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Chapter 13
As expected, a crack formed in his once arrogant face.
“So, you don’t resemble your father at all.”
If I had said this before, he would’ve simply thought I was commenting on how I didn’t look like the Emperor.
But now that I had been recognized as someone with divine power—
“So the divine power chose me as the rightful heir, not you, the Crown Prince?”
It could easily be interpreted that way.
Even if he tried to stay composed, I had struck directly at his deepest insecurity. It must’ve hurt quite a bit.
Of course, I didn’t feel even the slightest bit sorry.
“Then maybe you shouldn’t have taken away my most precious thing.”
Tahar looked at me with disgust and tried to pass by, but then something occurred to him and he sneered.
“I’ve heard the Grand Duke Fraus has an illegitimate child. Because of your greed, the Grand Duke is now being forced into an unwanted marriage.”
“……”
Fortunately, I knew the truth, so it didn’t affect me much.
I knew that Daniel only took in abandoned children and cared for them out of compassion.
When he saw abandoned children, he must’ve been reminded of his own childhood—of the moment he lost his parents and had no adult to rely on.
“When he sees those children, he probably thinks of himself at the moment he lost his parents, and even though he can’t fully approach them, he still supports them.”
No matter how I looked at it, it was a level of noble character that made him almost too good to compare with me.
But everyone else, except me, would think the same as Tahar.
That Grand Duke Fraus would be unable to marry the biological mother of those children because of the princess’s greed.
That although he would officially marry the princess due to the Emperor’s Absolute Obedience Authority, every night he would be thinking of the women he once shared warmth with.
“In reality, he’s just a modest man who dislikes women.”
I almost scoffed inwardly.
Whoever started the rumor that turned him into a womanizer must’ve been exceptionally skilled.
Completely unaware of my thoughts, Tahar continued to pressure me in a cold voice.
“Because you used the empire’s great authority for someone like you, this outcome can only be unsatisfactory for everyone.”
Until the moment I turned to leave, I threw a final remark at him, who seemed determined to bite me to death.
“Prince Tahar, I apologize if this sounds presumptuous, but the Absolute Obedience Authority is not merely a vow between House Fraus and the Imperial Family. It is an authority granted only to those with divine power.”
“What are you—”
“And if my father does not use it, then it is an authority that has been passed down to me as a divine power holder. So I will be the one to judge its use.”
Grit—
He trembled with rage, grinding his teeth. The veins in his eyes bulged as if they might burst.
“If you’re planning to use children just to gain the Grand Duke’s attention—”
“I have no such intention.”
Tahar’s brow twisted.
He likely thought I had interrupted him rudely.
But since the Crown Prince seemed to be misunderstanding, I needed to correct him.
“What 죄 did those children commit to deserve that? I’m not like you.”
At my words, the smile vanished completely from Tahar’s face.
The nobles behind him, who had been firmly supporting him, also stiffened.
No one was unaware that the Crown Prince was subjecting his daughter, Lydia Ovelir, to extremely harsh training.
The reason was simple.
His daughter, Lydia, like the two children protected by Daniel, was a “Chosen Child.”
She was also the heroine of this story.
“The fact that those two children the Grand Duke is allegedly hiding are actually Chosen Children will only be revealed years later.”
Tahar believed that the child confirmed by the High Priest as the prophesied one was only his daughter.
So, under the excuse of nurturing her talent, he was forcing her through intense theoretical lessons and relentless magical training.
The way he allowed no mistakes from his daughter probably didn’t look favorable to others.
“Freya, I doubt you would ever act like that.”
“I’m quite kind to children, you know. I would never leave a child alone or make them feel lonely.”
“As if you’d be kind to the illegitimate children of the Grand Duke you’re about to marry.”
“Well, I’m not exactly thrilled that my future husband has two illegitimate children…”
Not that it really matters, honestly.
“But if I ignore or mistreat them, they’ll only feel lonely and sad. Children shouldn’t feel that way.”
“Hah.”
“They did nothing wrong. They had no choice in being born, and no say in who their parents were.”
By the time I finished speaking, Tahar’s expression had grown even more severe than before.
He must’ve been extremely displeased that someone of “low bloodline” dared to express an opinion in front of him.
Since I would have many more confrontations with him and the noble faction in the future, I decided to stop here for today.
“Then I’ll take my leave. I’m tired.”
“……”
The officials behind Tahar even looked concerned about my etiquette as I left.
I casually toyed with my glittering golden hair—so much like the Emperor’s it was irritating—and stepped away.
Now that Daniel Fraus had arrived in the capital, I needed to move faster.
“Has she lost her mind after losing her mother?”
“To think she would stand so proudly just because she’s backed by a fading sun…”
After Freya disappeared, the nobles of the aristocratic faction quickly began voicing their displeasure on Tahar’s behalf.
They had been holding back, afraid of retaliation from the princess if she overheard.
“Still, to think she inherited divine power…”
“Honestly, I can’t believe I’ve reached a day where I have to watch my words around someone like Freya.”
Tahar, who had been sharply criticized regarding his strict treatment of his daughter, carefully concealed his discomfort.
At that moment, Daniel, who had been quietly observing the standoff, stepped forward.
“Greetings to the small sun of the empire.”
“Grand Duke Fraus.”
Tahar put on the gentle mask of the Crown Prince over his distorted expression.
Daniel Fraus.
A transcendent being who governed the order of time.
But from the Imperial Family’s perspective, the Fraus dukes were nothing more than obedient priests.
They were inherently honest, poor at lying.
Most of them were transparent, simple beings—like docile animals that were easy to handle.
“I didn’t expect to see the head of House Fraus in the capital. If His Majesty hadn’t used the Absolute Obedience Authority, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Without the authority, this marriage would never have happened—just the final struggle of a spoiled princess.
Thinking that way, Tahar almost felt pity for Daniel.
“Even with the authority, you truly follow orders to the letter.”
“I simply believe an oath is an oath.”
Tahar looked into Daniel’s eyes.
They were unreadable, but he didn’t seem like someone who would privately ask to cancel the marriage.
“No matter how terrible it is, you obey because it is the Emperor’s command? Truly a Fraus.”
“……”
“If I become Emperor, I will at least recognize your efforts first. A noble Fraus like you would never break a contract with the Imperial Family on your own.”
Tap, tap—
Tahar patted Daniel’s shoulder and walked away.
Daniel remained there, replaying the conversation between Tahar and Freya.
More precisely, the words Freya had spoken so casually.
“I would never leave a child alone or make them feel lonely.”
“If I ignore or mistreat them, they’ll feel lonely and sad. Children shouldn’t feel that way.”
She had said that in front of Tahar’s killing intent.
Even if she had gained divine power, could she really fabricate such words while standing against the future Emperor?
“She didn’t even seem to notice I was watching.”
Then those words—
“…might have been sincere.”
The princess was slightly better than the rumors, but she seemed to have little standing of her own. Her divine power was also weak for someone of the imperial bloodline.
But her proposal was intriguing.
Daniel imagined the northern territory after a direct capital gate was established. Exactly the prosperous land he had once desired.
If Freya proceeded with the divorce properly, simply granting her the title of Duchess consort for a few years could bring significant benefits.
“…If my foresight returns to normal, I’ll need to check again.”
He frowned, recalling a future version of himself who clung desperately to Freya.
After the Absolute Obedience Authority was used to summon Daniel to the capital, things progressed quickly.
By order of the Emperor, preparations for a grand wedding were hastened.
The aristocratic faction tried every excuse to stop it, but none of it worked.
The Empress repeatedly submitted petitions using members of the Zelon Ducal House, but without divine power they had no authority as parties to the contract, so nothing could be changed.
“Daniel was avoiding marriage by spreading rumors of being a womanizer, but now he’s quiet.”
It would be nice if it was because he liked my proposal.
As I stepped out from beneath the canopy bed, I saw a maid standing motionless. A face I had never seen before.
“Where is Emma?”
Moreover, the woman in front of me showed no friendliness whatsoever.
She even seemed unusually rigid for a maid.
“I was originally in service to the Empress. Her Majesty ordered me to prepare Lady Freya.”
Ah. Of course.
The Empress had always replaced my maids, claiming matters of imperial women were under her jurisdiction.
Except for Emma, who stubbornly stayed by my side due to her connection with my mother, my maids changed constantly.
Some returned to their hometowns.
Some left to marry and settle elsewhere.
Once they gave such reasons, there was nothing I could do.
‘I wasn’t exactly a kind master either, so it’s not surprising they leave.’
Regardless, I couldn’t view any maid sent by the Empress favorably.
“Oh right. You unilaterally informed me of today’s schedule late last night, didn’t you?”
I had finally fallen asleep after struggling with insomnia, only to be woken up because of that.
I reached out to wash my hands in the indifferent maid’s basin—but stopped.
The water was so hot it felt like it could burn skin. Steam rose heavily from it, with no attempt even made to conceal it.
I looked at the maid and spoke gently.
“I’m still half-asleep. Could you put your hand in and check the temperature for me?”
