Chapter 122: The Next Emperor

 The magnificent gold thread was flawlessly woven into the precious fabric. The crown was adorned with extravagant jewels that would put a king to shame, but the emperor himself looked like a withered old tree.

Deep wrinkles etched by time and half-faded pupils. His ashen skin tone made it seem like he could die at any moment.

‘Looking at his face, I can vaguely remember him.’

Ian had no trouble remembering him. He immediately recalled the portrait of the emperor hanging in the left end of the hallway. He had a particularly bad complexion, which made him memorable, but Ian also remembered hearing that he had lived a long life despite his appearance.

‘Then, the next one after him… .’

Ian’s head involuntarily turned to look behind the emperor. The princes Mariv and Gale were entering one after the other. They were dressed in full regalia, unlike before, and looked magnificent. The other princes seemed to have no intention of ascending the platform and turned back.

‘The next emperor has silver hair and blue eyes. And a scar that runs from his left forehead to his right jaw. But I don’t see any other princes here.’

It’s definitely not Mariv or Gale. Their facial features are different, let alone the scar. Ian kept glancing around as he tried to recall the face of the next emperor.

Just in case, just in case. It was unlikely, but if all the princes had died and they had brought in an outsider, he would have to check the dukes as well.

‘Silver hair, silver hair… .’

Silver hair is not a common hair color, though. If I see him, I’ll recognize him right away.

The moment Ian turned his gaze slowly, feeling relieved, he realized that Mariv and Gale, who were standing on either side of the emperor, were watching him. Their gazes were filled with curiosity, or perhaps vigilance and caution.

‘Hmm. Looking at them side by side, they do look like brothers.’

The two were standing some distance apart and facing each other, so they seemed unaware that they were both looking down at Ian.

Ian pretended not to notice and kept his head turned towards the emperor. The nobles next to him were just looking at the princes, confused.

“Why, why are they looking like that?”

“They’re not looking at us, they’re looking at this Ian guy.”

“There’s definitely a different protagonist today.”

“…I have no idea what they’re thinking. It’s scary.”

“Shhh. Be quiet. His Majesty is about to speak.”

The nobles’ gossiping, which had been going on quietly, stopped completely. This was because the emperor had taken a step forward. He pursed his dry lips a few times and then smiled kindly.

“Thus passes another year in the great empire of Bariel.”

His words were squeezed out quietly, but the emperor’s voice resonated throughout the large banquet hall. This was also the power of magic. A voice that seemed to resonate in one’s head, without any sense of space. Beric flinched and shook his body.

“I personally offer my encouragement to those of you who have worked hard for the empire this year. Surely the flowers that bloom next year will be even more beautiful, the fields will be golden, and the returning winds will be warm.”

It was the emperor’s New Year’s greeting. The nobles listened to the emperor, looking up at him with polite smiles and nodding their heads slightly. He spoke slowly about the past year, touching on the major and minor events that had taken place in the empire this year.

“The restoration of the temple after the great earthquake in the spring…”

To be honest, the emperor’s speech, which went on and on endlessly, was boring. Ian glanced back and met eyes with Romandro and Beric.

‘So! Boring! No!’

Beric mouthed the words to Ian, while Romandro just sighed as if he had lost half his soul. Ian smiled and looked back to the front, just as his name was called.

“The rebellious house of Bratz of the borderlands has been exterminated. If those who oppose the great empire of Bariel wish to see their future, let them look that way.”

Clap, clap, clap.

The nobles applauded lightly in response. This was a part of the speech that firmly reminded any houses that were evading taxes and embezzling money that they would meet the same fate as the Bratz. As the emperor spoke these words, Mariv glanced at Gale and smiled. On the other hand, Gale remained expressionless and did not react.

Swooosh.

Ian now knew that it was his turn to be called. This was because the chancellor approached with a pedestal decorated with flowers. The emperor nodded slightly and continued speaking.

“I will forever erase the name of Bratz from history, and by imperial decree, I will establish a new house.”

The nobles’ gazes turned to Ian one by one. This was the moment he would officially enter their world.

“Ian.”

As the emperor called his name, the nobles parted to the left and right, creating a path. The applause was accompanied by the music of the palace orchestra, and Ian stepped forward with a smile on his face. As he ascended the platform, he could see the emperor’s face in more detail.

‘How old is he? I know he’s lived a long time, but he looks really sick.’

Ian knelt on one knee and bowed, and the emperor patted him on the shoulder with his own hand.

“Ian. It’s good to see you here.”

“It is an honor, Your Majesty.”

“You inherited the blood of Dergha Bratz, but I acknowledge your merits in suppressing the rebels for the sake of the empire. You are also a talent that is essential for the development of the Bariel Empire.”

At the emperor’s gesture, Ian stood up and straightened his posture. The brooch on his chest was a design of a white flower in full bloom behind an X-shaped sword. This would be the emblem of Ian’s house from now on.

“What is that supposed to be?”

“I wonder. It doesn’t look very good, but it seems to be a white flower?”

“Who would use a white color when they could have something more flashy… .”

Some of the nobles snickered, but Ian paid them no mind. Unlike his surname, Ian had chosen the emblem of his house himself.

‘They probably don’t even know what a Gula flower is.’

In the borderlands, Grula had already become an indispensable crop. Grula would soon be commercialized throughout Bariel, which would mean the end of the famine. To make sure that everyone knew he was the one who led this achievement, Ian had made the Grula flower the emblem of his house.

In the future, this white flower would become the most prestigious symbol in the empire.

“Thus, I grant you the title of Viscount of Hielo.”

Ian Hielo.

That was Ian’s new name. Ian bowed his head willingly and greeted him with dignity.

‘Hielo? I feel like I’ve heard that name before.’

But the name seemed familiar. Judging from the fact that he couldn’t remember it right away, it didn’t seem to be the name of a noble house… It felt like he had heard it somewhere.

Hielo, Hielo.

Ian continued to chew on his new surname as he received his title.

“For the glory of Bariel.”

“For the glory of Bariel.”

Ian put his hand on his chest and swore allegiance to the emperor. Mariv, who was watching him from behind, smiled broadly and applauded. Gale did the same, but in a more formal manner. The spirit lights that filled the banquet hall created a beautiful flow, scattering like flower petals.

Clap, clap.

“Congratulations, Viscount Ian Hielo.”

“Thank you, Viscount Hawkman.”

“Oh, you know me?”

“To be precise, I know your son, Sir Fuhlen. I was greatly helped by his book on humanism.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Marquis Hines.”

“Your Grace. It is an honor to meet you.”

As Ian came down, the nobles’ reactions became a little more flexible. Just because he had received a name from the emperor. Nothing had changed between the Ian before and the Ian now. Of course, there were still many factions who were hesitant to approach him, but it was clear that Ian was now the center of attention in the social world.

“Next, I would like to congratulate you on your achievements in the Battle of Roxanne. Heyl, Tommy, Nakina, of the Ministry of Magic.”

Ian’s turn was over, but the New Year’s party continued. There were many knights who had distinguished themselves in major and minor battles, and there were also a few nobles who were being promoted. As the voices congratulating Ian gradually diminished, he cautiously took a step back.

“Ian! Over here!”

“Hey! Lord Ian Hielo~?”

“You’re really a viscount now. You’re a noble! Congratulations!”

Romandro and Beric were also looking for him, and they met him right away. They were whispering and couldn’t hide their joy, which was quite a sight to see. Ian smiled and nodded.

“It will take a while for the magic power verification ceremony to begin.”

“Yeah. Now we can just stand and watch, which is a real relief.”

It seemed that there were no promotions like Ian’s, where his status changed completely, so everyone was going up the stairs next to the platform instead of the red carpet in the center.

“But sir Romandro.”

“Hmm?”

He hadn’t noticed because he had just walked straight in through the entrance. There were women sitting in groups on the second floor above the door, watching the New Year’s party.

“Are the women sitting upstairs the emperor’s concubines?”

“Yes, they are.”

A clear line had been drawn. Except for the emperor, empress, and princes, all other family relations were one step behind the center of power.

‘Ah. Silver hair.’

Ian spotted a woman sitting among them. She had her hair tied up in a single bun, and she seemed to be of quite high rank even among the concubines. Ian called out to Romandro again.

“Do you know who that silver-haired concubine is?”

“Who? Silver hair? Oh.”

Romandro glanced around and whispered quietly. Even though they were in a secluded spot, and everyone seemed to be enjoying their own private conversations rather than the emperor’s speech, this was the palace. It was a place where you had to be careful with every word you spoke.

“That would be Lady Dilaina.”

Dilaina. The mother of the fourth and fifth princes, and currently the only concubine who actively assists the emperor by his side. The other concubines had only married for political reasons and did not have much interaction with the old and dying emperor.

However, Dilaina, who had sons to protect, had to cling to whatever power she could, so she actively took charge of the palace events by directly assisting the emperor.

“Lady Dilaina must have also prepared the New Year’s party on behalf of His Majesty. She takes care of all sorts of internal affairs and fills the void left by the empress.”

Dilaina has silver hair.

Then…

“Do her sons also have silver hair?”

“Hmm? Yes, they do. They inherited their mother’s hair color and their father’s eye color.”

Which means they have blue eyes. Ian was now certain that the next emperor would be one of Dilaina’s sons. The question then was, which one was it, the fourth prince or the fifth prince?

‘With the first and second princes both being pushed out of the throne, the order of the fourth and fifth princes doesn’t matter.’

Ian continued to look up, hoping to see the princes.

That’s when it happened.

“……!”

A boy who looked about fifteen years old appeared next to Dilaina. Ian immediately recognized him as the man he had seen in the emperor’s portrait. That boy would grow up to be the man in the portrait.

“Sir Romandro. By any chance, is that…”

Just as he was about to ask if that boy was the fourth or fifth prince.

Another boy, who looked exactly the same, appeared. Romandro glanced up casually and answered.

“Oh, yes. Those are the fourth and fifth princes. They’re twins.”