The Emperor Who Was Chapter 20 : Chapter 20

Chapter . 20

"Oh, the truly generous Prince Leontes!"

"To show rcy even to such an insolent person, I would have scolded her severely."

People were captivated by the composition of a knight saving a noble lady and exclaid in admiration. Looking expectantly at the n of the Lauderdale family, Desmond's knights.

But those who would have run wild if Cecile had been insulted by

were now busy turning their heads away. They had no fault to redeem by taking on the role of monitor like her, and they didn't want to give up their advancent in the Empress's faction to pledge loyalty to . Who is Rhiannon? She is soone who would happily keep anyone, whether a nephew or whoever, by my side forever if they produced results.

"Oh my, no one is stepping forward. How embarrassed Cecile must be."

"Indeed, a family far from such noble things as court romance."

In this composition, even the Empress's faction found it hard to refute. Because the perception was widespread that if one does not enjoy court romance, they are not a noble but a commoner.

"If you allow it, I will serve Prince Leontes in Lady Cecile's stead."

At that mont, a knight who walked up from the back knelt before .

People looked at him in surprise.

He was Sir Rolf, roughly an aide of an aide of an aide of Desmond. A common knight from a humble family who probably couldn't even speak to a Prince, let alone pledge loyalty, but he was classified as Desmond's man.

Then Desmond's brow furrowed. Because he suffered a loss due to the Duke's daughter's mistake.

But when Duke Lauderdale bowed deeply to him promising compensation, he also nodded slightly.

"If he is a common knight, he should do at least that much."

"A beautiful devotion."

Amidst people's praise, I opened my mouth.

"Sir Rolf, these people are your witnesses. Will you pledge loyalty to , Prince Leontes, and no one else from now on?"

"Yes, I will."

Saying so, Sir Rolf solemnly vowed in front of people, although it was informal. The mont I received my first knight's vow, contempt seeped into Duke Grimiati's eyes looking at .

A stupid knight missing the path to success blinded by love.

A foolish Prince choosing a knight from a humble family instead of the Duke's daughter and Empress's maid.

But I liked Sir Rolf better than the Duke's daughter.

Because he was a future talent who would beco a Sword Expert later.

I took a chance trusting his love for Cecile, and I liked that he reacted imdiately.

"I will never forget the grace of the rciful Prince Leontes. I also sincerely thank Sir Rolf."

Cecile bowed to

and Sir Rolf in turn with a pale face.

She must have realized that whether it's her father or the Empress, if she fails, she is imdiately cast aside. Both Cecile and I were used as tools of the families we were born into. The difference is that Cecile grew up considering this an honor.

"You are soone who knows all too well that today's event will be a new turning point in your life."

Rather than sticking by my side trying to redeem her mistake as a spy, it is better to be pushed out of the court intrigue now, even if she incurs the wrath of her aunt and father.

Cecile's face, tinged with realization at my words, was still pale yet beautiful. If she feels truly grateful to , it would be for that point.

"What a truly beautiful ending!"

"It is romantic."

"I am already looking forward to what the bards will recite. Especially since it is the muse's inspiration my sponsored bard has been waiting for."

A young woman's failed conspiracy, a Prince who showed the upstarts their place, yet a Prince who generously forgave the woman, a knight stepping forward to save the woman he adores in response to the Prince's rcy.

I provided what courtiers like best. A topic of conversation they can brag about and chatter on for a long ti, saying they were there.

"Generous Prince!"

"Refreshing Prince!"

"Justice for conspirators, tolerance for won!"

"Truly the quality of a wise monarch!"

"Be praised, Prince Leontes!"

Imdiately, court poets began to praise . Before rival bards spread this subject as a court romance, they wanted to beat them to it by making it their the praising the country and the Imperial Family.

As the voices praising my qualities as a monarch grew louder, anger appeared in Maximilian and Desmond's eyes. They ca to see

ridiculed and insulted, but the exact opposite situation occurred.

However, Rhiannon was different from those fledglings.

"The Second Prince's wit is truly surprising."

Instead of the Emperor who remained indifferent whatever happened in front of him, the Empress's smile matched the mood of the court.

It was a sche to cut off her people's failure as if it were unrelated to her. To hide the fact that she was the one convinced of my madness and completely deceived by

so that no one would notice.

It was a deception that wouldn't last long anyway. The opposition wasn't fooled and only ridiculed more, and the Empress's faction, who spread rumors according to Rhiannon's order only to be frowned upon, didn't look good either. But regardless, Rhiannon was soone who tried and tried again to the point of being brazen rather than persistent. She was an opponent who couldn't be finished off with just one humiliation anyway.

"Since Prince Leontes is wise, I will bestow a great reward."

Saying that, she turned her gaze straight to Maximilian and Desmond.

"You too, as Princes of this country, should follow Leontes' example."

Desmond's cheeks turned red. Because he received a judgnt that he lost to

today and a warning not to fall behind

in the future from his mother in front of people.

But Maximilian didn't fall for it. He smiled with cold eyes.

"Finally, I am overjoyed that you will no longer mistreat my poor brother."

As people nodded and the Empress montarily showed anger through a crack in her iron mask, his smile deepened. Next, he turned that smiling face straight to

and said.

"So, when on earth does the main topic begin? Surely, you did not request an audience to report Cecile's matter, Leontes?"

In a bored tone.

The courtiers who had been finding it interesting until now flinched. Because if they don't look bored when a high-ranking person is bored, it ans their taste is different from the high-ranking person and thus not refined.

Duke Grimiati joined in and threw cold water on the atmosphere I was leading.

"That is correct, First Prince. The useless talk has been long."

As if he hadn't enjoyed the quarrel between the Empress's faction and

until now because he was too refined.

"Indeed. The actual topic gathered today was sothing else."

"The introduction was indeed long."

The First Prince's faction, who had been swept up in the atmosphere and praised , hurriedly chid in.

Actually, trying to involve

in Roncer's affairs was itself a common conspiracy. It was frequent for a country noble to co to the capital to petition the monarch, only to be pressured by treacherous subjects, unable to speak properly, and the audience ending. I crushed the attempt made on , but it indeed wasn't the main topic of the audience.

"The First Prince is right."

Goddess of guts Rhiannon, taking his side less than five minutes after being attacked by the First Prince.

"Leontes, I heard you were deeply hurt by this incident when I sent soone to comfort you. So, what is it you wish to tell His Majesty the Emperor?"

"I wish to report the real reason I went to that place."

People began to whisper all at once. Grimiati raised one eyebrow, and Maximilian frowned.

For a mont, I was dumbfounded. Did they really think I tried to have a secret tryst, just that things went wrong? Without even thinking there was another purpose? No wonder they didn't ask; what do they take people for?

However, Rhiannon raised one hand to stop people's whispering and asked the question everyone was curious about as a representative. If she suffered public humiliation because things went awry due to , she had to drag another enemy down with her like a water ghost. Especially if it was an opponent she briefly joined forces with targeting . She perford the mission I entrusted to her, believing the Empress would do so, truly well.

"What is the real reason you went to that place, Prince Leontes?"

"I went after receiving a revelation from the God Traneha."

The place I t Grimiati was far away from Michelon's barrier, so it was fine.

"A divine revelation?"

The surroundings stirred. The Empress maintained a calm expression, but to my eyes, she couldn't suppress vivid anticipation.

Thinking I would finally show the madness the maid spoke of. Like those who are normal but suddenly exhibit madness when religion is involved.

The high-ranking clergy always present in the court were appalled. God? Did the Prince just speak of God?

Even a mage couldn't prophesy. But throughout Armatia's history, at every mont of victory, the God Traneha would appear in the Emperor's dream and give a revelation.

A secret agreent. If the Traneha Temple provides military funds, the Emperor declares victory by God's will.

Furthermore, snatching the credit of mages and packaging it as a miracle of the God Traneha.

"Prince Leontes."

The Archbishop, who had only been watching the court intrigue until now, stepped forward. There was also a Cardinal, a confidant of the Holy Emperor, but he kept his mouth shut as he was originally reticent.

"I wish to ask in detail about what you just said. Did the God Traneha truly give a revelation to Your Highness?"

-The God Traneha has given a revelation that Your Highness must beco Emperor. It may be painful, but it is all a trial given because God highly valued Your Highness. Then, He will forgive all your previous brief wanderings.

The words this man said before the regression ca vividly to mind. When I, struggling to avoid enemies' conspiracies, asked for protection from the Traneha religion.

Threatening to drive

as a heretic regarding the fact that I beca a mage's disciple when I was banished.

"That is correct. The God Traneha told

the location of a holy relic and told

to find it."

I answered nonchalantly and asked back.

"Archbishop, do you believe my words?"

The Archbishop with a long beard hesitated for a mont.

Unless it was a secret agreent, the Imperial Family didn't bother to establish the Temple's authority. The power struggle between the Holy Emperor and the Emperor was also persistent.

But now a Prince suddenly spoke of a divine revelation without any deal. It would be welco but suspicious. The Prince's power is too weak to accept readily. Or rather, non-existent.

"The God Traneha said if you do not believe my words, ask like this."

"Pardon? I-I am not saying I do not believe, but it is such a surprising thing......"

The Archbishop equivocated, but I continued without hesitation.

"Are you not looking for the statue of Saint Marcella?"

"H-How did you know that?"

The struggle between priests trying to possess holy relics was fierce, so they kept secret which of the missing holy relics they were looking for. It was no wonder the Archbishop was surprised.

"I know because I received a divine revelation; otherwise, how would I have known?"

Well, before the regression, the Archbishop went around telling the whole country how he found the holy relic. He also said God appeared in his dream and taught him. That is the basis of holy relic legends. I just followed faithfully.

The Archbishop was praised and beca a Cardinal for finding that holy relic. In fact, it was the credit for dragging , who had fled to the Great Temple, back to the enemies.

"There is a relic of Saint Marcella in the place I went to examine."

"That cannot be! That is impossible!"

The Archbishop jumped. As expected.

People looked surprised at his stubborn denial.

"To deny it so much, it is surprising. It is a divine revelation, so why do you deny it so strongly before even checking?"

When I asked back nonchalantly, the Cardinal cast a sharp glance at him. Rebuking the unsightly behavior unbecoming of an Archbishop.

Then he shrank back.

"...I-I apologize. I had no other intention. I... I was just so surprised......."

"Do not act flippantly in front of a divine revelation."

It was fun teaching soone who tried to teach .

"Back then too, I only went to examine that place after receiving a revelation."

"Of course, Your Highness's words must be correct. However, if that was the purpose, why did you not tell

so?"

Duke Grimiati asked, outwardly polite.

"How could I speak of a sacred revelation in a place where you abruptly drew blood? Were you not in a fury as if to kill even

back then!"

I shouted imdiately. Noble ladies gasped.

"It was blood shed for Prince Leontes. Above all, why would I kill Your Highness? Do you not have the face most resembling the late Empress? Please do not hurt my soul dedicated to her."

'...How did Mother end up dragging such a man around even after death? Leave my Mother, who rests in peace, alone.'

The Duke acted as if he was the one wronged. People, especially noble ladies, nodded fervently. There were too many people in the world who viewed the Duke's bizarre nonsense as romance. Far from wishing for such a man's love, isn't it normal to avoid it?

"At your age, going not for a secret tryst but to find a saint's relic; comndable like a choir boy. But what will you do if there is no relic in that place?"

Maximilian asked sharply.

"Indeed. If that happens, the one cursed would be Brother Leontes. Is it not that you heard a devil's whisper instead of a divine revelation?"

This ti Desmond stepped in. Having received a warning from his mother once, he imdiately followed her example, chiming in with Maximilian's words whom he hated so much. I wonder if there is brotherly love between us or not.

"Then do Brother and Desmond think there is no relic?"

I asked back. Not waiting for their answer, this ti I looked around at the people and said.

"Are there those who think so? If there are, gladly raise your hands. You may speak honestly."