Chapter 81:
The Emperor patted Killian on the shoulder and gave an order to a waiting attendant.
“Bring the armor made from the dragon’s hide. I’ll now announce the winner.”
The quick-witted attendant was already standing by with the trophy.
“The warrior who captured the strongest and rarest beast is…”
It was obvious where the Emperor’s gaze was fixed. The crowd stirred again with excitement.
“My son, Killian. The dragon’s hide returns to its rightful owner.”
When the Emperor handed the armor to Killian, the attendant, leading by example, started applauding enthusiastically. Soon, everyone followed.
The Emperor’s declaration was absolute.
The fact that Killian hadn’t even been an official participant in this hunting festival, or that he explained away the past ten years with a simple excuse of memory loss—none of it mattered anymore. There could be no doubt.
“You might… perhaps be the reincarnation of the Founding Emperor himself. The gods have returned you to the Imperial family.”
As Killian received the prize with a humble expression, the Emperor could barely hide his pride.
Killian bowed silently.
Thud—
The Empress, who had been watching this scene from behind, collapsed on the spot.
Her lips were bitten so harshly that they were covered in blood.
“That… that bastard… How did that bastard…”
Klein, who had dragged in the unconscious three-headed tiger, finally grasped the situation and stood frozen like a statue.
The Marquis quickly rushed to help the Empress to her feet.
Though he himself was just as shocked, he knew showing even the slightest hint of displeasure at this moment would be dangerous.
Forcing a pleasant smile, the Marquis turned toward Killian—but then his brows furrowed.
For just a fleeting moment, Killian’s gaze had drifted to one corner of the viewing stand… and there, he was smiling.
No way…
Turning his head toward the source of that unknown sense of foreboding, the Marquis saw Harper Luperne standing there, clapping politely like everyone else.
As if sensing his stare, Harper turned her head toward the Marquis.
The moment their eyes met, she smiled—a bright, sunlit smile.
The Marquis’s face twisted in frustration.
Damn it.
No words were exchanged. There was no concrete evidence. But the Marquis understood.
None of this had been coincidence or miracle.
The Duke of Luperne had made a move. It became certain the moment the Marquis saw Viscount Maede subtly nodding toward the Duke.
A cold sweat trickled down the Marquis’s back.
The most powerful family in the Empire had officially stepped into the Imperial succession struggle.
* * *
“I heard he appeared again, in the same place after ten years?”
“I saw him earlier! I’ve never seen such a beautiful man!”
“They say he tamed a Phoenix! Do you think it’s true that he’s the reincarnation of Amalun the First?”
“He clearly grew up outside the palace, yet he carries himself with such noble grace… There’s no flaw in his manners or speech.”
The victory banquet for the hunting festival drew the largest crowd among all Imperial events that year.
The young prince, who had appeared like a comet and captured the Emperor’s full affection, became the center of admiration and curiosity with every step he took.
The ladies were desperate for a dance with him. Even the men quietly rehearsed greetings, hoping to strike up a conversation.
Of course, not every gaze directed at him was friendly.
Leaning against a wall in the banquet hall, one man was practically shooting daggers at Killian with all the hostility in the world.
“What’s so great about that bastard?”
Klein muttered bitterly, his face flushed with anger.
“Lower your voice. It won’t look good if you’re seen badmouthing the Second Prince.”
Marquis Luseik spoke seriously, trying to calm him, but Klein only scowled deeper.
“Are you telling me to cower in front of that guy?”
He nearly shouted.
“Surely you’re not actually accepting him as my cousin, are you? Just because others are saying it, are you falling for it too?”
He eyed the Marquis suspiciously.
At the start of the banquet, clueless guests had swarmed the Marquis, congratulating him on the return of his “noble nephew”—which had soured Klein’s mood further.
To them, Killian was still the long-hidden second prince, kept out of sight by the Empress’s excessive protectiveness.
The Empress’s face had twitched all day long as she endured unwanted congratulations.
“That’s impossible. The Empress has only one son—His Highness the First Prince. Besides, he’s engaged to my daughter.”
The Marquis wiped sweat from his brow as he appeased Klein, who then nodded, as if just remembering that fact.
“Good. You know full well the only reason he’s engaged to Elrose is to secure your loyalty.”
Klein said smugly.
The Marquis forced himself to nod, masking his discomfort.
In truth, he had long been burdened by the Empress and Klein.
It wasn’t just the Empress’s habit of smashing furniture during her outbursts. The financial strain was worse.
“To maintain Klein’s dignity, procure ten purebred white horses. I plan to gift one each to his noble friends.”
That’s how the requests had started years ago… but they kept growing.
“I hear there’s a monster subjugation campaign on the western border. Silence Count Beldid, who’s insisting Klein participate—even if it means bribing him with gold.”
Silencing Count Beldid took more than a few gold bars—it required an entire gold mine.
Not to mention, the bribes needed to hire someone to fight in Klein’s place.
If the Marquis objected, the Empress would glare at him with terrifying eyes.
“But Your Majesty, all Imperial princes are expected to lead a monster campaign upon reaching adulthood. Without military merit, the nobles won’t accept him…”
“Are you telling me to send my son to die?”
As the Marquis hesitated, the Empress pressured the Emperor to arrange an engagement between Klein and the Marquis’s treasured adopted daughter.
Afterward, she extended her hands even further, saying their two families were now one.
“Uncle, while we’re on the topic… could you get me another dragon?”
Klein’s sudden request nearly made the Marquis jump.
“Your Highness, that’s not something easily obtained! Wild adult dragons are extremely rare and cost—”
“So I’m just supposed to watch that bastard strut around? Are you telling me to go hunt a hatchling again like ten years ago?”
Klein’s reddish-brown eyes stayed fixed across the hall, where Killian sat.
Behind his chair hung the dragon-hide armor bestowed by the Emperor.
The lightweight, shimmering dark gray armor was a treasure said to repel not only swords and spears but also fire itself.
The Marquis barely managed to restrain himself from clutching his chest in frustration.
“Your Highness… please consider the Marquisate’s situation. We sold the Emerald Mine to secure the Carnaï trade route for Elrose’s dowry.”
He spoke, holding back his anger. The trade route had been something the Empress had bluntly demanded on the day of the engagement.
“Klein needs it for political leverage. With that, even the King of Carnaï won’t dare cross him.”
“Hmm. So you’re saying you have no money.”
Klein muttered without a hint of gratitude.
“Exactly. Even Elrose’s famously lavish dresses are now almost jewel-free.”
The Marquis pointed to his daughter, standing at the edge of the banquet hall, nearly pleading.
But Klein’s response was brutally cold.
“No wonder she looks duller than usual today.”
“Your Highness!”
“Once we’re married, you’ll supply her jewels. I expect her to maintain the standard set at the engagement, or she won’t hold my affection.”
The Marquis fought hard against the urge to slap him.
All the wealth he’d poured out until now… wasn’t it all for his daughter’s future?
No matter how close Klein was to the Imperial throne, insulting Elrose was crossing the line.
“But Uncle… who’s that young lady coming in over there?”
Klein asked, pointing toward the entrance with a disgruntled expression.
The Marquis checked the direction Klein indicated and frowned.
“…That’s Lady Harper Luperne. The Duke has returned to his estate, and she’s here with the young Duke of Ritra as her partner.”
Harper Luperne stood there, eyes wide with wonder at the grandeur of the hall, smiling brightly as she chatted with her noble peers.
As if the miraculous return of the dead prince had nothing to do with her.
Just as the Marquis was thinking how brazen she was, Klein spoke again.
“That impudent girl… turned out quite pretty.”
“…What?”
The Marquis could hardly believe his ears.
“Her bright blonde hair… like sunlight, don’t you think? I couldn’t get a good look earlier during the hunt…”
“Your Highness…”
“Her dress looks the most elegant among all the ladies here. You can tell she’s from a wealthy family, raised in pure luxury.”
Klein licked his lips.
The Marquis almost leapt up in protest.
“Your Highness! How can you say such things! Elrose is—”
“Who said anything about breaking off the engagement? I’m just saying she’s pretty.”
Klein sneered at the Marquis’s excessive reaction.
“Your Highness, you promised me you’d break off with all your other women.”
“I’ll do it someday. Uncle, with how narrow-minded you are, how do you expect to become the Emperor’s father-in-law?”
Klein waved him off as if annoyed.
“Your Highness! Lady Harper is…!”
“She’s the sister of the Empire’s richest man, and quite wealthy herself, right?”
Klein didn’t even look at the Marquis as he fixed his gaze on Harper.
“Who knows? If I play this right, that naïve girl might pile jewels at my feet… Uncle, just sit back and watch.”
Ignoring the Marquis’s desperate attempts to stop him, Klein strode toward Harper.
Afraid even to attract attention by trying to stop him physically, the Marquis reluctantly released Klein’s sleeve—but that didn’t quell his boiling fury.
Swallowing his anger and countless worries, the Marquis glared at Klein as he casually approached Harper to start a conversation.
Fique longe da nossa Harper!