The Forest Race Clonne

Chapter 46

‘It seems the Crown Prince always fulfills his duties regardless of the time.’

The First Prince seemed to understand the underlying meaning and bit his lip.

“There was an incident today where a prisoner escaped from the imperial dungeon. The atmosphere in the palace has been quite tense, making it hard to sleep. In such a situation, I came to check on you, Father.”

“Hmm, a prisoner escaped from the imperial dungeon?”

“Yes, but it will be handled well, so there’s no need to worry. Though my visit was prompted by unnecessary concerns, I am glad I came. It’s so wonderful to see you looking so strong.”

“Are you truly happy?”

“O-Of course, Father. How could you ask that?”

“Haha, I was only joking because you looked so stiff. But you’ve been looking around restlessly for a while. Are you searching for someone?”

“No, not at all. There’s no such thing.”

His hastily answered voice carried a faint tremor. It was obvious what he was looking for.

‘Me.’

The soldiers visible outside the door were proof. He must have brought them along, planning to drag me away the moment they found me. Fortunately, the Crown Prince acted quicker, thwarting that plan.

After that, palace physicians arrived to examine the Emperor. Though weakened, he was declared healthy, much to the relief of his attendants. The Emperor praised and comforted them for their efforts.

In the jubilant atmosphere, the First Prince, who was visibly restless, eventually left in haste. Once they were completely gone, the Emperor dismissed all attendants, leaving only the Crown Prince behind. With all the presences gone, the surroundings grew quiet again.

“Father, aren’t you tired?”

“I’m fine. But I think it’s time for them to come out.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m saying that I’ve kept my savior hidden for too long.”

“…!”

In that moment, my heart also skipped a beat.

Did the Emperor know? Since when?

I exchanged a glance with Camille, who had caught his breath. As we stood there, stunned, the bookshelf suddenly opened. The Crown Prince, revealing the hidden room, couldn’t hide his own surprise. Feeling awkward, I stepped forward to see the Emperor sitting up in bed. The moment our eyes met, I immediately prostrated myself.

“I greet the light and sun of the Empire, Your Majesty the Emperor. I am overjoyed to see you in good health.”

“Raise your head.”

His voice was low yet gentle. As I slowly lifted my gaze, another command followed.

“Stand and come closer. I want to see your face properly.”

Controlling my nerves, I approached the bed. Up close, the Emperor appeared somewhat thin, but his demeanor exuded a spirited aura akin to that of any knight. As a prince who had once guarded the borders and earned the title of Conqueror of The Continent, he truly embodied his reputation as the God of War.

“To think I would see a Clonne in my lifetime. They say it’s difficult to distinguish Clonne from humans by appearance, and now I see that’s true.”

This was something I never expected to hear. The Crown Prince and Camille were both taken aback. The Emperor chuckled lightly, amused by their reactions.

“…You know of the Clonne?”

“How could I not? The first Emperor, Terrel, was a close friend of the Clonne King. He was one of the heroes who helped Terrel establish this nation.”

“…!”

I knew the legends of the founding of the Aslan Empire—the tale of a great hero born in a kingdom suffering under a tyrannical ruler, aided by his adventuring companions to create a new nation. It was a common hero’s saga found in many kingdoms.

Most of those who helped establish the nation stayed by Terrel’s side, but some returned to their original places and disappeared. To think one of those lost heroes was the King of the Clonne.

“Father, this is the first time I’m hearing this.”

“The lost heroes preferred not to leave detailed records. I intended to tell you soon. I’ll explain more later.”

Once again, I felt a gentle gaze upon me.

“Though no one remembers anymore, you have not forgotten the Empire. I thank you for your loyalty. You have granted me a blessing unmatched in my lifetime.”

“Your words are too kind, Your Majesty. I merely did what I could.”

“But you could have chosen to remain silent for your safety. The courage you displayed in revealing your true identity to save me deserves respect. Speak your wish. I will honor it.”

I had only hoped to clear my name, so hearing direct praise from the Emperor left me bewildered. Even Camille, who I thought would be happy, didn’t look entirely pleased.

“Your Majesty, I did not act expecting a reward. Please, do not speak of undue praise. I am content with maintaining my current life. More importantly, you should focus on safeguarding the palace from threats.”

“Haha, I heard that the Clonne King who helped the first Emperor Terrel also sought no reward. Like king, like people. I understand your dedication to the Empire, and I will make sure to honor it.”

The Emperor’s gaze grew even softer. My intention was merely to draw attention to palace security, but he looked at me as though I were a rare paragon of virtue, which felt a bit embarrassing.

“Tell the Chief that I need to see him. This must be kept from Altman.”

The command made the Crown Prince’s face harden. He hesitated to respond, his mouth opening and closing without a word. The Emperor cast a quizzical look at him.

“Crown Prince, why do you look like that?”

“Did you know, Father?”

“That Altman is behind this? Of course. Even a foolish son remains my child. I’ve watched him since birth; how could I not see through his schemes?”

The response was somewhat unexpected. It was well-known that the First Prince had fallen out of the Emperor’s favor a long time ago. His mother, Queen Kinisia, was excessively tyrannical, and the First Prince himself had been notoriously violent since childhood, constantly troubling the Emperor. Yet, despite this, there still seemed to be a hint of affection that the Emperor couldn’t completely hide.

“I apologize, Father. I was not adequate and failed to address this beforehand.”

The Emperor, with a heavy expression, shook his head at the Crown Prince’s words.

“This isn’t something for you to blame yourself for. It’s also my fault that we weren’t prepared. But it is strange. Altman is an ambitious one, but he never had the power to shift the balance. So tell me what you know. What exactly has he drawn in?”

“…You’re about to hear a story that will greatly shock you.”

“It’s alright. Speak. There is no story within this empire that the Emperor cannot know.”

“I’m still not entirely sure of the situation. But it seems that my brother has allied with beings known as Demonic Beasts.”

“Demonic Beasts?”

“They’re an ancient race sealed in the underworld when the Demon Realm was closed.”

The Emperor, closing his eyes, let out a low groan. He hadn’t expected the situation to be this severe, and his expression turned pale in an instant. The Crown Prince tried to support him, but the Emperor waved him off, casting a glance at me.

“The Clonne reappearing must be for this purpose. It’s a great fortune for the Empire, yet we incur another significant debt.”

His murmuring voice seemed more like he was talking to himself. I didn’t fully understand the precise meaning, merely guessing that the Clonne might be the key to stopping the Demonic Beasts.

“This isn’t something that could be orchestrated with the power of the First Queen and Duke Lakan’s family alone. Probe further. There must be others behind this.”

“Yes, Father.”

“I see this as a good opportunity to test your capabilities. It will be a difficult and overwhelming process for you. But you must not falter here. The vessel of an Emperor must be able to contain much more than this.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Taking a deep breath, the Crown Prince responded with a resolute expression. The Emperor, faintly smiling, lightly patted his shoulder in comfort.

“How ironic. When war rages, we yearn for its end, yet when peace finally arrives, we start craving turmoil again. It hasn’t even been a hundred years since blood last flowed on this land. Must stagnant water always rot?”

The Emperor’s face was painted with deep fatigue as he muttered in a void of emptiness. It was a look unbefitting a ruler, filled with countless thoughts and regrets.

* * *

Though I expected the Emperor to recuperate for a few more days, he resumed his official duties the very next day. It seemed he wanted to quell the rampant rumors that had arisen due to his sudden seclusion. Considering there were even rumors of his death circulating, it was an understandable decision.

There were even accusations that the Crown Prince was behind an alleged assassination of the Emperor. Insinuations suggested that, in opposition to his father’s wishes, the Crown Prince had harbored treasonous intentions to expedite his ascension. It was clear who had orchestrated these rumors, but without a response from the royal family, many considered them credible.

In such a climate, the Emperor’s public appearance served as a stunning reversal. The public, who had been eagerly condemning the Crown Prince in the name of truth, quickly fell silent. The nobles aligned with the First Prince, who had been leading the charge, were now busy keeping their heads down.

But the most gratifying outcome was that all accusations against me and the expedition team were dropped. The dungeon break and the circumstances around it were all overlooked. Not only were we reinstated to our posts, but we were also promised rewards.

That night, we gathered to celebrate until late. Roil, who offered his home as the venue, continuously brought out drinks and food, keeping the atmosphere lively.