Episode 7
From the perspective of someone who had been possessed, the protagonist’s affection wasn’t entirely welcome.
‘After all, Rurik is the final boss who goes berserk from the shock of losing his sister, right?’
If he finds out his precious little sister is pregnant right after he gets back, wouldn’t he go berserk just the same?
Feeling anxious, I gently pushed him away. For a moment, it seemed like a black vortex swirled within Rurik’s red eyes, so similar to my own.
‘What is it?’
I had set it so that his red eyes swirling black was a sign of him going berserk…
‘And when he fully loses control, they turn completely black.’
No, why is it happening now?!
‘I’m perfectly fine, Brother!’
The pregnancy isn’t even showing yet!
Rurik turned and headed towards the main palace to have an audience with the Emperor.
Phoebe and I mingled with the crowd of nobles, only moving when everyone started heading to the banquet hall.
“His Highness seems even more dashing, even if he’s grown thinner. His gaze has become deeper…”
Phoebe, who should know his temper perfectly well, offered a naive observation beside me.
‘It’s not that his gaze is deeper; he’s on the verge of going berserk.’
Then again, the fact that Rurik could be influenced by the demonic sword was a secret even he himself didn’t know.
The imperial family had kept it tightly under wraps.
‘So to others, it probably just seems a bit unusual.’
Thus, even among the nearby nobles, some immature young ladies subtly nodded, agreeing with Phoebe.
‘Ugh.’
I sighed and climbed the stairs, but instead of going to the dining hall like the other nobles, I headed for the audience chamber on the top floor.
As it was a special day, the doors to the audience chamber were wide open, and nobles who couldn’t bring themselves to enter were lingering outside, listening intently for the Emperor’s voice.
Just then, Rurik’s voice was heard.
“I beg your forgiveness for my late return, Your Majesty.”
It was a greeting directed not at a father, but at his sovereign.
Then, knights who appeared to be Rurik’s subordinates walked down the corridor, carrying a long chest into the audience chamber.
They then opened the lid of the chest to show everyone what was inside.
I spotted four stained helmets inside, frowned, and stepped back.
“Hah, hahaha.”
But the Emperor laughed heartily, greatly pleased before those objects that seemed to reek of blood just from the sight of them.
Rurik’s voice continued.
“I am fortunate to be able to present them to you, every last one.”
“You have done well, my son.”
It was only after hearing that voice that I took another step forward to gauge the atmosphere in the audience chamber.
I wanted to see if Rurik was receiving proper praise and recognition.
The Emperor placed a hand on Rurik’s shoulder.
The Emperor’s gloved hand struck the hard Shoulder plate of Rurik armor twice with a heavy sound.
—Thud, thud.
For a victory he had dedicated three years to, the praise ended right there.
Someone nearby, acting familiar, pulled Rurik up and gave him a light hug.
“My, you reek of beast.”
The informal speech and black hair indicated it was Crown Prince Hart.
After saying that so casually, Hart added, as if joking.
“You’ve worked hard. But as the main character, you should shine. Go wash up before heading to the banquet hall.”
“Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Rurik answered immediately, but I didn’t miss how his red eyes darkened and swirled again.
‘His condition is really not good…’
Hart didn’t even properly observe Rurik in that state, simply smiling contentedly at his half-brother’s obedient reply.
The Emperor, also intoxicated with victory, said with a smile.
“Now then, let us all meet in the banquet hall.”
Will you look at these irresponsible men?
Hey, take a proper look at our boy’s condition…!
There’s something wrong with him…!
Sometime later, the Banquet Hall.
Perhaps because he was the hero of the victory, Rurik was seated opposite the Crown Prince at the head table.
‘But why do I have to sit here too…?’
The problem was that I was also being honored, likely to placate him.
So, I ended up sitting next to Rurik, facing Princess Zenise.
Cyril, next to Zenise, raised a hand to cover her lips and whispered to me.
“You still don’t know?”
She was undoubtedly asking about Callisteon.
‘How persistent.’
I thought to myself and gave a vague smile.
“I really don’t know.”
Of course, Callisteon himself said he would come, but didn’t the other two say he wouldn’t?
Seeing my ambiguous smile, Chirilla finally seemed disappointed, the corners of her eyebrows drooping.
‘Ren, please succeed…’
No matter what crazy thing he did, I hoped Callisteon wouldn’t appear here.
‘Getting proposed to in front of Chirilla right now would be troublesome.’
Moreover, the situation with Rurik alone was serious enough.
His red eyes were constantly being caught in black vortex and then returning to normal, yet no one else seemed to notice.
‘What do I do…?’
In the novel, Rurik goes berserk at this very banquet, indiscriminately killing nobles and knights, which leads to him being sent to the monastery.
It was clearly due to the shock of his sister’s death…
‘I never thought his condition would be this bad even with me alive!’
As I was thinking this, envoys from foreign lands and imperial nobles appeared, lining up to present their gifts.
Among them, at the very front, was my candidate for the father.
“The son of Flavi gazes upon the sky of Brentania. I congratulate you on your victory, Your Majesty.”
It was Ernst, standing before Rurik.
Just as light is brightest in the darkness, Ernst was radiant like sunlight before Rurik, who looked utterly dangerous.
As he knelt on one knee, his attendants set down several large chests beside him.
“Hmm. Give my regards to King Mariano.”
“I am deeply honored.”
Ernst then turned his body slightly towards Ruriik.
“Your Highness the 2nd Prince, Flavi is once again indebted to you for its safety. I am glad you have returned unharmed.”
I wanted to check Rurik’s expression, but he had turned his head towards the Emperor and Ernst, so I couldn’t see it.
Rurik simply nodded, not bothering with words of modesty.
While the attention of the Emperor and Rurik was drawn to other words of gratitude, Ernst approached me and asked.
“Would you permit me to stay by your side, Your Highness Princess Louise?”
So we use formal speech in public?
‘Or is it because my rank is higher, so only he uses honorifics?’
Uncertain, I simply nodded. Ernst smiled softly and sat down beside me.
It was the seat closest to the imperial family, reserved for envoys from vassal states.
Pretending to pick up a glass, he leaned slightly towards me and whispered.
“Unfortunately, it seems Cal won’t be coming today.”
No sooner had his words ended than someone kneeling before the Emperor spoke.
“A vassal of Babenberg looks up to the sky of Brentania. We humbly apologize, but a great fire broke out near the border recently, preventing His Excellency the Grand Duke from leaving the territory. We beg your understanding.”
The Emperor’s already wrinkled brow furrowed even more.
“A fire near the border?”
Babenberg is the Empire’s shield.
‘Even if I don’t know who the father is, I know the most about this Empire.’
A fire on the border, depending on its location, could potentially mean war with the barbarians.
“Please do not worry, Your Majesty, it is not an invasion by the barbarians. While Babenberg is the Empire’s sturdy shield, it is difficult to prevent natural disasters.”
As soon as he answered, the Babenberg attendants set down a heavy chest and opened the lid.
Inside were dark blue gems, filled to the brim.
‘Magic stones.’
The Emperor’s eyes instantly took on a satisfied gleam, though he managed to keep his smiling lips in place.
“You have worked hard to come amidst the turmoil. Please convey my gratitude to the Grand Duke.”
“It is Babenberg’s honor, Your Majesty.”
After the Babenberg vassal bowed so low his head nearly touched the ground and withdrew, Ernst whispered to me, slightly amused.
“Since when did magic become a natural disaster?”
It was only then that I grasped the sequence of events and scowled deeply.
‘That Ren guy, really…’
He’s a madman, isn’t he?
