The marble door carved with the first goddess reaching her hand toward the sun and numerous small gods beneath her knees opened smoothly. Soon Emperor Luksus appeared among the silently bowing retainers. On his back fluttered a cape embroidered with silver thread extracted from Sildor steel that sparkled even in the faintest light.
Behind him followed Empress Violet wearing a white dress symbolizing pure white, and imperial princes wearing golden capes like their father in order.
Anya couldn’t dare face them and deeply bowed his head. Fortunately, all the dukes were placing their hands on their chests and bowing their heads like him. The Golden Crows escorted them, wearing golden armor with even their scabbards at their waists gilded in gold—painful to behold just from looking.
“I was wondering where Lord Usolin of the Iron Peninsula went, and there he was already sucking the Emperor’s ass.”
Bluoa Shonda grinned and whispered to Anya. At the vulgar word choice, Anya gasped but unconsciously looked at the Emperor’s group with curiosity.
Indeed, as he said, among the Golden Crows could be seen a small dwarf walking with short legs, waddling along. He wore a helmet with deer antlers and had a long, curly red beard hanging down—the typical appearance of a dwarf warrior as described in books.
“They say it’s a banquet, but it’s quite menacing. My knights couldn’t even set foot in here.”
Bluoa whispered again. When Canon Montrose from across the way looked this way with sharp eyes, he recoiled with an “eek” sound.
As he said, the Golden Crows seemed ready to continue their escort throughout the banquet and soon hid themselves in the shadows behind the pillars. Golden waves occasionally rippled in the darkness.
“It is deeply moving to face my precious jewels like this.”
As Usolin rushed over to pull out the seat of honor, Emperor Luksus sat in his chair and spoke. His indifferent gaze briefly passed Evernight and lingered on Anya. Anya tightly gripped his collar. His fingertips trembled finely.
“We pay our respects to the Sun of the Empire.”
The dukes shouted in unison. Due to the high ceiling, their voices echoed as if singing.
“The formalities are done. Everyone, please sit.”
When Luksus gestured, everyone sat simultaneously. Anya still couldn’t lift his head. Then Bluoa Shonda leaned over and whispered to Anya. Canon Montrose clicked his tongue and gave him a look, but Bluoa didn’t seem to care at all.
“The Empress really doesn’t age as people say.”
Empress Violet sat next to Emperor Luksus, and she didn’t give anyone a glance. Thanks to her hair being neatly pinned up without a strand falling and fixed with a tiara, the Empress’s eyes looked even more fierce. However, her snow-white skin and cool violet eyes clearly showed she was the august empress of this empire in name and reality.
Thanks to Bluoa, Anya was able to observe the Emperor and Empress, even if only for the briefest moment.
‘Father… looked like that.’
The Emperor had never once come to meet Anya directly or summoned him. He hadn’t even shown his face when Anya had to depart, practically being sold off to Tildyen.
The Emperor acknowledged Anya as his bloodline, but that was all. During his time as an imperial prince, he was grateful even for that alone. He thought he was at least living as a human being thanks to that. But having gone out into the world, he thought it would have been better if he hadn’t been acknowledged as an imperial prince and had been abandoned to a commoner’s home.
“Anya. I am greatly pleased to meet you like this.”
Lost in thought, Anya looked at Emperor Luksus in surprise at his address. The Emperor’s eyes were a similar blue to Evernight’s, but with lower saturation and more turbid. Everyone found Evernight’s bright blue eyes eerie and frightening, but Anya found the Emperor’s blue eyes more chilling.
Looking into his eyes made him feel as if his clothes were being stripped off right here, and even his skin would be peeled away, his soul torn to shreds.
“Is married life manageable?”
It was Royster. The imperial princes sat in order in seats close to the seat of honor, with Royster’s seat closest to the Emperor’s. He showed a smile. Royster always publicly played the role of a benevolent elder to his siblings. So not many people knew the reality of what schemes he was plotting behind the scenes.
“Yes…”
“That answer is too short, isn’t it? Lord Evernight, you tell us. Anya is the youngest and… as you know, he stutters and has many shortcomings, so I’ve been terribly worried.”
Royster looked more mature than what he’d seen in Dragcals’s visions, but occasionally poorly-contained irritation burst out. He had been skilled at transforming himself into a magnanimous crown prince, at least publicly…
“Not bad.”
Evernight’s gaze lingered on Anya once.
“Not bad… Did you two consummate the marriage?”
It was an inappropriate question unsuited for an official setting. Hakseos across the way openly frowned. Hadn’t the Emperor already sent even the chamberlain to confirm their consummation? But Emperor Luksus watched.
“We did.”
Unexpectedly, Evernight was calm. Their wedding night had been painful… a dutiful act where no love between them could be found at all. He had even found that duty quite unpleasant. But Evernight answered as calmly as flowing water. Not a hint of such discomfort could be found in his expressionless face.
When Evernight didn’t waver at the crude question meant to openly humiliate him, another imperial prince sitting next to Royster asked mischievously.
“Anya. When did you learn such bedroom techniques? You always skipped lessons with Scholar Kalimon.”
The reason he skipped lessons with the scholar was because his siblings tormented Anya. They would deliberately tell him the wrong lesson times, or even when he attended, they would constantly humiliate him.
Did the scholars at Eos Castle even provide sex education to the imperial princes? Anya’s face heated up remembering his unsightly appearance, unable to do anything beneath Evernight. To be humiliated like this in front of the Emperor and dukes of all people.
“Th-that…”
As Anya stammered to speak, Royster cut him off.
“You must have had a hard time being born a man and receiving a man, little brother.”
Had a hard time…?
It had certainly been a difficult process, but at least Royster wasn’t the one who should say that. For Anya, being trapped alone in a cave with Evernight was far better than having a one-on-one conversation with Royster.
“I di-didn’t have a hard time. The Ti-Tildyen people were all good.”
When Anya opened his mouth at length for the first time, the dukes cast curious glances. Though his hands beneath the table trembled finely with tension and embarrassment, Anya composed his expression to seem dignified.
‘I can’t hide forever.’
Anya truly resented his stuttering disability at this moment. The cause was that he learned to speak late due to being neglected in childhood. Since few people came and went from his detached palace, Anya couldn’t converse for many years.
“My son. You don’t know how worried I was. Didn’t you even have an honor duel in Tildyen? I’m not unaware of your hardships, so there’s no need to hide them.”
At the words “honor duel,” the dukes exchanged glances secretly with each other, and the imperial princes with each other. Some had dignified expressions as if they’d already heard the rumors, but the lower-ranked princes who were in the dark about rumors glared at Anya with jealous eyes.
“An honor duel—quite a spectacular initiation as lady of the house, Lord Evernight.”
Bluoa burst out laughing. Nevertheless, the atmosphere didn’t ease readily.
“The imperial family nearly lost their life to a lower knight of Tildyen.”
Royster spoke toward Evernight while narrowing his brow.
“I… wa-wanted to do it. The lord actually tri-tried to stop me!”
Anya interjected urgently. Rohan Ramus sitting across from them looked at them with a somehow pleased expression. But Royster revealed his displeasure without filtering it.
“You went all the way to the North and humiliated the imperial family, yet your excuses are long, dear little brother.”
The red earring swayed with a clink from his ear. It was that earring he’d seen in Dragcals’s vision. Anya still hadn’t forgotten the sensation of stabbing the Haebing into his chest. His fist clenched beneath the table.
《You’re feeling anger.》
Dragcals’s voice was heard. At the same time, Evernight’s cool hand wrapped over his fist.
《However, now is not the time.》
Anya bit his lip and looked up at Evernight. He put slight force into his hand.
‘I know… that much too.’
Anya quietly lowered his eyes. Even if he talked back here, the Emperor would take Royster’s side, and Tildyen would only face difficulties because of his impetuousness.
“Brother Royster, that’s enough. You say he’s your dear little brother, but aren’t you pushing too hard?”
Then someone laughingly pointed out Royster. Royster was the legitimate heir tacitly acknowledged by the Emperor. He was the legitimate son born from Empress Violet’s womb. The red earring was that symbol.
“I heard he won the honor duel, so you should praise him.”
But for some reason, the Tenth Imperial Prince speaking like that also had a red earring hanging from his ear.
“Cloy, are you giving me advice right now?”
Royster retorted in a tone heavily laden with irritation. Anya was surprised by his sharp reaction. Because Royster always toyed with the imperial princes with an attitude overflowing with composure.
“Royster, that’s enough. They’re your siblings you should look after.”
Empress Violet grasped Royster’s hand and admonished him. He took a breath and backed down. And with a noticeably anxious expression, he read the Emperor’s mood.
“Hmm…”
Emperor Luksus was watching them with his chin resting on his hand. The disapproval in his ashen blue eyes was clearly felt even from a third party’s view.
“Anya, this is the first time we’re meeting face-to-face at a meal like this.”
When Royster took a step back, Tenth Imperial Prince Cloy Claist grinned as if this was his chance.
‘How does he also have a red earring…’
The red earring was proof the Emperor bestowed only on certain sons. I acknowledge the prince’s ability. That was its meaning.
“Only a few months have passed, but you’ve really changed a lot. Don’t mind what the other siblings say. They’re all saying that because they’re worried about you.”
Though he couldn’t pinpoint Anya’s change precisely, Cloy could clearly feel a certain dignity surrounding the boy.
‘Selling him off to the North early on was a masterstroke. If we’d left him sitting still in the imperial palace, he could have been a headache. So Father…’
Cloy secretly examined the Emperor’s expression while still maintaining his smile.
‘Are you regretting it?’
The aged Emperor was difficult to read regarding what he was thinking, and looked very young for his age. When ascending to the throne, the Claist imperial family received divine blessing and their aging slowed compared to others. It was the Emperor’s exclusive privilege.
“How about everyone catches up later? Your Majesty, I heard the servants already finished preparing the banquet early. Let’s begin the banquet before the food gets cold.”
Empress Violet announced in a calm and elegant voice.
“Indeed. It would be good to fill our bellies before the night deepens further. The Delphium Empire never forgets your hard work, so I hope you enjoy yourselves to your heart’s content today. From tomorrow, you’ll be busy with the Seven Dukes’ Council. I’ll tell you the reason I gathered you then.”
Rohan groaned and pressed his forehead. Montrose showed no change in expression, Hakseos looked terrified, and Bluoa gave thanks to the Emperor. And Usolin said nothing and kept drinking wine.
The doors opened wide and servants entered carrying huge silver trays. Behind them, dancers wearing silk so sheer their insides were completely visible came pouring in. As Anya hastily lowered his eyes, Bluoa clapped and burst out giggling.
