Chapter 8: The Royal Capital: God and the Crown
In this era, woodblock printing had already appeared, but education was far from universal and books were not common. Even in Guangming City, which was known as the capital of academics, more than 80% of the people were illiterate and used the songs of bards and stories passed down by word of mouth as their daily entertainment.
Therefore, when Xiao Yun gradually adapted to the touch of Yaris's palm as smooth and delicate as milk, and admired the circular hollow building in front of him with an area of more than 200 square meters, a height of more than 10 meters, using magic technology to maintain constant temperature and humidity, and the ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows were made of crystal glass, he couldn't help but take a breath.
This is an ocean of knowledge!
Next to the marble desk are several rows of two-meter-high bookshelves, on which are placed a large number of precious books including parchment, tanned paper, and wooden slips. The walls of the study have also been converted into large bookshelves as high as ten meters, and the shelves are also filled with books.
In order to ensure that the owner can access books at any time, the craftsmen carefully divided the giant bookshelf designed along the wall into four large layers. Each layer is equipped with a wooden staircase with railings that can accommodate two people walking side by side. The stairs are nested and connected layer by layer, and the entrance and exit on the ground are on both sides of the marble desk.
In addition, every five meters on each shelf of bookshelves is embedded with a magic lighting device - when night falls, the starlight shines through the crystal ceiling, crystal floor-to-ceiling windows and the hundreds of magic lighting devices in the study, making the room as bright as day.
[These are only a tiny fraction of the family's 5,000-year collection.]
Yaris's voice suddenly rang in his mind.
Xiao Yun widened his eyes.
"The Magic Heart Language, an intermediate magic technique. When you officially enroll in the Royal Academy, the Magic Tower will send magicians to teach you how to master and use the Magic Heart Language. I will also teach you step by step the special usage of those of us with blue blood."
Yaris let go of Lucien's hand, and glanced at Ulysses, who bowed his head, and the more than ten magicians behind Ulysses with his delicate white face.
Ulysses understood and led the magicians to inspect several locations in the study. His face was solemn, his fingers made complex seals, and he muttered strange notes.
(What is this for?)
Xiao Yun was puzzled.
Seeing Lucien's embarrassment, Marina said generously: "Ulysses, what are you doing?"
"Set up a magical barrier to prevent eavesdropping."
Ulysses explained as he set up the barrier.
"The essence of a magical barrier is cognitive interference that affects the mental realm. For example, a spatial barrier can cause a person to stop uncontrollably after entering a specific area, or cause cognitive confusion, making it impossible to correctly judge direction."
"Anti-eavesdropping barriers work similarly. When a barrier is set up, people passing through it are prone to cognitive distortion and confusion. They become confused and dazed, and naturally, can't hear anything."
"The human brain is a very delicate thing, and so is human memory. Minute differences in details can lead to completely different understandings and judgments. Almost all magical barriers are cognitive interference methods based on the above principle..."
"Understood!"
Marina nodded, not quite understanding.
Ulysses set up an anti-eavesdropping barrier, and the auxiliary magicians retreated silently.
Marina also bowed and left the study.
Xiao Yun, his lungs filled with the ubiquitous fragrance of books in the study, the Bisarua fragrance on Yaris's body, and the delicate and tempting fragrance of flowers in the marble jar, intended to follow Marina out of the study, but was stopped by Yaris's eyes. He could only pretend to appreciate the exquisite and elegant furnishings inside the study, his heart pounding.
After everyone left, Yaris gestured to his brother and Ulysses to sit down, and slowly walked to the crystal floor-to-ceiling window where white marble jars filled with flowers were symmetrically placed. He bent down, took out a perfectly bloomed Rosa Marie from one of the jars, and played with it casually.
"You will return to the Magic Tower next month to take the Advanced Magician Examination?"
"Yes, Master."
Ulysses stiffened.
"What's Edmund's attitude toward this?"
"He hopes that I can quickly become the youngest high-level magician to enhance his strength."
"He's always so full of himself."
Yaris's smile suddenly turned cold, and he said sarcastically: "...that matter...how are you investigating it?"
"A month and a half ago, a few days before the accident, a black mage from the East appeared by His Majesty's side. He trusted this black mage very much and asked me many times if I could send him to the Mage Tower."
"What's your answer?"
"The Empire's Magic Tower only trains white magicians and does not allow black magicians to enter."
"An impeccable answer, but..."
Yaris frowned his delicate eyebrows: "Lucien, remember Edmund's newly appointed dean of the Royal Academy?"
"The occult teacher?"
Xiao Yun cheered up.
Ulysses lowered his head.
"Master, his name is Kanoa Duren. Before becoming your majesty's occult mentor, he was a fortune teller who set up a stall in the King's Square."
"A fortune teller becomes the emperor's occult mentor?"
Yaris stopped teasing Rosamary and his face gradually became serious.
"Edmund's recent behavior...is beyond my expectations..."
"You wouldn't—"
"Don't worry, I'm not doing anything stupid, I just thought of something interesting..."
"You must not—"
Ulysses looked worried.
Yaris turned around at this time. Outside the crystal floor-to-ceiling window, the moon was just above his head. Her face, which was already so beautiful that it seemed unreal, looked even more desolate, lonely and illusory like the moon goddess.
"Alfrid has a tumor on his leg. He will have to step down as Prime Minister in a year at most. Ulysses, do you want to become the first mage Prime Minister in the history of the Empire?"
"I……"
Ulysses shuddered and slid off his chair.
"I am a beggar..."
"Take it, it's what I promised you."
"The nobles will not allow a beggar like me to..."
"Edmund will definitely appoint you as the new Prime Minister of the Empire against all odds for the sake of his own dignity."
Yaris gave a careless, dark smile, like a witch playing with people's hearts.
"Edmund wasn't completely useless. He just had the misfortune of being pushed onto the throne at the age of fourteen. Compared to the capable ministers left behind by his uncle, his mediocrity, darkness, and dullness were fully exposed."
“A lot of this is thanks to you.”
Ulysses sighed helplessly. "Your excessive brilliance has made him, already constantly feeling inferior, miserable, and oppressed, even more stubborn. He'd rather pay a high price to cover up even the smallest mistake than admit it publicly. Sometimes I can't help but sympathize with him, pitying him as you drive him mad step by step."
"However, he will not show leniency to you after discovering your betrayal just because you once sympathized with him."
Yaris smiled cunningly and handed Rosa Marie to the embarrassed Ulysses: "Are you ready to become the Prime Minister of the Empire?"
"I……"
Ulysses trembled all over and did not dare to accept the flowers he offered.
"Stupid guy..."
Yaris muttered softly and threw Rosa Marie away.
"Cherish this night, it will be the last night you will sleep peacefully."
"Owner--"
Ulysses looked up, kissed Yaris's fingers, and then left the study through the wall like black mist.
…
After Ulysses left, the dark smile on Yaris's lips disappeared, and he became as innocent and pure as a child.
He sat down next to Lucien, his sparkling eyes fixed on his brother who had not yet recovered from their conversation.
"—Lucien, do you want a crown?"
"crown?"
Xiao Yun, or Lucien, looked at Yaris in surprise.
"I'm restricted by the rules and can't pursue the throne, but I can help you gain the entire empire. Of course, to keep the crown firmly on your head, you must possess equal ambition and ability."
Yaris stared at his brother intently.
His eyelashes were longer and thicker than a girl's, and a mysterious and unfathomable smile hung on his pale face.
"For me, who is merely God's tool, it doesn't matter who wears the crown. But if you need the crown, I will definitely grant it to you. Because you are my only brother."
"In the past, you always told me that politics was terrible and ambition was evil, so I never showed you these things. But now you... now you have grown up, and your current situation is very dangerous... Edmund dare not attack me, he will only try to hurt you. To protect yourself, you must wear the crown..."
"Everything indicates that the incident that nearly caused me to lose you forever is inextricably linked to him..."
"Things like treason—"
Xiao Yun was tempted but hesitant.
"If it fails, it's called treason. If it succeeds, it's destiny."
Yaris lowered his head, put his hand against his brother's cheek, and spoke slowly in a beautiful and calm voice.
"Edmund has proposed holding a Grand Coronation many times, but I've always refused. Tradition dictates that during a Grand Coronation, the High Priest must perform a secret ceremony with the Emperor on the eighth floor of the Ziggurat that lasts an entire night. I hate him and don't want to spend a night with him. Furthermore, each High Priest can only perform a Grand Coronation for one Emperor in his lifetime."
"I don't want to and won't hold a grand coronation for anyone except you."
"I……"
Xiao Yun's breathing became more and more rapid.
Sensing the change in his brother, Jarris raised his head, his eyes as red as the night sky sadly looking at Lucien. "If you still hate politics and power as much as before, just say it. I won't be angry. Now I have learned to accept betrayal and endure loneliness..."
Before he finished speaking, he looked away as if to escape.
Xiao Yun's world suddenly came to a halt.
He felt that Yaris was like an abandoned baby, turning his head away stubbornly in the long cold and anxiety, hiding his inner desire for warmth.
He wanted to hug Yaris and become a relative to this person who was not loved by his parents.
“…I won’t leave you.”
"What did you say!"
"I won't run away from you again. I'm going to stay by your side and pursue power! Wear the crown!"
"Lucien..."
Yaris trembled as he hugged his brother tightly, holding his slender neck high to prevent tears from flowing.
At this moment, an inappropriate voice sounded in Xiao Yun's mind.
[The keyword 'King's Hegemony' has been highlighted!]
[Light up the keyword again to activate the Chinese Heroic Spirit card drawing system!]
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