Count’s Youngest Son is a Warlock - Chapter 196: The Emperor, Ketlan Tesla (3)

[I’ll come with you.]

Bethel, worried about sending Ratta alone, raised her hand lightly.

—Hehe. Bethel will be surprised by Ratta! Ratta is so clever!

“I’ll help you open the door, Ratta.”

—No need, Ratta can handle it! Watch this!

Ratta swayed her hips and then leaped energetically towards the door, grabbing onto it.

With a satisfying ‘click’, the door opened.

—See? Ratta can do it all! Hehe.

Ratta pushed her front paws into the door’s gap and squeezed her face through to push it open.

—I’ll be back!

If Ratta had gone alone, Lucion might have been concerned, but with Bethel by her side, Lucion felt reassured.

* * *

The night at the mansion was extremely dark.

Ratta’s black fur was a perfect match for blending into the darkness.

Ratta enjoyed roaming around on her own small paws and taking in the sights.

Sniff, sniff.

Ratta possessed a keen sense of smell.

While she had never visited Heint’s room before, the warm fragrance reminiscent of Troy permeated the air.

She scampered down the corridor, descended the stairs, and whenever encountering people, she would dart into a nook, shut her eyes, and curl up.

Eventually, she halted in front of a series of identical doors and pointed her paw.

—Here! Here! Ratta has found it!

[That’s impressive, Ratta!]

Bethel was startled as she peered over the wall.

It really was Heint’s room.

Although Ratta was typically quiet, Bethel had not anticipated her making it this far without being detected.

[But Ratta, Heint is inside. How do you plan to enter?]

Bethel asked, gently stroking Ratta.

—Ratta has a plan. Just watch me.

Ratta charged towards the door.

Thud!

Thud!

[Ratta?]

Bethel struggled to hold back laughter.

—Oh dear.

Ratta winced from the impact and crouched down by the now open door.

“Who’s there?”

Heint’s voice rang out as the door swung open.

As soon as the door opened, Ratta dashed in, dropped the note she was holding onto the desk, and jumped out the window.

‘What was that?’

Heint scanned the room, a bewildered expression on his face as he searched around.

Sensing nothing amiss nearby, he closed the door with a furrowed brow.

‘I definitely heard a noise, though?’

However, his expression shifted as he spotted a note resting on the desk that hadn’t been there before.

After reading its contents, Heint rubbed his face in disbelief.

‘How the hell did he know I was in contact with the imperial family?’

* * *

Lucion stepped out of the carriage as Hamel.

He came back to the imperial palace.

Before he could feel the grandeur of the palace on his skin, the overwhelming sensation of light surrounding the palace made his stomach churn.

Bethel’s eyes widened in amazement.

[I had no idea that there were objects with so much light in the imperial family.]

[Lucion managed to enter last time. They didn’t clean up properly afterward. Will they do so now? He was weak back then, but his light tolerance has improved.]

—Exactly. Ratta was utterly drained back then as well.

Ratta nodded vigorously at Russell’s words.

“This way,” Heint led Lucion through a secluded passage in the palace to an area devoid of light.

Due to the urgency of his appointment, Heint couldn’t extinguish the light in the palace before Lucion’s arrival.

So instead, they waited in a place where there was no light and informed the emperor first.

“Don’t try anything funny.”

Carson spoke up as he followed behind Lucion.

“I have no intention of causing trouble. What could I possibly achieve here? If I stir up any commotion, I’ll simply face death, correct?”

Lucion felt a slight irritation at Carson’s words.

To Lucion, Carson was a great older brother, but to Hamel, he was someone he’d never want to associate with again.

He wanted to get some sleep in the carriage, but Carson kept prodding him, preventing him from doing so.

“By the way, Hamel,” Heint interjected, “Are you alright? I heard Carson stabbed you.”

“Of course, I’m not alright! It was a sword imbued with aura.”

“Well, that’s quite intriguing,” Carson remarked with a smirk.

‘Thanks to you, big brother, I truly suffered,’ Lucion thought, struggling to contain his rising irritation.

[Carson, what will you do when you discover that Hamel is actually Lucion? Just don’t go too far before you start regretting it.]

At first, it was entertaining to watch Carson tease Lucion, but now Russell felt increasingly anxious.

He worried that if Carson figured out Hamel’s true identity, he wouldn’t know how to handle the situation.

Carson had truly cared for Lucion.

[I’m getting a bit worried because things seem too risky now.]

Bethel, seemingly in agreement, twirled her red hair.

‘I’m feeling a bit anxious too.’

As Lucion felt the weight of their concern, he found the worries he had been suppressing resurfacing.

Pausing, Heint glanced back at Lucion with a sympathetic look, “It’s strange, but the more I observe you, the more you remind me of someone familiar.”

“Who?”

“Lucion Cronia. Your stubbornness reminds me of Lucion.”

“Heint, don’t test my patience.”

Carson’s temper flared instantly at the mention of his brother’s name.

How dare he mention his brother when there was no connection to be made?

“Hey, Carson,” Lucion called out.

“What would you do if I were someone you knew?”

“That’s impossible.”

With Carson’s strong conviction, Lucion decided not to argue further.

Though he had briefly wavered due to Russell and Bethel’s words earlier, this was a dilemma to address later.

—Carson. It’s Lucion. He is just wearing a mask; he is simply Lucion.

Ratta lamented to Carson in a somber tone.

* * *

“I, Carson Cronia, see the only sun of the Empire.”

“I, Heint Tria, also see the sole sun of the Empire.”

As Emperor Ketlan came into view, Carson bowed deeply while Heint knelt on one knee, lowering his head in respect.

Lucion simply nodded in acknowledgment, remaining silent. Despite his lack of formality, Ketlan did not rebuke him.

He regarded Lucion with an apologetic expression.

“You’ve been through quite a journey. I apologize for not being able to remove the items imbued with light,” he expressed.

“It’s alright. Thank you for meeting with me,” Lucion replied.

“Lord Carson and Sir Heint, could you please step aside for a moment?” Ketlan issued a request that was almost a command towards the two men.

Since it was a discreet meeting, the Emperor had brought a few knights with him, which assured Lucion that there was no intent to harm him in that regard.

After Carson and Heint exited and the door closed behind them, Ketlan gestured for Lucion to take a seat.

“Please, sit down.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“First, I want to express my gratitude. Regardless of the fact that you are a warlock, it is true that you have worked for the sake of the Empire.”

Ketlan smiled broadly.

However, Lucion was not deceived by that smile.

Even if Ketlan claimed he had no intention to harm him, how could Lucion know what the Emperor was truly thinking if he couldn’t see through him?

Nobles were adept at masking their thoughts, and the Emperor was likely no exception.

“I am curious about Your Majesty’s intentions. May I inquire?”

“Are you questioning whether I will use you and then discard you?”

“Yes, precisely.”

“The world holds disdain for warlocks, and I am no exception,” the Emperor admitted.

“I am a warlock myself.”

“Yet, you have altered that perception. You are the first warlock to extend such aid.”

“What if my actions were merely a ruse to deceive Your Majesty?”

At Lucion’s question, Ketlan chuckled softly, his laughter carrying a gentle tone.

“Hamel.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What do you see me as?”

“You are the Emperor of the Tesla Empire.”

“Thank you. As you said, I am indeed the Emperor. I wear a crown, and my position is not just one of empty words. The fact that you have revealed the truth to me has already been confirmed. Have you not earnestly pleaded with me to recognize you solely for the truth?”

[I guess the emperor is not the emperor for no reason.]

Russell whispered, looking at Bethel.

[His Majesty Ketlan truly stands out as an exceptional Emperor.]

Pride for her nation gleamed in Bethel’s eyes.

“It would be unlike me to disregard your heartfelt plea, considering your genuine appeal,” Ketlan continued, maintaining a warm demeanor towards Lucion.

“Though I may find it challenging to embrace all warlocks, I acknowledge that it’s still a struggle for me. Warlocks have indeed committed unspeakable acts against my people,” Ketlan acknowledged.

“I do not seek to justify their actions. Instead, I aim for fair justice to be served to those who have committed heinous deeds, regardless of whether they are warlocks or not.”

“I understand your concerns, and I should have recognized them sooner,” Ketlan admitted, clasping his hands together on the table.

“Warlocks are also citizens of the Empire. Sir Heint Tria’s words about you have stirred me. Are you truly a loyal subject of the Empire?”

“Yes, I am a citizen of the Empire and a faithful subject of Your Majesty,” Lucion affirmed with a nod.

Ketlan had acknowledged that he was moved by the notion that ‘warlocks are also citizens of the Empire.’

Since he had revealed his vulnerabilities, it was only natural for Lucion to press further.

“And Your Majesty, we are also the unprotected people whom you have abandoned, the pitiful people who live in fear of dying at any moment.”

“Indeed,” Ketlan responded, flashing a momentary smile.

A true emperor should never reveal weakness to anyone, yet today he did so out of genuine remorse for the suffering of his people.

Since the day he received the report from Heint about the warlocks causing harm, he had been unable to shake off the guilt for those who had become warlocks against their will or lost their lives for no reason.

Despite the clarity of the issue, he found himself mired in thought.

“I know that I cannot change your mind, but I was wrong.”

The fault lies not with the warlock, but with the one who committed the transgression.

More lives have been lost in wars than due to warlocks, and even in times of peace, many fall victim to bandits and thieves.

“I, along with the world, have wronged you.”

Warlocks were a minority.

In fact, the greater danger often lay with the more numerous wizards.

Yet, the wizards seemed to be getting along well with the people now.

Ketlan felt overwhelming shame for drawing a line that excluded warlocks, a boundary that should never have existed.

“Your Majesty,” Lucion addressed Ketlan, hoping for the sincerity in his words.

It had only been a couple of months since Lucion had become a warlock.

The apology wasn’t for him, a novice, but for Russell, who had long taken pride in being a warlock.

Russell must have felt the deeper pain of discrimination and death to the core.

“Yes, go ahead and speak your mind.”

As Lucion listened to Ketlan, he looked at Russell.

[Thank you, Lucion,] Russell responded, his voice tinged with emotion, sensing Lucion’s gaze.

Whether Ketlan’s words were sincere or not, the fact that the emperor had apologized was enough to ease a burden that had always weighed on his heart.

It was almost ironic, yet Russell felt a sense of joy.

[If it weren’t for you, those words would have been something I could never hear, even after death.]

Russell looked at Lucion with immense pride.

Only after a moment did Lucion turn his attention back to Ketlan and speak again.

“Do you resent me for mentioning the Fourth Prince?”

“I understand your position. It was a means for you to stand up to me, and a means to protect yourself.”

“That is correct. It was to protect myself.”

“May I ask you something, Hamel?”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

“Is it true…?”

“The Fourth Prince has already conveyed the Empire’s secrets to the Neubra Kingdom.”

For the first time, the smile on Ketlan’s face vanished, and his expression turned serious.

“I… have failed. I did not raise my child well.”

Ketlan seemed to weaken all of a sudden, his appearance becoming haggard.

The once proud glint in his eyes was now as vulnerable as a candle flickering in the wind.

At that moment, Lucion pressed on.

“It must be incredibly difficult for you to make a decision, but what do you intend to do? If the center of the nobles is the Marquis Twilo Sprikado, then the very focal point that encompasses all of this is the Fourth Prince.”

“…”

Ketlan was at a loss for words.

But Lucion didn’t stop speaking.

“Your Majesty, do you happen to remember Lord J.L. Kell?”

“How could I forget the Kell family? They were a loyal house. I was overjoyed to hear that they were still alive.”

Ketlan reacted immediately, having received the news from Heint that J.L. Kell was alive.

Unaware that his excitement would be short-lived.

“If I were to tell you that Lord J.L. Kell was driven out by the very group that now supports the Fourth Prince, would you believe me?”

Lucion recalled a past that Heint had not reported and drew a connection to the present, leaving

Ketlan with no escape.

His twenty-five-year-old son, driven by an ambition for the throne, has been plotting since the past.