Chapter 469

“Welcome, Vivi. I’ve missed you.”

“Huh? Me?”

Vivi’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected greeting. She was so startled that her heavy glasses slipped down her nose a little. Jin gestured toward the sofa, inviting her to sit, and the girl awkwardly smoothed down her skirt.

Meanwhile, Romandro placed three thick reports on the desk, each labeled: “Coming-of-Age Ceremony Progress,” “Burgos Supply Support,” and “Crack Regular Report—Zyra.”

“I heard you look just like Vivianna, and I was curious to see for myself.”

“Oh, everyone says that. They say it’s a relief I only take after my mother. Even my father said so.”

“Ahem, Vivi.”

Romandro cleared his throat, reminding himself to be more formal. After all, he wasn’t speaking to just any noble, but to a royal—Prince Jin, who was on the cusp of becoming emperor. Regardless of how long Romandro had known him, he needed to choose his words carefully.

Jin, however, seemed completely unfazed.

“Vivi, actually, I was the first to say you resembled Vivianna.”

“Your Highness?”

“Yes. Which made me all the more curious.”

“But how could you know she looked like me without ever seeing me?”

Vivi turned to Romandro, whispering in confusion.

It was Prince Jin himself speaking. If he wanted to see her, he could have at any time. And yet, his words didn’t quite add up. What could he mean? Ah, this must be the kind of speech only the noblest use—no wonder it’s so hard to understand!

Noticing his daughter’s deepening thoughts, Romandro quickly changed the subject.

“Your Highness, the Bariel Central Elementary School published a collection of writings to celebrate your coming-of-age ceremony. Vivi participated, and by some stroke of luck, her piece was chosen as the featured work. She insisted on delivering it herself and requested permission to visit the palace. Please, offer her a word of encouragement.”

Startled, Vivi held out the book to Jin, her face a mix of hope and worry.

Gifts arrived at the capital from all over Bariel almost daily—massive statues, thousands of yards of colorful fabric, rare delicacies from foreign lands. Compared to those, a children’s anthology seemed so insignificant.

“Hmm.”

As Jin flipped through the pages, a faint sweat appeared on Vivi’s hand. If he were displeased, it would be her father’s fault! Seeing her anxious gaze, Romandro winked at her.

“Here it is—Vivi’s work.”

“Ah! Yes! That’s it!”

“…Her style is very much like Vivi’s—clean and clear. I’ll keep it in my chambers and read it whenever I have a moment. Perhaps we can discuss it over lunch sometime?”

Vivi’s mouth dropped open, then she nodded vigorously as if her head had a mind of its own.

Seeing the young lady’s lack of decorum, Romandro signaled to the attendants and gently admonished her.

“Vivi, now thank His Highness properly and wait outside quietly, understood?”

“Yes, Father. Thank you, Your Highness!”

“Good, good. Study hard.”

“Yay! Awesome!”

“Vivi!”

Creak.

Though she had only stood and left, the office felt as if a storm had just passed through. Romandro wiped the sweat from his brow and bowed to Jin.

“My apologies, Your Highness. Vivi is still young. Raising children is truly a challenge.”

“Nonsense. Receiving such a wonderful book is a delight. It’s just right for a child her age.”

Hearing that, Romandro realized something anew: if he traced back the years, there was a time when Jin was the same age as Vivi. Strange—how was it that the young Jin had been so composed back then?

“You’ve mentioned wanting to see her many times, yet only now do you allow it. You’re quite harsh.”

With that, Jin closed the book and moved closer to the desk.

He understood why Romandro had kept Vivi away from the palace. For the past decade, a cold, heavy, and silent wind had blown through the imperial court. How could he bring such a precious, delicate flower inside?

“Report.”

“Yes, Your Highness. First, regarding the coming-of-age ceremony: the schedule remains unchanged, and everything is proceeding smoothly. Besides the central nobility, twelve families from across Bariel have confirmed attendance.”

“That’s more than I expected. It’s not even a coronation.”

“…Including Hielo.”

Jin paused as he flipped through the report.

That name, which had filled nearly half his life, was impossible to forget—and he didn’t want to forget. It appeared before him once again today. Jin smiled faintly and asked,

“Philia and Nersarn, and Lord Ian’s younger sibling are coming as well?”

“Yes.”

“They’re a year younger than Vivi, right?”

“Yes. When the child was born, the chief of the Cheonryeo tribe passed away, so they spent five years in the Great Desert. We’ve only exchanged letters until now; this will be my first time seeing them in person.”

“Do they resemble Lord Ian much?”

Romandro just smiled in response. He had asked Philia the same question, and the answer was—

“She’s called the female Ian.”

“Female Ian? In appearance? Or something else?”

“That, I don’t know.”

Jin toyed with the edge of the report, trying to imagine the child’s features: blonde hair, green eyes, pale skin… What else? Unable to recall the details, he looked at Romandro in surprise.

“Why do you look like that?”

“Romandro.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Romandro’s cheerful smile caught Jin off guard, as if the image of Ian had faded like a shadow behind the sun.

Jin frowned irritably and waved his hand, signaling to continue the report.

“Ah, yes! Next is the Burgos supply support. The royalist faction claims to have secured a tiara believed to be an imperial treasure. They’ve requested additional weapons in exchange, which we are currently reviewing.”

“But the capital, Kalamath, is in the midst of a civil war. How did they acquire it?”

The Burgos civil war had dragged on for ten years.

The conflict between royalists and anti-royalists was essentially a puppet show orchestrated by Bariel. Whenever one side faltered, support was funneled their way to maintain balance. Officially, it was humanitarian aid, but in reality, it fueled the ongoing war.

No one in Burgos remembered why the war started or why it continued. Trapped in a cycle of meaningless death, they glared at each other beneath the thin veneer of ideology.

“This is a peripheral area allowing indirect access to the capital, where ore deposits were discovered. The royalists pushed forward to investigate and found a buried box.”

“Do we know if it’s an imperial jewel?”

“No. It could belong to Burgos. Since it’s on the route to the capital, the area will be sealed again after the investigation. The site is on high ground, advantageous for battle, so I recommend minimal weapons support.”

Jin nodded in understanding. After signing the approval, Romandro cautiously suggested,

“Your Highness, perhaps it’s time to settle Burgos once and for all?”

“Not yet. That’s a matter for after the coronation.”

Several officials had voiced similar opinions: to stop managing the Burgos civil war and simply absorb the territory into Bariel. But Jin’s stance was firm.

“Bariel and Burgos have long shared a border, but their histories and cultures are distinct. If Bariel intervenes directly during the civil war, it might unify the divided people—but the Burgos citizens would surely resist.”

Jin smiled. What was there to gain by ending things now in Burgos, a place that seemed perpetually on the brink of collapse? Seeing that cold smile, Romandro pressed his lips together and bowed.

“And if we expand the territory now, wouldn’t that be your father’s achievement, not yours?”

Though the emperor was still alive, he was a shadowy presence. If Bariel took Burgos now, the history books would credit Jin’s father, not Jin himself. That was unacceptable.

“The coming-of-age ceremony is approaching. Tell the officials not to rush. If they keep pestering you, I’ll appoint you as the governor and send you to Burgos.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

“What about the mana stones needed for the magic department annex?”

“Ten more crates are expected this season.”

“Tch. Too slow. Far too slow.”

The civil war in Burgos had one major downside: although the mana stones needed for the annex were mined there, none were officially exported. There were no miners, and those who existed prioritized the war. Bariel had considered sending workers, but the entire country was engulfed in conflict, making it impossible.

“Still, it’s nearly finished. Please don’t worry too much, Your Highness. It should be completed within the year.”

…Within the year. When the magic department annex was finished, would Lord Ian really return? After ten years of silence, buried underground without a trace or echo, could he truly come back?

Jin rested his chin on his hand, silent. Even Ian’s voice, which promised his return, had faded. Was it naïve to have believed a parent’s lie about returning after ten nights when he was only ten years old?

“Your Highness.”

Romandro reminded Jin, who had grown deeply serious. There were still documents left to review.

“This is the regular report from Clifford.”

“…”

Half of the Ministry of Magic had already left, and now half of that half had been dispatched to the Clifford Rift. The mages were suppressing the rift, investigating it, and probing its origins, but unfortunately, there had been no progress. Not in nearly ten years.

“Anything unusual?”

“No. Same as always.”

—No special observations. No findings. No reports.

Sometimes Jin wondered if all his memories were just illusions. The brilliant Ian had vanished in an instant. That much was hard to accept, but at least it made some sense in his mind.

But Rutherford was different. Though he had disappeared into the Black Moon with his group, there was an oddly complete lack of any other activity. Considering how he had taken control of Burgos and moved his faction significantly, it was strange that he had vanished without a trace. Even the Anti-King faction had ties to Rutherford, but now, with time washing over everything, there was no sign of them either.

At that moment, a sound came from outside.

Knock, knock.

“It’s Acorella, Your Highness. I’ve brought what you asked for!”

“Come in.”

With Jin’s permission, the door opened and Acorella limped in on one foot. Whenever he doubted if it was all a dream, reality would shout back at him. No, everything that happened that day was real.

“Didn’t take long, did it?”

“…What about the crutches?”

“Too much hassle. I walk fine without them.”

“Did you lose them again during an experiment?”

“Do you think I’m Beric? I’m always losing things.”

Acorella’s ankle had been completely crushed by Rutherford’s group. Magic couldn’t fix it, so she entered the office slowly, her steps slower than before.

“Here it is, Your Highness.”

“Good. Well done. You two may leave now. Romandro, Vivi will be waiting.”

“Huh? Vivi’s here? I didn’t see her outside.”

“What!? Where on earth is she wandering off to again?”

“Xia.”

Creak.

At Jin’s call, Xiaoshi, who had been waiting outside, nodded. She was responding that she would prepare the carriage. Jin pocketed the potion Acorella had made and left the office.

“By the way, Acorella, what exactly did His Highness order? I haven’t heard anything.”

“Nothing much. It’s a potion to thaw frozen things.”

“Frozen?”

“No idea. Maybe it’s for something Vivi knows about. I’m off!”

The thawing of his father, the Emperor.

A natural death.

An even more natural succession to the throne.

To become the true Emperor, to take a step closer to history, and someday, to face Ian again—this was the first step Jin had to take.