PHATFO 67

~Chapter 67~

“Come visit often.”

“……”

“And talk a little about that child.”

The Emperor’s eyes softened.

They were eyes drawing a moment that did not exist in the present—an unknown time.

“So I will—”

Cough, cough.

Suddenly the Emperor bent forward, coughing again and again. The sound was harsh, dragged up from deep in his lungs rather than just his throat.

“Your Majesty?”

Startled, I rose, but the Emperor lifted his hand to stop me.

“Sorry, don’t come closer. We’re eating—food might have splattered. It’s messy.”

“Ah…”

The Emperor pointing out such a shabby detail…

As I turned my gaze away in awkwardness—

“Bella!”

The Emperor’s chambers, which now felt like automatic doors, opened, and Aisha entered.

“What, you really were here?”

As if I were her only target from the start, she grabbed my hand and asked again:

“What are you doing here?”

“Uh…”

Where should I start explaining so I wouldn’t look like a fool?

But Aisha didn’t give me time to think.

“It’s urgent. Let’s talk on the way.”

“Huh?”

But… the Emperor was right there…

Following my gaze, Aisha belatedly noticed him. She asked as though she’d just realized:

“Your Majesty, may I take Bella with me?”

“…Do as you wish.”

From his half-hearted wave, annoyance could be felt.

“That’s great. Let’s go.”

Aisha linked arms with me.

Even though the Emperor gave permission… was it really okay to just leave?

This felt far from the systematic, strict image of the Imperial Palace. It was confusing.

But then—

“Come quickly.”

At Aisha’s repeated urging, my confusion faded.

“What on earth is going on?”

“If you’re late, your ID card will be gone.”

“??”

Isabel only straightened her body long after Bella left.

Contrary to his words about food splattering, the inside of his palm was soaked with blood.

‘If I wipe it on my clothes, the laundry maids will have a hard time.’

“Lil, a handkerchief.”

At once, a cloth was placed in his hand.

“Thank you.”

He wiped his mouth and hands quickly. Then he noticed the fabric.

“I said a cotton one is enough.”

Isabel clicked his tongue. Not only was the handkerchief expensive, it didn’t seem like a common palace item.

“Tell the administrator the price and deduct it. I’ll buy this one.”

“There’s no need.”

The voice was deep, heavy—a man’s.

Isabel looked up in surprise.

“…Marquis.”

Once a childhood friend. Later, a fiancé. Then, broken off, and now a vassal.

Axxion Blansia stood there.

He said nothing, just stared down at her.

Noticing his gaze fixed on the handkerchief, Isabel tried to cover the bloodstain with her palm.

“Give it to me.”

Axxion’s hand was already out before her.

“You can’t use it anymore. I’ll throw it away—don’t worry about it.”

“Then it doesn’t concern you. Just think I picked up what His Majesty discarded.”

“……”

In the end, the handkerchief went into Axxion’s hand.

He unfolded it deliberately, gauging the size of the bloodstain, then carefully folded it and slipped it into his pocket.

“Who was that just now?”

Only after thinking did Isabel realize what he meant.

“Ah, you saw Bella.”

“That woman’s name is Bella?”

“Yes. A very capable and kind friend. And… the one Armin likes.”

“Is that so.”

Axxion still didn’t leave. Having seen the blood, he was even less likely to.

Isabel stood to prove her health, but dizziness struck and she staggered.

Her body, about to collapse, was firmly held. Axxion gripped her shoulders and sat her back down.

“You look rather healthy.”

“Unlike His Majesty.”

Those slightly twisted lips—Isabel could read the dissatisfaction behind them.

“Do you think I became like this because of Armin?”

“……”

“Axxion. Armin did nothing wrong.”

It was just… my bad luck.

She muttered the same complaint she’d said before and met his eyes again.

“How strange. By now I expected you to explode, shouting, ‘Your Majesty doesn’t understand my heart!’ Do you have something to say to me?”

Axxion nodded. Slowly lowering himself, he knelt on one knee.

Then came a ring case.

“Please marry me.”

“…Marquis.”

Isabel’s tone changed. The smile on her lips vanished.

“I won’t live long.”

“I know.”

“That’s why I’m saying this. I understand your desire for power, but maintaining the throne will be short. I don’t recommend it.”

“……”

“So if you want to achieve your ambition, look for another way.”

“Your Majesty.”

“…There are many good young ladies. Among them, someone you can spend a lifetime with.”

As Axxion tried to speak, Isabel raised her hand and gently stroked his cheek.

“You deserve to be happy.”

“My happiness is—”

Bang!

Clenching his fist, Axxion raised his head. Isabel also looked out the window at the sound.

“What’s going on?”

Lin entered to report.

“A qualification test is being held at the Magic Tower.”

Qualification test.

It meant testing each other’s mana to prove one’s right to enter the garden.

Of course, in reality, it was a loophole magicians used to duel, since duels were forbidden.

Looking west, Axxion remarked:

“The mana is considerable.”

“I said masters were forbidden from testing.”

Isabel clicked his tongue.

“I’ll have to stop them.”

Lin shook his head.

“It’s not a master.”

“Then?”

“Count Blansia’s disciple, Bella Rohilton, is taking the test.”

“What?”

Isabel’s mouth fell open.

At the garden entrance, magicians were already gathered.

All apprentices without badges, wearing plain robes.

Seeing me, they stiffened with hostility.

Thanks to Aisha’s explanation, I understood.

“So you’re upset Bella skipped being an apprentice and became an official magician right away?”

“That’s right.”

“We think it’s unfair to skip training just because she’s the Count’s disciple.”

“Unfair? You’re still apprentices not because of connections, but because you lack skill.”

Aisha scoffed. But the magicians continued.

“She only measured mana, that’s all. And even that was a closed test.”

“Everyone here passed a high threshold to remain in this place. Even we can’t become full magicians without tests…”

Aisha, annoyed, suddenly smirked.

“So basically, you’re bitter that since you suffered as apprentices, the newcomer should suffer too, right?”

“……”

“That’s really it?”

Aisha sighed, brushing her hair back.

I’d seen this gesture before—it meant she was very annoyed. She always took it out on someone afterward.

The apprentices also noticed and fell silent, wary.

After a while, Aisha looked at me.

“They say that. What do you want to do?”

“What do you mean… I had a choice?”

Earlier she said my ID card would be gone if I didn’t come quickly.

“That was just to get you out of the Emperor’s room. Honestly, you can just ignore them. If you respond to every provocation, you’ll waste your mana. Well, not you—you’ll have enough. But it’ll exhaust you. Do you think you’ll never meet people like this in life? If you respond every time, you’ll die.”

“Hmm.”

I glanced around.

On my left—Aisha with arms crossed. On my right—ten apprentices glaring.

Dodging was one option. Since Aisha dragged me here, I could just hide behind her.

But…

‘Maybe showing my strength clearly once isn’t a bad idea.’