* * *
The Emperor, standing on the platform, gazed at the people kneeling on the sullied floor, waiting for his command.
A peculiar sense of pride and superiority swelled within him.
Savoring the moment a bit longer, he let out a faint chuckle and gestured toward the Captain of the Guard.
“Behold His Majesty, the Emperor, the Sun of the Empire!”
At the Captain’s booming proclamation, the people bowed even lower.
“Raise your heads and hear my words.”
As the gathered crowd straightened at his command, the Emperor took a moment to relish their obedience before continuing.
“On such a fine day, it brings me immense joy to see all of you.”
The Emperor’s crown and the luxurious scepter in his hand glimmered under the dull, overcast sky, radiating their magnificence.
Each time the Emperor’s gaze fell upon the Grand Duke, Ed unconsciously grasped and released the necklace concealed beneath his clothes.
“Today, we gather here in celebration, to pray for the peace of the Ain Empire.”
The Emperor’s voice resonated in the hushed hall, where even breathing seemed muted.
“And as you all know, for the sake of the Empire’s peace, I unearthed an ancient prophecy long buried. By the grace of the gods, I was able to locate and protect the Grand Duchess foretold in the prophecy.”
The audience, their attention riveted on the Emperor, began shifting their gazes.
Eyes darted between the Grand Duke and the presumed Grand Duchess, meeting briefly in midair before dispersing again.
Watching the silent commotion, the Emperor snorted lightly and adopted a cold expression as he added,
“But I hear there are still those who question my efforts.”
The Emperor’s low, simmering anger drew all eyes back to the platform.
Dressed in a ceremonial uniform adorned with gold and red, the Emperor struck the floor with his golden scepter.
A crooked smile tugged at his lips.
“Therefore, I shall put all doubts to rest today by unveiling the Grand Duchess foretold in the prophecy, right here, before you. But first, proof must come.”
The Emperor paused momentarily before turning his gaze toward the Grand Duke and declaring loudly for all to hear,
“Raise your heads properly!”
At the Emperor’s command, as if directed specifically at the Grand Duke, the crowd adjusted their postures, standing even straighter.
“Did I not tell you to raise your heads properly?”
Still dissatisfied, the Emperor growled again, his voice reverberating through the silent hall.
The people held their breath.
As the Emperor struck the floor with his scepter once more, a priest clad in a pristine white uniform ascended the platform, following the chamberlain to the Emperor’s side.
The priest bowed respectfully.
The Emperor acknowledged the priest with a nod and began to speak.
“The Priest of the Great Temple, protector of the Ain Empire.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“It was you who discovered that the former High Priest received a divine prophecy, is that correct?”
“Indeed, Your Majesty.”
“Tell us, what did the prophecy say?”
“The prophecy spoke of healing the Empire’s suffering scar through the union of the blade that bears the dragon’s blood from the North and the light imbued with the essence of the Ice Lake.”
“As a servant of the gods, can you swear to me, without a shred of doubt, that this prophecy is genuine?”
The exchange felt like a well-rehearsed play.
When the Priest vowed, as a divine servant, that he spoke only the truth, the Emperor struck the floor with his scepter again, emphasizing his point.
“Not even the mighty Emperor of this great Empire can sway the will of the gods’ temple.”
Raising his voice confidently, the Emperor declared,
“This leaves no doubt that the prophecy received by the former High Priest is indeed genuine. Now, behold the Grand Duchess who shall heal the Empire!”
From the crowd below, someone began clapping and cheering unexpectedly.
“Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”
The sudden outburst seemed to please the Emperor, who reclined on his throne with a smile.
The Empress joined him shortly, sitting beside him as the platform was cleared, leaving no obstacles to obscure the view.
“Bring her forth.”
At last, a woman veiled in white emerged onto the platform.
All eyes fixed on her as she stepped through the opened doors, each step echoing in the grand hall.
The only other sound was the gentle trickling of water from the small fountains at the edges of the room.
When the woman reached the platform, she knelt before the Emperor, who spoke in a booming voice.
“It fills me with indescribable joy to have found the key to ending the Empire’s long-standing woes!”
Applause erupted once more, and the hall reverberated with cheers for the Emperor.
Ed, however, felt as though everyone in the room was being moved by invisible strings.
The Emperor basked in their adoration, gesturing subtly for the veiled woman to rise and step back.
Then, addressing the crowd again, he said,
“But surely, some of you may still doubt whether this woman is truly the one spoken of in the prophecy.”
His gaze once again landed on the Grand Duke.
“In that case, it is only right that we provide evidence here and now.”
The Emperor motioned to the Priest.
“Priest.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Is it certain that the ‘light imbued with the essence of the Ice Lake’ mentioned in the prophecy refers to the Zelda clan?”
“Yes, it is certain.”
“And how can you be so sure?”
“The former High Priest left records interpreting the prophecy for us.”
“And do you have proof that these records were indeed written by the former High Priest?”
“Yes, we possess certification confirming his handwriting.”
When the Priest reverently handed over the documents, the Emperor reviewed them before striking the floor with his scepter.
The chamberlain then brought forward a golden cloth upon which rested an artifact emitting a mysterious glow.
“What is that?”
In response to the Emperor’s question, the chamberlain bowed and explained,
“This artifact is capable of identifying members of the Zelda clan. The transparent shard you see here is called the ‘Tear of the Mermaid.’”
“Continue.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. This gem is said to have originated from a shell that once contained the scales of an ancient mermaid.”
“I see. And?”
“According to ancient texts, the Zelda clan, who are said to carry mermaid blood, react to this gem.”
Intrigued, the Emperor stroked his chin before asking,
“Is that so? And how do they react?”
“When a Zelda’s bodily fluids touch the gem, it turns the color of the sea.”
“Interesting.”
The Emperor nodded, appearing deeply intrigued.
“Very well. Bring her forward.”
As the veiled woman approached the chamberlain, the Emperor issued his command.
“Since it is their bodily fluid, let her shed a tear onto the artifact.”
The woman, slightly lifting her veil, blinked a few times before swiftly covering her face again.
The action was so quick that it was hard to tell if any tears had actually fallen.
Then, the large pearl embedded in the artifact began to glow faintly before shifting into the hue of seawater.
The crowd erupted in cheers as the Grand Duke narrowed his eyes, gripping Ed’s hand tightly.
The Emperor, with a confident smile, looked down at the scene from the podium.
“With this, it has been confirmed that she belongs to the Zelda tribe!”
His voice boomed with self-assurance.
“The Zelda tribe, a minority race, is believed to have been wiped out. And yet…”
The Emperor paused dramatically, his gaze descending to the Grand Duke.
“I scoured the world tirelessly and succeeded in finding her!”
Right on cue, someone from the Emperor’s faction shouted from below.
“Does this not prove that His Majesty is the Empire’s true sun, chosen by the heavens?”
The Emperor chuckled, clearly pleased, before lowering his voice ominously.
“Still, there will be those who refuse to believe even now. Therefore, we shall implement one final method to verify her identity.”
Turning his head, the Emperor gave the next command.
“Bring forth the court mage.”
A man clad in blue robes ascended the platform, using his staff for support.
“Your Majesty, you summoned me?”
The Emperor addressed him with authority.
“Tell me, is there a magic that can identify members of the Zelda tribe?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Using a detection spell, it is indeed possible to discern their unique traits.”
The Emperor stroked his chin, feigning contemplation.
“Then, are you capable of performing this spell to find members of the Zelda tribe?”
* * *
