Chapter 216 : Chapter 216

Chapter 216 - The Greatest Emperor

A ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍windowless carriage moved through the Imperial Palace.

After ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍leaving Raymond’s Mansion, the mansion of one of the Three Generals, it headed toward the palace within the Imperial Palace.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍crossed a flower garden where neither Blue Roses nor White Roses, but red roses, were in full bloom, and passed beyond a barrier wrapped around it like a thicket.

I ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍walked down a corridor that was so vast, yet so empty of people, that it felt like a waste of space.

After ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍passing between pillars large enough to support a temple, a familiar door appeared.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was an enormous ivory-colored door carved with rose bushes. Perhaps it had been made not for humans, but for giants, for it towered far above a person’s height.

Such immense height symbolized the authority of the Imperial Family and honored the one who stood beyond it.

RUMMMBLE—

The door of the Audience Chamber opened.

With a heavy sound, the interior was revealed, softly lit by sunlight.

“Come closer, Fifth Son of Millesdusk.”

The emperor was not alone. Another member of the Imperial Family, the Princess of the White Rose, was nearby, and that was according to plan.

The eyes glaring sharply at me were fierce, but for now, I briefly avoided her gaze.

Even without the Princess, far too many eyes were looking this way.

“I did not realize there would be such a large audience. I should have dressed a little more formally.”

The Youngest Son’s bloodshot eyes moved left and right.

Just as expected.

The first ones to catch the eye were the Three Generals, positioned five steps away from the emperor.

Raymond, of course, as well as Kunkan, whom I had seen before, and the fanatical knight Leo, stood in place like pillars, fully armed.

The three generals who symbolized the Empire were indeed each worthy of being called a human hero.

They were knights who could bring victory to the Empire on any battlefield. In short, they were war machines, but I could not look only at them.

The emperor gestured toward those on whom the Youngest Son’s bloodshot eyes had finally stopped.

“For you, a member of the Millesdusk bloodline, this may be uncomfortable, but today is quite an important day for both delegations, so I did not block their visit.”

He did not block it. Had Wisdom, who had supposedly even formed an Investigation Team, come here to arrest me?

The Youngest Son spoke with a faint smile that carried an air of leisure.

“I wonder whether those clever fools will even be able to understand the answer I provide today.”

With a single remark, the clever fools’ expressions became quite a sight.

The only one among them who maintained his composure was the clever fool in the center.

His blue hair, like a summer sea, was even more beautiful than Josephine’s. It was hair that seemed to sparkle for an instant whenever sunlight touched it. He was a direct-line member of the Wisdom bloodline.

“I am not sure whether the words of someone from a group of madmen will have any credibility either.”

The direct-line man wore an expression that was neither quite smiling nor not. To the Youngest Son, he was someone he had never met before, but of course, his face was familiar.

So the Third Son had come from Wisdom.

The man who served as the head of the Empire’s Delegation was the Third Son of Wisdom. Perhaps because he had been a playable character, his main skill came to mind before his name.

I had quite a lot of fun with him, too.

As I briefly recalled old memories, a voice rang inside my head.

[Is today the day you die?]

It was not telepathy, but Enad.

[Then why not hand over your body even now?]

―Do you think you could get out just because I handed it over? Even my Eldest Brother would not be able to leave this place unharmed.

[…It was better when you could not talk back in situations like this. You went and learned something strange somewhere. Tsk.]

When I answered through telepathy, Enad clicked his tongue and looked at the emperor.

[He does not seem to intend to kill you. Just stay somewhere in the middle.]

―The Forest Witch must have left him some room, so that is probably true. But Wisdom would never sit still.

[Then what is it? Why did the emperor tolerate them?]

―Because the Elixir is at stake. He has to accept most of Wisdom’s demands.

Enad let out a hollow laugh.

[He does not look like the sort to listen to anyone. He must be in a very foul mood.]

―That is why this is an opportunity for me.

I had already grasped the emperor’s intention. I became certain of it after seeing the Three Generals and the Wisdom Delegation.

―The emperor is standing at a crossroads of choice right now.

[…A crossroads of choice?]

―Yes. He is weighing a Wisdom bloodline member and me against each other.

While conversing with Enad, the Youngest Son stood before the emperor. Then, just as he was about to kneel.

“You may come closer.”

“Understood.”

As instructed, he moved a little farther than where he had first stood. Even then, the emperor shook his head.

“Do you not understand what it means to come closer?”

Only after the Youngest Son reached a place where the Princess could touch him if she stretched out her hand, leaving only three steps between him and the emperor, was he able to kneel.

It was a distance the emperor had permitted, but it was close enough to make even the Three Generals tense.

The Three Generals knew very well what a member of the Millesdusk bloodline from the East could do from such proximity.

The fanatical knight added, gripping the hilt of his sword.

“Your Majesty. If it is only his voice, you would be able to hear him perfectly well from his previous position.”

“No. I do not wish to hear only his voice.”

The emperor’s wrinkled hand raised an index finger and pointed at the pale face. Then he indicated each feature upon it, one by one.

“Not only the mouth that speaks the answer, but also the breath he exhales as he speaks. The dilation and contraction of his pupils. His glances and even his frowns are all answers to the wager.”

When I raised my head while still kneeling, the emperor was smiling.

“If I am to see all those answers, this is the proper distance.”

“Since he is a Millesdusk, I am saying this out of concern for Your Majesty’s safety.”

The fanatical knight did not hesitate to make a remark that would offend any Millesdusk who heard it.

“Since Her Highness the Princess is also present, may I ask whether it would not be better to keep some distance?”

Even with his advice, the emperor remained unchanged.

“My thoughts have not changed. What does the Princess think? Will you increase the distance out of fear of the youngest son of a Great Family from the distant East?”

“A member of the Imperial Family does not move under any circumstances.”

Like father, like daughter. The emperor smiled in satisfaction and turned to Kunkan.

“So she says.”

“…Then will you permit us Three Generals to stand closer as well?”

“Do as you wish.”

Just like the Youngest Son, the Three Generals’ positions moved closer as well.

As the three knights armed in heavy armor strode forward, their fighting spirit seemed to raise a shimmering haze. It was a moment that made my stomach churn.

But at the moment of a test, one’s insides were always bound to twist.

“Are you ready to answer?”

“I am.”

“Then I shall ask once more in this place.”

At the Youngest Son’s answer, the emperor opened his mouth with the same smile as before.

“Who is the greatest emperor?”

The eyes of the Three Generals, as well as every eye of the Wisdom Delegation, focused on the member of the Millesdusk bloodline.

As the gazes piled on one after another, they pressed down on his shoulders as if they carried weight.

One of his knees was already touching the floor, but it felt as though the other would soon follow.

However, as long as the emperor was three steps ahead of him, his face at least had to remain calm.

Even if this place was as savage and violent as a typhoon, he alone had to behave as though he stood in the eye of the storm.

That windless place was utterly silent, and amid the heaviest stillness, his red lips opened.

“First, before knowing who the greatest emperor is, there is something that must be known first.”

“What is it?”

“The kind of emperor one must never become.”

The brows of the Three Generals bent subtly. The Princess’s golden eyes, which had been looking straight ahead, slowly tilted toward the Fifth Son.

The emperor himself, however, opened his mouth without the slightest change in expression.

“Continue.”

The one giving the answer went on.

“The kind of emperor one must never become is an emperor who is swayed by those who are not citizens of the Empire.”

He looked directly into the emperor’s eyes as he spoke. This was the emperor who had been forced by Wisdom to grant permission he had never truly wished to give.

The emperor himself remained silent, and the one answering continued.

“The emperor has a duty to listen carefully to the words of the citizens of the Empire, and at times, he must attend to affairs of state as their representative. However, the reverse must never happen.”

“…Even when the safety of the Imperial Family is at stake? Is that still something that must never happen?”

The emperor’s response made it clear at once whom the Youngest Son’s answer was aimed at. The moment the Third Son of Wisdom frowned, the Youngest Son spoke.

“The safety of the Imperial Family is certainly important. But will a building that has shaken once stand firm afterward?”

“…….”

“The building called the Empire will shake again in the future, and once more, it will seek help from the outside. At that time, it will not end with merely being swayed.”

“Then are you saying I should leave the building to shake as it pleases? We have already tried every repair that could be done from within.”

“Then you must hire outside workers.”

Everyone’s expression went blank. Even the Princess’s icy expression broke, and she looked to her father for his reaction.

Sure enough, the emperor also narrowed his eyes at that play on words. However, the Youngest Son’s answer was not yet finished.

“However, you must hire outside workers who know their position and their place.”

“…What do you mean?”

The emperor asked again, but there was not much to add. It truly was exactly as he had said, because there was no grand meaning behind it.

“I mean it literally. Outside workers are repairmen. Repairmen only need to do the work of repairmen and leave. They cannot enter the house as they please and demand tea or water.”

He could feel the murderous intent gleaming in the eyes of the Wisdom Delegation at the back of his head.

However, right now, even if those people heard their parents insulted, they could not move.

As long as the Three Generals stood like pillars, all of them had to remain perfectly still.

Therefore, the Youngest Son’s statement, and his answer, did not end there.

“Her Highness the Princess said this. A member of the Imperial Family, the Imperial Family itself, does not move under any circumstances.”

Everyone’s eyes moved to the Princess, who had been mentioned so suddenly. She herself also showed the slightest hint of bewilderment. The Youngest Son’s smile continued.

“You asked me who the greatest emperor is.”

“…Yes.”

“Her Highness the Princess already seems to know the answer. Therefore, if I follow that answer, Your Majesty has no chance of becoming the greatest emperor.”

――!

The slight ripple of bewilderment that had appeared on the Princess’s flower-like face spread into a far greater wave.

That wave did not end with the Princess alone, but spread to everyone in the Audience Chamber.

Only the emperor showed a smile deeper than the one he had worn when he first saw the Youngest Son.

The ones who could understand what that smile meant were neither his guards nor his daughter.

Just as the emperor alone had understood the Youngest Son’s words, the Youngest Son alone understood the emperor’s smile.

“You seem to understand what I mean, so I will say no more.”

“That would only waste your breath.”

After saying that, the emperor laughed for a moment. It was not loud; he merely let out a brief, low chuckle.

The emperor now felt relieved.

Furthermore, the emperor was not the only one who laughed aloud. The kneeling Youngest Son also smiled clearly.

He had won. He had succeeded in leading the emperor, who had stood at the crossroads of the East and the West, toward the East.

The emperor’s golden eyes moved from the member of the Millesdusk bloodline to the member of the Wisdom bloodline.

“Wisdom of the West.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Enjoy the Elixir among yourselves as you always have.”

The members of the Delegation were startled, and the Third Son’s expression stiffened.

“Do you no longer care about His Highness the Crown Prince’s health?”

“Regarding that, there is only one thing I have to say to you.”

It is none of your concern.

The emperor’s words spread widely through the Audience Chamber.

Thus, the Third Son’s lips trembled, and he slowly bowed his head.

“We will take our leave now.”

On his way out, the Third Son of Wisdom glared with blue eyes as sharp as blades. Naturally, his gaze met the Youngest Son’s, and at the same time, a voice rang inside the Youngest Son’s head.

―I will be sure to enjoy the Elixir.