The Emperor Who Was Chapter 46 : Chapter 46

Chapter . 46

“Such worth is not for

or you to determine, Brother. It is for God Traneha to determine, and for His Majesty the Emperor, who receives the god's protection, to decide. The one who has already commanded not to misuse the dragon egg.”

Whether the First Prince was furious at the flawless answer or not, the Chancellor nodded. Father and my illegitimate brother said nothing, but the mood was set.

In my brothers' eyes, I had to appear as if I had gone over to Father's side, and to Father, I had to appear conscious of my brothers.

Just then, Desmond, grinding his teeth, provided a fitting conclusion.

“...Second Brother is just scared. Walking on eggshells around everyone, it's inevitable.”

Sarcastically remarking that I was walking a dangerous tightrope while being conscious of both sides. If he were , does he think he could do as well as I am? It was funny that my illegitimate brother didn't even treat him as a brother when he should be watching and learning.

“It is thanks to Her Majesty the Empress making

walk on eggshells for so long. Yet why are you, the Empress's own son, so clueless? The teachings you received from Her Majesty must be lacking!”

Desmond's cheeks flushed as I snapped back, pretending to be angry. The Emperor raised his hand.

“The one who received the revelation is Leontes. He originally ca to report to , and it is his consideration that allowed you, who followed him, to co this far. Anyone dissatisfied with this, leave now.”

Everyone fell silent. Since Ilaves's death, the Emperor had no interest in people, to the point of not even hiding that fact, so it wasn't strange that rumors of madness circulated.

For such a man to not only show interest in

but take my side and scold his other sons, it truly appeared as trendous favor.

However, far from being happy about receiving Father's favor for the first ti, his attitude of acting human only when it benefited him seed like proof of true madness, giving

an ominous feeling.

There had been many emperors who indulged in pleasure all their lives, to the extent of saying “Who cares what happens to the country after I die?”, but Father wasn't as wicked as them; instead, he seed the maddest.

“Co closer, Leontes.”

Saying that, Father touched a jewel embedded in the necklace he was wearing. n's necklaces were much larger than won's, wrapping not just around the neck but the entire shoulder with thick golden ornants. However, the Emperor's necklace had jewels studded amidst the gold, and all of them were artifacts.

-Secret conversation.

Glancing at my palm, such golden letters appeared faintly and disappeared.

It was a signal connecting the Portrait Ring with Tess, informing

in advance of the functions of nearby artifacts detected by the Portrait Ring. Tess, my loyal subject.

I touched the Portrait Ring slightly to turn off the artifact nullification function, then approached Father.

“So where is the dragon egg?”

Calm eyes that revealed no emotional fluctuation.

That's why everyone desires the Emperor's reaction even more.

How different he is from the scarecrow emperor.

The eyes possessing dignity that I so desired, the Emperor's eyes that grant the opportunity to pledge loyalty to all who gaze into them.

‘But... is he truly the Emperor I want to beco?’

Burying that question in my heart, I opened my mouth as a loyal son through and through.

“The dragon egg... I do not know the exact location either, but I believe I can find it if I go near. What I saw was—”

“What did you see?”

Father asked. But I felt he didn't ask out of genuine curiosity.

“It is a b-bronze statue.......”

I didn't hide my flustered deanor.

“There are many bronze statues, but... I will know which one it is when I see it. That bronze statue points to where the dragon egg is hidden—”

As I spoke, the sixth sense I honed through regression flashed.

The distinct interest rising in Father's eyes. As if testing how much I really knew.

Until now, I thought Father would be worried that I might find out where the dragon egg is.

But now he... as if saying find out if you can... No, not just curious about how much I know, but intrigued by how I would react to such a provocation from him.......

“...I do not know well.”

In the end, I only said that. Originally, I didn't intend to reveal the location properly, planning to say I only had clues, but I ended up not even saying that.

Expressing my intention to remain silent under the Emperor's pressure. As if implying that even if I knew where the dragon egg everyone so desires is, I would pretend not to know until the end.

‘What if the enemy acts unpredictably?’

With any other enemy, I would chase after their retreating back and strike them, but not this man. The one who is my father, Michelon's enemy, and the Emperor.

Only by not reacting to whatever he does could I execute my plan that included his existence.

However, the next mont, the Emperor did sothing against which even non-reaction was useless.

Because he smiled and embraced .

I was startled, and I heard gasps from behind as well.

Surely, I'm not the first child he has embraced, am I? Everyone must have been embraced at least once before, but since it's natural between father and son, they just didn't ntion it, right?

The Emperor continued speaking, having turned off the artifact that prevented our conversation from being heard.

“My good son, Leontes.”

The Emperor's words, no matter how many people were present, were transmitted far away by the artifact in his necklace. Depending on the Emperor's will, from just one person to everyone in the entire imperial palace.

Just like right now.

“Leontes is right. There is a dragon egg in Armatia. My son who revealed that fact is indeed a blessing sent by God to Armatia.”

“Ohhhhh!”

Cheers erupted from the surrounding people. They had pushed their way to the very threshold of a place they hadn't dared to enter, witnessing the scene where the Emperor and the Prince declared the existence of the dragon egg that had disappeared. Sothing to be envied for a long ti by all those not present here. If one's blood didn't boil, they weren't a courtier.

“Prince Leontes has perford a great service to the country!”

“Praise Prince Leontes!”

“Praise His Majesty the Emperor!”

“The two of them protect us!”

“Armatia, be eternal!!”

It seed the Emperor faction and the Illegitimate Prince faction would be best at praise, but actually, the Empress faction and the First Prince faction did it more earnestly. If the Emperor, who had been indifferent until now, revealed his claws, they, who had been arrogant before, had no choice but to lay flat.

Father praising , people cheering. Outwardly, a perfect picture I had always dread of.

In reality, even though I had succumbed to the Emperor's pressure and hidden the location of the dragon egg.

Goosebumps rose. My brothers stared piercingly at , who had turned pale. They, too, were not deceived by the Emperor.

‘What are you looking at?’

I actually perford a ritorious deed. Because I saved the dragon egg from the one who hid it. If the Emperor or anyone else displayed greed in that process, naturally I would use it.

Even with a complexion pale from the shock of seeing Father's true colors, I puffed out my chest and smiled.

“Hope of Armatia!”

“Praise Prince Leontes!”

How to accept what just happened is up to each individual.

I walk my path. But the paths of others, each going their separate ways, will surely rge into my path soday.

***

The two doors of the audience chamber opened wide. The trains of the gorgeously dressed courtiers trailed long over the polished marble floor.

Although it was night, small artifacts floated between the ceiling painting and the chandeliers hanging below it. With lighting reflecting light from various angles, they brightly illuminated the painting of a dragon subdued by a hero and the people enjoying prosperity beneath it. Decorative artifacts, the height of luxury.

“It is an incomparably joyous event.”

“Since the dragon egg has been found, what is there to worry about now.”

“Indeed, the future of Armatia is bright.”

People had bright faces, and the atmosphere was also bright. First Prince Maximilian cast a scornful glance at them.

“Foolish people, does anyone even know where the dragon egg is? In the end, neither Father nor Leontes said anything practically. No one has even seen if it really exists. The dragon egg still hasn't appeared, yet they act as if they've found it right now.”

“People want to be relieved, Maxim.”

His maternal granduncle said with a smile.

“What's important to them is the fact that His Majesty the Emperor no longer denies the existence of the dragon egg. Since His Majesty took a step back from the claim he hadn't bent even a little despite widespread complaints, that alone is reassuring. Above all, if there is a dragon in Armatia, that is enough. From then on, the aspect of the imperial succession war changes greatly, so they have no choice but to be cautious.”

“Father has already fought the imperial succession war. Should he covet the dragon he once lost?”

Although he had activated the anti-eavesdropping artifact doubly, Maximilian spoke overly freely. Just as Grimiati had raised him.

“This country is the country His Majesty the Emperor inherited; His Majesty can do as he pleases.”

“The imperial succession war is my fight, and my right, Granduncle.”

Maximilian did not hide his displeasure.

“By the way, whom am I fighting right now? An illegitimate son or a woman. At this rate, winning won't even save face. Hah, looking at it that way, Father's check isn't entirely bad.”

“Recently, Prince Leontes's reputation has risen greatly.”

“I know my brother.”

The First Prince spoke firmly.

“His heart is endlessly soft. When I acted strictly for him to grow strong, he got scared and leaned toward the Lauderdale woman, and now he clings to Father again. Not to ntion joining hands with the illegitimate son. As long as soone approaches him, he clings to them regardless of whether they are Mother's enemy. At first, I was uncontrollably angry, but now I intend to let him be. He will only co to his senses and return after experiencing and suffering personally.”

“And if he doesn't return?”

When Grimiati asked, Maximilian, who was speaking while looking at the people, turned his head to look at him. However, the platinum-haired Duke only quietly waited for an answer. Just like when he personally taught him emperor studies.

“That would be the ti for

to teach him manners personally. There is no need for Granduncle to step in every ti.”

Maximilian, who had opposed Grimiati taking Prince Leontes to his territory, spoke without hesitation.

“He is also Her Majesty the Empress's son.”

“If there is anyone who denies that, I will punish them with my own hands. Therefore, that child must also act like Mother's child, like my brother. If he joined hands with an enemy or an enemy's child, he must bear the price himself.”

Maximilian's eyes were cold.

“I also did not like the fact that Prince Leontes drank Lasilex.”

“It was the Lauderdale woman's plot, so her child should pay the price, but if he becos a brother and rebels against , there is no reason for

as an older brother to retaliate for him.”

“Desmond is still a greenhorn, but Steiner is different. Recently, as he flatters and humors him, the still young Prince might fall for it.”

“The illegitimate son is a guy not even worth ntioning. Above all, didn't Granduncle see it back then too? My brother clearly noticed Father's intentions. But because he was scared, he just fell for Father's pressure.”

“It is all my negligence. I was too strict with the Prince. Thinking he had nowhere to lean on because he has a tender heart, he ca to cling to His Majesty.”

“Just because the result of drinking Lasilex was luckily not bad, how long will it last? When that ti cos, having outlived his usefulness, he will lose Father's favor too, and then he will be even more terrified. No matter how he pretends otherwise on the outside, his immature inner thoughts are all visible to .”

It was then. The murmuring grew louder, and Prince Leontes appeared. Unlike others with many attendants, he was accompanied by only one knight. However, soon Marquis Steiner approached with a bright smile, openly displaying friendship in front of people.

Displeasure filled the eyes of the First Prince and the Duke. It was the sa for Desmond over there, but Empress Rhiannon, rather than being displeased by the friendship between her biological son and adopted son, pointed at Steiner and whispered to Desmond.

When Desmond's eyes burned, the Royal Chamberlain shouted.

“His Majesty the Emperor enters!”

Before long, the Emperor appeared and imdiately conducted the ceremony.

Prince Leontes stepped forward. His guard knight Sir Rolf and Marquis Alexander Steiner attended him on both sides. Originally, a Prince's investiture ceremony was attended by people of higher status, but the Prince said those two were enough.

Thus, rumors of his unpretentiousness circulated. Unlike his brothers who filled their sides with high-ranking nobles, many lower-ranking nobles recently paid attention to the Prince who grew up with difficulty and favored even a commoner girl, his nanny's daughter.

“As God Traneha spoke.......”

Amidst the Cardinal's blessing, the Marquis and the Knight removed the Prince's outer garnts. Now wearing only a white simple tunic and trousers, the Prince even took off his shoes. The sight of the Prince standing barefoot on the red carpet of the audience chamber was truly a scene seen after a long ti.

Usually, princes received knighthood at a young age. So they wouldn't die before becoming knights. Both Maximilian and Desmond beca knights before turning ten. Steiner is a Sword Master.

So people had even forgotten the fact that the Second Prince, who had been forgotten until now, was not yet a knight.