Chapter 119

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on February 8, 2025

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“Half a year? No, three months will be enough.”

The Omniscient Imperial Princess.

A girl who, at a young age, showed not just competence but an overwhelming tenacity, made countless power players of distant lands tense with her mere presence.

And the pièce de résistance? She was the first to obtain and make her own the Legacy of Great Demon King.

In this world, it’s known as absolute authority, but few truly understand its nature.

And those who acquire such power, if they can’t control or contain it, are often labeled as Demon Kings across the continent.

Nestherius.

This mysterious being, whose origins and background remain unclear, became the first to bear that title, solidifying both the name and its significance.

He devastated a nation, swept through battlefields filled with thousands alone, and earned his infamous reputation.

Truly, he was nothing short of a calamity personified.

And the one who faced him head-on, overwhelming him with unmatched might, chasing him away after his supposed defeat, was none other than the then-very-young Imperial Princess of the Empire.

An absurd monstrosity was born within the Empire.

And as it grew, it became something no one could ever hope to handle.

Those who once sought to use the princess as leverage now bitterly regretted their decision, though far too late to change anything.

The Imperial Court.

Among them, the distinctive traits of the Golden Bloodline: fiery red hair akin to flames and eyes as blue as the sky and sea.

Alesius, however, bore the dark, deep blue eyes of Melinos, the Magic Empress, leading some corners to speculate it proved the bloodline wasn’t as pure.

Who among them was given legitimacy, and whom did the ancestors choose as rightful heirs? Such debates went back and forth, but she—she carried the most fatal flaw, lamented some.

“El.”

Ellie Berg Enzul.

Perhaps he resembles her, or perhaps it’s the other way around, but he stands as the savior who saved the world and now upholds the Empire.

Known as the Hero Emperor, before him, she persistently pushed her own agenda.

The emperor, who seemed to understand her mindset better than anyone, looked on with a sorrowful expression.

But this was a different matter altogether.

“We must consolidate our foundation further.”

“What more do you wish to consolidate? We’ve done enough. Now, all that remains is to move forward. Isn’t everything going according to plan? Are you so afraid of variables that you must always glare with suspicion?”

“Are you overlooking the possibility of errors spanning years, even decades, due to these variables?”

“Can you not see greater errors looming ahead?”

“You…”

The emperor paused briefly, lips sealed, exhaling deeply.

“Do you believe your interference will resolve the situation? When we don’t even have a clear grasp of the subject?”

“It’s not that the Empire cannot find it; it’s simply lacking in support and resources, isn’t it?”

“So, by directly involving yourself, you intend to solve this. Is that what you’re saying?”

“If there’s a clearer solution, I humbly request you reveal it right now. I am ready to listen and act immediately.”

“……”

The emperor fell silent again.

Though he usually stood while working, he now sat aside, flipping through stacks of documents without much focus.

More pressing were the numerous cases and petitions sealed in parchment and delivered to him, yet here he was dealing with this.

Of course, Ellie’s intentions were understandable.

But this issue—if mishandled—could escalate into irreversible consequences.

“The suspicions regarding Carriel haven’t been fully resolved. In fact, nothing has been resolved.”

“……”

“The Empress’s Prophetic Dream is absolute. How many crises have we overcome because of it? There’s no need for me to reiterate that.”

“And does leaving things as they are solve the problem? If the prophecy holds true, Your Majesty will die at Carriel’s hands. Are you suggesting we accept that willingly?”

“We must resist. But if this is my penance….”

“Do you think His Highness can endure it?”

“……”

“Even if a sandcastle looks well-built, focusing solely on building while neglecting the dam could lead to disastrous floods. What good would it do then?”

“Didn’t you hear the last report?”

Carriel had somehow acquired an unknown power, strong enough to neutralize another inheritor of the Legacy of Great Demon King, as told by a newly knighted youth from afar. It had to be true.

“He might not be the Carriel you knew. If the Demon King has indeed meddled…”

“Are you suggesting the Demon King might be using Carriel’s body for revenge?”

“It’s one possibility.”

The Golden Beast, which had even sealed Melinos’s dreams—how was that possible?

There were several theories, but Melinos and her mentor Geoffrey reached one conclusion: Perhaps the soul of the Golden Beast resides within Carriel’s body.

For now, Carriel still seems to retain control, but who knows what’ll happen later?

“Influenced by the Golden Beast’s rhetoric, he’ll likely follow its will regardless—hatred toward the Empire, the emperor, the royal court, even his parents.”

The emperor had long confirmed the contents of Carriel’s final letter—a far cry from the brilliant insights and understanding the boy once possessed. Instead, it was a bleak confession of despair and frustration.

Reflecting on this, everything about Carriel began to make sense—the helplessness, the isolation, the pretense, or perhaps genuine seclusion while plotting a comeback.

Or maybe, realizing someone was targeting him from all angles, he deliberately became bait to uncover the true conspirators behind the scenes.

Either way, wasn’t it too much to ask of a child his age?

“The previous Earl Eschina lacked awareness but ultimately acted on someone else’s advice.”

Casual words from a rarely visiting merchant, whose suspicious rapid rise hinted at deeper connections, eventually led to uncovering the involvement of the Knights of Glory.

Currently, the Empire suspects these same forces are either hiding or dismantling Carriel’s influence—but knowing the problem isn’t the same as solving it.

Moreover, there was another issue.

“They also meddled secretly, sometimes under the guise of fostering alliances or offering asylum. The hostility against Carriel wasn’t limited to just a few.”

Some nations offered scholarships and privileges, while others, like the homeland of the Elves where Melinos hailed from, attempted to arrange marriages—all thwarted by the emperor and Ruelde, unbeknownst to Carriel.

The emperor clicked his tongue.

“Yes. Those fools believed having Carriel meant securing a powerful ally and guardian for their nation.”

Despite the Empire and the Knights of Glory—and the support of Irene’s Order led by Hermine—it baffled the emperor how anyone thought such schemes would work.

“It’s not about clever strategies. What matters is that they worked.”

Even stupid plans gain weight and meaning when executed by authority figures. After all, subordinates carry them out. And if the leaders are incompetent, capable underlings ensure tasks get done anyway.

Especially here, with overlapping schemes clicking perfectly into place, thanks largely to the decisive actions of the former Earl Eschina. His decisions dragged Alesius into the mess as well.

Or rather, Alesius handed over the key, making everything proceed smoothly.

“Twisted affection ruined everything.”

Ellie’s love for Carriel.

No one understood it better than Alesius.

To him, the imminent engagement between Carriel and Era was unbearable.

Whether it was misunderstanding or not, it didn’t matter to Alesius back then. What mattered was how he felt, and thus the incident happened.

The emperor sighed.

“Once spilled, water can’t rewet the earth by digging it up.”

Family ties bend inward. The emperor wrestled long and hard over how to address this issue, confessing it to Ruelde, albeit too late.

Even the mighty Hero Emperor, merely a few years ago, had to tread carefully around nobles and regional lords.

Appearances aside, he was still an awkward ruler barely holding onto unstable imperial power, despite seeming superhuman to neighboring nations.

Even combined, several smaller kingdoms couldn’t match the vastness of the Empire.

“Ruelde’s excessive trust in Carriel was… problematic.”

Yes, it was a problem. He belonged to the type who thought his son was too talented, worrying instead that he’d falter easily.

Traveling across the empire, overseeing royal guards and diplomatic missions, embarking on expeditions, taking on secret tasks, nurturing talents—it was as if he had two bodies and still fell short.

If there was a problem, it rested with Hermine.

“She was already in a precarious position.”

Unlike Ruelde, Hermine received less information, leading her characteristic strictness and perfectionism to manifest in attempts to keep Carriel on track.

While some considered her methods normal for noble families, it depended on the individual.

‘It varies from person to person.’

What may seem tolerable education or guidance to some becomes unbearable hardship for others.

Persisting with such methods borders on abuse.

Like forcing a misfit into a box and sealing the lid—the outcome is predictable.

Either the body reshapes painfully to fit or breaks entirely trying to hold on.

The emperor himself was proof of this, which is why he tried not to repeat the mistake with his children.

“……”

Yet, the Hero Emperor’s son and daughter were both exceptional. Left unchecked, they risked straying dangerously.

Thus, discipline was necessary early to prevent deviation.

How many hardships and harsh experiences arose from unruly high-ranking offspring during their journeys?

And now, both children inherited the most prestigious lineage of the Empire.

If even one went astray, it could sow nightmares for the Empire.

Hermine’s repeated warnings to Carriel likely stemmed from such concerns.

“If everything goes your way, there’d be no better result. But what if you’re hurt or worse happens?”

“…If you trust the prophecy, you know I won’t die, correct?”

“But your health might suffer. I—I can’t predict how you’ll change under its influence.”

“……”

“People’s perceptions of you will shift by then. Power knows no absolutes. When Alesius approached you differently, did you treat him the same as before?”

At that point, Ellie remained silent for a while. Another parallel line.

Truthfully, if Ellie was determined, how could the emperor stop her? Yet, both the emperor and Ellie knew how unlikely that was.

“Isn’t relying solely on Ruelde or Lady Geoffrey insufficient after nearly a year?”

Originally…

Ellie thought.

Originally…

After his tumultuous return, following his dazzling performance at the Jousting Competition, she planned to finalize their engagement.

Then, only afterward, whether through purges or restoring honor, she intended to reset everything, flipping the board into a righteous flow.

But suddenly, something about a Demon King popped up.

Carriel colluding with the Demon King?

Carriel acting under the Demon King’s Command?

What nonsense.

…But.

His Majesty had such a dream.

And the Golden Beast sealed that dream, proving it wasn’t a delusion—so what now?

Another doubt emerged.

When Ellie stopped Carriel back then, the mysterious divine aura he displayed was truly beyond comprehension.

Still, because it was him, she let it slide—never imagining it was the beginning.

Things worsened when the high officials discovered the truth. Ironically, it was they who initially requested dispatching emissaries to the Papacy.

However, anticipating this, Ellie later turned it to her advantage with mockery.

Ultimately, events unfolded rapidly, reaching a point of no return.

Thus, the plan was executed prematurely, strengthening the situation drastically.

Accusing those who supposedly conspired with the Demon King, fabricating a false cult of resurrecting demons, selecting confessions, confirming sins, documenting offenses—all meticulously prepared contingencies should Carriel harbor any ill intent.

Possibly post-Academy graduation, she waited patiently.

That was the biggest miscalculation.

Carriel had changed drastically from the past she knew, striving wholeheartedly with sincerity.

Even the expectations and pressures surrounding him were real.

Yet, we were still young, preparing for the future, believing we could endure together—another complete misconception.

I managed to endure, but clearly, Carriel’s situation was far different.

Why didn’t I notice that?

Could some absurd curse have forced this delusion upon me? Her doubts lingered.

“I understand.”

“……”

“Do you think I, this father, don’t know why you brought this up now and took such a firm stance?”

“I apologize humbly.”