Chapter 198
Chapter 198
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 197. Grand Master (1)
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“If such a thing happened, wouldn’t it be better to tell Her Highness Rozanna the truth?”
No matter how much Rozanna loved her family, they were still the ones who’d tried to assassinate the emperor.
On top of that, they’d even issued an assassination order against him and tried to use him like a disposable pawn.
And in the end, they’d revealed her true identity to shock the emperor, like some kind of vengeful spirit.
Wouldn’t telling her all this clear up the misunderstanding?
“No, Rozanna wouldn’t believe it….”
But for some reason, the emperor opposed the idea.
“Even if she did believe me, she’d try to peek into my true feelings using a crystal orb or a confession spell.”
“It seems there’s something in your heart that she absolutely must not see.”
When I asked, Leonhardt nodded calmly.
“If she saw it, she’d be shocked. All the things I’ve done to protect that child….”
The emperor wore a decadent smile.
It was a smile twisted by futile struggles against an unchangeable future, ultimately leaving him looking weary and worn.
“Understood. Then I’ll refrain from any more questions.”
I bowed politely to show respect to His Majesty.
And prepared to leave.
“I’ll take my leave now.”
I started heading out of the state guest chamber under Mosian’s guidance.
But at that moment.
“By the way, Baron.”
I turned my head at the emperor’s final call.
“You said you’d remain on the Empire’s side from now on, but support from the rear.”
Leonhardt stared straight at me.
His gaze held a pity that saw his own past in me.
“Do you think… you can keep that promise?”
“Yes…?”
His meaningful question left my mouth agape.
The emperor spoke, his eyes gleaming with brilliant white mana.
“Those who’ve wielded Grand Aura throughout history could never live quietly.”
Whether from experience, he gave me earnest advice.
“Since you’ve already sided with the Empire, the world won’t leave you alone.”
“Don’t worry.”
I’d already been through it countless times in my previous life.
Situations far more difficult, painful, and cruel than this.
“My resolve is more than enough.”
Perhaps because of that.
The emperor and I regarded each other with relaxed gazes.
“Yes… I knew you’d say that.”
The emperor stared at the departing man’s back.
His presence evoked the emperor’s own days as a conquering king, naturally lifting the corners of his mouth.
“…”
Once the door closed, he turned to gaze at the portraits hanging in the state guest chamber.
Flanking his majestic figure were depictions of the imperial consorts.
Beside them unfolded portraits of the imperial family, including Lea, Irina, and Lydia.
“You’re in for some hardship ahead, Veil Mikhail.”
Emperor Leonhardt.
Back when he wasn’t yet a Grand Master, he was merely a conquering sovereign.
He cleaved through enemies mercilessly with the golden aura of a Swordmaster.
However, the moment he vanquished them all and ascended to Grand Master.
His life, stained only with blood, was utterly transformed.
He married into the royal houses he’d conquered or allied with.
Unintentionally, he gained three young wives late in life.
At first, the women were nothing but a burden.
A man who’d never truly understood women, he carefully tended to the consorts and showed them kindness.
But they fell for that side of him and kept drawing closer.
Soon, they sensed that the emperor was no mere tyrant, but a sovereign who would endure in history.
Moreover, each time they shared their bodies, his potent aura filled even them.
As blood of a nation’s ruler, they were bound to be perfectly compatible with the emperor.
Thanks to that, even in his later years, he gained three wives and five children.
The emperor chuckled slyly, recalling the fox-like man.
He could imagine the chaos when that man stayed in the Empire and was pursued by various noble ladies.
“I’ll officiate at the wedding.”
And with that, he too left the state guest chamber for the spectator stands.
“Ah, if it’s him, he might marry multiple times—could get troublesome.”
“――――――”
Having descended to the emperor’s opposite side, he faced the conclusion of the third-round match.
Lydia’s subordinate, Batsch, versus a Black Knight squad member.
Honestly, having faced Black Knights myself, I thought Batsch’s skill was more than enough to win.
Especially since they couldn’t use black mana in official tournaments.
But.
“What happened…?”
The frenzied crowd.
They were excited as if they’d witnessed a brutal beatdown by Batsch—no, a breathless close fight.
“This match ends in victory for Sir Batsch, vice-captain of the Eastern Knights, after a fierce melee!!”
As expected, the arena was a wreck.
The floor shattered in places from full-force strikes.
Amid the debris lay a black-haired Black Knight squad member.
He’d endured multiple blows from Batsch before finally collapsing.
Soon, healers entered and escorted him out.
Batsch, exiting to the opposite side, was in the same state.
Though victorious, he was battered and bruised.
I approached him leisurely.
“What happened…? You look like hell.”
“Urk….”
Batsch bit his lip in frustration.
Then, he locked eyes with Lydia, who’d come down with a worried expression.
“Batsch…!! Are you alright…?”
The Empire’s Third Imperial Princess Lydia, her twin tails swaying with each step.
Tears welled in her red eyes, shimmering like rubies.
“Why push yourself so hard against just one squad member!”
Lydia yelled at the hulking man, fists clenched tight.
But her scolding wasn’t dismissive of her subordinate.
It felt more like a mother fretting over her child.
“I’m ashamed….”
His thick wrists were swollen.
Even his sturdy legs were covered in sword cuts.
“I thought someone of your skill would win handily…. What about the next match in this condition?”
When I asked, he pointed to the massive black greatsword still embedded in the arena.
“Right, the guy’s skill was within expectations. But….”
Lydia and I followed his finger to the weapon.
Then, a faint black aura began to ripple subtly.
“It’s a curse. And a potent one….”
“Yeah…. But enhancing weapons with mana is illegal, isn’t it…?”
Lydia removed her cloak and draped it over Batsch’s back.
But with his broad frame, it looked more like a towel than a cloak.
“That’s not mana. It’s something cunningly blended with curses.”
I knew who was behind this sorcery.
With a deep sigh, I told Lydia.
“I’ll have to step away for a bit.”
“Going to catch the culprit?”
Lydia asked as I turned to leave.
Her red eyes, tears not fully dried, looked straight up at me.
“Yes. The other Black Knights are probably all enhancing their weapons the same way.”
Turning a mere squad member’s weapon to rival a vice-captain’s honed skill.
If Black Knights of vice-captain rank or higher wielded such weapons….
‘Allen and Miya are in danger.’
“I’ll be right back, so wait for me.”
I stroked the top of Lydia’s head as I said it.
“…!”
The princess flushed red for the first time in her life at a man touching her hair.
She glanced around to check if anyone had seen.
“W-Wait a moment.”
Lydia grabbed my departing arm.
She removed the ring from her ring finger and handed it to me.
“Just in case, take this.”
“Isn’t this… valuable?”
I stared at the ring, radiating an auspicious aura.
A ruby ring engraved with a leopard emblem in the center.
“If you’re ever in grave danger, blow on it.”
Lydia crossed her arms confidently, standing alone.
“It’ll guide you to an escape!”
The princess, much shorter than me, declared boldly with hands on her hips.
Her confidence made my lips curl up.
“Thank you. I’ll be back soon.”
I bowed politely in greeting.
Then headed to the Black Knights’ waiting room.
“….”
Lydia stared at my retreating figure.
Then, she slipped a hand into her bosom.
What emerged was another ring.
Identical in form to the one she’d given me.
Lydia slipped it back onto her ring finger….
“….”
And unwittingly lifted the corner of her mouth.
Because in the East, that ring symbolized marriage.
“P-Princess! Why are you smiling so ominously…?”
Batsch panicked at his lord’s lewd smile, one he’d never seen before.
Lydia reverted to her stern sovereign expression.
“Oh, it’s nothing…. Let’s head to the infirmary…!”
She waved it off as no big deal.
Then, with her tiny hands, she pushed at the massive Batsch’s back.
“You need to rest quick to recover, right?”
Batsch hesitated.
In response, Lydia balled her fists and thumped his back playfully.
At her adorable display, the fierce Eastern vice-captain scratched the side of his head.
Princess Lydia was usually famed for her intimidating charisma despite her small stature.
Yet just encountering Veil flipped her demeanor entirely.
Like a feral stray cat turning into a docile housecat.
“Seeing the princess like this isn’t bad either….”
“What?”
Lydia tilted her head at Batsch looking down at her.
Her twin tails tilted sideways, mirroring her mood.
“Nothing….”
Batsch chuckled and led the way to the infirmary.
Lydia followed with a pout.
Cherishing the ring on her finger.
“….”
While Lydia led her precious subordinate away like that.
I rounded the corner into a dim passage.
‘As expected of the Black Knights’ lounge area….’
Reaching the dark corridor furrowed my brow.
As I proceeded cautiously.
Suddenly, I sensed the sinister aura from that greatsword earlier.
‘Over there.’
At the passage’s end, a waiting room.
Bearing the nameplate: Sir Denver, Black Knight Vice-Captain.
“….”
I cracked the door open carefully.
And peered inside.
Brightly lit interior.
Among the light, a familiar dress caught my eye.
A splendid platinum gown.
Clinging to her wide hips, cinching her slender waist.
And her ample bosom, sharp yet pale features.
“The next match is one of Irina’s knights.”
“Yes, I wanted to face Camilla, what a shame.”
A gruff male voice came from opposite.
But with the door only slightly ajar, I couldn’t see clearly.
I’d masked my presence, but Rozanna was an enigmatic woman—best to stay extra cautious.
“Bring the weapon.”
A glimpse of the man’s thick hand.
He handed a massive longsword to Rozanna’s delicate touch.
“….”
Rozanna extended her palm, and a potent black aura visibly manifested.
It coiled around the blade like a serpent.
Then, it was sucked into the edge, emitting a subtle glow.
‘So that’s how they enhanced it….’
Turning a well-forged sword into artifact-level.
I nearly snorted in derision.
‘No wonder Batsch struggled.’
But her abilities didn’t end there.
Something even more astonishing remained.
“Now, give me your leg.”
“Yes, here.”
At Rozanna’s command, the man extended his leg.
Bare, unarmored.
Honed by endless training, muscles taut.
But from heavy black mana use, perhaps.
The skin was wrinkled like a 50- or 60-year-old man’s leg.
Sagging like an aged elder.
“Refrain from using black mana for a while; it’s serious.”
Rozanna’s worried tone.
Her gentle words, a first for me, made saliva pool in my mouth.
“Understood….”
Rozanna extended her palm toward his leg.
Then, the limp, flaccid pillar began to stiffen upright.
As if rejuvenated.
“Go fight your best for Leon.”
The First Imperial Consort smiled sensually.
She resembled a goddess embracing and soothing great divinities.
Afterward, she reached both hands behind her head.
Her ample breasts naturally tightened, lifting upward.
The black mole on her upper breast heaved with a deep breath.
“When’s that child’s match?”
Rozanna tied her hair back, thinking of someone.
Her blue eyes sparkled with anticipation.
“I can’t wait.”