* * *

“Should we build a new fountain for the garden when we return?”

“That sounds like a good idea.”

‘Huh?’

Did the Duchess just reply to that?

I turned to glance at them, only to see the two walking ahead as if nothing had happened.

Feeling awkward, I looked at Raizen beside me, who shot me a look as if to say, ‘What are you staring at?’

I simply smiled and turned my gaze forward.

‘Sigh…’

This wasn’t going to be easy.

∗   ∗   ∗

“Welcome.”

As we entered the audience chamber, the Emperor, seated on a golden throne, greeted us.

His platinum blonde hair, the hallmark of the Imperial Family, gleamed in the light streaming through the windows.

In the novel, he was described as a benevolent-looking old man, but in reality, the Emperor was far younger and more striking than I’d imagined.

“We greet the sun of the Empire.”

Following proper etiquette, we offered our greetings.

Thanks to Mila’s relentless lessons on imperial manners, I managed to avoid stumbling over the formalities.

“Oh, come now, isn’t this a bit too formal between us? Please, rise.”

At the Emperor’s words, the Duke and Duchess rose, and I followed suit after Raizen.

“You must have had a tiring journey.”

“It’s no trouble at all. When Your Majesty summons us, it is only natural to answer, no matter the effort required.”

Somehow, those words sounded like, ‘You called us here, so of course, we had to endure this hassle.’

“Haha! My apologies for the inconvenience. Believe me, I would’ve come to you myself if I could.”

The Emperor’s hearty laugh was followed by a self-congratulatory comment.

“Still, thanks to me, haven’t you been able to welcome your new family member swiftly and easily?”

An employer patting their own back wasn’t a pleasant sight.

The Duke must’ve shared my sentiment, for he remained silent for a moment before reluctantly inclining his head.

“Thank you.”

‘That feels like the equivalent of saying, ‘Here, take this and get lost.’

The Duke’s sullen demeanor made me feel even more awkward.

‘At least it seems the Emperor and the Pantheon Ducal House haven’t completely turned against each other.’

From the conversation so far, it seemed like the Emperor wanted to get closer to the Pantheon Ducal House, but the house itself wasn’t keen on the idea.

While the Duke appeared wary of the Emperor, there had to be a reason for this dynamic.

“If it’s alright, could I have a moment with the young ones?”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

This time, the Duchess responded, gently leading Raizen and me forward.

Mila’s advice was clear: “Never, ever stare directly at His Majesty!”

Recalling her stern warning, I lowered my gaze as the Emperor approached.

“I’ve heard much about the young lord’s brilliance—it has even reached the capital. I hope you continue to strive and become a great pillar of the Empire.”

“I am honored by Your Majesty’s words.”

After offering a polite remark to Raizen, the Emperor stopped in front of me.

“Could you lift your head for a moment?”

Swallowing hard, I slowly raised my head.

His platinum hair dazzled in the sunlight, but it was his deep violet eyes that truly captivated me.

Though his lips were curved in a smile, it was merely a façade.

His piercing gaze assessed me thoroughly, as if peeling back layers to see what lay beneath.

“Haha, it seems great effort has been put into this one.”

The emperor’s quiet mumble froze the air around us.

A chill ran down my spine as well.

‘The emperor… seems to have figured it out.’

Belatedly, the story’s setting resurfaced in my mind.

The emperor… was once a candidate for the next Tower Master, a magician of unparalleled skill.

After speaking such an ominous remark that couldn’t simply be brushed off, the emperor smiled kindly, as if nothing had happened, and gave my shoulder a light pat.

“May Sinoa’s mercy and blessings always be with you.”

I couldn’t figure out why those words sounded more like, ‘I hope you can keep your life intact.’

As soon as the emperor lifted his hand from my shoulder and stepped back, I finally managed to breathe freely again.

“Indeed, he’s quite the charming child for you two to want to hasten the adoption so eagerly,” he said, now addressing the duke and duchess, as if to smooth things over.

“Now then, how about we discuss matters meant for adults?”

At that, the imperial attendants approached me and Raizen.

I wasn’t too surprised since I’d been told beforehand that the children would leave first after greeting the emperor to enjoy some refreshments while waiting.

Still, I stuck close to Raizen’s back as we walked.

Honestly, I was scared.

After all, this was a world where a single word from the emperor could send heads rolling.

And meeting him face-to-face only reinforced how formidable he truly was.

‘I… I’m someone who used to live in a democracy, for crying out loud!’

It was only natural to feel terrified.

---

Following the imperial attendants, we were led to a room at the far end of the corridor, where the audience chamber was located.

Mila, who had followed us, was once again denied entry, just as she had been at the audience chamber.

I should’ve realized something was off at that point, but whether it was because my body had regressed or because my mind had dulled, I found myself distracted by the sweet aroma of desserts wafting through a slightly ajar door.

Maybe I’d burned too much energy from all the tension.

My stomach growled as I unconsciously followed the smell.

That’s when Raizen, walking ahead of me, suddenly came to a halt.

“Hyung…?”

Then, to my astonishment, he bent forward and greeted someone.

“I greet the Empire’s Little Sun.”

Instinctively, I followed suit.

‘This is bad.’

I muttered inwardly.

How long did we stay like that?

Just as my legs were beginning to cramp, a young voice broke the silence.

“Rise.”

The voice was young, but the tone was unbearably arrogant.

Slowly straightening up, I subtly moved to stand beside Raizen.

That’s when I saw him—sitting at a table laden with all sorts of desserts was Crown Prince Hamuel.

‘Why the hell is he here?’

During his childhood, Hamuel was the officially acknowledged “precious darling” of the novel.

Could this all have been the emperor’s scheme?

But no, judging by the pale-faced maid standing behind Hamuel, it seemed more likely he’d heard that Raizen was here and came uninvited.

Hamuel, having only ordered us to stand, didn’t invite us to sit at the table.

He simply tilted his chin arrogantly, glaring at Raizen.

“I just can’t understand it,” he began.

“…”

“How someone cursed like you dares to set foot in the sacred imperial palace.”

“Y-Your Highness…!”

“Silence!” Hamuel snapped at the maid trying to intervene before continuing.

“Hmph, those ignorant fools who worshipped you out in the barren western lands may not know, but I know. I know that you’re cursed.”

‘Might as well just hurl insults while you’re at it.’

Your Majesty, how on earth did you raise your child like this?

“Your Highness, as I’ve said before, I have no interest in Lady Elin.”

“Silence! Do you think I’m causing this ruckus over something as trivial as that? As the Crown Prince of the Empire, I cannot overlook an ominous being like you! Three years ago, didn’t all your maids and attendants go missing without a trace?”

Was it just me, or had the air suddenly turned colder?

“Answer me! Did even one of the missing ever return?”

As Raizen’s shadow flickered ominously, the chill spreading through my body grew worse.

‘If this keeps up, everything’s going to fall apart!’

But right now, there wasn’t a single person who could shut the Crown Prince’s runaway mouth.

“And now you even have a younger sibling? Clearly, the duke and duchess knew you were defective and adopted another child to compensate!”

‘Is he out of his mind?’

Why is he playing around with someone’s life like this?

‘This is driving me insane.’

There was only one thing I could do in this situation.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I stepped in front of Raizen.

“You! What do you—”

The Crown Prince seemed taken aback by my sudden appearance and stuttered, unable to finish his sentence.

“Don’t bully my hyung!” I yelled.

“Y-You! Who do you think you are, you uncouth little—”

“WAHHHH! Mom! Dad! I’m scared!”

The moment I mentioned my parents, the Crown Prince froze, his face going pale as he quickly tried to salvage the situation.

“Stop crying! Stop it, I said!”

Yeah, of course, you have to stop me.

The duke and duchess mustn’t find out about this mess.

After all… the duchess was Hamuel’s first love.

---

Hearing my wails, Mila, who had been waiting outside, rushed into the room, and the situation finally came to an end.

Perfectly timed, the duke, duchess, and emperor also entered shortly after.

Snuggled in the duchess’s arms, I started bawling again—this time on purpose.

Hamuel glanced between the duchess and the emperor, clearly at a loss.

‘Go ahead, let them scold you until you cry.’

The emperor, apologizing profusely, asked if we would stay for a meal, though his tone suggested he’d already been refused once.

When the emperor insisted a second time, offering it as a gesture of apology, the duke and duchess reluctantly agreed.

Rejecting an offer made as an apology could be interpreted as rejecting the apology itself.

It seemed the emperor had no intention of antagonizing the House of Pantheon.

‘If that’s the case, then who’s behind all this?’

Who told the Crown Prince about Raizen’s past?

The story about all of Raizen’s servants disappearing three years ago was likely true.

I vaguely recalled something about it being mentioned in a side story, “Raizen’s Bonus Chapter.”

I’d need to check my notes back at the townhouse to be certain, though.

‘Oddly enough, my memory of “Raizen’s Bonus Chapter” is fading faster and faster.’

Anyway, what mattered was that this incident had occurred in the duke’s domain, far from the capital.

It probably wasn’t something that had been publicized.

The duke and duchess wouldn’t have allowed it.

But judging by the maid’s anxious demeanor, it seemed the story had somehow spread through the capital’s social circles.

Who started the rumor?

And how did the Crown Prince, who had been only ten years old at the time, remember it in such vivid detail?

* * *