The Emperor Who Was Chapter 101 : Chapter 101

Chapter . 101

As I hugged the wolf and scratched behind its ears, the wolf licked my cheek with its tongue. When I stumbled, the hawk sitting on my shoulder spread its wings and flapped, but the wolf head-butted

with its shaggy head.

“Over there! There!”

The next mont, with Sir Rolf in the lead, Yolande and Vincent rushed in, panting.

“Your Highness! Your Highness!”

“Prince!”

“Your Highness!”

The three of them vied to embrace .

“He is safe, he is safe!”

“He was safe! He was safe!”

Michelon shouted from the side, but they just shouted together with him.

“You all must have been terrified! Were you that scared?”

Michelon tried to tease and calm them down even in this situation, but the people imdiately pounced on and hugged Michelon too.

“Do you know how worried we were?”

“When you are just a young boy!”

“Where on earth have you been and what were you doing!”

“What happened?”

“Yes, everyone calm down. I am really fine. I am not hurt anywhere.”

I cald everyone down. Jero pulled the ribbon hanging around his neck and dropped it. It was sothing I had given him, clothes that had been miniaturized and turned into a ribbon. As the magic was undone, the ribbon grew into clothes and Jero quickly put them on. anwhile, I looked around at everyone.

“Even if I am fine, you are not fine.”

I spoke in shock. They were not just dirty; they looked like they hadn't eaten or slept. Yolande's hair was ssy like a bird's nest, and the n all had thick beards.

“Did you really not sleep or eat for the whole week?”

When Michelon asked, Jero, who had just finished dressing, got angry.

“Because we were looking for the two of you! Isn’t it obvious!”

After shouting at Michelon, he imdiately hid behind my back.

I lost my words and looked at everyone. I assud they would be worried and looking for , but I thought they would take turns resting. If they had been like this ever since I disappeared…….

“We are fine. It is enough that the two of you are safe.”

At Sir Rolf's words, Yolande and Vincent also nodded. The two looked like they didn't even have the energy to speak.

“Since I am here, do not worry anymore.”

Saying that, I held everyone's hands tightly.

“What on earth happened?”

“After parting with you all, I was ambushed, kidnapped, and confined. However, I killed the watchers with Michelon and escaped. I do not know who they are, but I will surely uncover the mastermind, so do not worry.”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

Sir Rolf spoke in a bloody manner unlike him and stepped close to my side.

“Where did it happen? If it was after you parted with us, was it when you went deeper into the mountains from Harald's cave?”

“Were you not attacked with magic? Like a magic circle set up in advance.”

“That is right. To drag the two of you away, it would not have been ordinary magic. There must have been knights too, but everyone moved via magic, right?”

The other three asked hurriedly. Since they knew how strong I was, they were trying to understand how such a thing was possible rather than disbelieving my words.

“Stop, let us all stop. Is there not an imdiate issue we need to tell His Highness?”

However, Sir Rolf stopped them. At his sharp voice, unlike the usually sincere and considerate him, everyone imdiately shut their mouths. I was also surprised and tried to say it was okay, but he took a deep breath, looked at

with a serious face, and continued his report.

“The situation is not good, Your Highness. Count Montova is preparing for a siege at Montova Castle. Knights of the First Prince Faction, Empress Faction, and Illegitimate Prince Faction are said to be moving here soon.”

Sir Rolf reported. Yolande also spoke anxiously.

“While we searched for Your Highness without rest, we kept the disappearance a secret for the ti being, but when a week passed, we could not help but report it to His Majesty the Emperor. Even before the report, the First Prince, Duke Grimiati, and Marquis Steiner said they would co to visit, so the Count had a hard ti making excuses. It was sothing that could not be hidden for long anyway.”

I nodded and ordered imdiately.

“Yolande, we are moving to Montova Castle.”

At my words, Yolande raised her staff with trembling hands while being supported by Vincent. Sir Rolf tried to speak while looking at her and

alternately with worried eyes, but I imdiately teleported everyone.

, who relentlessly ordered a mage exhausted from searching for

despite the ergency, and the mage who succeeded in magic to transport multiple people at once despite being exhausted; it was all extrely suspicious.

Even if Sir Rolf ca to suspect, it could not be helped. The hearts of the people who wandered looking for

were more important than the suspicion I would receive. Although the conditions were still difficult, my desire to give them the rest they deserved was more important.

Just as Michelon was delighted by simple cleaning magic when we were hiding in the Imperial Palace, I realized that making people happy with magic was another sense of fulfillnt different from ascending to the throne.

Even if my first knight would no longer serve , I wanted to let him rest right now.

“Everyone collapsed.”

It was as Michelon said.

As soon as we moved to the magic circle of Montova Castle, everyone fainted and did not wake up. Sir Rolf still struggled and held on for a mont, but eventually collapsed due to the pressure of transportation without a magic circle.

“Your Highness!”

The soldiers guarding the magic circle were shocked and ran out. Soon, Giuliano della Montova ca running, gasping for breath. He was fully ard with only his helt off, and he did not look to be in good condition either.

“Your Highness, you are safe!”

Looking at him relieved, it did not seem like he had passed my information to the Empress. But one could never know. As a young count, he might have thought he had to be loyal to his original master to protect his family in a situation where I had disappeared.

“I am safe. Do not worry.”

“Everyone went to find Your Highness—”

The Count, who was speaking hurriedly, stopped upon seeing the others collapsed on the magic circle.

“They are fine too. They are just exhausted. Have people take care of them carefully.”

The Count imdiately called the servants, and they all hurriedly carried the collapsed people away on stretchers. Beyond the open door, Nanette, who was with the old lady, ca running toward

with open arms while on the verge of tears, but when I pointed at Yolande, she stopped mid-way, bowed her head, and followed her sister.

There were many things to handle right now. However, seeing those small shoulders obediently turning away as instructed, I felt a lump in my throat.

‘How hard it must have been for that young child in this strange place, separated from

and her sister's couple.’

It broke my heart to see the child, who had run over with tears welling up, silently enduring without a word at a single gesture of mine.

I ran over just like that and embraced Nanette. Michelon also ran over and hugged us together. In our arms, Nanette burst into tears she had been holding back.

“Waaaaah!”

“It was hard, wasn't it? I am sorry, Nanette.”

“We will win, so don't cry.”

Nanette hugged us tightly with all her might with that small body, then pulled away first. Because she understood that I was really busy.

“I will wait, Prince, Michelon. I will wait here nicely!”

Then she quickly turned her head and followed behind Yolande, who was being carried away up ahead. The old lady bowed to , then followed Nanette and took her small hand.

“My mother is looking after them. Do not worry.”

The Count nodded toward them and said to .

“These three wandered in search of Your Highness without resting for a mont. Even when I said I would search with them, they strongly dissuaded , even Sir Rolf…….”

The Count failed to hide his disappointed look for a mont, but soon continued speaking.

“Where have you been all this ti?”

“I was ambushed and kidnapped, and after being confined with Michelon, I escaped.”

Giuliano did not look very surprised at my words. Rather, he gritted his teeth and imdiately threw a question.

“As expected… Do you know who they are?”

“I do not know yet.”

“…Soon, many knights will arrive from the Imperial Palace to find Your Highness. It is just taking ti to assemble because there are so many knights. We must hurry and inform the Imperial Palace of Your Highness's return.”

“I will keep it a secret until I reveal who the ones that ambushed

are.”

“…Understood. Then, do you intend to examine them yourself after they arrive?”

“Montova Castle will not accept them.”

Count Montova was shocked by my order.

“What? Your Highness, what do you an! They say the Marquises, Dukes, and even the other Princes are all coming!”

“Is Montova Castle their territory?”

The Count imdiately shut his mouth. He swept back his sweat-soaked blond hair, stared blankly into the air, and soon spoke earnestly.

“It is an Imperial command, Your Highness. His Majesty the Emperor ordered a massive search regarding Your Highness's disappearance. If we disobey, we will be attacked. By all the knights coming here! By all the factions!”

“I will catch the culprit and report directly to Royal Father with evidence. Until then, Montova Castle will not accept outsiders. Hide the fact of my return as well.”

Giuliano stared at

piercingly for a mont, but soon nodded.

“If it is an enemy's plot, that would be better for making the enemy let their guard down and counterattacking. I understand. Then, we must destroy the magic circle first.”

“…Are you serious?”

I thought he obeyed faster than expected, but it was unexpected for him to suggest destroying the magic circle first.

A teleportation magic circle that allows people to co and go safely requires multiple mages to complete for stability.

The larger the magic circle for moving many people at once, the more mages are needed, so it costs a fortune to install. Unless one was a wealthy lord or a lord belonging to the four factions, it was difficult to even provide a magic circle in a castle.

In particular, the magic circle of Montova Castle was of considerable size, constructed and expanded by their family over several generations regardless of the Empress Faction. To destroy a family treasure inherited for generations…….

“There is no other way, Your Highness.”

I naturally thought Count Montova would resist my order to defy the Imperial command, but rather, he was persuading

about the magic circle first.

“But isn't this magic circle your family's heirloom?”

“However, right now, it is rely a passage for a group that might attack the castle's master and its residents.”

The Count spoke without hesitation. And his eyes shone.

“Also, since it is so, they will not imagine that I would destroy this magic circle, so it is perfect to catch them off guard.”

Thus, we destroyed the magic circle. I could just make it again anyway. If he truly did not betray , I would make him a really big one.

“…Although it is the property of Your Highness, the Lord of the castle, would you allow

to destroy the magic circle myself?”

When I granted the Count's request, the Count raised his heirloom sword and stabbed the center of the magic circle and the points extending north, south, east, and west one after another.

As he stabbed the sword into the center once more and pulled it out, a magical field rose strongly, and the magic circle emitted a blinding light before fading away.

The magic circle, which used to shine with mana accumulated over a long ti even when not in use, was now faded and discolored.

The Count gasped for breath heavily, stuck his sword into the ground, and leaned on it. Then he raised his fist to wipe the thick beads of sweat flowing on his forehead.

“You went through a lot, Count.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Since we put out the urgent fire, we had so ti. Michelon and I stood with our backs to the Count, who was staring blankly into the air for a mont, and examined the magic circle.

‘It is a magic circle that secures stability with cornerstones.’

It was a thod of linking five stones placed at five points with the castle's foundation stones, reflecting the castle's blueprint, and building them up as the magic circle's foundation.

So that it would be safe as long as the castle was not destroyed. It was much simpler than the Throne Magic Circle, but the basics were the sa.

When I rebuild it, I should use the sa thod and add mana to contribute to the castle's safety as well.

And as I observed the magic circle like that, I discovered what I was looking for.