The blunt, merciless words made Riersha’s cheeks puff out in indignation, her emotions surging to the surface.
Watching her reaction, Gatran’s eyes lit up with unmistakable interest.
It was becoming clear that the child before him wasn’t merely hearing their conversation — she could genuinely see them, with perfect clarity.
How could a child like this even exist?
This time, it might be something else entirely.
Something else?
Yes. Come over here and take a look at your descendant.
Gatran spoke with quiet certainty, and after a brief silence, Arkas sauntered over with that characteristic slouch.
Remarkably, his bearing reminded Riersha so vividly of the family waiting back home that she breathed out a soft, involuntary “Wow.”
Arkas was so tall that she had to tilt her head all the way back just to see his face.
He stared down at her for a long moment, and one of his eyebrows gave a slow, deliberate twitch.
You can actually see us?
“Yes.”
Interesting.
After a lengthy pause, the corner of Arkas’s mouth curved upward.
⁂
The rest of you, get over here! She’s Arkas’s descendant! She looks absolutely nothing like him — isn’t she precious!
It was just after Riersha and Arkas had exchanged names.
As though they had been waiting for precisely this moment, people began emerging from every direction. The one who appeared to have the most mischief in him materialized directly in front of her face.
Riersha startled and stumbled back a step, and the man broke into a wide, teasing grin that showed all his teeth.
Hello there.
“…H-hello?”
I noticed you recognized Gatran and Arkas earlier. Do you know who I am?
His expression was brimming with eager anticipation.
Blue eyes sparkled through golden hair, and the sheer weight of that gaze was almost overwhelming.
Riersha shifted nervously and let her eyes drift around the room. She fidgeted with the hourglass hanging at her neck for no particular reason.
Ahem. Your Majesty, please maintain some dignity. You’re making the child uncomfortable.
…She’s uncomfortable? With me?
“…”
Impossible. With me, not you?
The first Emperor, Dillis Declair, froze in place as though the words had physically struck him.
Riersha seized the opportunity to scan her surroundings, her mind working rapidly.
If this person is Dillis Declair, then the ones behind him must be his inner circle!
She hadn’t been formally introduced to them yet, but she could already make educated guesses.
The man in breathtakingly ornate armor, with a sword strapped to his back that was nearly the size of his own body, had to be Pavlan, Commander of the Imperial Knights — the man said to have led the Empire’s armies.
Standing beside him, hands clasped behind his back and one step removed from the group as though pretending he wasn’t part of it at all, was the red-haired figure Riersha suspected was Valotra Marselain, the one credited with reviving the Empire’s diplomacy.
Beside him, in order, stood the Great Sage Gatran, who had tutored the Imperial line’s heirs, and Arkas Arachrene, who had defended the Empire’s borders.
She had never once imagined she might see all five of these people gathered in a single place.
Mm. It seems you’ve figured out who we are.
Dillis smiled warmly as he spoke.
He had been the most surprising of all, and Riersha still felt thoroughly dazed.
Of all places, to encounter the first Emperor at the Forbidden Altar…
“But, um…”
Yes?
“You’re all standing really close…”
Riersha scratched her cheek and murmured softly.
And with good reason — every last one of them had crowded around her as though they had agreed on it beforehand.
Ahem. Perhaps step back a little, Your Majesty.
You’re the one hunching your back the most to get a better look at her. At least I managed to maintain my dignity.
⁂
Isn’t that right, Riersha? Come here, little one.
Dillis spread his arms wide with a good-natured smile.
Riersha, already well-accustomed to being doted upon at the Arachrene manor, recognized that gesture immediately.
But still — first Emperor or not, running straight into the arms of someone she had only just met seemed a bit…
She was casting her eyes around in search of backup when she found herself looking directly at Arkas, who had been watching the whole scene with his arms folded. He exhaled a long, heavy sigh.
That’s enough, all of you.
…Hm?
Whatever the case, she’s a child of my bloodline. Until she leaves this cavern, I’m her guardian. Everyone back off.
Hold on, Arkas — where does that rule even come from?
Gatran, who had been calmly waiting his turn behind the Emperor, protested with a wounded expression.
Valotra, who had been quietly admiring Riersha’s cuteness from a distance, gave a solemn nod of agreement.
But Arkas swept them all aside and lifted Riersha up into his arms in one smooth motion.
“Oh!”
She’s my descendant. Any objections? And while we’re at it, has everyone forgotten — this child came here to take the succession trial. We should separate business from pleasure.
…That’s fair enough, I suppose.
There was no arguing with that, and though they were all visibly displeased, they reluctantly stepped back.
…Wow.
Riersha reached out and touched Arkas’s hair curiously. She hadn’t expected that physical contact would be possible when he existed in spirit form.
Fascinated, she grabbed a strand and gave it a little shake, tilting it one way and then the other — until Arkas spoke with stern authority.
Let go.
“Yes, sir.”
Riersha immediately smoothed the silver strand back into its proper place and wrapped her arms around his neck like a good girl.
Arkas paused briefly, then readjusted his hold on her.
After a long silence, he spoke in a cool, measured tone.
So. What happened to you out there?
“What do you mean?”
You can see us.
“Is that not allowed?”
Normally, no.
Normally?
Did that mean she wasn’t supposed to be able to see them?
Riersha tilted her head in confusion and looked around — the atmosphere had shifted into something far more serious than before.
Gatran and Valotra, in particular, wore expressions of something close to sorrow.
Every single Arachrene heir who has ever come to the Forbidden Altar — not one of them could see us.
“Why not?”
Because to see us, you would have to be either already dead, as we are, or someone who has returned from the very threshold of death.
Dillis explained it gently.
So that must have been why Arkas had asked that pointed question about what had happened to her outside.
Riersha clenched her fist.
Which meant what he’d said just now was essentially…
“Does my grandfather and my father know about that?”
Most likely, yes.
“So they were expecting me not to come back with the Mark of Calling, weren’t they?”
An affirmative silence settled over the room.
Arcmund and Pernoa had wanted her to fail this trial.
Oh, ah… The mood has gotten very heavy. I’m sure the Arachrene Duke believed with full confidence that you’d bring back the Mark. Right, Arkas?
When Riersha’s face began to crumple as though she might cry at any moment, Gatran made an effort to change the atmosphere.
But Arkas simply let out a dismissive huff and spoke to Riersha in a tone that was more scold than comfort.
Honestly, if I were in his position, I’d have wanted you to fail too. I don’t know what you’ve been getting up to out there, but it sounds like this little one has been giving the adults quite a headache.
“Hic.”
Riersha’s shoulders jerked upward, struck clean in the center of the truth.
Arkas smiled — dangerously — with a look that said exactly what I thought.
And the fact that you’ve already crossed the threshold of death — that’s something your family still doesn’t know. Which is exactly why they sent you here, isn’t it.
“…Th-that’s, well… yes.”
Nicely done.
When Riersha ducked her head in quiet admission, Arkas clicked his tongue in short, repeated bursts.
Whether he kept his gaze on her, she couldn’t tell, but the top of her head prickled with the distinct feeling of being watched.
How long the silence stretched, she couldn’t say.
You must have been carrying all of this alone for so long. I’ll apologize on their behalf, Riersha.
“Pardon?”
Just — I’m sorry. For all of it. You’re at an age when you should be doing nothing but throwing little tantrums and being spoiled, and instead you’ve had to carry a secret you couldn’t share with your own family. We shouldn’t have been celebrating the fact that you could see us.
Out of nowhere, Dillis Declair smiled — a sad, tired smile — and offered an apology.
He had pieced it together from just that brief exchange between Riersha and Arkas.
It seems something troubling is happening in the Empire I built.
Enough to give even one of its ducal houses sleepless nights.
Which meant, by extension, that something had gone wrong within the Imperial household itself.
Would you be willing to tell us what’s been happening?
Dillis asked, his face utterly serious.
