Chapter 5: Hatred and Jealousy
"When I heard that the black magician had tricked you into stabbing yourself in the chest with a sharp blade right in front of Jarris, I couldn't help but burst into tears. I couldn't imagine the grief my dear cousin must be enduring. I wished I could fly to Jarris's side and comfort him. Unfortunately, as the emperor, I have endless official duties every day. Now that Lucien has fully recovered, as your elder brother, I am very happy."
"I'm sorry to have caused His Majesty the Emperor to worry about us brothers."
No matter what Edmund and Yaris thought in their hearts, in front of the imperial nobles and foreign envoys, their speeches were extremely polite, rigid, and exaggerated, playing the role of close cousins.
"What you just said to us makes my brother and I feel incredibly honored. My body trembles with fear as we see the divine light shining above Your Majesty. I see... because of Your Majesty's wise rule, great peace and prosperity will forever shroud the beautiful Capital of Light..."
(Such exaggerated lines... I, the older brother, was able to remain serious throughout the whole thing without laughing at all...)
Xiao Yun, who was shocked by Yaris's acting skills of lying with his eyes open, muttered secretly.
Edmund was very pleased with this and nodded repeatedly: "Being able to receive Yaris's blessing shows that my qualification to rule is indeed recognized by the gods."
"It is my honor to be born in the same era as Your Majesty and to witness your great rule."
Jaris spoke calmly and took Lucien to sit on a seat that was almost completely parallel to the emperor's golden chair and was decorated with a golden sun god and a silver moon god.
Xiao Yun stood behind Yaris and noticed that a tall and thin guy like a dried tree entered the audience hall through the small door for the emperor to enter and exit, and stood directly behind Edmund.
(who is he?)
Yaris also noticed the middle-aged man behind Edmund, and a look of natural surprise appeared on his beautiful fair face: "Who is this..."
"My occult mentor."
Edmund turned his head and glanced at Yaris: "I plan to appoint him as the dean of the Royal Academy."
"As the Emperor, you have the right to do so."
Yaris smiled calmly.
"oh?"
Edmund narrowed his eyes and looked at Yaris defiantly.
Yaris smiled as brightly as always, but the corners of his mouth were slightly raised.
Xiao Yun, who was standing nearby, suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable.
Although the young emperor has golden hair as bright as the sun, eyes as deep blue as the sea, and skin as white as plaster, he reminds people of the darkness and depression before the storm.
On the contrary, Yaris, whose long hair and eyes were as dark and deep as the night, gave the impression of a pure white angel, perhaps because he was wearing a white dress, or perhaps because his skin was too white and smooth, and the smile on his face was so sincere and bright.
(Are they really blood cousins?)
(I don't know why, but I always feel like there's something odd about this occult teacher... Could it be...?)
Thinking of this, Xiao Yun looked at the so-called mysticism mentor again.
Seeing this, the middle-aged man put his hands in his sleeves and lowered his head, actively avoiding Xiao Yun's gaze.
"...Your Majesty, I have brought Lucien to visit you with a presumptuous request."
"What request?"
"Before I state my request, please forgive my intrusion."
Yaris deliberately put his hand on his heart and spoke in an elegant, pleasant and slightly exaggerated tone.
Edmund was stunned by Yaris's performance and said slowly: "Well, my dear cousin, no matter what you want from me when you come to the palace this time, I forgive you and agree to your request."
"That--"
Jarris lowered his head, as if very embarrassed: "I hope Lucien can have an independent noble title and fertile land."
"Why?"
"That's not an unreasonable request."
Yaris emphasized innocently, "You just said that you would forgive me and satisfy me no matter what I asked for."
"According to tradition, Lucien should remain at Silver Moon Palace as the Supreme Commander of the Holy Guard Knights, occasionally serving as your emissary to inspect the numerous territories under the Holy Family's name. He does not need additional independent imperial noble titles and fiefdoms."
"But my dear cousin, Lucien dislikes military affairs and politics. He would faint at the sight of a blood-stained sword. He also has no intention of ruling or enslaving others. Let him patrol the territory, and he will definitely distribute all the food in the warehouse to the poor people in the territory."
"—I see. My dear cousin, who has the face of a chaste goddess but actually schemes for personal gain, has actually raised his half-brother into a harmless little lamb. This is truly something worth celebrating."
"Cousin, why do you always believe others' slander against me? Especially that Ulysses... He's been holding a grudge against me ever since he was rejected by Marina..."
Yaris said with a smile, as innocent as if he wouldn't even kill a bug.
"Ulysses wouldn't dare slander you. He just... Well, to celebrate Lucien being a harmless little sheep and your consistent hypocrisy, cousin, I promise—after Lucien completes his studies at the Royal Academy, I will grant him an independent imperial title."
"Why must—"
Yaris raised his thin eyebrows in dissatisfaction.
Edmund said seriously, "Even if you are of the Holy Family, you must first complete all the courses at the Royal Academy if you want to obtain additional titles."
"When was this rule made? Who proposed it? How come I don't know about it?"
"I just thought of it."
Edmund said proudly: "Marquis Alfrid, can you add this provision to the Imperial Titles Act before sunrise tomorrow?"
Alfred looked up at Yaris and Edmund.
Jarris responded to Alfred's gaze with a bright smile, then bowed his head to Edmund. "We are terrified that Your Majesty could write a bill for us alone."
However, at this moment, there was not only a smile on Yaris's fair face, but also something deep and dark. It was the cold sarcasm with contempt hidden behind the decent smile that only those who knew him best could realize.
…
Lucien's affairs came to an end for the time being. Edmund, immersed in the joy of victory, raised his hand and announced: "It has been a whole year since Mina died. I am ready to marry again."
Mina was Edmund's wife and the Queen of the Empire of the Sun. She died of heavy bleeding in childbirth nineteen months ago and the child was not saved.
"The empire cannot be without an heir."
Edmund muttered for emphasis.
"The new queen you want is——"
"Isabella, Queen of Brania in the north," Edmund cried. "She is only a year younger than I am, a widow, and needs a man to help her govern the country."
"I don't think Queen Isabella intended to share the crown with a man. In fact, all we know about Isabella's husband is that he was a handsome bard. Isabella fell in love with him at first sight and secretly married him. However, at the court banquet celebrating the first princess's first birthday, her husband, who should have taken the opportunity to gain recognition from all nations, did not show up. The queen also announced at the banquet that she was no longer single."
"Two years is enough time for Isabel, who was momentarily blinded by love, to calm down and give up the absurd idea of having a bard become the king's husband."
Edmund said disdainfully.
"That further proves that Queen Isabella has no intention of—"
"Dear Yaris, as the purest blue blood of the Holy Family, almost everyone—including women—shows their best and strongest side in front of you. Naturally, you don't understand that even the strongest woman is still a woman. She needs a strong man to lend her a shoulder when necessary and help her through difficulties. And I am that man."
Edmund emphasized expressionlessly.
Seeing this, Yaris lowered his eyelashes: "What is my dear aunt's attitude towards this matter?"
Jarris's aunt is Queen Dowager Catherine, the mother of the current Emperor Edmund.
Although there were calculations and vigilance between the Yula royal family and the Holy Family, intermarriage was also frequent.
“She never opposes any of my decisions.”
"Then I will fully support it."
After saying this, Jarris stood up, ended the audience, and left with his brother Lucien.
Upon seeing this, Marquis Alfrid, the current Prime Minister of the Empire and a distant relative of the Yula royal family, apologized to the young emperor and left the audience hall.
"Your Highness, Your Highness..."
…
…
There are about a hundred rooms at both ends of the crystal corridor leading to the audience hall, each of which is a lounge for a great noble of the empire while waiting for an audience.
The largest and most magnificent of these is naturally the Holy Family's lounge, which covers an area of more than 200 square meters and is decorated in the elegant, refined and delicate style that is currently popular in the empire and is favored and advocated by the current owner.
"Uncle Alfrid—"
Yaris took off his heavy outer robe and sat on a chair, holding a fragrant drink in his hand: "You must be in great pain from what happened just now."
"I'm speechless with shock! I can't believe this arrogant guy is related to me!"
Marquis Alfrid clenched his fists, as if wanting to vent his inner anger.
Until he saw Lucien sitting opposite Jarris, his eyes gradually softened.
"Lucien, Edmund's hatred and jealousy of Jarris began ten years ago. Similar incidents have occurred countless times in the audience hall."
(Brother... So you...)
It was difficult to tell whether the emotion that surged up in Xiao Yun was his own or stemmed from Lucien's feelings.
"He's been protecting you—"
"I didn't come to you to complain about Edmund with you."
Yaris interrupted Alfred, his slender fingers stopping playing with the wine glass: "Dr. Moss said you have a tumor on your leg."
"This is indeed troublesome."
Alfrid lowered his head in distress. "If this continues, I will have to step down from the position of Prime Minister. Edmund will definitely appoint that rat Ulysses to succeed me as Prime Minister of the Empire!"
"Ulysses' abilities are worthy of the position of Prime Minister."
"I know he's very capable, and I think he'll make a great prime minister in the future! But he's your enemy!"
Alfred was indignant.
At this moment, Xiao Yun inappropriately recalled the invitation that Yaris had extended to Ulysses in the corridor.
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