Chapter: 20
The Emperor of Rilberg
The pressure emanating from the young emperor’s magical power was formidable, even to Ritain.
*Hah.*
With magical abilities like these, it was no wonder Rilberg had crowned him emperor, even as a child.
Their intelligence unit did say the Rilberg Empire was being unusually secretive about their new emperor.
*And…*
Ritain narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed on the ring on Ekiel’s right pinky finger.
It was a crimson gemstone ring.
As far as he knew, that design was unmistakably the imperial signet ring of the Rilberg Empire.
But Ritain didn’t let down his guard. He crossed his arms and asked coldly.
“Did you come here yourself, hidden among the delegation visiting the Penterin Empire, Emperor of Rilberg?”
“Yes, Emperor of Penterin.”
“It’s an honor to have you here, Your Majesty.”
Ritain shifted his weight, standing at a more defiant angle, and shrugged defensively.
“How exactly can you help?”
Ekiel frowned, glancing toward the bedroom before looking squarely back at Ritain.
“Weren’t you just on your way to the Grand Temple to begin the princess’s formal treatment?”
Ritain’s eyes widened as the child spoke, staring at him as if he could see right through him.
“…It seems the cancellation of the banquet has allowed the imperial family’s private matters to reach the delegation’s ears.”
“Indeed.”
Ekiel took a brief breath before continuing.
“My healing magic will be more helpful than that of a priest.”
“How can you be so sure? You sound as if you know exactly what ails my daughter.”
Though Ritain’s voice and posture were outwardly relaxed as he stood with his arms crossed, his golden eyes were sharp as they watched Ekiel.
His expression conveyed he would cut the boy down the instant he uttered any nonsense.
“…You shouldn’t underestimate the intelligence network of the Western Continent, Emperor.”
“You know a great deal about my daughter?”
Ritain strode toward the boy, who was much smaller than him. His wary golden eyes bore down on Ekiel as if they could tear him apart.
“Emperor. The Rilberg Empire…”
The boy’s deep crimson eyes, which had been staring up at Ritain, blinked once before he continued.
“For quite some time now, we have been fighting the Dark Divine Beast. For about ten years, I believe.”
It was an entirely unexpected answer. Ritain’s murderous aura faltered.
“What…? With the Dark Divine Beast?”
“Though in the end, we lost it.”
Ekiel gave a self-deprecating smile and gazed coldly out the window.
The ominous sound of the wind could be heard.
*Swoosh—swoosh—.*
The boy emperor turned his head back to face Ritain, his eyes resolute as he spoke clearly.
“The White Tiger Princess is a very important person. That is why we have been watching her from afar, from the Western Continent. Her birth, the dangers she faced… everything.”
*Bang—!*
Just then, the door connecting to the bedroom burst open, and a pale Ijeten rushed out.
“Priest! Get the priest in here at once! Jusie is—!”
As he ran into the living room shouting for a priest, Ijeten’s eyes met Ritain’s.
“Your Majesty! You were here? Jusie is… Wait, what happened to the living room?”
Ijeten was stunned to find not only that Ritain, who was supposed to be at the Grand Temple, was still here, but also that the living room floor was cracked wide open. His jaw dropped in bewilderment.
Ekiel woke the emperor’s knights and the priests he had put to sleep.
“Hurry and treat the princess!”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
As the high priests and Ijeten rushed into the bedroom first, Ekiel spoke to Ritain.
“I will provide a full explanation after we save the princess!”
“Understood!”
Ekiel and Ritain nodded to each other and dashed into the bedroom at the same time.
Even in this dire situation, Ritain was inwardly amazed, surprised that Ekiel, using haste magic, could run at a speed similar to his own.
Three high priests were gathered around the bed where Jusie lay, pouring their healing powers into her.
“Is her fever rising again?”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Ritain felt dizzy.
They were infusing divine power into Jusie, whose heartbeat was gradually slowing, but to Ritain, it felt like pouring water into a cracked jar.
As Ritain’s expression darkened, the high priests began to shed tears one by one.
“Y-Your Majesty!”
“Your Majesty. We are sorry.”
“It’s too…”
The last priest probably wanted to say, *It’s too late.*
To Ritain, it seemed so as well.
The young white tiger cub was deathly pale and limp, as if she could die at any moment.
“Keep trying! My sister is still alive!”
“Y-Your Highness the Crown Prince!”
“Do it until the very end! Jusie, you have to hang on! Show them your grit!”
Ijeten’s tear-filled rage could be heard.
Ritain’s hands trembled.
*What am I to do? This little one… I still haven’t been able to do so much for you.*
“One moment, Emperor of Penterin. Would you mind making way?”
“Ah.”
“I will help.”
Just then, a voice he had momentarily forgotten cut through to his ears.
And the small boy stood beside Ritain.
The black-haired boy knelt beside the bed and quietly gazed at the limp white tiger cub.
Ritain was greatly surprised to see the Rilberg emperor’s gaze, which had been uncharacteristically calm for a child, turn gentle.
But he couldn’t see it for long, as Ekiel soon closed his eyes.
Ekiel placed his hand on Jusie’s small front paw and gently wrapped his fingers around it.
Soon, a golden mana enveloped the two of them, rising like vines to form a barrier around them.
*What… what is this?*
Everyone watching from behind was bewildered, but Ijeten was even more so.
Then, a blue supernatural ability erupted from Jusie’s body like an explosion, and Ekiel’s golden vine barrier gently absorbed it.
Ijeten asked his father with his eyes who on earth that boy was, but Ritain gestured back, ordering him to keep quiet for now.
Ijeten nodded, but he was dissatisfied.
It seemed the boy was healing Jusie, but Ijeten was on high alert, wary of this stranger holding his sister’s paw.
“Calm down. For now, he is the one saving Jusie.”
“…Yes.”
At Ritain’s admonishment, Ijeten reluctantly stepped back.
An hour passed.
Only after Jusie’s supernatural ability had poured out and clashed within the protection of Ekiel’s mana barrier for that long hour did the blue light finally cease.
“Ah.”
Ekiel opened his eyes and withdrew his mana.
Seeing that Jusie’s heartbeat and breathing had evened out and her complexion had improved, Ekiel smiled.
*Thank goodness, little white tiger.*
Ekiel cast one more recovery spell on Jusie before rising to his feet.
He spoke gently to the blond-haired father and son standing anxiously at a distance.
“It’s over.”
“Jusie!”
“My baby!”
While Ritain and Ijeten rushed to check on Jusie’s condition, Ekiel smiled faintly and stepped back.
And looking at the peacefully sleeping white tiger’s face, he repeated to himself once more.
*Truly, thank goodness.*
*We’ll meet again soon enough, since I’m nearby.*
He used a warp spell and vanished without anyone noticing.
***
Jusie blinked at the blowing wind and tucked her pure white hair behind her ear.
Ah, it was that dream she hadn’t had in a while.
*I wonder from which direction that black thing will appear in this dream.*
Standing on a large, flat gray rock, Jusie looked around before examining her own form.
She looked much more grown up than the human form she’d seen in her last dream.
Long forearms, slender fingers, and long, sparkling hair as white as snow that reached her waist.
Judging by her slim, long legs, she was at least no longer a child.
On a whim, Jusie raised her left hand and tried to conjure a blue flame.
*Fwoosh.*
Just as she willed it, a large blue flame flared to life in her palm. Jusie’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What the.”
Jusie grumbled.
*I can use my supernatural ability freely here, so why can’t I in reality?*
After extinguishing the flame, Jusie then created a blizzard in the forest beyond.
A whisper in her head told her she could do it, so she gave it a try, and it actually worked.
Watching the forest instantly transform into a white winter wonderland, Jusie jumped up and down with joy.
*This means I’m pretty strong, right?*
“So, am I…”
And so, Jusie deliberately turned her head back and asked.
“Am I really your reincarnation?”
A large white tiger had approached at some point and was now staring at her with its piercing blue eyes.
