And as the red mud-covered brother of the thing was revealed, Ernest's eyes began to grow wide.
Because, it is...
"...Father."
Graham Clepius, Emperor of the Spanish Empire and Ernest's father.
The dead Emperor came back to life.
A sloshing sound echoed heavily throughout the laboratory, and the Emperor gradually emerged.
The appearance of the man covered in red liquid did not change much from when he was alive.
The only difference is that his face is a bit paler than before, and he has a long scar on his neck that looks like it was sewn together.
Even though he wasn't wearing a single thread, there was an inexplicable sense of intimidation emanating from the man standing alone.
"Your Majesty."
As if moved by the resurrection of the Emperor, Paulo knelt before the Emperor and kissed his feet.
“Thank you for your hard work, Paulo.”
The Emperor murmured, pushing his hair back as if he was bothered.
Then he looked at Ernest across from him.
“It’s been a while.”
The Emperor, adjusting the gown that Paulo had given him, spoke.
“Son.”
A bitter smile appeared on his lips.
The moment he saw the Emperor's face, Ernest's body froze.
Although he did not witness the Emperor's death, it is rumored that he was beheaded before the rebellion broke out.
So, the corpse is said to be strewn somewhere in the palace.
And as if the rumors were true, no news of the Emperor was heard from anywhere after the rebellion.
At least if he were alive, he would have contacted his son in some way.
Above all, the scar on the Emperor's neck told the truth.
'Then really the corpse...'
He had heard rumors about the power of the Philosykos family.
It is said that he has the power to revive the dead.
But he heard there is a price to pay for that.
Moreover, matters related to human life and death are in the realm of the gods.
The price for such power was not just the lives of one or two people.
'The price for bringing the dead back to life.'
It was someone else's life.
As his thoughts reached that point, an image of an empty village appeared in Ernest's mind.
Traces of people who seemed to have evaporated somewhere.
The price for saving the Emperor was their lives.
Furthermore...
'All the people I brought..."
They ended up being offered as a sacrifice to save the Emperor.
“Ernest.”
Graham came closer, calling his name.
“It seems like you’re not happy that I came back alive.”
Every time the Emperor opened his mouth, a terrible smell came out.
It was the smell of rotting corpses, the kind you would only find on a battlefield.
It's disgusting. And it's scary.
Ernest's first impression of his dead father was one of discomfort and fear.
He clenched his fists to calm his body, which was trembling without him knowing it.
“It must show on your face that you are thinking that way.”
The Emperor, perhaps knowing Ernest's feelings or not, tapped his shoulder.
Then he clicked his tongue as if he was displeased.
Graham's eyes were still as red as flames, but he was looking at Ernest with eyes as cold as midwinter frost.
And those eyes still seemed to be chastising him as a 'half-baked wretch, born of Clepius' blood but without any power.'
At this, Ernest was unable to say anything as if he had lost his voice.
Because he was afraid of the Emperor, who always looked down on him.
“No, that’s not it... I...”
Finally, it was time for Ernest, unable to overcome the pressure on his heart, to continue speaking with a stammer.
Paulo, who had been watching the two, stepped forward.
“It is only natural that His Highness the Crown Prince would be very surprised. It is not common for a dead person to come back to life.”
Paulo continued speaking in a tone that seemed to defend Ernest.
“His Highness the Crown Prince is also the one who contributed greatly to His Majesty being able to open his eyes again. If it weren’t for the people His Highness brought, His Majesty’s recovery would have been delayed even further.”
He added that if the number of villagers was not enough, he planned to kidnap people from other estates if it were not for the people Ernest brought.
Thanks to Ernest, things went smoothly.
“...I see.”
But Ernest was not at all happy about receiving Paulo's congratulatory address. Rather, it felt like he was falling into a deeper swamp.
At that time, Ernest's mind became as blank as a sheet of paper.
Paulo woke Ernest up again.
“However, His Majesty the Emperor is still unstable. Therefore, we need some help from Your Highness.”
“...my help?”
“Yes. I need a little of His Highness the Crown Prince’s blood.”
He added that Ernest would need regular blood transfusions until the Emperor was stable.
Ernest laughed inwardly when he heard that.
'The Duke is treating me like a tool.'
Even though he was a descendant of the royal family of Clepius, he was not treated with any dignity or respect.
He felt sick.
He felt like a nauseous wave was going to burst out of his esophagus.
Ernest covered his mouth and said, thinking that if he stayed here longer, he would make himself look even uglier in front of the two of them.
“Wait a minute, I...”
Then he ran out of the lab.
As far away from the Emperor as possible.
He wanted to disappear as soon as possible.
Did I run like that for a long time?
Ernest, who had arrived at the small hill behind the castle, was breathing heavily.
He wiped his lips and leaned back against the tree, repeatedly vomiting and coughing so hard that it felt like all his organs were going to spill out.
His eyes, unfocused, wandered through space.
"I am..."
He was never a Crown Prince to them.
He was never a son for even a moment to his only father.
His value was simply that he was a tool to save the Emperor.
Like the villagers who became sacrifices.
“I said I would protect you...”
He couldn't keep anything.
The promise to change the empire.
The promise to make her happier than anyone else.
There was also a promise to the child that he would protect him.
None of it could be protected.
His head hung low as frustration weighed on his shoulders.
Then what he saw was.
It was a crushed wildflower that was trampled under his feet.
A morning glory that the child gave him as a gift one day.
It was as pitiful as it looked now.
“The Emperor has returned alive...”
I muttered softly at Deborah's prophecy.
“...Yes. I definitely saw the living Emperor in my dream.”
“What nonsense are you talking about...! I saw the Emperor’s beheading with my own eyes!”
Jenna shouted as if Deborah's prophecy was nonsense.
“Lord Carsis definitely cut off the Emperor’s head! Didn’t you?”
Carsis remained silent for a moment in response to Jenna's question.
“I definitely cut off the Emperor’s head. But I couldn’t find the body. When I finished the rebellion and went to collect the body, there was already nothing in the basement.”
The Emperor's body disappeared.
As if someone had stolen it.
I said, as if I had roughly grasped the situation based on Carsis's answer.
“If the Emperor’s body has disappeared, it is not entirely impossible that the Emperor is alive.”
I recalled the power of the Philosykos family.
Alchemy that can even bring the dead back to life.
But alchemy comes with a price.
If it's a price that can bring a dead person back to life.
“A living sacrifice would have been needed.”
It was unknown how many people had sacrificed themselves to save the Emperor, but one thing was certain.
I'm sure quite a few people must have died.
I looked at Deborah, who was looking around anxiously.
“So what was the Emperor doing in your dream?”
“That’s... Ugh...”
It was the moment Deborah was about to answer my question.
Deborah suddenly put her hand on her head and staggered.
Finally, Isaac, who was standing next to Deborah, helped her up.
“I’m sorry... My head suddenly feels so dizzy...”
Deborah, who was exhaling heavily as if she was having a hard time controlling her body, closed her eyes without being able to finish speaking.
Isaac said as he examined Deborah's body.
“It seems like she has lost consciousness.”
At this, I clicked my tongue briefly.
“Please give Deborah a room to stay in.”
“Yes, then I’ll prepare a place for her in the northern palace!”
Because, it is...
"...Father."
Graham Clepius, Emperor of the Spanish Empire and Ernest's father.
The dead Emperor came back to life.
A sloshing sound echoed heavily throughout the laboratory, and the Emperor gradually emerged.
The appearance of the man covered in red liquid did not change much from when he was alive.
The only difference is that his face is a bit paler than before, and he has a long scar on his neck that looks like it was sewn together.
Even though he wasn't wearing a single thread, there was an inexplicable sense of intimidation emanating from the man standing alone.
"Your Majesty."
As if moved by the resurrection of the Emperor, Paulo knelt before the Emperor and kissed his feet.
“Thank you for your hard work, Paulo.”
The Emperor murmured, pushing his hair back as if he was bothered.
Then he looked at Ernest across from him.
“It’s been a while.”
The Emperor, adjusting the gown that Paulo had given him, spoke.
“Son.”
A bitter smile appeared on his lips.
The moment he saw the Emperor's face, Ernest's body froze.
Although he did not witness the Emperor's death, it is rumored that he was beheaded before the rebellion broke out.
So, the corpse is said to be strewn somewhere in the palace.
And as if the rumors were true, no news of the Emperor was heard from anywhere after the rebellion.
At least if he were alive, he would have contacted his son in some way.
Above all, the scar on the Emperor's neck told the truth.
'Then really the corpse...'
He had heard rumors about the power of the Philosykos family.
It is said that he has the power to revive the dead.
But he heard there is a price to pay for that.
Moreover, matters related to human life and death are in the realm of the gods.
The price for such power was not just the lives of one or two people.
'The price for bringing the dead back to life.'
It was someone else's life.
As his thoughts reached that point, an image of an empty village appeared in Ernest's mind.
Traces of people who seemed to have evaporated somewhere.
The price for saving the Emperor was their lives.
Furthermore...
'All the people I brought..."
They ended up being offered as a sacrifice to save the Emperor.
“Ernest.”
Graham came closer, calling his name.
“It seems like you’re not happy that I came back alive.”
Every time the Emperor opened his mouth, a terrible smell came out.
It was the smell of rotting corpses, the kind you would only find on a battlefield.
It's disgusting. And it's scary.
Ernest's first impression of his dead father was one of discomfort and fear.
He clenched his fists to calm his body, which was trembling without him knowing it.
“It must show on your face that you are thinking that way.”
The Emperor, perhaps knowing Ernest's feelings or not, tapped his shoulder.
Then he clicked his tongue as if he was displeased.
Graham's eyes were still as red as flames, but he was looking at Ernest with eyes as cold as midwinter frost.
And those eyes still seemed to be chastising him as a 'half-baked wretch, born of Clepius' blood but without any power.'
At this, Ernest was unable to say anything as if he had lost his voice.
Because he was afraid of the Emperor, who always looked down on him.
“No, that’s not it... I...”
Finally, it was time for Ernest, unable to overcome the pressure on his heart, to continue speaking with a stammer.
Paulo, who had been watching the two, stepped forward.
“It is only natural that His Highness the Crown Prince would be very surprised. It is not common for a dead person to come back to life.”
Paulo continued speaking in a tone that seemed to defend Ernest.
“His Highness the Crown Prince is also the one who contributed greatly to His Majesty being able to open his eyes again. If it weren’t for the people His Highness brought, His Majesty’s recovery would have been delayed even further.”
He added that if the number of villagers was not enough, he planned to kidnap people from other estates if it were not for the people Ernest brought.
Thanks to Ernest, things went smoothly.
“...I see.”
But Ernest was not at all happy about receiving Paulo's congratulatory address. Rather, it felt like he was falling into a deeper swamp.
At that time, Ernest's mind became as blank as a sheet of paper.
Paulo woke Ernest up again.
“However, His Majesty the Emperor is still unstable. Therefore, we need some help from Your Highness.”
“...my help?”
“Yes. I need a little of His Highness the Crown Prince’s blood.”
He added that Ernest would need regular blood transfusions until the Emperor was stable.
Ernest laughed inwardly when he heard that.
'The Duke is treating me like a tool.'
Even though he was a descendant of the royal family of Clepius, he was not treated with any dignity or respect.
He felt sick.
He felt like a nauseous wave was going to burst out of his esophagus.
Ernest covered his mouth and said, thinking that if he stayed here longer, he would make himself look even uglier in front of the two of them.
“Wait a minute, I...”
Then he ran out of the lab.
As far away from the Emperor as possible.
He wanted to disappear as soon as possible.
Did I run like that for a long time?
Ernest, who had arrived at the small hill behind the castle, was breathing heavily.
He wiped his lips and leaned back against the tree, repeatedly vomiting and coughing so hard that it felt like all his organs were going to spill out.
His eyes, unfocused, wandered through space.
"I am..."
He was never a Crown Prince to them.
He was never a son for even a moment to his only father.
His value was simply that he was a tool to save the Emperor.
Like the villagers who became sacrifices.
“I said I would protect you...”
He couldn't keep anything.
The promise to change the empire.
The promise to make her happier than anyone else.
There was also a promise to the child that he would protect him.
None of it could be protected.
His head hung low as frustration weighed on his shoulders.
Then what he saw was.
It was a crushed wildflower that was trampled under his feet.
A morning glory that the child gave him as a gift one day.
It was as pitiful as it looked now.
***
“The Emperor has returned alive...”
I muttered softly at Deborah's prophecy.
“...Yes. I definitely saw the living Emperor in my dream.”
“What nonsense are you talking about...! I saw the Emperor’s beheading with my own eyes!”
Jenna shouted as if Deborah's prophecy was nonsense.
“Lord Carsis definitely cut off the Emperor’s head! Didn’t you?”
Carsis remained silent for a moment in response to Jenna's question.
“I definitely cut off the Emperor’s head. But I couldn’t find the body. When I finished the rebellion and went to collect the body, there was already nothing in the basement.”
The Emperor's body disappeared.
As if someone had stolen it.
I said, as if I had roughly grasped the situation based on Carsis's answer.
“If the Emperor’s body has disappeared, it is not entirely impossible that the Emperor is alive.”
I recalled the power of the Philosykos family.
Alchemy that can even bring the dead back to life.
But alchemy comes with a price.
If it's a price that can bring a dead person back to life.
“A living sacrifice would have been needed.”
It was unknown how many people had sacrificed themselves to save the Emperor, but one thing was certain.
I'm sure quite a few people must have died.
I looked at Deborah, who was looking around anxiously.
“So what was the Emperor doing in your dream?”
“That’s... Ugh...”
It was the moment Deborah was about to answer my question.
Deborah suddenly put her hand on her head and staggered.
Finally, Isaac, who was standing next to Deborah, helped her up.
“I’m sorry... My head suddenly feels so dizzy...”
Deborah, who was exhaling heavily as if she was having a hard time controlling her body, closed her eyes without being able to finish speaking.
Isaac said as he examined Deborah's body.
“It seems like she has lost consciousness.”
At this, I clicked my tongue briefly.
“Please give Deborah a room to stay in.”
“Yes, then I’ll prepare a place for her in the northern palace!”
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