Calian and Wolvin, who were hearing the name of the blessing for the first time, immediately fell silent. The two teenagers' eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"The [Harmony] blessing?" Calian asked, breaking the silence, his tone full of wonder and curiosity. He looked at his uncle, who was smiling faintly, and then turned his gaze to his mother. "What kind of blessing is that, Mother?"
"The possessor of the [Harmony] blessing is someone endowed with the absolute ability to attune themselves to any form of attack directed at them." Elara answered, beginning to explain the secret of the emperor's power. "In other words, the stronger the lethal magic launched by an enemy at Rodaz, his body can instantly and automatically create a protective magic with the exact same element and capacity of power."
Calian's eyes widened slightly, trying to digest his mother's explanation. "So, the attack will always be neutralized perfectly?"
Elara nodded, confirming her son's assessment. "Its ability is not even limited to magic. Even if he is on the battlefield crossing swords with the strongest knight," Elara continued, her voice filled with admiration, "he can easily read and follow his opponent's movements, speed, and physical strength as if the opponent were fighting their own reflection."
Calian and Wolvin swallowed hard simultaneously. The two teenagers truly never expected that their uncle possessed such a terrifying defensive blessing that was nearly impenetrable by conventional physical or magical attacks.
However, amidst the praise, Emperor Rodaz merely chuckled softly and shook his head.
"It does sound impressive." Rodaz chimed in with a humble tone, shifting his gaze to Calian with a wry smile. "But, no matter how strong my defense is, I still would not be able to make a single move if I had to face your [Time Loop] blessing, Calian. Time is not something that can be attuned to or parried with a sword."
Calian remained silent, neither denying nor confirming his uncle's words. He knew very well how absolute the law of time he controlled was.
Seeing the atmosphere begin to settle after the execution earlier, Elara adjusted her gown.
"Rodaz..." Elara called out suddenly.
"What is it, Sister?"
"It is getting late. I want to escort my son and son-in-law to their room to rest." Elara replied while turning around and stepping closer to Calian. "I will leave the rest of the matters in this throne room to you. As soon as we step out of this throne room, the effect of my magic will break, and all the soldiers sleeping on the floor will immediately wake up."
Rodaz nodded in understanding. "I will handle them. You all go rest."
After taking only a few steps, Elara stopped and turned sharply toward her brother. "But remember this one thing, Rodaz!" Elara stated firmly, her eyes delivering a lethal warning. "Never mention or even hint at the [Time Loop] blessing that Calian possesses to anyone in this palace."
"Do you think I am a foolish emperor?" Rodaz retorted, grumbling slightly, feeling his pride pricked. "I will certainly never say a word about it. Besides, I absolutely do not want my nephew, who has just returned here, to experience anything unpleasant and become the target of numerous political factions or other countries just because of his power."
Elara nodded in relief upon hearing her brother's assurance. She then wrapped her arms around Calian's and Wolvin's shoulders, leading her two sons out of the throne room, leaving Rodaz alone amidst the soundly sleeping soldiers.
And sure enough, just a few seconds after the three of them left the room where the Emperor stood, the silence in the throne room slowly broke.
One by one, the dozens of elite soldiers lying on the floor began to groan softly. They opened their eyes with difficulty, holding their heads which felt slightly heavy, and then quickly realized their positions.
All the soldiers were instantly struck by extraordinary panic and confusion. They immediately stood up awkwardly, adjusting their uniforms and weapons, wondering what kind of magic had just swept away their consciousness en masse.
"Your Majesty!" cried one of the troop commanders as he knelt on one knee before Rodaz. His face was deathly pale. "Forgive our negligence! What just happened to us? Why did we all suddenly fall fast asleep while on duty guarding you here?"
"That was my sister's doing!" Emperor Rodaz answered in a casual yet authoritative tone. "She used high-level sleep magic because she did not want you guards listening to our family's secret conversation that took place in this room."
Hearing that explanation, the soldiers breathed a slight sigh of relief because the emperor did not punish them for dereliction of duty. However, the commander's sharp eyes quickly noticed something was missing in the room.
"Then... begging your pardon in advance, Your Majesty. What about the fate of the Imperial Advisor who was accused of being a spy by Her Highness earlier?" the commander asked carefully again, seeing no sign of the blue-haired man anywhere.
"My sister has already executed and eradicated that man." Emperor Rodaz replied with a flat face, hiding the wound in his heart behind the mask of a ruler. "Even his corpse has been sent directly to a location in the Yornvast Empire as a stern warning from us. So, everything is settled. There is nothing else to worry about. Please return to your posts and carry out your guard duties as usual!"
"Understood, Your Majesty!" all the soldiers answered in unison and full of spirit, their respect for the emperor and the first princess growing even more that night.
A few hours later, when the belated dinner banquet was finally held, the atmosphere in the imperial palace's dining room felt very different. The presence of Elara, Calian, and Wolvin brought an unusual warmth. Previously, the long dining table had always been occupied only by Rodaz and Harold.
Even though the Emperor had just lost Harold in a very tragic way, the middle-aged man acted very professionally. Behind his faint smile, he was slowly beginning to accept the departure of the man who had betrayed him, yet whom he loved very much.
"Uncle?" Calian called out suddenly amidst the clinking of forks and silver plates, breaking the Emperor's reverie as he stared blankly at his wine glass. "Do you still harbor anger in your heart because of my mother's actions in killing your spouse?"
"I have absolutely no feelings of anger or resentment toward your mother, Calian." Rodaz replied casually, etching a sincere smile for his nephew. "What I feel tonight is quite the opposite. I feel very relieved to finally know who Harold truly was and what his rotten intentions were. If your mother had never returned and exposed him tonight, who knows what kind of destruction would have happened to this empire from within later on. I dare not even imagine it."
The honest and magnanimous answer that came from his uncle's mouth successfully made Calian feel relieved. The burden of guilt that had been bothering him for acting as the executioner slowly faded.
Calian then turned his head, looking at Wolvin's face sitting next to him, who was eating nothing and only drinking a cup of warm tea.
"Wolvin," Calian called softly, "tomorrow morning, we agreed to go around sightseeing the capital and look for a job. Do you really want to come with me?"
"Of course, Darling!" Wolvin answered quickly without the slightest hesitation after swallowing his tea. A bright smile graced his face. "I already told you, I will always follow you and be by your side wherever you go. Hehehe."
Even though Calian knew very well and never doubted how loyal and dependent Wolvin was on him, hearing those words still warmed his heart. He felt happy seeing his spouse's enthusiasm.
However, Calian was still Calian. The purple-haired teenager still found it difficult to express his feelings openly. He only responded with a gentle pat on the top of Wolvin's head, which was immediately met with a satisfied smile from the Night Wolf.