"In a room full of sharpened tongues, the sharpest blade was still the will of the emperor."
"You just…" Grandfather leaned slightly into his chair, his voice still calm, but that calmness made it even more threatening. "Insulted my grandchild… in front of me?"
Dorian seemed to try to open his mouth to offer a defense, but before he could utter a single word, the marble floor beneath his feet began to glow faintly, forming an intricate transmutation pattern. In seconds, the surface beneath his seat exploded upward with kinetic energy from the alchemical reaction—propelling his body from the chair and sending him hurtling backward with terrifying speed. He crashed into a stone pillar at the far end of the room, the impact reverberating throughout the hall. The room shook from the collision, and some people jumped in shock. Dorian collapsed to the floor, coughing and gasping for air.
Meanwhile, Grandfather remained calm, sitting on his throne, his face devoid of emotion. He only lifted two fingers, causing the pages in his Arcana Codex to turn, and the floor where Dorian knelt began to shift shape. The marble pieces fused, forming a gleaming spear with alchemical patterns still glowing along its blade. The tip now hovered millimeters from Dorian's neck, leaving him frozen.
No one dared to move.
I could hear someone holding their breath in the corner of the room.
Dorian himself appeared frozen, his eyes wide with shock. It had happened too quickly. No one had time to react—not even Thalgar, whose instincts were those of a predator, seemed sure whether to act or stay still. One move and the Marquis's head would be severed from his body.
"Y-Y-Your Majesty…" Dorian's voice trembled.
Thalgar tensed, but still, he said nothing. Everyone waited, holding their breath as if trying to understand whether they had just witnessed the end of a Marquis's life.
However, before that could genuinely happen, another voice sounded, breaking the tension that had nearly reached its peak.
"Your Majesty."
I turned and saw Tavon, the Captain of the Imperial Guard, stepping forward. He knelt with his head slightly bowed, but I could feel the firmness in his voice. His gaze was as cold and sharp as ever, showing no fear despite standing so close to the Emperor in his fury.
"We need the strength of the nobility in this war," he said softly. "Decapitating a Marquis in the middle of an official meeting… is not wise."
Grandfather didn't move.
For several seconds, no one dared speak.
The tension still filled the room as though the entire place could collapse.
Then, slowly, his Arcana Codex began to fade.
The spear that had been pointed at Dorian also gradually disappeared.
I could hear Dorian letting out a long sigh, still sitting on the floor with a face even paler than before.
Grandfather leaned back into his chair, but his gaze remained sharp—still filled with the kind of danger that could only come from someone who had spent his life on the battlefield.
"And who do you think you are? Daring to insult the imperial family," he said in a low voice that trembled with threat, "and I swear, if those disgraceful words leave your mouth again, I will make sure your neck rests beneath the blade of the guillotine."
No one responded.
No one dared to say a word.
I lowered my head slightly, trying to calm my breath.
I rarely saw Grandfather this furious.
The tension still hung in the room, as if the air had yet to move freely after the explosion of Grandfather's wrath. The nobles remained in their places, some still trying to catch their breath after witnessing an event nearly ending in execution.
However, this was not the time to remain swallowed in fear. One of the temple members finally spoke up with a single heavy exhale, attempting to steer the meeting back on course.
The Hierophant, standing beside the long table, stepped forward. His figure was tall, his body cloaked in a white-golden robe embroidered with faintly glowing sacred runes. A hood partially covered his face, but the creases on his forehead and the sharp lines around his mouth showed the impatience he was trying to contain.
He was Hierophant Marcellius Nohr, one of the highest elders in the Solaris Temple, tasked with overseeing holy rituals and maintaining the balance between the temple and the empire.
Marcellius's voice was deep and heavy when he spoke as if each word carried an invisible weight.
"My respects, Your Majesty and Crown Prince, we have a matter beyond the issues previously mentioned."
Grandfather turned to him, waiting for the Hierophant to continue.
"Some members of the imperial family have refused to offer their Mana sacrifice."
The room was once again enveloped in silence.
I could feel a new tension rising, this time not from Grandfather's threat but from a truth that had been quietly hidden. I sharpened my hearing, trying to catch more information before anyone responded.
"Refused?" Grandfather finally spoke, his voice still flat but with a dangerous undertone.
Marcellius nodded slowly. "Yes, Your Majesty. The other princes and princesses feel… that this is unfair." The Hierophant sighed, then finally revealed the heart of the matter. "They question why they must risk their lives and their Arcana Codex for the same ritual while the Crown Prince is not making an equal sacrifice."
My heart stopped for a moment.
I could feel all eyes in the room turning back to me. Not with the blatant scorn from Dorian earlier, but with questioning gazes—as if they had all just realized a new flaw they hadn't thought of before.
I swallowed hard.
Of course… this wasn't surprising.
"They are right!" An old man with blond hair and a curled mustache raised his hand and stood up from his seat, his protruding belly slightly hindering his movement. "Your Majesty, I implore you! I will not allow my grandson to suffer injustice!"
"Viscount Dregg, do you have something to convey?" Tavon gestured, inviting the man named Dregg to elaborate further.
"My grandson is lying critically ill in the temple's medical ward due to Erosion on his Arcana Codex from excessive Mana usage," his face appeared angry, his mustache and belly shaking with his body movements.
I, sitting beside the emperor, lowered my head. The familiar unease that had lingered since the beginning of the meeting and had worsened over time continued to disturb my thoughts. I glanced at my grandfather seated next to me his face, strained with suppressed emotion, was evident. Carefully, I whispered so only he could hear.
"Grandfather," I inquired in a low voice, "who exactly is that Viscount?"
The emperor turned slowly, his eyes scanning my face before he responded in an almost inaudible tone. "Cedric Dregg… he's not originally from Midgaria. He's an Astral Voyager and arrived here with his wife and child thirteen years ago. After successfully resolving the food crisis caused by the war in the eastern region, I granted him the title of Viscount, and I married his daughter."
Two revelations nearly made my eyes pop out: first, that the Viscount was an Astral Voyager, and second, the confession from this old man that he had married that Viscount's daughter.
I stared at my grandfather, mouth agape. "Wait a moment..." I said voice restrained. "Did you just say you married his daughter?"
The emperor merely nodded lightly as if it were a trivial matter. "Yes. His daughter is beautiful, intelligent, and—"
"But, Grandfather!" I whispered sharply, glancing at Viscount Dregg, who was still speaking passionately in the center of the room. "Doesn't that mean... the Viscount is... your father-in-law?"
Grandfather raised his eyebrows, appearing contemplative. "Yes, technically that's the truth. I suppose I forgot to mention that earlier."
"Forgot?" I nearly leaped from my seat but quickly restrained myself. "Grandfather, that's not a minor detail to forget! Look at your father-in-law now, demanding justice with a tone that threatens me!"
Grandfather chuckled softly, his smile almost sly. "Yes, I suppose that's because his wife died a few years ago, his only daughter had to enter the castle as a concubine, and now his only grandson is on the brink of death in the temple's medical ward due to Arcana Codex erosion from using Mana within unreasonable limits."
I looked at my grandfather with eyes full of anger and confusion. "I think all of Viscount's anger—his emotional outburst in the middle of this meeting—stems from the fact that you've mercilessly exploited his remaining family?"
Grandfather tilted his head as if considering my words. "That's one perspective," he said, his tone almost too light. "However, I prefer to call it... strategy. Everything he has now, including his title, is thanks to the empire. It's his responsibility to reciprocate."
I nearly exploded upon hearing those words. "Reciprocate?" I whispered sharply. "His grandson is your child! He has a life! You can't treat humans like chess pieces!"
Grandfather looked at me, this time with a more serious gaze. "Elenio, this world doesn't care about idealism. Only actions that yield results are respected. This empire would have collapsed long ago if I hadn't made tough decisions. Do you understand?"
I wanted to argue, but before I could say anything, the sound of a table being slammed halted our conversation. We both turned simultaneously, only to see Viscount Dregg continuing to voice his arguments with a face full of anger, yet his eyes somehow appeared desperate.
I let out a long sigh, trying to calm myself, but one more thing pushed my annoyance to the limit. "And are you really that short of concubines that every woman you meet must adorn your harem?"
Grandfather chuckled louder this time, his voice low but full of mischief. "Ever heard the saying, 'every woman has a secret'?"
I frowned. "What does that have to do with your harem, Grandfather?"
His smile widened, sending a chill down my spine. "The more mysterious a woman's secret is, the more fascinating it is to uncover. My hobby is collecting those hidden mysteries—" he leaned in slightly, his voice dropping like a conspirator, "—and unveiling them slowly. You could say it's art within art, Elenio."
I massaged my temples. "So, your harem is more like… a secret gallery?"
Grandfather let out a soft laugh, clearly satisfied with my conclusion. "You could call it that. Every woman there holds a secret, and I—as emperor and a mystery lover—keep and protect those secrets."
I looked at him in disbelief. "Grandfather, you're making your harem sound like a secret library, and you're its librarian."
He nodded proudly. "Beautiful analogy, isn't it? You are my clever grandson."
I stared at him, torn between wanting to laugh or cry. "Grandfather, I'm not even sure I want to live long enough to begin to understand the way your mind works."
"You'll understand one day," he said while patting my shoulder. "For now, just focus on your task. Oh, and don't forget, Cedric is a good man. He's just overly emotional because of his wife's passing. He'll forgive you if you smile and look innocent."
I stared at my grandfather doubtfully. "Last time I took your advice, I ended up being kidnapped by a noble family that opposed you, old man."
Grandfather chuckled softly, his low voice light but full of mischief. "Ah, yes, that was indeed an unfortunate incident. But look on the bright side, Nio. You learned how to escape from a dungeon without anyone's help. That's a skill not every prince has."
I looked at him flatly, trying to hold back my anger. "Grandfather, I barely ate for three days back then. And I was nearly eaten by their pet wolf!"
"Oh, yes," Grandfather replied with a nod. "That wolf was part of their tactic to scare you. I heard you managed to calm it down with a piece of stale bread. That was a very clever move."
"Focus on the current issue, old man," I grunted. "You always know how to steer a conversation elsewhere."
Grandfather only laughed in response to my statement, his laughter fading as another voice boomed.
"I just want justice for my grandson." The eyes of the Astral Voyager named Cedric stared sharply at the laughing emperor as if trying to bore a hole through the emperor's head with his gaze.
Those words made the emperor and me turn to him, halting our earlier grandfather-grandson interaction. But it didn't take long before we turned our heads again.
Brakk!!
The sound of a table being slammed interrupted the conversation in the room. "Tch." Finnian, with an irritated expression, looked ready to explode. "Another old man who loves his grandson."
Finnian didn't stand up dramatically. instead, he placed his foot on the table. I bet the loud bang earlier came from his foot hitting the table.
A girl I recognized, sitting beside him, lightly tugged at the edge of Finnian's shirt to stop his arrogant behavior. That girl was Zura. No wonder Zura was the vice-captain of the same battalion as Finnian, evident from their bright red cloaks.
"Listen, old man! Your grandson is a member of the imperial family! he receives facilities and treatment befitting royalty. Consider his current condition as payment for all the privileges he's received!"
"At least your grandson has something he can do to contribute to this crisis," he continued.
I knew that statement was aimed to stab at me, one of the royal family members who couldn't contribute anything. Even in terms of Mana supply, I was merely the emperor's mascot, standing beside him while the other imperial family risked their lives to ensure the Mana supply.
"Aside from the payment, I agree with Prince Finnian." Cedric's sharp gaze now turned to me, along with his anger. "What will the crown prince do to contribute to this crisis?!"
I remained silent, not daring to speak because I was sure anything coming out of my mouth would trigger their anger. I felt like drilling a hole in the old man beside me for worsening the situation by marrying the daughter of an Astral Voyager.
Cedric continued to stare at me, his eyes like two blazing embers. Under that gaze, I felt like even the palace walls could melt. The nobles in the room now watched me with the same look as if they wanted to see a miracle I would perform. Meanwhile, my grandfather's face showed he was deep in thought, trying to find a solution.
I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. How could I deny the truth that I had no power? I was merely a shadow of the royal family, a disabled crown prince without any significant abilities.
"I... I will do my best to support all of you," I finally said, though my voice sounded weaker than I had hoped. "I will find a way to help resolve this crisis."
Cedric snorted with disdain. "You just Barking" he exclaimed. "We need action, not empty promises!"
"I-I u-understand," I said, trying to remain calm despite the turmoil in my chest. "I will find a way to contribute. I promise."
The atmosphere in the room grew more tense. I could feel the pressure from every corner, from the hopeful and disappointed gazes. However, behind all that, I knew this was the time to change. I had to find a way to prove myself, to show that I was worthy of being the crown prince and not just an empty symbol. At the very least, I shouldn't let the people doubt the emperor's decision.
"Of all our victories, most of the strategies were devised by the crown prince," Tavon spoke up with his deep voice. "The crown prince also played a role in the food crisis that hit several regions over the past two years."
"The crown prince must step onto the battlefield alongside the emperor to protect this empire!" another noble said. "Not to play the role of a war Theorist or a farmer!"
The room's atmosphere grew even more heated. Tavon, who had long served as battalion captain and the emperor's loyal guard, tried to defend me, but his words only triggered a stronger reaction from the nobles. I could see some of them nodding in agreement that my place should be on the battlefield, not behind a desk with maps and books.
"Have you all forgotten who saved your cities from destruction?" Tavon continued firmly. "The Crown Prince has made great contributions in defending this empire, even if it was not always with a sword in hand."
However, Cedric and the others refused to listen. "This empire doesn't need a crown prince who can only think. We need a leader who can stand at the front lines, setting an example for our soldiers!" another noble shouted angrily.
I felt the tremor of anger and disappointment well up inside me. They had no idea how heavy my burden was, how hard it was to bear the weight of the empire and their scorn. I never asked to be born this way; I, too, wanted to step onto the field and fight bravely like my brothers or predecessors.
"Enough!" the emperor's voice finally echoed through the room, cutting off the commotion. Everyone immediately fell silent, turning to the grandfather, who stood with undeniable authority. "The Crown Prince has proven himself in many ways. Everyone has a different role in defending this empire. Not all battles are fought on the battlefield. Without sound strategies, without solutions to domestic issues, we will not survive."
"That still doesn't compare to the other imperial family, who risks they life on the battlefield!" Dorian spoke again, seemingly undeterred by grandfather's earlier rebuke.
The quarrel in the Throne Hall continued to suffocate. Grandfather massaged his temples. My mind kept spinning, trying to find a way to mediate the dispute—if I were lucky, maybe I could prove myself a little, too. But before my mouth could move to speak, Uncle Arcanist spoke up.
"If you all want the Crown Prince to contribute on the field so badly..." the long-haired man removed his fogged-up glasses, damp with sweat. "Then I propose the Crown Prince be included in the next Astral Voyager investigation expedition team."
Uncle Arcanist's words brought a stunned silence to the room. Grandfather's eyes widened in anger, his teeth clenched, but the old man seemed to be holding back his rage.
All the eyes now turned to Uncle Arcanist—and for good reason. Suggesting someone like me, who lacked an Arcana Codex, be sent to the battlefield was no different than premeditated murder.
Several nobles' eyes turned to me, awaiting my response to Uncle Arcanist's proposal, but no words would come out. Everything felt numb, as though my mouth refused to speak. My silence, of course, led the nobles to resume their whispers. Painful gossip—even if spoken in hushed tones—I could still hear every word they said.