Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Imaginary Realm Suspicions
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“The possibility that she tampered with her Imaginary Realm. Come to think of it, Naria never spoke of her childhood at all.”
“I’ve only heard it once myself. At the time, I thought she had nothing worth mentioning since there were no memorable events.”
“But now it seems that’s not the case.”
“It’s not a stage for certainty yet, but the possibility is high.”
“Elucidating the Imaginary Realm is the lifelong aspiration of mages, and it’s something I’m interested in as well. No, anyone who holds power dreams of conquering the Imaginary Realm. Even if treaties block it, the desire of those pursuing truth manifests everywhere.”
Ardhen crossed his arms.
“You don’t know the whereabouts of that mage, Gilliuud?”
“Yes. No one in Shilder territory knows either. He’s completely vanished.”
“For someone so important, they would have had him under surveillance.”
“From what I’ve learned, a spirit appeared around the time Gilliuud disappeared. It only partially manifested, but it was powerful enough to half-destroy the mansion, and he seems to have slipped away amid the chaos.”
“A spirit with that much power would have thrown the local magic system into disarray. What do you think? Did Gilliuud escape thanks to a spirit that happened to manifest, or did he prepare his flight to coincide with its appearance?”
“It seems he had some degree of precognition. Though not comparable to ‘John,’ who peered into our actions and the internal affairs of the Special Inspection Unit.”
“The man who created magic to overthrow the system. It wouldn’t be strange if he discovered divination magic and passed it to his disciple. Or perhaps he transmitted it through some power other than magic.”
“There’s a possibility.”
“That’s the problem—everything’s possible. If the limits were clear, judgment would be easy.”
As Ardhen said, the difficulty of this incident was that nothing could be pinned down specifically. Gilliuud was the only lead, yet his whereabouts were unknown.
“But how long are you going to keep using formal speech?”
“Is it uncomfortable?”
“For me, it’s neither comfortable nor uncomfortable. Everyone speaks formally in my presence anyway.”
“What should I do?”
“Since when did you start asking my opinion?”
Ardhen took a sip of his drink and continued.
“If anything, I’d prefer you treated me casually like before. Is that difficult?”
“It’s not difficult.”
“Now I see you were waiting to bow to me. You’re always like this.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
He lifted his glass and looked down at the courtyard. Jun and Taine were walking. Even from afar, the Grand Duke could be heard chattering excitedly, while Taine listened with a complicated expression.
“Listening to the Grand Duke’s chatter must be harder for Taine than any grueling training. That’s why I always told him to behave.”
His friend chuckled softly.
“He’s a friend working hard for you. Don’t just tease him—treat him well.”
“I’ve told him countless times to relax around me. I even called Bank over to show my true self. Yet nothing changes. I like that, but at the same time, it’s bittersweet.”
“It must be tough pandering to the Emperor’s whims. If I were still in the military, I’d have snatched you away. Gotta save the poor guy.”
“You already poached plenty of good men from under me.”
“Don’t tell me you’re still holding that against me.”
“Can’t I?”
Ardhen groaned and stretched languidly, as if he’d left all decorum behind when leaving the palace—utterly free.
“It’s funny. Just half a year ago, having you by my side made me so uneasy. I knew it was my own inadequacy, yet I couldn’t suppress the fear.”
“If you were truly afraid, you wouldn’t have even brought it up. You just made the judgment you had to. If I’d stayed in the Holy City back then, our relationship would be different now.”
“Be honest. Didn’t you ever covet my position?”
“You still ask even though you know. Testing your subordinates like that is exhausting in every way.”
“You know my personality.”
“I do. That’s why I trust you.”
Lander gazed at the distant palace and said.
“Maybe if Naria had wanted it.”
“Thank goodness. Naria had no interest in power. She even struggled desperately to leave the Holy City with you.”
“I should have listened to her back then. Quit my post and live quietly with her in some peaceful place.”
“Even if you’d left, I bet you’d have come right back. Naria couldn’t stand being bored. She’d have missed the bustling Holy City and dragged you back here.”
“That’s why I stayed. Naria thought it over deeply and gave up too.”
“Looking back now, she was so willful. I did all sorts of things led by her hand. I even touched dough for the first time because of her.”
“When she sets her mind to something, she sees it through.”
Beloved face, beloved name, beloved scent. Things that had faded while away from the Holy City became vivid again, like yesterday’s events, after returning here.
He’d wandered the surroundings, momentarily forgetting he’d come to the Holy City chasing Shilder, lost in reminiscences.
Over three days, he realized anew how much he loved her, how much he missed her.
“In truth, nothing else matters.”
His friend looked into his eyes and said.
“Tell me what you plan to do from now on. That’s the most important thing to me.”
“I left this place and wandered everywhere. I had to see the things Naria spoke of with my own eyes. It was the only task given to me.”
“Keep going. Listening is my specialty.”
He reflected on the past six months. It had been a directionless journey. He knew where to go but not what lay at the end.
Was he going to die? To make memories? Even that was vague.
Everything was hazy. For someone who’d lived his whole life within plans and frameworks, it was an excruciating trip. With every step, every changing scene, he kept thinking.
What do I truly want?
“At first, I just wanted to cry. I wanted to cry as much as I loved her, but I couldn’t. What next? What should I do when I reach her hometown? Nothing came to mind. Only a vague thought of dying.”
“Good thing you came back instead of dying.”
“I don’t know if it’s good. When I realized Naria’s illness might have been intentional, I should have been angry. Since I couldn’t cry, at least rage—but even that wouldn’t come. When she was with me, I could laugh at trifles, cry over nothing.”
“You’ve gone back to who you were before meeting Naria. Inevitably.”
“It didn’t make sense. It was so frustrating. I wanted to lash out, but couldn’t. This must be my true nature. I thought she’d changed me, but no.”
Ardhen offered him a drink. He shook his head. Jun and Taine, who’d been strolling in the courtyard, returned to their seats. Lander ignored them and continued.
“I needed answers. Someone to point the way. Coincidentally, I had business in the Holy City, so I sought the Grand Duke. He always had the answers.”
“That again? I’ve never given you answers. You already know. Unlike the obtuse Emperor, you know. Yet you ask those around you. Even though you could stand alone, you create lacks in yourself to expose to others. I know that’s how you maintain relationships, how you offer companionship.”
“You’re harsh, Grand Duke.”
“It’s the truth. As I said yesterday, you don’t need to ask questions. Just declare it. I know what you fear, but you no longer need to. Do as you wish. You’re repeating the words I should have told you as a child, over these two days.”
Do as you wish. It was truly a difficult incantation. He preferred measured passivity. Entrusting judgment to trusted people, moving together, bearing the responsibility.
Someone who could stand alone.
He pressed his clasped hands to his forehead and closed his eyes. With Naria, he could be complete.
At least, that’s what Lander thought. Afraid of mistakes, always one step back—Naria had led him, reassured him it was okay.
“I don’t know. If that’s alright.”
“I always thought this watching you: What if you’d been moderately bad? Moderately selfish, moderately flawed, moderately able to turn a blind eye. But I’m glad you’re so impeccably perfect. Not just anyone could handle the power you’ve gained. An ordinary person with that power would drown in it. The result would be horrific.”
The Grand Duke approached with hands behind his back.
“When you were young, I must have told you this: Gods don’t exist because they do—they must exist. To prevent the chaos from the absence of absolute good, gods must hold their place.”
“You did say that.”
“You were the same. You were a child this land absolutely needed. No, the Empire needed you. I needed you, Ardhen needed you. You knew that, so you set aside so much. Emotions, free actions, personal desires.”
The wrinkled hand gripped his shoulder.
“As I said yesterday, you no longer need to. Now, you must fully embrace your emotions. Even if it’s improper, don’t worry. Whatever happens, it’s for us—not you—to bear.”
“The imperial family might change. I’ll stay put quietly. Watching if this guy causes a fuss is the best move.”
Ardhen’s face twisted in horror at the mere thought.
“Even if you say that, my emotions won’t bend to my will.”
“That means the sense of responsibility you carry is that great. The day you left, I thought you’d quietly die at the world’s end. Given your actions until then, it was the natural conclusion. But you returned. Not as dramatic as when Naria was with you, but you’re changing bit by bit.”
Jun patted his shoulder a few times, smiled, and let go.
“The kid who never troubled me as a boy is finally throwing a tantrum all grown up. I’m grateful, actually. That I can soothe you.”
The Grand Duke glanced at Taine.
“You need to hang out with me more. These two still have things to discuss.”
“I’ll accompany you.”
The Grand Duke and Taine headed to the kitchen. The clatter of cookware echoed. Ardhen craned his neck to look and said.
“Taine can’t help it around the Grand Duke either. I should bring him here often. Chatting with the Grand Duke might mellow him out a bit.”
“Maybe.”
He replied with a laugh. Why did “throwing a tantrum” sound so endearing? The stuffiness in his chest eased.
“I wanted to comfort you. Like the Grand Duke. Guess I’m still far off.”
“Just hearing that from the Emperor is comfort enough. I don’t know where to put myself, Your Majesty.”
“Good. I needed someone to tease me. Anyway, what now? Whatever you do, I’ll support you. Though I’m still not yielding my seat.”
“Share the information coming to your ears with me too. That’ll suffice.”
“Using the Emperor as an informant? Fine. That’s a bargain.”
“It could harm your people. Shilder’s a side branch; there’ll be more connected to Gilliuud. Maybe even your closest aides.”
“Purging my own hurts, but less than antagonizing you. And if you’re eyeing an undead army, that alone gets slapped with treason.”
“My blade might end up pointed at you.”
“If that time comes, we’ll talk then. If I had even a hand in Naria’s death, come kill me. I’ll gladly offer my neck to your sword.”
The Emperor gazed at him with unwavering eyes.