***
After proclaiming the emergence of a Archmage, the Emperor of Ilnord took pleasure in the reactions erupting everywhere.
Most people were brimming with anticipation at the thought of a Archmage to stand against the Emperor of Promian.
Of course, there were some who questioned whether this mage was truly as extraordinary as claimed.
“Geniuses always think they’re the greatest. They can’t acknowledge anyone as their equal,”
The Emperor muttered under his breath, recalling past memories.
He had known two mages whose abilities were so incredible that they seemed insane.
One of them, he ultimately had to kill with his own hands.
No matter how powerful they were, they were still weak when compared to the might of an empire.
And yet, another genius mage went on to found an empire.
This mage acted arrogantly, as if there was no one stronger in the world.
“It would be good if he learned this time that someone greater than himself could appear at any moment,”
The Emperor of Ilnord sneered.
He despised the sight of someone flaunting their power just because they were fortunate enough to be born with mana.
The days of his insufferable arrogance were numbered.
Now that the long-standing Ilnord Empire had secured a genius mage, the Promian Empire—possessing nothing but that monstrous Emperor—was bound to lose.
As the Emperor reveled in his anticipation of a triumphant future—
“Your Majesty, an invitation from Promian for their Foundation Day celebration has arrived.”
Finally, a chance to flaunt their new ace in front of that man had presented itself.
“Summon everyone. We must decide who will go to Promian.”
As Delight had predicted, the Emperor of Ilnord took an active stance.
After the chamberlain left to fetch the Empress, the Crown Prince, and Serdin, the Emperor opened the invitation.
He was curious to see how they had extended their invitation.
“Interesting.”
The Emperor’s eyes narrowed meaningfully as he read the wording of the invitation.
Placing the invitation on the round table, the Emperor spoke.
“This is the Foundation Day invitation sent by Promian.”
All three pairs of eyes turned toward it.
Everyone was already aware that Promian intended to hold a grand Foundation Day celebration this year.
“Your Majesty, it is only natural for me to go, but it would be difficult for me to leave my duties at the moment,”
Given that this was a significant event held by a rival empire, it was customary for the heir to attend.
However, the Crown Prince refused to go to Promian.
“Is that so?”
The Emperor looked at the Crown Prince with cold eyes before speaking again.
“In any case, this invitation was addressed to Serdin.”
“What?”
“They added that the Crown Prince is also welcome to attend if he wishes.”
It meant that Serdin was the one officially invited, while the Crown Prince’s presence was optional at best.
Realizing this, the Crown Prince’s expression visibly hardened.
Even if they had invited him, he would have found a way to decline.
But to be so blatantly disregarded—it was an insult he could hardly bear.
Still, he couldn’t let his anger get the better of him and declare he would go, so the Crown Prince clenched his teeth in frustration.
“What will you do? It seems they selected you because of your time spent in Promian. If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll send the Crown Prince in your place,”
The Emperor said, probing Serdin’s thoughts.
“I’ll go,”
Serdin responded politely.
***
If I return this time, it’ll be after ten years.
“When you go back this time, it’ll be ten years since you left,”
Hugo said aloud, echoing Serdin’s own thoughts.
“When His Highness endured hardships there, it was so tough, but now that it’s been so long, it feels a bit nostalgic. I guess time dulls memories.”
Hugo chuckled awkwardly, thinking he was being foolish.
But Serdin wasn’t much different.
Over the past ten years, he occasionally recalled the time he spent there.
‘…No, perhaps I thought of it often.’
It was strange.
Despite being a foreign land, the thought of going there gave him a sense of peace.
‘I wonder how much they’ve grown.’
The image that naturally came to mind filled him with anticipation.
At that moment, the door to Serdin’s room opened without warning.
“Serdin.”
The visitor was none other than the Emperor.
“I have something to discuss with you privately.”
At the Emperor’s words, Hugo glanced back at Serdin before quietly withdrawing.
Once the door was closed, the Emperor scanned the room.
He then leisurely sat on the sofa, gesturing for Serdin to take the seat opposite him.
For a moment, Serdin felt as though his personal space had been invaded.
From the moment the Emperor entered, the room no longer felt like it belonged to him.
Now, the Emperor was the master of this space, and Serdin was merely a guest.
Nonetheless, Serdin sat across from him without showing any discomfort.
“You seem to be packing.”
“I’m preparing in advance.”
“You’ll be staying there for about a month, so it’s good to be thorough.”
The Emperor stared at Serdin intently before revealing the purpose of his visit.
“I have something urgent to tell you.”
Serdin instinctively sensed it. The Emperor was plotting to use him in some scheme.
“I want you to make an effort for Ilnord one more time.”
As expected, the Emperor made no effort to hide his intentions, speaking openly.
Serdin wasn’t disappointed by this.
Instead, he began thinking about how he could turn the Emperor’s demands to his own advantage, knowing he couldn’t refuse outright.
“What would you like me to do?”
The Emperor smiled, seemingly pleased with Serdin’s composure, and got to the point.
“You were close to the princess in Promian, weren’t you?”
“…….…”
“I hear you were friends. Is that true?”
“That was true once, but it’s been a long time since then.”
“Still, childhood memories hold a special significance, don’t they?”
The deliberate mention of Violyana made him uneasy.
“There’s something I need you to do while you’re in Promian.”
The Emperor’s voice dropped, carrying a tone of secrecy and danger.
“……….”
So, it came to this.
Serdin’s hand, resting under the table, instinctively clenched.
“Make her consume this.”
The Emperor produced a vial that looked like a potion.
The transparent potion appeared like plain water, making it seem as though it would blend seamlessly into any liquid without detection.
“What is this?”
Serdin asked, carefully suppressing the tremor in his voice.
“There’s no need for you to know. It’s not poison, so you won’t face any harm from it.”
“……..…”
The Emperor’s words only made the potion seem even more ominous. It suggested that it was a weapon more insidious than poison.
“Is this truly for the sake of Ilnord?”
Serdin questioned further, his tone sharp.
The Emperor responded firmly.
“This is an opportunity to achieve a great merit. Promian is ultimately an enemy nation to Ilnord. If we can secure a major advantage at minimal cost, there’s no reason not to act.”
At the moment the Emperor revealed his underhanded scheming, Serdin felt as though he understood what the potion was for.
It must be related to the counterfeit magic stone experiments.
“If you accomplish this, I will ensure you are appropriately rewarded for your efforts.”
The Emperor’s words sounded like a veiled transaction. Serdin fell silent, contemplating the situation.
From the moment the invitation arrived, the Emperor must have already devised this plan.
No, perhaps even if the invitation hadn’t come, the Emperor would have found another pretext to send him.
Refusing now would mean rendering all his efforts up to this point meaningless.
And worse, it might prevent him from going to Promian at all.
Serdin’s trembling gaze gradually steadied.
“If Your Majesty truly means what you say, then I would like a concrete promise on how I will be rewarded.”
If escape was impossible, he had to leverage the situation to strike a deal.
Serdin locked eyes with the Emperor, making his demand clear.
“Good. You’re speaking openly now; I like that.”
A spark of interest flickered in the Emperor’s eyes. He gave a lazy smile as he continued.
“From the way you’re speaking, it seems you have something in mind. Let’s hear it.”
“Grant me recognition.”
“That’s only natural.”
“I’m asking you to recognize me more than the Crown Prince.”
“…………”
“…..……”
“Are you serious?”
The Emperor’s casual demeanor vanished. His voice now carried a weight of authority that pressed heavily on Serdin.
“I believe what you are asking of me is worth such a reward.”
Serdin did not back down, speaking with conviction and confidence.
The Emperor stared at him for a long moment before closing his eyes.
Tap, tap.
He tapped the table slowly, as if weighing something on an invisible scale.
When he opened his eyes again, he spoke.
“If you bring the princess to Ilnord, then your contribution will be far greater than the Crown Prince’s.”
“……..…”
“I will entrust my throne to the more capable son.”
The Emperor’s implicit approval was granted.
***
This year’s Foundation Day celebration was set to be a grand event.
The atmosphere in the imperial palace was already festive.
“There will be many guests from different nations, so ensure everything is thoroughly prepared. Pay special attention to assigning accommodations to avoid overlapping paths for nations with strained relationships,”
Blueny instructed meticulously.
Recently, Blueny had been incredibly busy preparing for the Foundation Day.
She oversaw every detail herself, from start to finish, leading the preparations with precision.
From what I observed, she worked tirelessly from early morning until late at night.
Yet, she showed no signs of exhaustion.
On the contrary, she seemed increasingly motivated and energized.
Even so—
“Make sure to eat your meals on time. If you start skipping meals, I’ll have no choice but to delegate your responsibilities to someone else,”
Delight said with concern.
Even while dining in the hall, Blueny focused entirely on her work without sparing a glance at her food.
“And who says they’re taking my authority from me?”
“If you don’t want that to happen…!”
Delight was about to retort when Blueny turned toward him with a bright smile.
“You mean we should eat on time together, right?”
“………”
Delight was no match for her.
His reputation as a war maniac and a mad mage didn’t stand a chance against Blueny’s charisma.
“We need to show everyone just how exceptional Promian’s Emperor truly is.”
Blueny smiled as if she was already looking forward to the celebration.
