Chapter 122

The deeply personal nature of the late Emperor’s will left everyone speechless. Dean, who had served him, turned away, unable to watch the recording, as the late Emperor’s voice, filled with bitter regret, echoed.  

• I often wonder what would have happened if I had allowed Henry to give up his position as Crown Prince.

Louis’s eyes widened. The father he remembered seemed like someone born to be Emperor. After ascending the throne, he had built a strong imperial authority, abolished corrupt practices, and introduced new systems for the Empire. His bold policies were sometimes criticized, but he never stopped.  

And yet, this man had once said he didn’t want to be Emperor.  

• By involving Violet, I locked you into the position of Crown Prince. I spent my life atoning to Annette and Luideos. I refused to see my son and the innocent Violet being hurt because of me.  

Louis slowly turned to look at his father. His father, gritting his teeth as if trying not to crumble, was visibly suppressing his emotions. Louis’s gaze trembled violently as he watched.  

• I’m sorry. 

It was a sincere apology.  

• For some reason, I couldn’t sleep at the thought of you fighting with Louis. Don’t fight, Henry. Never become a father like me. This is the shameless plea and lesson of your father.  

The hidden will of the late Emperor came to an end. The fading image disappeared with a faint “pop,” extinguishing the light of the recording crystal.  

‘Swoosh.’  

A strong wind whipped through the trees, creating a loud rustling sound. It swept past the people on the terrace, disheveling their clothes and hair.  

The Emperor stared at the now-dark recording crystal before slowly turning his back and walking toward the terrace railing.  

As Louis watched his father’s retreating figure, he slowly lowered his head.  

Louis began walking toward the terrace exit. Vivian, Hugo, Dean, and Marquis Marx followed him out.  

Dave was the last to leave the terrace, closing the glass door behind him. The sound of the harsh wind became muffled, fading into the distance beyond the glass.  

Louis turned his head one last time to look at Emperor Henry’s back before walking slowly down the corridor.  

“Louis.”  

Vivian called out to him. Louis paused and turned to look at the people behind him.  

“I’ll go reduce the swelling for a bit.” 

Louis said with a faint smile, gesturing to his left cheek. He then turned quickly and walked away.  

Vivian moved to follow him, but Hugo’s voice stopped her.  

Hugo shook his head as he looked at Vivian. Approaching her with the Aitenus in hand, he said, 

“I understand your concern, but it’s best to leave him alone for now.”  

Vivian looked down at the Aitenus and nodded. Holding the unusually heavy Aitenus in her hands, she gazed down the corridor where Louis had disappeared.  

After quite some time, the trial resumed. When Louis reappeared in the courtroom, people couldn’t hide their surprise.  

The slightly swollen cheek piqued the curiosity of the attending nobles, who whispered among themselves, each speculating wildly.  

Empress Annette, too, looked at her son with a startled expression. Her violet eyes trembled. She rose from her seat to approach Louis but had to sit back down.  

“His Majesty the Emperor enters.”  

The Emperor strode in with long strides and sat in his chair. His expression unreadable, the Emperor raised his hand in acknowledgment of the nobles’ greetings.  

Once everyone was seated, the Emperor spoke.  

“I will now deliver the verdict for Aitor Turner.”  

The courtroom erupted in noise at the Emperor’s words. Dave called for silence, and the room quickly fell quiet again.  

Emperor Henry looked coldly at Aitor, who was seated in the defendant’s chair.  

“Before delivering the verdict, I have one question for Aitor Turner.”  

At the Emperor’s words, Aitor slowly lifted his head. The Emperor’s lips moved as he gazed into Aitor’s clear, ocean-blue eyes.  

“What kind of life do you wish to live from now on?”  

Aitor was momentarily taken aback by the Emperor’s question. Expecting to be asked why he didn’t admit his guilt, Aitor blinked slowly, unprepared for such an unexpected question.  

“I…”  

The murmuring crowd turned their attention to Aitor.  

“I want to live like my father. Helping the weak, doing what I believe is right…”  

Aitor trailed off for a moment before looking at the Crown Prince and Vivian.  

“I want to live happily with my friends.”  

Aitor’s blue eyes grew resolute. The Emperor, who had been quietly observing Aitor, rose from his seat.  

“The child named Laila has no disqualifications as a witness. It has been verified by Stephan that she was indeed present at the scene. Based on the witness’s testimony, I will deliver a new verdict. Aitor Turner is acquitted.”  

At the Emperor’s declaration, Rosie clenched her fist and jumped to her feet. Vivian buried her face in her hands.  

“Sister, are you crying?”  

Laila tugged on Vivian’s dress and asked.  

“No. I’m not crying.”  

Vivian shook her head while keeping her face buried in her palms.  

“Is the handsome brother crying too?”  

At Laila’s question, Vivian slowly lifted her head and looked at Louis. Louis had his head bowed. She couldn’t see his face clearly, but perhaps Laila was right.  

A knight approached and removed the shackles binding Aitor’s hands and feet. The heavy iron restraints fell to the floor with a loud clang.  

That sound lingered in Vivian’s ears for a long time.  

* * *

“Aitor!”  

People waiting outside Duke Dinever’s mansion ran toward Aitor, calling his name.  

“Ugh!”  

Lucas was the first to reach Aitor and hugged him tightly. Aitor staggered backward, barely maintaining his balance, but when Zero came running next, he lost his footing and fell.  

“Aitor, are you alright?”  

Vivian rushed over to the two people and the Teria lying on the ground. Fortunately, Aitor wasn’t hurt. He smiled brightly, rubbing his head.  

“Big brother!”  

Ian jumped onto Lucas, who was already lying on top of Aitor. The sudden cute attack left both Lucas and Aitor sprawled on the ground again.  

Zero, seemingly delighted, began hopping around the three of them.  

Laila quietly hid behind Rosie, watching the three people and Zero with sparkling eyes.  

“Alright! That’s enough of a welcome. Let’s go inside now!”  

Teresa’s cheerful voice rang out. The three people, still rolling on the ground in joy, got up, unable to wipe the smiles off their faces.  

Ian, who had come up to the capital mansion, was the first to look for Aitor and Zero. Ian, disappointed when the Duke explained that Aitor had gone off to work briefly, grabbed Aitor’s right hand as soon as he saw him.

The moment they entered the parlor, Lucas made a fuss, inspecting various parts of Aitor’s body.

“There was no way that place was fit for a person…. Are you hurt anywhere? Are you really okay?”

Lucas asked while treating the red marks left by the shackles, cuffs, and the magic-suppressing artifact that had been fastened around Aitor’s neck.

“I’m fine, really.”

Aitor joked, prompting Teresa to snort with a “Pfft.” As a warm light emanated from Lucas’s hands, Laila, who had been quietly sitting next to Rosie, jumped off the sofa and ran over.

“How do you do that?”

Laila asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. Lucas raised his nose proudly and replied, 

“It’s really hard. Not just anyone can do it.”

When Laila rounded her lips in admiration, Lucas’s shoulders rose even higher. Ian, who had been glued to Aitor, finally noticed Laila and blinked before pointing at her with his finger.

“Who are you?”

Only then did Vivian realize that this was Ian’s first time meeting Laila. She stood up to introduce them.

“Ah! Ahhh!”

At that moment, Laila, who had been staring at the rude finger pointing at her, opened her mouth wide and bit Ian’s finger hard.

Aitor and Lucas, startled, quickly pulled Ian’s finger out of Laila’s mouth, but Ian, seeing the deep bite marks left on his finger, let out a loud cry.

“Apologize! Waaah!”

While Ian cried, demanding an apology, and Laila stubbornly turned her head away, refusing to apologize, the joy of Aitor’s safe return was overshadowed.

In the end, the nanny had to step in to settle the commotion.

Once Ian, exhausted from crying, and Laila, now drowsy from the tension, were taken away by the nanny, peace returned to the parlor.

“The underground prison might have been more comfortable….”

At Aitor’s words, Lucas, who was half out of his mind, nodded as if he agreed, even though he hadn’t been there.

Only then did Vivian lean back into the sofa, recalling what had been such a long day.

After the trial ended, Louis had approached Aitor and patted him on the shoulder. Then, he walked over to Duke Tereon and asked him to take care of Aitor before leaving the courtroom with Marquis Huckberry.

The trial, which had started early in the morning, only ended late in the afternoon.

The Duke, saying he still had work to do, stayed at Dovelia Palace, while Vivian returned to the mansion with Rosie, Laila, and Aitor.

The image of Louis’s swollen cheek came to mind.

Vivian let out a small sigh as she gazed at the scenery outside the window, where the sun was now setting.

Teresa, watching her, got up and clapped her hands loudly.

“Alright. We can’t let a day like this go to waste. On a day like this, we should eat, drink, and celebrate!”

At Teresa’s words, the butler quickly left the parlor, saying he would prepare everything. Pulled out of her thoughts by Teresa’s comment, Vivian nodded.

Not just Aitor, but everyone had endured a difficult day for him. If there was ever a day to reward themselves for their hardships, it was today.

Perhaps the butler had anticipated this.

The main dining room of the mansion was soon filled with food. From veal steak, which Aitor loved, to desserts that Lucas and Teresa enjoyed, the large dining table began to overflow with dishes.

The Duke, who arrived late, opened a bottle of Raspol’s specialty wine and said,

“You’ve all worked hard. It was tough, but we made it through, and I’m very pleased that the young people here have learned that no matter how difficult things may get, we must never give up and fight until the end.”

At the Duke’s words, Teresa raised her eyebrows impatiently, urging him to wrap up his toast quickly. The Duke chuckled and raised his glass of red wine.

“To friendship in the days ahead.”

At the Duke’s toast, everyone raised their glasses.

Just as Teresa, excited to finally taste the wine, brought the glass to her lips, her face twisted into a scowl.

“Um… Your Grace. A guest has arrived.”

The head butler, who had entered the dining room in a hurry, flung the door open and turned his head back. Following the butler’s gaze, everyone in the dining room turned to look.

“Well, it seems I’ve arrived at just the right time.”

Standing there with a swollen cheek twitching as he grinned was Louis.

“I’ve run away from home. Do you happen to have a spare room?”