Chapter 242

The heart of the Empire.

Behold, the Rutania remained as it always was.

But everything had changed beyond that.

It had become more vibrant than before, and far… grander and more splendid.

Roads seemed to have expanded, or perhaps carriage operations had simply increased. Where once there were barely six lanes combined from both sides, now there were easily eight or more.

Some buildings and residential areas looked newly renovated, appearing much improved compared to before.

Even the slums showed signs of improvement, with higher cleanliness levels. Some structures were being rebuilt, aiming for larger scales and more floors than ever before.

The labor force and workers all wore bright expressions without a shadow of worry, their futures and prospects feeling incredibly rewarding.

Parts of the fortress walls were being refurbished, likely converting the outer areas into new residential zones in a massive construction project underway.

Such observations came after spending over half a day riding in carriages and walking around to inspect various places.

Only then could Alesius truly measure how much sturdier and stronger the heart of the empire had become.

The current firstborn son of the Berke Empire.

Though his status no longer allowed him to openly reveal himself…

Still, he remained a prince.

Nowadays, even he didn’t care too much about that aspect anymore.

Life in the northern lands had changed him in many ways.

Surviving itself felt like a miracle, but as a prince, he received no special consideration. Alongside those who had pleaded to follow him, only by relying on his own strength and the local comrades did they overcome countless adversities together.

Through this, he achieved some meaningful results.

“The world moves forward however I may act, dragged along whether I will it or not.”

He muttered softly while fiddling with the iron mask covering his face. Not long after, an elegant four-horse carriage pulled up nearby.

“It’s nearly the appointed time, Your Highness.”

“Stop calling me that here.”

The golden-haired youth apologized formally upon hearing his words.

“Where’s Ryunan? And is it just you, Bethel?”

Bethel entered the carriage interior, which was surprisingly empty, and Alesius asked curiously.

“He went to greet his parents.”

“…And you?”

“I was disowned the moment I decided to follow Your Highness.”

Bethel, the young golden-haired man, let out a cold laugh.

“In that sense, it seems Ryunan’s family has more affection.”

“They’re just calculating.”

They could hedge their bets by showing warmth while remaining indecisive, avoiding taking clear sides. Though it might make rising to power difficult, if survival and longevity were their goals, it wasn’t the worst choice.

“Do our speculations remain unchanged?”

“If it’s not forgiveness, then it must mean something happened at the royal court. Using accomplishments as a pretext to summon you… It’s likely just an excuse.”

“An excuse, huh.”

Despite predicting and imagining many possibilities before coming here, certainty remained elusive.

The fact that Her Imperial Highness hadn’t appeared officially in quite some time stood out—though she’d been seen informally within the palace recently…

“It’s strange that ‘Your Majesty’ still isn’t addressing her properly.”

Alesius forced a wry smile.

Why Mother hadn’t designated either the Crown Prince or Princess yet…

That was simply her way of saying: don’t be overly optimistic.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Ellie becoming Empress was inevitable.

But the world is unpredictable.

Moreover, using his elder sister as a tool to prevent any complacency meant that Alesius himself served as such an instrument.

And indeed, Alesius had willingly fulfilled those expectations.

In reality, he stood completely opposite her politically, but officially, they maintained the pretense of rivalry.

Thus…

‘I know, Mother knows, Sister knows—it’s something everyone understood.’

We’ve all known and acted accordingly.

Do I regret my position? Do I feel resentment?

I’m not sure.

It’s complicated.

Even when I was first exiled to the north, and even now having clawed my way up through sheer effort, all I feel inside is a lingering sense of frustration—not pitiful longing or petty anger, but sheer suffocation.

What others perceive as boldness, breadth, or cold rationality…

Let’s not kid ourselves.

At some point, the conversation lapsed into silence as he sat deep in thought. The carriage stopped, and the entrance opened for identity verification.

This too felt unfamiliar.

Once, this place had been his home. Going in and out without checks or confirmations was the norm.

However, Alesius calmly handed over the official order identifying his rank, receiving it back without issue. The door closed, and the carriage moved again.

“Don’t let your guard down—it’ll hurt later if I have to remind you twice.”

“To whom are you speaking?”

Though it was home, Alesius had never truly relaxed here.

To him, this place was the gate of hardship, the cave of trials, and the valley of duties.

“Strange, isn’t it?”

“Why do we fear and guard against our hometown instead of yearning for it?”

It was a hard question to answer.

After parting ways with the group and waiting briefly in the guest room, a request came to step into the corridor. Peeking outside the door…

“Sylas, is it?”

A familiar yet unfamiliar face greeted him.

Sylas met his gaze with confident blue eyes.

“So, who is it? Did you think I was your younger brother?”

Aside from his longer hair, their appearances were almost identical, yet their vibes were polar opposites. Even so, things had changed for Sylas after Era’s excommunication and expulsion from the family.

When they reunited after over a year apart, Sylas had transformed almost beyond recognition.

Now, with her silver hair, she carried herself as a viscountess and head of her house, radiating maturity. Despite her youthful looks, she wielded them as a weapon rather than a weakness. Once attached to his side due to his sister’s influence and the authority of the Esdina family, she had come far.

“And now you’re one of Sister’s closest aides?”

The dress she wore, predominantly blue with white accents, balanced elegance with practicality.

“I didn’t expect you to come greet me.”

“Officially, you’re not returning. You’re Lieutenant Leus, field commander of the 16th Northern Front Army who repelled the daemon legion during the Phagrabane conflict—not the prince of Berke.”

“Then your presence here is even more inappropriate, isn’t it?”

“Technically, I’m introducing talented individuals to His Majesty, including you among several others.”

“A cover-up?”

Was he summoned as a cover, or was his very existence part of the deception?

With a smirk, Sylas spoke in her characteristic aggressive tone.

“You shine brightest only in times of crisis, as always.”

“Or maybe you just thought I was slow and dull before?”

“No. If that were true, it would’ve just given me more headaches dealing with internal politics.”

Challenging what can’t be done? Beyond recklessness, it bordered on ignorance.

That was how Alesius saw the gap between himself and his sister Ellie.

No matter what the chatter around him,

I don’t pay attention to trivial noise.

Not to the extent Mother does, but…

There had never been precedent for addressing the Empress as “Majesty,” yet the current Hero Emperor made it happen.

His justification was solid, and anyone opposing faced dismissal or exile.

Perhaps unemotional for an emperor, but…

Still, Mother’s influence as the Magic Empress speaks volumes for the Emperor’s prestige. After all, she oversees all matters of magic within the empire.

History will likely remember her as both a recluse and a revolutionary figure. And rightly so.

‘Such fame isn’t bad, considering how much mental anguish she endured because of me. This hardly counts as repayment.’

The late Emperor once casually shared private thoughts like these, though it wasn’t the whole truth.

‘Gain one, lose many.’

For us, such choices and sacrifices are unavoidable.

Walking through the familiar yet alien corridors of the imperial palace, Alesius noticed Sylas’s neatly tied long blue hair and asked:

“Where are we going?”

“Just follow silently.”

Privately, there aren’t many left who can speak to him like this.

Realizing the route was familiar, Alesius felt a pang of nostalgia mixed with sorrow.

‘This direction…’

Sure enough, after over ten minutes of brisk walking, they arrived at…

Calmly, Alesius steadied his breathing. Sylas too paused briefly before the grand doors, taking a deep breath.

Signaling the elderly attendant stationed by the door, he announced their presence inside.

“Enter.”

Moments later, the voice echoed.

“Shall we proceed?”

Stepping through the open door.

Of course, the interior was vast.

This was the personal quarters cum office of the Imperial Princess.

She claimed combining bedroom and workspace saved time, so the space was divided into sections despite being large.

The interior blended gold and red elegantly, avoiding garishness through subtle adjustments.

Impressive stacks of books and documents filled the office area…

“The place has been neglected for quite some time.”

Alesius immediately noticed.

“Can you tell?”

“In a space like this, even a day’s neglect…”

Dust settles everywhere.

These particles are relentless, stickier than sewer rats or pests.

Something was off about Sylas’s demeanor too, seemingly unconcerned about hiding anything.

Indeed, she walked straight toward the bedroom door.

“Just a heads up—don’t be shocked.”

“Sounds ominous.”

After a few seconds of knocking, Sylas opened the door without waiting for permission.

“Have you arrived?”

And there…

Alesius bowed his head respectfully.

A young elf with silver hair hung loose.

Looks can be deceiving.

Geoffrey Day Adelvais.

Formerly known as the great mage and magician, teacher to none other than the Magic Empress.

Why was she here?

Apparently…

The ominous premonition had become reality.

Behind the drawn curtain of the bed, a faint presence could be felt, breathing shallowly as if it might fade away at any moment.

“I’ve returned.”

“Welcome.”

Geoffrey acknowledged Sylas’s greeting habitually, hinting to Alesius that this state wasn’t recent.

“Your observational skills have improved considerably, kid.”

Geoffrey offered a backhanded compliment recognizing Alesius’s insight.

“Explanations?”

“You should see for yourself.”

“Isn’t this just you passing the buck to me?”

“I’m merely a feather.”

“Hmph! Impudent!”

Geoffrey pointed toward the bed with a dismissive glance.

“You know who lies there, right?”

“…”

Was the voice heard earlier magical manipulation?

Given the empty office and the timing of the sound resembling his sister’s voice, something was clearly wrong.

Such tricks weren’t the main concern.

They were mere deceptions.

“I had considered the possibility, albeit remotely.”

“Did you?”

“…”

How did it come to this?

Without needing to lift the curtain, Alesius already knew his sister’s condition. Seeing it with his own eyes would only confirm what he dreaded.

To survive, Alesius had honed his senses and instincts to superhuman levels. Battling daemons and their kings demanded surpassing even animal instincts.

Those who failed became casualties, cripples, or unable to fight further.

“This story will be lengthy. Since the emperor sent you to me… he probably wants me to explain. Hmph!”

“If it’s too taxing, you can tell me later.”

“Do you not care at all?”

Alesius shook his head, finally removing his iron mask and letting out a small sigh.

“Hearing it might make me lose control of my temper.”

The prominent scar cutting across his face revealed how his once-praised handsome features had transformed into those of a seasoned warrior.

His piercing blue eyes locked onto Geoffrey’s emerald ones.

“If I must listen, I’ll maintain silence during the explanation.”

“You seem to have some inkling of what happened.”

“I secretly hope my assumptions are wrong.”

If not…

Forgiveness would be impossible—not just for himself, but especially for that person involved again.

“…”

To prevent such disasters earlier, perhaps it would’ve been better to…