Children of the Holy Emperor Chapter 127

§ 127. Oracle (1)

When he was very young, little Sisley was always running around.

She ran and ran to keep up with her always busy father.

“Lowering! And then he falls!”

The maids ran after him and stamped their feet, but Sisley did not even listen.

This is because I knew full well that even if I lost my footing and stumbled, the wind would come from somewhere and catch me before I fell completely.

“Dad, Mom!”

I liked the way he stopped walking and looked back quietly when he shouted that. I liked the white robes that made a soft sound when you finally caught up and hugged them.

“Think of those who must run with you, Sisley. “They can’t match your resilience.”

I liked it when he gave me that kind of attention and patted me on the forehead.

As he said, the maids often collapsed from exhaustion without even being able to show courtesy in front of His Majesty, but Sisley didn’t seem to mind. Because it was just nice to have her father by her side.

She tried so hard to stick with the emperor that the second empress, Melody, looked disappointed.

If I fell asleep in my office after holding on to the hem of my robes all day, in the morning I found myself transported to the Silver Rose Labyrinth. Sisley then wakes up and immediately starts running again to find her father.

However, there were times when she had to return to the Silver Rose Labyrinth early alone, on days when the Holy Emperor entered the prayer room.

There were times when he bit everyone around him and spent the night in the deepest part of the main palace.

Although it was called a prayer room for convenience, it was actually a huge hall with an artificial pond. Sisley thought it was a gorgeous and neat place, but somehow lonely.

“Why does Daddy and Mama have to be alone in the prayer room?”

Sisley asked as he said goodbye to him at the entrance to the prayer room and came out of the main palace in the arms of Katrina, the knight commander.

“Your Majesty has many heavy burdens on your shoulders that we are not aware of, sir.”

“Then wouldn’t it be better if we all stayed in the prayer room and helped Daddy Mama?”

Then this gentle knight commander responded with a slightly bitter smile.

“It would be great if someone could help. For now, it’s best to just be quiet and not disturb them. “If you know that you care for Your Majesty so much, that alone will definitely be of great help to Your Majesty.”

Katrina said so, but Sisley could not agree.

She pouted and thought.

My mother always disciplined me from going to the office, telling me not to disturb my father, but when she actually shows her face, she somehow looks happy. So wouldn’t it be better if I were with you in the prayer room? I’m sure it will!

Then one day it happened.

That day too, I parted ways with Seonghwang and returned to the Silver Rose Labyrinth early and fell asleep. In the middle of the night, I felt as if someone was shaking me violently.

“… … ?”

Sisley woke up, rubbing his eyes.

Was it a mistake? When she woke up, she found herself lying alone in her bedroom, with not a shadow of the person who had shaken her awake.

No, if it wasn’t me that was shaken, could it be that the world was shaken?

I lay down to sleep again, but for some reason I couldn’t calm down.

Feeling very anxious. A strange sense of strangeness, as if the world around him had completely changed overnight.

Sisley, who was half asleep, eventually left the bedroom, dragging his slippers with him. Strangely enough, none of the maids opened their eyes that day, and the guard knights guarding the palace were also completely asleep while standing.

Ta-bak-ta-bak.

Sisley unconsciously walked in search of Seonghwang. Then he suddenly remembered that he had entered the prayer room and hurried to the main palace.

Even though it was a warm spring day, Sisley felt an eerie chill, so he had to occasionally stop and rub his hands together.

And when he eventually arrived at the deepest part of the main palace, Sisley hesitated for a moment before the door to the prayer room was in front of him.

‘I said no one was allowed in… … .’

But then someone spoke in her head.

[Open the door. Go inside and see what’s happening.]

It seemed like someone else had whispered it, or it seemed like Sisley himself had thought. She slowly opened the door, a little dazed, without resisting her voice. Kiiiiii… … .

Moment.

The thick smell of blood rushes in.

Sisley opened his eyes wide and took in the sight of the dark interior of the prayer room.

Clearly, the father he was looking for was there. But the sight was somehow a little strange.

Under the faint moonlight, the Holy Emperor stood in the center of a pond that had turned blood red.

He is holding a blood-soaked nutcracker in one hand and is quietly glaring somewhere. The robes, which had always shined white, were also stained red with blood splashing here and there.

And Seonghwang, feeling popular, slowly turned his head towards Sisley.

In the dark hall, only his light gray eyes shed an eerie silver glow.

“… … !”

Sisley was greatly embarrassed. Her eyes, which always had a kind glow towards her, now seemed extremely cold and insensitive.

That person… Is that really Daddy and Mama?

As I unconsciously took a step back in fear, someone whispered softly in my ear.

[okay. That is his true identity. If it is considered useless, it will be cut down mercilessly. In the not-too-distant future, you too will face death at his hands, just like them.]

… Dad, mom, me?

[That’s right. How do you feel? Don’t you want to see the future prepared for you?]

ha ha ha. A soft laugh was heard.

Sisley, who stumbled backwards, turned and fled to the Silver Rose Labyrinth. Her son just looked at her silently, but didn’t open her mouth to say anything or come after her.

Sisley secretly returned to the room and frantically snuggled into the bed. He soon fell asleep as if he had fainted, but soon suffered from dizzy nightmares.

And the next morning, the stigma of a saint suddenly appeared on the body of the precious youngest princess.

The Silver Rose Labyrinth was turned upside down, and high-ranking priests from the Orthodox Church rushed in and made a fuss, saying it was the second coming of the saint.

After hearing the news, Seonghwang also visited the Silver Rose Labyrinth. Her father’s face was as kind as usual as he looked at her with concern, and for a moment Sisley wondered if the events of the night before had been nothing more than a nightmare.

However, the scene of that night, the cool, prosperous gaze, remained as a strong afterimage in Sisley’s head. Even if you forget about it, it rises to the surface from your unconsciousness at some point, bringing back the feeling of that cold spring day again and again.

And from that day on, Sisley no longer ran after his father.

* * *

Good news usually comes one after another.

Seongjin, who was excited by the results obtained from the meeting with Archduke Sigismund, stopped by the main palace on his way out and reported to Seonghwang about his business trip. Then, when he returned to Jinju Palace, Director Bruno, who was waiting for Seongjin, gave him new news.

“This is a message from Arenja. “It is said that two of the missing people you are investigating are currently being held in the capital branch of Milo Sanjang.”

And he told us about the two people’s identity and current location in quite detail. It seemed that they were the guards who had beaten two theological academy students, Jonathan and Astley.

“… “Is it sudden?”

Even though he had promised to cooperate closely, Arenger rarely released information, making excuses such as saying that it was not the right time yet.

Seongjin, who was dumbfounded by the unexpected news, muttered, and Director Bruno shrugged his shoulders.

“I’m not sure about their standards. However, based on what you found out today, it would have been information that would have been naturally reached later if you changed manpower and searched.”

“Are you saying it was important to figure out the connection to the Milo Merchant Marine?”

“Maybe so. Of course, I feel like that’s not all.”

And Director Bruno gently stroked his mustache.

“Sir, these are my personal thoughts while talking with them. “Arenja somehow seemed to assume that there was another mastermind behind Milo.”

“Archduke Sigismund also said that. “There is a high possibility that Assin or Scarzapino are involved.”

In the first place, it is said that the Milo Band was not a band that mainly operated in the North.

Therefore, it is likely that there was the connivance of Asin, who was reaching out to the entire continent through the merchant union, or that he was closely connected to the Margrave through Scarzapino, who had deep connections with the native lords of the northwest.

And he said he had strong suspicions about Scarzzapino.

“hmm?”

Director Bruno suddenly frowned, concentrated on something, and then spoke.

“yes yes. okay. I just asked who was behind it, Assin or Scarzapino, but they said they couldn’t answer that question. But in one way or another, Scarzzapino says you need to keep a close eye on it.”

… okay?

“Scarzzapinora… … .”

Rather than being behind the Gray Plague, it may be that it is related to Mores’ past actions. Come to think of it, I heard that the minor prince of the Scarzzapino family was friendly with that guy Mores.

“But why doesn’t the guy who is said to be my only friend ever contact me?”

A lot of things happened recently so I forgot about it, but when I think about it, it was strange. It’s been a while since I woke up from the fever, and it hasn’t been that long since the restrictions on visiting Jinju Palace were lifted.

At that time, Edith, who was fixing the bedding behind Seongjin, intervened.

“Isn’t it just that you are ignoring the communication?”

“huh? “What does that mean?”

“After all, Duke So sends invitations like this to you every week?”

Edith looked through the correspondence piled up on her desk and held up a golden envelope.

“… what?”

Was something like that coming?

“yes. “I was coming regularly every week, but His Majesty told me to just throw away the social gathering correspondence, so I disposed of it on my own as time went by.”

“… … .”

Ah, I remember that.

The memory of my first social gathering was so strong that I decided to go into voluntary confinement and get rid of all my correspondence.

Seongjin took the shiny envelope from Edith and looked at the sender.

Ricardo Scarzzafinora… … .

-Prince Ricardo is a very sociable person, and is famous for regularly meeting with children of influential families.

I remember hearing that explanation from Lord Masain.

The person who hosted the most mainstream gatherings in Delcross was really f*cking Mores’ only friend?

Seongjin rubbed his chin and thought for a moment.

The date written on the letter happens to be tomorrow. Wouldn’t it be nice to attend at least once and meet him in person?

“Shall we prepare to go out tomorrow?”

Edith, who noticed hesitation, quickly asked.

“… Hmm, okay. “Sure.”

It’s a bit unfair to ignore the sincerity of sending out invitations every week. It doesn’t seem like a very suspicious meeting.

Seongjin finally made up his mind and answered like that, but suddenly Manager Bruno looked into space in surprise and made an embarrassed face.

“… Is that possible? “I don’t feel like it.”

“… … ?”

“Yes, I will tell you that for now.”

The leader, who was frowning and saying something incomprehensible, looked back at Seongjin and said.

“Your Majesty, there is a message from the head of Arenja that needs to be given to you directly.”

huh? Sudden leader?

“directly? how? “He’s coming here?”

“That’s not it. “It’s just that he can use me for a moment through open channels.”

“… “You’re going to write about it?”

uh… Is that something like that? The one where the twins possessed Astley and grabbed him by the collar?

Seongjin, who was tilting his head, nodded in approval.

It’s a disaster. In an instant, Director Bruno’s demeanor completely changed. As a former Dekaron Knight, the leader’s presence, which had gently assimilated into the surrounding Aurors, had somehow changed into a distinct yet slightly sharp and unfamiliar presence.

Above all, his dark green eyes had turned to light gray with a strange glow.

[Lowering.]

The voice also changed somewhere.

It’s a strange voice that seems like it’s covered in layers, making it difficult to determine gender and age.

Just like that, Director Bruno, or rather, the head of Arranger, slowly got down on one knee and bowed his head to Seongjin.

[nice to see you. I am the head of Arenja and currently act as the Oracle of Kornsheim.]

… Oracle?

fantasy,