Upon hearing Launelian’s words, Aristine quickly asked, “What is the issue?”
“My sister, you are the possessor of an incredible authority. Not only that, but you have also achieved enlightenment.”
“…?”
Aristine frowned, wondering why he was suddenly mentioning that.
But Tarkan nodded as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
“That’s right.”
“And Your Majesty Tarkan, although I don’t particularly want to admit it, you are the emperor’s knight chosen by God himself.”
It was a story from long ago.
A story that Aristine had learned after enlightenment, having glimpsed into the distant past.
“My wife and I are fated, after all.”
Once again, Tarkan took his words like they were the most natural thing in the world and kissed his wife on the forehead.
Launelian’s eye twitched slightly, but he continued his explanation without comment.
“To awaken the divine blessing in the emperor’s blood, the knight’s power is necessary. Not the Chrysea flower.”
“Ah,” Aristine nodded, now understanding.
The Chrysea flower had only been a stopgap measure.
Many moons ago, before the knight left the Emperor’s side, he imbued his power into a humble wildflower in the palace.
He did so in the hope that if anything happened, this power would awaken the divine blessing lying within the Emperor’s blood.
Of course, it had its limits.
It was thanks to her connection to Tarkan that Aristine had been able to achieve enlightenment with her power. The two of them had been connected through the mirrored surface since they were young.
“Other imperial descendants only received power through the Chrysea flower while in the womb. On the other hand, Sion…”
“Exactly. At first, we used the Chrysea flower to stabilize him but after that, he received power directly from Tarkan, who carries the bloodline of the knight.”
Launelian replied, giving Tarkan a slightly dissatisfied look.
“Since this guy can awaken the divine blessing in our blood…”
“The divine blessing in Sion was naturally awakened too,” Aristine concluded.
“Not only that, but Sion has inherited Tarkan’s blood.”
A blood filled with divine blessing. And the blood capable of awakening that blessing. Actsion was a child who had inherited both.
Aristine’s eyes trembled.
“That means—.”
“That even without being pushed to the brink of death, he can awaken his power.”
“…!”
A deep sense of relief washed over Aristine.
Aristine had only been able to awaken her Monarch’s Sight after enduring all sorts of terrifying experiences in her childhood.
“Rineh, I know you purposely avoid really using your Monarch’s Sight in its enlightened state.”
“…”
“That’s because you’re worried about future generations, isn’t it?”
It was exactly as Launelian said.
Aristine rarely used her Monarch’s Sight in its fully enlightened state unless absolutely necessary.
Perhaps she feared that one day, her child, or her children’s children, might not be able to awaken the Monarch’s Sight.
She had already had this talk with Tarkan a long time ago.
《If we rely on the Monarch’s Sight to rule, there will be a huge problem when that power is gone.》
《That’s true.》
《If the Monarch’s Sight disappears for several generations, we could end up with someone like the deposed king.》
Someone who tries to ‘create’ the Monarch’s Sight. Someone who would go to extreme lengths, pushing others to the limit and near death, several times just to force an awakening.
《In other words, you don’t want to use the Monarch’s Sight unless you have to, correct?》
《…Mn. Using the Monarch’s Sight would definitely stabilize the empire more quickly and easily. But…》
《Let’s not use it then.》
《Is that really okay? Using the Monarch’s Sight would make everything so much easier, and it would benefit the people too—》
《We’re not that incompetent that we need to rely on the Monarch’s Sight.》
《…》
《I am not, and neither is my wife.》
‘Khan was so sexy when he said that that I just had to pounce on him.’
Aristine tried to stop herself from recalling what happened after that conversation.
“There’s no need to do that anymore. You can do everything that you are capable of doing.”
“Elder brother.”
“You can use your blessing freely and use the ability you have been given to your heart’s content.”
“…”
“Your descendants will not suffer the same pain that we have.”
Both strengthening your ability and awakening your ability required overcoming near-death experiences.
But when a power could only be gained by crossing the border of life and death, then it wasn’t a blessing; it was more like a curse.
Now, that would not happen anymore.
“As much as I hate to admit it, it is thanks to His Majesty Tarkan.” Launelian said.
Aristine chuckled.
“Well, my choice of a marriage partner was killer.”
“…You could have spent more time with big brother before marrying though.”
Launelian grumbled.
However, unlike before, he didn’t say he didn’t acknowledge Tarkan.
“In any case, you can relax.”
Launelian patted Aristine’s head and continued.
“The greatest hardship Sion has ever faced is being separated from his beloved mother and father for the past few weeks.”
* * *
“Did you hear the news?”
“You bet I did! There’s not a single person who’s not talking about it!”
It was a Friday evening at the pub.
People were pouring drinks and chatting excitedly and nodded their heads together.
“Her Majesty Aristine is pregnant with the second imperial child!”
“Our Prince Sion has awakened divine power?”
They each said something different at the same time and paused to stare at each other in silence.
Then, after a brief pause…
“What?! The second imperial child is on the way?”
“Prince Sion has awakened divine power?!”
The two people stared at each other in shock.
“Talk! Talk! What do you mean, pregnant? When’s the baby due? Oh, how I wish they were born already!”
“You talk first! What did you say happened to Prince Sion?”
“Is it going to be a princess or a prince? Do they know yet?”
“Well, our Prince Actsion has been special since birth!”
“I’m hoping for a princess, but I’d be happy with a prince too. Honestly, either one will be perfect!”
“After all, our Prince Sion is the son of Her Majesty Aristine, the rightful heir to the throne, blessed by the gods, and His Majesty Tarkan, inheritor of divine power!”
The conversation came to an end because they were on different wavelengths, only talking about what they were most curious about.
But it didn’t matter.
The faces of the people were flushed with joy. Each piece of news would have been a cause for celebration on its own, but two such events happening at once?
“Long live Her Majesty Aristine!”
“Long live His Majesty Tarkan!”
“Long live His Highness Actsion!”
The people, bursting with excitement, raised their glasses and cheered, calling out the names of the emperor and prince.
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