The Emperor Who Was Chapter 34 : Chapter 34

Chapter . 34

-It must be sothing unique. Like a young man who never says he loves soone.

Like .

-Or, a woman who never says her real na?

-Your idea is better, Teacher.

-But if the anti-magic user eventually dies and never says those words, how would you distinguish it from the absence of the taboo?

-…That part is difficult. In that case, breaking the taboo in an ergency situation would be a warning. Telling the anti-magic user to say those words only at such tis.

-Right…….

-However, if the anti-magic user keeps the taboo not to speak for too long and forgets what the words were altogether, or if their mouth just doesn’t open even in an ergency, it would be dangerous. Especially if they are young or sick. Eventually, you have to et again before the taboo lasts too long.

-…Well done. You truly are my disciple. I only felt you were too different from , but there are points where our thought processes are similar.

My teacher, who was happy yet sowhat lancholic.

…Only now do I understand.

The magic that my teacher poured all her efforts into but failed. Sothing insufficient to protect the young sibling she was separated from in this world…….

“Prince, shouldn’t you have breakfast? Nanette as well.”

Sir Rolf spoke cautiously to , who was lost in mories. I composed myself and smiled at my knight and the child looking at .

“…Yes, and you too. Let’s eat together, the three of us, for the ti being.”

“But how can I, with a mber of the imperial family…….”

“It is an order.”

Like that, the three of us ate together. Although the person I missed wasn’t by my side right now, I felt less lonely.

Because from now on, everything will change.

***

“I greet Your Highness Prince Leontes.”

“Your Highness, have you been well during this ti?”

The banquet Desmond held for

was truly grand. Many people had already arrived at that large and luxurious residence, and they rushed toward

as soon as they saw .

“You look truly dazzling today.”

“Truly, I cannot take my eyes off Your Highness.”

Of course. Since I ca dressed in clothes befitting a Prince with the funds offered by the priests. And with Sir Rolf standing proudly by my side.

While letting the flattery reflecting my changed status flow in one ear and out the other, I looked around the banquet hall.

The spectacle Desmond prepared for the banquet for

was a play. I also ca to perform a play for Michelon today; how can our minds be so alike? It was creepy.

A luxuriously decorated circular theater was installed in the center, and there were also circular seats surrounding the theater. The pleasure of leaning back or lying down on fluffy cushions to watch a play comfortably was certainly different.

The play consisted of three acts, and the circular theater was also divided into three sections. Only one act was perford in each section, and the structure required the circular theater to rotate with a magical device to view the next act.

Every ti it rotated by one section, the people in the seats facing it watched the act perford in that section, but people who weren’t in VIP seats like

could only watch the play after I had watched Act 1.

‘Seats strictly according to hierarchy. Typical of Desmond.’

The actors were three beautiful boys, performing a pantomi.

In the first act, a boy who lost his mother cries until he collapses from exhaustion and falls asleep. Then, a figure of his mother with her face covered appears in his dream and gives a revelation.

“Oh, that pitiful boy!”

“How piteous!”

That section spun around, and Act 2 in the second section began. The second boy discovers a holy relic according to the revelation seen in his dream, receiving the praise of the crowd drawn heavily in the background all to himself.

“Truly amazing!”

“I have never seen such a surprising story!”

Unlike what I saw at a glance, the actor for Act 3 was a woman, not a boy. While portraying

as an adult, he was insulting

by not using an adult male actor.

The actress dressed as a man shaves her head and devotes herself to religion. And after dying, she is canonized as a saint. A tombstone praising the saint was the stage background.

It wasn’t a bad strategy. No matter how much I denied that I wouldn’t devote myself to religion, if the guy persistently kept stoking the fire, the story wouldn’t disappear from people’s minds.

In fact, it wasn’t disadvantageous for

either. If I give the impression that I’ve slightly stepped away from the mainstream of the imperial succession battle like this, it’s good for making various people in the enemy faction let their guard down. The problem is that the guy who plotted this isn’t letting his guard down.

“Ah, it’s touching!”

“It is so beautiful!”

Amidst the clamor of flattery, Desmond, who hadn’t been seen earlier, suddenly appeared and bowed to .

“I apologize, Brother Leontes. No matter how hard I tried, I could not find an actor worthy of portraying soone like you, Brother. I inevitably mobilized even an actress, but it is not satisfactory.”

Desmond, who spends his own money on this scale to insult

by calling

a girl-like guy.

“Prince Desmond is right. They are actors far too insufficient to portray Prince Leontes.”

“It is good to see Prince Desmond treating Prince Leontes so hospitably.”

Amidst the echoes of flattery, I opened my mouth.

“Next ti, there is no need to try so hard; you portray

yourself.”

I answered with an insult that he is a clown-like guy. Prejudice for prejudice.

Desmond’s left cheek twitched. However, the flatterers failed to notice his deanor as they were busy flattering.

“Of course, a handso person must be portrayed by a handso person.”

“Now that I look at you, you resemble each other like twins.”

Do they call that flattery? Isn’t it offensive?

“Ah, if I did not et Brother’s expectations, please forgive .”

“That is not so.”

Since he held a banquet for , I had to praise him according to etiquette.

“To hold such a banquet for ,”

I almost said persistent. The freedom to speak one’s mind was dangerous.

“It is cute.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say kind even if I died. Above all, if I keep insisting this guy is cute, I might really start thinking Michelon is cute. Child-rearing is effort.

“That is true, Prince Desmond is truly cute indeed…!”

“Ah, truly, how cute…….”

The flattery that was blindly agreeing stopped abruptly in the middle. Because Desmond looked around murderously.

“How can you lie so nonchalantly?”

“It is sad as a brother that you dean yourself saying you are not cute.”

While Desmond and I glared at each other, a rude person intervened.

“The sight of you two fighting without dignity is cute.”

It was Maximilian. I suddenly understood Desmond’s feelings. On the one hand, I was proud of myself for dealing a blow to the enemy’s mind with a single thoughtlessly uttered word. To raise soone, I must also raise my confidence.

“All three of you are cute. As the eldest brother, I am happy.”

Alexander Steiner intervened. Among us, his acting skills were the most outstanding. Should I emulate him? I don’t want to.

“The Marquess’s words toward the Princes are disrespectful.”

When Desmond retorted to his biological brother, the half-brothers watched. Even Maximilian, who had been glaring at Steiner, shut his mouth.

“Oh my, I apologize for hurting the Prince’s sensitive sensibilities. Would you present such a magnificent play to this unworthy brother as well? I ask for a spectacle.”

Spectacle has a different aning now, but in ancient tis, it referred to gladiatorial gas, fights with beasts, or mock naval battles. A Sword Master forcing his bloody taste on his biological brother in front of everyone.

“Before that, you must win against

in a bet like Brother Leontes did.”

“Ah, thinking about it, you probably won’t be able to hold such a match in the narrow and shabby quarters you will soon move to, Prince. I will wait until you occupy a good residence again.”

Then, before Desmond could even retort, Steiner turned his head and asked Maximilian.

“Even your half-brother held such a good banquet for Prince Leontes; how can you, his biological brother, stay still? May I look forward to it?”

The Sword Master was hitting two princes consecutively. He used

as a weapon, but the feeling of being used in this way was interesting.

“Unlike your brother, do I need to flatter my brother?”

Maximilian answered typically like Maximilian.

“Of course, your brother owes a debt to my brother, so regardless of the bet, he should have held a banquet long ago.”

It ant that if Mother hadn’t died because of , Desmond would have remained a bastard like Alexander. The formidable attack power of the First Prince, dissing his biological brother, half-brother, and half-brother all at once.

“Do you not think so as well?”

Blood rushed to Desmond’s cheeks, but Maximilian continued to ask Alexander.

Aren’t you dissatisfied that only you are a bastard among us?

Maximilian seed to be ignoring Desmond, but he was actually conscious of him. He couldn't bear the fact that not only did Rhiannon take Mother's place, but he also had to compete with her son.

In other words, he was making arbitrary assumptions that Alexander would empathize with him, since he didn't even see a bastard as an opponent.

“I would like to hear that story directly from the mouth of Prince Desmond, who continues to be ignored. As he seems to have no opportunity to speak.”

Alexander, who ignored Desmond while pretending to care for him, was the sa.

“Have not you two brothers ignored Brother Leontes, who lost his mother, until now? Seeing

form a friendship with him, your jealousy is severe.”

Desmond, who also used

as if he hadn't ignored , was the sa. By the way, friendship? The fledgling recites poetry under the moon.

Amidst the brothers busy fighting regardless of the banquet, the flattery of noble ladies was constantly heard.

“Oh, the four of you have gathered side by side. It is a feast for the eyes.”

“The most dashing Marquess Steiner, a handso man whose face and body are unrivaled.”

“Indeed, Prince Leontes, you have inherited the rare beauty of the late Empress intact.”

“Prince Maximilian, radiant like the sun god, is truly the Crown Prince himself from head to toe. Thanks to Your Highness, won’t the old Crown Prince system be revived?”

“The dazzlingly handso Prince Desmond has inherited only the good points of His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty Empress Rhiannon.”

Is there a need to flatter to this extent? Above all, with the nerve war of the imperial bloodlines surrounding the throne unfolding right before their eyes, do they look like they are here for sightseeing?

I couldn't understand at all.

‘The Throne Magic Circle at least has clues.’

Before regression, I was ashad of my shabby appearance and always walked with my head down, and even when I beca Emperor, I was treated only as an ornant, so I was bewildered because I wasn't used to these words at all.

However, even while fighting, my brothers reacted nonchalantly. Alexander winked one eye at several noble ladies, Maximilian gazed deeply at the most beautiful woman among them, and Desmond swept up his hair and made a languid expression. Is this bastard going to grow his hair too?

‘It seems only I will be maintaining the dignity of a Prince.’

While it was hard enough just to stand dignifiedly among guys flapping their wings like peacocks, Duke Grimiati appeared.

“With the four imperial bloodlines gathered in one place, the future of the country is bright.”

If we fight, the future of Roncer will be bright.

“Prince Leontes, I often hold banquets to honor Her Majesty the Empress. Please attend anyti.”

“In that case, it would be better for all four imperial bloodlines shining upon Armatia to attend.”

When I opened my mouth, everyone stared piercingly at . The day will co when I enjoy even such gazes once I get used to them.

“Not only Brother Maximilian, but everyone wants to form a friendship with , so how can I not give them a chance?”

“I will gladly accept, Prince Leontes.”

Although the Duke hosting the banquet did not consent, Alexander ignored him and smiled at . He grabbed any opportunity as soon as he saw it, and laughed it off when others called it a bastard’s temperant.

“Will our youngest Prince refuse the invitation of Prince Leontes, whom he claims to be close with?”

Turning his head, he stabbed his biological brother right where it hurt. Because attending a banquet honoring Mother is sothing the Empress wouldn't like.

Desmond tried to answer with fire in his eyes. But at that mont, the servant at the banquet hall door shouted.

“Her Majesty Empress Rhiannon is entering!”