Chapter 5: The Royal Magus, Demian D. Velarent
Emilia's plan was to strike directly at the weak point of Empress Sophia. The fact that Sophia had carried on an affair with the Emperor while Emilia's mother was still alive would drag the Empress's image and reputation into ruin.
First, she needed to craft the image of a pitiful princess—one who had been wronged by the Emperor's mistress, cast out of the royal castle, and left to struggle and survive alone in hardship.
Then, she would use her formidable magical talent to dazzle the knights and the royal mage corps, proving that she was a genius sorceress, in no way inferior to Crown Prince Caesar.
Because she had been exiled from the palace for so many years, Emilia could not immediately secure important connections or draw the support of high-ranking nobles. For now, the knights and royal magi would be her most vital audience—those whose impression she must win.
Placing a hand upon her chest, her eyes brimming with unwavering confidence as they fixed on the Emperor and Empress, Emilia declared with resolute clarity:
"Though I do not wield Light magic like Caesar and Milim, I am confident my abilities are second to none!"
"Enough!"
Emperor Arthur had no desire to hear more.
The aura of a Level Eight Sword Saint burst forth from his body, blazing directly toward Emilia.
Yet Emilia was not the helpless girl he imagined. The shadows beneath her feet writhed into black tendrils of night, stretching outward and dispersing the Emperor's radiant aura.
"I am no longer the useless child I once was, Your Majesty!"
The surrounding nobles murmured louder and louder, while Empress Sophia felt as though every whispered word was aimed at her. All she desired was for this banquet to end swiftly.
"Very well. Was it not your wish to return to the palace?"
A voice rang out. From the air itself, a brilliant light flared and slowly faded, revealing a middle-aged man standing behind them.
"Greetings, Princess Emilia."
The man smiled warmly at her.
He bore the golden hair and eyes that marked the royal bloodline of Velarent. Yet his aura rivaled even that of Emperor Arthur; he too was undoubtedly one of the mightiest of the royal family.
"Perhaps you do not remember me, but I am Demian D. Velarent, the Emperor's younger brother—your uncle."
Demian D. Velarent. He was the kingdom's strongest Level Eight Light Magus and the master of the Mage Tower—the one who governed all magi of Velarent.
In Emilia's memory, his presence was faint. He had always been a busy man, rarely appearing within the royal castle.
"According to the laws of this realm, any child born of royal blood holds the right of succession, whether or not they possess Light magic."
Demian's proclamation stunned the nobles.
The birth of Princess Emilia could not be denied; it turned out that the Emperor's banishment of her from the palace had been a grievous mistake.
Emilia's eyes lit with triumph—her identity had been acknowledged by Demian himself. Now, even the Emperor could not bar her from returning to the royal family.
"Emilia," Demian declared, "you possess the strength of a genius sorceress. I recognize your ability as worthy to contend for the throne."
His words paid no heed to the Emperor's darkened expression or to the Empress's incredulous stare.
"Gather your belongings and return to the royal palace. The Mage Tower shall choose an auspicious day to host a debut ceremony for Princess Emilia."
With deep reverence, Emilia bowed.
"Emilia obeys."
Crack!
The wineglass in Caesar's hand shattered.
He glared at Emilia's retreating figure, his eyes blazing with astonishment and fury.
A princess appearing from nowhere, suddenly declaring herself his rival for succession?
"Caesar," Duke Lukas chuckled at his cousin's misery, "there is nothing I can do for you in this matter."
Though his own name was among the candidates for succession, Lukas had never been interested in becoming emperor. Thus, the addition of another rival meant little to him.
"But… a Level Five Dark Magus? That is exceedingly rare." Lukas mused silently.
Of all elemental arts, Light and Darkness were the rarest. The royal house of Velarent was famed for birthing children blessed with Light affinity. Yet in the long history of the line, Emilia was the first ever to manifest Darkness.
"I have heard the royal family has methods of testing their bloodline. Which means Emilia cannot be the product of some illicit affair."
Nor did Lukas believe she was an ordinary sorceress. The way she had wielded darkness to dispel the Emperor's aura was strange—more a technique than common magic.
"What are you thinking? Don't tell me you plan to support this suddenly-arrived little sister of mine?" Caesar eyed Lukas suspiciously.
Given Lukas's troublemaking nature, it was not entirely unlikely.
The duke only shrugged.
"Do you think I have nothing better to do? Still, I cannot deny it—Level Five at the age of eighteen… in that alone, she is formidable."
His gaze shifted down toward the grand hall of the banquet, where the most telling changes were already unfolding.
Nobles were always quick to sense the tremors of political circles. The reappearance of a princess would surely split the loyalties of Velarent's aristocracy.
Caesar was indeed competent, yet there were many who harbored resentment toward him—particularly those families once allied with Empress Liliane.
Liliane had been a woman both formidable and fearsome. In her lifetime, she had raised numerous houses, helping them rise into great families. Astonishingly, those clans still remembered her kindness, and few among them had repaid it with treachery.
Sophia could not compare. She was but a minor noblewoman, fortunate enough to have gained the Emperor's love.
"Moreover," Lukas said, pointing toward Demian D. Velarent, "the one you ought to fear is not me, but your uncle."
"The Mage Tower will naturally prefer a sorceress-empress to a Sword-Saint emperor. Since his ascension, His Majesty has consistently cut the Tower's resources. Lord Demian's dissatisfaction has long been known."
Caesar had already worried over this, but none of his attempts to dissuade the Emperor had swayed his father's resolve.
Magi were ever cunning, and the Emperor's mistrust of the Mage Tower had earned their quiet discontent.
Demian's sudden appearance was no coincidence. It was a warning from the Tower itself—and an open show of support for a monarch of magical lineage, which would elevate their standing considerably.
"My brother," Emperor Arthur sighed, "if you allow her return, you will divide the kingdom."
"The struggle for succession is meant to be fair," Demian replied. "Treating a genius sorceress in this way will only rouse the anger of the Mage Tower."
His words brought color to Arthur's cheeks. Clearly, Demian spoke not only of Emilia, but of the Emperor's general attitude toward the Tower.
"And moreover, Liliane's daughter does not deserve such cruelty."
Turning his back, Demian strode away.
"You did not love Liliane, and thus you never loved her child."
Arthur stood in silence, unable to refute him. He could only watch as his younger brother departed.
From the day Liliane died, a rift had opened between the brothers—one that would never be healed.