Chapter 67
As the doors opened, a servant standing by the entrance announced loudly:
“His Majesty the Emperor and Lady Izana of the Rohia family are entering!”
Immediately, the noisy room fell silent as if nothing had happened.
At the far end of the grand conference hall was the emperor’s throne. A red carpet, known as the Crown Road, stretched from the entrance to the throne—something only a few people were ever allowed to walk on.
The emperor began walking forward confidently through the heavy silence.
I followed behind him quietly, walking one step behind.
“So the rumor was true,” muttered Duke Benzen Tradi, watching the little girl walking beside the emperor.
His wife, Duchess Paria Tradi, gently covered her mouth with a fan and whispered back, “Didn’t the Marchioness of Higa say it herself? She said the girl from the Rohia family was surprisingly healthy.”
“Surprisingly healthy? Everyone said that girl was a half-wit and couldn’t walk. The entire Empire thought so. Even if she’s an illegitimate child, how could such nasty rumors be pinned on such a normal-looking girl?”
Paria’s eyes narrowed as she watched the girl.
“If she was locked away and kept hidden from everyone, then yes—it’s possible.”
“That’s… such a pity,” murmured their son.
Benzen gently patted the boy’s head and said, “Never say that again, my son.”
“Don’t forget, that poor girl is now walking the Crown Road with the emperor—something no one else dares to do.”
Paria hugged her son’s tense shoulders tightly. He had been staring fiercely at the Rohia family members on the other side of the hall.
“You should also know her dress is finer than yours.”
“And that it was His Majesty who gave it to her,” Benzen added.
“That means this little lady is going to become someone very important and precious from now on.”
Oscar Tradi, the young lord, looked shocked.
“Does this mean that a young girl will become the emperor’s bride?”
Paria gently tapped his mouth with her fan. “Don’t say such nonsense!”
Benzen frowned, still staring at the girl. The emperor even had her stand right next to him on the throne.
“It’s a little strange that she suddenly appeared in this important place, but knowing His Majesty, there’s probably a good reason. No need to worry about him doing anything improper.”
“Then… that’s a relief,” Oscar said, still confused.
His eyes returned to the girl standing beside the emperor. She looked a bit thin, but her gaze was calm and steady, even in such a tense room. It made a strong impression.
And she wasn’t the only one who felt that way—everyone in the room noticed the same thing.
Then Emperor Silis finally spoke.
“Why is everyone so quiet today? Are you all tired from looking after your people so hard because of [Materia]’s prophecy?”
The attention that had been on the girl quickly scattered.
“You look very tired too, Your Majesty,” said Duke Benzen. “With those dark circles under your eyes, I worry you’ve dropped from 7th to 8th on the continent’s most handsome men list.”
The joke lifted the heavy mood instantly. The emperor let out a small laugh, and soon everyone else joined in.
“I heard something happened early this morning,” someone said. “Was it true that [Egrio] came to the palace?”
“He didn’t even ask for an official meeting!”
“Such rudeness can’t be allowed!”
The room grew noisy again. But as the emperor remained silent, the noise slowly faded on its own.
Once the noise settled into a low hum, the emperor stretched out his hand.
Count Hester stepped forward and offered a tray with a scroll on it.
The emperor picked it up and said, “This was indeed an important matter, so let’s all calm down.”
“What is that scroll?”
“This is a letter from Perez, who I had sent to the Rohia family to check on [Materia]. [Egrio] brought it here himself. He was worried about the disease in Elahi, visited Rohia, met Perez, and delivered this letter.”
The nobles began murmuring in surprise.
Everyone here had heard the dark rumors about [Egrio]. That someone like him would come all the way to the West Empire out of concern? It was hard to believe.
Duke Benzen used the moment to raise his voice again.
“What’s the news from Elahi? Is it really an unknown disease?”
“According to Perez, they still don’t know what causes it. The fever and hallucinations are common in many illnesses, but the black discoloration of the limbs couldn’t be explained.”
People began shifting uneasily. The discussion moved away from [Egrio] and back to the disease.
This was serious—it threatened their lands and was tied to the first prophecy from [Materia], which was already coming true.
“The prophecy was real!” shouted Bern Rohia, stepping forward.
He stopped just before the red carpet of the Crown Road.
His bloodshot eyes glanced over the nobles hidden in the shadows, and he spoke with pride.
“Since [Materia]’s prophecy came true, we must follow it without question!”
The room fell into silence again.
Some of the nobles were beginning to feel the true danger of the crisis, no longer hidden behind stories, but now pressing on their skin.
Bern enjoyed the silence. This was the moment he had been waiting for—when his youngest son would be revealed as their only hope.
“What do we do then? If we don’t know the cause, how can we prepare?”
“The prophecy gave the answer: stay away from the sea.”
The emperor responded to the murmured concern.
“The letter says some patients in Elahi got better within a day after being moved away from the sea. We’ll have to observe, but it might be connected to the water.”
Then he turned and looked directly at Bern Rohia, who was still standing just before stepping onto the Crown Road.
“That’s why there’s one thing we need to make clear here and now.”
His gaze turned cold.
“Lord Rohia, you told me you ordered the evacuation of your people. But this letter says your knights trapped them in Elahi instead.”
Bern flinched slightly at the word “trapped.”
“If [Egrio] hadn’t visited Rohia… if Lady Izana hadn’t convinced him to go help Elahi’s people… I don’t even want to imagine what kind of hell Elahi would have become.”
“……”
“So now, Lord Rohia, it’s your turn to explain. I think I’ve given you more than enough time since breakfast to come up with an answer.”
He actually brought it up again!
Bern had thought this issue was over during breakfast. The emperor seemed a little upset then, but he had declared that he would make Izana his goddaughter, which Bern had taken as a sign the matter was closed.
‘Was I tricked into letting my guard down?’
The emperor never liked the Rohia family much anyway. When he took the throne, the Rohias had opposed him.
Because of that, despite their long noble history, they had been pushed out of important positions.
Bern clenched his fists and tried to stay calm.
“Your Majesty, I did tell Elci Karn to help the evacuation depending on the situation. I admit I wasn’t fully informed about what was happening in Elahi—”
“So you’re saying you didn’t order your knights to trap the villagers?”
“Yes. If the people were trapped, it must have been Elci Karn’s decision.”
“Are you willing to take responsibility for that statement?”
Sweat began to gather on Bern’s forehead.
“Of course, they are my knights, so if Elci acted on his own, then I’ll take responsibility for failing to command him properly.”
He clenched his fists harder, feeling more and more wronged.
“But please understand one thing, Your Majesty. I did it all for [Materia]’s safety—and for the survival of the West Empire!”
Did these people really believe that a baby had written that bloody prophecy?
To save the world with a prophecy, people first had to believe it. Bern thought he was sacrificing himself to make them believe.
He gave the cruel orders, even though it tore him up inside. But for the greater good, it had to be done.
He believed he had thrown himself into the mud for the sake of everyone.
“Fine. Then one of you is lying.”
The emperor nodded slowly, watching Bern’s fiery eyes.
Then someone stepped out from behind the curtain behind the throne.
Bern’s eyes widened as he recognized the man.
“Adrian…?”
It was Adrian, the head butler of the Rohia family.
That’s actually a smarter play from the duchess than I expected, assuming she did in fact order this to happen like I assume