The Emperor Who Was Chapter 40 : Chapter 40

Chapter . 40

“What if you erge from the extensive skirts of Her Majesty the Empress or the Duke?”

“What do you take

for!”

At Desmond’s indignation, Leontes replied.

“Well, you are the son of Her Majesty the Empress, Desmond.”

Saying that, Leontes pushed him aside and turned around with his hand on the doorknob.

“Unlike you all, I am alone. I will join hands with anyone who cos to . If they are worthy.”

And then he closed the door and disappeared.

“He joins hands with anyone, but not with minors wrapped in the skirts of their backers. Haha, just thinking about the Duke’s skirt makes

laugh, hahaha!”

“Then who on earth is your skirt-wearing backer, that the Second Prince won’t even join hands with you, a Marquess who is of age?”

Maximilian retorted imdiately.

“Well, since I serve not just one or two noble ladies. How could I stop holding their hands? Rather, I should stop associating with minors in skirts, hahaha!”

Loud voices were exchanged for a mont, but Maximilian and Desmond, who didn’t want to stay any longer where Leontes had left, departed imdiately. Alexander was lost in thought, paying them no mind.

The alliance that didn’t even seem like an alliance was broken by Leontes. Surely, after urging everyone to break free from the Duke and the Empress.

‘In other words, it ans this isn’t enough for him, so we should try harder.’

From Leontes’s perspective, since it’s not fair yet, he can’t trust us either. So he will join hands with the Father Emperor, just like those who have backers.

It’s exciting to see how my younger brothers will act, but I also had to be tense. I had to gain his trust sohow before Leontes divulged the location of the dragon egg only to the Emperor.

‘He doesn’t call

brother like back then anymore.’

Suddenly, such a thought briefly crossed my mind. Unfitting for this complex and busy situation.

-Big Brother.

The image of a young child staring up with big, round eyes, saying that, and smiling brightly.

***

After revealing my intentions to my brothers, I returned to my quarters regardless of how they interpreted it. Sir Rolf followed imdiately.

“Was everything alright?”

When I asked as we entered a quiet corridor, he looked at

with surprised eyes.

“There is no reason for the Prince to worry about .”

It must not have been a good experience to wait for our impromptu eting to end while surrounded by the knights of three other brothers. Especially since Maximilian’s knights, who are of collateral imperial lineage, also returned from their probation.

“Are you alright, Prince?”

Rather, he asked .

“I am fine.”

“I am fine too.”

“This is my job.”

“So is mine.”

“There are many other knights, but you are alone.”

“The Prince is also alone. Compared to the other brothers.”

“I have you.”

“I have the Prince too. So do not worry.”

…I don't know if the conversation went well or not. I'm sick and tired of court intrigues, but I don't know how to handle soone sincere and honest like Sir Rolf who just entered the court and doesn't know such things.

However, thinking that such a person is one of the people I never even encountered when I was Emperor ward my heart. An existence that makes

look back on the fact that there are people beyond the courtiers.

“Prince, you’re back! Sir Rolf too!”

There was one more of those people. As soon as I returned, Nanette ran up smiling. The yellow dress fluttering like a dandelion suited her very well.

At night, after confirming that both were asleep, I sneaked out again.

Throne Magic Circle.

Now I was a mage who received an imperial order.

I manifested Tess. Just with that, I could manifest the Throne Magic Circle. For a clear reason, such as needing mutual manifestation to report the inspection on the dragon egg.

But this ti, I wasn't satisfied with that easy thod.

When the brilliant magic circle unfolded hugely like an autumn field where countless patterns ripened into gold, I manifested the imperial order.

“I, Lombroso IV, Emperor of Armatia, command Prince Leontes to receive my order and find the dragon egg.”

Amidst the Father Emperor’s command accurately preserved by Tess being heard again, Tess also transmitted that command to the Throne Magic Circle as an auxiliary magic circle. At the sa ti, I saw blood again.

My na written in blood spread into the magic circle faster than before, along with the imperial order and my magic power.

In fact, it would have been safer to go to Michelon’s magic circle and do this rather than directly on the Throne Magic Circle. However, rescuing Michelon required several preparatory steps. Especially if the rescue was accelerated with the help of enemies.

‘First, imprint myself on the magic circle.’

Using Tess, I examined every single spell that was in the Throne Magic Circle one by one. Staying up countless nights.

While doing so, I created categories for each spell and organized them. I placed the categories created like that parallel to Armatia’s history and reorganized them again.

To find answers to the questions I was curious about one by one. For example…….

‘If the Emperor was suddenly assassinated, the Guardian Dragon also died, and the dragon egg was stolen?’

Roncer also targeted the dragon egg repeatedly. Would such a thing have never happened in Armatia’s long history? Things hidden in the shadows of history, appropriately fabricated.

Although not listed as assassination, as a result of searching through cases of Emperors who died suddenly, I discovered actual cases.

Scatelano I won a battle, took off his helt to drink water, and fell to an arrow shot by a defeated soldier pretending to be dead. At that mont, the Guardian Dragon that led the battle to victory also died. When the dragon died, the enemy invaded again.

‘Actual history was solemnly glossed over.’

His son, Hellanesta III, safely hatched the dragon egg and contracted with it, and although the dragon was still young and couldn't go to the battlefield, he displayed valor himself and defeated the enemies.

However, in the Throne Magic Circle at that ti, commands and spells to find the dragon egg clearly appear. The dragon egg was stolen by an enemy spy amidst the chaos at the ti.

‘The Emperor died, and the successor hadn’t contracted with the dragon yet, so how did he command the Throne Magic Circle?’

Ultimately, it’s unlikely that only I ca up with my question. When such a thing happened, Armatia couldn’t solve the problem with just a regent like other countries. In that case, the person who would be a counterasure after the Emperor’s death is outwardly a regent but…….

‘Co-ruling Emperor.’

Monarchs ruling jointly existed in ancient empires too. There were two, or even four. In various countries too, there were forr kings who handed over the throne to their sons while not letting go of real power.

‘Never ntioned in Armatia’s history.’

I made the na of my blood trace back from just before the reign of Hellanesta III began to before the reign of Scatelano II ended. Under the official order to find the dragon egg, adding my command as the executor of that order.

My na twinkled endlessly in gold and blue light, then stopped at a certain point, emitting an intense lapis lazuli light.

The protection order issued by Scatelano II just before leaving for personal conquest. The targets were Crown Prince Hellanesta, and the dragon egg. At that ti, it hadn't been long since the Crown Prince system had virtually disappeared like now.

“Show the hidden contract.”

I issued a clear command.

The magic circle is also a contract; if Hellanesta could move the magic circle, it ant he was also a contractor.

My na dug into the command in question like a lapis lazuli blade. The next mont, that command split in two. Silver letters appeared beneath the golden letters.

‘Appoint Crown Prince Hellanesta as the co-contractor of the Throne Magic Circle.’

Contrary to my prediction, it wasn't a co-ruler. Thinking about it, it's obvious. The ruler of Armatia must be a dragon contractor, and a dragon cannot contract with two Emperors.

However, the Throne Magic Circle allows co-contracts, and the Throne Magic Circle handled by a co-contractor was the hidden counterasure for such situations. Before magic, which drifted further away from the Armatia imperial family, was reduced to only its dark hands.

‘By the way, why was the dragon egg lost even though the Throne Magic Circle protected it?’

How could a spy from an enemy country steal sothing that cannot be taken out unless a mage with imperial blood like

pushes through with a ruthless thod?

I recalled history. Hellanesta III was an Emperor with deep faith who kept magic at a distance. Perhaps unlike his Father Emperor Scatelano, he might have been reluctant to protect the dragon egg with a magic circle.

‘In that case…….’

I dug into the command to find the dragon egg. This ti, it wasn't hidden on the back, but by combining two commands into one.

The Crown Prince, who felt uneasy hiding the dragon egg in the magic circle, hid it elsewhere and had it stolen. He commanded in a panic to find the dragon egg, and the Throne Magic Circle found it again.

Then, even if I rescue Michelon, the sa thing could happen. Hatching might be delayed. It was good to check in advance.

I moved my na to the very last command of the Throne Magic Circle. And I began to carve a command next to it. Using my na as a chisel like with Tess. Although it was twice as difficult as back then.

“I, Lombroso IV, Emperor of Armatia, command…….”

Manifesting magic that preserved the Father Emperor’s command exactly as his voice.

Although it wasn’t a direct command from the Father Emperor to the Throne Magic Circle, I could produce the maximum effect.

Actually, at first, I didn’t even intend to record my na. I wanted to hide it in preparation for unknown future events.

But having learned the thods of ancestors through the re-examination of the Throne Magic Circle, if so, I had to attempt it even if it ant taking risks. The dragon is the dragon, but co-contracting with the Throne Magic Circle would be truly useful before it grows.

‘It hurts though…….’

While the Emperor’s command is carved automatically, it was hard to carve for , a future Emperor. The letters looked blurry as if written by a clumsy scribe and seed about to be erased.

But blood was the best ink for the Throne Magic Circle. Feeding it plenty of imperial blood, the new imperial order was carved clearly, and I could even carve a new spell on the back of that spell.

But the na was really hard. I attempted it about three tis, and a lot of blood went in. It was possible because my na was in the imperial order, and the Throne Magic Circle was already familiar with my blood and magic power. However…….

‘Signing as a co-contractor is out of the question.’

Lost in thought, I fiddled with the Portrait Ring with my fingers out of habit. It was good that Mother’s keepsake beca a stronger artifact as I infused my magic power. If I continue to infuse magic power, I could neutralize even reasonably powerful assassination artifacts…….

Right, neutralize.

‘Why didn’t I think of that?’

I looked at the huge magic circle in front of . No matter how powerful this Portrait Ring is, could it exert influence on that huge magic circle?

The problem is that I am not in a position to be picky.

Operating two circles with all my might, I carved the first letter with my blood on the Portrait Ring.

And using that ring as a seal, I stamped it over my na.

Again, the second letter.

More blood was used than expected, not to ntion magic power.

Third, fourth letter.

But I didn’t stop.

Until the last fifth letter was stamped.

Until the words co-contractor were finally carved over my na.

When the work was finished, I felt dizzy. I drank the potion Goldmund offered in preparation for tis like this. From now on was important.

“Co-contractor Leontes commands, summon Michelon of the maze.”

Then a dazzling light arose in the center of the Throne Magic Circle. For a mont, to the extent that nothing could be seen ahead.

While watching in a trance without even blinking an eye, the light slowly cleared, and finally the dragon egg was revealed.

A large egg that looked like it was made of golden marble, just as when I first saw it.

Just as stripes of red or blue marble are beautiful rather than white marble, wavy stripes were engraved on the dazzling golden color, making it look like a rare jewel. A very huge jewel.

“Michelon!”

I hugged it tight and called his na. My eyes closed automatically. As relief and fatigue rushed in simultaneously, it was hard to endure. But the voice that soon ca chased away all sleep.

“Leontes?”

“Yes, it’s , Michelon. You finally ca out of that barrier!”

Michelon was silent for a mont.

“…Then it was real… this feeling of liberation.”