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Chapter 12
The strange feeling passed quickly. He set her upright and turned away as he spoke.
“I’m sorry, but if we’re being fair, you were the one who attacked first, so let’s call it even. And the Master of the Magic Tower is currently away, so stop wasting your time and go back.”
“W-Wait! I… I need to recover my magic power, so—!”
Without even listening to the rest of her words, he left.
‘W-What is wrong with that man?! Who attacked who first just now?!’
Roabellin glared for a moment in the direction the unidentified man had gone, then turned back and forced herself to calm down.
‘Haa… calm down and think. There’s nothing I can do right now. Meeting the Emperor as soon as possible is the priority.’
She gave up and was about to leave the magic tool shop when the potion corner caught her eye.
‘Oh? This is something I know.’
Her eyes lit up as she scanned the shelves. It seemed that some types were missing because the stock hadn’t been replenished quickly enough.
‘Hmm, this one’s low quality. The ones I made are much better.’
A lightbulb flicked on in Roabellin’s mind.
‘Why don’t I sell some of the potions I brought and use the money for travel expenses?’
She approached the magic tool shop owner and showed the potions she had brought with her.
“It looks like you’re short on stock. I happen to have some with me. Would you be willing to buy them?”
The shop owner carefully examined the bottles she handed over, and her face brightened.
“Oh my, the quality is excellent! I’ll take everything you have. I’ll give you a good price.”
Roabellin’s face also brightened with pride.
“I’ll give you all the love potions. Here—just leave me one antidote and one healing potion.”
Though the first impression she gave was prickly, the shop owner actually seemed to be the type who had to say everything on her mind to feel satisfied.
Happy to obtain potions she had been lacking in stock, the shop owner began talking about magical tools and the Magic Tower. It could have been dismissed as idle chatter, but for Roabellin, who was stepping into the outside world for the first time, it was precious information. She listened even more intently.
‘I don’t know much about how the world works, so I never know when this might help me. I should listen carefully.’
“So, miss, where are you headed alone?”
“I have business in Bisentium. Ah—could you tell me what kind of person His Majesty the Emperor of Prahenfeldt is?”
“Well, they say he’s young and capable. As soon as he became an adult, he challenged his half-brother, who was acting emperor, with magic and took the throne.”
It was the same story she had heard from Aunt Estina when she received the oracle on her fifteenth birthday.
“But why did he take the throne from his own brother?”
“In Prahenfeldt, it’s not the eldest prince who inherits. Once the direct princes come of age, they compete with their magic, and the strongest prince ascends the throne. Miss, you must be from far away.”
“Ah, yes… that makes sense. I’m curious how the third prince managed to win and become emperor.”
When Roabellin’s big eyes sparkled, the shop owner cheerfully began telling the story.
Five years ago.
On his birthday, Third Prince Kaisertern came of age.
He had grown into a man with sculpted features and a large, solid body honed through constant training. Rumors about the enchanting young prince spread not only among nobles but also among commoners. Many nobles who had seen his unusually deep golden eyes instinctively felt that he had the qualities of an emperor.
“Your Highness, about this birthday banquet—”
“It’s unnecessary.”
Kaisertern cut off the servant’s attempt to prepare it long before his birthday arrived.
“Pardon? But this is the special birthday on which Your Highness comes of age.”
“I don’t have time for banquets. I have something more important to do.”
On the morning of his birthday, he immediately went to his brother Heimelick, who was sitting on the throne as acting emperor.
“I, Third Prince Kaisertern Erlenkönig Prahenfeldt, having come of age as of today, hereby request a magic duel to challenge for the throne.”
In Prahenfeldt, the throne was left vacant until all direct princes reached adulthood, and then the emperor was chosen through magic duels among the princes. Therefore, Heimelick, who had illegally taken the throne, had no grounds to refuse Kaisertern’s challenge. At the time of the late emperor’s death, he had forced his way into the position simply because he was the only brother who was of age.
The two fought their duel in the plaza before the imperial palace’s grand hall, with many witnesses present. Collateral royal family members and high-ranking nobles all gathered to watch a duel that would become a page in history.
And as soon as the duel began, Kaisertern defeated Heimelick with shocking ease. To anyone watching, it was obvious that Kaisertern was overwhelmingly superior.
Just as the victorious Kaisertern turned around to proclaim himself emperor—
‘I can’t accept this. The throne is mine…!’
Heimelick, who had collapsed disgracefully in the arena, quietly rose and tried to attack Kaisertern from behind.
Just as black magic began to stretch out from Heimelick’s hand, Kaisertern extended his own hand backward and, without even turning around, bound Heimelick with powerful magic. It was even easier than during the duel.
“The moment I won, I was already emperor. And attacking the emperor from behind is usually called treason.”
Kaisertern walked over to Heimelick, who was writhing on the ground with his limbs bound by magic. Kneeling on one knee, he spoke quietly to his brother.
“You’ve tried countless times to kill me. My tolerance ends here. The only reason I’m not killing you right now is out of courtesy to you as a prince and acting emperor, so be grateful.”
He stood and spoke to the stunned spectators.
“Exile the traitor outside the capital immediately.”
Though it was an order to the imperial guards, it was also a warning to the nobles who had supported Heimelick. The man who had been acting emperor only moments before instantly fell into the status of a traitor and was dragged away in disgrace.
Kaisertern then turned his gaze to Second Prince Radak, who was nearby. Before Kaisertern could even speak, Radak immediately raised both hands.
“Whoa, whoa. I’ve never wanted the throne in my life. You know I didn’t even request a magic duel when I came of age. Just let me live quietly, spending money, hahaha.”
And so, Third Prince Kaisertern ascended the throne, surpassing his brothers.
Among the siblings, he possessed not only the greatest magic power but also the sharpest mind. As the legitimate son of the empress, he also had the solid backing of powerful noble factions. Thanks to this, Kaisertern quickly took control of the imperial family and the government, and the administration, which had been run loosely for some time, was swiftly put back in order.
“After His Majesty ascended the throne, they say the economy, public security, diplomacy, and national defense all became more stable. That’s why he enjoys absolute support from the people of the empire.”
At the shop owner’s words, Roabellin nodded slightly.
“That’s a relief to hear. But why hasn’t His Majesty married yet?”
“Well, how would people like us know that?”
“Could it be… that there’s some problem with him?”
At Roabellin’s words, the shop owner suddenly clapped her hands.
“Oh, there are all kinds of rumors. Some say he prefers men. Since he has to produce an heir, a male lover can’t be officially acknowledged, so he keeps him hidden. And then there’s the rumor that he’s… impotent.”
“Impotent? You mean… that is… ah?!”
“Yes, that. A eunuch. You know what that means, right? Hahaha.”
Caught off guard by how the conversation veered off, Roabellin became flustered.
‘The Emperor might not be able to have children? Then what about the oracle? Could it be that someone else becomes emperor?!’
All kinds of thoughts rushed through her mind. Seeing her expressions change rapidly, the shop owner laughed and lightly patted her shoulder.
“No, it’s just a rumor. Why are you so shocked? Hahaha.”
But then Roabellin remembered the other prince mentioned earlier.
“Haha… then, what happened to the brother who lost the throne?”
“If you travel a full day from here, you’ll reach a village called Himmel. They say he’s confined in a small stone tower on the outskirts of that village.”
“He really locked his own brother up in a place like that?”
For Roabellin, who had been close with her siblings, it was something she could never imagine.
“Of course. If you’re going to be the absolute ruler of a great empire, you can’t be an ordinary man. Why are you so surprised just because he imprisoned him? To reach that position, you need to be able to kill even your own blood, don’t you think?”
“So His Majesty is… scarier than I thought. Does he look like that too?”
Roabellin imagined a burly man with fierce eyes, someone who could ruthlessly kill or imprison his own brothers. The image that came to mind was of a blood-soaked executioner or butcher.
‘And I’m supposed to bear a child for a man like that? Just thinking about it is frightening…’
The Emperor’s appearance in her imagination grew more terrifying by the second. As her expression became more serious, the shop owner abruptly cut off her thoughts.
“Huh? From what I’ve heard, he’s handsome. His features are sharp and manly, but at the same time he has a delicate, almost boyish look. In vulgar terms, they say his face oozes sex appeal! Hahaha!”
The shop owner said it cheerfully, but it did not give Roabellin much hope. She fell into thought for a moment.
‘If I fail to conceive the Emperor’s child… I might have to use that brother instead.’
