Chapter 109
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: The Feast of Sun and Moon (3)
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Receiving an invitation from the princess didn't mean I could go straight to see her.
Members of great noble houses were required to pay respects to the emperor immediately upon visiting the imperial palace.
And with the emperor bedridden and wheezing away, that duty currently fell to the crown prince.
"His Highness the Crown Prince is currently meeting with the next head of House Ursula. Please wait just a moment."
I nodded at the attendant's words.
Even this attendant's posture was impeccably precise—truly befitting the imperial palace, I couldn't help but admire.
After waiting a short while in the reception room, the attendant approached again.
"Eugene Calliope, His Highness summons you."
The moment the audience chamber doors opened, dazzling golden decorations caught my eye.
And in the center of the chamber sat a man radiating an extraordinary presence.
Golden hair like Liana's, a slender and refined face.
It was the empire's crown prince, Raingram Lumenhark.
"Hahaha! Eugene Calliope! It's been too long!"
The instant I entered, Raingram burst into a hearty, bandit-like laugh that clashed wildly with his refined appearance.
The knights in golden armor standing at his sides showed no hint of surprise, clearly accustomed to their prince's boisterous demeanor.
I took a few steps forward, dropped to one knee, and bowed my head.
"...Eugene Calliope pays his respects to His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Hahaha! Yes, yes! Rise."
As I stood, the crown prince clapped his hands and continued.
"Hahahaha! Time flies, doesn't it? The last time I saw you a few years ago, you were just a little brat, and now you've grown into such a fine young man! Oh, right—heard Erden became the family head. How's he doing? Hahaha!"
His excessively booming laughter was so loud it felt like my ears might fall off.
"The family head is..."
"Hahaha! What 'family head' between me and Erden? Drop the formalities! Hahaha!"
...I had no idea what was so damn funny.
To make matters worse, everyone around was male, so I couldn't even deploy 'Prince on the Bed'.
I struggled to keep a straight face as I pressed on.
"...My brother is doing well. He asked me to pass on his regards to Your Highness."
"Hahahaha! Good, good! Glad he's healthy! I was quietly worried that soft-hearted guy might get assassinated or something."
The crown prince's words stabbed right at my lungs mid-laugh.
As I faltered for a response, he seized control without hesitation.
"Haha! Sorry about that! Wasn't something to blurt out in front of others! Ibein, Heris—keep it secret, eh? Hahaha!"
The golden knights bowed silently in acknowledgment.
Meaning they heard nothing.
"Haha! There, that should do it. Wait, no—even mutes can be a nuisance just by existing. Ibein, Heris—out!"
"Your Highness!"
At Raingram's command, the knights glanced at me with startled expressions.
From their perspective, where protecting the crown prince came first above all, leaving him alone with an outsider was unthinkable.
Raingram slammed the armrest and laughed.
"Hahahaha! Worried about Calliope? The empire's shield, no less? Hahaha! Just go! If the empire gets abandoned by its shield, let it fall to ruin. Haha!"
"...!"
The knights visibly panicked at his words.
So did I.
I never expected to hear the crown prince utter something that denied the empire itself.
"Hahaha! How many times must I repeat myself before you lot listen? If you won't leave, should I?"
As Raingram made to rise, one knight jumped in alarm and replied.
"...No, Your Highness. We'll go."
Ibein shot me a glare before departing.
'This is so unfair...'
I knew why, but fighting the crown prince right now? I'd last maybe a minute—no, with my growth, five minutes before he stripped my soul bare.
Looks could deceive; Raingram had vied for top honors at both Erden's academy and Carnea.
"Hahaha! Now it's just us—let's cut the crap!"
"...Cut what crap?"
"Hahahaha! Playing dumb! The Maisha family! How the hell did you seduce them into giving up the heir position?"
His words, hidden in laughter, kept piercing straight to the heart, drawing an involuntary sigh.
"...Why do you think it was me?"
"Hahaha! Gut feeling! A problem Erden and Eddard couldn't solve for years suddenly resolves the moment you return! And above all, you're the man who saved Liana's life!"
"...I did nothing. Just got lucky."
I might be unsure about the first part, but the second was dead serious.
If Liana hadn't had her whim, everyone there would've been massacred.
"Hahahaha! So humble! Luck is skill! Hell, luck is the real skill! No amount of effort or practice matters without it! Haha! Anyway, you saved imperial blood—you deserve a reward. What'll it be?"
At his question, I let out a long breath and voiced what I'd prepared.
"...Rather than a reward, there's something impertinent I must ask, even if it offends."
"Hahaha! Declaring your rudeness upfront! Fine! I'll overlook most offenses."
"Thank you, Your Highness. I'm simply awed by your magnanimity."
"Hahaha! Skip the flattery—out with it! I'm so curious I can barely breathe! Hahaha!"
"Yes... Your Highness, what if the princess is gunning for your position?"
"..."
Raingram's face stayed smiling at my words, but the booming laughter stopped.
"...That's far ruder than I expected."
"...My apologies."
"It's been ages—no, probably the first such impertinent question I've heard."
Boom!
The moment Raingram stomped the floor, an overwhelming pressure crashed down, threatening to stop my breath.
"..."
My nails dug into my clenched fists.
The crown prince's aura was beyond what any mortal could endure.
If I hadn't deflected some with telekinesis, I might've passed out.
Raingram eyed my face briefly, shook his head, and spoke.
"...Sorry. I said I'd forgive your rudeness, then pull this. But remember, Eugene Calliope—if you weren't Liana's lifesaver, or if you hadn't called it rudeness first, I'd have punished you regardless of being a Calliope."
"...My deepest regrets."
I bowed deeply.
Saying the princess coveted the crown prince's seat before him was tantamount to accusing her of rebellion.
To get off with just this much was something to be grateful for, evidence or no.
"...Sigh. Problem is, you're not dumb enough to not know that. Asking despite knowing the consequences means this question matters that much to you."
"...Yes."
"Then, rudeness aside, I should answer seriously."
After closing his eyes in thought, the crown prince slowly opened them.
"Probably... I'd step aside."
"...Why? Aren't you disappointed?"
"I'd be lying if I said no. Any man born to the imperial line naturally craves the throne above all."
"...Then."
"Knowing it would hurt many people. Not enough?"
In that instant, the flippant crown prince vanished, replaced by a wise ruler who cherished his people.
"Even so, if Your Highness desires the throne, the princess could be..."
"Stop there. No matter how much I indulge you, finishing that sentence means punishing you for imperial blasphemy."
"...My offense."
I bowed deeply again, and the crown prince snorted.
"Liana's special. Hard to say exactly how, but she is. So I don't want to fight her."
"..."
A fitting answer from the man of 'instinct'.
Even shrouded in veils hiding her true nature, his gut had instinctively pierced through.
"...Understood."
I closed my eyes and bowed.
The crown prince's choice was admirable.
Abandoning the seat above all for fear of harming those he cherished...
Anyone asked would call it noble.
But unfortunately, while admirable, his choice was wrong.
Liana surely knew.
That in the imperial family, only the crown prince had even glimpsed her true nature.
And given his personality, even if she rebelled, he'd simply yield the throne.
'...That's why.'
Liana was rotting away.
Born with overwhelming talent, nothing stirred her; she festered in emptiness.
If the crown prince had confronted her head-on, hundreds might've died as he said.
But countless more lives could be saved in the future.
Not that I'd call his thinking wrong.
He made the choice to protect those around him.
For the empire, a man like him on the throne would be a blessing.
Thinking of others before oneself despite the noblest blood—never an easy feat.
I sincerely hoped his character never changed, ruling the empire eternally.
For that to happen...
With a short sigh, I opened my closed eyes.
'...I have to do it from here on.'
Not nobly yielding like the crown prince.
Dirty, ugly, repulsive, lewd.
Even if no one acknowledged it.
I had to stop Liana Lumenhark.