Oscar burst out laughing.
A precious child who even dared to make him desert.
Perhaps Enoch Rubinstein cared for his daughter as much as he did, with a love that others could not understand.
‘Really, crazy punk…’
The Emperor didn’t give up.
He has been working on Enoch’s leash for a long time.
“I don’t know if you know that person over there. She’s the Marchioness Rudendorf. She’s the child’s birth mother.”
“….”
Oscar opened his mouth blankly as he looked at Selena, who had become contemplative.
Selena Rudendorf.
Although she has considerable abilities, she became a training center researcher at the age of active duty.
Even her young son was exempted from military service.
Unprecedented Emperor’s Preference.
What’s the reason? Everyone wondered.
And, at this moment.
‘So that woman knew. Where is Enoch Rubinstein?’
Oscar realized what the reason was.
In exchange for revealing Enoch’s whereabouts, it was for the protection of her and her son.
“Your Majesty, I have something to tell you.”
Selena said with blue lips.
She was looking at Oscar for some reason.
“What is it? Is it important?”
The Emperor noticed and sent Oscar away. He was told to wait outside.
As Oscar went out, he remembered the face of the child his eyes met.
‘Things have become complicated.’
A great opportunity for an Emperor.
Now that the daughter has been taken hostage, Enoch Rubinstein will be forced to take the sword again.
He had only heard of it, but he was a great man.
If he stops coming back, even if Oscar is uncooperative…
“The war will proceed as planned without your help.”
“Damn it.”
There will be a bloodbath.
Oscar, who had been waiting for a long time, bumped into Selena after leaving the Emperor’s office.
Unlike when she came in, she was alone without children.
Her eyes were red.
“Cowardly.”
Oscar said with a frown.
“Did you sleep well with your legs stretched out until now after you sold your husband and child? What are you doing well?”
Selena was shivering a lot for some reason.
“Even if you know it, pretend you don’t know it, just keep quiet. Is your life the only human life and the other life is the ant’s life?”
“….”
“Do you know what you’ve done? Now hundreds and thousands of people will die because of you.”
Unable to respond to the sarcastic Oscar, Selena disappeared as if running away.
“What a selfish woman.”
Oscar murmured as he looked at Selena’s back.
Until then, he thought that Selena was afraid of the bloody winds that were about to blow.
‘If you’re going to feel guilty, you should have felt it at the time of your daughter. Why are you here again?’
And the moment he faced the Emperor again.
For some reason, Oscar felt uneasy and confused when he saw the Emperor’s face and the child he was holding.
Danger perceived by the body instinctively.
“…I think we finished talking earlier. Do you have anything else to say?”
“Yeah, Lord of the Wizard Tower.”
The Emperor shook his head.
At the same time, the air in the office twisted uneasily.
No one can go out, no one can come in, no one can overhear.
A space temporarily blocked by Primera’s power.
“What is it? You’re going to lock me up and beat me? Even so….”
“You won’t change your mind.”
“Yes. You know it well. What is this?”
The Emperor didn’t respond, but stroked the head of the child who was trembling in his arms.
And he said,
“If you want to see your Dad again, what did I tell you?”
“….”
The child closed her eyes tightly.
Then, quietly, she looked at Oscar.
“Ah.”
At the same time,
A strong force that tightens the heart.
That was the moment when the shackles that Oscar couldn’t escape were put on him.
****
“Ah, damn it!”
“You surprised me!”
Robert, who was covering the sleeping Oscar with a blanket, was surprised.
“What are you doing!!”
“W, what do you mean! I was going to cover you with a blanket in case you were cold!”
“Haa.”
Oscar wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
“Did you have another nightmare?”
“Yeah. Ah. Damn it. Really.”
“Phew.”
The anger felt in the dream bothered Oscar in reality.
Selena’s back…
The new blame she was feeling at the time was because of Lilith.
She must have predicted what Primera would look like after it fell into the hands of the Emperor.
Should he just kill her?
Even if he wanted to, the time has already disappeared, so there is no justification to blame her.
‘But what do you want me to do if I feel like this?’
Oscar is the only one who remembers everything and is angry.
The Emperor neither killed nor brainwashed Selena, who was the only one who knew Lilith’s’ identity.
If he kills a high-ranking person without justification, even the Emperor will be in trouble.
Also, it would have been a waste to brainwash her because it took quite a lot of life.
The Emperor, who was well aware of Selena’s fear of him, made her obey with just a few words.
‘Even if only that woman had changed her mind quickly…’
The reason Oscar can never forgive Selena.
Even though she wasn’t forced by Primera’s power like he was.
Because Selena didn’t say a single word in that long tragedy.
****
The next day, the imperial family.
The first time I came to the Emperor’s office, I was captivated by the luxury.
Our house was frugal…
Does the work room need to be this fancy?
Everything from doorknobs to walls, desks, and ornaments were decorated with splendid gold and jewels.
In addition, a map of the continent hung huge on one wall…
I knew that he was an emperor who would do anything for the title of ‘King of Conquest’, but seeing that, it struck me that he was really crazy.
Even so.
‘Why the hell did you hang the portraits of the soldiers next to it…?’
There are even portraits of the fallen soldiers.
I could see my Dad sitting next to me trying hard not to look at that side.
Dad who would come to the office every time he had an audience with the Emperor.
To my Dad, this must be hell.
“Hello…”
Then.
The boy sitting across from me got up, smiled shyly and bowed to me and Dad.
A child who closely resembles the Emperor’s blonde hair and green eyes.
Franz von Pavilion.
He is the 13th prince and will soon become the crown prince.
“Hello!”
I got up in a hurry and greeted him with the same attitude.
“Hehe.”
Franz smiled at me and was soon embraced by the Emperor sitting next to him.
The Emperor laughed.
“This guy. It seems you like the princess very much.”
“….”
Unlike the Emperor whose mouth was torn from ear to ear, Dad’s expression was rotten.
Please control your expression…
“Since we said hi, should we get going?”
The Emperor rose with Franz in his arms.
Dad paused.
“…Where are we going?”
“Oh, we should go to the training center for the capable people.”
“Yes?”
At that moment, my Dad hardened and I was surprised.
Training center?
“Why? I need to check the child rank, so I have to go.”
“Do you really need to check? You will know everything when you see how Your Highness Franz uses his abilities.”
“Well, yes, but there is such a thing as custom.”
The Emperor laughed and added.
“Besides, Primera didn’t come out until now, how anxious was everyone?”
“….”
“That’s why I called you today. Wouldn’t it be nice to watch this moment of glory when Primera was born?”
Then my heart beat like it was going to pop out.
Training center of capable people—.
There is a magic tool that can check the rank.
I hid my trembling hand.
‘Let’s be calm. If I can’t control my expression here, it’s over.’
I grabbed Dad’s arm and smiled.
“Let’s go, too, Dad! It’s been a long time since I saw the teachers!”
“….”
For some reason, Dad’s face was pale.
But then he smiled, hugged me, and raised himself up.
*****
‘Wow, but my mother didn’t think of it.’
The Imperial Training Center.
Mana formal room.
The 13th Prince, Franz, was measuring his rank.
All the researchers at the training center were watching, and there was my mother.
I looked at my Dad, who was talking to the Emperor, and Mother, who was standing in the distance.
They didn’t even make eye contact…
They won’t even know if they know each other.
“Anyway, I heard that the princess did a great job during the Jurgen incident.”
The Emperor looked at me with a gracious smile.
Startled.
‘No way. Is he suspicious? But, it’s already happened and I couldn’t help it.’
At Jurgen, I used an A-Class shield in front of hundreds of Octavas.
It is difficult for a 7-year-old to memorize A-Class defense magic formulas.
‘But, it’s okay because I memorized it.’
I hid my nervousness and smiled like a child who likes to be praised.
“If it wasn’t for the princess, it would have been difficult for all the Octavas to survive. I will not forget the princess’ fine records, and I will definitely reward you when you get older.”
“Thank you!”
The Emperor smiled heartily.
At that time, Franz’s rank was measured.
! Error!
No mana.
Incapable
An ability whose mana can’t be measured.
It is Primera.
The researchers’ faces brightened.
“Ah, finally Primera…!”
The Emperor nodded.
“Good.”
I laughed inwardly as I looked at him.
‘He’s good at acting.’
He manipulated it, and his face doesn’t show even a little bit.
Dad’s face was hardened.
‘At this point, Primera comes out, so his mentality has no choice but to break. Rest assured, Dad, I’ll let you know that it’s fake later.’
Thinking about it, the Emperor clapped his hands.
“Didn’t you say that the mana form was replaced with a new one? Why don’t you take the rank test again, just to check it out?”
“Yes?”
Dad was surprised.
And me too.
‘…All of a sudden?’
My head spun quickly.
‘Did he bring me here on purpose because he doubted me after the Jurgen incident? Or does he tell me to just go in without thinking?’
Thump thump, my heart beat fast.
But I have to stay calm.
Because it was as I expected.
Even if it wasn’t because of what happened with Jurgen, the Emperor could still be suspicious of me.
‘It’s okay, Lilith. You expect everything, right? Anyway, even if it wasn’t today, the moment I was suspected, I would have somehow been caught and put back into the mana formal.’
Because there is only one way to check my rank, mana formal.
I grabbed the hem of my bewildered Dad’s pants and said calmly.
“Yes! I’ll try again, Your Majesty!”
“Haha, yeah.”
Pretending nothing was wrong, I entered the mana formal with light steps.
Of course, my heart was beating like it would jump out.
‘It’s okay, it’s okay. calm down. Take good care of your facial expression. As calm as possible. I just need to manipulate it like last time.’
Everyone was watching me from outside the magic tool’s glass tube.
I saw the Emperor.
‘But. If, very if.’
Jurgen Holy Beast Incident.
What was the emperor thinking that day?
‘If this is right now, he doubted it and told me to go in…’
What would I do if I were the Emperor?
What if he uses his power first, making it impossible for me to manipulate the mana formal?
The providence of power between Primera.
Because of that, I can’t pierce the emperor’s ability.
“I’ll do it!”
There was a white flame at the fingertips.
The emperor and I looked at each other through a glass tube.
The measuring plate started to go up.
White, Class 6 Dies.
Black, Class 5 Nuveno.
‘Like last time, Octava…’
I swallowed my dry saliva.
Then,
As I was looking at the Emperor, I noticed him slightly tilting his head.
An ominous hunch.
I looked down at my sweaty right hand.
‘Octava, Octava…’
The bracelet glowed.
–
Ah, how can it be?
Oscar burst out laughing.
A precious child who even dared to make him desert.
Perhaps Enoch Rubinstein cared for his daughter as much as he did, with a love that others could not understand.
‘Really, crazy punk…’
The Emperor didn’t give up.
He has been working on Enoch’s leash for a long time.
“I don’t know if you know that person over there. She’s the Marchioness Rudendorf. She’s the child’s birth mother.”
“….”
Oscar opened his mouth blankly as he looked at Selena, who had become contemplative.
Selena Rudendorf.
Although she has considerable abilities, she became a training center researcher at the age of active duty.
Even her young son was exempted from military service.
Unprecedented Emperor’s Preference.
What’s the reason? Everyone wondered.
And, at this moment.
‘So that woman knew. Where is Enoch Rubinstein?’
Oscar realized what the reason was.
In exchange for revealing Enoch’s whereabouts, it was for the protection of her and her son.
“Your Majesty, I have something to tell you.”
Selena said with blue lips.
She was looking at Oscar for some reason.
“What is it? Is it important?”
The Emperor noticed and sent Oscar away. He was told to wait outside.
As Oscar went out, he remembered the face of the child his eyes met.
‘Things have become complicated.’
A great opportunity for an Emperor.
Now that the daughter has been taken hostage, Enoch Rubinstein will be forced to take the sword again.
He had only heard of it, but he was a great man.
If he stops coming back, even if Oscar is uncooperative…
“The war will proceed as planned without your help.”
“Damn it.”
There will be a bloodbath.
Oscar, who had been waiting for a long time, bumped into Selena after leaving the Emperor’s office.
Unlike when she came in, she was alone without children.
Her eyes were red.
“Cowardly.”
Oscar said with a frown.
“Did you sleep well with your legs stretched out until now after you sold your husband and child? What are you doing well?”
Selena was shivering a lot for some reason.
“Even if you know it, pretend you don’t know it, just keep quiet. Is your life the only human life and the other life is the ant’s life?”
“….”
“Do you know what you’ve done? Now hundreds and thousands of people will die because of you.”
Unable to respond to the sarcastic Oscar, Selena disappeared as if running away.
“What a selfish woman.”
Oscar murmured as he looked at Selena’s back.
Until then, he thought that Selena was afraid of the bloody winds that were about to blow.
‘If you’re going to feel guilty, you should have felt it at the time of your daughter. Why are you here again?’
And the moment he faced the Emperor again.
For some reason, Oscar felt uneasy and confused when he saw the Emperor’s face and the child he was holding.
Danger perceived by the body instinctively.
“…I think we finished talking earlier. Do you have anything else to say?”
“Yeah, Lord of the Wizard Tower.”
The Emperor shook his head.
At the same time, the air in the office twisted uneasily.
No one can go out, no one can come in, no one can overhear.
A space temporarily blocked by Primera’s power.
“What is it? You’re going to lock me up and beat me? Even so….”
“You won’t change your mind.”
“Yes. You know it well. What is this?”
The Emperor didn’t respond, but stroked the head of the child who was trembling in his arms.
And he said,
“If you want to see your Dad again, what did I tell you?”
“….”
The child closed her eyes tightly.
Then, quietly, she looked at Oscar.
“Ah.”
At the same time,
A strong force that tightens the heart.
That was the moment when the shackles that Oscar couldn’t escape were put on him.
****
“Ah, damn it!”
“You surprised me!”
Robert, who was covering the sleeping Oscar with a blanket, was surprised.
“What are you doing!!”
“W, what do you mean! I was going to cover you with a blanket in case you were cold!”
“Haa.”
Oscar wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
“Did you have another nightmare?”
“Yeah. Ah. Damn it. Really.”
“Phew.”
The anger felt in the dream bothered Oscar in reality.
Selena’s back…
The new blame she was feeling at the time was because of Lilith.
She must have predicted what Primera would look like after it fell into the hands of the Emperor.
Should he just kill her?
Even if he wanted to, the time has already disappeared, so there is no justification to blame her.
‘But what do you want me to do if I feel like this?’
Oscar is the only one who remembers everything and is angry.
The Emperor neither killed nor brainwashed Selena, who was the only one who knew Lilith’s’ identity.
If he kills a high-ranking person without justification, even the Emperor will be in trouble.
Also, it would have been a waste to brainwash her because it took quite a lot of life.
The Emperor, who was well aware of Selena’s fear of him, made her obey with just a few words.
‘Even if only that woman had changed her mind quickly…’
The reason Oscar can never forgive Selena.
Even though she wasn’t forced by Primera’s power like he was.
Because Selena didn’t say a single word in that long tragedy.
****
The next day, the imperial family.
The first time I came to the Emperor’s office, I was captivated by the luxury.
Our house was frugal…
Does the work room need to be this fancy?
Everything from doorknobs to walls, desks, and ornaments were decorated with splendid gold and jewels.
In addition, a map of the continent hung huge on one wall…
I knew that he was an emperor who would do anything for the title of ‘King of Conquest’, but seeing that, it struck me that he was really crazy.
Even so.
‘Why the hell did you hang the portraits of the soldiers next to it…?’
There are even portraits of the fallen soldiers.
I could see my Dad sitting next to me trying hard not to look at that side.
Dad who would come to the office every time he had an audience with the Emperor.
To my Dad, this must be hell.
“Hello…”
Then.
The boy sitting across from me got up, smiled shyly and bowed to me and Dad.
A child who closely resembles the Emperor’s blonde hair and green eyes.
Franz von Pavilion.
He is the 13th prince and will soon become the crown prince.
“Hello!”
I got up in a hurry and greeted him with the same attitude.
“Hehe.”
Franz smiled at me and was soon embraced by the Emperor sitting next to him.
The Emperor laughed.
“This guy. It seems you like the princess very much.”
“….”
Unlike the Emperor whose mouth was torn from ear to ear, Dad’s expression was rotten.
Please control your expression…
“Since we said hi, should we get going?”
The Emperor rose with Franz in his arms.
Dad paused.
“…Where are we going?”
“Oh, we should go to the training center for the capable people.”
“Yes?”
At that moment, my Dad hardened and I was surprised.
Training center?
“Why? I need to check the child rank, so I have to go.”
“Do you really need to check? You will know everything when you see how Your Highness Franz uses his abilities.”
“Well, yes, but there is such a thing as custom.”
The Emperor laughed and added.
“Besides, Primera didn’t come out until now, how anxious was everyone?”
“….”
“That’s why I called you today. Wouldn’t it be nice to watch this moment of glory when Primera was born?”
Then my heart beat like it was going to pop out.
Training center of capable people—.
There is a magic tool that can check the rank.
I hid my trembling hand.
‘Let’s be calm. If I can’t control my expression here, it’s over.’
I grabbed Dad’s arm and smiled.
“Let’s go, too, Dad! It’s been a long time since I saw the teachers!”
“….”
For some reason, Dad’s face was pale.
But then he smiled, hugged me, and raised himself up.
*****
‘Wow, but my mother didn’t think of it.’
The Imperial Training Center.
Mana formal room.
The 13th Prince, Franz, was measuring his rank.
All the researchers at the training center were watching, and there was my mother.
I looked at my Dad, who was talking to the Emperor, and Mother, who was standing in the distance.
They didn’t even make eye contact…
They won’t even know if they know each other.
“Anyway, I heard that the princess did a great job during the Jurgen incident.”
The Emperor looked at me with a gracious smile.
Startled.
‘No way. Is he suspicious? But, it’s already happened and I couldn’t help it.’
At Jurgen, I used an A-Class shield in front of hundreds of Octavas.
It is difficult for a 7-year-old to memorize A-Class defense magic formulas.
‘But, it’s okay because I memorized it.’
I hid my nervousness and smiled like a child who likes to be praised.
“If it wasn’t for the princess, it would have been difficult for all the Octavas to survive. I will not forget the princess’ fine records, and I will definitely reward you when you get older.”
“Thank you!”
The Emperor smiled heartily.
At that time, Franz’s rank was measured.
! Error!
No mana.
Incapable
An ability whose mana can’t be measured.
It is Primera.
The researchers’ faces brightened.
“Ah, finally Primera…!”
The Emperor nodded.
“Good.”
I laughed inwardly as I looked at him.
‘He’s good at acting.’
He manipulated it, and his face doesn’t show even a little bit.
Dad’s face was hardened.
‘At this point, Primera comes out, so his mentality has no choice but to break. Rest assured, Dad, I’ll let you know that it’s fake later.’
Thinking about it, the Emperor clapped his hands.
“Didn’t you say that the mana form was replaced with a new one? Why don’t you take the rank test again, just to check it out?”
“Yes?”
Dad was surprised.
And me too.
‘…All of a sudden?’
My head spun quickly.
‘Did he bring me here on purpose because he doubted me after the Jurgen incident? Or does he tell me to just go in without thinking?’
Thump thump, my heart beat fast.
But I have to stay calm.
Because it was as I expected.
Even if it wasn’t because of what happened with Jurgen, the Emperor could still be suspicious of me.
‘It’s okay, Lilith. You expect everything, right? Anyway, even if it wasn’t today, the moment I was suspected, I would have somehow been caught and put back into the mana formal.’
Because there is only one way to check my rank, mana formal.
I grabbed the hem of my bewildered Dad’s pants and said calmly.
“Yes! I’ll try again, Your Majesty!”
“Haha, yeah.”
Pretending nothing was wrong, I entered the mana formal with light steps.
Of course, my heart was beating like it would jump out.
‘It’s okay, it’s okay. calm down. Take good care of your facial expression. As calm as possible. I just need to manipulate it like last time.’
Everyone was watching me from outside the magic tool’s glass tube.
I saw the Emperor.
‘But. If, very if.’
Jurgen Holy Beast Incident.
What was the emperor thinking that day?
‘If this is right now, he doubted it and told me to go in…’
What would I do if I were the Emperor?
What if he uses his power first, making it impossible for me to manipulate the mana formal?
The providence of power between Primera.
Because of that, I can’t pierce the emperor’s ability.
“I’ll do it!”
There was a white flame at the fingertips.
The emperor and I looked at each other through a glass tube.
The measuring plate started to go up.
White, Class 6 Dies.
Black, Class 5 Nuveno.
‘Like last time, Octava…’
I swallowed my dry saliva.
Then,
As I was looking at the Emperor, I noticed him slightly tilting his head.
An ominous hunch.
I looked down at my sweaty right hand.
‘Octava, Octava…’
The bracelet glowed.
–
Ah, how can it be?
