Chapter 207: A Father’s Devastation

As easy as it may sound, all eyes were already locked to both Eli and Leon due to the recent events during the winter banquet. 

They have to think of a way to freely go into the Temple without catching the enemy's eyes. 

"Shall we coordinate with the Temple then? Maybe a teleportation portal from the barracks would be more convenient. Besides, you would be frequenting the place for the investigation anyways." Kayden, who was also with them sitting in the living room, calmly suggested. 

"I could ask that, but I am not really sure if the temple would be even open to the idea." Leon did not reject his friend's suggestion outright. 

But he knew that the Temple was a place secluded to the world, it would be a surprise if they would allow Leon to construct a portal connecting his barracks and the most restricted part of the Temple. 

Nevertheless, he had to give it a try. It would be much harder for him to move when the Vesalas were already alarmed about the sudden disappearance of Igor and Hasta. 

With this, he spent the rest of the day crafting the proposal for the entry to the Temple, while Kayden went back to the secret base to continue his research. 

Sure enough, the night after the trio's conversation, Neil sought Leon's presence to report the recent events in the Capital. 

"Master, there's movement in the Vesala estate!" There is excitement in Neil's tone. 

"The spies inside the estate were able to witness the Duke lashing out to five knights! We have already identified them as Igor and Hasta's brothers!" While saying this Neil handed out the report containing the information about the happenings inside the Vesala estate.

The report also included the sketches of the rest of the dark knights that may also have the ability to use curse magic. With this, they managed to completely list who were the members of the seven dark knights which Igor and Hasta refer to as brothers. 

Visam, a 'simple' knight under the Vesala Estate. Das and Orel, posed as the exclusive coachmen for the Duke and the Empress, respectively. 

What shocked Leon further was the identities of the last two knights. Because unlike the first four knights, the last two have a much higher profile than the former.

Callan was a guard turned royal knight who was hailed as the champion during the hunting tournament done every five years. 

That time, he fought to represent Elvis County - one of the closest vassal territories of the Astaze clan.

When he won the tournament, he used this chance to request to the Emperor a post to become an official knight of the Empire. He was now working as one of the royal knights under the Empress. 

The identity of the last knight was far more baffling. His name was Roman, and he posted neither as a royal knight, nor a servant under the Empress. 

He was, surprisingly, one of the royal aides handling the memorials of the Emperor himself! 

His origins were also traced as a talented scholar from an orphanage funded by the Astaze March. 

This information made Leon's brows furrow deeply.

He could now clearly see how cunning and how the Vesala's roots run deep. Arranging knights to infiltrate the Imperial Palace, going as far as to divert their traces to the Astazes. 

If not for them having known their connection to the Vesalas in advance, they would be misled to think that these knights were spies from the Astazes!

He glanced deeply at the report, he was not sure if he would tell this to his Father Emperor immediately or just keep him in the dark for a little while. The Vesala's forces were closer to them as they had already anticipated. 

"Master, they were also on the move now. The spies also managed to learn that aside from the seven knights, the Vesalas were also running a private information guild. We still do not know how extensive their networks were." Neil continued to report. 

Niel looked at Leon with a grave expression as he said the last portion of his report. "There's also the earlier meeting with the noble men, it seems that they would be starting the move to pressure His Majesty to choose who among you would be the crown prince."

"Alright, I understand. Good work!" Leon dismissed Niel and immediately proceeded to the palace after briefly informing Eli. 

In the end, he still decided to explain this information to his Father carefully. He knew that his father would know how to manage everything without alerting the shadows. 

Besides, according to the report, Callan and Roman were immediately pulled out by the Duke to frantically search for Hasta and Igor. This may be an opportunity to discreetly assess how much of their backs were unknowingly exposed to the enemies. 

In the palace, the Emperor was startled by the sudden summon of his son. He was about to retire for the night when he immediately received Leon's call. 

Groggily dragging his tired body, the Emperor immediately went to the secret chamber to see his son wordlessly sitting on the gazebo with the same cold, expressionless look. 

"Son.." Emperor Valentin called out. "What makes you go here at this hour?" 

"Father," Leon greeted with an apologetic tone, his crystal blue eyes not missing his Father's exhausted complexion.

Immediately, he felt guilty for disturbing his father, and even bringing some grave news to him at this hour. 

"Apologies Father, but I just have to report to you immediately the movements from the enemy's side." Guilty as he is, Leon immediately explained the matter concisely to this father. 

The Emperor's aged face immediately went darker and darker as he listened to Leon's report. 

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"These hateful people! What did our Imperial family do for them to make chaos in this Empire painstakingly established by our forefathers!" Emperor Valentin hit the table angrily as his voice roared full of resentment. 

"Did I ask Carolina to offend my cousin? 

Did I cause such a sinister plot that almost ruined my cousin and sparked a war between the two nations?

Did I even convince their father to take the punishment in his daughter's stead?!

Have I done something that would make Carolina feel betrayed when I finally found the love of my life?

For heaven's sake!!! I didn't even get close to any woman prior to meeting your mother!

Just because of this suffocating 'love' and 'jealousy' that I never wanted nor needed! How much damage and hurt had it caused to me and my Imperial family?!

How much disharmony, how much mockery, how much grievance will they cause to my innocent family for them to finally stop?

They want the throne? They want Kazimir to get the throne? Hahahaha!"

Emperor Valentin's eyes reddened as he let out a laugh that broke Leon's heart. It has been a long time since Leon witnessed his Father show such heavy emotions. 

"Do they have to push me so much as to make me have a biased opinion against my precious son?" Emperor Valentin's voice cracked as he continued to lament.

His heartbreak could be felt with every word, "Kazimir is my son too.. Do they have to push me to cruelly abhor my son?"

"Have I not worked enough to atone for the sins of my youth? 

Have I not become as tolerant as I could just to make this messy family work?

Tell me, Leon. Have I been wishfully thinking all along?" This time, Emperor Valentin, as if struck by an epiphany, finally broke down and cried.

His last sentence slapped him in the face so hard that the pain shot through every veins in his olden body.

Yes, how could he think that way for more than thirty years. Leading the Empire for so long, and he has only realized now that he was still as naive as he was during his youth?!

How could he hope that his family would be peaceful when he has done nothing to eradicate the cause of it all?

What did he do when Carolina schemed against his love? Even the innocent Lucia was brutally dragged along in this royal mess.

Blind! Naive! Helpless! Weak!

The reason why things had been like this all along was because he was not courageous enough to face all of this.

He was caught up by the idea of atoning himself through tolerating the disharmony within his family as he worked hard to stabilize the Empire, thinking that this would help his sons in the future.

He is now in his fifties, his sons already have their own families, yet nothing has changed. 

If any, the only change was that someone had managed to bring back the smile on his third son's face. 

This time he finally understood, yes, after thirty vain years of wishfully thinking. The mess in the family will never be resolved nor will the harmony ever be restored. 

He had to accept the fact that his three sons would one day point their swords at each other, especially when the time comes that he would be finally saying who would succeed in his steps. 

Most importantly, he had to mentally prepare himself for the worst.

He could only pray in his heart that after all these things they discovered from the Vesalas, they would spare Kazimir off the matter with the curse magic. 

Because once Kazimir was involved with the curses, he might have to be the first emperor in the entire Seirende history to kill his very own son.

"I understand what to do now.." Emperor Valentin mumbled, his face seemed to have been aged for a few more years. 

Emperor Valentin looked at his son, this time he had a calm yet soulless expression as he instructed, "As for the matter with the Temple, I give you the full permission to do as you see fit. I only hope for you to finish this matter as early as possible."

"Father.." Leon called out worriedly. This was what made him hesitant earlier, he knew that this information would break the last straw his Father had been clinging to. 

He knew that this news would devastate him so much. 

He knew that his news would slap his Father's face to see the reality he refused to see for many years now.

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