20.The Silver Blade That Pierces Desire

That night, in Celesta Castle.

Emperor Arthur William slowly exhaled.

A map was spread out on the table. The marks drawn in red ink seemed to move slightly in the candlelight.

To Syladelphia. The path was long and treacherous.

He touched his forehead.

The Emperor of the Litrian Empire. The weight of that throne could never be light. A single command could determine thousands of lives. Whether those choices were right or wrong, only history would judge.

But now, he did not know the answer.

The shadow of war was growing darker. The Dominator's forces were hiding, yet even now they were slowly encroaching upon the borders of the Empire.

He thought of the expedition headed to Westdark. By now, they would be making their way through the dark forests of the Great Forest.

'Will Syladelphia truly accept us?'

Tap.

A presence disturbed the quiet of the Emperor's Office. The Emperor raised his head.

"Halt."

The stern voice of a guard was heard from outside the door. A small commotion arose.

"I have an urgent report from Westdark! I must deliver it directly to His Majesty the Emperor!"

It was a familiar voice. The Emperor's eyes narrowed slightly.

The guard responded firmly.

"If you're a messenger, shouldn't you write a report and submit it?"

"There's no time to leave it in writing."

For a moment, silence fell.

The guards exchanged glances. This was not some unknown man.

Raul. A knight of the Royal Guard. A person who had served in the capital for years and interacted with important figures.

But,

'If Raul came to report in person?' It must be more than a simple border situation.

The Emperor placed his hands on the desk and quietly sank into thought.

And then,

"Let him in."

A low but resolute voice echoed beyond the door.

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The guards reluctantly opened the door.

Raul slowly entered the office. When the candlelight illuminated his face, a brief flash of darkness passed through his eyes. His gait was different from usual, and his hands were tense.

But these strange signs vanished quickly, and no one noticed them.

As the door closed, the space became strangely quiet.

The Emperor quietly gazed at him.

"You have urgent news?"

Raul nodded.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

He took another step closer.

"The matter is so urgent that I must convey it to you personally."

His voice was low and calm, but the Emperor did not miss the strange tension within it.

The Emperor felt an ominous premonition. 'Strange... why is his aura so cold?'

As he was suspicious, the candle flickered, and suddenly a bright light flashed.

＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃

A silver dagger sprang from Raul's chest.

It plunged down toward the Emperor's neck.

Cold killing intent.

Wind brushed against skin.

A chill ran down his spine.

But the Emperor had already sensed it.

Bloodshot eyes, rigid expression, and abnormally clenched hands.

"Defendo!"

Blue magical power exploded from the Emperor's fingertips.

A transparent barrier instantly spread out, blocking the dagger.

Bang!

A strong impact occurred.

Raul flew through the air and crashed into the wall.

But he ignored the pain and stood up, breathing frantically.

"Must kill... the Emperor... must..."

His eyes were no longer human. They fixed on the Emperor, filled with red and cold killing intent.

The Emperor frowned.

'Brainwashing... the Dominator's sorcery?'

There was no time to hesitate any longer.

The Emperor extended his hand. A red magical circle bloomed in the air, and invisible chains wrapped around Raul's ankles.

Crash!

Raul's body was slammed to the floor.

He writhed, shouting loudly.

"Must kill the Emperor... must kill... must kill..."

His lips trembled strangely.

The Emperor looked down at him with a cold gaze.

"Did the Dominator send you?"

Clank!

The heavy iron door burst open, and the guards rushed in.

"Your Majesty! Are you unharmed?!"

They immediately seized Raul roughly.

But,

Thud.

Raul's body went limp. As the magical mark on the back of his neck disappeared, the dark spell planted by the Dominator exploded, driving him to his death.

"Is he dead?"

The Emperor's low voice filled the space.

One of the guards hurriedly checked Raul's pulse. Then, with a grim expression, he shook his head.

"His heart has already stopped, Your Majesty."

A brief silence passed. The Emperor coldly looked at the corpse.

'This is not a simple assassination. It's a declaration of war.'

His gaze deepened. Now that the Dominator had become this bold, there was no more time to waste.

"Hasten the departure of the Syladelphia delegation. The Dominator's threat will become more dangerous. We must seek the cooperation of the elves as soon as possible."

His voice was low but determined.

'There is no more room to retreat.'

＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃

As dawn broke, the palace of Celesta Castle was quiet but busy.

Last night's assassination attempt on the Emperor was kept strictly secret, and only a few trusted by the Emperor knew the truth. On the surface, everything seemed peaceful, but that peace was precarious. An invisible tension spread throughout the palace.

The Emperor sat alone in his study.

The look in his eyes as he gazed out the window was deep and dark. Morning dew had formed on the garden grass, but the anxiety that had arisen during the night still remained in his heart.

The Dominator's threat had come closer than expected.

Last night's incident was not a simple assassination. It was a 'declaration of war' against the Empire.

Breaking the silence, a respectful knock was heard from beyond the door.

"Your Majesty, Headmaster Sarte of Luminarian Magic School has arrived."

The Emperor slowly rose. His gaze shifted from the window to the door.

"Show him in."

The door opened quietly, and an old man walked in slowly. Dressed in a long silver robe, he looked as though he had lived through many years. It was Sarte, the headmaster of Luminarian Magic School, one of the greatest mages in the Empire, and the Emperor's mentor.

The old man's steps were quiet and dignified. The air seemed to change as he entered the room. Beneath deep wrinkles, wise eyes were visible, and his long silver hair moved with every flicker of the candle.

The Emperor immediately straightened his posture and greeted him respectfully.

"It's been a long time, Master."

A smile appeared on Sarte's lips.

"Master? Your attitude as a disciple remains unchanged."

"Even as Emperor, it is only right to show respect to one who has taught me."

At the Emperor's firm words, Sarte nodded with satisfaction.

"You still maintain your righteous attitude. I am proud to have taught you."

The old man slowly moved to sit in the chair opposite the Emperor and continued.

"Your Majesty's magical skills are now excellent even without my guidance. However, magic is something that requires more caution the more familiar one becomes with it."

The Emperor looked at his master with a calm gaze and nodded.

"I always keep that in mind, Master."

He recalled the past. The first time he held a magic staff in the Imperial Palace as a child, the nights spent practicing magic, and Sarte's strict yet warm teachings.

Sarte quietly continued.

"Your Majesty's mastery of magic is partly due to the imperial bloodline, but more importantly, it is because you continuously worked hard to control that ability. Please don't forget that."

The Emperor looked at his master with serious eyes and said firmly.

"I will remember. And I will continue to strive forward."

Sarte nodded with satisfaction.

"Then I am glad. Now, let us move on to the main topic. The reason I have come here is..."

At that moment.

The door opened again.

The gazes of the Emperor and Sarte turned toward the door simultaneously.

Quiet footsteps.

A subtle fragrance.

With the cold dawn light at her back, a woman entered.