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Chapter 115
It was an utterly astounding story.
There was no way he could share such a massive, earth‑shaking secret with a mere whelp like the crown prince.
No—he already regretted joining hands with such a brat in the first place.
Mateo immediately requested an audience with the emperor.
Normally, a count’s audience request would take more than a month to be approved, but Mateo was granted permission only two days after sending word.
That was how valuable the information he possessed was.
“It’s been a while, Count Blois.”
The emperor greeted Enoch with an air of leisurely calm.
In truth, he had been in such a hurry that he ran out wearing shoes but without socks.
“I heard you bring astonishing news. That’s why your audience was granted unusually quickly.”
“Yes.”
Thanks to that idiot crown prince, Mateo had discovered that Velvet’s descendant was still alive—and now he had a plan to use the emperor.
“Why is Father so distracted lately that he doesn’t even notice Killian rampaging around?”
“Distracted, Your Highness?”
“I don’t know the details. Just that he must find someone named Adrian.”
“Adrian…”
It hadn’t taken long for Lucius to figure out that the Adrian the emperor was looking for was the last descendant of Velvet.
“So explain in detail what exactly happened.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Mateo told him how he met a man named Billy and how Billy used to spend time with Adrian when they were young.
“But one day, the Count of Sinope supposedly took Adrian away.”
“The Count of Sinope… that traitor! I knew it!”
The emperor clenched his fists and trembled with rage at the betrayal of a trusted vassal.
“So where is the boy now?”
“You will be very surprised, Your Majesty. You know him as well.”
“Someone I know?”
The emperor frowned deeply, demanding answers.
“Stop holding back and tell me at once.”
The more impatient the emperor became, the more delighted Enoch felt.
“Marquis Killian Star. He is Adrian Velvet.”
“What?”
For a moment, the emperor couldn’t even remember who Killian Star was. The shock was so great it felt like his brain had short‑circuited.
“Billy recognized him without hesitation from a photograph. He insisted that Killian is Adrian—the boy he used to tag along with as a child.”
Once the emperor recovered, veins bulged at his temples as fury erupted.
“Damn it! And I never realized that brat was swaggering right under my nose?!”
“I cannot express how shocked I was myself when I learned the truth.”
Enoch placed a hand over his heart, pretending to look deeply pained.
“So that’s why he married the Count of Sinope’s daughter! Damn it!”
The emperor jumped to his feet and paced frantically.
“We must remove him. Immediately.”
But Killian was the empire’s strongest mafia boss and also a marquis who had paid off the palace’s debt.
He had become far too powerful to touch now.
Ten years ago, the emperor had received a report claiming someone had spotted “Adrian Velvet.”
He had immediately ordered a full search of the alley where Adrian had supposedly appeared, but the boy had already vanished.
From that moment on, the emperor began doubting the Count of Sinope.
“Count, are you certain you killed Adrian during the hunting festival?”
“Yes, Your Majesty checked the boy’s body yourself, did you not?”
Even so, the emperor remained uneasy. He had not confirmed thoroughly whether that corpse truly belonged to Adrian.
The doubt grew with time, until eventually he was consumed by betrayal and rage.
“That ungrateful bastard. How dare he deceive me?”
Originally, he had planned to solidify their alliance by marrying into the Sinope family—the very family that had killed Velvet’s descendant.
But now, thinking the Count of Sinope might have defied his orders, the idea of making his daughter the crown princess became unacceptable.
Perhaps the count had hidden Adrian somewhere in the Sinope territory.
So the emperor ordered Duke Sadi to investigate any suspicious individuals.
“He would be around seventeen. Black hair, gray eyes. If you see a boy like that in Sinope territory, report immediately.”
Charles had been sent without knowing who he was supposed to find.
A few weeks later, Charles returned, reporting that no such person existed in the Sinope domain.
“That’s a relief, then…”
At that time, the emperor had almost convinced himself he was simply mistaken—and was ready to let the suspicion go.
But shortly after, he learned Duke Sadi had sent a marriage proposal to the young lady of Sinope.
“Damn—damn it! They almost fooled me again!”
Since the emperor had seized the Velvet duchy’s position for himself, Emperor Manfredi’s paranoia had always been severe.
He became convinced that Charles had lied in order to protect the Sinope family, because he had feelings for the count’s daughter.
‘I’ll destroy the Sinope family entirely.’
Then he could punish the count for disobedience, force Charles to break off the engagement, and leave the ruined family unable to protect Adrian.
‘If Adrian is alive, he’ll show himself. And if not… then it was just the count’s misfortune.’
“So it is true the count disobeyed my orders?”
The emperor muttered through clenched teeth.
There was no way Duke Sadi would have ignored Adrian’s existence if he knew. If he had, he never would have allowed that marriage.
‘Yes… I cannot afford to lose Duke Sadi.’
With almost no loyal vassals left, the emperor desperately wanted to believe in Charles.
“Your Majesty, are you all right?”
Hearing the count’s voice pulled the emperor back to his senses. His expression became tense.
“So now you know I intended to kill Adrian Velvet.”
“Your Majesty, I have always believed the Manfredi family must continue the imperial line. You know my loyalty, do you not?”
“How can I trust your words?”
“If you permit me, I will personally kill Marquis Star.”
Count Blois knelt on one knee, speaking with devoted fervor.
“In exchange, I wish to make a deal with Your Majesty.”
This was far more believable than empty declarations of loyalty.
“What kind of deal?”
“Just one thing. No matter what illegal activities occur in the future, Your Majesty must guarantee that neither I nor my organization will be investigated.”
The emperor frowned, unable to understand.
“The Blois family only profits from estates and mining investments. What ‘organization’ are you referring to?”
“Your Majesty, are you aware of the Giuliano organization?”
“You think the emperor wouldn’t know of a mafia syndicate?”
They were crude lawless criminals—people he never wanted to associate with.
He had already been mocked endlessly for paying off the palace’s debts with mafia money and giving the mafia boss a marquisate.
‘If I had known it was Adrian’s money, I never would have taken it!’
No—he would have eliminated him first.
“Forgive me for saying this, but under the current imperial authority, it is impossible to bring down the Star organization.”
It was humiliating—but true.
“…Continue.”
“But with the strength of another mafia group, the matter becomes far easier.”
“And which organization is that?”
“The Giuliano organization. Far older and stronger than the Star organization.”
The emperor narrowed his eyes, studying Count Blois’ face.
“Count, you seem completely unfamiliar today. What is your real identity?”
Enoch lifted his head and spoke gravely.
“I can tell you my true identity—but only if Your Majesty promises to join hands with me.”
“In my current situation, there is no reason not to.”
The emperor gave him a reassuring smile. Not that the emperor was trustworthy, but Enoch also had nothing left to lose.
Then, in a firm, serious voice completely unlike his usual demeanor, he revealed the truth.
“In fact, I am Mateo—the boss of the Giuliano organization.”
“…What?”
To be honest, the emperor was more shocked by this than by Killian being Adrian Velvet.
“Ha… Count, that’s quite the joke. You expect me to believe that?”
Enoch Blois stood up and pulled his shirt out from his trousers.
When he lifted the hem, a jaguar tattoo inked near his hip bone was revealed.
“Why would I lie, Your Majesty?”
“This is…”
It was the symbol of the Giuliano organization.
Their tattoos used special pigments unavailable to the general public—making them unmistakably distinct.
The emperor fell silent, overwhelmed. He needed time to think.
“So, you want to kill the marquis because you desire his title?”
“It was originally mine.”
The Star organization’s territory and the committee chairman’s position Killian held—they all should have been his.
Enoch tucked his shirt back into his trousers neatly.
“In any case, if Your Majesty protects the Giuliano organization’s business, I will eliminate the bothersome man without staining Your Majesty’s hands.”
“Hm…”
After a long silence, the emperor finally nodded.
“Very well, Count Blois. Do it.”
Enoch’s face lit up.
“Thank you for placing your trust in me.”
“But you must not fail.”
“Of course. Please rest assured.”
After bowing to the emperor and leaving the audience chamber, Count Blois walked out of the palace with a buoyant expression.
At last—it was time to properly deal with that bastard Killian.
