Chapter 56
“……”
Carpenter could not believe the sight he had witnessed.
The Emperor, who had appeared like a single ray of salvation, split the familiar in two and rushed at the traitor—all in an instant.
The traitor, who had been restoring his body, lost his soul stone to a single strike from the Emperor and was annihilated.
‘Am I looking at a messenger of God?’
Watching the Emperor turn back toward him, Carpenter found himself thinking just that.
A beautiful and noble appearance that did not suit this land reeking of death in the slightest.
The white uniform wrapped in dazzling radiance looked sturdier than any armor.
The Emperor’s sword, as he approached Carpenter, vibrated as if letting out a cry.
The yellow holy power enveloping the blade took on a thin, sharp form.
Carpenter could not even begin to guess how vast an amount of holy power was compressed within that light.
An overwhelmingly powerful force.
Overcome by that wonder, Carpenter dropped to one knee to receive the Emperor.
“Your Majesty the Emperor, I am ashamed.”
“Not at all.”
The Emperor smiled kindly and sheathed his sword.
“More importantly, Commander. Leave quickly before the barrier collapses.”
Only then did Carpenter look down at his feet.
The protective barrier of his armor had weakened, and the parts touching the ground were corroding.
“Y-Yes, understood!”
To think that he, a commander, had not even realized the state of his own protective barrier.
He felt ashamed once more before the Emperor, but escape came first.
Before even the soles of his feet could rot away, Carpenter stepped out of the blackened ground.
The knights who had been waiting for him outside the boundary greeted him with excitement written all over their faces.
“You brats… Are you that happy I came back alive—”
“Did you see that, Commander?!”
“His Majesty driving them back…! Wow. I still can’t believe I witnessed a battle like that with my own eyes.”
The knights who had seen the Emperor’s performance could not contain their excitement.
“Ah, Commander, we’re glad you’re safe as well.”
Only belatedly did one subordinate offer a perfunctory greeting.
Carpenter rubbed his nose.
“You little….”
“A-Are you angry?”
“No matter what, could any of you compare to me, who saw it right up close?”
When Carpenter joined in praising the Emperor’s greatness, the knights chattered away even more excitedly.
The conversation quickly grew heated.
“To think one of them controlled a familiar.”
“There’s a reason they call them the Reapers of Death. That ominous power….”
“Your Majesty, you’ve arrived.”
Unlike Carpenter, who had rushed in breathlessly, the Emperor stepped beyond the boundary at a calm pace.
The knights immediately straightened and received him with proper decorum, as if they had not just been noisy moments before.
“However….”
Carpenter carefully opened his mouth.
His gaze fell on the Emperor holding the reins—and on the horse the Emperor had ridden in on.
“Did you come all the way here alone?”
Although this damaged region was adjacent to the Imperial Capital, it was not a place the Emperor would casually come to alone as if out for a stroll.
The answer to Carpenter’s question came from the knights of the Imperial Guard, who arrived in a hurry, kicking up clouds of dust.
“Y-Your Majesty!”
Commander Kadiyan dismounted hastily, his face pale.
He was dressed the same as the Emperor.
A white uniform with blue trim and silver buttons—the uniform of the Imperial Knights.
Just about thirty minutes earlier, the Emperor’s party had been heading to inspect the blackened land, disguised as members of the Imperial Knights.
Upon entering the damaged area, however, the Emperor’s horse had suddenly sped up and ridden ahead.
The escort knights immediately chased after him but could not catch up to his pace.
The gap widened more and more, and only now had they arrived.
“Were you unharmed…?!”
At Kadiyan’s urgent question, Alend nodded.
“There was no trouble.”
He had not originally intended to come alone.
But Ru, whom he had sent ahead into the blackened land, had signaled to Alend.
It was a signal that among the traitors, there was one who had a contractor.
Fortunately, they had not been too late and had not lost any Holy Knights, so there was no real trouble.
Alend turned his head slightly.
It was in the direction of the Nisephorel Temple.
‘The Saintess….’
“Your Majesty, when you go out today, please make sure to cover your face. Because….”
“……Don’t.”
“Someone might mistake you for a jewel and try to take you.”
Saying something strange again, she had headed toward the temple.
She said she would be a one-day instructor; he wondered if that would be alright—but more than that, he was concerned about Hazel Royken.
There had been a time when the collector had coveted the Saintess, but that was not what troubled Alend’s thoughts now.
Lately, Hazel had been meddling unnecessarily in the matter between him and the Saintess.
He had warned him in a letter not to spout nonsense, but how would that man respond?
The Saintess had been acting strange lately as it was—what if she became even stranger?
“…….”
Meanwhile, the knights watching the Emperor felt as though their hearts were being torn apart.
Their Emperor, standing with the blackened land behind him, gazing at the remaining meadow with eyes full of melancholy.
‘Your Majesty….’
‘Are you worrying about Zendal’s future…?’
“Is this a doll that’s for sale?”
“Huh?”
“Since you’re carrying it around like that, I wondered if it’s a doll you like, Saintess.”
Fortunately, what came out of Noel’s mouth was not Fyu’s true identity.
“Y-Yes. I got it in the Imperial Capital and liked it, so I carry it around. Do you want one too, Noel?”
Color brightened Noel’s face.
Then, lowering his gaze as if making a difficult request, he nodded.
“……Yes. I’d like to have the same doll too.”
Noel, saying that, was unbearably cute.
As expected, ridiculous-looking dolls work well on kids.
So I said I’d send ten so he could share with the other children, but he didn’t look as happy as I’d expected.
…Should I have boldly said a hundred instead?
Anyway.
After a short welcoming party, the class began right away, and contrary to my worries from a few days ago, it went well.
Thankfully, Hazel had replied that the topic could be anything.
Otherwise, I might have ended up lecturing about Seikan, which I barely knew myself, and the kids would’ve been the ones teaching me. Ugh.
To prevent such a disaster, the class was conducted under the theme: “Tasting and Evaluating Desserts from Antoine Bakery.”
The kids enjoyed it, and I got to hear customer reviews firsthand, so it was a very productive time.
And now, the main reason I came here!
After class ended, I entered the President’s office with Hazel guiding me.
Commander Henkel tried to come in as well, but Hazel stopped him.
“I have something to discuss privately with the Saintess.”
“His Majesty ordered me to guard the Saintess.”
“Then we can leave the door open, can we not? I’ll leave it wide open, so please stand in the corridor.”
“…….”
So, with the President’s office door wide open, Commander Henkel remained standing in the corridor.
Commander, I’m sorry I can’t help you…
But I have something very important to do right now…!
“Which of my collections should I show you?”
After casting a soundproof barrier so that Commander Henkel couldn’t hear the conversation, Hazel approached me.
My eyes sparkled as I said,
“All of them.”
Since His Majesty hadn’t been born and raised in the Imperial Palace, there was nothing in the palace about his childhood.
‘I can’t miss this opportunity!’
It’s a shame I can’t make a fuss to maintain my Saintess image.
If I didn’t have to keep up appearances in front of Hazel, I’d have already grabbed his arm and jumped up and down…!
I was taking deep breaths inwardly, trying to suppress my excitement.
Though honestly, even if I suppress it, it feels like it’ll explode sooner or later.
‘But I have to see them! What can I do!’
For some reason, Hazel looked amused at the sight of me sitting there calmly.
Then he brought out a wooden box about the size of an apple crate from the inner room of the office.
We sat facing each other with the wooden box on the table between us.
Behind me were the wide-open office door and Commander Henkel observing the situation.
The back of my head tingled a little.
“Shall I open it?”
“Yes.”
Hazel’s gloved hand gently lifted the lid of the box.
‘His Majesty’s childhood…!’
The glimpse of velvet lining made my heart pound wildly—
Thud.
“Before that, Saintess.”
Hazel closed the lid.
I reflexively lifted my head and looked at Hazel.
Though I may not know for certain, my eyes were surely filled with resentment.
‘What is it…?! A mid-roll ad? Is this a pay-to-view situation?’
If that’s the case, take my money. I’ve got nothing but money these days. Take it and show me His Majesty’s childhood. I’m getting dizzy here, hurry…
I wanted to stuff a bundle of checks into Hazel’s suit pocket right then and there.
But for now, the thread of reason that insisted on maintaining my Saintess image was stronger.
Well done, my body parts.
If you don’t want to cause trouble for His Majesty, endure just a little longer…
Feigning ignorance, I composed my expression and asked,
“Is there a problem?”
“How much do you wish to know about His Majesty?”
“Of course….”
What’s the point of saying it.
I was about to say “All of it” again, but Hazel’s amber eyes gleamed like a wolf’s.
He withdrew his hand from the box and rested his elbows on the table.
Perhaps mindful of Commander Henkel, he laced his fingers and covered his mouth.
“The interest you hold, Saintess, may end up touching His Majesty’s scars.”
“E-Excuse me…?”
Startled, I stammered.
He’d built up such an atmosphere that I wondered what was coming—only for it to be a warning meant to scare me.
At the word “scars,” my heart dropped.
‘Then you shouldn’t have said you had childhood memorabilia of His Majesty in the first place…!’
Right now, I feel like I trusted a friend who promised to show me a limited-edition collectible, went all the way to their house over an hour away—
Only to hear, “I can’t show it to you because it might wear out. Just go home.”
All the anticipation I’d built up over the past week…!
‘That’s too much… President….’
Whether he knew my disappointment-filled heart or not, Hazel’s meaningful words did not end there.
“Still, I do not think your interest is a bad thing, Saintess.”
You say it touches His Majesty’s scars, yet it isn’t bad?
Hazel continued.
“His Majesty tries to hide everything from you, but someday you will come to know. Would it not be alright if that day came a little sooner?”
“……Hide? What is he hiding?”
“The past. One that carved deep scars that have not healed even with the passage of time.”
Hazel looked at me with an unreadable expression.
“I do not wish for you to remain in ignorance. Ignorance is poison. Without knowing anything, one can wound another deeply.”
“…….”
“I hope no new wounds are carved upon His Majesty’s unhealed scars.”
I could not fully understand Hazel’s words, but there was something I understood clearly.
That what was inside that wooden box was a past that had left His Majesty with great wounds.
That although His Majesty did not wish it, someday I would face it—and I needed to know it.
Hazel once again took hold of the box’s lid and asked me,
“Shall I open it?”
