The Emperor Who Was Chapter 65 : Chapter 65

Chapter . 65

“Is that so?”

“If it were a power that makes everything possible, it would be a miracle of God Traneha, not magic.”

Yolande smirked, but her eyes were cold.

“If it is sothing I can do for you, I will do it; you only need to command. Impossible things are just impossible.”

“Is it impossible to save that mage from bondage, even though we don't know his na yet?”

“Yes. Therefore, I would like to advise that telling strange stories to a child and exploiting her innocent heart is ineffective. I do not know from which mage you heard such wrong stories, but there are many fake mages in the world. Above all, such things are not even magic.”

Truly like Master, who hated Word Soul Magic so much she didn't even consider it magic. And yet, she perford that magic for

and succeeded.

She must have cared for

enough to abandon her own beliefs. That heart must have also made the success of that magic possible.

“It is for Nanette.”

“Telling sad, unfulfilled stories to a child who was smiling happily?”

“Because that child cannot be happy as long as her sister is not safe.”

Yolande glared at

as if to kill . Otherwise, tears would have ford in her eyes.

“Do you an Lady Nanette will not be safe if I do not do as you say, Prince?”

I did not answer and said sothing else. Anyway, Yolande had enough reason not to trust anyone, especially imperial family mbers, regarding her sister's safety.

“I saw that mage today.”

“So what?”

Yolande did not seem surprised at all. Since I returned with an unusual deanor from Desmond's residence where that mage belonged.

“Tell

that mage's na.”

“I do not know.”

A firm lie.

“I must know his na. Because I must save him, and also want to save you and Nanette.”

“How would I know the na of a mage I don't know? You should ask Prince Desmond.”

“He knew you. He was very anxious because Desmond said he would educate you just like him. Seeing him like that, I couldn't leave him there even more.”

Yolande's breathing beca rough.

“…How could Prince Desmond's mage oppose that. Or, did you see the anxious face of the masked mage? You are saying this to test .”

I did not answer and just stared at Yolande. Yolande glared back but flinched. Realizing the words I didn't say.

Although the mage didn't reveal emotions through words or expressions, other expressions... mana manifestation barely escaping control.......

But to feel that, one must be a mage as well, then... but surely not! It can't be!

“…I know nothing. I apologize....... I will take my leave now.”

Yolande was as terrified as Goldmund who first ntioned magic in front of . Because not knowing my intentions made her suspicion stronger.

“You do not trust , Yolande.”

I said behind Yolande's back as she was about to leave the study.

“Forgive , I acted disrespectfully, Prince.......”

“You did nothing wrong.”

“I really know nothing.”

“It is natural that you cannot trust . After all, I am Imperial Father's child and a Prince of Armatia.”

Yolande turned around, her eyes full of fear.

“To put you at ease, I will tell you a secret that can ruin . Instead, tell

that mage's na.”

Yolande's eyes widened.

Silence lengthened. Finally opening her mouth, she whispered.

“…Why are you giving

such a secret?”

“Because I trust you.”

“…Because I am Lady Nanette's sister? Is that why you think so?”

“No, I trust you. Because you are soone who would never miss a way to save yourself, Nanette, your husband, and mages suffering like you if there was one.”

Piercing through all that fear, Yolande's eyes shone.

Because I hit the mark.

Master was a strong and brave person. Such Master's greatest pain was the fact that she couldn't use that strong power and courage for those she loved. To soone so strong, that might have been a tragedy greater than their death in so ways.

-…I am the one grateful to you. Fighting for you, I was happy. Because my life was not wrong.

It was ti to return Master's last words full of sorrow to the person concerned.

“Will you fight with , Yolande?”

Yolande looked at the hand I extended as if it were a knife. Her shoulders trembled. Her entire body trembled.

However, the eyes that finally looked up and nailed onto

did not tremble.

Like that, the young Master held my hand.

It was then.

“That's enough.”

At the voice heard out of nowhere, Yolande and I looked back in surprise.

Michelon, who had been peeking through the window, was leisurely opening the window and entering.

“There is no balcony in the study, what if you fall!”

I should have taught him sternly like a nanny not to do dangerous things like hanging on walls.

“Hearing such scolding from the Prince who goes around doing only dangerous things every ti, I feel so aggrieved.”

Michelon retorted brazenly, but his expression was sowhat similar to the one I make when encountering people having a secret eting while going around together. Back then, he mocked

saying I looked like a stubborn and inflexible old man, but actually, he must have thought the sa as . Although it is a misunderstanding now.

Unable to watch any longer, Yolande spoke.

“No, that is not the problem right now, shouldn't you take issue with why he was eavesdropping.”

…It wasn't wrong.

“If I had eavesdropped from the beginning, I would have co out and stopped it earlier.”

Michelon retorted. Indeed, I always cast anti-eavesdropping magic. Michelon approaching this close was also because he didn't fall under the intruder prevention barrier that didn't go through the official entrance.

“You holding hands wouldn't an you're trying to dance, so shouldn't I rightly know?”

“What rude words are those in front of the Prince?”

“Don't talk about others, Emperor's Mage. Ah, as Nanette's brother, shall I call you Noona?”

“Don't fight, both of you.”

As Yolande's eyes spewed fire, I stepped in quickly. Michelon didn't say anything wrong. Because he is my ally.

However, the conflict between these two was a bit bewildering. They hadn't been on bad terms until now, and there wasn't conflict like when Sir Rolf and Michelon first t.

But the current hostility seed like sothing they had been suppressing exploded. Although it is said that in the Valaska era, mages worshipped dragons like gods and were minions of dragons oppressing people, too much ti has passed since then.

“How far did you intend to tell?”

Michelon interrogated sharply.

“About .”

I looked at him conveying that I never intended to reveal Michelon's identity, but Michelon seed even angrier for so reason.

“Truly wise Prince, if those words enter His Majesty the Emperor's ears, what will you do then?”

“That won't happen.”

I said confidently, but Michelon's gaze only beca sharper. Yolande also had a surprised face, then turned suspicious.

“If it's a mage, they would keep sothing that escaped the mage's contract a secret. Is that not so, Yolande?”

Yolande's eyes grew wider, but as Michelon frowned at my words and was about to open his mouth, I stepped in without delay.

“That is correct, Prince.”

Yolande, answering clearly, turned her head to Michelon.

“Lord Michelon's worry is also reasonable. So please watch directly.”

“Gladly.”

We decided to head to the Audience Chamber like that.

Thus, deciding to gather there separately at night, when Yolande left.

“Don't forget, my revenge cos first.”

I was about to prepare too, but Michelon grabbed my arm and blocked , saying.

“I have never forgotten.”

I answered in surprise.

“Then every ti the urge to grab your brother by the collar surges, keep that in mind first.”

Michelon snapped.

“Even before having dangerous conversations revealing your identity with the Emperor's Mage.”

“I'm doing that because I didn't forget?”

Michelon stared at

blankly for a mont, then got angrier.

“…Don't talk nonsense! Don't put yourself in danger by acting precariously!”

“My life was always dangerous. If others make it dangerous anyway, I myself—”

“I said don't do it!”

“Ah, are you worried?”

“Of course!”

“Don't worry. I won't do anything that puts even you in danger. Trust .”

At that mont, Michelon's eyes slit vertically.

“…If you fall into danger, I, the contractor, also fall into danger; asking

to trust you while not knowing even that obvious thing!”

“Ah, I will be careful on that point.”

“Just don't create dangerous situations in the first place, and be careful with your own affairs!”

It was hard to understand what he ant. While engaging in a succession war, what is dangerous or not; we are in a war. Grabbing collars with brothers or engaging in negotiations close to gambling with soone else's subordinates was relatively peaceful daily life.

But unlike , Michelon, even if a dragon, hadn't experienced war yet. So he might have many petty worries.

When I just nodded saying I understood, Michelon sighed. The round smoke of that baby dragon from before ca to mind. I should have carried him on my back more when he was smaller than .

***

That night, Michelon, Yolande, and I stood in the Audience Chamber.

The mont she ca to the Audience Chamber, Yolande turned pale. As if she ca to a place she never wanted to co again.

Just looking at that drained face, there were more than one or two things I could guess. She must have barely survived nearly dying with fellow mages here. But she must have witnessed the deaths of others.

The mont I tried to speak to Yolande, Michelon grabbed my arm.

‘Indeed, from Michelon’s position…….’

Yolande was one of those who cast the magic that caused Michelon's mother to die. Even if I was saved by Yolande before the regression, I had no right to forgive her for this matter. It was ti to trust Yolande rather than acting rashly.

“You know the secret dwelling in this Audience Chamber, Prince.”

Then, Yolande finally opened her mouth. Continuing without waiting for my answer.

“For successive Emperors to support a successor they liked, there is no thod like secretly passing down the secret of the Throne. Then contracting with a dragon becos advantageous too.”

Strength went into Michelon's hand still placed on my arm, but he only glared at Yolande with his mouth shut tight.

“Prince, although it cannot be explained even by magic... you survived even after drinking a special dicine. I heard you ca to have revelations probably due to the mysterious combination of that dicine and the fact that you are a descendant of Armatia.”

It must be the conjecture of mages ordered to investigate that phenonon. Just as Master harbored dissatisfaction that it was hard for mages to freely exchange opinions and research magic due to the imperial family's monopoly.

…In the end, Imperial Father knew the fact that I drank Lasilex. Did he know before I drank it, or only after? If he knew before, would he have even tried to stop it?

Useless question.

“So?”

When I encouraged her carefully, Yolande inhaled and continued.

“It is only my conjecture, but I suspect that the Prince told His Majesty the Emperor where the dragon's egg... is, and in return, His Majesty the Emperor told you the secret of the Throne.”

More precisely, he would think it was because I agreed to keep where I hid the dragon's egg a secret... but there was no need to say such things to each other here.

“I cannot explain everything that will happen in words. Nor can I guarantee success. I have never done it alone either, and it is a magic that barely succeeded only when several of the best mages unfolded it with all their might. Even that was only the beginning. It is that difficult and arduous a magic.”

“Of course it must be. I understand even if you fail. It is okay. Don't worry too much.”

Because if Yolande fails, I can do it. But she had an expression suppressing a sigh with effort. Seemingly very worried that the magic might fail.

“However, the Prince’s…….”

Yolande glanced at Michelon and his hand still placed on my arm. Michelon showed goodwill to

and my people, but it couldn't be said he liked other people. In the first place, I haven't even heard that dragons like people.

However, whether Michelon glared or not, her resolution did not waver.

“I need the Prince's blood. I can only tell you up to here.”

“Don't even dream of it.”

Michelon bared his teeth and laughed.