Chapter 118: Fall of Petals (1)

Yuri had already imagined that Laurent might present him with the medal. Knowing Laurent as he did, it was entirely possible.

The problem was the emperor.

He had made a public promise before the tournament, so if Laurent came and handed the medal to Yuri just like that, it might be taken as a sign of disrespect.

He might even suspect that Yuri had put him up to it. And Yuri had no desire to make an enemy of the emperor.

That’s why he had subtly hinted to Laurent that, if he intended to give him the medal, he shouldn’t do it. However, Laurent completely ignored Yuri’s effort and ran straight to him.

“This entire victory is thanks to Your Highness. Therefore, I offer you this medal with all due respect.”

“Ah… sure…”

Deep down, Yuri wanted to throw the medal right back at him, but at that moment all eyes were on them. He had no choice but to stretch out his hand and accept it.

Then the silence of the stadium broke into applause.

“Is that the knight from Briol?”

“What admirable loyalty.”

“To dedicate all the glory to his lord… You don’t see that anymore in the Empire these days.”

People praised Laurent’s action.

Yuri wore a bitter expression and glanced toward the emperor’s seat.

Ivar was watching them, stroking his chin with an unreadable look.

Yuri lowered his voice and scolded Laurent.

“Laurent.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I told you not to do that.”

“Even so, I wished to present it to you.”

“But…”

“I beg your forgiveness.”

Speaking that way, Yuri couldn’t press the matter any further. He simply sighed. In any case, the tournament champion had awarded his medal, so the event could be considered concluded.

From above, flower petals began to fall and fireworks exploded.
Thus ended the tournament.

Laurent was called back to the stage and was soon surrounded by nobles of the Empire who had witnessed the match. He responded with a calm smile. At moments like this, it was evident he came from a renowned noble family.

Yuri rose from his seat, planning to slip out quietly.

But suddenly he felt eyes on him. When he turned, he met the gaze of the emperor. He gave a slight nod of greeting. The emperor nodded in return.

“Jared.”

“Yes.”

“What kind of expression do you think the emperor has?”

“Hmm…”

Jared stretched casually and cast a subtle glance toward the royal box.

“He looks pretty satisfied.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s even worse.”

Yuri sighed and began to exit with his group. At that moment, the crowd raised their hands and chanted his name.

“Briol! Briol! Briol!”

Even the citizens of the Empire celebrated the new owner of the medal, cheering Yuri.

***

The emperor watched as Laurent Flandre ran toward the third prince of Briol, feeling conflicted.

He had prepared himself to accept that this knight might become his son-in-law, but suddenly saw him run to his lord to offer the medal.

The third prince accepted it with an awkward and hesitant expression.

Both the knight and his lord were exceptional.

“I want him for myself.”

He murmured while stroking his chin. He was interested in Laurent, who had won the tournament so easily, but even more he desired Yuri Briol—the one capable of inspiring such loyalty in a man like that.

According to the commander of the Third Cavalry Squadron, Yuri was even stronger than Laurent. It was impossible to predict how far he might go.

Ivar called his daughter.

“Yekaterina.”

“Yes.”

“How does it feel to be rejected?”

“It doesn’t bother me. I’m just glad I don’t have to blame you, Father.”

“Hahahaha…”

Ivar let out a hearty laugh.

“You’re glad? Yes, so am I.”

Still, he kept talking, paying little attention to his daughter’s response.

“If Laurent had offered me the medal, I might’ve been left with a thorn in my heart for a long time.”

He then thought of the third prince of Briol. Six years ago, his second son had returned from Briol saying he’d found someone interesting.

He’d assured him that this third prince had great potential, and that if they could earn his favor, it would be wise to act quickly. But at the time, he hadn’t taken it seriously.

How could he bring Fiore Briol’s son into the fold? There was no way to do it except through marriage, but Yekaterina was too valuable a piece.

Sending someone like her to a mere third prince of Briol didn’t seem like a good deal. So he dismissed the idea without a second thought.

But now, six years later, upon meeting him in person, he regretted that decision. Yuri was a desirable talent in every way.

“Well, I still have time to take him.”

Ivar smiled.

The Empire wielded its influence across the entire continent, and he was the emperor who ruled it all. He could get anything he wanted.

Be it an object… or a person.

Watching Yuri’s back as he swiftly exited the stadium, Ivar smiled.

“Yuri Briol…”

***

Yuri sent Laurent to the hotel to rest and immediately headed to the Tower of Magic with Jared.

That day, he had an appointment with Inariel.

Although Inariel didn’t know much about the scroll imbued with dark magic, he had offered to investigate it for Yuri and Hernando.

However, that very morning, before the tournament began, Yuri had received a message.

They had discovered something. That was why Yuri was in such a hurry. He was more eager to hear what Inariel had found than he was proud of the imperial medal pinned to his chest.

“Your Highness, what will you do with the medal?”

“Would it be worth something if I sold it?”

“How can you sell a medal presented by the emperor?”

“I could melt it down.”

“That would be a shame.”

Casually chatting, they entered the Tower of Magic.

Yuri realized too late why there were no guards in the tower.

The wooden doors, all identical and aligned, were connected to each mage’s workshop. So, from the start, it was impossible to enter without the owner’s permission.

Yuri opened the door easily and stopped in front of Hernando’s workshop. As always, it looked like a real forest.

“You’ve come.”

Inariel was sitting in meditation in front of Hernando’s log cabin.

When he saw Yuri, he stood up. At that moment, the cabin door opened and Hernando rushed out. Yuri greeted Inariel formally and asked immediately:

“Have you discovered anything about the scroll?”

Inariel let out a chuckle.

“Getting straight to the point… You must be in quite a rush.”

“I am.”

“They say when you’re in a hurry, you should take a detour. Maybe there’s some truth to that saying.”

As he said this, he lifted a backpack from the ground.

“I asked some old friends about the scroll. If they’d ever seen one with dark magic.”

“And?”

“They told me an interesting story. I can’t confirm its truth, but it sounded quite plausible.”

Yuri pressured him with his gaze.

Now that the tournament had ended, it was nearly time to leave the Empire. He could stay longer, but doing so would arouse suspicion.

He wanted to find some concrete clue while he was still officially in the Empire.

Inariel spoke,

“Adelein.”

Yuri looked up at the unexpected name.

“They say that when Adelein fell, that scroll was already circulating.”

Adelein was a country that had already been destroyed. No less than by a death knight.

In Adelein, there had been a knight named Gert. He was the kingdom’s strongest, but after a mysterious death, he returned to life as an even more powerful creature.

He attacked all living things. No one could stop him.

Eventually, Adelein collapsed, and its citizens scattered.

The capital became a wasteland, a place of death where only the chilling breath of the death knight could be heard.

The knight who destroyed a kingdom, Gert, earned his place among the Ten Greats solely by reputation.

“They say Gert became a death knight because of dark magic. Do you think that scroll is what transformed him?”

At Yuri’s question, Inariel shrugged.

“I can’t say anything without seeing it myself. But it wouldn’t be impossible.”

“Who told you that?”

“I can’t say.”

“I see…”

As a lead, it was far too vague. He had investigated all over the Empire with little to show for it.

And the only result was this bit about Adelein. But it wasn’t much help.

“I wish I could take something useful back from the Empire.”

Yuri thought of Ragnar.

He had been investigating what was happening inside the imperial palace. It had been so long since he’d seen him that he didn’t even attend the tournament. How far had his investigation progressed?

“Wait a moment.”

Inariel raised a hand suddenly.

“Someone’s coming. Go check outside the workshop.”

At his words, Hernando tilted his head and went to the workshop entrance, which was connected to the Tower of Magic.

He opened the door, and indeed, someone was waiting outside. Yuri didn’t recognize the face. He appeared to be a mage affiliated with the tower.

The visitor’s face showed anxiety.

“Lord Hernando.”

“What is it…?”

“It’s urgent.”

The mage whispered something to Hernando, and his expression turned serious. He turned to Yuri.

Yuri frowned. It was unusual to see Hernando look so concerned.

He caught fragments of the conversation.

“Because of this, mages from outside might be registered. Please don’t be alarmed, but we ask that you remain alert…”

Hernando nodded at the mage’s words, who then bowed and left.
The door closed.

Yuri asked him:

“Hernando, what’s going on that you look like that?”

“Your Highness.”

“Yes?”

“Please don’t be alarmed by what I’m about to say.”

“Yes?”

“Ah…”

“What is it?”

Suddenly, upon seeing Hernando’s expression, Yuri felt a wave of unease.

“Your Highness.”

“Just say it.”

“Prince Ragnar…”

“Prince?”

“They say he’s passed away.”

“What?”

Yuri repeated it, not immediately understanding what he had just heard.

“That can’t be. Why?”

He asked, trying to remain composed. His hand trembled slightly.

“The cause is unknown.”

“The prince…”

Yuri had told Ragnar that he suspected the crown prince, and Ragnar had offered to investigate personally and report back.

That was the last time they spoke. Yuri had thought he might be in danger, but never imagined this.

He remembered his past life. Ragnar wasn’t supposed to die at this point. It was far too soon.

Just as many things had changed since Yuri altered the future, so too had Ragnar’s fate been twisted.

Yuri had saved many who were meant to die. But this was the first time someone who was supposed to live… had died.

“It hasn’t been made public yet, but the rumor is spreading. There will surely be repercussions.”

“I see…”

The deceased was none other than the emperor’s brother.

“First…”

Yuri ran a hand through his hair, thoughtful. He was so confused he couldn’t think straight.

“I need to find out the cause of death.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to stay put?”

“No. I can’t do that.”

“Your Highness…”

“Don’t worry. I won’t do anything foolish.”

“I understand…”

Yuri caressed the hilt of Guilty and said:

“Jared.”

“Yes.”

“Come with me.”

“Understood.”

He bowed to Inariel and left Hernando’s workshop.

***

Hernando watched the door close and let out a long sigh.

“What’s going to come of all this…?”

The news of Ragnar’s death had also shocked him. He was not someone meant to die like this.

Could he have been killed by the owner of the dark magic scroll for getting too close to the truth? If that were true, the situation was far more dangerous than they thought.

If someone of royal blood could be assassinated, perhaps it was true that the imperial family had already fallen to dark magic.

Hernando turned away. Inariel wore a calm expression.

“You don’t seem surprised.”

“And why would I be?”

He replied while flipping his salmon-colored hair.

“Ever since dark magic appeared, anything is possible.”