Chapter 60 : Aldikar

Sophia, who had lost all her shyness, was hopping around the garden.

Whenever she found something interesting or eye-catching, she would quickly run back and ask.

“Wow, unni! The flowers are so pretty! What’s this one called?”

“La Noun Kluss—But Sophia? Shouldn’t you finish your meal first?”

“Mm.”

Isabelle deliberately chose not to hold a formal banquet style meal. She knew well Sophia’s lively curiosity and boundless energy.

Even while eating, Sophia often dashed out to the gazebo—a small open structure in the garden.

“Glenn, look! It’s a Blue Butterfly!”

Once beside Isabelle, and another time near Glenn.

Whatever it was, Sophia eagerly chattered on about this and that, clearly having fun.

Glenn smiled gently and responded earnestly.

“Yes, I can see it well too. I heard Blue Butterflies can use magic.”

“Really? Is that true?”

It was true that butterflies with blue wings were sometimes used as ingredients for magical potions.

So, the rumor that Blue Butterflies could use magic was quite common.

Of course, a rumor was just a rumor.

Watching the butterflies flutter, Sophia turned to Isabelle and asked.

“Sophia? What did you just say?”

“Hmm… wow, this is delicious.”

Even though Isabelle had a stern expression, Sophia’s mood dropped momentarily before brightening again after tasting the food.

Glenn felt somewhat uneasy seeing this.

He was actually a bit surprised at how enjoyable this time was.

It wasn’t a stiff formal banquet, but more like a light picnic—and that was more to his liking.

Simply seeing Sophia running about so freely was pleasant to watch.

Of course, the beautifully decorated garden’s scenery wasn’t bad either. It was truly a royal palace of a wealthy nation, with everything from fountains to sculptures.

After some time passed,

“Unni, I’m sleepy—”

After eating enthusiastically and roaming here and there, Sophia began nodding off beside Isabelle.

“Sophia, you can’t sleep here.”

“Woah!”

Isabelle sipped the black tea served for dessert while gently supporting Sophia with one hand.

Glenn watched her for a moment before shifting his gaze to Isabelle.

“You must be very loved around here.”

“Generally, yes.”

“Generally… Are there people who don’t like you?”

“Well, this isn’t exactly a place suitable for a young child to grow up in.”

Palaces were usually like that.

Places full of intrigues and hidden dangers.

Just as Sophia settled into a deep sleep, Isabelle brought up the main topic.

“But… I heard you broke a mirror in your room. Are you alright?”

“…I’m sorry. It happened without me realizing.”

“…Hmm.”

Breaking a mirror unintentionally?

The excuse was too poor.

It would be understandable if it happened while drunk.

But everyone already knew Glenn didn’t drink much.

Naturally, one thought came to Isabelle’s mind.

“Could it be—because of blood magic?”

“Huh?”

Glenn instinctively touched his nose.

Seeing this reaction, Isabelle became certain.

Clicking her tongue softly, she looked at Glenn seriously.

“May I give you a bit of a scolding?”

“…I’m listening. After all, you’re a steward.”

Isabelle had been keeping an eye on his blood magic until recently.

She was well qualified to scold him.

“Steward or not—As you know, the way you use blood magic is extremely dangerous.”

Magic like Bloody Pact or Overdrive aside,

Glenn usually pushed his blood energy to the limit when using it.

Of course, that might stunt growth speed in the short term—

“You’ve probably heard the phrase, ‘caught and consumed by blood energy.’”

“…I know well.”

Originally, blood magic was not meant for humans.

It was a magic wielded by the Night Elves, adapted by the Church of Winter to suit the human race.

It was destructive and dangerous magic to that degree.

But the side effects were just as severe—at least for humans.

“If you can’t control the rampaging blood energy, there’s no turning back. Not only you, but everyone around you will be swept away. You know that, right?”

“—Are you referring to ‘Rebirth’?”

A blood mage consumed by blood energy becomes a mindless monster. This is commonly interpreted as ‘Rebirth’—shedding one’s shell and being freed.

But Isabelle couldn’t agree at all.

“Rebirth… It’s not something romantic. I’d call it a curse instead.”

Yes, it was a curse.

One powerful enough to kill the caster and everyone around them.

Facing Isabelle’s firm gaze, Glenn felt a burning sensation inside.

But he quickly masked it with a light shrug.

“Don’t worry too much. I’ve reached a certain goal now, so I plan to refrain from using that method for a while.”

“…Is that true?”

“Do you think I want to die?”

A faintly awkward smile.

“…If so, that’s a relief.”

He was about to say more, then quickly corrected himself.

He had felt this way before.

This man truly seemed to push himself to the brink, as if preparing for a great blaze.

…Why? For what reason?

He wanted to ask honestly but held back.

Instead, he gently brushed Sophia’s hair as she slept soundly on his lap.

***

A vast chamber.

Surrounded entirely by pure white,

this space had a power that naturally forced those who entered to kneel.

The Imperial Audience Chamber—the place where the Emperor himself would appear.

Clink!

A sharp sound echoed.

An expensive crystal glass shattered into pieces.

“Are you trying to joke with me? Hm? Do you really think I’m a fool?”

The Emperor of the Empire,

Aldikar Dimagnicus V’s furious voice thundered through the hall.

His dark eyes glowed with a nearly maniacal rage.

Beneath the high throne, a battle-worn knight and a middle-aged noble knelt.

The noble summoned all his strength to bow deeply.

The knight beside him quietly closed his eyes.

“No, it is not so. Absolutely not! I was in a safe position…”

“Then why did you handle things like this? Niran was just overrun, and you did nothing? Are you truly my vassal?”

The Emperor angrily threw the Duru Magic scrolls he was holding onto the floor.

“I apologize! Your Majesty!”

“Phew. Commander of the Northern Army Corps, speak up. Are you already sick of excuses? Why have you been silent all this time?”

The knight opened his eyes and lowered his head.

His face was flushed, as if struggling to suppress shame.

“…I apologize.”

“Apologize, apologize—All you ever do is apologize!”

Once more, thunderous anger filled the hall.

The nobles lining the Audience Chamber and the nearby pages trembled in fear.

Especially the pages, who bowed their heads low to avoid eye contact with the Emperor.

The Emperor’s fury was explosive.

He had killed dozens simply because his glare displeased him.

“Speak if you have a mouth!”

The reason for the Emperor’s anger was this:

He was very displeased with the recent situation in Niran and its outcome.

A high-ranking priest who was easy to negotiate with had been expanding the Empire’s influence there, but suddenly civil war broke out in Niran.

Before long, the arrogant Contrat had taken over the city.

The experienced commander did not move the Northern Army Corps, placing them on high alert.

Partly because the Second Prince had engaged in military action.

Niran was just a bonus, but a full-scale battle with the Second Prince was different. A single misstep could threaten the Empire’s stability.

So the commander chose to hold his forces.

While not necessarily a wrong decision, it wasn’t perfect either.

“You useless fools, incompetent morons!”

The Emperor’s rage boiled over because he lost Niran right under the Northern Army Corps’ nose.

He was furious enough to go mad.

Yet, were they just going to leave it like this?

These incompetent fools were mocking him.

His thoughts had reached that extent.

“You couldn’t even drive out those filthy mongrels. You said the war would last one year, but now it’s been over three!”

Thud!

The enraged Emperor slammed down his armrest roughly.

“Those filthy mongrels” was a slur the Emperor used to mock the Second Prince.

The First Prince, the late Emperor’s second wife, and the Second Prince’s biological mother was often insulted as a filthy whore and impure bloodline.

“But now—now Arian and Lepent are stirring things up, and that wretched Mephisto Veilrun has even betrayed us.”

When the news came that Democleon—the Hawk’s Knight—had led his men to defect to Arian,

the Emperor had flared up in fury and had innocent officials beheaded.

His demotion after a direct appeal to the Emperor was well known.

In other words, the Hawk’s Knight’s defection was ultimately because of the Emperor.

Though no one dared say so aloud.

“What is this situation? Hm? Someone, speak! You worthless bastards!!!”

The Emperor vented a string of filthy curses.

“Huff… huff…”

“Your Majesty.”

As the Emperor calmed slightly, a man with refined features bowed quietly and approached.

With black hair and dark eyes, his appearance was rare on the continent.

“…Well then, Marquis Mephisto, what are your thoughts?”

Marquis Mephisto Veilrun.

The Emperor’s right hand and advisor, known as the ‘wise Duru Magi.’ He was one of the few whose counsel the cruel and hot-tempered Emperor heeded.

In a calm tone, he advised the Emperor.

“Opening the gates to Niran now would only aid the Second Prince.”

His composed voice carried a subtle gleam in his eyes.