A Human Clock and an Imperial Smile

I checked the time after listening to Lamier’s chaotic Academy life for a long while. Actually, I didn’t really need to check the clock. I am a human clock who falls asleep exactly at 11:00 PM.

And right now… it was 10:30 PM. Accurate as always.

I yawned and leaned back into the chair, sinking into the upholstery. Lamier followed my gaze to the clock and stood up, looking startled.

“I am sorry. I stayed far too long.”

“No, no.”

I waved my hand to dismiss his apology and then tilted my head playfully to the side.

“I didn’t notice the time because it was so interesting. Especially that Professor Eosi… space-time movement magic, right?”

“Yes. Professor Rondo Eosi.”

“I hope his research succeeds.”

The idea of a ‘Door to Anywhere’ is a dream for all humans, regardless of age, gender, era, or even the world they belong to. Lamier, who had to watch the professor’s bizarre experiments, made a lukewarm face but gave a standard reply saying the professor would be happy to hear that.

I watched Lamier leave with sleepy eyes and then went, “Oh.” Lamier stopped exactly one step outside the door and looked back at me.

“But Lamier. Why are you here so early?”

It was a bit funny to ask just as the party was breaking up, but I hadn’t had a chance earlier. I didn’t want to break the flow of his excited talking. Halfway through, I got caught up in his cheerful chattering and forgot to ask his business.

Well, I asked now, so it’s fine. Now that the question was out, I was curious. There was a long time left until the Academy break, and quite a while before I had to consume the Great Seal.

Lamier hesitated for a moment but soon gave a shy smile.

“I wanted to say thank you.”

“Thank you for what? I just sent you because staying here would be boring, so you might as well learn something.”

“Even so.”

It wasn’t something to be thanked for multiple times. My conscience pricked.

Sending Lamier to the Academy wasn’t for his sake, but a choice I made for my own peace of mind.

If the ill fate of the original work was inevitable, it would be better for the two to be physically separated… and if not, I could have him trained properly, bring him in as an Imperial mage, and work him to the bone. It didn’t matter if Lamier chose another place over this country. Regardless, I was putting the future’s strongest mage in my debt with a small investment. Unless I planned to make him disappear quietly, it was better to support him. Lamier would not forget what I and this country did for him.

Whatever the reason, it was a good judgment for both me and Lamier, so I decided to be shameless.

“If you’re grateful, do well from now on.”

“Of course.”

Lamier answered instantly. I was very satisfied that the affirmation came without even 0.1 seconds of hesitation. I yawned first and then blinked slowly. Lamier smiled brightly, as if something made him very happy, and bowed his head.

“Then I shall take my leave, Your Highness. I will see you at the banquet the day after tomorrow.”

“Yeah. The day after… wait, what?”

“The day after… ah.”

Lamier shut his mouth, looking as if he had made a slip of the tongue.

Why didn’t I know about my own kid’s birthday party?

Even Lamier, who was living like a s*ave at the Academy, knew and came back?

“It isn’t a very important matter.”

Her Highness Sierra, the First Princess of Caprese-na, spoke with a prim expression. I pressed down on my eyes, tired from a restless sleep, and let out a long sigh that rose from deep within. Haaaaa.

I didn’t know what to say. I had many things to say, but I couldn’t organize them. I covered my eyes with my hands.

“Is that so?”

“We just needed an event.”

“I see…”

I rubbed my face and then looked at Sierra.

As Sierra said, they did need an event. It was because of the war with Apellion.

The nobles opposed the war. Was it because they thought we would lose? That’s a joke. Caprese-na was one of only two empires on the continent, with national power enough to swallow a country using only the troops of the northeast. In fact, Kallios had subjugated the entire territory of Apellion in just two months.

Then why did they oppose it?

Because they didn’t want an Emperor with a nickname like ‘Conquering Sovereign.’

What they wanted was an Emperor who did nothing.

A monarch who left them alone no matter what they did… right. Someone like the former Emperor.

I heard that the implementation of Kallios’s policies was slowing down. They nitpicked every word and every punctuation mark to find fault. Is that all? While useful public policies were pushed back by the nobles’ interference, rumors were even spreading among the people that a ‘blood-crazed war monger’ had ascended the throne. Thanks to Sierra’s dedication to poor relief, the atmosphere in the capital wasn’t bad, but the further you got from the capital, the worse the public sentiment would be.

The Emperor changed but life remained the same… that would be a relief. Most of those noble bast*rds probably collected massive taxes using the new Emperor as an excuse to fill their own pockets. How could the exploited people know the truth? They were surely cursing Kallios for the increased taxes. To them, he would look like the worst of tyrants, plundering to play at war as soon as he took the throne. It was a dirty trick, but it was certainly effective. Because even knowing it, one can’t help but be victimized by it.

They are truly detestable people, but they can’t all be cleared out right now. Caprese-na is a massive country. The Emperor cannot handle it alone. Later, he might be able to replace them with officials who are on the same page as him, but for now, he has to carry them along.

So.

He would need a place to apologize for not listening to them, to talk about getting along, and to save their face by telling them they are truly great people.

I get that.

Haaaaa. Truly, nothing but sighs come out.

But still. To use a ten-year-old’s birthday party as an excuse.

And to hold it a whole month early? Without me, her brother, even knowing?

“I’m going.”

“Pardon?”

Sierra, who had been dividing a single éclair into twelve pieces with a prim look, opened her eyes wide.

“Can I not enter if I don’t have an invitation?”

“Brother.”

If it were the original Kallios, he would have harvested the heads of the southern coastal nobles under the pretext of wiping out pirates in the Marina waters, just as he swept through the northwest using the Apellion conquest as an excuse. It’s violent but a sure method. He would suffer for a while to fill the empty seats, but does an Emperor do the practical work? It’s always the subordinates who die out.

The suggestion to use the birthday party was likely made by Sierra.

My princess, who grew up too fast… no, who is pretending to have grown up too fast, was detestable and I resented her for it.

“Sir Ashley.”

I called for the knight waiting outside the door. An answer came immediately. I ignored Sierra, who looked at a loss, and stood up.

“Go to His Majesty and bring back the Breath of Capre.”

“Brother.”

A foreign face appeared through the open door. It looked like a maid looking for Sierra. Since the banquet is tomorrow, there must be a lot to do. Thank you for your hard work coming here just because your brother, who plays and eats in the spire, called you even though you’re busy. So.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Sierra.”

I issued an order to leave. Sierra looked at my face for a moment, then left the room quietly without saying anything more.

The one who brought the Breath of Capre was Kallios.

I don’t know why this guy, who never showed his face when I had something to say, came now. I didn’t want to see him in this mood. I stared out the window, not caring whether he entered or not.

I know it’s not something for me to be angry about.

Since I enjoy many things that ordinary people cannot, it is right to give up things that ordinary people naturally enjoy.

I know, but… I hated it.

Kallios placed the box containing the Breath of Capre on the table.

“You’re so obedient. Pointlessly so.”

I muttered as I looked at Kallios. Today, Kallios brought neither books nor documents. You must be busy too. You’ll leave soon. Anyway, I’m the only one with free time.

I looked out the window again, then sighed, feeling pathetic for being petty toward my siblings for no reason.

“Take it back. I just said it.”

Although I had used it to attend the last ball, the Breath of Capre is one of the symbols of the Emperor. It’s not a big flaw for a former Emperor to lend it to his sickly son, but it’s different for Kallios, who hasn’t perfectly seized control of state affairs, to lend it to me.

No… forget it.

My body won’t be able to hold out with just the Breath of Capre.

I did want to go.

Because there wouldn’t be anyone there who truly celebrated Sierra’s birthday.

She would think that’s natural, but I don’t.

But if I had to choose between collapsing after attending the banquet and being upset here, it was definitely the latter. I can’t go to celebrate and give her my death as a gift, can I? I had improved a lot after ‘that night,’ but I had improved, not recovered. If I left the spire and the Dragon Blood woke up, I might actually die.

“It is alright.”

“Pardon?”

“Did you not want to go to the banquet?”

I made a sulky face at the sudden words. I acted like a nuisance telling the Emperor to give up the Imperial symbol because I wanted to go. Why else would I have asked for it? It’s not like I was going to ask for the throne. I have no need for something like the throne.

“I will make it alright.”

“How can you?”

I asked instinctively and then shut my mouth. It was because our previous conversation came to mind.

“If it’s Lamier… never mind.”

“It is not Weaver.”

Instead of asking what I meant, the fellow answered that it wasn’t him.

That it wasn’t Lamier.

I looked into the eyes that Lamier Weaver described as glass-like, but to me looked like dried roses. Those dark red eyes were full of me. Only me. I stared blankly and then slowly closed and opened my eyes.

“I just won’t go.”

I had many things I wanted to ask him. Many things I wanted to hear.

Kallios and I had never had a proper conversation. Most of it was excessively brief, and sometimes it contained too much.

And the most important thing was always missing.

“Instead, will you come with Sierra after the banquet? Wearing your formal clothes.”

I knew I had to fill that gap now, but strangely, I hesitated. Like facing homework I hadn’t done at all right before school started. It was daunting, and I didn’t know where to start… even though I knew I just had to do things one by one, starting with what was in reach.

“Very well.”

He stood up. I looked at his back as he turned away.

Even if it’s daunting. Let’s start with what’s in reach. Let’s do things one by one, starting with what comes to mind.

“Kallios.”

He stopped walking toward the door.

I took a deep breath and asked in a cautious tone.

“Are your wounds all healed?”

Kallios slowly turned around. I held my breath while his eyes met my face, moved down to my chest, and then back to my face, waiting for his answer.

Ah.

I slowly closed and opened my eyes. I let out the breath I was holding.

“Yes.”

As always, having finished his business, he left the room without lingering.

Only after hearing the sound of the door closing did I press my hands against my heart, which felt like it was going to jump out, and closed my eyes. His face was vivid as if etched onto my retina.

The face I was seeing for the first time in my life.

His face, smiling softly.