Chapter 28

※ This episode is a side story.

“The situation has become complicated. You must be aware of that, right?”

“I truly apologize…”

“What about Hiasen and Josephine?”

“Both of them are lying in the ward.”

It was good that they had persistently pursued the Demon Lord Tenevrayia and killed her before she crossed the border, day and night.

This level of difficulty in a mission was rare even in the history of the Empire, so it wasn’t unreasonable to celebrate.

However, the news that her daughter, Esteria, had been leaked to the outside world made Emperor Airogen’s heart sink.

And it was none other than Hiasen and Josephine who had witnessed this.

While Hiasen was still young enough that he could somehow reason with him, Airogen knew all too well that a gag order would be useless against the talkative Josephine.

“Let’s stick to the principles.”

“Y-Yes…? You mean, according to the principles?”

“We will hang Tenevrayia’s corpse on a cross and hold a burning ceremony in the Acropolis Square.”

“Then her daughter will be treated the same way…”

“What are you talking about?”

Airogen’s eyes glinted coldly.

He placed a hand on the shoulder of Bargos Steward, who looked frightened.

“The burning ceremony for Tenevrayia will last not for three days but for a week. How dare a Demon touch the noble daughter of Kaizen? She must be punished accordingly.”

“Y-Yes… I will carry out the order.”

“And I am deeply concerned about Princess Esteria’s health. Ensure she recovers as quickly as possible.”

“May I ask for the name of the Fourth Princess?”

“Name. Yes, the name.”

Emperor Airogen paused before answering.

“Esteria Lax’tias Kaizen.”

If Tenevrayia was a shadow, let there be light for her.

***

The rightful heir to the Kaizen Imperial family referred to all of Emperor Airogen’s legitimate children.

The Crown Prince Jade and the Second Princess Josephine were typical representatives.

Angelina, the First Princess backed by the powerful Ducal House of Zachario, and the Second Prince Feiran could not be overlooked either.

In contrast, the Third Prince Hiasen and the Third Princess Niobe were greatly marginalized in the line of succession due to their young age and their mother’s status as a member of the lower-ranked House of Arria.

Thus, it was not surprising that other siblings treated Hiasen and Niobe with indifference, disconnected from political considerations.

However, no one knew that the current Emperor Airogen had other illegitimate children.

“They had blonde hair just like us.”

Josephine’s voice trembled.

In Kaizen, having blonde hair did not merely signify royal blood.

It was the exclusive trait of the Emperor and his legitimate descendants, as well as the current rightful heirs.

All authority of the Emperor originates from the ‘Imperial Seal,’ meaning any child born before the ascendance of the Emperor could not claim the right of succession.

Yet the child on the cross that Josephine and Hiasen had seen undoubtedly possessed beautiful blonde hair and golden eyes that resembled their own.

Hiasen was still unable to shake off the shock.

It was akin to witnessing a living corpse.

No matter what one might imagine, it was a scene that would be hard for a child to grasp.

“Are we going to end up like that?”

“What do you mean, ‘we’?”

Angelina asked back.

“I thought it was natural for Brother Jade to become the Emperor. But even if he becomes Emperor, will he still protect us?”

If he were unable to become Emperor, wouldn’t we also end up like that?

A wave of anxiety washed over her.

“What are you worrying about? Jade is at least your real brother. If anyone should be worried, it should be Hiasen.”

Of course, Jade was not the cruel type.

He was closer to a diligent, studious type.

“Bergstaphen, are you outside?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Has Grandmother said anything yet?”

“She has not mentioned anything to me.”

The Emperor was tight-lipped, and the atmosphere felt tense.

Under normal circumstances, those within the ‘Dark Palace,’ which usually adhered to the principle of dormancy, roamed freely in the heart of the Imperial Palace, causing anxiety among the nobles.

Was there going to be another large-scale purging?

Or was a greater issue looming?

Everyone was waiting solely for the Emperor’s statement.

After some time, Bergstaphen, the Emperor’s guard, arrived with a message.

“Tomorrow at noon, there will be a burning ceremony in Acropolis Square.”

“A burning ceremony?”

“Yes, it seems they have captured a high-ranking demon from the Dark Palace. I don’t know the details, but we have been ordered to gather citizens in the square to expose the wicked deeds of the demons.”

“What does that mean? There are demons here?”

“Hiasen!”

Hiasen grasped his head and rose from his seat.

Then the incident at Einon Palace was also the work of demons?

Even the thought of it conjured a nauseating scene, but more than that, he was worried about her safety.

“Is that child okay? Is she alive?”

“Up to that point…”

When he saw her, she was already on the brink of life and death.

Her shoulder must have been dislocated already, and even breathing was a struggle for her.

The image of her flesh being pierced on the board was horrifying.

Despite this, Hiasen insisted on being taken to her.

“Take me to her. If you don’t know where she is, then ask the steward.”

***

In truth, Hiasen had a hunch about where the girl was.

The fact that he and Josephine had awakened in this ward was evidence that the larger ward was already full.

Once Bergstaphen received permission from the steward, Hiasen rushed to the ward where she was.

The lobby was already bustling with countless doctors and clergy.

They seemed to be taking shifts to heal her.

Hiasen had never seen anyone die so horrifically before.

With the most skilled people in the Empire praying to save her, he could only quietly sit in the waiting room and pray.

Minutes passed,

Hours passed.

“Hiasen, you were here.”

Amidst it all, the voice of the Jade Crown Prince brushed against Hiasen’s ears.

“Brother?”

“I heard the news. The Emperor will arrive here shortly.”

“Demons and the Princess… I still don’t really understand what has happened.”

“You’ll find out gradually. There’s no need to rush.”

“Isn’t Brother Feiran coming with you?”

“He should be on his way up after hearing the news from the south. It might take a bit of time.”

As the Crown Prince said, the sound proclaiming the Emperor’s approach could be heard from a distance.

Hiasen had a mountain of questions he wanted to ask.

What is the identity of the girl?

Why were the demons in the palace?

However, even as the grand doors of the Zennis Palace, where the central ward was located, swung wide open, the Emperor did not step inside.

Instead, he seemed to be communicating with various officials outside.

Emperor Airogen had departed without a backward glance, something Jade did not expect.

“Bargos Steward!”

Hiasen called out to Bargos with a sense of desperation.

His voice nearly got lost in the atmosphere, but thankfully, Jade called out, allowing him to have a private conversation with the steward.

“How is her condition?”

“What is that child’s name?”

Hiasen asked directly.

“You wanted to know the patient’s name. It’s Esteria.”

“Is that all?”

“Esteria Lax’tias de Kaizen, the Fourth Princess of the Kaizen Empire. I must excuse myself as I am busy.”

Bargos abruptly turned his back.

As he left the palace, he thought to himself.

The Emperor’s illegitimate child was soon to be the Emperor’s disgrace.

Even Emperor Airogen, who was known to be flawless, found this decision somewhat perplexing.

But there is always a sound reason behind every decision.

That was also a trait of Emperor Airogen.

Airogen severed the connection between his illegitimate child and the demons, even if it meant acknowledging his own disgrace.

What could be the reason for not killing her despite being able to?

Bargos could only pity the fate that awaited her as the Emperor’s illegitimate child.

He understood that pain more than anyone else.

***

“What?! What did you say?!”

“Um… that…”

“Stop stuttering and speak clearly!!!”

“T-T-Tenevrayia has lost… lost contact! She was probably captured just before the border… Aaaah!”

The statue standing nearby exploded in an instant.

The demon could not even take a proper breath now.

If he offended the mood of the man in front of him even slightly, his neck would be removed more easily than a butcher’s pig.

‘How did it come to this…?’

Tenevrayia was the man’s most cherished youngest daughter.

The man’s rage surged to the point that it instead relaxed his demeanor.

The demon sensed that this was the moment when the man had become the most dangerous.

“I will send a special unit to find her no matter what…!”

“That will do. You have done your best.”

“No! Please, just one more chance! Please!”

The demon lord’s finger twitched and moved.

The one-horned demon cast its gaze downward.

A thin line was etched around its neck.

That line was red.

The world quickly tipped, and it collapsed to the ground without even having the chance to scream in its final moments.

“I will go myself.”