Tyr barked briefly, as if in response to his words. The fierce gaze that had greeted him when he approached undetected had softened into a gentle expression.

After petting Tyr’s head following Kalia’s, Russell finally concluded his greeting.

“It seems like you’re using a walk as an excuse to tour the palace… I’ll accompany you.”

“Your Majesty is coming with us?”

“No one knows the palace better than I do, so I’ll be an excellent guide.”

Russell grinned confidently and extended his free arm toward Kalia, signaling her to come closer. It was clear he intended for her to be carried.

If she allowed herself to be carried around the palace by the emperor, she’d undoubtedly draw countless stares.

Kalia, who disliked unnecessary attention like Aneta, wanted to avoid that.

Rejecting the emperor’s words was unthinkable, but this wasn’t an order from a ruler but a suggestion from her uncle.

Recognizing the difference, Kalia deliberated and decided to decline. She knew Russell wouldn’t be offended over something so trivial.

However, Russell’s words came faster than her refusal.

“Seeing the entire palace will be impossible with those short legs.”

His tone was teasing.

“……”

Kalia silently alternated her gaze between Russell’s legs and her own. It was a little frustrating, but she couldn’t deny it. Moreover, she doubted she’d be able to keep up with his stride no matter how hard she tried.

In the end, Kalia took a step toward Russell, resigning herself to his suggestion. She consoled herself, thinking she’d see more of the palace this way.

Why she felt so drawn to this place she’d only visited a few times was beyond her.

Noticing her agreement, Russell quickly scooped her into his arms, not allowing her to change her mind.

The reason he acted so preemptively, even knowing she’d initially planned to refuse, was simple: such opportunities might not come often.

Russell looked down at the children in his arms.

Elpis instinctively reached for Kalia’s hand, and Kalia held it tightly as though it were second nature.

Though born and raised together, the siblings had entirely different personalities.

If Kalia always wore a stoic expression, Elpis seemed to have taken all the smiles meant for her sister and wore them constantly.

Still, Russell did not intend to force Kalia to behave more childlike or to smile. Even objects cast from the same mold each have their differences. How much more so with people?

Children, too, couldn’t all be the same.

Russell, Kalia, and Elpis were simply his beloved, precious nieces and nephews—so dear that he could scarcely believe they were born amidst those dreadful people.

As he walked, Russell recalled the face of Carlos, who had walked around grinning like a screw was loose when the children were born.

“Keep up, Tyr.”

Even with both children in his arms, Russell’s movements showed not the slightest sign of faltering.

Tyr diligently followed behind as instructed, while Russell carried the children and showed them various sights.

Among them was a hidden spot that Carlos had discovered when he was just about Kalia’s age.

When Russell shared the story, the children’s eyes sparkled.

Elpis, in particular, seemed fascinated by the idea that her father, who had always seemed as imposing as a mountain, also had a childhood.

Russell finally set the children down when they arrived at a garden located deep within the palace.

“Look here, Sister! There are so many flowers I’ve never seen before!”

“You’re right. And they’re all rare ones too.”

The children, now in a garden accessible only to members of the royal family, busied themselves admiring the exquisitely maintained flowers.
Kalia, especially, seemed intrigued by the sight of flowers she had only seen in books before.

Russell stood back, watching the children chat softly as they admired the blooms. Perhaps it was because the weather had grown warmer, but the children’s clothing was light and airy, their flowing fabrics fluttering in the breeze like butterfly wings.

The surrounding flowers only enhanced the whimsical scene. Uncharacteristically, Russell found himself lost in idle musings.

Who knew how much time had passed?

When the children returned to his side after finishing their exploration, Russell spoke.

“Are you done looking around?”

“Yes.”

“Then it’s time to visit the final spot.”

Russell lifted the children into his arms again.

Eventually, they arrived at a location with noticeably tighter security. The sight of fully armed knights standing guard made it obvious where they were.

Kalia had a vague idea of the place Russell had brought them to.

“Is this the royal treasury?”

“That’s right. Let’s head inside.”

The unexpected appearance of the emperor left the guards of the treasury startled, quickly stepping aside to let him pass.

Ordinarily, thorough procedures would have been required to access the treasury, but naturally, no one dared to demand such from Russell.

“If there’s anything you want, I’ll give it to you. Go ahead and choose whatever you like.”

The shock wasn’t limited to the guards. Those managing the treasury were just as stunned.

It was already remarkable enough for the emperor to personally visit the treasury, but to bring his nieces along and behave as if they were shopping in a store?

They barely managed to suppress their gasps.
Despite the offer, Kalia’s reaction was lukewarm.

The dazzling sight before her was impressive, but it didn’t ignite any particular desire in her.

Elpis, on the other hand, showed some interest, curiously fiddling with a few items, but it was nothing more than simple curiosity.

Russell, fully aware of this, chuckled softly and began searching himself for an appropriate gift to hand to the children.

“What’s this? It’s broken,”

At that moment, Elpis seemed to have discovered something and spoke up. In her hand was a box with its lid open.

“Broken?”

That was impossible. There shouldn’t have been anything broken in the treasury. Kalia approached her younger sister to check what it was.

As Elpis had said, the jewels embedded in the pendant of a necklace were shattered.

“This can’t be…”

Kalia murmured with a hardened expression as if something had occurred to her. When her voice trailed off, Russell turned around. He saw an item he hadn’t thought of in a long time.

“The Glory of Control,” he remarked.

As soon as Russell spoke, Tyr growled at the sight of the object.

Kalia patted his head to calm Tyr and spoke to her younger sister.

“Elpis, put that down. It’s dangerous.”

“Yes, Sister.”

Smiling like an angel, Elpis snapped the box shut with a loud ‘clack’.

Her movements were just as forceful even when returning it to its original place.

Russell suppressed a chuckle as he watched Elpis wipe her hands with a handkerchief as if she had touched something filthy.

Though the child was usually gentle, moments like these revealed that certain traits in their bloodline couldn’t be denied.

“It seems you know about the Glory of Control and its owner. I can’t imagine the marquis or the duke would have already told you about such things.”

There was no way Aneta would have told her young children about how she had poisoned herself.

As Russell had suspected, the person who had taught the children about the artifact was entirely different.

“Marquis Lopelac told me. Elpis happened to hear it since she was nearby.”

Kalia had a strong interest in the Empire’s history and tactics. Marquis Tereza, who often visited the estate, found the child endearing and taught her a great deal.

While many believed Tereza to be someone who only knew how to wield her body, anyone who had stood with her on the battlefield would immediately refute that notion.

The title of “hero” hadn’t been bestowed upon her for nothing.

A brilliant strategist, Tereza excelled at mental pursuits and often satisfied Kalia’s hunger for knowledge with straightforward, unembellished facts.

One of the things she taught her was the story of the Glory of Control and its owner.

The artifact’s existence could hardly be welcomed by children who were aware of what had happened to their parents.

In the end, Russell decided to postpone giving the children any gifts.

Leaving the treasury, he headed for the Imperial Palace. Taking the children to his bedroom, he handed them a storybook and went to his office to fetch some documents.

“Stay quietly now…”

After some time had passed, Russell opened the door and walked in, only to stop mid-sentence.

Before they left, Kalia had been reading a fairy tale book to Elpis, but when he returned, both children were asleep. It seemed they had become tired from all the wandering around.

After setting down the documents, Russell approached the siblings who were asleep with their heads together on the sofa. He carefully removed the book from Kalia’s hand and gently moved each child to their bed.

“Mm…”

Elpis stirred restlessly in her sleep., with no other choice, Russell took off the ‘Glory of Mercy’ hanging at his waist and lay beside her. He gently patted her back in a steady rhythm, and soon, Elpis fell back into a deep sleep, as if she hadn’t been fussy at all.

Russell knew it was time to get up, but his eyelids felt heavy as if sleepiness had transferred to him. Fortunately, the documents he needed to handle were not urgent. He thought taking a brief nap wouldn’t be a bad idea, and soon drifted off.

The scent and warmth of the children led him into a deep sleep. His plan of resting for an hour soon became a longer slumber.

While Russell was deeply asleep, Kalia was the first to wake up. Rubbing her eyes, Kalia momentarily stared at the unfamiliar scenery before realizing where she was.

“Ah.”

She gasped softly, then quickly covered her mouth with her hands when she saw Elpis and Russell asleep beside her.

As Kalia sat up, Tyr, lying on the floor, sensed the movement and opened his eyes. Their gazes met as Kalia exited the bed and approached Tyr to pat his head.

“Go back to sleep.”

She whispered in a hushed voice, and Tyr obeyed, closing his eyes as if to show submission to his small master.

Kalia then looked around the room. Her eyes fell on the ‘Glory of Mercy’ that Russell had left leaning against the bedside table. Normally, she would have quickly looked away, but this time, she couldn’t. It almost seemed as though the jewel embedded in the center of the scabbard had sparkled.

As if enchanted by the light, Kalia moved closer. Reaching out instinctively, she grabbed the cold handle.

It wasn’t until she held it that Kalia realized what she had done. However, it was already too late.
The object became intensely hot as soon as she touched it, and she felt her heart racing abnormally fast. The ‘Glory’ resonated in tune with Kalia’s heartbeat, sending a strange thrum throughout her body.

It was a resonance.

“Kalia!”

Russell, who had been in a deep sleep, immediately sensed it and shot up in alarm, like someone struck by a bucket of cold water. His horrified shout and the disturbance in the Emperor’s bedroom alerted the shadows surrounding them.

The shadowy figures, their faces hidden, quickly positioned themselves to block the Emperor’s view, despite not fully understanding what was happening. As they stood guard, Tyr, now awake, growled threateningly and bared his teeth before the figures. However, Kalia appeared not to notice them at all.

“Step back. Do not touch the child, no matter what happens.”

Russell commanded with a furrowed brow, his expression tense in the face of the unexpected situation. The shadows, hesitating momentarily, eventually stepped back at the Emperor’s order.

“Your Majesty…”

“Kalia. Stay still.”

Seeing Kalia’s confused expression, Russell quickly regained his composure. If he allowed himself to be agitated, the child would only become more anxious.

As his mind cooled, he closed his eyes and immediately began to understand the ‘Glory of Mercy’ intentions. In an instant, Russell’s face froze in shock, but it soon softened into a more understanding expression.

“Mercy. I understand your intention. That’s enough for now.”

As soon as Russell spoke, the resonance from the ‘Glory of Mercy’ disappeared as if it had been a lie. The strange power that had seized Kalia’s body vanished, leaving her to drop the weapon and fidget in unease.

She expected a scolding. Kalia trembled in fear, anticipating the reprimand.

But instead of a harsh voice, what reached her ears was a sigh of relief.

“You’ve taken after your mother in everything… I can’t even begin to predict you.”
Russell reflected on the message that the ‘Glory’ had conveyed. It was unbelievable, yet it was real. Though he couldn’t deny it, he felt a strange pride. While Kalia may not understand, Russell was pleased, though this certainly wasn’t the ideal method.

“Lock. Go immediately to the Baltimor Duke’s residence and bring Carlos and the Marquis. Everyone else, disperse.”

At Russell’s command, the shadows, standing at attention, swiftly disappeared without a sound.

“Does it matter whether they are from the maternal or paternal side, as long as the blood of the reigning Emperor flows through them?”

Kalia looked at Russell in confusion, not understanding his muttered words.

It wasn’t until Russell noticed her bewildered gaze that he suddenly realized the confusion and walked over to her.

“Kalia. Listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”

Russell sat Kalia on his lap and began explaining everything. As he continued, Kalia’s expression changed subtly, with each new piece of information.

The end of the explanation came as a proposal. Kalia looked at him in shock, but Russell closed his mouth with a final word to think carefully about it.

In the meantime, Aneta and Carlos, who the Emperor had summoned, arrived at the palace. Without even knocking, they burst through the door and entered the bedroom.

“Kalia! Elpis!”

Kalia, who had been in a state of confusion, immediately sprang to her feet when she heard Aneta’s voice. She quickly left Russell’s arms and ran into Aneta’s embrace, where she finally felt the lingering anxiety dissipate and could relax.

Aneta, panting heavily, tightly hugged Kalia, who clung to her.

Meanwhile, Carlos, looking around the room, began searching for Elpis. He eventually found her, peacefully asleep, buried under the blankets.

Once Carlos confirmed that both children were safe, he sighed relieved.

“Your Majesty, what’s going on here?”

“Let me get straight to the point: Mercy has chosen Kalia.”

“Kalia… how could she be chosen by Mercy…?”

Russell began explaining the situation, just as he had to Kalia earlier. According to him, Kalia’s touching of the ‘Glory of Mercy’ was akin to when Aneta used a temporary power boost during the attack. In other words, it was something the ‘Glory’ had intended.

The difference was that Aneta had temporarily borrowed strength through a ritual, while Kalia had been chosen by the ‘Glory’ as the next heir.

“What it means that Mercy chose Kalia is simple. She’s been designated as the next Emperor. So I suggested to Kalia: would she take my place?”

“Are you planning to force her, even if Kalia doesn’t want to?”

“No. That will never happen. I swear.”

Hearing that Russell would fully respect Kalia’s will, Aneta and Carlos were able to calm their shocked hearts. But they knew it was too early to be at ease.

The choice that would affect Kalia and the future of the Empire still had to be made.

Fortunately, Russell did not pressure Kalia to decide immediately. He sent the children back after telling her to take her time and think it over carefully,.

It was several days later when Kalia finally made her choice.

In the end, Kalia chooses to become the Emperor, and Aneta and Carlos do not oppose her decision.

The news spread throughout the Empire the next day.

Russell announced that Kalia had been chosen by the ‘Glory of Mercy’ and was named the next Emperor.

~~The End~~