Chapter 105
11. What If the Flow is The Same, But The Content is Different?
The Crown Prince came to the audience room of the Imperial Palace, which was said to be the highest place in the Leonis Empire. In front of the entrance, he glanced around before asking the chief attendant.
“Has the Prince entered the audience room already?”
“He hasn’t come yet, Your Highness.”
“Hmm…”
The Crown Prince let out a short sigh, displeased. He didn’t like his younger brother’s sudden appearance. Even though the Emperor and everyone around him told him not to worry because the Prince wouldn’t dare to block his future, he didn’t care.
The Crown Prince had not yet seen a successor. The reason was unknown, but the Crown Princess hadn’t conceived, and because of that, the Emperor had no choice but to be wary.
Still, when he was the only heir, it was a good stand.
If the Emperor hadn’t brought his younger brother, he wouldn’t have felt as if he was being chased… Still, he couldn’t stop doing what his father was doing because he and his father had to be responsible for the Imperial Family’s duties.
The Crown Prince murmured as he listened to the Emperor’s chief attendant telling him to enter the audience room.
“Of all things, the spirits’ blood must have gone to the illegitimate child.”
Ironically, the power to deal with the spirits that an imperial family should have was only manifested in the Prince, an illegitimate child.
“Father, did you rest well last night?”
“Did the Prince have a good dream?”
The Crown Prince’s emerald eyes curled roundly at the kind voice.
“Yes, I had a good dream.”
“Hoho, it looks like things are going well in many ways.”
The Crown Prince swallowed a gulp when the Emperor spoke, which implicitly showed interest in his successor. The Emperor, recognizing his heart easily, came down from his seat and patted his son’s shoulder.
“It’s okay. You weren’t an easy to get child either. What can I do about these precious hands?”
“Yes, father.”
The Emperor smiled contentedly as he gazed at the hair and eyes that looked just like his.
He married a close relative to make the blood of the Imperial Family thicker. This was done because the spirits’ ability, which had been passed down from generation to generation, was cut off at some point.
The Empress also consented to the marriage in order to take on the responsibilities when she was a Princess, but unfortunately, the Crown Prince also did not inherit the power to deal with spirits.
So, the Emperor had an illegitimate child and tried to somehow connect the power of the spirit.
Even though he had a relationship, only one person came to them. They should have quickly noticed if the child was born only with silver hair unique to the imperial family, but the illegitimate child who came was already an adult.
He felt sorry. He wished he had just one more son with the power of the spirits…
“No, it’s not good to be too greedy.”
The Emperor spoke softly, but it was heard very loudly in the Crown Prince’s ears. As he chewed his lips in anger, he heard the chief attendant’s voice.
“Your Majesty, the Prince has arrived.”
“Yes, send him in.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Crown Prince watched the audience room door open.
Elliot, who had the same silver hair as him, came in with his purple eyes shining. He had the dignity of an imperial family to the extent that it was doubtful whether he was really born and raised at the bottom of the Empire.
That was also very disappointing.
“Dad, brother. I’m late. I’m sorry.”
The Emperor kindly asked Elliot, who had greeted him according to the royal etiquette.
“Did you sleep well?”
“That…”
Elliot didn’t respond right away to what was just a simple greeting between family members, but he mumbled.
The purple eyes, swayed slightly and then descended.
It was only then that the Emperor’s eyes came to his emaciated face, from which anyone could see that he had not slept well.
“What’s going on? Was your bed uncomfortable?”
“It’s not…”
“I told you to take good care of the Prince! What the hell is this? Benjamin!”
The Emperor could not contain his anger and called his chief attendant. At that, Elliot panicked, and he stopped him.
“Dad… It’s not like that, it’s just because my heart hurts.”
The Emperor questioned his words.
“Huh, who dared break the Prince’s heart?”
“….”
The Crown Prince stepped out, leaving Elliot unable to answer.
“Is it because of Lady Leon?”
When the Crown Prince asked, Elliot only bowed his head.
“Huh?! Is it really because of that child?”
The Emperor had no choice but to let out a sigh.
The marriage had already been dissolved Pedro, now the former Duke, had already made it clear that if his daughter said no to it, he would reject him even if it was the Prince.
If the party involved in the marriage talk was the Crown Prince, he could have threatened to refuse the Crown Princess position, but with an illegitimate Prince, the Emperor could not press the previous Duke more.
Besides, if it had been a different noble, it might have been different. However, Duchy Leon had long shared secrets with the Imperial Family… From the current possessor’s matter to the treason, the Emperor was able to ease the burden thanks to the previous Duke’s work behind the scene.
Elliot lowered his head, and his eyes lit up. Even though he had brought this face to the Imperial Family, the Emperor did not add any more words.
This was troubling.
It seemed that Duchy Leon’s power was stronger than expected. As he thought so, Elliot rolled his eyes slowly and smiled weakly when he saw the Crown Prince.
“It’s because I’m lowly.”
When sorrow descended on his beautiful appearance, and the servants and maids who were around shed a sigh.
Elliot made up a bright smile as if he had struggled to shake it off.
“By the way, why did you call me, dad?”
“Hmm, Elliot.”
“Yes, brother.”
“Aren’t you used to the imperial family now?”
“…Did I make any mistake?”
Elliot’s face hardened at the Crown Prince’s words.
“I was just trying to let you know now, you are not allowed to say dad anymore, but father, so it shouldn’t be surprising.”
The Crown Prince felt bitter.
It was true that he was displeased and uncomfortable with the Prince, but he needed his power, so he had no choice but to do it. Should he blame himself for not being born with the ability to deal with spirits?
“Hmm, yes. It’s a minor thing, but now, I have to pay attention.”
When Elliot heard the Emperor and the Prince’s words, he laughed to himself.
There was a law of equivalent exchange in the world. The bottom from where he was born and raised was stricter. Without something to give, he could not receive from others. He had to do something in order to make money, and he, on the contrary, had to receive something as much as he had paid.
The idea that these people would be good to him, who grew up in such a place simply because he was of Royal Blood, was abandoned early on. He would have to pay a commensurate price for being registered in the Imperial Family. What was it?
“Benjamin, leave.”
He thought he could find out the true nature of the price today.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor’s chief attendant took other attendants and left the audience room.
“The Crown Prince and the Prince, come near here.”
With the command, the two approached just below the head of the throne. The Emperor took a deep breath as he sat down on the upper seat. He opened and closed his mouth several times as if it was hard to open his mouth.
“Come closer here.”
“Yes, father.”
“Yes, father.”
The Crown Prince and Elliot answered and went up the stairs and stood right in front of the Emperor.
The Emperor looked at the emerald-colored eyes that resembled his, and then turned away. Even though the purple eyes seemed unfamiliar, with the silver hair shining on them and his powers, it was as if Elliot had already proved that he was of Imperial Family.
“You must never divulge what I am telling you from now on.”
The Crown Prince was nervous. Was there a secret he didn’t know about?
Elliot had a foreboding that the story he was about to hear had to do with the price he was going to pay.
“There is a secret place in the Imperial Family. It is the place where the great Archwizard was sealed a long time ago. The sealing stone there is activated only by the power of the spirit.”
“…It’s the first time I’ve heard of it, father.”
“Yeah, it’s the first time the Crown Prince has ever heard of it. There is a reason why we are talking together like this today.”
The Crown Prince thought that what the Emperor would say had to do with his ability to manipulate spirits. What secret would he have to share with the Prince? This was because it was customary to keep secrets about the Imperial Family out from those who were not heirs, even if they were princes.
“The Prince said he dealt with spirits. He even showed it to me.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Even though it is a special spirit called the Spirit of Darkness. Spirit is spirit. It is no less proof that we are of the Imperial Family, so we, the Imperial Family, have been able to control spirits from generation to generation.”
Even if Elliot listened no further, he quickly realized what the Emperor wanted from him.
“Does that mean I can help father and brother?”
As Elliot said that, the Emperor and the Crown Prince’s expressions went cold for an instant. Elliot didn’t miss that moment.
He spoke again as he shed a mean laugh inside.
“It’s a lowly power, but if I can help, I’m ready.”
He was good at discovering the sly and dark side of a person. Even if he wasn’t the Spirit of Darkness, he had enough talent.
“…The Prince’s words are very reassuring.”
There was something unpleasant with the voice, but Elliot smiled ignorantly. He spoke again, with a voice wet with sadness no matter who heard it.
“Father and brother, I’m sorry, but can I make a request to you?”
The law of equivalent exchange.
There was a reason why he became the Imperial Family, and if that reason was not met, the Imperial Family was not very beneficial. Just like the reason why the little boy became an adult. However, the position of the Prince, who could not connect with the little boy, was like a position he did not need.
At the same time, the Emperor did not think that the Prince would dare to ask for anything, so he was upset. Still, he had no choice but to do it.
It became clear that the Prince’s power was needed, and now, it was as if he was holding the sword.
As a prince who had always been naive, the Emperor started sweating.
Could he possibly have misunderstood Elliot? Did he, at best, think Elliot would be cheeky because he was from a commoner?
The Prince, who had been smiling innocently until a moment ago, flashed a glare in his eyes and uttered.
“I really want to marry Lady Leon. Father, please put a proposal letter to the previous Duke. If you do that, I will always use my abilities for the sake of the Imperial Family.
The snake approached silently… After setting a goal, it approached the fastest and most secret place and waited until the vital point was visible. When it found a vital point, it rushed to it without delay and subdued the target with its fangs dripping with yellow poison.
The purple eyes flashed cunningly.
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