Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Your Highness, the Emperor has summoned you.

In the early hours of the morning, a surprising message made its way to Raciel. Just as he was preparing to begin his day and engage in his habitual self-analysis, Gardin delivered the news to him.

Huh? Why?

Well, that is

Gardin hesitated before continuing.

It seems that word of Your Highnesss escapades has reached His Majestys ears.

My escapades?

If it was about his escapades, could it be?

Yes, its probably what youre thinking.

You didnt tell him about my actions, did you?

No, I did not.

Gardin hurriedly shook his head.

There are many eyes and ears in the palace, so it is likely that someone spoke about Your Highnesss escapades no, the act of piercing your own body with needles or brewing your own medicine and taking it, which eventually reached the palace.

Damn.

Raciel clicked his tongue.

Escapades, indeed.

But there must be more to it than just that.

A sensation stirred within him.

An inkling lingered.

It transcended a mere request to meet and discuss his peculiar recent actions. It carried a weight that surpassed mere curiosity, for a mere invitation to the palace would not suffice.

Ill find out when I go.

A sudden recollection flooded Raciels mind, reminding him of the initial plot and setting of the novel Devil Sword Emperor. Simultaneously, the image of the emperors character at the storys outset resurfaced in his memory.

The emperor was a strict man, like a lion. Both to himself and those around him.Follow current novels at novelhall.com)

Naturally, his own son was not exempt from such scrutiny. The emperor had a habit of subjecting his sons, particularly the eldest and heir, the crown prince, to continuous trials.

The purpose was to determine if he was truly deserving of ascending to the throne.

Was he genuinely capable of fulfilling that role?

The emperor tirelessly scrutinized, assessed, and appraised his son. He resembled a lion that nudges its cubs off a precipice to gauge their resilience.

However, what fate awaited the original novels Crown Prince Raciel?

He completely failed to meet those expectations.

Despite being a crown prince, his physical and mental constitution remained feeble. His fragility was so pronounced that he resorted to arrogance as a faade to conceal his vulnerability.

There was a mention of the emperor being disappointed in his weakness. And it was about two months before the crown princes death when the emperor summoned him for the last time. That must have been around this time.

In the novel, Crown Prince Raciel proved incapable of answering the final summons. His state had deteriorated beyond repair, rendering him immobile and confined to his bed.

Despite being practically carried to the carriage, his journey to the palace was cut short. Before reaching halfway, he succumbed to the severity of his condition, vomiting blood and ultimately being transported back to his residence.

As a result, Raciel was stripped of all his powers as the crown prince.

The turning point occurred on that fateful day.

The emperor relinquished any hope in Raciel, bestowing the crown prince title upon another son who had successfully ascended the precipice.

This outcome stemmed from a detached process of meticulous examination, judgment, and evaluation.

But now

The situation has changed. Quite a bit.

He wasnt bedridden like in the novel. He could easily visit the palace.

Raciel stood up.

Then I should go. Prepare the carriage.

Yes, Your Highness.

The subsequent proceedings unfolded seamlessly.

Accompanied by his entourage, Raciel embarked on a regal journey aboard a Rolls-Royce-class royal carriage. After approximately an hour of travel, they reached their destinationthe grand palace. They traversed through expansive gardens, climbed numerous staircases, navigated corridors, and explored various corners. Eventually, Raciel found himself standing in the presence of the emperor, Asterion Testarossa Magentano.

Crown Prince Raciel Adria Magentano pays his respects to His Majesty, the rightful ruler of this land.

As he attempted to recall the lines from the novel, Raciel instinctively performed a graceful bow.

Was it his demeanor that captured attention?

Within the gaze of the emperor, who had habitually held a disdainful view of his feeble and delicate eldest son, a faint spark of intrigue flickered.

Asrahan Core Technique?

You must not lose your dignity and grace.

So, even until the moment you die.

Do not make a scene, at least. Do you understand?

Crown Prince Raciel remained silent.

No, he did not offer a response.

Rather than answering, he inwardly expressed his disapproval with a quiet click of his tongue.

Huh. Look at what that old man is saying.

The words spoken seemed somewhat absurd to comprehend.

With an air of great dignity, he expounded on the importance of the royal familys honor.

Yet, upon closer reflection, the true meaning of his words became questionable.

Its just telling me not to tarnish the family image and to live quietly until I die.

Is it truly appropriate for a father to utter such words to his son? If the original Raciel had heard that?

He would have been extremely hurt.

If he had heard those very words emanating from the mouth of his father, who was none other than the emperor, then indeed, it would have been so. However, that was not the case for him.

At least its not my father.

The emperor was technically Raciels father, not his, to him he was almost like a strangeran old man he had encountered for the first time that day.

Perhaps it was due to this disconnect that Raciel remained unaffected by the emperors harsh words. Despite the pouring torrent of harshness, Raciels mindset remained unblemished.

Also, if your health becomes a problem and you cannot bear the weight of the throne, shouldnt you make a wise decision?

A wise decision?

Raciel slightly furrowed his brows.

Thats harsh. Everything he had said so far was just a formality, and it was to bring up the topic from now on that he called me.

Somehow, he had a feeling.

Ultimately, his intuition proved to be precisely accurate.

I will not beat around the bush. If you cannot bear the weight of the throne, isnt it also a virtue to yield it to someone more suitable?

Yes?

I mean, give the Crown Prince title to your younger brother, the Second Prince.

The Emperors one-sided words continued.

Think about it. It would be a decision that benefits both you and everyone else. Moreover, this is my consideration.

Consideration.

If he were to decline, would it result in the Crown Prince title being stripped from him by imperial decree and bestowed upon the Second Prince? Such a scenario appeared increasingly probable. The emperors previously unwavering gaze, fixed sternly upon him, softened ever so slightly.

What do you think?

Raciel sealed his lips.

The propositionor rather, the pressurehad come abruptly. Yet, he remained unruffled. The key to maintaining composure lay in a twofold approach. Firstly, his background as a traditional Korean medicine doctor played a significant role.

There were often elderly patients who threw out unexpected words.

In this vast world, there existed all kinds of individuals.

They would inquire about his love life, probing when he intended to marry.

Such intrusive questions were commonplace, particularly among the elderly who frequented the traditional Korean medicine clinic. Some, in their moments of cognitive lapses, would treat him as their own son. Others perceived him as a long-lost lover. Raciel even encountered individuals in their nineties who called him Dad. He had even assisted in changing the adult diapers of those who didnt actually require such aid.

Having encountered these situations countless times, he had developed an automatic mental fortitude. Perhaps this resilience was shared among all self-employed individuals in South Korea, who grappled with the diverse array of people they encountered.

The current circumstance was no exception.

Well, its a bit surprising, but its not enough to break my judgment.

Raciel lifted his gaze, meeting the unwavering stare of the emperor.

Despite the emperors continued stern expression, there was an unmistakable discernibility to the underlying intention behind that penetrating gaze. This newfound clarity served as the second reason why Raciel remained composed, unaffected by the situation at hand.

If I were just Crown Prince Raciel, I would have been flustered. I would have been shocked by an unexpected situation and stumbled. But Im not. I know your intention because Ive read the novel. This kind of situation was not in the novel Devil Sword Emperor, so I know it even better.

The situation had deviated from the narrative of the novel.

The emperors intention had been unveiled.

What lay ahead?

All became lucid, unveiled, and comprehensible.

In that moment, a smile of unwavering assurance formed at the corner of Raciels lips. And then, he uttered a single sentence that caused the emperor to recoil in surprise.