Chapter 99
Chapter: 99
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 99
>Chapter Title: Imperial Palace Banquet (1)
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‘He figured out I’m not Mores? How in the world?’
An utterly unexpected situation left Seongjin’s mind in a whirlwind.
Could Logan have the same ability as the Holy Emperor? The power to see souls?
Or maybe something else...
“Your Highness?”
Sensing the odd tension, Masain glanced back and forth between the two of them.
But the momentary bewilderment subsided just as quickly as it had arisen.
Seongjin quickly regained his composure and calmly met the gaze of the boy, who made no effort to hide his murderous hostility.
‘...This was bound to happen eventually.’
It was a question he should have faced from someone the moment he arrived in this world, and now he was hearing it from this boy of all people.
When had he stopped worrying about being found out, and by whom?
The answer was obvious. It was after his first audience with the Holy Emperor.
Seongjin had unwittingly been drawn in by the man who knew something yet pretended not to, treating him like a son. Before he knew it, he’d started deluding himself into thinking he really was his son, a true member of the Holy Imperial family.
“This doesn’t seem like the place to discuss it.”
“...Don’t spout nonsense!”
At Seongjin’s response, Logan’s pressure intensified.
His sharp killing intent felt like ice spears thrusting from all directions, making Seongjin’s entire body tingle with tension.
“You’d better answer properly. If something really happened to Mores, I’ll...”
Just then, Masain, noticing their ominous atmosphere, stepped between them.
He positioned himself protectively behind Seongjin and quickly spoke up to Logan.
“Your Highness! Prince Mores suffered a severe fever not long ago. It was so bad his life hung in the balance. Afterward, he lost his memories.”
“Masain, brother...”
Facing Masain seemed to dull the boy’s hostility a bit.
“On top of that, he’s been training so hard lately that he’s lost a ton of weight—he’s unrecognizable. It’s not so strange that Your Highness might think he’s a completely different person.”
“It’s not about his appearance, brother. Mores’s presence is completely...”
Logan trailed off there, as if struggling to explain. He glanced back and forth between Seongjin and Masain, then bit his lip in frustration.
“...Fine. This isn’t the place for it. We’ll talk properly later, you and I.”
The boy spat the words at Seongjin and turned away.
“......”
Watching Logan stride ahead, Seongjin inwardly clicked his tongue.
Wow, what the hell is that guy? Can you really just call someone like him a simple sword genius?
For that brief moment, the aura the young prince exuded had been so heavy it even overwhelmed Seongjin, who had spent decades roaming battlefields slaughtering beasts.
What a mess.
He’d completely aroused the suspicions of someone terrifying.
But his thoughts didn’t linger long.
Moments later, Hern and Gades appeared at the lobby entrance and came rushing toward him.
“Mores! Big brother Masain!”
“Mores! Brother Masain!”
The twins grabbed his arms from both sides, beaming innocently.
Heavy, you two!
Thanks to them, Seongjin tossed aside his worries without a second thought. It felt a little off, sure, but what could the guy do about it now?
Worst case, he could ask the Holy Emperor to mediate.
* * *
“Prince Logan has made the name of Delcross resound across the entire continent like this—truly the empire’s greatest blessing.”
As the banquet began, Empress Consort Elizabeth elegantly dabbed her lips with a napkin, heaping on the praise.
She was already strikingly beautiful, but today she seemed to radiate light from every inch of her body. The maids must have poured their souls into her makeup.
Prince Logan was a prime candidate for the next crown prince.
She must be seething inside, but she couldn’t outright dismiss such solid achievements.
“Yet the people in those distant hinterlands untouched by the Lord’s grace must still be suffering from the sea beasts. Thinking of them breaks my heart. I do hope that Lilium will continue to spread His merciful hand across the continent for years to come?”
Ah, so she’s landing whatever jabs she can.
In other words, stay out subjugating sea beasts and don’t come back to the capital.
Empress Tatiana, seated at the head table, twitched an eyebrow for a split second.
But she showed no change in expression, offering her usual gracious smile as she elegantly raised her wine glass. She looked twice as refined and beautiful as usual.
“Leading by example and serving the people in any field—that is precisely the mindset every member of the Holy Imperial family should have. Even the youngest, Princess Sisley, is already embracing the [Duty of the Noble] and joyfully caring for the people as a saintess, is she not? With princes and princesses so exemplary, the glory of the Lord will shine upon Delcross for generations.”
If you want proper treatment as a member of the imperial family, then rein in that son of yours who’s lounging around the palace doing nothing.
Now it was Empress Consort Elizabeth’s turn to narrow her eyes.
Feeling awkward, Seongjin gulped down his drink.
“The capital is abuzz with the people’s praises. Thanks to Prince Logan, so many suffering from the sea beasts have been saved. For them, it was a precious chance to feel the Lord’s mercy and love firsthand. Truly commendable.”
A soft, gentle voice followed.
It was Empress Consort Melody, the Second Consort.
Originally a commoner, she had risen to consort upon the Holy Emperor’s ascension and was the mother of Sisley, the youngest of his children.
With her soft silver hair and kindly shining eyes, she was the picture of gentle beauty.
At Melody Consort’s sincere praise, the empress’s sharp expression softened for a moment.
“If only Princess Sisley could have joined us for this joyous occasion...”
Princess Sisley, the Third Princess, was said to possess the strongest divine power among the Holy Emperor’s children despite her young age. The main church had already proclaimed her a [Saintess], and she was currently on a long-term pilgrimage organized by the church.
“She’s still so young that the pilgrimage probably feels like a simple outing. I told her to be back before her birthday celebration.”
As Melody Consort smiled and spoke, the atmosphere noticeably warmed.
She was like a little lamb caught between a leopard and a wolf, bleating without a care in the world—which somehow made her seem even more impressive.
Anyway, with three wives in one place, it was impossible for the meal to be relaxed. Seongjin suddenly understood why the Holy Emperor rarely held such banquets.
Glancing around, everyone else seemed accustomed to the tension, minding their own business.
The Hern and Gades twins kept exchanging knowing glances during the meal, giggling now and then as if sharing some unspoken understanding.
Now I get it. They’re chitchatting away via channeling right now.
Logan was mostly focused on eating but occasionally chatted softly with Amelia beside him.
She’d said they’d been close since she arrived at the palace, and sure enough, they looked completely at ease and affectionate with each other.
Masain, too, seemed unusually relaxed and happy.
He kept gazing fondly at his long-lost siblings, chewing his food with a delighted expression. Is that guy a nanny down to his bones?
And the Holy Emperor.
Seongjin glanced up at the head table. He was still wearing that inscrutable expression, silently slicing his food.
In other words.
He wasn’t eating. He was just cutting it.
What’s that guy doing?
Seongjin frowned slightly as he watched.
Upon closer inspection, he mimicked others: slicing his steak when they did, lifting his cup when they drank. But he didn’t seem to actually consume anything. And he did it so fluidly and naturally that you wouldn’t notice he wasn’t eating unless you looked closely.
Come to think of it, Seongjin couldn’t recall ever seeing him eat properly.
During tea time, he’d just stared blankly at his untouched tea. And that time in the garden, he’d only nibbled at lunch.
No way a guy that age is a picky eater?
Seongjin sat there with a dubious look until the attendants soon brought in the next course: crispy fried fish.
‘...Wow!’
He took a bite without thinking, and the tender, mild fish flesh melded perfectly with the sweet sauce—it was divine.
Even with his palate elevated by the palace’s finest cuisine lately, this was top-tier.
“Tasty, huh? What’s this dish?”
A servant smiled at Seongjin’s inadvertent question.
“It’s a cutlet made from salmon. Prime season, when they’re at their fattiest. Fresh ones airlifted from the Cyprus Union this morning.”
“Salmon...”
Suddenly, Seongjin recalled what the Holy Emperor had said about swords not long ago.
-Salmon is truly a soft and delicious fish.
He glanced at the head table. The Holy Emperor was still expressionlessly demolishing his food.
Is this his favorite?
Then why isn’t he touching it?
Without realizing it, Seongjin opened his mouth to call out.
“Um, Father?”
In an instant, everyone in the dining hall stopped talking and turned to stare at Seongjin. Undeterred by the sudden silence, he said what he wanted.
“Isn’t this that fish you mentioned before? Salmon.”
“......”
The Holy Emperor silently stared at Seongjin for a moment before lowering his gaze to the mangled plate in front of him. His face remained expressionless, but Seongjin noticed his eyes widen slightly.
This guy had no idea what he was doing.
Only then did he pick up his utensils and slowly bring a piece of fish to his mouth. The first thing he’d swallowed since the banquet began.
“...Yes.”
After savoring it briefly, the Holy Emperor nodded.
“That’s the one. The palace chef’s skill is exceptional.”
Seongjin clicked his tongue.
Even sandwiched between three wives, aren’t you zoning out too much right now?
Seongjin snorted and returned to his meal, but soon he felt piercing stares and had to look up.
Empress Tatiana was watching him with an uncomfortable expression. Empress Consort Elizabeth was sneaking glances while pretending not to care. And Melody Consort was openly beaming in admiration.
‘What? Why’s everyone acting like that?’
The stares weren’t just from the head table.
The twins had their eyes wide and mouths agape. Amelia was covering her mouth with both hands, staring silently at Seongjin. Huh?
Even Masain’s eyes were reddening as if something welled up inside him—his reaction was downright odd.
Did I mess up? I didn’t say anything weird.
Seongjin broke into a cold sweat.
Surprisingly, Logan was the same.
He looked flustered as he glanced at the Holy Emperor, then turned to Seongjin.
The fresh look in his eyes, as if seeing him for the first time, held none of the earlier sharp hostility.
While Seongjin racked his brain in the bizarre atmosphere, not understanding why, the Holy Emperor alone calmly put a second piece of fish in his mouth, face impassive.