LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 216
216 Chapter
“Is it uncomfortable?”
“Yes? Ah, no.”
I accidentally tightened my grip on the cup, startling myself and loosening my hold. The cup was already cracked, and I should have set it down carefully.
“I did not call you here to scold you, so make yourself at ease.”
Tina took a sip from her cup with a nonchalant expression, her piercing gaze fixing on me. With her strict demeanor, it felt as if she could command the destruction of an entire nation simply by keeping her mouth shut.
Clink.
She set down her teacup, her pale blue eyes staring directly at me.
“You are Mir, aren’t you?”
“I’m sorry.”
I bowed my head, gripping my knees tightly with both hands.
It wasn’t my intention, but given that I had been pretending to be someone else to partner with Tina, it must have felt like enough deception to her.
“Enough. It was I who reached out to you for help, so it’s only natural that I cannot reveal my identity to you, who I’ve only just met.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
“In a usual case, this would be considered treason against the royal family.”
“I’m sorry…”
I felt myself shrink down, like a scared little creature. Tina’s cold expression always seemed evenly composed, making it impossible to read her emotions.
“You are certainly not fit to be an empress.”
Tina murmured as she looked at me. Confused by her sudden insult, I was taken aback, but then she chuckled softly.
“You are simply too kind-hearted for that.”
I think that was the first time I saw her genuinely smile. It was not a sneer or a formal smile but one filled with ease and comfort.
“The reason I called you is about Serenon.”
“The Second Prince?”
“Yes. You are going to be the commander of the Atara Kingdom’s support troops, aren’t you?”
‘How did she know?’
I stared at Tina with wide eyes, surprised she was aware of something that had just been decided today.
Tina lifted her chin.
“Living in this palace, it’s just an instinct to pick up on things. The decision about who will be the commander has been a topic of much debate, and the Emperor entrusted Ainheart Marquis with choosing the suitable candidate. During that time, you suddenly got called to the Emperor with the Marquis. Anyone with a sharp eye likely figured it out by now.”
It suddenly dawned on me that there were no secrets in this palace.
I slowly nodded, and Tina brushed her bangs aside. I could read an unusual anxiety on her face.
Taking a deep breath, she exhaled heavily.
“Serenon has declared that he will join the support troops for Atara. I hope you can talk him out of it.”
“His Highness?”
I asked in surprise.
It was extremely rare for royals to participate in wars.
While there were instances where they stepped in to boost morale or expand their power with clear objectives, such occurrences were few and far between.
In case of the Emperor’s death during wartime, one of the remaining royals would have to take over the throne quickly. Hence, royals were usually kept in safe locations.
“He learned of the invasion a little earlier than others as a royal. That was three days ago, and ever since that day, he has been insisting on going. No amount of persuasion has worked.”
“Why…?”
“He claims he wants to do what he can for a better world. But there’s no reason for him to be the one to step up. It’s not an obligation at all, so why…?”
Tina’s face was flushed with conflicting emotions. She covered her face with one hand and took a breath, struggling to contain her feelings.
She resembled a mother bird who couldn’t let go of her fledgling that was eager to fly.
“Serenon respects your words as his mentor, and since you are the commander, can’t you forcefully exempt him from the support troops?”
Tina pleaded earnestly. I stared at her for a while before slowly parting my lips.
“Why are you trying to stop him, Your Majesty? Isn’t this rather a good thing?”
Tina swiftly turned to me, her misty blue eyes flashing with intensity. Her glare seemed to question whether I was even serious.
Even under her gaze, I maintained my composure and continued speaking.
“If His Highness performs well on the battlefield, it will bring him even closer to the Emperor’s throne. Moreover, with Cyprus practically confirmed as the main instigator of the rebellion, the only way to change the tide of royal succession is through merits gained in war.”
“What good will that do?!”
Bang!
Tina slammed the table. The once perfectly composed Tina exploded with emotions, a stark contrast to her usually calm self.
Her delicate hands, which seemed untouched by hardship, turned bright red from the one strike, yet Tina appeared unbothered by it.
Her face was filled with anxiety and unease, revealing a side of her that struggled to maintain her usual calm.
“What use is power and the throne if that child dies?!”
From her almost desperate cry, I could painfully sense just how much Tina loved Serenon.
‘But why does she love him in such a way?’
The love Tina held for Serenon felt almost violent; making choices for him that he didn’t want and pushing him toward a throne he never desired.
But can love truly be labeled as evil? Even if misguided, love is still love.
I found it somewhat amusing that I saw my past self reflected in Tina. The child who didn’t know how to love.
“Does that mean you wouldn’t mind if Serenon doesn’t become Emperor?”
Tina bit her lip tightly. Unabashed greed flickered in her eyes.
“I cannot guarantee that I could convince him. He holds ambitions that I cannot force him to abandon. But if Your Majesty says it’s alright, then I will at least try to persuade him.”
Truthfully, I wanted to support Serenon in the path he wished to take, but seeing Tina so adamant, I thought I might at least try to dissuade him. After all, Tina seemed to be making a significant resolution.
“…I cannot fully say I am fine with it. To elevate Serenon to Emperor has been my lifelong wish.”
Tina took a deep breath, staring at me with determined eyes.
“But as long as that child can be safe, then I don’t care about anything else.”
I gazed at her intently.
What would it mean for Tina to give up power?
It would be akin to me relinquishing my sword and Ruellen giving up his business.
Cutting away something so crucial was never an easy task. The mere thought that I might never wield a sword again would leave me without direction.
“So I ask you to persuade Serenon.”
I felt a strong realization that I could no longer refuse.
Just as I was about to nod in agreement.
“Your Majesty, His Highness Serenon has arrived.”
A polite voice came from outside the door. Tina and I exchanged glances.
“Should I let him in?”
“I have no objection.”
With my affirmative response, Tina permitted Serenon’s entrance.
Soon, the grand door made of mahogany swung open, and a familiar figure stepped out.
“Mother.”
“You’ve come.”
The exchange between them felt quite stiff for what should have been a simple greeting.
I could tell from Serenon’s subtly rigid expression that he and Tina must have had a serious argument.
Normally, Serenon would have been smiling broadly and doting on Tina, but it was clear both were caught up in the whirlwind of change.
“Master! It’s been a while. Have you been well?”
Serenon glanced at Tina with a casual greeting before turning to me with a bright smile. I hesitated for a moment, watching Tina, before cautiously nodding.
“Mother, may I take Master with me? I have something to discuss.”
Though Serenon spoke casually, there was an oddly tense air about him.
Tina’s keen, piercing gaze landed on Serenon. A tension hung heavily between them, as if they were walking on thin ice.
“Could you please exclude me from this family feud?”
I felt like I was sitting on a bed of nails, shrinking down as much as possible.
Intervening in a dispute between Serenon, who often had an easy smile but fierce determination, and Tina, the epitome of poise, would yield no good outcome.
‘Was it a wrong choice to insist on persuading Serenon?’
As I pondered this, the silent standoff concluded, and Tina released a heavy sigh.
“…Alright, Lord of Crisis. You may go with the prince. Thank you for making time for this.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you as well.”
I stood up in a daze, following Serenon as he led the way. Until we left, Tina still wore a troubled expression.
“Master, aren’t you being unreasonable?”
Not long after leaving the Empress’s quarters, Serenon began to speak. His low-saturation blue eyes stared at me with disappointment.
“How could you not give me any hints about being Mir?”
“Ah, that’s…”
“Every time I sparred with you, I thought you were exceeding the norm, but I never imagined you’d be a Sword Master… I even went looking through known Sword Experts thinking one of them might be you. You must have thought that I wouldn’t even consider it. That’s disappointing.”
“No, I just…”
“Still, I am indeed your first disciple, right?”
Seemingly somewhat impatient to explain myself, Serenon’s gaze burned into me. His eyes sparkled with a mix of disappointment and strange excitement.
“Even though you are now the training officer of the Knights Order, it’s hard to call the Knights your direct disciples. So I must be the only one, right?”
“Ah, yes. That’s right.”
I hurriedly agreed, realizing this was the keyword to get out of my predicament. Serenon paused, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.
“Everyone is going on about how they follow Mir’s swordsmanship, but I was the one who learned directly from the source.”
Serenon seemed proud of that fact. Feeling a bit shy, I scratched the back of my neck and decided to shift the topic to something more important.
“Your Highness, I heard you wish to join the Atara support troops.”
Serenon’s expression turned serious in an instant. With a sigh, he brushed back the lavender-colored bangs. That small habit resembled Tina quite a bit.
“Did my mother ask you to dissuade me?”
“…Yes.”
Serenon was clever. Perhaps his instinct was sharper than even Aria’s.
Knowing that lying before him would be futile, I conceded.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think you could dissuade him.”
Serenon lifted his chin, his pale blue eyes shining with determination.
“I will go to war. It’s the only thing I can do.”