23 - Can I Cry Now?
Episode 23
Since it was still spring, the sun had already crossed the mountains and disappeared from sight.
In the darkening Imperial Palace, those finishing their work were hurrying to leave.
Usually, those working in the Imperial Palace return home before evening.
Those who remained either ate beforehand or brought things they could eat.
Clois was one of those people.
In truth, the Emperor didn't need to worry about meal times within the Imperial Palace.
Whenever he wished, not just a simple meal, but a lavish feast could be prepared.
However, Clois didn't particularly enjoy such meals.
People thought he avoided lavish meals because he still had habits from the war and didn't much care for extravagance.
But his reluctance to eat in the Imperial Palace's dining hall was for a different reason.
'It's too big.'
He thought of the spacious dining hall as he ate the simple meal brought by the servants.
In the past, he always ate there.
Back then, there were quite a few members of the Imperial Family.
The former Emperor and Empress, of course, as well as seven sons, four daughters, and even the children of those who had married early.
Regardless of how close they were, it was always bustling.
Therefore, the Imperial Palace's dining hall, as Clois remembered it, was always full of people.
But now, the only person eating at the huge table in that dining hall was him, just him.
Because no other members of the Imperial Family remained.
Sitting alone in the dining hall, he was often reminded of the fact that he was the only one left of the Imperial Family.
And also, that no one else would ever sit with him again.
So, more and more, he didn't go there, and the number of days he ate simply in his office increased.
Thinking of the past, Clois lifted the lid of the dish placed on the trolley.
As if the doctor had conveyed his concerns about his diet, it was filled with very appetizing things.
But Clois's face didn't show any particular expression as he looked at it.
Like someone who had completely lost his appetite.
After checking all the food on the trolley, he paused for a moment and picked up one of the sandwiches from the middle shelf.
It was made with all sorts of ingredients packed tightly, but it was still the simplest of the prepared foods.
But Clois didn't care and returned to the table with only that plate.
Before eating, he took off his gloves.
A very complex pattern, like a tattoo, was imprinted on the back of his hand.
This was proof of being a direct descendant of the Imperial Family.
A mark left by the mysterious beings who helped the founding Emperor during the founding of the nation.
Those who possessed this mark had mysterious powers, though not as strong as magic.
In the time of the founding Emperor, the power was so strong that it was said to have blocked arrows.
But now, there is no power that strong.
'There seems to be a faint power remaining...'
To instinctively avoid anything dangerous.
Even that could only be felt by those like Clois, whose power manifested strongly.
Therefore, he didn't think much of having this mark.
Having power was a thing of the past, and now there were many people who were children of the Emperor but didn't have the mark.
Moreover, not having the mark didn't mean a lack of talent.
Clois's grandfather also didn't have the mark, but he was remembered as a decent ruler.
But perhaps it was shocking to the Emperor that the mark, which had been passed down, didn't appear on him, so he was particularly obsessed with the mark.
Then, when the mark didn't appear on his own child, the former Emperor, he tried to erase the records of the mark as much as possible.
After all, it was not widely known knowledge in the world.
Moreover, it was treated as half an old tale.
So, decades later, it only remained in the Imperial Family's records and paintings, and not many people outside knew about the Imperial Family's mark.
'But the obsession continued.'
The former Emperor had seven children, including Clois.
Clois was the only one among them who was born with the mark.
Therefore, the Emperor openly favored Clois.
Moreover, Clois was also the most talented of the Emperor's children.
Clois moved his hand slightly.
Then he suddenly thought.
'If Evevien had lived...'
Would the mark have appeared?
The young corpse he had recovered was already rotting, so he couldn't confirm.
'If she had been born with it, it would have already been clearly revealed by now.'
It manifests clearly by the age of 5 or 6 at the latest.
It is said to disappear temporarily if a lot of power is used, but if she had grown up as a princess, there would have been no dangerous events, so it might have appeared clearly.
Then, the image of a young child flashed through his mind.
Did the child holding a slightly clumsy flower crown have a mark on her hand...?
"……!"
The moment he realized who he was thinking of, he was surprised and jumped up.
"Damn it……."
Clois repeatedly ran his hand over his face.
For a moment, he was unknowingly superimposing the image of Ibi, whom he had met yesterday, onto the older version of Evevien.
It was absurd.
Until now, he had seen children of the same age as Evevien several times.
But he had never thought of those children as Evevien, but yesterday, he saw for the first time.
To naturally recall the image of his daughter in his fantasy, even with a small, thin child.
Clois closed his eyes. It seemed that meeting that child in front of Lilian and Evevien's gravestone yesterday was a more intense event than he thought.
After standing still for a long time, he lowered his hand and approached the window.
The image of Ibi bowing her head in greeting during the day naturally came to mind.
'She must be very tired today.'
He remembered the schedule of the Academy for the Gifted that he had seen fleetingly in the documents.
She must have been touring the Imperial Palace all day. It would have been quite difficult for a young child to walk and follow all day.
So, she must have already returned to the dormitory and be resting at this hour.
As he was lost in thought, a loud noise suddenly came from outside.
Loud footsteps, the voices of the flustered Head Servant and other servants.
No one was scheduled to visit at this hour.
'But I don't hear the shouts of the Knights either.'
Then it is clear that it is someone who has the right to enter at any time.
But most of those people would visit quietly and politely.
The only person who would come so noisily...
"Your Majesty! I'm here! I'm coming in!"
"Lady Seraphina! It is difficult if you come so recklessly!"
Clois sighed as if he expected it, hearing the Head Servant's voice from outside the office.
He could tell it was Seraphina's voice as soon as he heard it.
Even if it wasn't her voice, he would have recognized her.
Who else but Seraphina would dare to act like that in front of the Emperor's office?
"Come in."
Clois said as he sat down, and the door opened immediately.
"Your Majesty's loyal servant, huff, Seraphina, huff, greets you."
Seeing her panting, Clois felt a headache.
But he decided to endure it.
Because he was the one who asked Seraphina, who was causing a fuss about retiring, to take on the position of Head of the Academy for the Gifted.
"Enough. What are you running here to ask for?"
"Please lend me the Imperial Magic Stone!"
Clois frowned at those words.
"Are you finally thinking of committing treason today?"
"Why would I do such a difficult thing? Even if I succeed, I would have to work like Your Majesty, and that's not the life I want!"
Seeing Seraphina shudder as if she really hated it, Clois felt his headache worsen.
Seraphina was the only one who could so easily and carelessly talk about treason in front of him.
That was because she was not only a powerful magician but also a benefactor who had saved Clois's life several times during the Succession War.
"And I also need permission to use great magic inside the Imperial Palace."
"You're going to use magic inside the Imperial Palace?"
Clois's eyes sharpened.
At first, he thought Seraphina had come to say nonsense again, but something must have happened.
"What on earth happened?"
At Clois's cold voice, Seraphina also dropped her playful attitude and straightened her posture.
"Today, during the Academy for the Gifted students' tour of the Imperial Palace, one child went missing. Therefore, as the Head of the Academy for the Gifted, I would like to use magic to track the child, so please grant me permission."
"……A student is missing?"
He felt strangely uneasy.
"What is the student's name?"
At his question, Seraphina also looked at him with surprised eyes and answered.
"Ibi Elden. A 7-year-old girl."
The moment he heard that name, Clois jumped up without realizing it.
"Permission granted to use magic inside the Imperial Palace. Find her immediately!"
