

Elaine entered right after the permission was given.

“I, I greet Your Majesty, the most noble sun of our empire!”

She seemed unusually tense. Dressed in a splendid gown, she looked incomparably beautiful compared to when she was wearing servant’s clothes.

“Oh, you’re here. Please take a seat.”

The emperor’s face lit up unlike when he was facing me. On the other hand, Elaine…

Before coming here, did she receive some sort of etiquette training from the maids? She approached with stiff, stilted steps and cautiously sat on the chair provided by the servant, her face rigid.

When our eyes met, she quickly turned her head as if avoiding my gaze. Her exposed skin had all turned a pale red, and her fair face seemed to blatantly display words like ‘I don’t like it’ or ‘Go away’.

Soon after, the messy food was replaced, presumably because of me.

“I’ve prepared this for you, so please eat plenty.”

“Yes, okay!”

And so, the silent meal continued for a while, filled only with the sounds of forks and knives, and the sound of chewing within closed mouths.

The anxious-looking Elaine frequently tried to avoid my gaze, and the sound of her sipping wine was quite noticeable.

Finally, at one point, as intoxicated Elaine put down her fork and knife and took a sip of wine, the emperor, smiling as he looked at her, said in an expectant tone,

“When would be a good time to raise a toast?”

Plop!

At that moment, like a fountain, the crimson wine spurted towards me.