CHAPTER 103
The Glacius Lake Pier at the Imperial Palace
Late at night, a procession of carriages adorned with hundreds of lanterns lined the pier at the Glacius Lake. These carriages carried the royal family and nobles who had attended the banquet at the Crystal Palace.
Escorted by the Imperial Guards as they disembarked from their carriages and boarded the boats, everyone wore the same puzzled expression.
A birthday celebration for the Emperor without the Emperor?
Emperor Maxwell's birthday was the greatest celebration in the Empire, no, the entire continent.
Although the week-long revelry that had continued through previous reigns had been reduced to half a day, just being invited to the banquet and fireworks at the Imperial Palace was the highest honor and pride for any family.
While festivals were held all over the Empire, including the capital, it was only natural that all eyes were on the banquet at the Imperial Palace. Moreover, everyone was eagerly anticipating the attendance of the prospective Empress at today's banquet.
However...
“Both His Majesty and the prospective Empress have caught colds and will not be attending today's celebration.”
The Emperor's chief secretary appeared in the banquet hall and delivered the news.
It was a short and succinct notice, characteristic of Emperor Maxwell. There was no usual "Thank you for coming, it's a shame," or "It's regrettable that we cannot be with you" or any other additional explanation.
Even as an Emperor, one would usually have to consider the opinions of the royal family and senior nobles. To solidify one's throne, strong ties and support from the top nobles gathered here were essential.
However, Emperor Maxwell didn't even pretend to cater to their whims. He always did things his way. The reason he could freely sway these high-nosed nobles was...
The royal family and nobles aboard the boats headed towards the center of the Glacius Lake clicked their tongues.
The reason was very simple. Emperor Maxwell had the power to do as he pleased.
In the thousand-year history of the Helterde Empire, no previous emperor had ever attained such absolute power. The young emperor, now twenty-six, had seized this unshakable absolute power through his own strength.
Both the royal family and the top nobles gathered here, whether they supported or opposed him, all knew. There was no force capable of dethroning the current ruler of the throne.
Such a force would be crushed into powder by the red-eyed Emperor before it even had a chance to sprout. Just as he had done until now.
Eight boats stopped side by side in the center of the Glacius Lake.
The hundreds of lanterns illuminating the pier flickered and began to go out one by one. Simultaneously, the brilliant lights on the boats faded away, plunging the surroundings into darkness for a moment.
Then...
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Golden fireworks burst continuously as if stars were pouring down, brilliantly lighting up the night sky.
It was the beginning of the Empire's greatest fireworks display, visible even from the edge of the capital.
Dissatisfied voices squeezed in among the fireworks from the first boat, which the Emperor did not board.
“What does it mean to give all citizens the right to enter the Knight Academy through examinations? It's a ploy to narrow the nobles' positions.”
“The honor of receiving a knight's title is a privilege granted only to the nobility in the Helterde Empire. It is a privilege and authority allowed only to us.”
Towards the end of the banquet, the royal messenger recited the Emperor's speech sent on his birthday.
To summarize briefly, it was: "You nobles are living well thanks to me. So don't forget the favor and behave accordingly."
It was infuriating, but they couldn't refute it, which made it even more frustrating.
Under the reign of the annoying Emperor, the Helterde Empire was enjoying its greatest prosperity since its founding.
And his final imperial decree shocked everyone.
He announced that the opportunity to enter the Knight Academy would be given to all citizens of the Empire, regardless of their status or family background.
Whether orphan, commoner, or highest noble, their background no longer mattered. The Emperor declared that he would give all young people with dreams of becoming knights a fair examination to qualify for admission.
The Empire's Knight Academy had produced outstanding talents like Sir Jacob, Sir Peter, and Count Corald, but it was also a den of corruption formed by the long-standing customs of the nobility.
Nobles were eager to bribe their unqualified sons into the Knight Academy with large sums of money, and factions formed severely within the Academy.
Various businesses surrounding the Academy were monopolized illegally by corrupt royals and senior nobles, reaping huge profits.
Several previous emperors had devised plans to eliminate the corruption in the Knight Academy but ultimately failed to implement them due to fierce opposition from the royal family and nobles.
Emperor Maxwell had shown little interest in his surroundings unless they hindered his goal of making the Empire the greatest on the continent. At least, that was the case until now.
Recently, for some reason, the Emperor had begun to introduce policies for the weaker members of the Empire, whom he had previously ignored.
Every time the corruption of the nobles, who had been greedily lining their pockets under the Imperial radar, was revealed one by one, the Emperor clicked his tongue, saying they had 'disgraced' him and punished them mercilessly.
“No matter how much of an emperor he is, he can't issue such imperial decrees at will. The Senate must officially protest.”
“That's right. We must see His Majesty tomorrow and tell him of this injustice.”
The gathered nobles, wearing grim expressions, grumbled.
Lowering their voices and anxiously scanning the dark surroundings, lest their conversation be overheard, they were busy proving to each other just how displeased they were.
“Since our opinions are unified... who will take the lead and speak to His Majesty?”
A moment of silence fell over the boat when one of the royal family members asked the question.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Startled shoulders flinched as brilliant sparks poured down from the sky.
“Well... it should be His Majesty's cousin and uncle...”
At the words of a senior noble, the Emperor's cousin and uncle let out a yelp before hastily closing his mouth.
Gazing around the lake, the man replied through clenched teeth.
“That's absurd! It's better for the former head of the Knight Academy, Count Hawthorne, to represent us.”
“Why, what ill will do you bear against me? Why should I? If that's the case, Baron Hugo, who holds land around the Knight Academy and collects rents, should take the lead!”
“Count Hawthorne! What nonsense are you spouting? I had to return half my land last time because of allegations related to a human trafficking ring. Do you want to ruin our family completely?”
The once-dominant royal family and nobles, now too afraid to face the Emperor, kept pushing each other forward.
**A heated debate ensued, but by the time the fireworks ended and the boats headed back to the pier, no answer was found. The royal family and nobles, hiding their embarrassment, dispersed with coughs and mutters.**
Upon disembarking and boarding the carriages adorned with the royal emblem, quiet conversations began.
“We'll have to live with our heads bowed until we die at this rate.”
“It would be fortunate if we only had to keep our heads down. As long as he sits on the throne, we'll be too afraid to even breathe properly, lest our bowed heads be lopped off.”
Two men bearing the crest of the Empire’s top family lamented.
Suddenly,
“Ha!”
A woman's mocking laughter filled the carriage.
The two men turned their gazes to the beautiful woman in front of them. Her eyes, blue as a lake, sparkled as she looked at them in turn.
“Just as the Emperor holds your weaknesses and shakes you, don't you realize that the Emperor now has a weakness too? We can shake him enough with his weakness. And when he shakes, the moment of his downfall will surely come.”
The Emperor, who was more rational and calculating than anyone, must have already known. That the person he comes to love would become his greatest weakness.
That’s why, until now, he had shown no interest in anyone and had not opened his heart. He must have been complacent, thinking everything had gone according to plan, confident that no one could touch him.
Empress Natalia’s red lips twisted. Her eyes, which had once tasted blood, gleamed with cruelty.
The Emperor, who had been devoid of emotions like joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, had fallen deeply in love.
Arabelle, who had captured the Emperor’s heart, had become his one and only weakness.
***
**At the same time, in Arabelle's bedroom.**
Having just awakened from a deep sleep, her round eyes took in the man with ruby-red eyes.
A small, slender hand reached out slowly and gently caressed the Emperor’s cheek. The Emperor nestled his face closer into Arabelle’s hand. Each time her fingers brushed against his scars, her kind eyes trembled with pity.
“Does it hurt anymore?”
At the slight crack in her voice, the wall the Emperor had built up over twenty-six years seemed to crumble.
The Emperor, his throat choked with hot air, nodded with a forced smile.
Their gazes remained connected, unbroken. The Emperor clasped her delicate wrist and pressed his lips gently to her soft palm.
“I had a dream... In the dream, I saw myself not remembering you, Your Majesty.”
Though she called it a dream, she knew it was not.
In the forest, she met her mother, Ermeore, and Sephelia. And the man who fought the monsters while calling her name.
It was a man she had never seen before. Yet just looking at him made her chest ache and tears well up. Hearing the man’s voice for the first time brought tears of joy.
“Even when I couldn’t remember, I missed you so much... that I kept crying...”
As her large eyes filled with moisture, long fingers tenderly wiped her tears away.
“I won’t let you long for me again.”
The Emperor vowed, kissing the back of Arabelle’s hand.
Arabelle’s eyes, tinged pink, folded into crescent moons of happiness.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
Arabelle shook her head at the Emperor’s question.
She truly felt neither tired nor in pain. On the contrary, her whole body felt light and refreshed.
Suddenly, Arabelle’s eyes, which had been lying in bed, widened even more.
Sitting up abruptly, she spoke to the Emperor sitting beside her.
“Your Majesty, today is your birthday! There’s a banquet and fireworks tonight, isn’t there?”
“Yes.”
“You must attend the banquet.”
The night sky visible through the curtains indicated it was late.
As worry-filled eyes turned to the Emperor, he spoke nonchalantly.
“It’s already late. The banquet and fireworks are over. If you want, I can show you fireworks tomorrow.”
Arabelle, looking at the Emperor who had not attended his own birthday banquet to stay by her side, felt her hazel eyes fluttering with emotion.
The Emperor lightly grasped her slender chin, turning her face toward him. Leaning forward, he brought his face close to Arabelle’s.
As his breath spread over her lips, her round cheeks turned a shade of pink.
“You’ve forgotten something important. Today isn’t just my birthday. It’s going to be more special than my birthday from now on.”
Arabelle blinked, not understanding the Emperor’s words, and his eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
His large, red lips slowly descended onto her small earlobe.
“Didn't we promise? That on the day the beast’s curse is broken, we would have our wedding, just the two of us.”
The ruby eyes filled her vision completely, not leaving any room for anything else.
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