The Emperor Who Was Chapter 47 : Chapter 47

Chapter . 47

"The honor of a knight is......."

While the Cardinal preached about chivalry at length, the Marquis and Sir Rolf dressed Prince Leontes in armor. The Prince, though slender, was tall with long limbs, and looked like a painting dressed in pure gold armor.

Finally, after draping a red cloak over his shoulders, the two knights stepped back, rested the tips of their sheathed swords on the floor, and stood holding the hilts with both hands. The swords that would reveal their blades before the Emperor today were not theirs. It was rely a sign of protection and respect as senior knights.

"Who is the one to beco a knight today?"

The Emperor asked, and the Cardinal announced Prince Leontes's na.

"Who are the knights to vouch for him?"

This ti, the two knights answered.

The Emperor demanded the knight's oath, and this ti Prince Leontes stepped forward. Kneeling on one knee before the Emperor, he placed his two hands within the Emperor's hands and took the oath, then kissed those hands in front of the people to conclude the proof of his vow. Even though he hadn't received knight training, his elegant and disciplined movents caught people's eyes.

Finally, the Emperor drew the treasured sword at his waist. Armatia's national treasure, Juratio.

"I appoint Leontes Aetherion Herstale Leocadia de Armatia as a knight."

Declaring thus, the Emperor raised the brilliantly shining treasured sword.

In Armatia's knight investiture ceremony, the sword that strikes the first blow to the newly appointed knight becos that knight's sword. Because of the superstition that it prevents injury and protects the knight from fatal blows.

However, since princes are appointed with Juratio, they receive a different sword instead of Juratio. Rumors circulated that this was ominous and the reason for the high mortality rate of princes, but no one dared to speak of the national treasure openly. Nor was there any prince who would give up the honor of being appointed with Juratio.

"Ah!"

People gasped. The mont Lombroso IV tapped both shoulders of Prince Leontes with Juratio, blood flowed from the Prince's cheek.

"How could such a thing happen!"

"Oh my goodness, what is all this!"

"Such an ill on......."

Murmurs spread among the startled people. Whispers arose breathlessly questioning if the Emperor was truly mad. That outwardly he rejoiced and even bestowed a reward for the appearance of the dragon egg, but in reality, he was furious and intentionally wounded his kneeling child.

"Oh dear, my Second Brother must have been overly nervous. Well, since he is finally becoming a knight now, it's understandable. What a pity."

Desmond's eyes twinkled with joy as he said that. Rhiannon, for her part, generously showed sympathy with a face saying it was unfortunate.

However, Maximilian saw clearly. Although it was only for a mont, the instant the flat side of the blade, shining white enough to emit a soft blue glow, touched his shoulder, Leontes turned his face slightly towards it. Thus, his youthful cheek was cut by the edge next to the flat side.

'Is he trying to fra Father?'

When Maximilian's eyes were fixed on the thin stream of blood flowing down Leontes's cheek, Leontes opened his mouth.

"I was captivated by the brilliance of Juratio and ended up turning my head to look at the blade. Forgive , Your Imperial Majesty."

Saying that, he carefully supported the blade, which the Emperor had kept on his shoulder so as not to injure his son further, with both hands and kissed it. His gesture was so reverent that people exclaid in admiration.

"It reminds

of the legend of Juratio."

Grimiati said quietly to Maximilian.

Juratio, the sword that pierced the dragon's scales harder than steel and stabbed the dragon.

The death of a maiden was imbued in that sword.

According to various versions of the legend, she was said to be Valaska's lover, sister, or daughter. That pure woman went into the forest to pray, saying she would do anything to kill the evil dragon.

God Traneha answered her prayer and sent a unicorn. When the unicorn approached the maiden without suspicion, Valaska, who was watching, captured the unicorn.

However, the enraged unicorn went wild, escaped Valaska's grasp, and stabbed the maiden's heart with its single horn, staining its white horn red with the maiden's blood.

Valaska grieved, but the dying woman smiled.

-If you make a sword with this which killed , you can surely kill the dragon.

Saying so, the woman bowed her head and kissed the unicorn's horn that pierced her heart. As if to prove her words.

Then the horn ca out from both the woman's heart and the unicorn's head. The woman breathed her last, and the unicorn also fell and died.

Valaska made a sword with that horn, which is Juratio. The Dragon Slayer Sword.

Since then, unicorns went extinct, and the material of Juratio could not be identified by any magic.

According to records, the Dragon Slayer Emperor never spoke a word about Juratio. Since he didn't speak about his past before becoming emperor either, the woman's story remained unknown.

Only all sorts of rumors abounded. Like the rumor that the Dragon Slayer Emperor kept the thod of making it a strict secret to prevent another Dragon Slayer Sword from being created.

There was no way to find out how much the legend of the unicorn, the maiden, and the sword was based on fact, or if it was entirely fabricated. However, it was a legend that had never been forgotten in the history of Armatia.

"Ohh!"

"Ahhh!"

Breathless exclamations arose. People were entranced, watching a scene from the legend co to life before their eyes. The boy prince's eyes were clear, and his face was pure. The bloodstain on his white cheek only heightened the atmosphere, strangely not jarring to the eye.

He was still a young prince, and since there had been no one to care for him until he finally beca a knight now, perhaps he just made a mistake. Seeing blood at an investiture ceremony that should be auspicious might not be a very good on.

However, thinking about it, how sincerely he revived the legend of the treasured sword. Therefore, the reason for making that mistake must also be true.

A prince who made a montary mistake because he was so awestruck by the majesty of the treasured sword. Yet to revive that mistake so elegantly and purely as a scene from a legend, isn't all this truly a beautiful story worthy of being painted? After all, investiture ceremonies originally concluded with the new knight shedding blood beforehand.......

Above all, how interesting and fresh it is, compared to all those boring rituals that proceeded without a single flaw until now! Moreover, it's happening right before our eyes, a story to be passed down for generations to those not present here, and even to children's children's children! What's more, how extraordinary is the fact that the protagonist of all these stories that have suddenly increased recently is the sa person!

"A wise handling."

Grimiati whispered low again. Maximilian wanted to laugh and shake his head. Wise? Of course, his young brother was wise. But this wasn't that....

"Leontes, Dragon Slayer Emperor Valaska is watching over you. Keep that sincere heart of yours forever."

Eventually, the Emperor, having withdrawn Juratio, personally extended his hand to help the Prince up. The Emperor's wizard, who stood nearby unnoticed, approached, but the Emperor personally healed the Prince's wound with the jewel artifact on his necklace. Lombroso IV was ostentatiously bestowing favor upon the Prince who provided a solution to easily resolve the dragon egg issue.

When the Emperor received another sword presented by the Royal Chamberlain and bestowed it upon Leontes, Leontes drew the sword and raised it high. In an instant, all the light gathered by the illumination artifacts concentrated on that single point at the tip of the sword.

Prince Leontes, shining alone in the darkness that suddenly appeared, holding up his sword.

It was truly an unforgettable scene.

"Waaaaah!"

"Praise Prince Leontes!"

"Congratulations!"

People's cheers poured down. The darkness lifted imdiately, and the light spreading like flowing water from the sword tip sparkled in people's eyes.

Jealousy that could neither be hidden nor was intended to be hidden appeared on Desmond's face. Even Empress Rhiannon, who had been smiling benevolently, couldn't hide her cold anger for a mont.

Among the Prince's enemies, only Duke Grimiati remained calm, and Marquis Steiner, flattering the Prince favored by the Emperor as befitting an illegitimate son, cheered loudly along with Sir Rolf.

'Why does everyone not know.'

While Maximilian was completely consud by that thought, unable to do anything.

It is true that Leontes is wise, and it is true that he handled the unexpected mistake elegantly. But Maximilian sensed sothing more than what t the eye. Perhaps that handling... so if even that mistake was ultimately intended?

'Why? For what reason?'

The reason was right in front of his eyes. People's cheers, Father's favor, an intense impression that would remain forever in people's mories as the most unforgettable investiture ceremony, though not as flashy as Maximilian's or Desmond's. Like a well-scripted play.......

'Everything makes sense... it all fits together.......'

Still unable to shake off the suspicion, Maximilian followed Leontes with his eyes like a madman. Him standing side by side with Father, smiling and responding to the people.......

Thus, the mont he t those blue-gray eyes like the northern sea in spring, his chest tightened.

Because he realized everything that happened so far was intended? He had already sensed that... If not that.......

'Eyes that know no satisfaction.'

Just what he did today was more than enough, whether as a prince favored by Father or as a power holder gradually raising his status. However, the eyes that seed purely joyous on the surface were hiding the real purpose beneath.

He doesn't know what that is. Only knowing that today's success was rely a process to achieve that purpose. That boyish delight was also because he got closer to the prospect of achieving that purpose.

Maximilian, who himself could never be satisfied until he beca Emperor no matter how much power he wielded and how dissolutely he lived, felt a sense of kinship with his brother for the first ti.

Also, the sixth sense whispered by instinct.

That his brother would beco the biggest competitor, surpassing even Father. A thrilling sensation that neither Alexander nor Desmond could ever evoke from him, the First Prince who inherited the imperial blood of two empires.

'Of course.'

A smile rose on Maximilian's lips.

'Because Mother left him to .'

Although different from Mother's promise that the three of them would be happy together with the baby brother whom he would love as he followed his older brother around like an imprinted baby bird.

'Indeed, blood is thicker than water.'

Maximilian realized the aning only a few months before coming of age.

***

"So, did you leave your trace on Juratio just like you did on the Throne Magic Circle?"

Michelon asked.

At night, standing side by side on the Throne Magic Circle again.

I nodded.

Because it's true. Just that it's not everything.

I couldn't use the Throne Magic Circle before the regression. I can't say it's completely untrue, but beyond having no will to use it, I wasn't even aware of its existence.

On the other hand, I used Juratio. Again, it wasn't my will, but I can't say I had absolutely no will either. Before escaping from the enemies, I stabbed Michelon with Juratio because I wanted to live, because I didn't want to suffer.

'Leaving my trace on Juratio isn't everything; I must be able to use the Juratio I rember.'

Even if I have to move like Juratio.

"What are you thinking about so deeply?"

"Whatever it is, it's easy to say."

"Your words never seem easy."

"Making it sound easy is the only way to at least start."

"Speaking like a crazy wizard again."

"It's a complint to , but don't say it to others. Even if you beco human."

Michelon glared, but I decided to teach him nice behavior after nice words.

"So what are you going to do now?"

At his question, I extended both hands towards the Throne Magic Circle. The two nas, red and blue, which had been circling the Throne Magic Circle again and again, rushed towards . Like fish swimming upstream.