Chapter 124
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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Chapter 124
Crown Prince Kiaros couldn't believe the situation unfolding before him.
Even after Namia Loapi had told him everything and left.
[It's true that I know the future, and that I possess these strange powers.]
There had been something suspicious about her, certainly. So he'd conducted a thorough investigation.
Neither the Emperor nor the Empress had suspected anything, but Crown Prince Kiaros alone had harbored doubts. His suspicions had proven correct.
Yet he felt no satisfaction whatsoever.
"Ah...."
From his perspective, all the mysteries were unraveling.
Namia Loapi had said her stomach kept churning, she'd coughed up blood once, and then recovered perfectly. The symptoms matched the High Priest's exactly—Crown Prince Kiaros was well aware of this. But apparently, those symptoms belonged to an experimental subject.
With this revelation, all the suspicious pieces fell into place.
Yet still, he felt no relief.
[B-but even if I die, I'll do it by my own hand. I will never allow chaos to befall the Empire.]
Instead, a profound terror seized him.
Die by her own hand?
Who did she think she was?
But if it was Namia Loapi, she seemed entirely capable of it.
'No.'
His hands trembled violently. No—his entire body shook.
Even when he'd faced the second age of darkness and stood at death's door, it hadn't been like this.
'No....'
He couldn't say anything to Namia Loapi.
Not the confession of love he'd steeled himself to make despite rejection. Not the truth that he was Kibon.
Namia Loapi had left without hearing any of it. No—she'd departed not even knowing there was anything for her to hear.
'I have to find her.'
That was all his mind could hold.
'I have to find her.'
He didn't know where Namia Loapi had gone, but before she could resolve to die somewhere, anywhere—
He burst from his seat and ran.
It was his first time running through the Imperial Palace.
His first time dashing off somewhere without warning.
Everyone within the Imperial Palace who caught sight of him sprinting at full speed wore expressions of utter shock.
Running with every ounce of strength until his breath came in ragged gasps, he arrived at the Emperor's Chamber.
It was still early morning, before the day's duties had begun.
An Attendant cried out in alarm.
"The Crown Prince, Your Majesty!"
At the same moment, the Emperor's chamber door swung open.
The Emperor, the Empress, and Jayden, who had been having breakfast together, looked up in startled surprise at Crown Prince Kiaros.
The Empress was the first to rise, uncertain what to make of his sudden appearance.
The first person to stand up in confusion was the Empress.
"W-wait, Your Highness! I-it's just that... w-we thought... the Crown Prince said he wanted to have breakfast separately..."
It was Crown Prince Kiaros who had first refused to join them for breakfast.
He hadn't known when Namia might summon Kibon.
Yet despite this, the Empress's face betrayed her guilt over the three of them sharing a peaceful meal without him.
The Emperor, too, was startled and quietly set down the spoon with which he'd been feeding Jayden pudding.
"Kiaros? Has something urgent come up?"
Crown Prince Kiaros gazed quietly at his beloved family.
They were good people who always showed him consideration, lest he feel alone.
Only then could I read my own heart, which I had long avoided facing.
I was lonely among those who cared for me.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty."
Even as the future of the Empire, I had lived all this time without knowing it.
Working closely with Namia, achieving budgets and such—only then did I realize. I too actually wanted to be with someone.
"I wish to leave the Imperial Palace for a time."
So when I spoke to the Emperor, there was no hesitation in my words.
"Leave the Imperial Palace? Wait a moment."
The Emperor quickly signaled the Empress with his eyes. The Empress immediately left the Emperor's Chamber with Jayden.
Thus the Emperor and I were left alone.
The Emperor asked in a measured tone.
"Kiaros. What's going on? You're in your Dark Period. Even being as cautious as possible isn't enough, so why are you trying to leave the Imperial Palace?"
I answered without even thinking of sitting before the Emperor.
"Namia has fled. I must find her."
The Emperor's eyes widened in shock.
"She fled from the Imperial Palace? Is that even possible?"
"W-well, it seems the Tower Master helped her."
I spoke hastily, lacking time for a lengthy explanation.
It wasn't a lie anyway, since she had disappeared using a scroll the Tower Master gave her. The Emperor ground his teeth and muttered.
"That useless old man... No, wait. That's not the fundamental problem here."
Then he spoke painfully, with a sigh.
"...In the end... Miss Namia fled because she's tired of your confinement and obsession. What am I to do about this..."
"That's not it. I haven't even properly confessed yet..."
Then the Emperor, usually so composed, suddenly erupted in anger.
"What? You fool—you've been confining her without even confessing properly?"
I had no time to explain the full circumstances, so I decided to simply say what I needed to say.
"I am truly sorry to burden you while your health is poor, Your Majesty, but I must ask you to handle the Imperial Palace's affairs and the remaining matters of the Gaejo Faction. I have just arrested the High Priest..."
"The High Priest?"
"Please hear the details from The Ravens. I am truly sorry in every way..."
As I was about to leave the Imperial Palace, I was deeply concerned about the Emperor.
I was already reluctant to entrust all the Imperial Palace's affairs to a sick Emperor because of the Dark Period, and now I had to entrust The Ravens to him as well...
Yet the Emperor's expression was peculiar.
"Don't concern yourself with that."
"...Pardon?"
"My health... don't worry about it."
"What do you mean by that?"
The Emperor fell silent for a moment, then exhaled deeply. He straightened himself with newfound resolve and spoke.
"I've recovered completely."
"...What?"
Just like that?
Crown Prince Kiaros's eyes widened in bewilderment, his brow furrowing. The Emperor let out a long sigh.
"At the Saint Kairo Banquet, I heard that Jayden manifested a special ability."
"Ah... but?"
"Jayden's special ability is Imperial Servant healing. For Imperial Servants, healing is possible even on oneself. So that child healed me."
"But how...?"
"I don't know the details, but apparently my body was exhibiting unnatural phenomena. Jayden was able to nullify that unnatural condition related to Imperial Servants."
The Emperor added somewhat sheepishly.
"I thought I should tell you, but the special abilities of Imperial Servants are secrets even from family, aren't they? So I decided to tell you slowly, through other means."
"..."
"In a way, it's thanks to Namia Loapi. Because she restored the relationship between Fron and Jayden, and strengthened their bond through the banquet, Jayden was able to awaken his special ability... Kiaros? Kiaros? What's wrong?"
Crown Prince Kiaros's legs gave way beneath him, and he stumbled.
So Namia Loapi had deliberately observed Jayden's ability manifesting at the banquet. Even while being interrogated herself.
Namia Loapi had done so much for the Imperial Family.
He had done nothing but harbor suspicion, using the excuse that "I am the future of the Empire, so I must be cautious"—never once conveying his true feelings.
"In any case, I am now healthy and well."
The Emperor rose slowly and took Kiaros's hand. He smiled gently and spoke.
"So don't worry about the Imperial Palace. Go and grasp her skirts, kneel and beg, or even confess. Of course she may refuse, but you shouldn't have regrets either way."
"Your Majesty..."
"I know that the words 'future of the Empire' have weighed heavily on you. Of course, this is an important time, but set it aside and go wherever you wish. I am enough of a father to be that kind of shelter for you."
Crown Prince Kiaros nodded.
Only then did his mind begin to clear.
Where had Namia Loapi, who had suddenly become such a powerful being, gone? Finding the answer didn't seem particularly difficult. After all, what she had always wanted was her "father."
Just as he was about to head immediately to the Southern Region.
A message flashed past like lightning.
[Please tell Kibon that I left him a letter.]
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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