Chapter 33
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Chapter 33
At my signal, the Empress shot to her feet and cried out.
"Silence! My plan to capture the culprit succeeded! I've finally brought that wretch before the Trial Court!"
"Your Majesty, the person currently accused of being the culprit is... Your Majesty the Empress herself."
The Empress, in her excitement, flailed about wildly, spraying spittle in all directions.
The knights guarding her broke into cold sweat as they struggled to restrain her.
It was absolute chaos.
In the midst of it all, Crown Prince Kiaros tilted his head and made a heart shape with his hands, just as I had done.
The earnestness of that gesture was truly breathtaking.
"Seize that villain and force the truth out of him—drown him in water through his nostrils if you must!"
The Empress bellowed at the top of her lungs, yet her gaze kept darting toward me.
She was well aware that she was being rather unreasonable.
'I can't stop here either.'
But the fact that Oson had wanted a teleportation scroll drove me forward to the end.
I grew certain of the direction I had theorized.
I raised both hands above my head to form a large heart.
It meant: 'Sell anything and everything—push through to the bitter end.'
* * *
The Imperial Palace Courtroom Plaza.
Beneath a massive, ancient tree, a middle-aged man landed with nimble grace.
"...Gasp."
As the man rose to his feet, he brushed back his graying blonde hair.
His handsome face, though flushed from exertion, gradually steadied as his breathing calmed.
He was none other than Emperor Pedwin Polariad of the Polariad Empire.
"I grow old and frail now... nothing like I once was. This is exhausting."
The Emperor had just used his special ability—long-distance teleportation.
With age, wielding such powers became increasingly difficult.
No matter how exceptional one's talent, aging was an inescapable reality.
And now, with his body weakened as it was, the strain was even greater.
"Still... I must overcome this through the power of love and hurry."
The Emperor steadied his trembling legs and took a deep breath.
The moment news reached the Western Region that Fron had been caught purchasing poison, he had departed immediately.
Even with his special ability, teleportation did not happen instantaneously.
And so, inevitably, an entire day had passed.
"I must not be too late. Is the trial still ongoing?"
If he appeared now, everyone would learn of his special ability.
And that would bring countless troublesome complications.
'From now on, whenever anything strange happens, they'll all whisper that it was the Emperor's doing.'
To possess an ability unlike others.
It was both an object of reverence and fear, and it unsettled those around him.
'Still, there's no helping it. For the sake of my beloved family....'
If I made a mistake, Fron might voluntarily withdraw.
She was entirely capable of making such a choice, insisting she wouldn't burden anyone.
The Emperor trusted Fron. He could roughly guess why she had gathered poisons.
Crown Prince Kiaros was likely in the same boat. No wonder he must be in quite a predicament.
'I don't want to burden Crown Prince Kiaros with anything more than he already carries.'
How much of a dilemma must Crown Prince Kiaros be facing in the courtroom right now?
I could picture it vividly without even seeing it.
To protect the silent Fron, Crown Prince Kiaros would have to brave considerable opposition.
If Fron didn't end up seizing someone's sword and dying in the process, that would be a mercy.
'Perhaps it would be better if I revealed my weakened condition and passed the throne to Crown Prince Kiaros instead....'
There had never been a precedent of a dragon-kin unable to manifest as a dragon receiving the imperial throne.
But given how dire the situation had become, even that possibility had to be considered.
'Crown Prince Kiaros is an excellent ruler, even by my standards.'
A bitter smile crossed the Emperor's face as he hurried toward the courtroom.
'The only thing is, having to govern everything from such a young age—I worry the burden will be too great.'
A sculpted visage and bearing that commanded authority so naturally.
An intimidating presence and a stern voice that made others tremble.
He never gave anyone grounds to criticize him, and he was meticulous in every matter—not a single needle could slip through his defenses.
'As a reaction to that, he seems to be excessively fixated on some unknown young girl....'
The Emperor quickened his pace toward the courtroom.
"Your Majesty!"
"Emperor, Your Majesty!"
"Wait, when did you arrive at the Imperial Palace...."
The Imperial Palace servants who spotted him greeted him with startled expressions.
The Emperor passed them all by perfunctorily.
'Still, our son carries himself with such gravity and weight for his age.'
A son who had shouldered far too much.
'And Fron... sitting in the Empress's seat, striving in every way not to burden me.'
A wife whose loyalty to the dragon-kin was excessive.
'How fortunate I am to have such a family.'
Thinking of his family—whose very memory made his heart ache—the Emperor pushed open the courtroom door with force.
And at last, he could see the family he had always longed for.
"The Emperor will soon prove my innocence! Though I cannot speak of everything, His Majesty also found that fellow suspicious!"
His wife, selling him out....
'Hmm?'
In the solemn courtroom, his son was drawing a large heart above his head.
* * *
'Well, there's no helping it....'
I quickly rationalized as I surveyed the chaotic courtroom.
'This is the best I can do....'
At my signal to sell anything and push forward, the Empress sold the Emperor.
Because he was the most impressive thing she could sell.
And following my signal, Crown Prince Kiaros, who seemed to have misunderstood something, drew a large heart as well.
'It's fine, it's not my problem....'
If I had one strength, it was that I could easily remain indifferent to others' affairs.
So I decided to become indifferent about Crown Prince Kiaros's dignity.
In any case, everyone had now noticed Crown Prince Kiaros's eccentricity.
"Look at the Crown Prince."
"My goodness. Are you making a heart right now?"
"Surely not in this atmosphere?"
"...Am I not seeing this correctly?"
People murmured, unsure where to look.
Both the Empress and the Crown Prince were far too captivating.
That was when it happened.
Suddenly, the Minister of Justice cried out, looking at the Courtroom entrance behind me.
"Your Majesty the Emperor! No, how did you...."
Everyone's gaze miraculously shifted backward.
"What? His Majesty the Emperor?"
"Wasn't he in the Western Region?"
I quickly lowered my arms, which had been forming a heart.
Fortunately, it seemed no one had seen me.
Then I too confirmed what was behind me and released a sigh of relief.
'Perfect!'
A beautiful middle-aged man appeared, his blonde hair gleaming as it fluttered.
Just as the original story dictated, and just as I had anticipated, the Emperor had come.
He must have used his special ability upon hearing the Empress's news.
'He had to come. I knew he'd arrive by now.'
I smiled inwardly and my eyes gleamed with light.
Of course, Crown Prince Kiaros was also a dragon, but the Emperor's overwhelming presence was extraordinary.
Wasn't he the only being capable of manifesting as a dragon?
'Oson won't be able to endure this now.'
Indeed, Oson was now trembling even through his torso.
And hadn't the Empress just sold the Emperor as well?
Since he said the Emperor was suspicious of something, his reasoning would be paralyzed.
'He'll never think his sudden appearance here was thanks to a special ability, and will instead believe that everything was an elaborate trap just as the Empress claimed.'
The still-veiled mastermind would believe he was toying with the Imperial Family.
But if the Emperor appeared now, when the Empress was claiming the trap was a trap investigation....
"I, I, I, I'll tell you everything!"
That's right. You should.
I laughed with ease. With this, the Empress's claim that this man was suspicious had now become public fact.
'Perfect!'
Then I bowed respectfully to Crown Prince Kiaros with a subtle nod.
'I handled that well, didn't I? I appreciate you letting me take the lead despite your suspicions.'
"..."
Crown Prince Kiaros lowered his arm slowly, his expression tinged with a hint of grievance.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org