Chapter 103 Darkness
Within a few days, news of the devil spread throughout the empire.
Eyewitness accounts of a devil flying in the sky, testimonies of knights heading for reconnaissance towards Mangot.
And there are even rumors that many of those demons changed course and headed somewhere.
The Empire now knew of the demonic threat, and before they knew it, the war had stopped.
And the number one contributor to stopping this war.
Empress Fili was waiting for that top contributor.
“… … .”
Tap, tap.
With a very confused face.
Fili was awkwardly crossing his arms and tapping the floor with his forefoot.
The face that was always gentle was stiff and cold.
She opened her mouth just like that.
“Ednet.”
“… … Yeep. majesty.”
In front of him, Ednet was kneeling down on his own.
Ednet was called by Fili and as soon as he arrived, he knelt down on his own.
Fili said.
“You believed that Frondier was threatening Elysia, blackmailing her, or something along those lines.”
“… … Me, Your Highness. As I said before, we want to eliminate even the slightest anxiety for the safety of the imperial palace.”
“So what happens now?”
“… … .”
“I asked what the situation was now.”
“… … Former First Princess Elysia is coming here. “This is to lure the demons into the magic circle and receive the prize for ending the war before it breaks out.”
Fili sighed.
A report that came to Leah Reese not long ago, and news from the knights that came before her.
After combining the facts and investigating, we saw the corpses of countless demons at a point a little away from Mangot, and traces of a magic circle were also found in the center of them.
The person who drew the magic circle and the person who started it are all Elysia. It’s definitely true.
This is not just a praise for a job well done; it is a huge achievement.
Of course, this is also a happy thing for Philly. Philly was worried about Elysia, who was originally reduced to a commoner, and kept watching her.
If only Elysia could one day return to the imperial palace, she was not the only one who dreamed of such a dream. This is a dream that Philly has also been dreaming of.
However, Fili knows very well that this achievement is not just Elysia’s personal work.
‘… … ‘You’ve been drawing this picture since then, Frontier.’
When Frondier found Elysia and brought her back to the imperial palace.
Frondier showed Elysia through Fili’s eyes. So that Fili can clearly see that Elysia is by his side.
‘What Elysia did was definitely Rafflesia. A magic circle that attracts the monster if you have the ingredients. ‘You’re using it to attract lesser demons.’
Besides writing it, what happens after that is the problem.
Rafflesia literally just attracts. It’s not something like ‘fascination’. To put it bluntly, it’s like a mosquito moving around next to a person’s ear.
It is easy to understand that the irritation has been amplified dozens of times. It is true that humans are attracted to mosquitoes, but that does not mean mosquitoes are safe.
The same goes for Elysia. You wouldn’t have expected to be safe after luring countless demons.
Of course, he didn’t do it alone, and Frontier must have been by his side. Only Frontier can slaughter that ridiculous number on his own.
What made me certain of that was a line reported by a member of the investigation team.
──Various types of wounds can be seen on the body of the demon corpse. The demons died of different causes. Shock from blunt objects, cuts from blades, electric shock, etc. Judging from this, it appears that there were multiple responses.
‘It’s a frontier because it’s so different!’
There is no way Elysia could have prepared the military power to deal with the demon army. If each dead body was hit by a different weapon, that is clear evidence that it was a frontier.
‘It’s just a guess, but it seems that even drawing the magic circle and starting it wasn’t Elysia’s will.’
Frontier treated Elysia like a servant. Accordingly, Philly also treated Elysia like a stranger. I thought that I should not carelessly give affection to Elysia, who is under sin for being a commoner.
So, even on the other side of the wall, Frondier would have treated Elysia as if she were a servant, and this would be the result.
‘It is my daughter Elysia who is coming, and she feels the shadow of Frondier.’
Fili sighs again.
She spoke to Ednet with low eyes.
“That’s enough. “Please go back.”
“… … “Your Majesty, our maid will always serve you and the imperial palace.”
“Okay, so just disappear from my sight.”
In response, Ednet stood up with her knees up, but still bowed her back and head and often took a step back.
Fili, who was looking at it quietly, said.
“Oh, and one more thing.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Next time, if you do something like hiding and watching while greeting my guests,”
Ednet’s shoulders shook. I was so shocked that I held my breath.
This is when Frontier came. Ednet was caught in hiding by Frondier and put Fili in trouble.
Ednet could feel Fili’s stern eyes even if he couldn’t see them.
Fili continued.
“I will make sure that only you live.”
“… … yes. “I will keep that in mind.”
Ednet clearly understood what Fili meant. He retreated with cautious steps.
“… … Phew. “This time, I won’t hide and eavesdrop again.”
Warning Ednet was of course punishment for a past mistake, but it was also to avoid the risk of being eavesdropped in the future.
In that respect, it was fortunate that Frondier caught it first. No, it’s not fortunate at all, but thanks to this, we can prevent information that Fili might accidentally reveal from reaching the shadow’s ears.
But again, this method is just a stopgap measure. Fili was slowly feeling it. The dark side is trying to cross the line.
In fact, the current dark area is disorganized and cluttered in many ways. It is only natural that all the leaders who were firmly in their positions at the top have died.
However, although the leaders at the time were more vicious and sophisticated, they knew how to maintain good. He knew better than anyone else what would happen if he underestimated Empress Fili.
Fili has a lot of patience, but the moment that patience breaks down, the punishment that will be inflicted is terrible. Knowing that, Ambu protects the good, and as long as he protects the good, he leaves Pili alone.
But today’s dark side is completely the opposite.
I’m trying to subtly cross the line, but it’s not like I’m doing anything really evil. This is what irritates Philly.
smart.
As Fili was lost in thought about Ambu’s treatment, there was a calm knock on the door.
“Your Highness, Elysia Terst has arrived.”
“… … yes. “Please come inside.”
From the subject’s voice, Fili felt that something was coming.
It was decided that Elysia’s return to the imperial palace would take place very quietly.
Although Elysia’s achievements were great, she had already committed serious sins before that.
In Fili’s opinion, the balance between the two seems somewhat right, but the citizens of the empire will be confused. Fili hoped that Elysia’s return would go smoothly.
Squeak.
The door opens carefully, and Elysia’s white hair and eyes are seen first.
“… … My name is Elysia. majesty.”
“… … .”
When Fili didn’t say anything, Elysia hesitantly entered and bowed awkwardly rather than standing or saying hello. It was vaguely polite.
“My name is Elysia. “I have just arrived upon your Majesty’s orders.”
Elysia’s lips thinned as she realized once again that this was the only thing she could say to introduce herself.
Also, I couldn’t even look at Fili properly for fear of seeing his frosty eyes.
“Why don’t you know that?”
Then Fili spoke.
With warm eyes and a kindness that seems to bring back memories of Elysia’s long past.
“My daughter, Elysia.”
After hearing those words, Elysia’s expression became blank, then she pursed her lips, then glanced, then looked at Fili again, and then the corners of her eyes became distorted.
“… … mom!”
He ran towards Fili and was thrown into his arms.
“Mom, huh, huh, huh… … .”
Fili accepts Elysia without saying a word and carefully uses the magic ‘Whispering Wind’.
Elysia didn’t know it, but at truly amazing timing,
“uuu!!”
The imperial palace cried for it to go away.
While stroking Elysia’s head, Fili sighed for the first time today.
Still, this sigh was calm and low enough to spit out even Fili’s dizzy mind.
* * *
After the crying stopped, the first thing Elysia let out was, as expected, complaining.
“You had no reason to treat your daughter like that.”
Of course, he was still in Fili’s arms.
“You were Frondier’s servant back then.”
Elysia was still shocked by the look Fili gave her.
Of course, Fili knew that feeling well, but if he didn’t do that, Fili would also have been shaken.
For Philly, her three daughters come first. Elysia thinks she is loved less than Aten, but that is not the case.
“… … Well, actually, I felt like she was very motherly.”
“It hurts you to say that, Elysia.”
“I would have done the same if I were in my mother’s shoes.”
Philly feels as he listens to Elysia’s words. As expected, Elysia is closest in her coolness. The most necessary mindset to be on top of someone.
“… … Now that I think about it, I’m a little worried.”
“what?”
“Your father needs a successor.”
“… … “Mom, you’re probably the only one who speaks like that about the next emperor.”
But it’s true, Fili said and laughed.
“After you left, the next emperor candidate was decided to be your younger brother Saleh, but if it is known that you have returned, the imperial palace will be very confused.”
It’s not just the imperial palace. The same goes for imperial citizens.
Even when Elysia first committed crimes, there was a lot of talk among citizens. They questioned the truth of what had happened, judged right and wrong, and made a fuss about whether the punishment given to Elysia was appropriate.
In other words, their hearts did not match that much.
And now there is a risk that the conflict of opinion will escalate into a huge escalation. At the very least, there will be many problems with the consistency of Elysia becoming emperor.
‘… … Elysia wanted to become emperor.’
Now Philly knows that feeling all too well. I committed a serious crime for that.
But there Elisia spoke.
“… … “Mom, about that.”
“huh?”
“I will not become emperor.”
Fili tilted his head at those words.
“You wanted to become emperor, right? Elysia. “Isn’t that why you achieved such accomplishments and returned to the imperial palace?”
“… … I wanted to become a princess again. I missed my mom and dad, and I missed my younger siblings. But I don’t want to be emperor anymore. “It’s too heavy for me.”
heavy.
Of course that’s true. Even so, my second daughter, Saleh, is increasingly worried about the weight every day.
But that’s why, assuming the distant future, Fili thought, wouldn’t it be better for Elysia, who was prepared to bear that weight, to become emperor?
“… … “What are you thinking?”
“… … !”
Elysia’s body trembles. She pulls herself up from Fili’s arms.
Elysia looked at Fili with serious eyes and said.
“The emperor wants to give up. I don’t want the empire to fall into disarray because of me again. “In return, I have a favor to ask.”
“I’ll listen to it first.”
Fili wanted to follow Elysia’s serious gaze, but there was something suspicious about Elysia’s words and actions. In particular, it was uncharacteristic of Elysia to give up the position of emperor because it was ‘heavy’.
Elysia said.
“… … “Ambu.”
“… … !”
“From now on, please let me take charge of the dark side.”
After hearing that.
“… … Uh, what?”
Fili made an expression he would never see in his life.
It was so surprising, so absurd, and so sudden that the expression on my face was strangely distorted.
I was shocked to see Elysia talking about how devastated her face had become.
“Oh, no, what is it? Ambu’s situation is bad these days, right? “Because all the people who could be leaders are dead, and we need someone who can take center stage and move forward.”
okay. That’s right.
Philly was already worried about that until just now.
Elysia knows the inner workings of the imperial palace well, knows how to divide public and private matters as thoroughly as Fili, and is not dangerously pure like Aten. When it comes to being a talent worthy of the dark side, you can’t say no.
However.
“Where did you hear that? Ambu’s situation is not good these days.”
“… … oh.”
Elysia lived as a commoner. Of course, there was no way she could hear about the situation in the shadow room.
“Besides, giving up the position of emperor that you so desperately want is because the reason is too heavy. “It’s an easy reason to understand, but this mother who knows you well can’t understand it?”
“… … Oh, that’s it, right?”
Fili’s eyes sink. Red eyes blink twice.
“… … Frontier, right?”
“oh! No, no, Mom! “That’s not it!”
“Are you lying to me and no one else and hoping not to get caught?”
“no! No, it’s not like that! “That’s not it, Mom!”
“It’s not that it’s not, but that’s not it. “Is that what the princess would say?”
Elysia hesitated, then sighed. His face looked like he was getting caught, after all.
“… … “The first one to suggest it was Frontier.”
“Then it’s not something that’s not true.”
“But in the end, I was the one who accepted it.”
“… … “That’s not it.”
From Noble mtl dot com
Fili finally understood his daughter’s words and nodded. Although my eyes were cold.
Elysia said while looking at Fili.
“I’ll take charge of the dark room. “The current Ambu needs someone who can properly focus and make decisions.”
“… … The darkness is the darkness of the imperial palace. They have done countless things with the sole motive of serving the empire. There are also unspeakable cruelties committed against the citizens of the empire. “Some people have noble hearts, but in the end, they are all sinners.”
“So, I have to do it.”
“… … “Elysia.”
Elysia’s eyes were different from anything Fili had ever seen.
It was different from the eyes I had when I was young and the eyes I had when I committed a crime.
Those eyes.
‘… … Bartello.’
From Elysia’s eyes, Fili felt him.
“I am the smartest of my mother’s daughters. “Even though it was the worst.”
Elysia laughed mischievously, and then the laughter became determined.
“I will become the darkness of the imperial palace.”
Fili Terst is called infinitely gray.
Her youngest daughter, Aten the White.
and.
“Because it’s been like that from the beginning.”