“Oh, Duke. Your look doesn’t fit you at all.”

“…Your Majesty.”

“It was like yesterday when I first visited you, but time passed like an arrow. At that time, you and I were very young. ”

“You bet, Your Majesty. Do you know I had a hard time because I was hoodwinked by your praise?”

When I watched the duke who went along with me in an instant, smiling at me, I was reminded of the distant old memories.

Born as the eldest son of the imperial family, I obtained the status of the crown prince without any problem, but I was powerless at that time. I had to get by day by day, keeping a low profile while trying not to confront the noble faction that strongly promoted my brothers as the next emperor. It was around that time that I stopped by the knights division and met Duke Lars for the first time after he joined after coming of age.

He was a very talented man. As the successor of his family called the Sword of the Empire, he not only excelled in fencing but also thrilled me with clever talk and excellent political sense. Then I decided that I would make him my man.I really had a hard time persuading him, a moderate, to get out of the noble faction.

“Well, I also had a hard time trying to persuade you.”

“I was almost expelled from my family.”

“So, you regret it?”

“Oh no! I’ve helped my family to grow as the most prestigious one of the empire, so the senior members of my family who opposed me at that time will not blame me anymore even if they saw me now. ”

“Good for you.”

I approached him several times to bring him into my fold at the risk of my life.

After having dozens of intense discussions with me, he finally decided to share my political vision. It was impossible to describe how happy I was to see him swearing loyalty to me. When I came back to the palace, I could hardly go to sleep as my heart was full because of his allegiance.

As the first vassal whose heart I won over after trying hard, the duke never betrayed my expectations. His political sense was remarkable enough to put the pro-emperor faction, which was numerically inferior to the noble faction, on almost an equal footing with the noble faction. He didn’t hesitate to remove his political foes for the sake of the empire. Besides, he decisively contributed to rebuilding the 2nd Knights Division which had a political propensity for the noble faction, and promoted the 1st Knights as the center of people loyal to the emperor.

“Duke Lars, can you confirm the same allegiance to my son that you showed to me?”

“Your Majesty, you know I am different from Keiran, the head of the Monique family. I cannot pledge unconditional loyalty. ”

“Of course, I know.”

“But I can swear one thing. As long as the crown prince rules the empire with the same dream as yours, the Lars family will do their best for the imperial family with absolute allegiance. ”

“That’s enough. Thank you. ”

I smiled at him in satisfaction, catching my short breath. But I had to hang in a little longer.

“Ernia.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Do you still blame me, your brother?”

“No, so please get well again and stand up.”

“Although I was cruel to you, I have loved you as my sister. Of course, I can’t deny that I made the decision from the perspective of the emperor at that time, but I did so for your happiness. So, please understand and forgive me now. Aren’t you happy with him now?”

I smiled faintly at Ernia, who was weeping, then saw the duke’s eldest son who exactly looked like him, and his wife, passing along some request. I was lost in thought for a moment, looking at the duke’s second son. Do I have to tell him to stop meeting Lady Monique or just pretend not to know his relationship with her?

I was very agonized, but shut my mouth. Didn’t I already decide to leave the matter to Rube? Besides, I didn’t want to hurt this promising young man who would be the pillar of the empire.

I looked at Duke Lars who showed his due manners by bowing deeply to me for the last time.

‘Thank you so much. I dreamed the dream of realizing my ideal because you were there. I hope you can take good care of my son and the empire, so you can continue to carry on my vision, Arkint.’

After the Lars family went out, I smiled faintly at the family members who came into my room in no time.

The man with green hair who looked intelligent. Duke Lars and Marquis Monique supported me with their excellent military resources, but this man was peerless in scholarship. He fascinated me with his shining mind and clever talk.

“It’s been a long time, Duke Verita.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Without you, how could I build an empire like this? Thank you so much.”

“You’re very welcome. If I hadn’t met you, I wouldn’t have enjoyed the same life I have now. ”

Unlike Duke Lars who had lived a guaranteed life as the successor of his family since he was born, Duke Verita’s life was full of ups and downs. At that time he was the third son of the then Marquis Verita family. He went to the capital to get the title on his own by making contributions to the empire, but he didn’t get anywhere for some time. It was none other than Duke Lars who discovered his talent.

He was very smart, well organized, rational and calm.

The pro-emperor faction could strengthen their power thanks to him, and he could not only prevent the collapse of his family but also elevate its status to the rank of a duke family.

“Duke, can you promise me that you will continue to realize the dream you and I have dreamed together?”

“Of course, Your Majesty. As long as the crown prince carries on that dream, I will devote myself to that goal.”

“Thank you. By the way, did you find your second son? ”

“Not yet, Your Majesty.”

“Oh, what a pity! I can understand your position, but how could such a smart person like you make such a mistake?”

He clicked his tongue, looking at the duke’s dark green eyes filled with remorse.

Because of his own painful memories of the family succession, the duke was stubborn in the matter of succession. Of course, he was wary about it because of his eldest son’s illness, but I felt so sorry for his second’s son’s disappearance because he was called the genius of the century. He, along with the second son of the Duke Lars family, could be the strong ally of Rube.

“I think you can find your son. If you find him again, don’t make that mistake again. As you know, he has the potential to make an enormous contribution to the empire.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will keep it in mind. ”

“Good…I hope my son’s in great hands without me. It was one of the few lucky things in my life that I met you.”

He murmured something to Duke Verita, who showed due manners to him with a gloomy expression.

‘Ruth, thank you. Thanks to your support, I could prevail in the fight against the noble faction with such power. Please help my son and empire stay safe in the battle that will be more difficult in the future. This is my last request to you.’

When the Verita family members went out, the Lord Chamberlain called loudy, “Please come in, Marquis Monique and Lady Monique, No. 3 family of the empire!”

As soon as his voice faded away, I saw the marquis and his daughter with silver hair coming in. Watching my trusted friend and his daughter who I thought was like my child, I smiled at them faintly, catching my short breath.

“It’s been a while, Marquis and Lady Monique. Nice to see both of you. I’ve got something to tell you. I’m glad I can say goodbye to you, thanks to the High Priest.”

“Oh, please don’t say that, Your Majesty.”

I saw his eyes full of sorrow, who usually didn’t reveal his feelings because of his blunt character.

A smile came to my lips before I knew it.

Well, when everyone thought of the emperor’s death, I thought you would mourn the death of Mirkan, your friend, not the emperor. Although I was firmly connected with you through your oath of blood, you were my most reliable friend, aside from that. Even though I have never expressed it to you, I certainly thought you were my most trusted friend.

“I would like to request you to continue to work to realize the empire that you and I dreamed about. Please help my son.”