After Auron left, the room became silent.
The silence was heavy, almost oppressive, lingering in the air long after the door had closed. The faint sound of the old man's shallow breathing was the only thing breaking it.
A few moments later, Butler John knocked on the door.
Receiving no objection, he entered the room, bowed slightly, and lifted his gaze toward the Emperor.
This man was Arthur Zelus Ae Wasg'ood The Thirteenth.
The Emperor's once golden hair had completely turned white. What was once a robust body that embodied strength itself had dulled and deflated with time.
His shoulders had sunk, his frame thinner, fragile, as if the weight of the empire had slowly crushed him over the years.
Butler John had been serving the Emperor since he himself was an eighteen-year-old boy.
Back then, he had been nothing more than a commoner with some talent and sharp insight. The Emperor had taken a liking to him, recognizing his ability, and brought him into his service as an aide.
Over the years, Butler John had proven himself countless times, through loyalty, competence, and unwavering dedication.
Eventually, the Emperor had even granted him the title of Count, recognizing his achievements.
It was a kindness Butler John would never forget.
And now, he stood before the man he had served for over a century, his heart filled with worry.
His chest felt tight.
The Royal Family was on the verge of ruin. A mad Crown Prince. A sickly Emperor. The empire stood strong on the outside, yet rotted from within.
All hope had seemed lost.
But today…
Today felt different.
"Your Majesty, how... are you feeling?"
John said softly, carefully choosing his tone
The Emperor did not respond for a long while.
His ruby-like eyes stared outside the window for a long time, unfocused, as if drifting through memories of another time. Then, slowly, he turned his head toward John.
A wrinkled smile formed on his face.
"Relief."
Arthur said simply.
John froze.
His eyes widened, disbelief washing over his expression. Then, before he could stop himself, tears welled up and slipped down his cheeks.
John understood what Arthur implied instantly.
For the first time in years,
He felt hope.
=====
On his return to his quarters, Auron traveled by car. He didn't take one before was because he felt it wouldn't be sincere enough.
This world was vast, truly massive, with many continents and wildly diverse levels of technology. Some regions relied on magic and tradition, while others had advanced machinery woven together with mystical systems.
This was the Central Continent.
And this empire was known as the Wasg'ood Empire.
It was the strongest empire in the world,not just in territory, but in sheer power. Within its ranks were countless powerful individuals, warriors, mages, and elites that could crush entire nations.
Yet that alone wasn't what made the empire truly terrifying. It was their bloodline. A blessed bloodline, tied directly to the absolute ban of the demons.
That same bloodline was the reason Auron was cursed.
The reason his father and mother were dead.
Twelve years ago, when Auron was still five years old a child, his father and mother and he himself had been poisoned by the demon worshippers. The poison was deadly beyond reason.
His parents died just moments after ingesting it.
He survived.
Not because the poison was weak, but because his bloodline, his physique, and his Imperial trait fought back with everything they had.
It was agony.
The poison tore through his body like a starving beast, devouring him from the inside, while his traits desperately tried to suppress it. His body became a battlefield. Flesh, blood, energy, and soul clashed endlessly.
His grandfather had been away at the time, exploring the world alongside Butler John.
The moment news reached him, his family dead, the Crown Prince barely alive, he rushed back without hesitation.
Three days later, his grandfather found him.
Chained.
Withering in pain.
Constantly trembling, his body convulsing as the poison ravaged him.
With no cure available, no treasure in the imperial treasury able to suppress the poison, his grandfather had made an extreme decision.
He called in a Curse Mage.
And cursed his own grandson with the Curse of Numbness.
An unforgivable act, yet the only thing that made Auron's life liveable.
As those memories resurfaced, hatred surged within Auron's chest.
Cold. Sharp. Endless.
'I swear...'
He swore then and there that he would eradicate every single demon worshipper involved in his parents' deaths.
Every last one.
The car soon reached his estate.
A servant quickly moved to help him out.
Auron entered his room, and the maids began removing his imperial attire.
As they worked, Auron glanced at his reflection in the mirror.
He couldn't help but admire his own beauty.
Not out of narcissism, but because it was impossible not to notice.
Due to his Extreme Beauty trait, no matter how much people hated him, they couldn't help but acknowledge his appearance. Even now, despite trembling in fear, the maids were blushing faintly as they worked.
His golden hair faintly glowed under the room's illumination. His ruby eyes burned with determination and purpose. His skin was fair and flawless, without a single blemish.
The maids began helping him change into a new set of clothes, simple, comfortable ones.
Auron sat down on the bed, watching them fumble nervously. After a moment, he called out to one of them.
"Hey, you."
They all flinched.
The one he called hesitated, then slowly turned around and approached him.
"Y-Yes, your highness?"
She asked softly.
"There isn't any servant assigned as my personal attendant?"
Auron asked calmly. The maid swallowed.
"Please forgive me, your highness. Your personal attendant is still being… still not found yet, or does not meet the requirements. And since you killed your last one yesterday, it has become even harder to find someone suitable in such a sort period of time."
The maid fumbled through her words.
Auron paused. Then he remembered. The reason he had fainted yesterday. He had gotten too excited and beheaded a servant.
For what reason? He didn't remember. He had been too angry at the time. He nodded slowly.
'Guess I will spare these poor things the trouble of finding someone new. I have someone in mind anyway. '
"Keep it that way, No need to assign anyone."
The maid looked up in surprise, then quickly nodded.
"Yes, your highness. As you wish."
"Also, summon all the immediate family members of the servants I have killed. Inform Butler John to send escorts and bring them to the palace quickly."
The maid was clearly confused, but she didn't argue. She bowed and excused herself immediately.
The other maids finished their tasks and left as well. Left alone, Auron walked toward his balcony.
Tea and snacks had already been prepared.
For a moment, he wondered if the people of this world didn't understand hygiene, but then remembered that the plates were protected by their own protective fields, keeping the food fresh indefinitely.
It had been three days straight since he had properly moved his body.
Auron sat down, poured himself some tea, and took a slow sip.
He didn't call the maids back. He wanted to be alone. He needed time to think.
He mentally mapped the limited information he remembered from the novel. But that knowledge came from a single perspective. From the protagonist's view.
From their side, they were righteous. They were simply standing up to a tyrant.
That made the information unreliable. For now, Auron didn't dwell on it.
Until his grandfather approved his request, he was nothing more than a Crown Prince without power.
So he leaned back, sipped his tea, and quietly enjoyed the view of his garden.