"Ah. What a son! I was supposed to stick the needle in the mouth, but I made a mistake..."
The moment Revan couldn't stand it anymore and intervened.
“Edgar.”
For some reason, the Emperor opened his mouth with a composed expression.
"You really are cruel to your son to the very end."
"..."
"If you had thought even a little bit about your son, who must continue to live as a citizen of the Empire... it is a remark you would never have made to him."
That was true. Ryan was a hero, and at the same time, a new threat to the Emperor.
A person with supernatural abilities who can become a god at any time.
A tragedy that could be repeated.
Edgar was well aware of this and was trying to shake the Emperor.
If even a small worry were planted in the Emperor's mind, Ryan would soon fall out of his favor, just like a hunting dog boiled in a pot after a hunt.
A small crack, the resulting division...
"I speak of you out of pity for Your Majesty. Shouldn't you take some action against my son, whether by banishing him from this Empire or whatever, while he is still at least somewhat obedient?"
“Is that so?”
"Yes. For my son, who looks exactly like me, will soon reign alongside me. As a true god who will make the Most High Emperor kneel at his feet for the rest of his life."
"..."
Ryan, who had been listening, closed his eyes tightly.
Revan wanted to shut Edgar up, but he couldn't say anything because the Emperor was signaling to stay out of it.
"If Your Majesty thinks of the future of this empire and of future generations..."
"Seriously, if the devil actually existed, he would be someone just like you."
The Emperor chuckled and cut him off. He looked unmoved by Edgar's provocation.
"I'm sorry, but I put an end to such worries a long time ago, before I could stab you in the back."
"..."
"And since you seem to be misunderstanding something, let me tell you that I'm not that good of a leader."
The Emperor sat down at eye level and looked at Edgar from close range.
"Did I look like the kind of person who would rack my brains worrying about what would become of the empire after my death?"
"..."
"As you said, Ryan might change. The bloodline of those with supernatural abilities, continuing from generation to generation, might one day completely engulf this world."
"..."
"But so what? I'm perfectly satisfied as long as I can be at peace right now."
Edgar's eyes furrowed sharply.
At that moment, Revan, who was listening, was surprised.
What the Emperor was saying now was not sincere.
What was the reason Revan tried to extract the special ability called <Neutralization> in the first place?
It was because of the Emperor's concerns.
The Emperor envisioned a future where superpowered individuals would once again monopolize military power, and a second Wassenberg would emerge.
At the same time, he hoped that Ryan, the hero, and his superpowered brothers would live in this empire without any problems.
The solution was the creation of a magical tool capable of controlling this ability.
So, the Emperor's statement now is...
'Was he always this good at scratching?'
It was merely to provoke and mock Edgar.
"There was no hell more terrible for me than being manipulated in your grasp. I mean, whatever I chose would have been better than the moments I spent coexisting with you."
The Emperor laughed.
"So I'm sorry, but things won't go your way. I intend to give our hero many things from now on—everything he never received or enjoyed in his life because of his devilish father."
"..."
"So please don't shamelessly call the hero who pulled me out of this hell your son, because from now on, I will act as his father in your place."
Ryan's expression turned strange as he listened. Revan noticed Ryan's face and let out a hollow laugh inwardly.
'...The Emperor is quite a man.'
In fact, the only problem the Emperor needs to worry about now is his relationship with Ryan.
Ryan's control, which could become a variable at any time. Maintaining a harmonious relationship with him.
By provoking his lifelong enemy and winning Ryan's heart as well, he had effectively killed two birds with one stone.
"So, Edgar, take you here before you go to hell..."
The Emperor added as he stroked Edgar's forearm covered in needle marks.
"Give your son, whom you have done absolutely nothing for as a father, one last gift before you go."
"Ugh..."
It was a cruel greeting. Edgar twisted his body with bloodshot eyes. Despite the uncooperative reaction, the Emperor rose with a relieved expression.
“Enough.”
The moment he was about to turn around.
Bang!
The Emperor's eyes widened.
It was because Ryan stepped on Edgar's back, which was squirming like a bug.
"Hmph!"
The head of the man, who had been struggling and glaring with a fierce look even while kneeling, was finally thrust right in front of the Emperor as if to show off.
Looking down at Edgar's head bowing at his feet, the Emperor was startled.
He thought he had completely cleared away all the bitterness with just a few words.
This is...
Isn't this the composition that he and the man in front of him have envisioned their entire lives?
The one who felt ecstasy making the Emperor bow his head at his feet.
"Remember this eye level between you and me."
The agenda is miserably burying its head at the lowest point.
Back to where he started after a long time.
The Emperor's breathing became heavy.
A pounding heart.
Excitement.
And joy.
It was a somewhat base emotion to feel when subjugating someone, but this, too, was the unavoidable nature of humanity.
Turning his eyes, which had naturally become wet with tears, the Emperor looked at Ryan.
The executioner who had ended hell was laughing while trampling the devil.
***
The Count's reception room.
Father is having a blast having his blood drawn in the basement, but we are having a peaceful tea time upstairs.
The Emperor and Ryan were sitting side by side.
And opposite, the Crown Prince, Nike, and I were sitting one after another.
"How about settling your relationship with your brothers now?"
The Emperor said to Ryan.
It means to restore the personal information of Ryan, an unmarried father who has a daughter and a son on paper, to normal.
"I will soon have to divide Belzer's castle among my remaining siblings, but I'm not going to adopt them all as my children, either."
"Ah, yes. That's not it."
This is the story of Richard and Christa.
Now, having lost the ruined Wassenberg castle, the two are going to court and testifying about their brothers' crimes.
Once the trial concluded, the two were scheduled to be adopted into the Belzer family.
"If you plan to start taking in a lady of the house soon, you need to properly sort out your family register. Even if they aren't your biological children, having a child on paper makes marriage difficult."
“Yes?!”
Ryan looked at me in surprise at the sound of the lady of the house.
"Why are you so surprised? Are you seeing someone?"
"Ah. No..."
"..."
The Emperor looked at Ryan for a moment, then quietly added.
"I- I really meant it."
“What?”
"Hey, the promise to act like a father. I didn't say it just to make you feel good; it's something I've been thinking about for a while."
What, what!
Ryan's eyes widened. The Emperor added in a slightly bitter voice.
"I haven't exactly treated my own children well either, but could I compare myself to your biological father? I may be lacking in some ways, but I will look after you here and there, so go ahead and enjoy life while catching up on all the things you've been putting off."
The Emperor added without giving Ryan a moment to be moved.
"If you have no one to meet, I’d like to introduce you to a respectable family. Actually, the Crown Prince has had daughters from noble families in mind as potential partners for you for quite some time, so you should give them a try."
“Yes?!”
Wow, a member of the royal family is acting as a matchmaker!
Ryan, who had been unable to say anything but "Yes?!" for a while, looked at me in extreme confusion.
Of course, I was just flustered.
Seeing how his cheeks were raised high, it looked like he was having a good time.
"Um. Well, yes, I am grateful, but their opinion is important..."
"That part has already been discussed, and I had narrowed down my reputable families among those that responded positively and spoken to the Crown Prince."
“That, father.”
Just then, the Crown Prince briefly intervened.
The Emperor seemed not to have heard.
"Of course, the parties involved would have to meet in person and connect emotionally, but."
He peered at Ryan's face this way and that and added.
"There aren't many women who would turn down a man this tall and cheerful."
"What?! Pfft, I, I wouldn't go that far..."
Ryan shrugged his shoulders shyly and looked at me again.
Why do you keep looking at me? It's really funny.
But I also felt good seeing the Emperor taking care of Ryan to that extent.
"Father!"
Surprised.
Just then, the Crown Prince shouted, and everyone's eyes turned to him.
"If by any chance you are referring to the Marquis Drayman's daughter and the Countess Roth's daughter!"
"Yes."
"I have given it some thought, but it seems Sir Ryan is not a very good match. I will look for another family as soon as possible."
"Suddenly? On your own accord?"
"Since this concerns the marriage of the precious Sir Ryan, I intend to be prudent."
"I was prudent enough, wasn't I? Besides, we need to meet first. Marriage is a secondary matter."
"As for Sir Ryan's wishes. He might not want to meet, so aren't we getting ahead of ourselves..."
"Your Highness!"
Ryan snorted and interrupted.
"I am simply infinitely grateful for the concern shown by His Majesty the Emperor and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
Wow, anyone can tell he looks like someone who wants a woman introduced quickly!
At that, the Crown Prince's pupils shook as if an earthquake had struck.
What's wrong with him?
Thinking he might know something, I asked Nike with my eyes, but Nike shook his head as if he didn't know.
"W-wait a moment..."
The Crown Prince looked around, then soon looked at me. And he spoke to Nike.
"Let's switch seats."
"Yes?... Yes."
The Crown Prince pushed Nike aside and came to my side.
Then, after glancing at the gaze fixed at him, he whispered in my ear so only I could hear.
"It is true that we were having positive discussions with the daughters of the two families the other day. But it fell through."
“Yes? Why?”
“It’s scary.”
"..."
Scared? What?... Ah!
"Everyone knows it by now."
Oh my god.
That's what I heard.
I stared blankly at Ryan, who was tilting his head across from me.
"I heard that both young ladies clung to Father's pant legs, sobbing and begging him to pretend it never happened. So, it's a done deal. You can't force someone scared to come out."
"Ah. Uh. Yes, uh, that's right."
Ugh, I didn’t think of that!
Our lion is a human being who is kind and gentle only to those who know him well.
What would it be like for those who don't know?
He's just a possessor of an instant kill ability who seems to have to risk their life for a single marital argument...
The young ladies who would have gladly agreed to meet him when they didn't know must have wanted to run away without looking back once Ryan's true identity was revealed.
Oh my god!
If things continue like this, will our Ryan even be able to date?
"What's the matter?"
Ryan asked me with an anxious look in his eyes.
The Crown Prince passed the words he could not bring himself to say to me, then turned his head away and pretended not to know.
I was just all lips.
What should I say!
"Uh... Err..."
In the end, unable to decide what to do, I just bit my tongue hard.
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