The boy cleric standing beside the prophet’s deputy suddenly spoke as he watched. The deputy, immediately understanding whom the boy meant, carefully closed the bottle’s lid and said,

“Of course, being diluted, its effect will be significantly reduced, but I told the crown prince about the dosage-to-effect ratio based on the bottle I gave him…… He won’t notice.”

“You shouldn’t have given it to him. He clearly intended to use it for his own greed. Doesn’t that go against the goddess’s teachings? It will disrupt the world’s order.”

The boy cleric’s brows furrowed into wrinkles. The prophet’s deputy rubbed the boy’s forehead and handed the bottle back to him.

“What’s done is done. We should consider ourselves fortunate. What else could we do?”

“……”

“Even if someone searches for it now, this item can no longer be obtained. In the future, no one will use it for greed. Goddess, this too must be your will.”

“But……!”

The boy cleric expressed his dissatisfaction as the prophet’s deputy appealed to the goddess. But the prophet’s deputy rubbed the boy’s forehead more firmly than before, smoothing out the wrinkles, and said,

“Ian. We’re no different from the crown prince. We’re using this out of greed too.”

“……”

“So instead of criticism, let’s offer prayers to the goddess. That is our destiny.”

* * *

Emperor Kedrick summoned his younger brother. It had been a long time since this last happened.

Perhaps because of Roshan, who had entered the hall despite the previous order to wait, dozens of knights stood in formation in the emperor’s hall. Not only that, soldiers holding long spears capable of k*lling enemies from a distance also stood behind the dozens of knights.

In contrast, Roshan couldn’t bring even his close knight into the hall and wasn’t allowed to carry even a single sword, citing the emperor’s presence as the reason. Knox and Hayden, who had come to the Central Palace with Roshan, flushed at the emperor’s order but quietly withdrew at Roshan’s gesture. Entering the hall alone, Roshan slowly walked toward his half-brother and bowed.

“Roshan Vistius greets Your Majesty the Emperor, the sun of the great Empire.”

“The sun of the great Empire? Ha!”

The emperor on the dais threw a stack of papers he had been holding as soon as Roshan greeted him. The stack of at least dozens of pages flew through the air and fell toward Roshan.

Despite the papers hitting his head and even part of his face, Roshan showed no particular expression. Rather, the servants in the hall flinched in surprise. The emperor, too, watched his half-brother’s reaction warily, despite being the one who had caused the scene. But perhaps due to the knights and soldiers filling the hall, he hid his fear and shouted with shoulders spread wide,

“Traitor!”

“……”

“You are a traitor, Roshan Vistius!”

Terrifying words burst from the emperor’s mouth. Everyone in the hall held their breath at the emperor’s words, which could immediately send not only family but also relatives, acquaintances, and even pets to the execution ground.

“You dare covet what belongs to the emperor?”

Roshan’s eyes caught one of the papers that had fallen to the floor. Seeing words like “Sedas,” “princess,” and “prisoner” alongside his name, he made sure to remember the handwriting.

“Just because you bear the same surname! Though the late emperor bestowed that blood upon you as well, does that give you the right to behave so outrageously?”

“……”

“You dare covet a woman presented to me? You deserve death and more!”

As Roshan maintained an indifferent expression, the emperor’s voice grew louder. In truth, his words were not wrong at all. The crime of coveting what belonged to the emperor—it was indeed treason and a capital offense.

“Ah…… You mean the princess from Sedas?”

However, Roshan responded in a casual voice, as if it were nothing, and as if he had just understood the emperor’s words.

The emperor finally clenched his fist at Roshan’s attitude. His half-brother had certainly been quiet for several years. Though his power had hardly diminished, at least he personally had been docile. No matter what the emperor said, he would bow his head without much response and obediently do as told.

‘Is he really aiming for this position now? Suddenly? Why?’

A chill bound the emperor tightly. Though the drug made it difficult to concentrate on anything, the fear of losing his position cleared his mind for the first time in a long while.

“I wondered why you were so upset.”

Roshan raised his head and looked directly at the emperor’s face. Like a mouse before a cat—the emperor felt he had become the mouse before Roshan’s red eyes. Even the numerous knights and soldiers in the hall seemed unable to protect him.

“Your Majesty. If I had intended to commit treason, I would have coveted something other than a mere woman. For example, what sits atop Your Majesty’s head.”

“Wh-what? You… you! What are you all doing! Protect me!”

The emperor’s fear peaked at Roshan’s eyes openly staring at the crown and the deep smile beneath them. He gestured to the knights. Though hesitant, they rushed forward and drew their swords. Simultaneously, the soldiers’ long spears lay horizontally, pointing forward. They were in battle formation.

“But I don’t want that. You should know.”

Roshan continued speaking calmly, disregarding the blades pointed at him. The emperor found this appearance so repulsive that he could hardly bear to look properly. Those eyes—praised as the bloodline of the goddess and the symbol of the first emperor—they were not sacred. They were evidence of a monster.

The emperor considered ordering the knights to sl*ughter this monster immediately. But he hesitated after meeting Roshan’s eyes once more. If he killed him now, he had no idea what would happen next.

While the emperor deliberated, Roshan slowly lowered his body. The emperor watched his half-brother suddenly kneeling as if viewing something strange.

“Your Majesty. I have traversed many battlefields following your orders until now.”

Roshan suddenly began recounting his achievements while looking at the emperor’s distorted face. Unable to understand Roshan’s intentions, the emperor simply stood still, listening to his words.

“I have brought you whatever you desired and never once indulged my personal greed in the process.”

“……”

“So, brother. Wouldn’t one thing be acceptable?”

“C-Crown Prince! You are being disrespectful!”

Roshan dared to address the emperor informally, which was outrageous. One of the knights guarding the emperor found the courage to point this out.

Encouraged by the loyal knight’s outcry, the emperor opened his mouth to order the knights to attack Roshan.

“Seize him……!”

But in that moment, he saw his half-brother slowly shaking his head sideways. And strangely, his mouth automatically clamped shut at the sight.

Roshan smiled faintly at the emperor, as if to say “well done.” Then, still prostrated, he continued speaking,

“Being human, I too have developed desires. Despite bringing you so many beauties, I never once thought them beautiful……”

“……”

“The trite saying that women control men—I thought it was just a joke from pathetic men who live buried in women’s dresses.”

“……”

“But lately, I’ve begun to think it might be true.”

“……”

“Of course, it could be that my mind has grown rigid from visiting only battlefields, or that I’ve become foolish…… But if you are the wise brother I believe you to be, wouldn’t you scold me but still generously give me one prisoner? Isn’t that right?”

It was blackmail disguised as a request. The emperor bit his lip hard, wondering what to do with this outrageous brother whom he couldn’t deal with immediately.

The emperor’s face burned as red as it could possibly get. His clenched fists also turned red. Roshan observed this from below, then slowly stood up. As if driving in a wedge, he said,

“I beg you, Your Majesty the Emperor.”

After a long silence, the emperor turned around. With trembling steps, he reached the throne and sat down. The cold yet ecstatic and comfortable feeling of the golden throne—what must he do to keep this in his grasp forever?

‘If I kill him here, his lowly subordinates won’t remain silent.’

The emperor decided to endure the current humiliation temporarily for the future. Gripping the throne’s armrests tightly, he glared at Roshan and opened his mouth,

“……What will you do if I refuse your request, Roshan?”

“Then I would have no choice.”

Roshan let out a small laugh at the emperor’s words. Unlike when he was making his request, he answered with his head held high,

“Didn’t I just tell you?”

“……”

“That I’m foolish. So I would certainly make a stupid choice.”

The emperor immediately understood what the stupid choice would be. He ground his teeth audibly and commanded Roshan,

“I permit it. Now leave.”

* * *

The Empire’s Founding Day was the Vistius Empire’s largest annual event. For over a week, people regardless of status sang songs praising the Goddess of Light and the first emperor said to be her son, expressing gratitude for the glory and prosperity brought by the emperors under them.

Being the most abundant time of the year, even commoners ate white wheat bread and meat dishes, while clerics and priestesses, who normally practiced frugality, enjoyed sweet desserts and wine during this time. Nobles, of course, spent the most luxurious days of the year in all aspects of life, not just at their tables.

The imperial palace was no different. Though there was no rest due to the enormous scale of banquets to be held over five days, the goddess of abundance filled everyone’s pockets.

“Whew. How many days has it been? No matter how much we clean the guest rooms, there’s no end to it?”

“What can we do? All the guest rooms are being opened. Come on, let’s keep our spirits up. Think about the pay.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“Hehe. I’m happy I can eat meat dishes to my heart’s content, more than the pay.”

“Sana, if you keep eating like that, Phil won’t be able to find a wedding dress that fits you.”

“That won’t happen! Stop teasing me!”

Though the work was doubled, the pay was tripled, and they could eat until their stomachs burst. Because of this, servants of commoner origin had few complaints, and noble-born maids and servants also suppressed their dissatisfaction in anticipation of the upcoming banquets.