"Have you come, Cesare?"
Cesare prostrated himself in front of Perdiccas II.
"I have seen my father."
"Are your shoulders okay?"
"It's okay. I'm not seriously hurt."
Not to be seriously injured.
The Imperial doctor said that the skin was torn and scratched deeply, and even if he used holy water, it would take a month to heal.
Perdiccas II's eyes softened.
He sat on the throne and looked down at his son silently.
A tall stature, a beautiful appearance like a carefully carved carving, and shining gold eyes.
And an overwhelming momentum that does not hide that it is trying to suppress the opponent.
Even though he defeats everyone else and is alone with the Emperor, he even seems to have no inspiration.
Normally, he would have felt that his fierce and cheeky appearance was trying to crush him, and he would have been angry.
However, now he doesn't look as hateful as he used to.
'Maybe it's because I owe him my life. Hmph, that's ridiculous.'
With that kind of momentum, you can easily crush the minions of the continent that are coming up.
When he thought about it, he felt rather relieved.
This change in thinking was so surprising that even he was surprised.
"I know that I have been a nuisance to you."
"..."
"However, you should also know that it was all for you and this empire. Do you think there were weaknesses in those who would sit on the Katzen throne?"
Cesare paused, turned his head to stare at the Emperor. He recognized the meaning of his father's words.
"Yes, I will announce the Crown Prince soon. Please inform your wife in advance."
Looking at his son's frozen appearance for a while, Perdiccas II smiled contentedly.
He even felt proud like an eagle raising its child strong by dropping it off a cliff.
"...Why did you change your mind?
So, he didn't get angry even when his son asked me a question before, thanks.
"Change... I have always had you in mind. Who in this imperial family resembles me more than you, and who is more suitable for the throne than you?"
Knowing that, he didn't acknowledge Cesare, just like he wasn't the one who constantly denied and doubted his son's achievements.
"..."
"As soon as I get up from my sickbed, I will proclaim the Crown Prince. There will be a lot to prepare. Above all, when you become the Crown Prince, you will have to take good care of your brothers."
Perdiccas II added.
"Even if the ships are different, they are your blood. You can't take their life. Especially Juan, and that child too..."
"Your Majesty has corrected this, and it seems that God will not be able to accept Your Majesty's will at this point."
The 1st Prince's resolute words made the Emperor harden.
"Your Majesty, God. Even though there are only two of them, why do you use the title between the old gods?
"You..."
Perdiccas II's face, which was still pale, quickly began to turn red again.
"Are you rejecting the throne now?"
"There are still dangers surrounding His Majesty, and the political situation is not stable, so when is the time to decide on a successor?"
Cesare pulled up the corners of his mouth.
"Save the 3rd Prince."
Even if it were the opposite, would his father have told Juan to protect his life?
No, it can't be.
Cesare will be the most powerful threat to the throne by himself.
"Even if God takes over the position, instead of eliminating the danger of being alive, we have to just watch, so how can we say that it is my place and safe?"
Still, when he mentioned Juan, it was clear that he was not the child he cherished the most in his father's heart.
"Well, I think independence might be better than the throne."
"Hey, you cheeky bastard...! How dare you dare to do such a thing in front of me!"
Perdiccas II's face quickly turned red. Unable to overcome his rage, he picked up his staff and threw it.
Even though it hit his injured son's shoulder, he didn't care at all.
"It's your country! Ugh, yes, it's your country! It's your family!"
"I wish you had said that to those who wanted to kill me."
Cesare also felt strange.
Even though the moment he wanted the most was right in front of him, he couldn't choose it.
Becoming the Emperor of Katzen, Medea, may not be the way to be with her.
Even if he ascends to the throne in this state now... No. It was clear that if he ascended the throne, she would leave.
"As soon as the contract is completed, I will leave without any regrets."
"Father, devote yourself to recovering your body. This empire still needs you."
"That, that...!"
"Your Majesty, please be healthy!"
Cesare turned around and left the Imperial palace.
"Lord, what did Your Majesty say?"
"He just told me to look at my wounds."
The vassals should not know that the Emperor is trying to make him the Crown Prince.
'At least for now.'
"Ah, ah! You stupid thing! It was all stupid. Do you know how big an opportunity you are kicking?!"
Someone watched Cesare leave the emperor's palace, leaving the Emperor shouting fiercely.
"I'm sorry, Eratosthene. His Majesty is feeling unwell again, and it seems that today's meeting will be difficult, so you should schedule another day."
Soon, the attendant came out and bowed down.
"It seems that the First Prince refused to be Crown Prince."
"How do you... that?"
"When I heard that His Majesty had ordered the First Prince to be alone, I guessed it, and I guess I was right. Seeing that he doesn't look like His Majesty, I think he must have been very tired from this hunting tournament.'
At Eratosthene's words, the attendant nodded.
"Yes, His Majesty has barely returned alive from that Giant Bear... He has nightmares every night, so his recovery is slow."
"How is the pleural effusion tracking?"
"The commander of the Imperial Knights Is Investigating, but there is no sign of this yet."
Eratosthene let out a short sigh and shook his head.
"The commander of the Imperial Knights recently filled a vacancy and took over, so it will be difficult to investigate without hesitation. Since I am from a saint, my interests are also complicated. General Calvert has recently returned to the capital after completing his service, so why don't you leave it to him?"
The attendant nodded at the appropriate point.
While he was busy taking care of the Emperor's nursing and even minor government affairs, Eratosthenes' advice was like rain in a drought.
The attendant thanked him repeatedly and left.
"...Perdiccas, the rope is really tough."
Eratosthene muttered softly.
A small vial of medicine that was clattering from the pocket of his investigation suit was held in his wrinkled hand.
"It's useless because it's eaten by mutant demons."
He let go of the vial.
Crack!
The vial that fell on the floor broke and leaked black liquid.
"Now I have no choice but to move directly."
***
Imperial Palace.
It was dinner time as the sun was setting.
There was only silence in the restaurant.
The only thing she could hear was the occasional sound of cutlery colliding with the bowl.
"...I got a call from Sir Terrence."
When the man who made a casual expression and mechanically teased the cutlery couldn't seem to open his mouth.
Medea had no choice but to try to talk first.
"I'll take care of it."
However, before the words fell, a buried answer came back.
Normally, he would open the letter and read the useless news of the magic tower written down by Terrence in a low voice.
Next to Medea, he must have made sure that her favorite things got into her mouth and chewed properly.
But now Cesare didn't even make eye contact with Medea.
'What the hell is going on, you two?'
'I don't know.'
Even the maids who occasionally served food rolled their eyes at the cold appearance of the Prince and his wife for the first time.
Tak.
Then, frightened by the cold weather, he put down the plate on the table and hurriedly withdrew.
Even when it was time to sleep, the silent cold war continued.
Cesare immediately entered his room, not the couple's bedroom in the middle.
Eventually, the door closed.
His visit has never been closed since his marriage.
"Hah."
Medea let out a short breath.
She glared at the closed door. If she looks at him like that, he will open the door again and come out.
But the door never opened, nor did he kiss her cheek and whisper that she was growing well.
It was something he had never skipped like a ritual.
Darkness fell, and nothing happened until the lights in the bedroom went out.
It was only after complete darkness that Medea vaguely realized.
'You're moving away.'
A corner of her heart was crushed by that quiet awareness.
Comments
Post a Comment