Published: January 4, 2026
At night, after telling Alice that someone would come to pick her up later, I made my way to Oscar’s place.
Oscar’s mansion—the Eighth Prince’s Residence.
Among the many prince residences scattered around the Imperial Capital, it was an average-sized and average-designed mansion.
If anything, the Tenth Prince Dustin—my younger brother’s residence—was several ranks above this one.
I headed toward the main gate of Oscar’s mansion.
There was a gatekeeper beside the bonfires, who dutifully did his job.
“Stop! Who goes there?”
Though I was a stranger to him, I stepped closer so that my face was reflected in the bonfire’s light.
“It is I,” I announced.
Even though he was just a gatekeeper at the Eighth Prince’s Residence, I judged that the Leviathan seal was unnecessary.
That proved to be the right call.
The gatekeeper stared at me silently for a few seconds, then dropped his weapon and prostrated himself.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty! I did not recognize you!”
“It’s alright. It’s good to be diligent in your duties.”
“Y-yes, haha—”
“Is Oscar here?”
“Yes, he’s in the garden right now—I will inform him immediately.”
“Good. Stay on guard there. The garden, correct?”
“Y-yes!”
Leaving the gatekeeper still bowed, I strode inside.
Even after entering, I passed by several people.
Although the gatekeeper hadn’t immediately recognized me, the servants inside the walls did at a glance.
Having visited occasionally since my prince days, there were those whose faces I remembered.
Each time they tried to send a message to Oscar, I stopped them with a hand gesture.
Then, I arrived at Oscar’s garden.
In the open area of the garden was a pond, with a small islet in the center.
A bridge spanned to the islet, where a gazebo stood.
It wasn’t luxurious, but it was a tasteful and calm setup.
Oscar was playing a flute there.
It was a simple transverse flute, probably made from bamboo.
If you bought one in a store, it wouldn’t even cost one Lien.
Oscar was playing that very flute.
I listened quietly for a while.
When the soothing melody fully settled my mind, I clapped my hands.
“An unexpected talent, I see.”
“—! Your Majesty!”
Oscar turned around, eyes wide with shock.
He hurriedly jumped out of the gazebo, crossed the bridge, and came before me, smoothly kneeling.
Following the formal etiquette of a prince’s audience with the emperor, he bowed.
I received it calmly.
“I am deeply honored by your visit. Please forgive my rudeness in not coming out to meet you.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Why didn’t you report my arrival?”
Oscar turned his gaze behind me, directing words laced with slight reprimand.
Glancing over my shoulder, I saw several servants at a distance, all cautiously observing from afar.
At Oscar’s scolding, they all simultaneously prostrated themselves.
“Haha, I instructed them not to report. They bear no fault.”
“I see. If that is the case—what are you doing? Shouldn’t you offer something to Your Majesty as a courtesy?”
Oscar’s scolding flew once more.
That wasn’t my responsibility, so I ignored it.
“Well then, Your Majesty, please come this way.”
“Very well.”
Oscar led me into the gazebo.
There was a set of a table and chairs carved from stone, and I sat down first.
“Oscar, please sit too.”
“Yes, sir.”
Though Oscar was the master of the mansion, I—the emperor—was the ruler of this empire.
Formally, I was the lord even here, and Oscar awaited my orders.
Oscar sat and faced me.
“When did you return?”
“Just now. Weren’t you aware?”
“…Yes. It was believed Your Majesty was still in Saralria. We anticipated your orders would come tomorrow or the day after.”
So they knew about the rebellion.
Of course, that was only natural.
Military matters were not directly under Oscar’s control, but since war expenses had to go through him as the minister of finance, he was naturally involved and aware as part of the rear support.
“I see. You were playing the flute expecting no news from me for a while.”