Ch#224
* * *
"Father......!"
Pides rushed urgently into the ceremonial chamber in the inner palace.
The Emperor, who had been donning his cape with the help of the ceremonial officials, slowly turned around.
"Pides. Are you already prepared?"
"It's just, huff!"
Having run all the way, Pides caught his breath several times.
He leaned against the wall with one hand and continued.
"Theseus Luminen! Father was right!"
The Emperor's brow furrowed.
He raised one hand, and the ceremonial officials withdrew.
Pulling his cape tight, the Emperor approached Pides.
"Right about what?"
A few weeks ago, when preparing the invitations for the Glorious Send-Off Ceremony.
The Emperor had sat Pides down and told him two things.
First, that Theseus Luminen had moved to Agavert without their knowledge.
Second, that the Luminen family likely already knew with high probability.
However,
"Both, no. Both of them? Anyway, it's confirmed that Theseus Luminen joined Agavert! I don't know when he moved, but......!"
Sighing softly at the flustered Pides, the Emperor spoke lowly.
"Did you run here just to tell me that?"
"Pardon? Well, yes...... It was urgent."
Displeasure flickered in the Emperor's eyes.
Tall stature.
Handsome features resembling his own.
Pides was certainly a son he cherished.
However,
'If only he had a bit sharper mind.'
If Pides had been more astute, pushing out Ardiana wouldn't have been this difficult.
Clicking his tongue, the Emperor sat in the chair prepared in the ceremonial chamber.
"Pides. Investigating Theseus's background was something I entrusted to you."
Pides shut his mouth.
Clearing his throat self-consciously, the aides exited the ceremonial chamber.
The Emperor sighed once more.
"You seem well aware it's shameful."
"Father. That's not......!"
"When Saint Eleonora died and Theseus Luminen went missing. I told you clearly."
"......"
"To keep a close eye on him, as he was a valuable asset not to lose."
The Emperor placed a single herb leaf from the table on his tongue.
He chewed it thoroughly before continuing.
"Looking back, it wasn't just an order. I even personally investigated and handed over that he founded a mercenary group. That should have been the end of it. Yet you......"
The Emperor groaned in frustration.
He stared at Pides with eyes still filled with disappointment.
"At that time, I even warned Ardiana. Not to assign national requests to him unless necessary. Ardiana carried out my orders perfectly. After all, she's the one leading the Association."
Pides clenched his fist.
"Do I ask too much of you?"
The Emperor lowered his voice further.
"Just handle the basics."
"......"
"Of course, the throne is provisionally yours. I've decided that. But I've told you countless times, we can't ignore the nobles' influence."
"......"
"No matter how much I support you, if the nobles unite against it, even your position vanishes. That's the throne. A golden seat crumbles if the stones beneath collapse."
In the silence, the Emperor rose as if resigned and patted Pides's shoulder.
"Anyway, the uniform suits you well."
The Emperor brushed past him.
As the footsteps faded and the ceremonial chamber door closed, Pides slammed the table.
"Damn it! Damn it all!"
Gnashing his teeth, he glared with bulging eyes.
"Do I not have enough to do? I'm swamped handling all the affairs, how am I supposed to investigate some nobody......!"
When Theseus disappeared.
The Emperor had indeed ordered a background check.
Luminen's bloodline.
A repulsive one born with both mana and Holy Power, but Theseus was promising.
Even the Imperial Palace Knight Commander always said so.
That Theseus had more sword talent than his three older brothers, perhaps even than family head Valentis.
Still,
'Knowing he founded Trebaga or whatever was enough. What more was needed?'
Moreover, he never imagined the bastard had recently moved to Agavert as vice leader.
Of course, all this information could have been obtained with a single inquiry.
Just sending someone to the capital's compensation office would have revealed it immediately.
But,
'I'm too busy!'
The Emperor didn't understand.
Dopey, idle Ardiana had time to spare, so she handled Association matters well.
But he was different.
'With mountains of work, how can I handle such trivia.'
Still, what could he do.
The Emperor was his father, ignorant of favoring his children, and the ruler of this nation.
"Endure it. I've always been the one enduring."
Muttering, Pides glanced at the table he had struck.
He wanted to smash something in rage, but unfortunately, this was the Emperor's space.
Nothing and no one could be touched carelessly here.
Lest he offend the Emperor's mood.
"Anyway."
Pides straightened the skewed table and turned.
"This humiliation ends soon, Ardiana."
After the Glorious Send-Off Ceremony, Ardiana was set to depart for the Central Continent.
Supporting regions where mana stones had emerged and become dangerous—essentially a death sentence.
Pides swept back his neatly combed hair and opened the ceremonial chamber door.
At the end of the long corridor.
The sounds of laughter and chatter drifted from afar, the banquet having begun.
* * *
"......This is a bit much."
In the banquet hall hosting the opening reception.
Tie blinked at Basto's voice.
"Oh, Lady Violeta! Long time no see. I hear young Lord Noam is leading the vanguard for this expedition?"
"My goodness, even the Larian family is joining? What a coincidence!"
Sumptuously dressed noble ladies exchanged cheek kisses in greeting.
All chatting with beaming faces.
"As expected of a party hosted by His Majesty himself—the atmosphere is different."
"Right? Did you see the table decorations?"
Tie's gaze naturally turned to the dainty decorations the ladies were admiring.
Clean silverware and pretty plates adorned their tables.
"Leader, not there."
Veil said quietly.
Tie turned to where Veil pointed.
Then tilted her head.
"That's weird......"
Why was it different?
The table prepared for Agavert was barer than the ladies'.
Only napkins and cutlery—no pretty decorations or ornate central candelabra.
"It's fine, it's fine. We expected this."
Veil said, but Tie's brows drooped further.
"But no snacks either......?"
Tie's table lacked delicious fruits, cakes, and cookies.
The child's eyes grew sorrowful.
"It's discrimination."
If there was one thing Tie hated most in the world, it was discrimination.
And to face it even at a pre-expedition party......
"Leader. There's bread here. You like bread, right?"
Basto, already seated, called soothingly.
But Tie hesitated to move.
As sadness slowly welled in her downcast eyes.
"Well, if it isn't!"
Someone called from behind.
Turning, a portly elderly lady smiled brightly, leaning on her cane.
"Agavert's leader, the Necromancer King, isn't it? Walker Wavebrill, at last making my greetings!"
Tie stared wide-eyed at the lady kissing her cheek.
Gazes converged around them too.
The Empire's great magnate.
Walker Wavebrill, rarely seen publicly, greeting someone so warmly.
And that someone being the mercenary leader tacitly ignored at the moment.
"But why is the seating like this?"
At that instant, Walker Wavebrill boomed heartily.
Silence fell over the banquet hall.