Chapter 48: The Beginning of The Change
After responding to Abel, I looked ahead.
Sigren’s father, the Emperor, sat on a throne elevated above the hall. Apart from his blue eyes, he didn’t bear much resemblance to Sigren. He looked more like an ordinary man than a dignified ruler. But Abel’s remark about his love for showmanship seemed accurate. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com. At this moment, he was dressed in clothes embroidered with gold thread and adorned with numerous jewels. The phrase “clothes make the man” was perfectly exemplified by him. He must have dressed this way to assert his authority as the emperor.
To be honest, the current emperor was just an extra, even among the background characters, with no real role to play. I barely had anything set up for him in the novel; right now, I didn’t know much about him, except that he would die soon. Well, he was only created to further Sigren’s development into becoming the emperor later.
In conclusion, he was a character that neither Sigren nor I needed to worry about. Even after considering some details I remembered, he posed no threat.
I watched as Sigren walked slowly toward where the emperor was seated. The crowd gradually parted, though they didn’t take their eyes off him. He stepped onto the red carpet that led to the throne and stood tall.
The emperor rose slowly from his throne, a satisfied expression on his face.
“I believe everyone here has heard the good news.”
The crowd was so quiet that I couldn’t even hear a single breath.
“This Emperor’s glorious bloodline has made a great contribution in the north.”
Wow… Even from afar, I could see Sigren holding back a smirk. Having grown up with him and been his friend since childhood, it was easy for me to notice even the slightest change in his expression. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
Abel also smirked beside me. “What a joke. He’s been ignored all this time, and now he’s suddenly part of the glorious bloodline?”
I couldn’t agree more.
The emperor slowly descended from the throne and placed his hand on Sigren’s shoulder, his face radiating benevolence.
“This Emperor’s proud son, Sigren. Show everyone what you’ve accomplished here.”
“I will, Your Majesty,” Sigren replied.
It must have been his subtle way of resisting, refusing to call the emperor “father.”
Sigren signaled to the servant next to him with a glance. The servant, as if anticipating the cue, walked forward politely, holding something wrapped in luxurious cloth. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
After a brief pause, Sigren bowed his head and spoke in a straightforward manner. “I dedicate this to Your Majesty, the master of the Empire.”
The servant then unwrapped the cloth.
A moment later, Sigren’s steady voice echoed through the hall. “This is the heart of the dragon I killed.”
A murmur of astonishment rippled through the crowd.
The dragon’s heart was not what people might have imagined. It didn’t resemble a human heart but looked more like a large mineral. It was black, like obsidian, but with an eerie, captivating glow that drew people’s eyes.
The emperor’s face lit up with pleasure as he gazed at the heart. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Oh, the heart of a dragon… No matter how strong a monster is, before the great bloodline of this Empire, they are nothing.”
He then addressed the hall.
“You’ve all seen it. The greatness of the Empire and the imperial family!”
From the beginning, the Emperor had been exceptionally keen on emphasizing that Sigren was part of his bloodline. He clearly intended to make it known that all of Sigren’s achievements were due to him being a member of the ‘imperial family.’ As Abel had mentioned, the emperor loved to show off, so naturally, he attributed the ‘glory’ to his bloodline.
The emperor then spoke solemnly. “So, I wish to restore my son, who has made a historic contribution, to his rightful position.”
A murmur spread through the crowd as they grasped the meaning of his words.
“Today, in this place, I will officially make Sigren a prince!”
As soon as the words were spoken, applause erupted.
I glanced around. These nobles were well-versed in the art of social etiquette. They appeared to offer heartfelt congratulations, but it was clear that they were simply conforming to the emperor’s wishes. They had no choice but to clap politely and force a smile. It was the same in any world—what the boss says goes. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
However, it seemed that some people couldn’t hide their displeasure, even in this kind of social setting. The royal family members, seated slightly away from the emperor’s throne, were visibly dissatisfied. The crown prince, in particular, wore the most displeased expression. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com. It was clear that the arrival of a new prince, who might threaten his position, was far from welcome. If this world followed the original plot, he would play the role of a minor villain who caused trouble for the main characters.
‘Sigren and Eunice will handle it,’ I thought, and clapped earnestly.
Sigren briefly turned his head and met my eyes. I mouthed to him, You’re awesome, and smiled.
For a moment, Sigren’s face flushed slightly before he turned his attention forward again. He was probably embarrassed. Ah, despite his tough appearance, my child was so naive.
While I smiled happily, Abel, standing beside me, murmured sarcastically, “You play along well….” Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
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