~Chapter 16~
“What?”
Whispering in someoneās ear like thisā¦ wasnāt that something only really close friends did?
Rosedale leaned in closer, heart pounding, to hear what Lukas had to say. His low voice whispered softly:
“They say Santa doesnāt give presents to kids who cry.”
“ā¦What?”
She stared at him in disbelief, and Lukas just smiled mischievously as he leaned back.
He looked like a playful boy. Rosedale frowned in pity.
“You donāt even believe in gods, but you believe in him?”
She sighed deeply, disappointed at human foolishnessābut decided to let it go. After all, she was a divine messenger.
More importantly, the way he looked at her with those sparkling eyes was too cute.
But as she kept watching him, Lukasās excited expression drooped.
“Waitā¦ you donāt believe in Santa?”
Rosedale rubbed her face in exasperation.
He really still believes in Santa? Should I tell him the truth or notā¦
“Lukas, this is a secret from the other humans, okay?”
She whispered like she was sharing classified info.
“Itās not crying kidsāSanta actually doesnāt give presents to naughty kids.”
“Huh?”
“That stingy old man even makes a list of bad kids and really skips them!”
She clicked her tongue and revealed the truth. She remembered reading about it in an ancient fairy record.
Long ago, back when fairies could freely visit the human world, there was a powerful upper fairy named Cloudis who loved humans.
He used his magic to make gifts for childrenābut he didnāt give them to everyone. He judged whether they deserved it based on their behavior.
“I wonder if that grumpy old man ever imagined heād be remembered like this.”
“Waitā¦ Santaās dead?”
“ā¦Ack!”
Rosedale gasped, clapping her hands over her mouth.
She quickly looked at Lukas.
His expression was unreadable as he stared at her quietly.
Humans still believe in Santa, right? Oh noā¦ what if heās heartbroken?
“Ha. Hahaha!”
Suddenly, Lukas burst into laughter, holding his stomach.
Now she blinked in confusion.
“Roziā¦ you donāt just believe in Santaāyouāre a super fan, huh?”
“ā¦Huh?”
Wait a second. Wasn’t something off here?
He wiped his tears, still chuckling.
“Since youāre not from the empire, I figured you might believe it, but I didnāt expect this much.”
“Waitā¦ so you donāt believe in Santa?”
“If he really existed, wouldnāt poor kids already have toys by now?”
“Thatās because he died! But seriously, he did exist!”
“Hahaha!”
“Iām telling the truth! He was a real fairyā¦ err, old man!”
Somehow, Rosedale had become a passionate Santa believer, trying to convince Lukas.
He kept laughing while she pouted, feeling like she was the only one trapped in childish beliefs.
Then Lukas finally calmed down, watching her puffed-up cheeks.
His emerald eyes softened into a quiet smile.
“You knowā¦ I laugh a lot more when Iām with you.”
“You were just teasing me the whole time.”
She glared, but his smile stayed.
“Cut me some slack. You’re the only one I feel this relaxed around.”
“What about Cain?”
“Cain has boundaries.”
As emperor and subject, there was always a line between them.
Cain was a loyal friend, but also a loyal subject. So even while Lukas treated him as a friend, they never crossed that line.
Until Rosedale came along.
“I was born a prince and raised as the crown prince. I had to become an adult early to gain the trust of the officials.”
“ā¦”
“After I joined the war at 15, the pressure got worse. I havenāt felt like just āmyselfā since.”
“ā¦”
“Then I met you, Rozi. You knew I was the emperor, but still looked at me with the same clear eyes.”
She didnāt treat him like royalty. She didnāt expect grandeur or formality.
With Rosedale, Lukas didnāt have to be the mighty Emperor of Iveriaāhe could just be himself.
“Rozi.”
He gently ran his fingers through her hair.
“I hope these six months with you pass really slowly.”
“ā¦”
Rosedale stared back, motionless.
She had thought human children were raised with love and freedom. But Lukas’s childhood looked just like hersālonely and burdened.
She gently touched his cheek.
“Donāt worry. By then, youāll have found someone way better than me.”
“ā¦”
His pupils trembled as they filled with her image.
“Tell me anything you want.”
His voice held something deeper.
“Anything you want to eat, doāI’ll give it to you. If thereās someone you donāt like, Iāll get rid of them for you. Donāt hold back.”
So pleaseā¦ stay in front of me for a long, long time.
His whisper clung to her ears like warm honey.
Rosedale looked deeply into his eyes.
By then, the issue of the golden arrow would be resolved. Heād find someone to love. Even without her, his world would bloom with joy.
But Lukas didnāt know that. So maybe thatās why he didnāt want to lose the only person who made him feel at ease.
He wasnāt abandoned, and she didnāt plan to leaveābut still, his expression looked so desperate, and it pained her.
“Ugh, really!”
She jumped forward again and hugged his neck tightly.
“Iām right here in front of you! See? Warm, right?”
“ā¦Yeah.”
Her heartbeat echoed not just in his earsābut through his whole body.
“Iāll be your friend until you find happiness. So donāt be afraid.”
His breath turned into seeds in her arms.
They might never bloom. They might never sprout. But still, she planted them.
“And Iām not here because I want something from you.”
She hugged him tighter one last timeāthen let go.
“If I want something, I get it myself. And Iāll deal with any bad people myself too.”
“Then what should I do for you?”
“Just believe in me.”
Her bright smile gently reached Lukasās prickly heartālike she was sure heād eventually lower his guard for her.
“Youāll see. Iāll show you soon.”
Three Days Laterā¦
The large council room was filled with nobles and high officials.
“Why do you think His Majesty called a meeting today? Is he planning to punish someone again?”
The atmosphere turned cold.
Last time, Lukas had publicly executed a spy during a meeting. The metallic scent of blood still seemed to linger in their memories.
Since then, it had been a while since such a large gathering had been calledāand everyone looked nervous.
Thenā
“Presenting the shining sun of Iveria, the hero of the nationāHis Majesty Lukas Daniel de Iveria!”
The door opened and Lukas entered.
“We greet the Sun of Iveria.”
The nobles bowed as Lukas strode confidently to the throne and sat with legs crossed, scanning the room with a cold gaze.
“Thank you all for responding on such short notice.”
“It is our honor, Your Majesty.”
No one dared not show upāthey all thought the same thing: skip this and you’re done for.
“Today, Iāve called you not for punishmentābut to announce a joyous event for Iveria.”
“A joyous event?”
The room buzzed with whispers.
But Lukasās calm voice soon silenced them.
“Itās been over a hundred years since mages vanished from our lands.”
“ā¦”
“Yet, the late Emperor never gave up. In secret, he worked to bring them back.”
More whispers spread.
“Silence.”
Cain, standing beside Lukas, quieted the room with a firm voice.
“You all know the Magic Research Division, founded by the late Emperor, still exists.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“It was kept for this very dayāwhen we could finally create a mage again.”
The nobles murmured in awe. They had thought it was just a relic of the past. Now they saw Lukas’s foresight.
He let them speak a bit, satisfied with their reactions.
Then one man stepped forwardāDuke Frederick, the most well-informed man in the empire.
“So are you sayingā¦ the royal family has succeeded in creating a mage?”
He bowed slightly, still stunned that he hadnāt heard of it.
He had recently heard rumors of a mysterious guest in the southern palace wing. Could it beā¦?
“Yes.”
Lukas uncrossed his legs and answered coolly.
“A child raised in secret since youth. She awakened her magic powers just a few days ago and I summoned her to the palace.”
Frederick fell silent, confirming his guess.
Then Lukas looked around and said clearly:
“She will now become the Emperorās Mage and lead the Magic Research Division.”
