LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 98
… Is today finally the day?
Emperor Asterion opened his eyes. For a month, he had been reclined, gazing at the ceiling of the VVIP ward. Today might mark the final instance he would lay his eyes upon this ceiling. There would be no justification for his presence here again.
It must be so.
“Your Majesty, we shall commence now.”
“…”
A weathered, aged voice reverberated. With significant effort, the emperor shifted his head, a motion that occurred with great difficulty. His eyelids were partially raised. Through them, he beheld an elderly man attired in a pristine white robe.
It was the archbishop.
Several more figures stood alongside him: the chamberlain, the captain of the guard, and his eldest son, Raciel.
“…”
Upon seeing Raciel, a recent rumor suddenly came to the emperor’s mind. Was it true? If so, how should he address it? The emperor briefly pondered, but his contemplation was short-lived. More pressing matters were at hand.
‘Well, I’ll entrust it to you.’
The emperor faintly nodded toward the archbishop. Today was the day – the day when the archbishop’s divine blessings would become possible after a month of anticipation. It also marked the end of his tiresome time in bed and his month-long intensive rehabilitation.
His heart raced.
He was also worried.
Meanwhile, the archbishop approached the bedside, extending his hand.
He closed his eyes.
Whoosh…!
A soft glow radiated from the archbishop. Through his touch, a warm sensation was felt; it tingled across his shoulder, coursed through his chest, spread throughout his body, reached his toes, traversed his spine to his nape, and then from his face to his mind.
He felt invigorated.
Every trace of illness, even the last bit of distress, was completely cleansed. The cerebellar tissue, damaged from the stroke, was restored. The twisted nerve tissues were repaired. Muscles returned to their proper places. Joints were realigned.
Before he realized it, the emperor sat up.
“Your Majesty!”
The chamberlain and the captain of the guard exclaimed in astonishment. The drained archbishop stepped back. Meeting their gazes, the emperor looked at his hands.
“…”
His previously contorted wrist was now normal. He felt all his sensations return. Emotions surged within him.
The emperor raised his head.
“Crown Prince.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“When do you plan on setting the date?”
“…Pardon?”
“I’m inquiring about the date.”
“I apologize, but I’m not quite comprehending.”
Raciel slightly furrowed his brow, perplexed. What did the emperor mean by ‘date’? A sudden unease enveloped him.
‘Date? What’s the significance of that? Why would the emperor bring up something irrelevant? Could there still be lingering effects from the stroke?’
But that couldn’t be the case.
He had been monitoring the emperor’s condition through meridian scanning and had verified the complete recovery of the emperor’s cerebellum and nerve tissues, thanks to the archbishop’s divine blessings.
‘So, residual effects are out of the question. He underwent intensive rehab for an entire month.’
Then what could it be?
Just as the mysterious unease began to overwhelm him, the emperor’s gaze sharply pierced him.
“It concerns the princess of Anbouaz.”
“Yes?”
“What do you mean by ‘yes’? I heard that while I was bedridden, you were quite crafty.”
“Crafty? …”
“I won’t inquire about how you charmed the ambassador of Anbouaz. Nor will I delve into how you dealt with their sly old king. Whatever methods you employed, they reflect your skills. However-“
The emperor’s gaze turned stern.
“Did you resort to such tricks and strategies just to flirt with a lady?”
“…”
“Of course, that’s not entirely negative. However, one day, you will bear the burden of our dynasty. You are accountable for millions of citizens in our empire. So, are you suggesting you can enter into such a marriage without any discussion or consultation?”
“…”
“Why don’t you respond, Crown Prince?”
“Um, about that…”
Raciel forced an awkward smile. As he listened to the emperor’s reprimand, he realized the serious misunderstanding.
‘Does he think I have some kind of relationship with the princess?’
On reflection, it made sense. Initially, even the ambassador of Anbouaz had the same misconception. And recently, the princess had been visiting regularly for gallstone treatments. It wasn’t unreasonable for people to misconstrue their interactions.
However, he had no intention of correcting the misunderstanding. Because he didn’t want to offer a weak excuse.
‘If I were to tell the Emperor that leaving the princess alone would lead to her death from gallstones, and that her death would trigger a political chain reaction resulting in a major war, would he actually believe me?’
That’s a history known only to someone who read the “Devil Sword Emperor.” It’s not something people readily believe when told. That’s why. Rather than a flimsy excuse, he opted for a cheeky response.
“In reality, I was deceived.”
“…What?”
He outright lied.
The Emperor hesitated for a moment.
Good. It’s working.
Empowered with a dose of courage(?), Raciel stepped on the gas.
“Your Majesty, you’re correct. I misjudged. While you were bedridden, I acted on my misguided thoughts. Initially, it seemed successful. As you’re aware, I managed to bring the princess to the capital. But-“
“But?”
“Things didn’t go according to plan after that. I was fooled.”
“Really?”
“You’re probably wondering precisely what occurred.”
“You were swindled?”
“Yes.”
“So, ultimately?”
“Yes.”
“Tsk, tsk, you fool!”
“…”
“If you were going to stir up trouble, you should’ve achieved significant results. Why did you mess up so badly?”
“…”
“If you were even halfway like me, it wouldn’t have turned out so pathetically. Tsk!”
“…”
It’s unjust.
In reality, he’d never fallen for a con.
Raciel suppressed the feeling that he was a tiny speck in the vast universe. On the flip side, he was secretly relieved. He had managed to extricate himself from the mess of summoning the princess with just a bit of scolding.
‘If I can get away with just a few harsh words, then it’s a win for me.’
Essentially, he’d gained everything. Lately, the princess’s gallstones were being successfully treated. If this trend continued, they could avert a major war. Additionally, the Emperor’s stroke had been fully cured.
That was sufficient.
‘Unfortunately… I couldn’t identify the entity behind the attempt to assassinate the Emperor.’
There had to be some entity that had induced an abnormal blood clot in the Emperor’s body. He’d made extensive efforts to uncover it, even directing Demian and others to investigate. Yet, ultimately, no evidence was found. It was skillfully concealed.
‘We’ll need to remain vigilant for now.’
He’d informed the Emperor about the unidentified entity a while back. So, the Emperor would exercise caution on his own.
And from his side?
As he sought to slip away from the Emperor’s ceaseless nagging, his main objective was a smooth exit. Raciel, eager to conclude the conversation, subtly began to retreat, scanning for an escape route. However, the Emperor wasn’t easily deceived.
“Where do you think you’re going? My lecture isn’t over yet.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Even though I’ve been confined here, it doesn’t mean I’ve been oblivious. Why do you seem so lacking compared to your brother?”
“Excuse me?”
“Your brother, the second prince.”
“…”
“While I’ve been here, he visited me nearly every day. But where have you been all this time?”
“I was tending to patients during the day…”
“And in the afternoon, you were with the princess.”
“…But at night!”
“Did you tend to me?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“So, do you find this scolding unjust?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Even if it’s unfair, do you have a better solution?”
“…No, Your Majesty.”
Raciel let out a sigh to accompany his growing frustration. Meanwhile, Chamberlain and the Captain of the Guards exchanged knowing smiles. Having served the Emperor throughout their lives, they were adept at discerning the Emperor’s true intentions.
The Chamberlain and the Captain of the Guards subtly exchanged glances.
“Do you see, Captain Roberto? His Majesty’s left nostril is twitching ever so slightly.”
“Yes, I observed it too. He must be quite pleased.”
“It appears he’s quite proud of the Crown Prince.”
“Indeed, he must be.”
Naturally, Raciel also picked up on the Emperor’s demeanor. It left him feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
“……”
Such playful banter. Such affectionate teasing. Did he truly merit such treatment? He had his doubts. The rationale was simple.
‘After all, I’m not your biological son.’
He wasn’t the real Raciel. He was merely a foreign presence that had entered the body of Crown Prince Raciel for reasons unknown. He was an outsider in this world. Embracing such warmth without reservation would cross a boundary.
“……”
He stared intently at the Emperor.
Amid the Emperor’s constant scolding, there were hints of fondness in his stern expression. It made Raciel feel awkward and remorseful. The realization that he was deceiving the man who regarded him as a son struck him anew.
However, he couldn’t unveil the truth. Raciel took a step back, as if setting a boundary.
“I understand your concerns. But I must rise and depart.”
“Where are you headed?”
“There are other patients waiting.”
Deceiving the Emperor while being treated as a son even though he wasn’t one. Engaging in such amiable moments would make him feel disgusted with himself. Hence, he stood up before being detained, bowed respectfully, and exited the sickroom.
“Phew.”
He took a deep breath. He hastened to his familiar treatment room. A familiar voice welcomed him.
“You’re finally here. A doctor who keeps his patients waiting. You do realize that’s impolite, right?”
Princess Adeline immediately scolded him with a cheerful smile upon seeing him. Somehow, it seemed like being reprimanded was his theme for the day.
“I apologize. I was finishing up with another VIP patient.”
“Another VIP?”
“Yes, a highly important one.”
“More important than me?”
“Absolutely.”
“My, aren’t you heartless?”
“If I were any colder, I’d be freezing. Did you perhaps consider yourself exceptionally noteworthy?”
“……”
Adeline glared at him with intensity, and he responded with a wry smile.
“Regardless, let’s begin. You’re aware, right? Only one gallstone remains.”
“Yes. You mentioned the final one is the largest.”
“You should be ready for it.”
“Shouldn’t the Crown Prince be the one preparing?”
“I’m always prepared, but…”
“But?”
“I might grumble a bit if breaking the last gallstone becomes painful or challenging.”
“You don’t really expect me to tolerate that, do you?”
“Perhaps just a bit?”
“Not a chance.”
“Oh, how unsentimental.”
“If I were any colder, I’d be freezing. Did the Crown Prince think very highly of himself by any chance?”
“……”
Raciel found himself backed into a corner, and his wry smile deepened.
“Let’s begin. Get ready. Start.”
“Alright.”
“Ouch!”
Upon activating a potent technique, he felt a powerful shockwave engulf him. Yet oddly, his heart didn’t ache. It was because he’d just come to the realization that he was on his own.
Therefore, he should direct his attention solely toward his goals. Tending to the princess. Preventing the major war. Living well and enjoying life. Concentrate on the present moment.
“……Inhale!”
Raciel intensified his focus even further, enduring successive shockwaves.
♣
Meanwhile, simultaneously, on a road dozens of kilometers away from the Imperial Highway Magenta6.
Thud thud thud thud……!
A rider was racing atop a horse with fervor. He sped toward the Imperial Highway Magentano. It was a messenger from Anbouaz, hurrying to deliver urgent news from the homeland to the Princess.
(To be Continued)
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