Part 2 Chapter 95
“Ah, my son! I was supposed to put the syringe in his mouth… but I messed up…”
Rivan couldn’t hold back and interjected.
“Edgar.”
For some reason, the Emperor opened his mouth with a calm expression.
“You really are cruel to your son to the very end.”
“…….”
“If you had even a shred of thought for a son who must continue living as a subject of the Empire, you could never have said such a thing to me.”
Indeed. Ryan was both a hero and a new threat to the Emperor.
A special abilities user who could become a god at any moment.
A tragedy that could repeat.
Edgar knew this well and was trying to shake the Emperor.
Plant a small seed of worry inside him, and soon, like a hunted dog boiled in a pot, Ryan would fall out of the Emperor’s favor.
A small crack. The division that would follow…
“I speak out of pity for Your Majesty. When my son still obeys reason, shouldn’t you take measures in the Empire, be it banishment or otherwise?”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. My son, who is the spitting image of me, will one day rule as I do. As a true god who could make even the exalted Emperor kneel before him.”
“…….”
Ryan, who was listening, closed his eyes softly.
Rivan wanted to shut Edgar’s mouth but couldn’t intervene due to the Emperor’s silent signal.
“If Your Majesty truly cares for the future of this Empire… and its descendants…”
“If the devil exists, it would be someone like you.”
The Emperor chuckled lightly, cutting off Edgar’s provocation with a calm demeanor. He showed no reaction to Edgar’s taunts.
“Sorry, but those concerns ended long ago—before you could even strike from behind.”
“…….”
“And just to clear up any misunderstandings, I am not that good of a ruler.”
Sitting eye-to-eye, the Emperor faced Edgar closely.
“Did I seem like someone who would worry about the Empire’s future after my death?”
“…….”
“As you said, Ryan may change. The bloodlines of abilities users may one day devour this world entirely.”
“…….”
“But so what? I am satisfied if my life is peaceful right now.”
Edgar’s eyes narrowed fiercely.
Rivan, listening, was surprised.
The Emperor wasn’t speaking sincerely.
After all, why had Rivan wanted to extract the ability?
It was for the Emperor’s sake.
He had anticipated a future where abilities users monopolize force again, where a second Bassenberg might arise.
Yet he still wanted heroes like Ryan and his siblings to live safely in the Empire.
The solution? The creation of magical tools capable of controlling abilities.
Thus, the Emperor’s words now were…
‘So this is how he stirs the pot?’
Merely provocation and mockery toward Edgar.
“Nothing could be a worse hell for me than being at your mercy. Whatever choice you make would have been better than coexisting with you.”
The Emperor smiled.
“So, sorry, but things won’t go your way. I intend to give our hero much from now on. Everything he never received from a devilish father.”
“…….”
“So please, don’t shamelessly call the hero who freed me from hell your son. From now on, I will take the role of father in your stead.”
Ryan’s expression became peculiar as he listened. Rivan noticed and stifled a chuckle inside.
‘…The Emperor is truly remarkable.’
Indeed, the only concern the Emperor needed to manage now was his relationship with Ryan.
The unpredictable control of Ryan, and maintaining a harmonious bond.
He had provoked a lifelong enemy and simultaneously secured Ryan’s loyalty—two birds with one stone.
“So, Edgar. Before you go to hell, I’ll let you… feel this.”
The Emperor gently touched Edgar’s arm, full of syringe punctures, and added:
“As a father, you’ve given nothing to your son. At least give him one last gift before you leave.”
“Ugh…”
It was a cruel gesture. Edgar twisted violently with eyes ablaze, but the Emperor rose with a relieved expression.
“That’s enough.”
As he turned, BANG!
The Emperor’s eyes widened.
Ryan had stepped on Edgar’s wriggling back like a worm.
“Ugh.”
Even kneeling, Edgar’s furious eyes widened as his head slammed toward the Emperor.
Looking down at Edgar’s bowed head at his feet, the Emperor was shocked.
He thought that just a few words could ease the lingering resentment.
But this…
This was the structure that he and the man before him had envisioned all their lives.
The one who had dared to bow the Emperor beneath him now lay in abject humiliation.
“Remember this eye-level between you and me.”
Now at the lowest point, with his head buried, he had regained his place after a long struggle.
The Emperor’s breath quickened.
His heart pounded.
Excitement.
And euphoria.
A somewhat base emotion for subduing someone—but it was undeniable human nature.
Turning his tear-moistened eyes, the Emperor looked at Ryan.
The executioner who ended hell smiled, crushing a devil beneath him.
***
Count’s Estate Lounge.
While father happily had his blood drawn in the basement, we enjoyed peaceful tea upstairs.
Side by side sat the Emperor and Ryan.
Across from us were the Crown Prince, Niké, and myself.
“Now, perhaps it’s time to properly settle your relations with your siblings?”
The Emperor said to Ryan, implying he should normalize the records for his unmarried status, with both sons and daughters listed.
“You’ll soon have to distribute the Belzer name to your remaining siblings, but not all of them will become your children, right?”
“Ah, yes. That’s correct.”
Referring to Richard and Christa.
They had lost the Bassenberg name after the family’s fall and were now testifying at the courts about their siblings’ crimes.
Once the trial concluded, they would be incorporated into the Belzer family.
“To properly appoint the lady of the house, personal records must be sorted. Even if they aren’t your children, having them on official documents affects marriage eligibility.”
“Eh?!”
Ryan, startled by the mention of a lady of the house, looked at me in shock.
“Why so surprised? Are you seeing someone?”
“Oh, no…”
“…….”
The Emperor glanced at Ryan and quietly added:
“That… was sincere.”
“Sincere?”
“My words about taking on the role of father. Not to please you—this has been on my mind for some time.”
“What? What?!”
Ryan’s eyes widened. The Emperor added in a slightly bitter tone:
“I haven’t been a great father to my own, but I will do what I can for you. Make up for what you’ve missed and enjoy life.”
Before Ryan could even react, the Emperor continued:
“If you have no one in mind, I can introduce you to a suitable family. In fact, the Crown Prince has been considering daughters of noble families as your match, so meet them once.”
“Ehh?!”
Wow, a royal matchmaking!
Ryan, flustered, kept staring at me.
Though he was embarrassed, the corners of his mouth betrayed excitement.
“Well, uh… thank you, but their wishes are important…”
“That has been taken care of. We have already selected suitable families and informed the Crown Prince.”
“Father…”
At that moment, the Crown Prince interjected.
Apparently, the Emperor didn’t hear him.
“Of course, the individuals must meet and see if they are compatible.”
He glanced at Ryan and added:
“A woman would hardly refuse a well-built man with a forthright personality like you.”
“What?! I… I’m not that….”
Ryan shyly shrugged and looked at me again.
Why is he looking at me so much? Hilarious.
But I was pleased to see the Emperor caring so much for him.
“Father!”
Startled, the Crown Prince shouted, and all eyes turned to him.
“If you mean the daughters of Marquis Draymon and Count Rot, then—”
“Yes.”
“I’ve considered it, but they may not suit Sir Ryan. We should quickly look for other families.”
“Suddenly? On your own?”
“For the precious marriage of Sir Ryan, I must be careful.”
“I’ve been careful enough! And first, you need to meet. Marriage comes later.”
“But what if they don’t want to meet? Aren’t we rushing?”
“Your Highness!”
Ryan interrupted, snorting.
“I am deeply grateful to the Emperor and the Crown Prince for taking such care!”
Clearly, he wanted the introductions to happen as soon as possible.
Then, the Crown Prince’s pupils shook like an earthquake.
Why is he acting like that?
I glanced at Niké, asking silently, and she shook her head, clueless.
“Wait a moment…”
The Crown Prince looked around, then at me, and whispered into my ear so only I could hear:
“Yes, we were proceeding positively with the two noble daughters before. But it fell through.”
“Eh? Why?”
“They were scared.”
“……?”
Scared? Of what? …Ah!
“Now everyone knows. Both daughters cried, clinging to their fathers and begged to cancel everything. So it’s over. You can’t force someone who’s afraid to come.”
“Ah, yes… of course.”
Oh, I hadn’t thought of that!
Our lion is gentle to those he knows… but what about strangers?
To them, he is merely an instant-death user, life-threatening at the slightest quarrel…
Ladies who would have agreed to meet had they not known his true identity likely wanted to flee immediately once it was revealed.
Goodness!
At this rate, can our Ryan even date?
“Why… like this?”
Ryan asked me with anxious eyes.
The Crown Prince, unable to voice his concern, passed it to me and turned away.
I only moved my lips.
How do I even respond!
“Uh… err.”
In the end, I could only bite my tongue in frustration, unable to do anything.
I would glady be his wife 😭 I hope our lion gets a good women!