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"Why 'Your Majesty' all of a sudden? I told you that you could call me 'Father' comfortably when we're alone."
"…No. Peony has come of age, and I must set an example as a member of the Imperial Family."
Darian hesitated before carefully changing the subject.
"Have you found the Mage who attacked Peony?"
The Emperor's brow furrowed deeply at the question.
"No, we haven't found even a trace. It seems their Magic skills are quite formidable."
He added with a sigh,
"To be able to face the Black Dragon and Ayla at the same time and still escape unscathed. And to evade so many troops."
"But you know their general appearance, don't you?"
"Ayla says that it wouldn't matter since they probably changed their face with Magic anyway."
"I see…"
The Emperor looked at his son's gloomy expression with pity.
"Don't worry. No matter what, I will find the culprit. Whoever tried to kill Peony will not be spared."
The Emperor forced a smile, as if trying to change the mood.
"By the way, is that why you came here, or do you have other business?"
"…Actually."
Darian paused, hesitating.
Just imagining how the Emperor's infinitely gentle gaze might change made his heart pound.
'Perhaps he will hate me as much as he hates my mother.'
Darian gave a bitter smile.
Even in this situation, he was worried about being hated by the Emperor.
After all, the Emperor was not his biological father. He had no right to expect affection.
Darian bit his lip and steeled himself.
'Let's not run away anymore. Let's not turn a blind eye.'
Darian carefully opened his mouth.
"Actually, I have something to tell you regarding this incident."
"…This incident?"
The Emperor's eyes narrowed.
"Did you find something out?"
Darian nodded and replied calmly.
"Yes. It's about the maid who died this time, Peony's maid. Her name was Lona, do you remember her?"
"…The Chamberlain told me that she was a caregiver I assigned to Peony a long time ago. It's a pity."
The Emperor rubbed his temples as he replied.
"Yes. Do you remember how you came to know her?"
"How did I come to know that maid? Let me see. I was recommended by someone a long time ago…"
The Emperor was lost in thought. Judging by his reaction, it seemed he didn't remember well because it was so long ago.
"Maybe you'll find out if you ask the Empress. We discussed it together and made the decision."
"…I see."
A hollow smile flitted across Darian's lips. The vague suspicion had turned into certainty.
The image of young Peony suffering from seizures flashed vividly in his mind.
She looked so pitiful that he would gladly bear her pain if he could.
But the source of that pain was none other than his own mother.
'How could you do that, Mother? Didn't you feel sorry for that little child?'
Even though he had expected it, he felt breathless when he confirmed the truth.
There was no reason to hesitate or waver any longer, so Darian decided to tell the truth straight away.
"Perhaps… that maid was an accomplice of the Mage who attacked Peony."
"…What?"
The Emperor jumped up from his seat.
"Is that true?"
Darian felt as if the Emperor's gaze would pierce through his face and nodded.
"Peony started to get very sick at some point. The doctor said it was because her illness had worsened, but I think the caregiver was the problem."
At those words, the Emperor's face turned pale. Soon, his eyes shook violently.
"…Certainly, Peony's symptoms worsened after that maid was assigned to her."
"Yes, I think she has been poisoning Peony."
Darian added that it would be a good idea to check the prescription records from that time.
The Emperor, greatly shocked, staggered.
"How did you find out about that?"
"…I witnessed it by chance. About two months ago, I saw the maid Lona coming out of the Empress's chambers."
"…"
"She even took the time to come all the way even though she was on vacation at the time. After hearing that, I couldn't help but be suspicious."
The Emperor's face twisted horribly at those words. His voice trembled noticeably.
"Darian, do you know what you're saying?"
Darian avoided his gaze as if he was ashamed and nodded.
"…I hesitated for a long time. I thought I should tell you as soon as possible, but I didn't have the courage because it was about my mother."
"Good heavens…"
The Emperor staggered and slumped back into his chair.
"Are you saying that the Empress ordered Peony's assassination?"
"If not, why would she call a maid who was on vacation two months before the coming-of-age ceremony?"
Darian bit his lip and continued.
"The reason I'm telling you this is because I don't want my half-siblings to be hurt by my mother any longer."
The Emperor's expression changed from moment to moment at his son's shocking confession.
He seemed unable to believe that the Empress, who had managed the internal affairs flawlessly, had committed such an act behind the scenes.
Eventually, he opened his mouth with a hollow expression.
"Why on earth did the Empress do such a thing?"
The Emperor looked utterly unable to understand.
In time, the throne would naturally fall to Darian.
Unless there was a major flaw, primogeniture was the basic principle.
But why did the Empress resort to such extreme measures?
'She acted as if she cared so much for Peony in front of me… but behind my back, she was trying to take her life?'
He slowly inhaled and exhaled, trying to suppress the rising anger.
Darian watched the Emperor's reaction and quietly offered an apology.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. Even though I didn't know, it's also my fault that my mother committed such an act."
"…"
"I deeply regret my responsibility for this matter and intend to give up my right to inherit the throne. Of course, this may not excuse everything…"
Then the Emperor shook his head firmly.
"Don't be hasty, Darian."
"But, Your Majesty…"
"The Empress committed the crime, so why are you trying to give up the throne? Don't be foolish and stay still."
Even though he was furious, the Emperor maintained a calm demeanor.
Darian trembled with guilt as he confirmed that the Emperor's affection for him had not changed.
'If he knew the whole truth, Father's mind would change.'
The Emperor thought of him as his own son. That was why he was so kind to him.
He had no idea that his very existence was the greatest sin the Empress had committed.
"I will impose a just punishment on the Empress. Her crime is not your burden."
Darian shook his head urgently.
"But Your Majesty, as long as the right to inherit the throne remains, my mother will never stop."
"…You have wanted the throne for a long time, haven't you?"
As soon as he heard those words, Darian's throat went dry.
The dream he had cherished for so long now felt only shameful.
"No. I no longer have any ambition to become Emperor."
He lowered his head and continued calmly.
"After learning about my mother's crime, I thought about it for a long time. And I realized that serving the Empire is possible even without ascending to the throne."
He raised his eyes and looked straight at the Emperor.
"So please, from now on, let me live without being attached to the throne."
When Darian's sincere words were finished, the Emperor quietly closed his eyes.
After a long silence, a subdued voice flowed from his lips.
"…Even if you do that, it will be difficult for the Empress to avoid a severe punishment."
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