ocean-life Chapter 175: The Absolute Gap
Chapter 175: The Absolute Gap
Chapter 175: The Absolute Gap
“Come closer.”
The emperor’s first words echoed throughout the Sun Hall.
“...!!”
“...!!”
It was a simple, short command, but it left the vassals in shock.
150 meters away from the emperor—standing in the middle of the hall, Karyl smiled faintly under his mask as he slowly walked toward the throne.
Thud, thud, thud...
Karyl’s footsteps grew louder and louder, and as he got closer, the two knights standing beside the emperor slowly reached for their swords.
However, the emperor raised his hand to stop them.
“But Your Majesty...” Belin Vallention said cautiously.
“Don’t.”
The emperor looked at Karyl with a calm expression. Now, the distance between the two was shy of one hundred meters.
Karyl reached for his waist.
“You—!!” Belin Vallention growled, although Karyl had nothing at his waist. It was just that his overwhelmingly threatening aura made everyone think he had drawn a sword.
As if mocking their fearful reactions, Karyl knelt on one knee and placed that same hand on it.
“Greetings, Your Majesty."
As Karyl bowed his head, the emperor, as if to show off, addressed the two knights and the other surrounding vassals.
Who is he?
What kind of relationship does he have with His Majesty...?
No servant has ever broken the absolute gap and gotten this close.
Karyl’s appearance stirred an undeniable curiosity in everyone gathered in the Sun Hall. Even though all the vassals from across the empire were gathered here, no one knew who this masked boy was.
“Ha...haha...”
As if reading their thoughts, Titan Shutean pointed at Karyl and said in a low voice, “Why are you all worried? That boy is the son of Kuwell MacGovern.”
Gasp!
Murm-murm...
His words left the vassals even more speechless than when the emperor himself had broken the Absolute Gap.
“Oh, my bad. Not a son, but a confidant.”
As if to mock Karyl, Titan Shutean lightly tapped his forehead as he remembered.
“What does it matter? Whether he’s his adopted son or his confidant... What matters is that he’s part of the empire.”
The emperor repeated exactly what he had said to Karyl in Heim the first time they met. Surprisingly, just as he had accurately remembered the goblin incident from a year ago, he now recalled his exact words from Heim, a year later, in the Sun Hall.
“How is your health, Your Majesty?”
“Thanks to you, much better. I feel so light. At this rate, it might be decades until I’ll have to step down.”
The emperor smiled and lightly tapped the armrest. At this, the surrounding vassals wore mixed expressions, some more subtle than others.
“I see. A blessing for the empire,” Karyl said.
“It seems you are the only one glad about my health.”
The vassals had thought that with Titan Shutean’s deteriorating health, the empire would naturally transition into a struggle for the throne. However, it was his recovery at Heim that had plunged the empire into chaos.
“This man is my savior,” Titan Shutean addressed everyone around him. “Not even the most renowned healers of the empire could diagnose my illness, but then I came across this boy in Heim.”
The emperor introduced Karyl to the vassals.
“He restored my health, so it must be the will of the gods that I remain here a while longer.”
“Y-Your grace is immeasurable.”
The vassals bowed deeply.
Is it him...?
What did he do...?
Someone better than all the healers we’ve brought...?
Although the identity of the mysterious boy was unknown, his very presence was an eyesore to them.
And he’s related to Kuwell MacGovern?
Could it be that he... again...
What a foolish thing to do.
The vassals’ gazes shifted from Karyl to Kuwell, who was standing behind the emperor. It was already well known throughout the empire that Kuwell MacGovern had many adopted sons, so this hardly came as a surprise.
For example, Martte, Tiren, and Randol were all exceptionally talented and had already gained quite a bit of attention within the palace.
“The First Prince, who hasn’t returned to the palace in ages, seems more pleased to see this outsider than his own father,” Titan Shutean remarked with a hint of amusement.
In stark contrast to the emperor’s rather nonchalant attitude, Luon’s expression blazed with fury, the vein on his forehead threatening to burst at any moment.
Karyl turned to look at him, a faint smile forming behind the mask.
This was what it meant to be surrounded by enemies.
“Father, it’s him. He is—!”
“It’s Kromen’s funeral. Have you returned to admit your incompetence? If not, how about you first pay your respects to your late brother?”
“I-I apologize... Your Majesty,” Luon stammered at the emperor’s sharp remark.
“Did you shoot an arrow for Kromen?”
“...What?”
“This boy that you scorn shot forty thousand flames into the sky for the Third Prince. What have you brought for him?”
“Your Majesty!! Those soldiers—!” Luon shouted in frustration, but his words were cut short by the sight of Karyl, making his blood boil.
Now I understand. The emperor prolonged the mourning period for Kromen’s funeral for this reason, as a pretext.
The more emphasis Emperor Shutean put on Kromen’s funeral, the more evident Luon’s inability to support his late brother would become. With this, the emperor was keeping both Luon and Olivurn accountable—two birds with one stone.
The emperor would have targeted one of them even if the southern subjugation had been successful. But both have failed, and Kromen is dead. This is the perfect chance for the emperor to keep both of them in check.
Although he had orchestrated this whole series of events, Karyl realized once again how formidable of an opponent Emperor Shutean was, cunningly moving toward his goals within the framework Karyl had created.
“I know. I already guessed that those soldiers you abandoned at the Twin Armor came back under his command. While you accomplished nothing, he’s brought forty thousand men back home.”
“That's not true!! Th-That scoundrel attacked the imperial army at the Twin Armor! And that’s not all!”
“I have already received enough reports. Didn’t you abandon your soldiers when monsters emerged from the newly formed dungeons? Also, you left the prisoners from the borderlands in a living hell.”
“That... That was...”
“Enough! It’s been months since I learned of your defeat, and during all this time, you neither returned to the capital nor negotiated for the prisoners’ release. And still, you dare to raise your voice at your brother's funeral!”
“...”
Luon ground his teeth at the emperor’s rebuke.
“However, the truth must be brought to light.”
Everyone’s eyes were riveted on them.
“Karyl, is what Luon just said true? Did you attack the imperial army at the Twin Armor?"
The arrow has finally come to me.
The tension in the Sun Hall was palpable, even more so than when the prince was chastised.
“It is true,” Karyl admitted with no hesitation.
“...!!!”
“Wha—!!!”
His confident admission left the vassals speechless.
“But it was all to save the First Prince.”
“What?! What nonsense are you—!!”
Luon couldn’t contain his anger at Karyl's words.
The vassals exchanged quiet gasps at his outburst, considering his demeanor rather dishonorable for the crown prince.
“Karyl.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Depending on your answer, I will either reward or punish you. If you truly saved the prince’s life, I will grant you whatever you desire. If not, I will take your head.”
“A fair agreement, Your Majesty.”
Karyl’s reply sparked a glint in the emperor’s eyes.
“But at this moment, Kromen’s funeral is more important than your fate. We will discuss rewards and punishments after. For now, everyone pay respects to the Third Prince.”
“...!!”
Everyone in the Sun Hall could only stare at Karyl in confusion.
Even him?
Why...?
The vassals were baffled by the emperor’s order to allow Karyl to attend the funeral instead of immediately imprisoning him.
“...”
Though everyone was surprised, Kuwell was particularly tense, even breaking out in a cold sweat.
“Therefore...” the emperor spoke to Karyl in a soft voice, as if he had been waiting for this moment all along.
“...remove your mask."