Chapter 4

The Great Emperor gazed down quietly.

Silence gripped the throats of the eight princes and princesses.

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

A stillness.

All kept their mouths shut.

Who would dare speak before the overwhelming presence, like the sea, and the blazing gaze, like the sun?

That old man was none other than Continua Cordis Magnus, a figure truly worthy of being called the master of the continent.

A few struggled.

Some tried to open their lips or lift their heads before the Great Emperor.

But it was no easy task.

Ferbias opened and closed his mouth several times, while Secundus, despite his robust muscles, groaned, unable to lift his head.

Shion, too, quietly clicked his tongue.

‘It’s not unbearable, but…’

Among them, Shion was the most composed.

He feigned a cowering posture to avoid drawing attention, but his heart remained unyielding.

It was only natural.

No matter that his opponent was the Great Emperor Continua, to shrink under a mere gaze would disqualify him from being called a hero.

‘…Though I can’t exactly call it comfortable either.’

The silence deepened.

The emperor’s presence swelled.

Some seemed to suffocate in the oppressive air.

The fat Nebulo’s face had already turned pale.

Shion, too, subtly played the part of someone intimidated beside him.

For now, it was time to keep his head bowed.

‘Come on, say something already…’

Though his spirit was unafraid, his body was too weak.

The frail frame of an eleven-year-old child trembled under the weight of the Great Emperor’s presence.

Here and there, groans of “ugh” slipped out.

“Raise your heads, my blood.”

A languid voice spoke.

Only then was the oppressive presence withdrawn.

Everyone hurriedly caught their breath.

The Great Emperor, looking at his sons and daughters, spoke curtly.

“Why have you all gathered here?”

* * *

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

No one answered readily.

Even with the emperor’s presence withdrawn, it was so.

They glanced at one another.

These eight siblings were all rivals, after all.

“No answer, then.”

The Great Emperor spoke bluntly.

“Did you not hear? I asked why you had gathered.”

“Your Majesty.”

A voice cut through.

It brimmed with newfound confidence.

“May I dare to answer?”

Despite bowing under the emperor’s presence moments ago, the speaker had regained their composure with astonishing speed.

“I permit it, Ferbias.”

“My gratitude for your generosity.”

Ferbias Caseptus, the First Prince.

Radiant golden hair, golden eyes.

His features so resembled the Great Emperor in his youth that one might wonder.

The eldest son, the man closest to the Imperial Throne.

The First Prince surveyed his siblings, as if to affirm his position.

In this setting, as the second most noble, none of the other princes or princesses dared harbor resentment.

He spoke with bold confidence.

“You asked why we gathered? For Cordis and with the heart to become the successor to the throne, we have come forth.”

“The successor to the throne.”

The Great Emperor tapped his temple lightly.

“So, you’ve gathered because you covet the seat I occupy.”

“…….”

“Why no answer, Ferbias? Will you claim you do not covet it?”

“…If I said no, it would be a lie.”

At the Great Emperor’s blunt probing, Ferbias gave an awkward smile.

It sounded as though they were usurpers coveting their father’s throne and, in truth, they weren’t entirely without such ambitions.

But the Great Emperor Continua was simply too great a father to challenge.

“Do you desire the Imperial Throne?”

“…That is why I have come forward.”

“And you others, I presume the same.”

The Great Emperor Continua’s gaze swept over them.

First Ferbias, then Leniar, Secundus, Kateka, Santia, Nebulo, Zionis, Babato.

His eyes remained sunken, impassive.

Shion quietly clicked his tongue.

‘Is that the look of a father beholding his children?’

These were his own flesh and blood, eight sons and daughters, prostrated before him.

Yet how could his gaze be so lifeless?

It was as if he were looking at insects, without the slightest stir of emotion.

His sharp, gleaming eyes seemed to pierce only the void, devoid of any feeling.

“You’ve come forward desiring the Imperial Throne, so I ask.”

The Great Emperor’s voice cut sharply.

“What is an emperor?”

Ferbias’s mouth clamped shut.

His eyes darted, desperately trying to grasp the meaning behind the question.

But the Great Emperor had no intention of granting time for deliberation.

“Answer, Ferbias. You wouldn’t claim to desire something you don’t even understand.”

“An emperor is…”

The Great Emperor commanded.

Answer now.

He could not remain silent.

An answer had to be given.

The First Prince, chewing over unfamiliar embarrassment, stammered out.

“…the one who represents the thousand-year empire, this Cordis.”

“If that’s all, a flag would suffice.”

Ferbias’s face flushed red.

The Great Emperor’s words carried no trace of emotion.

That made the disappointment all the more blatant.

It was as if he were proclaiming he had never expected anything to begin with.

Shion saw it—Ferbias’s reddened ears.

A man of great pride.

To be humiliated before his younger siblings and rivals would be unbearable.

But the Great Emperor paid no heed to his eldest son’s shame.

Instead, he turned to seek the next.

“Who else has an answer?”

“May I answer, Your Majesty?”

“Do so.”

Leniar de Volmark, the First Princess.

Had she not been born a woman, it was said she might have surpassed Ferbias.

Her silver hair, almost white, was swept back as she bowed to her father.

Every movement was like a refined work of art.

Her elegance surely ran deep into her soul.

“An emperor is one who governs the people well.”

The Great Emperor’s golden eyes turned to his eldest daughter.

“Then what is governance?”

“To serve and care for them well.”

“That is the task of a slave or servant.”

“…My apologies.”

The emperor’s voice was merciless.

Leniar lowered her face.

Unlike Ferbias, her face did not redden.

But Shion saw it—her tightly clenched fist.

She was merely suppressing her emotions.

“Who else…”

“I will answer, Your Majesty!”

A hurried but bold voice.

The Second Prince, Secundus.

His urgency was palpable.

He even cut off the Great Emperor’s words.

Yet the emperor showed no sign of displeasure, merely nodding.

“Speak, Secundus.”

Ferbias, Leniar, Secundus.

The leaders of the three greatest factions.

But Secundus paled in comparison to the other two.

Thus, he could not stay silent.

He had to offer something.

“An emperor is an undefeated victor! One who knows no defeat!”

“Now you speak of a general.”

The Great Emperor twisted the corner of his mouth.

“Still, better than the other two. At least you didn’t try to dress up your ignorance.”

Secundus scratched his head, chuckling sheepishly. ‘And he’s laughing at that?’ Shion muttered under his breath.

Secundus Debius, a strong but simple man.

“Is there no one else to answer?”

…… No response came.

After the leaders of the three strongest factions had been humiliated in turn, who would step forward?

The Great Emperor surveyed his sons and daughters.

“Then, you…”

The Great Emperor’s gaze stopped.

On the seventh of the eight, a prince.

“Zionis, was it? What are your thoughts?”

“…Pardon?”

Shion let out a dumbfounded sound without thinking.

The Great Emperor, unperturbed, pressed his question.

“What is an emperor? Answer.”

* * *

‘What’s with this old man…? This never happened before my Regression.’

Shion muttered to himself.

Silently, of course.

‘And he barely spoke to me even once before. Why is he suddenly singling me out?’

Even counting from before his Regression to now, they had exchanged fewer than three sentences.

The Great Emperor had never shown the slightest interest in Shion.

So why now?

Had he noticed the subtle shake of his head?

‘…Whatever. I need to answer. But what should I say?’

It couldn’t be too poor.

Nor could it be too impressive.

‘Considering I’m playing the part of a child…’

He hesitated, then spoke.

“An emperor is…”

“An emperor?”

“…An emperor is a cloud.”

The Great Emperor questioned further.

“A cloud? Why so?”

“…Because it’s the highest.”

A snicker broke out.

Laughter erupted here and there.

Though restrained before the Great Emperor, the mockery was clear.

‘Foolish Zionis!’ Nebulo was even giggling openly.

‘Did I seem convincing as an eleven-year-old Zionis?’

Shion was satisfied.

This mockery was exactly the reaction he wanted.

Not too impressive, not too pathetic.

Just enough to slip under his siblings’ notice.

Everything was going as planned… or so it seemed.

“Zionis, yours is the best so far.”

The Great Emperor Continua nodded.

Shock kicked aside the mockery.

“……!”

“……!”

“……!!!”

Sparks flew from the eyes of the other princes and princesses.

Astonishment, then envy filled their gazes and Shion quickly bowed his head.

He was just as stunned.

‘What!? What’s so great about that answer… Oh.’

The question soon resolved itself.

It was because of Ferbias’s eyes.

The First Prince’s eyes burned with jealousy, the very picture of a young man.

Shion realized then, once again, the weight of nineteen years.

‘…Right. I went back nineteen years. Even Ferbias is still young.’

It wasn’t a remarkable answer.

It was just that his siblings were too young.

In Shion’s memories, they were monsters who dominated the continent, but not yet.

It wasn’t strange that Shion’s answer resonated more with the Great Emperor.

‘I’ll need to be more careful from now on.’

The attention of his siblings was already drifting away from Shion.

A single good answer from an eleven-year-old Zionis wouldn’t make him a target of suspicion.

“A cloud.”

The Great Emperor stroked his chin, speaking indifferently.

His languid air remained.

What thoughts ran through his mind as he looked at his children?

His eyes were merely cold gold.

“A cloud cannot be grasped. Why is that?”

As soon as the Great Emperor spoke again, all attention left Shion.

Ferbias, glaring with a hint of resentment, turned his eyes away.

“Because it is the highest. An emperor must be so as well.”

A trace of ennui lingered on the old man’s face.

Yet it was undeniable that a strange heat began to kindle there.

Perhaps he was recalling distant times.

“An undefeated general, a minister who governs peacefully, a hero who becomes the face of the nation—all need only stand beneath. If you stand highest, they will naturally gather.”

The Great Emperor smiled.

A small smile, but enough to stir the hearts of the princes and princesses.

Had that smile led tens of thousands of soldiers, seized the heart of the continent and raised the name of the Great Empire?

“If my answer displeases you, then stand higher than I.”

No hero could be an emperor while standing beneath another.

Any commoner who stood above all could rightly be called an emperor.

“To stand highest. That is the essence of an emperor.”

His golden eyes sank coldly.

An unmatched majesty radiated.

“But there can only be one highest.”

The master of the continent declared.

“Thus, my sons and daughters, it is the time of trials. The thousand-year empire seeks the one to carry Cordis’s name.”

The first to bow was Ferbias.

He had a keen sense for the moment.

Soon, Leniar followed, and the other princes and princesses, including Shion, lowered their heads.

This was the proper stance before the Great Emperor’s proclamation.

“In the hall of the Azure Sky Emperor Cordisias, I proclaim the fiftieth Succession War.”

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