But the person who did that doesn't know that what he has is a fake Riventia.
'Is this a side effect of dying and coming back to life?'
Although he was able to revive his body through many sacrifices using the power of Duke Philosykos's family, it seemed that he was unable to completely restore his former power.
'That's funny.'
And Ernest laughed at the Emperor's current situation.
Because his father, who always criticized him for being a half-penny, has become a real half-penny.
Ernest laughed at his father for being in the same situation as him. Then he put his hand on his chest and felt the pendant under his clothes.
'I have to give this to Bellona.'
He recalled hearing from Paulo a few days ago about another ability that Riventia possessed.
"Riventia also removes the burden on casters who use their powers."
It was said that it not only prevents the power of authority from going wild but also prevents the side effects that occur whenever it is used. And...
"Even if side effects have already occurred in exchange for the power, all side effects will disappear while you are using Riventia. In other words, your body will return to its original state when there were no side effects."
The last time he saw Bellona in Cuenca, she was suffering from side effects due to excessive use of her powers, and it would not be strange if she died at any moment.
And when he met Bellona again, she appeared before him in perfect health, as if she had never been dying.
At first he thought she was okay because of Carsis' power.
'If everything that was okay was because of Riventia...'
The person who needed Riventia more than anyone else right now was Bellona.
Ernest's hand on his chest was clenched tightly.
In the first place, it was his fault that Bellona became unable to live without Riventia. So he had to turn everything back.
'Wait. I will definitely return Riventia to you.'
It was while Ernest was making that pledge alone.
Ernest happened to turn his gaze and saw Fasher entering the Emperor's barracks.
'Why is the face..."
Fasher was one of Ernest's knights, chosen by himself when he was crowned Crown Prince.
It was he who first discovered his talent and enlisted him in the Crown Prince's knighthood.
Ernest's mouth turned sour as he recalled the betrayal of Fasher, who had deceived him and followed the Emperor's orders.
But that thought was fleeting. An inexplicable ominousness touched the back of his neck at the thought that the Emperor had found Fasher again.
'What are you up to now?'
At this point, with war just around the corner, it was clearly not a good idea for the Emperor to meet with Fasher in private.
Ernest, who had been pondering this for a moment, moved to the side thinking that he should eavesdrop on the conversation between the two.
And at that moment, as he was taking his place near the Emperor's barracks, he carefully tried to listen to their conversation.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Ernest turned around at the sudden sound of a familiar voice.
Then, what appeared was Paulo.
He asked Ernest, raising his eyebrows, how long he had been standing behind him.
“What are you doing here? Have you come to see His Majesty the Emperor?”
Paulo asked calmly, pretending not to know that Ernest was trying to eavesdrop on the conversation inside the barracks.
Ernest, who had been staring at Paulo like that, chewed the inside of his mouth and responded to him.
“Yes. I came to see my father, but it seems there are already guests inside.”
“Even if there are guests, there is no reason why Your Highness the Crown Prince Ernest should not enter. I was also planning to meet His Majesty, so please come in with me.”
And before Ernest could answer, Paulo opened the curtain and went inside.
'What's with that confident attitude?'
Ernest was momentarily taken aback by Paulo's attitude, as if he had nothing to hide from him, and soon shook his head.
It turned out well. Ernest, who thought it was better to see, hear, and judge for himself rather than hear vague things from outside, followed Paulo.
Then, what came into view was Fasher kneeling before the Emperor.
He rose from his seat and bowed to the Emperor as Paulo and Ernest entered the barracks.
“Then I will go now.”
“Yes. Then please take care of it.”
'Ask?'
What do you want me to do?
As Ernest was suspiciously looking at the two people having an incomprehensible conversation, something in Fasher's hand caught Ernest's attention.
"That..."
Only then did Fasher notice Ernest's gaze and look down at the sword he was holding.
“Ah, this is...”
Fasher trailed off, seeming embarrassed by Ernest's sudden question.
“That is the sword I gave to Fasher.”
And it was Graham, not Fasher, who answered Ernest's question.
Graham got up from his seat and soon came within arm's length of Ernest.
“Yes. It’s a sword given as a gift to a knight before going to battle as a token of encouragement.”
It was common for the Emperor to bestow a sword on a knight before going on a campaign.
However, it was usually given to the commander of a knight order or the vanguard of an army.
And now that the Emperor's son and Crown Prince, Ernest, was in the vanguard, it was by no means common for the Emperor to hand over his sword to a mere knight, Fasher, who was not even his son.
The Emperor, who could not have been unaware of this, laughed heartily and patted Ernest on the shoulder.
“It seems you are upset that I gave the sword to another knight instead of you. However, after what happened last time, it was just a small gift from me to a knight who has accomplished great things, so don’t worry too much about it.”
“...Is there any possibility?”
It was Paulo who broke the strange current flowing within the barracks.
Paulo, who had been watching the conversation between the two, stepped forward and said.
“By the way, didn’t His Highness the Crown Prince have something to say to His Majesty the Emperor?”
“I just wanted to ask if Your Majesty’s journey was not difficult.”
“Don’t worry about me. You’re the one who needs to be careful. You’re the one who’s going to get into big trouble.”
Graham patted Ernest's shoulder a couple more times as if to tell him not to worry.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I will now go back. Please rest comfortably.”
Ernest, deciding that there was nothing more to be gained from this place, left, followed shortly after by Fasher.
In the barracks, only Paulo and the Emperor were left.
Paulo asked, looking at the entrance where the two people had disappeared.
“Can we really leave it to that knight and not His Highness the Crown Prince?”
Graham sat down and answered Paulo's cautious question.
“I can’t trust such an important job to a weakling.”
Graham thought of Ernest asking him a few days ago about Hazel's death. That foolish son who was swayed by personal matters.
“That kid might mess things up later. So it’s better to leave it to that guy named Fasher.”
A deep smile formed on Graham's lips as he said those words.
“I’m looking forward to what’s coming soon.”
“Fasher.”
Ernest, who had left the barracks, stopped walking and called out to Fasher, who had followed him. Then Fasher, who was trying to move away, approached Ernest.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“What did His Majesty say when he bestowed that sword?”
After a moment of silence, Fasher answered.
“I have been ordered to use this sword to guard Your Highness the Crown Prince in the upcoming battle.”
“A sword to protect me.”
Ernest let out a laugh as if he found the facetious answer ridiculous.
Isn't it too ridiculous to say that it was the Emperor's order to think poorly of me?
It was such a ridiculous lie, but Ernest nodded, judging that there was no way Fasher would tell the truth.
“Your Majesty loves his children very much.”
Without forgetting the sarcasm.
“Then please take good care of me, Fasher.”
Ernest, who answered in a colder tone than ever before, unlike his request, left as if he had nothing more to do.
And as he watched Ernest's back, Fasher tightly gripped the sword in his hand.
Then he remembered the order the Emperor had given him in the barracks a little while ago.
"With this sword, you kill Carsis yourself."
How absurd it was at first.
He suddenly gave him a sword and told him to cut off the head of the traitor who was now the Emperor.
He was a man with healing powers like the Emperor.
Seeing the Emperor who survived with his head cut off, he could indirectly see how great the power of authority was. But.
"This sword is made from Deaneluka. You've heard of Deaneluka, right?'
Deaneluka was a ring that was treated as a holy relic, like the Riventia, which was called the symbol of the empire.
"If it is a sword made of Deaneluka, it will be able to neutralize the power of authority. So, apply poison to the sword and cut down Carsis."
Fasher, who had been repeating the Emperor's words, quietly muttered.
“The neutralization of power...”
If that were true, there was no need to fear the power of the traitor.
Fasher recalled the day of the first rebellion.
He could not forget the screams of his dying comrades and the sight of their blood spilling throughout the palace.
"But why is this being done to me and not His Highness the Crown Prince...?"
"You would know better why I don't give it to him."
'Is this a side effect of dying and coming back to life?'
Although he was able to revive his body through many sacrifices using the power of Duke Philosykos's family, it seemed that he was unable to completely restore his former power.
'That's funny.'
And Ernest laughed at the Emperor's current situation.
Because his father, who always criticized him for being a half-penny, has become a real half-penny.
Ernest laughed at his father for being in the same situation as him. Then he put his hand on his chest and felt the pendant under his clothes.
'I have to give this to Bellona.'
He recalled hearing from Paulo a few days ago about another ability that Riventia possessed.
"Riventia also removes the burden on casters who use their powers."
It was said that it not only prevents the power of authority from going wild but also prevents the side effects that occur whenever it is used. And...
"Even if side effects have already occurred in exchange for the power, all side effects will disappear while you are using Riventia. In other words, your body will return to its original state when there were no side effects."
The last time he saw Bellona in Cuenca, she was suffering from side effects due to excessive use of her powers, and it would not be strange if she died at any moment.
And when he met Bellona again, she appeared before him in perfect health, as if she had never been dying.
At first he thought she was okay because of Carsis' power.
'If everything that was okay was because of Riventia...'
The person who needed Riventia more than anyone else right now was Bellona.
Ernest's hand on his chest was clenched tightly.
In the first place, it was his fault that Bellona became unable to live without Riventia. So he had to turn everything back.
'Wait. I will definitely return Riventia to you.'
It was while Ernest was making that pledge alone.
Ernest happened to turn his gaze and saw Fasher entering the Emperor's barracks.
'Why is the face..."
Fasher was one of Ernest's knights, chosen by himself when he was crowned Crown Prince.
It was he who first discovered his talent and enlisted him in the Crown Prince's knighthood.
Ernest's mouth turned sour as he recalled the betrayal of Fasher, who had deceived him and followed the Emperor's orders.
But that thought was fleeting. An inexplicable ominousness touched the back of his neck at the thought that the Emperor had found Fasher again.
'What are you up to now?'
At this point, with war just around the corner, it was clearly not a good idea for the Emperor to meet with Fasher in private.
Ernest, who had been pondering this for a moment, moved to the side thinking that he should eavesdrop on the conversation between the two.
And at that moment, as he was taking his place near the Emperor's barracks, he carefully tried to listen to their conversation.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Ernest turned around at the sudden sound of a familiar voice.
Then, what appeared was Paulo.
He asked Ernest, raising his eyebrows, how long he had been standing behind him.
“What are you doing here? Have you come to see His Majesty the Emperor?”
Paulo asked calmly, pretending not to know that Ernest was trying to eavesdrop on the conversation inside the barracks.
Ernest, who had been staring at Paulo like that, chewed the inside of his mouth and responded to him.
“Yes. I came to see my father, but it seems there are already guests inside.”
“Even if there are guests, there is no reason why Your Highness the Crown Prince Ernest should not enter. I was also planning to meet His Majesty, so please come in with me.”
And before Ernest could answer, Paulo opened the curtain and went inside.
'What's with that confident attitude?'
Ernest was momentarily taken aback by Paulo's attitude, as if he had nothing to hide from him, and soon shook his head.
It turned out well. Ernest, who thought it was better to see, hear, and judge for himself rather than hear vague things from outside, followed Paulo.
Then, what came into view was Fasher kneeling before the Emperor.
He rose from his seat and bowed to the Emperor as Paulo and Ernest entered the barracks.
“Then I will go now.”
“Yes. Then please take care of it.”
'Ask?'
What do you want me to do?
As Ernest was suspiciously looking at the two people having an incomprehensible conversation, something in Fasher's hand caught Ernest's attention.
"That..."
Only then did Fasher notice Ernest's gaze and look down at the sword he was holding.
“Ah, this is...”
Fasher trailed off, seeming embarrassed by Ernest's sudden question.
“That is the sword I gave to Fasher.”
And it was Graham, not Fasher, who answered Ernest's question.
Graham got up from his seat and soon came within arm's length of Ernest.
“Yes. It’s a sword given as a gift to a knight before going to battle as a token of encouragement.”
It was common for the Emperor to bestow a sword on a knight before going on a campaign.
However, it was usually given to the commander of a knight order or the vanguard of an army.
And now that the Emperor's son and Crown Prince, Ernest, was in the vanguard, it was by no means common for the Emperor to hand over his sword to a mere knight, Fasher, who was not even his son.
The Emperor, who could not have been unaware of this, laughed heartily and patted Ernest on the shoulder.
“It seems you are upset that I gave the sword to another knight instead of you. However, after what happened last time, it was just a small gift from me to a knight who has accomplished great things, so don’t worry too much about it.”
“...Is there any possibility?”
It was Paulo who broke the strange current flowing within the barracks.
Paulo, who had been watching the conversation between the two, stepped forward and said.
“By the way, didn’t His Highness the Crown Prince have something to say to His Majesty the Emperor?”
“I just wanted to ask if Your Majesty’s journey was not difficult.”
“Don’t worry about me. You’re the one who needs to be careful. You’re the one who’s going to get into big trouble.”
Graham patted Ernest's shoulder a couple more times as if to tell him not to worry.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I will now go back. Please rest comfortably.”
Ernest, deciding that there was nothing more to be gained from this place, left, followed shortly after by Fasher.
In the barracks, only Paulo and the Emperor were left.
Paulo asked, looking at the entrance where the two people had disappeared.
“Can we really leave it to that knight and not His Highness the Crown Prince?”
Graham sat down and answered Paulo's cautious question.
“I can’t trust such an important job to a weakling.”
Graham thought of Ernest asking him a few days ago about Hazel's death. That foolish son who was swayed by personal matters.
“That kid might mess things up later. So it’s better to leave it to that guy named Fasher.”
A deep smile formed on Graham's lips as he said those words.
“I’m looking forward to what’s coming soon.”
***
“Fasher.”
Ernest, who had left the barracks, stopped walking and called out to Fasher, who had followed him. Then Fasher, who was trying to move away, approached Ernest.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“What did His Majesty say when he bestowed that sword?”
After a moment of silence, Fasher answered.
“I have been ordered to use this sword to guard Your Highness the Crown Prince in the upcoming battle.”
“A sword to protect me.”
Ernest let out a laugh as if he found the facetious answer ridiculous.
Isn't it too ridiculous to say that it was the Emperor's order to think poorly of me?
It was such a ridiculous lie, but Ernest nodded, judging that there was no way Fasher would tell the truth.
“Your Majesty loves his children very much.”
Without forgetting the sarcasm.
“Then please take good care of me, Fasher.”
Ernest, who answered in a colder tone than ever before, unlike his request, left as if he had nothing more to do.
And as he watched Ernest's back, Fasher tightly gripped the sword in his hand.
Then he remembered the order the Emperor had given him in the barracks a little while ago.
"With this sword, you kill Carsis yourself."
How absurd it was at first.
He suddenly gave him a sword and told him to cut off the head of the traitor who was now the Emperor.
He was a man with healing powers like the Emperor.
Seeing the Emperor who survived with his head cut off, he could indirectly see how great the power of authority was. But.
"This sword is made from Deaneluka. You've heard of Deaneluka, right?'
Deaneluka was a ring that was treated as a holy relic, like the Riventia, which was called the symbol of the empire.
"If it is a sword made of Deaneluka, it will be able to neutralize the power of authority. So, apply poison to the sword and cut down Carsis."
Fasher, who had been repeating the Emperor's words, quietly muttered.
“The neutralization of power...”
If that were true, there was no need to fear the power of the traitor.
Fasher recalled the day of the first rebellion.
He could not forget the screams of his dying comrades and the sight of their blood spilling throughout the palace.
"But why is this being done to me and not His Highness the Crown Prince...?"
"You would know better why I don't give it to him."
He didn't know about Fasher either.
That Ernest was not cruel to traitors.
“It must be because of his ex-fiancee.”
The Crown Prince still loves Princess Cretian, or rather, the remnants of Jupiter who were pretending to be Princess Cretian.
Before he knew it, a cold wind heralding the arrival of winter swept sharply through the air.
“So I have to finish it.”
Fasher tightened his grip on his sword.
He will end with his own hands what the Crown Prince could not bring himself to end.
By piercing the heart of the enemy who took the lives of his precious comrades with this sword.
So Fasher quietly vowed.
“We have arrived. This is Hamelon.”
How many days did they march? Because they hurried along the road, they were able to arrive at Hamelon sooner than expected.
Ernest, who had reached a wide plain, was looking around.
Not far away, familiar faces were waiting for them.
Cullen, who was next to Ernest, also checked who was waiting for them and looked at Ernest with a serious face.
That Ernest was not cruel to traitors.
“It must be because of his ex-fiancee.”
The Crown Prince still loves Princess Cretian, or rather, the remnants of Jupiter who were pretending to be Princess Cretian.
Before he knew it, a cold wind heralding the arrival of winter swept sharply through the air.
“So I have to finish it.”
Fasher tightened his grip on his sword.
He will end with his own hands what the Crown Prince could not bring himself to end.
By piercing the heart of the enemy who took the lives of his precious comrades with this sword.
So Fasher quietly vowed.
***
“We have arrived. This is Hamelon.”
How many days did they march? Because they hurried along the road, they were able to arrive at Hamelon sooner than expected.
Ernest, who had reached a wide plain, was looking around.
Not far away, familiar faces were waiting for them.
Cullen, who was next to Ernest, also checked who was waiting for them and looked at Ernest with a serious face.
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