Do Flowers Bloom in the Fallen Land?

Louis also raised his hand with a smile with his gaze directed at Seira.

“Even if it may be insufficient, I hope that it would help the safety of the empire. On behalf of Franto, I, Louis Franto, will also lend my support.”

When all the heads of the three ducal families representing Hesrad applied, several more bravely raised their hands afterward. Some families didn’t have master-class power, but those with special powers were included as reserve personnel in case of maritime battles.

‘Among the nobles, there are about six of them.’

Like Zion, there may be applicants among the commoners, but even so, the number of people in the subjugation force seemed to be around ten.

‘It’s not impossible if you aim to only deal with the intermediate or higher level…’

Seira began to calculate the power of the subjugation force in her head, but suddenly felt someone staring at her. She raised her head, and saw Calrad looking at her with a confusing expression.

‘Why…’

Come to think of it, something had been bothering her since earlier. As for Askan, it was strange that Calrad, who looked at her first, didn’t mention Aven, nor did he add words to his expression. Also…

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Calrad’s gaze toward her now wasn’t unfamiliar. When the doll she loved as a child was ruined, when her dress got muddied and she couldn’t wear it ever again. Or even when her hard work burned all her baked goods, he looked at her with those kind eyes.

‘What did I miss…?’

As her unexpected uneasiness gripped her heart, Calrad, who turned his eyes to the front, opened his mouth and announced, “I’m also thinking of participating in this subjugation.”

“…!”

The meeting room filled with astonishment. The emperor didn’t go to war himself, but this case was different. As a commander, he was taking on the most dangerous task as an elite, not as a motivational role.

“Your Majesty, please take back what you said!”

Of course, all of the nobles opposed it.

“The safety of the imperial family could be at stake.”

“Now that the succession isn’t stable, it is impossible for His Majesty at all!”

Calrad, who waited patiently until the uproar died down, smiled and leaned his back on his throne.

“I fully understand why you are against it. The problem is that there is no direct imperial family member to replace me in the event of an accident.”

No one could open their mouths at his overly relaxed attitude.

“Otherwise, I have something to announce to you here today in relation to that.”

Seira found Baron’s arms loosen while his expression hardened.

“Some may remember. The late emperor, my father, had a brother.”

At that moment, Louis turned his head and met her eyes. Seira realized when she saw the smile on his mouth. Both Baron and Louis knew what Calrad was about to announce.

“But no one knew that there was a child born to Bern Clemens Viseltium, the first prince at the time, and Princess Amelie. I, too, didn’t recognize my blood and kin no matter how many times I had met them up close.”

It was so coincidental. Wasn’t it the first prince he inferred, ‘Mel’? But he had children. And that’s one of the people that Calrad faced.

‘No, I don’t think so. Don’t tell me, it can’t be…’

Seira had struggled to deny any assumptions that had been gnawing at her nerves over the past few days. Her fingers dug deep into the palm of her hand to the point it hurt.

Did he notice her? At Calrad’s gesture, the chief of staff opened the door of the conference room. It opened completely, and the moment felt terribly long before the man standing beyond stepped inside.

Seira’s mind went completely blank as soon as she finally caught his image.

“Aven Helford. No, I shouldn’t call you Helford from now on.”

At Calrad’s beckon, he walked up to the podium. With an expressionless face that was hard to read even a single piece of emotion.

“As a result of commissioning a lineage connection to the Magic Engineering Institute, we received a report that he is a direct descendant of Viseltium and Franto. This is notarized by Louis Franto and Baron Jeff.”

With the report handed over from the chamberlain on his lap, Calrad announced.

“So, I would like to give him a new name of Viseltium and make him crown prince.”

As Aven stood next to Calrad with his back to the throne, all Seira could see was his back. Aven’s appearance in white robes with splendid golden embroidery, was both familiar and terribly unfamiliar at the same time.

Seira wasn’t sure if she was breathing properly. Everything seemed to become distant as if the land she stood on was collapsing.

Then, she heard a low laugh.

“I can finally get out of the palace, Seira.”

Calard’s voice was as sweet as it was a long time ago, when he was her fiancé.