Morris's Crisis and Emir's Honest Feelings
“Magic, is it?”
“Yes. Isn't that what you're best at?”
The emperor's eyes fixed straight on me. Yes, this was the Ryuclid I knew—a monstrous intuition that transcended humanity, one of his countless strengths. I'd momentarily forgotten amid his perverted demeanor and his craving to train Seria.
Ryuclid was the emperor of this empire. He'd sensed something off just from the shift in my expression and posture. It was still just suspicion, so he was ordering magic to catch me in the act.
> Am I fooling them well? We just passed the capital's gates. Still need time to escape the surveillance system.
Time needed, huh. Meaning I couldn't channel mana to cast spells.
This is trouble. Real trouble.
“What spell would Your Majesty prefer?”
“Anything you're good at will do. Ideally, something that delights everyone here.”
The emperor flashed a wicked smile.
“You'd best not say you can't. I hate hearing that.”
“Understood.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
He crossed his arms at my confident reply. Surprised, was he? I'd show him something even more unexpected.
“As Your Majesty says, I'm not at my best, so proper magic is difficult. Instead, allow me to demonstrate spatial translocation. It may not be flashy, but it will dazzle Your Majesty and all present.”
I scanned the room.
“Does anyone have a coin?”
A noble hesitated, then raised his hand.
“Gold coin all right?”
“Yes, that's fine.”
The noble stepped forward and offered a gold coin the size of a knuckle. It gleamed as it landed in my palm. Unable to use mana-based magic right now, I'd resort to sleight-of-hand illusion.
“Watch as this coin vanishes from my hand... and appears atop another's head.”
“Atop their head?”
“From your hand?”
In a world brimming with mysterious magic, spatial translocation without portals was still high-level stuff. Their surprise was natural. The emperor watched impassively.
I rolled up my sleeves and deftly made the coin disappear from my hand.
“Huh?”
“What?”
“Where'd it go?”
Everyone stared at my empty hands in shock—of course it wasn't there. I'd already palmed it elsewhere. As jaws dropped, I pointed to the noble who'd given it to me.
“Look above your head?”
“Above my head?”
He tilted his head up. Clink. The gold coin perched atop it tumbled down.
“Huh?”
“What was that?”
The room erupted in astonishment at the coin now on his head—the one that had been in my hand moments ago. But the emperor's shock was for a different reason.
How did he do that? No mana signature at all. Yet Morris didn't seem to use any trick. Was it too fast for me to see?
He doubted himself. But no mana flow—he was sure of it. Unless it was too faint.
Then—
“You all seem amazed, so I'll show another spatial spell.”
I talked fast to buy time.
> Almost there! Just a bit longer!
Emily's urgent voice echoed in my ear. The emperor eyed me with suspicion.
“No, enough with spatial magic. Too small-scale for a Grand Mage—disappointing.”
Not convinced yet. About my condition.
“You want something grander, then.”
“Yes.”
“Very well, one more new spell.”
“New spell?”
“What now?”
“A gift for Lady Solarion, the star of this evening.”
> Not yet!
“With magic?”
“Of course. But prepare some soil.”
“You heard him—soldiers, fetch soil!”
At the emperor's command, soldiers scrambled. “And flower seeds, if possible.”
“Bring spare seeds too!”
In moments, a flower bed, soil, and seeds were set in the party's center. Less than five minutes.
> How's it going? Ten minutes and we'll arrive.
Ten minutes. I glanced at the emperor. He glared like he'd kill me if I didn't perform now. No more stalling.
I didn't want to use this.
My last card: innate vital energy. This world's term: life energy. Converting one's congenital life force into mana.
“Hoo.”
I planted seeds in the bed, then poured my life energy into it. To them, it'd look like mana rain.
Seeds sprouted, shot up, budded into vibrant red blooms—like sped-up life unfolding.
“Ooh.”
Awe rippled through the nobles as they saw light from my body amid the mana pour.
Huuu.
I suppressed boiling breath. Life drain felt utterly different from mana—whole-body weakness, urge to collapse. But I kept pouring until buds bloomed into gorgeous roses.
Just this once. Survive, and I'd break from neutrality.
My life-infused roses outshone any other.
> Clear. You can release now.
Signal received. I dropped all spells except the concealment on Cecilia's location. Mana flooded back.
> Wind Cutter.
I sliced the blooms with wind blades, wove mana threads to wrap the bouquet safely from thorns.
“For you.”
I handed the roses to Emir. Her eyes widened—she hadn't expected this. She glanced between bouquet and me. A beautiful, alluring woman. Even her surprise charmed.
She lingered in my mind. I'd been furious about her entering the temple—not over marriage, but yielding her body to a god. To someone else.
But was that truly my feeling? Unsure, I'd kept distance. Yet thinking of her in divine arms, I couldn't bear it—sought her out, just as now, unwilling to let her go, I offered flowers.
The issue: Soon, I'd lead the noble faction. Her father, Duke Solarion, was imperial. Her attackers? Nobles.
Would she still love me knowing that?
I looked down at her.
“A gift for you. And may it not be the last.”
Clap clap clap. Applause filled the room.
“If you're like this, why not reunite?”
The emperor's eyes returned to normal—suspicion gone. Worth the life drain.
“She's entering the temple now.”
“She's refused and returned before.”
Duke Solarion's surprise drew emperor's retort.
“What say the two?”
Emir silent. Me too.
“They need time to talk, no? Duke Solarion?”
“Indeed. Old betrothal weighs on them.”
The emperor grinned, scheming to pair us. Solarion too.
Ah, now I saw. This party celebrated foiling noble schemes—and aimed to rekindle our betrothal.
For Emir's will? Unknown. Solarion wanted strong in-law, no temple. Emperor craved my power for his faction.
I hadn't noticed at all. Too focused on Cecilia's escape.
I bowed to refuse. Then—
“Let's talk.”
Emir grabbed my hand.
“What?”
“Things I want to ask.”
“……”
Solarion and emperor smiled satisfied.
“If you wish. Very well.”
***
We strolled Solarion mansion's garden. Vast maze, fountain atop. Spraying water arched a rainbow.
Emir sat on fountain edge, set roses aside, patted seat.
“Sit.”
Not one to refuse kindness from her, I sat beside.
“What wind blows this? Didn't you decide on the temple?”
“I did.”
“I thought this a farewell. What's this proposal?”
“That too. But.”
“But?”
“Father asked me.”
“That's why you brought me here?”
“Something to confirm.”
“What?”
“May I hold your hand?”
Her face held firm resolve.
“……Go ahead.”
I offered my hand like escorting a lady. She interlocked fingers, gripped tight.
Thump thump thump.
Just holding made my heart race. Her suggestion already heated my body.
“Still races. Just from holding hands.”
She fidgeted our clasped hands, voice low. Resignation tinged it—not imagination.
“I thought I hated you, Lord Morris.”
She looked up.
“Why the temple, you asked? Despite fine knight Bartlam.”
“Yes.”
“To forget you.”
“Me?”
“Yes. I hated you. You always kept loving me at distance, never approached. Jealous of other women with you.”
“……”
“So I tried forgetting.”
Tears welled in her eyes.
“Yet why keep appearing before me?”
Ah, that. Reason she sought temple despite better teachers: couldn't forget me?
One possibility I'd hoped. After lovesick torment, I'd assumed vague oblivion. Wrong.
“Tell me. Why make me cling?”
Tear-filled eyes pleaded.
Why I'd been harsh, distant? Simple: Distance would make her leave. Feign indifference, she'd give up—my body too. To shake her affection—mine.
But her love for Morris ran deeper than I thought. Unshakable, no matter what.
I couldn't answer. She pressed anxiously.
“If you won't say, tell me why you dislike me.”
If she clung, my heart and body would yearn forever.
“Reason I dislike you.”
Thump thump.
Heart. Body. Screamed not to speak. Stay silent.
Beautiful woman. One I didn't want to lose.
But as Solarion's daughter, impossible.
I'd hidden till end. But she'd been honest. So would I.
“Politics.”
“Pardon?”
“That's why we can't be.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know the empire's two factions.”
“You're serious?”
One phrase, she grasped my choice.
“Why tell me?”
“You were honest, so I am. Nothing more, less.”
Hiding twisted us, wasted her feelings. Better truth. Emir wouldn't betray to emperor—I trusted that.
“For that? Just different factions?”
“Small to you, huge to me. And you know who sent your attackers.”
Her grip tightened. I loosened interlock, stood.
“Now you know, no more……”
“Don't go.”
She clutched my sleeve. Tearful eyes looked up.
“Don't leave my side.”
Thump thump.
Her tears made heart pound uncontrollably.
“Didn't I say? I sent those who tried to take you, your maid died by my hand, I appeared as savior.”
She bit lip, gazed up.
“You did save me. When I fled helpless, you came. Means you never truly meant to kill.”
“I killed your maid.”
“Did you strangle her yourself?”
I shook head.
“Order her death?”
“Not directly, but I planned the framework.”
“That's enough. No direct order, so my vengeance targets others.”
“You really think that? You really……”
So steadfast. Loving Morris unwaveringly.
Words stuck. How to sever this tenacious bond?
Heart raced madly again.
“Give up.”
“Pardon?”
“Solarion and Dmitry can't unite. Unless one forsakes status, impossible.”
I shook off her hand, left garden.
Sighing deeply, I messaged Count Ronald.
> Prepare. It's starting now.