“Ah.”
Ian retrieved the ring from his inventory, which he had forgotten about while being preoccupied with his hair.
“It’s because of this.”
“Hm.”
Bernaba picked up the ring and inspected it, turning it over as though appraising its value. Then, placing it back on the table, he remarked, “It’s not exactly a valuable gemstone. Nothing particularly special about it. Why are you showing me this?”
“It emitted black mana.”
Bernaba frowned.
“What did you say?”
Ian explained everything: the incident in the banquet hall, how black mana had hovered over his hand materialized through illusion, and how the black mana disappeared when he removed the ring.
Bernaba, who had been silently listening to Ian’s account, picked up the ring again. Clutching it tightly in his hand, silver mana briefly shimmered and then disappeared.
“Oh.”
Bernaba let out a sound of admiration.
“What did you find?”
After withdrawing the silver mana, Bernaba closely examined the ring in his palm again. Then, he stood up.
“I’ll let you know after I show this to the Lord.”
Before Ian could respond, Bernaba vanished with a swoosh.
Without hesitation, Ian rose and returned to his room. Inside, he heard the soft sound of small, steady breaths.
When he approached the bed, he found Rose sleeping, drooling at the mouth, the blanket completely kicked off, and her belly exposed. Evidently, she had played so much fun that she had fallen asleep shortly after Fenrex’s arrival.
As Ian debated whether he should wake Rose for dinner, Bernaba listed everything they’d eaten that day and told him to let her sleep. Ian chuckled quietly as he glanced at Rose’s still-full stomach.
‘Adorable.’
Even her sleeping figure was irresistibly cute.
After tidying up Rose’s sleeping position, Ian took a quick shower and was about to go to bed when there was a knock at the door.
Throwing on a robe, he opened the door to see Edelmar in a suit.
“Weren’t you supposed to be staying with His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“No. Why on earth would I do that?”
Edelmar stepped past Ian and slumped onto the bedroom sofa, pressing his temples as though fatigued.
“Listening to the whining of children is exhausting.”
“Does His Highness the Crown Prince whine?”
Ian, who had only ever seen the composed side of the Crown Prince, asked in disbelief.
“Yes. It’s unbearable. That’s why I dislike my brother’s children. Once you indulge their whining even once, it never ends.”
“Oh.”
‘I didn’t know he disliked them.’
Sprawled on the sofa with his limbs stretched out, Edelmar asked,
“The ring?”
“I showed it to lord Bernaba. He found it intriguing after injecting mana into it and said he would discuss it with the Lord before disappearing.”
“Hm.”
Resting his elbow on the armrest and his chin on his hand, Edelmar spoke.
“Do you think that woman is a dark mage?”
Ian shook his head.
“No. Fenrex mentioned the smell came from the ring, not her body.”
“I think they said in <Flow> that a girl named Yekhaterina was the crown prince’s fiancée. Am I right?”
“Yes.”
“Hm.”
Edelmar, silent for a long time as though lost in thought, suddenly muttered,
“Was that true love?”
“What do you mean by that?”
Ian, who had been about to pull the bell cord to summon a servant, looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“Didn’t they say in the <Flow> you mentioned that Yekhaterina was the crown prince’s fiancée?”
“Yes.”
Edelmar, clasping his hands together and resting them on his stomach, began to explain.
“The imperial throne is always a precarious seat, especially when the Emperor has many sons. The probability of trouble only increases.”
Ian took a seat opposite Edelmar.
“Isn’t the Crown Prince’s position secure? Didn’t you mention that Prince Eugene is illegitimate and, therefore, has no claim to inherit the throne?”
“That’s only because the Crown Prince has not caused any issues so far.”
“….…”
“Being a legitimate heir is a strong card in securing the throne. Unless one is exceptionally foolish, even someone of average capability can become Emperor. However, even such a position does not guarantee protection from certain problems.”
A position as strong as that of a legitimate heir still couldn’t solve some issues?
“The nobles.”
“Ah.”
“The Empire may appear as if the Imperial Family holds the highest authority, but in reality, there is constant tug-of-war between the nobility and the Imperial Family. In the case of my elder brother, the current Emperor, there was no problem because he had already established his power when I was born, given our significant age gap. However, even so, he was unable to marry the woman he loved as Empress.”
“…Did he love someone else?”
The Emperor and Empress Ian had seen at the banquet seemed to get along well, not like a mere business couple.
Edelmar nodded.
“Her name was Lady Hazelren, the daughter of a viscount. Not only was she beautiful, but she was also exceptionally intelligent. If she had become Empress, my brother would have had less burden in ruling the Empire.”
“Why couldn’t he marry her?”
“Because he was the Emperor. If my brother had insisted on making Lady Hazelren the Empress, the nobles would have waited until I came of age to prepare for a rebellion.”
Ian was taken aback. A rebellion? He couldn’t imagine such a thing happening in the Empire. After all, wasn’t the Emperor believed to be chosen by the gods, the closest being to them among all?
To think the nobles could overthrow the Emperor simply because he displeased them—was that even possible?
Edelmar smirked.
“I can tell what you’re thinking. But consider the reverse. It’s not the Emperor who is chosen by the gods, but the imperial family. As long as someone has imperial blood, they are considered close to the gods.”
“Ah.”
“Now think about this: would someone who became Emperor through rebellion truly have control over the imperial authority? Could they ignore the nobles who supported and helped them gain the throne?”
“That would be difficult.”
“Exactly. That’s why my brother married the eldest daughter of Marquess Hayant, who was aligned with the Imperial faction, rather than Lady Hazelren.”
“…I see.”
“That’s why I don’t understand. The Crown Prince has Eugene as a potential replacement. So how could a viscount’s daughter become his fiancée?”
Ian hesitated.
When talking to Edelmar about the <Flow>, he had explained things from Rose’s perspective, omitting many details about the Crown Prince, Yekhaterina, and Prince Eugene. He had been pressured to wrap up before Bernaba arrived and believed that since they weren’t following the <Flow>, those events wouldn’t happen anyway.
He hadn’t expected Edelmar to be so puzzled by what he hadn’t mentioned.
“It seems my omissions are causing your confusion.”
“What are you leaving out?”
Ian slowly explained the rivalry between the Crown Prince and Eugene, as well as how Yekhaterina awakened as a saintess, solidifying the Crown Prince’s authority through divine support.
After hearing everything, Edelmar stroked his chin.
“Now I’m even more confused.”
“What do you mean?”
“Imperial and divine authority must remain separate, and divine authority cannot infringe upon imperial power.”
“Is that an imperial law?”
“Yes. The Empire may be built on the bloodline chosen by the gods, but it maintains a deliberate distance from divine influence. This is not only the decision of the imperial family but also the will of the gods.”
Edelmar tapped the armrest lightly.
“While the gods chose the first Emperor, they did not choose the Empire itself. That’s why the temples exist not only in the Empire but also in other kingdoms. The gods created this world, but they do not favor any one nation in particular.”
“……..…”
“That is why the temples do not participate in politics. If someone tries to involve the temples, the priests all respond the same way.”
With a solemn expression, Edelmar stated,
“The gods simply exist.”
Ian repeated his words,
“The gods simply exist.”
“That’s the very first line in the sacred texts. The same applies to saintesses. It’s not as though there haven’t been saintesses before. Just ten years ago, there was Saintess Shupi. However, the position of saintess is only recognized within the temples. It holds no sway over the nobility. So, for a saintess to marry the Emperor? Such a situation would be opposed not only by the nobility but also by the priests within the grand temple.”
Ian was at a loss for words.
He thought he understood the possession and that the novel he had read, the <Flow>, was guiding him. He had assumed it was a matter of course. But now, he realized it wasn’t.
If so, what were all the things he had seen in the ‘Flow’?
“And there’s something you don’t know, Ian. It’s a story known only to the imperial family and the priests.”
“What is it?”
“It explains why the principle of separating divine and imperial authority has been maintained to this day.”
“No way.”
Edelmar raised a corner of his mouth in a sly smile.
“Exactly. If a priest or saintess becomes connected to imperial authority, they lose their divine power.”
Ian inhaled sharply.
“This fact has been strictly hidden by both the imperial family and the temples to prevent hostile forces from exploiting it to undermine the Empire.”
“Then the events I saw in the ‘Flow’…”
“Who knows? Were they truly glimpses of the future?”
***
The Crown Prince’s face was pale after the shocking events at the banquet.
“Duke, about yesterday….”
“It’s fine, Your Highness. Please be careful on your way back.”
Ian’s response brightened the Crown Prince’s expression.
“I’m glad there are no misunderstandings. Then, I’ll see you in the capital. Uncle, I’m heading back now.”
“Alright.”
Edelmar yawned, lazily waving his hand, but even that seemed to please the Crown Prince, who smiled.
As the carriage carrying the Crown Prince departed, the servants sighed in relief.
Ian smirked and turned to Edelmar.
“Are you going back to sleep?”
“No, let’s wrap up yesterday’s conversation.”
“Yes.”
Ian followed Edelmar to the study. However, someone was already there, waiting for them.
