LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 12 - The Emperor (5)
✦ Chapter 12 – The Emperor (5) ✦
「Translator – Creator」
𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝
“Well then, enlighten me. Where did you learn it?” As soon as I acknowledged my defeat, the Emperor said, turning his back to me as he walked back towards his chair.
Watching him stroll away, unguarded, a mischievous thought crossed my mind.
‘Could I pull off a sneak attack right now?’
Imagine the look on his face if I landed a surprise hit and shouted, ‘It’s not over till it’s over!’
‘No, bad idea.’
I quickly dismissed the thought. Even if it worked, what then? Even with his back turned, I sensed no vulnerability whatsoever.
As he sat in his chair and looked at me, he seemed completely unfazed, while I was still catching my breath.
“Given up on the surprise attack already?” he asked knowingly.
He’d even noticed that? Not a surprise, really. I wouldn’t be able to touch him with my current abilities.
“Me? Attack Your Majesty? Never!”
“You say that, yet you kept swinging your sword at me earlier.”
“Ahahaha, well… speaking of Shadow Step, here’s how I learned it,” I said, smoothly changing the subject.
I pulled out the Shadow Step skill book from my subspace. It was a thick book that didn’t seem like it only contained one sentence.
“A subspace artifact, is it?” The Emperor’s eyes flickered with interest. “You certainly possess many fascinating abilities.”
I intentionally showed the Subspace to the Emperor. The more he valued me, the better it would be in the future.
“Would you like to see it, Your Majesty?”
“Go ahead,” he said with a nonchalant wave of his hand.
I approached the emperor and handed him the book. He took it, leaning back in his chair, his chin resting on his hand, as he examined its contents.
Despite being in a position that would usually be vulnerable to an attack, I somehow didn’t feel like an attack would succeed.
“You see, Your Majesty, while it’s true I learned from this book, it only has one sentence,” I explained.
His brow furrowed slightly at my words. He glanced down at the book in his hand with a quizzical expression. Why was he doing that?
“Hmm? A single sentence? It appears I see more than that.”
“Excuse me? What do you mean?”
More than a sentence? That was impossible. I had scrutinized every single page of the thick volume. The same lone sentence repeated over and over.
“Isn’t it the same sentence on every page?” I asked, bewildered.
“That seems to be how it appears to you. I see something different on each page,” he replied calmly.
Thinking about the differences between the emperor and me… Could it be?
“I’ll return it to you.”
The Emperor handed the book back to me, seeming to lose interest. Surprised at how easily he returned it, I asked him, “This book… it doesn’t tempt you?” more out of curiosity than anything else.
“I already know all its contents, so the book doesn’t interest me much. If anything, I’m more intrigued by that spatial artifact you possess,” the emperor replied.
He probably knew I wouldn’t part with my Subspace.
“Unfortunately, it’s not something I can give away.”
“I figured as much. You’ve been through a lot, suddenly being brought here. A carriage has been prepared for you to take back.”
Initially, when I was practically abducted to the imperial palace, I desperately wanted to leave.
But the allure of the elixir was too strong to let go without a fight.
“Your Majesty, forgive my boldness, but are you by any chance troubled by anything?”
The words left my mouth, and even I cringed at my stupidity. What problems could the Emperor possibly have that I could solve?
The emperor laughed heartily, clearly seeing through my shallow ploy. Honestly, if I were in his shoes, I would laugh too.
“Hahaha, so you really want that elixir?”
Yes! I want it immensely!
But I know you won’t just hand it over.
“It’s not so much the elixir itself, Your Majesty,” I said with a perfectly straight face. “As a citizen of the Empire, I am merely asking to see if there is any way I could repay Your Majesty for all your efforts for the empire.”
“As it happens, I do have one problem.”
It worked? What’s his problem?
“Recently, someone has been looking into the Phantom Cardinal. If you could ensure that they don’t uncover the truth — that I am Phantom Cardinal — I would gladly reward you with an elixir,” the Emperor proposed.
It was true that it would be troublesome if the Emperor’s identity as the Phantom Cardinal were made public. But was it really that big of a concern?
“Forgive my impertinence, Your Majesty, but wouldn’t a simple order to cease the investigation suffice?”
I didn’t know who was conducting the investigation, but surely an imperial order would make anybody stop.
‘So why ask me?’
I briefly considered that he might just want to give me the elixir, but the emperor never does anything without benefit.
If he merely wanted to give me the elixir, he could have tasked me with slaying a few monsters instead. That would be more beneficial for the empire.
“The person isn’t one to be swayed by a simple command.”
Someone like that exists?
I couldn’t fathom anyone who would continue to investigate despite the emperor’s orders.
“Can you solve this problem for me?”
“Of course, Your Majesty. Anything for the Empire.”
‘Anything for the elixir,’ I amended silently. And a certain mischievous plot began to form in my mind.
“As a matter of fact, I have a brilliant idea.”
This plan was foolproof. No one would ever suspect the Emperor was the Phantom Cardinal.
“I’ll look forward to it. Now, go on your way.”
“I’ll take my leave, then, Your Majesty.”
I turned to go, but a question for the Emperor sprang to mind. I turned back. “Your Majesty, may I ask one last thing?”
“Go on.”
“How can I become as strong as you?”
My question seemed to catch him off guard. He paused, lost in thought for a moment. When he finally spoke, his lips curved into the warmest smile I had ever seen on him.
“If you have someone you love, you can become stronger than anyone else.”
His words, so unexpected, stunned me into silence. To have someone you love…
“That’s a very…romantic notion,” I finally managed, still processing his words.
“Have you ever loved someone?”
“Sadly, no,” I admitted.
Before entering the game world, Croaka had been my whole world. And since arriving here, every day had been a whirlwind of activity. Romance was the furthest thing from my mind.
“One day, you too will find someone you truly love. When that day comes, you’ll understand what I mean.”
“I hope that day comes soon.”
.
.
.
After finishing my private audience with the emperor, I followed a maid through the palace. Suddenly, the maid leading the way stopped and bowed her head.
“Greetings, Your Highness, the Princess.”
In the direction of her bow stood a beautiful young girl. She’d been mentioned in Kroaka, but her appearances had been few and far between. With the same golden hair and eyes as Lucas and the Emperor, she was renowned as the most beautiful woman in the empire.
The Imperial Princess, Yerika Leonhart.
Yerika, having acknowledged the maid’s greeting, glanced at me and asked the maid, “Who is this?”
Though her question was directed at the maid, I took it upon myself to answer. With a slight bow, I brought my right hand to my left chest, my signature gesture.
“My name is Loki. A humble clown, at your service.”
My name sparked something in her memory. A brilliant smile illuminated her features.
“Ah! You must be the one my brother spoke of!”
So, Lucas had spoken of me. Interesting.
“Your Highness, if I may?” a voice interjected. Another maid, who had been standing behind Yerika from the beginning, leaned in to whisper something in her ear.
When the hushed conversation ended, Yerika dipped her head in a polite nod and introduced herself. “My apologies. I am Yerika Leonhart, Imperial Princess of the Altein Empire.”
While I was utterly clueless when it came to courtly etiquette, even I could tell that her every gesture was flawless, refined.
“What brings you to the Imperial Palace?”
It must have been quite odd for her to see a mere academy freshman in the palace. To satisfy her curiosity, I spoke the truth.
“I was kidnapped and brought here to the imperial palace.”
“Oh? You’re every bit as interesting as I’ve heard.”
Though I spoke the truth, she seemed to think I was joking. Some of the servants behind her also didn’t seem too pleased with my statement.
“And you, Your Highness, are even more beautiful in person.”
“Thank you for the compliment. I’m on my way to see my father now. Well then, Mr. Humble Clown, I hope to see you again.”
“The pleasure was all mine, Your Highness. May we meet again soon.”
Though I said this, I honestly didn’t think I would ever see her again.
Contrary to my expectations, our next encounter came sooner than I anticipated.
.
.
.
After Loki’s departure, the Emperor found himself thinking about the unusual young man.
‘An amusing one, indeed.’
To think he’d actually attacked him — the Emperor — for an elixir.
And his mind was as sharp as a whip. The Emperor had dropped a few hints, yes, but Loki had connected the dots regarding his secret identity rather quickly.
He wasn’t lacking in strength either.
Though he couldn’t land a blow, he possessed unique magic and his movements were impressive. It was no wonder Duke Adellian had considered adopting him.
The Emperor was tempted to encourage Lucas to befriend Loki.
“But that’s for Lucas to decide,” he muttered.
Even if Lucas didn’t get close to him, it would still be beneficial to have Loki on the Empire’s side.
Which was why he had made that proposal.
He was also curious. How exactly would the boy keep the emperor’s secret as the Phantom Cardinal?
‘As a matter of fact, I have a brilliant idea,’ the boy had said.
What could that brilliant idea be?
It had been a while since the Emperor ascended the throne that he had felt a flicker of excitement.
.
.
That very night, a rumor swept throughout the entire empire like wildfire.
That the Phantom Cardinal had resurfaced.
The Emperor, seated upon his throne, massaged his brow with a weary sigh and spoke into the air.
“Bring me that Loki boy. Again.”
— End of Chapter —
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