Chapter 82: The approaching Birthnight
"Are you certain?"
"Not at all."
"Then how can I trust that this would be of any help?"
"You cannot trust it. That’s the very nature of this thing. However, once they see it, they will know what to do."
Holding an ominous looking book in his hand, the patriarch was looking at me as if looking at some criminal coxing him into committing a regicide.
However, this was genuinely what the people of future came to know about the condition that was currently affecting the emperor.
"Do you trust me, m’Lord?" He was the patriarch of the Sungrade and right now, the decision to choose a side depended completely on his words.
Millions of lives were at stake here.
Since he had seen the war, he knew just what kind of danger it truly was to the people.
The blood and chaos, the primal evil within the mortals, the heinous side of the humanity, he must have seen it all too well.
So, when I asked him that question, his eyes observed mine, and found any kind of falsehood that could be there.
Those red eyes made sure to look for even the things that weren’t there. And maybe he saw those things as well, however, his heart rejected it all.
The mind was logical but the heart was always the emotional one. And even though there was no place for emotions in this situation, his remaining bit of humanity did not allow him to walk down the damned path.
"I will do as you say," he answered me first and then glared at me with fierce eyes, "but in case something happens to the emperor, my dear son, just remember that I might not be able to save you."
He was saying that even if something goes wrong, he would try to defend me. The end results would not be in his hands, as it was going to be the case even when this method works.
"I will pray for his majesty’s quick recovery."
That was all we could do anyways. Even in the future when we had understood what this thing was, the chances of survival had never gone beyond fifty percent.
That was also the reason that this ominous looking book was going to him along with a hand written diary.
I had drawn a complete method for the creation of a device that will make the emperor’s condition much better.
The production would be difficult, but those at the empire’s capital were some of the best this nation had.
They would know what to do with those notes as well as with the strange book. What I have to do in the meantime is simply to prepare for the upcoming birthnight of my little sister.
"Prism, this is not something small. I know you understand that-."
"Father, this is the only way. Without him, the empire will get divided and we Will have to fight a war. If not on the battlefield, then on the political front and I will not be here for any of that."
Three months. That was all he had to see things through.
If the empire doesn’t get back on it’s feet, then the family wouldn’t have him to look into the matters. And if the empire does show cracks, the enemies would not just stand still.
The danger was everywhere. The imbalance of power was also one of the reasons that drove the world to its end in the future.
"I see..." he looked at his son once again, watching him closely for a minute. Then, he looked at the room around him, the empty place that they had moved to.
In one of the corners, hanging on a wall was an ordinary golden shield. And on this shield, the salamander insignia of Sungrade was present.
That name was the legacy that they were living. And that name is what would be left behind when both of them are gone from the world.
"Fine, let’s go back now." The heavy burden on his shoulder seemed to have eased a bit as he signed deeply.
As complicated a matter it was, the solution was just as simple.
If the emperor regains his senses and strength, he will be able to set things straight.
If the emperor dies, however... he will leave things up to his father then.
-Shrrr...
We were returning back inside the conference room that we left a while ago, but there were noises coming from the room.
"Hmm?"
When we entered the chambers, which were usually supposed to be quite, we found an interesting scene.
"Oh? Oh, hahaha."
"Isn’t that adorable?"
"All of them are adorable, huhuhu."
The ladies were admiring the small lizard, the little white chick, and the kitten that had spread out on the table before the ladies.
They were playing with them, cheerfully admiring them, and enjoying as the creatures responded to their voices.
"Hey!"
Flora’s Little brush creature was also out right now, running around along with Nyx, the butterflies that certainly belonged to Lady Markeet chasing after them both.
The flying beast of Lady Emilia was out as well, while at the same time, there were some spirits filling the room.
"I see everyone is having fun already..."
The seriousness that was present when we left this room was completely gone now, and they seemed happy.
It wasn’t just that their minds were distracted now, they really seemed to be invested in this play.
And that attitude was exactly the reason why they all flinched visibly when they heard my father’s voice.
"Huh?!"
They recalled their partner beasts either in their bond make or contract circles or in their weapons forms to quickly empty the room.
There was only Nyx and Art left, with Felix on the table.
"..."
They were all quiet now, and they knew what they were doing when there was something so important going on was wrong.
But things had already happened... they had already made a mistake.
"Let us move back to the discussion."
And they knew the patriarch had made a note of it in his head.
’They haven’t avoided the trouble just yet.’
But whatever happens to them, one thing was clear.
’The Sungrade was now ready to truly choose one side... one that would be in their best interest.’