Children of the Holy Emperor Chapter 275

275. On the dream road (4)

That evening.

Unlike before, the imperial palace dinner started in a relatively gentle atmosphere.

Not only did Logan return with a feat as great as Seongjin, but Empress Lizabeth, who bickered over everything, was not present.

Thanks to this, the dinner was held in a friendly atmosphere under the leadership of Empress Tatiana.

And what Masain delivered to Seongjin was unexpected news.

“mother? To the Principality of Asein?”

“yes. Something happened suddenly and he left yesterday. “I heard there was an urgent call from Grand Duke Asin.”

“… okay?”

Seongjin was honestly a little relieved that Empress Lizabeth was not here.

Until now, I thought she was Mores’ mother and I consciously kept my distance from her.

However, if he thought she was really his mother, he couldn’t have the confidence to face those cold gazes head on.

“I understand that there are no particularly big problems in the Principality of Asin recently. There was no special report from your father’s majesty’s office either. “It won’t be a big deal, so don’t worry too much.”

Amelia seemed to understand Seongjin’s subtle expression and gently comforted him.

“Yes, well… … .”

Seongjin, who responded a little shyly, calmly sat down and started eating.

“But what is that, Brother Masain?”

“Are you doing something I’ve never seen before, Brother Masaine?”

“Ah, Prince Mores gave it to me.”

You said there was a cool feature, but I didn’t really understand.

Masain said sheepishly, showing off a small trinket pinned to his collar.

“okay? Then it’s definitely a feature I’ll use later. “Brother Masain.”

“Well, it was given to me by Mores. It would be good to have it handy. “Brother Masain.”

“Haha, yes. “I still think so.”

While listening to the conversation between the twins and Sir Martha, Seongjin deeply inserted another accessory he had brought into his pocket.

Although I prepared to give it to Empress Lizabeth, doubts arose as to whether I would have been able to hand it to her if she had been present. Will the day come when I can laugh and talk with her like a normal family?

One of the main dishes of the day was bear meat steak. It was sent by Margrave Sigismund along with a gift because Prince Mores visited it often.

In fact, it was the devil who liked bear meat, and there was nothing special about Seongjin’s taste.

However, as I continued to eat it for the demon lord, I felt like it was now a somewhat appetizing taste.

I was worried that it might be a bit of an unfamiliar food, but fortunately the response at the dinner was favorable. Then, Seongjin found Seonghwang who, as expected, had not even taken a bite of food.

“Uh, father. This is more delicious than you think. “Stop crushing it and have some.”

“… … .”

Seonghwang, who was disassembling food with an expressionless expression as always, flinched in surprise and put a bear meat steak in his mouth with a new look on his face. And I furrow my brows involuntarily.

Of course, it was only a fleeting moment, and he quickly showed a calm expression. He kept pace with the others and steadfastly finished off a plate of steak.

‘hmm. ‘That doesn’t seem to be your taste, does it?’

It tastes pretty good once you get used to it, but I’m a picky eater.

Ah, that guy’s eating habits. Someday I will fix it. Soon, a salty and salmon specialty restaurant will appear in the Imperial Capital!

“Laview… … .”

Meanwhile, there was another person who didn’t touch the main dish. Sisley was just looking at the steak with a pitiful expression, and it reminded her of the little teddy bear she had left in her room.

“This is a bear? Did a cute bear like Labyu die and become meat? How many of those little ones would have been needed to become steaks at a dinner party?”

“… … .”

No, bears are definitely not the creatures you think they are.

“When I think of the poor bear who sacrificed my life, I shouldn’t leave even a single piece behind, but it reminds me of our cute Labyu, so I can’t bear to touch it.”

Please go to a good place in the arms of the Lord.

The little saint folds her hands over her heart and prays reverently. Thanks to this, the surroundings suddenly became solemn.

The unexpected childishness shown by a normally adult saintess is cute, but the underlying atmosphere is so sad that no one hastily opens their mouths.

‘Sisle. That’s not actually a bear. ‘It’s an ice monster called the Glatzer Troll!’

Seongjin’s mouth was itchy as well, but he was swept away by the atmosphere around him and just kept his mouth shut.

By the way, why did the name of Shaved Ice No. 3 suddenly become ‘Labu’?

“Give that to me. “I’ll give you my dessert instead.”

In the end, Seongjin did the next best thing and changed the plate for Sisley, who was heartbroken.

At the same time, there was a loud guy cheering in my head.

[Black! So good, another plate! I thought I would never taste it again if I came back here!]

As a result, it was a dinner time where only the Demon King was so moved that he cried.

* * *

That night.

Amelia came to the Jinju Palace reception room. As she sometimes did before, she stayed up late to chat with Seongjin for the first time in a long time.

Of course, I didn’t forget to bring an armful of newly prepared children’s books.

“I’ve completely graduated from children’s books now, sister. “My reading has improved quite a bit.”

Since I knew the words, it didn’t take long to learn the letters.

Especially recently, my vocabulary has increased dramatically due to the creation of the ‘Knight of Grace’ myth with Francis. Of course, complex spellings are still sometimes confusing.

“okay… … .”

Amelia looked at Seongjin with a strange, strange expression.

-My child has already grown up like this. It’s really exciting, but I can’t hide the feeling of emptiness. Why do children’s cute days pass by so quickly?

Sister, I can see what you’re thinking on your face.

“okay. “You mean Ortona.”

After talking about this and that, Seongjin confessed about ‘Bertrand & Lee’. When I explained the ultimate goal of the top, Amelia slowly nodded.

“Where a commercial district is formed, public security naturally develops, even if you don’t like it. Since the benefits are clear, the surrounding lords will have no choice but to cooperate. Thanks to this, I think it will be an opportunity for Ortona’s refugees to settle down little by little. “How did you come up with such a big plan?”

Amelia’s proud feelings were revealed without filtering in her eyes as she looked at Seongjin.

“Now that I think about it, something comes to mind. From what I saw while walking around the office, I’m sure there’s something that could be of help to you. “There was a plan to rebuild Ortona that my father, His Majesty, had made in the beginning.”

Ortona reconstruction plan?

Your father made something like that?

“You’ve said this once before, right?”

Now that I think about it, it was said that Seonghwang in the early days of his reign implemented a variety of radical policies. He said that while he clashed with the Orthodox Church at every turn, he pushed through various innovative policies.

But at some point, all those activities stopped as if they had come to a halt.

Amelia used to be like that. It is said that Seonghwang may have taken a step back due to frequent clashes with the Orthodox Church and other realistic obstacles.

but.

‘Is it an agreement…? … .’

Now even Seongjin could vaguely guess.

Seonghwang, whose hands and feet were suddenly tied to the agreement for some reason, would not have been able to easily change any policy from then on.

The effects of policies that control not only a country but also a continent must be beyond imagination.

“It’s just a difference in order from your plan, but there are some parts that are consistent to some extent. It will be a great help in making long-term plans if you refer to it. however… … .”

Amelia asked after a little hesitation.

“That salmon business. I have never seen anything similar to that. “Is that really profitable?”

“… … .”

At her innocent question, Seongjin became a little sullen.

Sister, we have a cold wagon! Now all problems are solved!

“Ah, sister.”

Then Seongjin suddenly had an idea and rummaged through his luggage in the corner. I finally remembered what I had left with Orden.

Amelia, who had been watching what he was doing with curious eyes, looked up at Seongjin in confusion when he eventually pulled out an old treasure chest.

“I was a little worried about whether I should really give this to you. But I think you have to see it for yourself and decide.”

“This?”

“I brought it from Count Sigismund’s residence. “I heard it was my sister’s treasure chest when I was young.”

Startle.

Amelia widened her eyes and stared at the box, as if she had finally remembered something.

As Seongjin carefully handed her the item, she slowly opened the box where the chips had fallen and lifted up an old straw.

“bell… … .”

Amelia’s eyes sank deeply, as if recalling the past.

“okay. “So many years have passed that I completely forgot about it.”

Seongjin didn’t know it, but for Amelia, it was a past that had to go back almost decades before returning.

“okay. Those times were very difficult. Nonetheless, these are precious items to me. “Thank you for bringing it to me, Mores.”

Amelia put the straw aside and took out the miscellaneous items in the box one by one.

But she had just picked up an old pendant.

For a moment, as if she had been struck by lightning, a huge wave of forgotten memories hit her all at once like a tidal wave.

“dream… . Yes, I had a dream then.”

At that time, Amelia, who was young, had numerous dreams that felt ambiguous as to whether they were reality or a dream.

The first thing I remember was the sight of myself wearing a soft, warm wool coat and being carried on someone’s back and chatting endlessly.

-Where are we going now, Dad?

-It’s a place where your grandfather can’t find us. Amelia.

Amel tilted his head. As far as she knew, her grandfather was the strongest man in her generation.

-Don’t worry. He won’t dare follow us.

The voice of the man who answered like that was calm, but it still felt infinitely reassuring.

Feeling somehow relieved, Amelia smiled and buried her head under his cloak.

Another day, I had a dream of camping next to a campfire under a sky full of stars. She was wrapped in a warm blanket and holding a new little doll in her arms.

-I want to give this pretty baby a cool name, Dad.

-Is that so? So what do you want to do with that child?

Amelia thought deeply for a moment and then answered.

-Well, first of all, I hope this kid has a big family. I made a wish for her family, and my dad came, and I became happy, right? So, I hope she is as happy as this kid.

The man didn’t answer for a while, and after a while, he gently stroked Amelia’s head.

-Then what about the goddess who has as many families as the stars in the sky? Belluna of the night sky is, as far as I know, the happiest goddess with the largest family.

-All those huge stars?

Amelia’s eyes widened and she listened to the myth he told.

That day, the doll’s name became Belluna.

Another day, I saw an interesting play downtown. Amelia let out an exclamation of excitement as she rode her horse on her man’s shoulders.

-You really like performing. So, would you like to go to Brittany this time? It is a place where performing arts are very developed.

-Are the performances there as interesting as that play?

-It will be very fun. It’s just that people there get used to pronouncing it ‘Arrch’ as ​​if they were choking on cold soup.

What does it sound like when soup gets stuck in your throat?

Amelia, who had been giggling and asking various questions because she thought it was somehow funny, was already learning words containing Arrch one by one from him.

-A small angel came down to a shabby hut built with sincerity in a deep forest, and that place would be my church.

-Wow, here are all the words I learned now! What is that phrase?

-When memorizing something, it is very helpful to remember things that are meaningful to you, Amelia.

-So, does that mean that phrase has meaning to you?

-Well, whatever happens.

The man lifted Amelia up.

-Right here is my little angel.

As her body rose upward, the air around her enveloped her as if she was flying.

Hahaha!

A loud laugh echoed in my head.

“Yes, I…” “How could I have forgotten these until now?”

While Seongjin was getting restless at her sudden reaction, Amelia smiled brightly with tearful eyes.

fantasy,