Reincarnated as a Genius Prodigy of a Prestigious Family - Chapter 253

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Reincarnated as a Legendary Talent Genius of a Noble Family Episode 253

166. This Won’t Be Fun at All

Of course, no matter how frequently one visits like crossing a threshold, the Imperial Palace is still the Imperial Palace.

From the entrance, I underwent thorough inspection and search, and not only weapons but also subspace and any personal belongings are not allowed.

Just like before, I had to head to the dormitory, change into the provided clothes, and only then could I finally proceed to the audience.

In the long history of the Imperial Palace, among all visitors, only one person was allowed to keep personal belongings – Saul Hanston.

“Of course, even Lord Hanston couldn’t come and go this frequently at such short intervals.”

These were the words of Chief Clerk Hank, whom I met after a long time.

“Did Lord Hanston frequently visit the Imperial Palace?”

“Looking at the historical records, he did frequently visit the Imperial Palace. For a mage, that is.”

For reference, the Imperial Palace and the Magic Tower don’t get along very well.

It’s said to be because the Magic Tower has established a separate power base. A power that could overturn the country if handled wrongly.

While the Magic Towers constantly oppose each other, it’s a truth of history that they unite when a common enemy appears.

“Therefore, Young Master Dane Sogress is special. No matter how high-ranking a noble’s child, His Majesty the Emperor has never summoned anyone this frequently.”

As the official said, it’s a unique case.

It certainly seems I visit much more frequently compared to other nobles.

“That said, please… don’t look directly into His Majesty the Emperor’s eyes like before. This chief clerk thought his heart had stopped right then and there.”

Ah.

I recalled the Emperor who had thrown difficult questions at me during my first audience, and at the banquet where all the nobles were watching.

And seeing Chief Clerk Hank’s face full of anxiety, I smiled slightly.

“You don’t need to worry.”

“This chief clerk wants to live and die a natural death. It’s a wish I’ve developed in my old age.”

And after a brief moment passed, it was time for the audience.

“Dane Sogress. You still don’t avoid my gaze.”

“…”

Despite Hank’s earnest request as he watched from the side, I once again made eye contact with His Majesty the Emperor.

Honestly, it can’t be helped.

When someone calls and asks questions, you have to look at them while answering for a proper conversation to continue.

“That’s why I like it. That unchanging composure of yours.”

“Your grace is overwhelming.”

“Those words are good because they’re not composed.”

He was wearing quite a warm smile, to the extent that the nickname “Mad Emperor” didn’t seem fitting. Should I say it felt like looking at a grandfather?

Of course, it’s too early to feel relieved.

The other party is the Emperor, after all.

“Quite cunning, cautious, and meticulous.”

Now comes the main point.

“The corruption related to Count Sauer’s emerald mine business rights… and Count Deringer’s tax evasion charges. Plus various other charges related to three other noble families.”

The information gathering I had requested from Sidrain regarding Ernest’s assault case.

That information was passed entirely to the Imperial Palace, and as a result, five noble families lost their former prestige.

“Thanks to that, Count Sauer’s family completely lost their power in the Western Region, and Count Deringer’s family became less influential than even a baronial house. And that’s not all? The other two noble families completely collapsed, and neighboring nobles are flocking to target their territories. The remaining one… is relatively intact but keeping quiet.”

“It’s a regrettable matter.”

“Indeed. It’s regrettable. However, you speak as if you knew nothing about it.”

I tilted my head.

“These are matters of noble families I’ve never even met. Should I do something more than just feeling sorry?”

“I see, so you don’t lie, is that it?”

The Emperor asked with a smirk, curling up the corner of his mouth as if he knew everything.

“Coincidentally, you see, it was right after Dane Sogress submitted your complaint. That’s when those tips reached the Imperial Palace.”

“Then it was indeed quite a coincidence.”

“Indeed. Quite coincidental.”

The fact that the Emperor specifically called me to ask about this and mentioned such facts means he’s not treating this conversation as mere ‘small talk’.

Naturally, he’s already certain.

As expected, an Emperor is an Emperor, I suppose.

Then the question ‘why?’ remains.

That question was quickly resolved.

“Let’s think about it. The five noble families are all concentrated in the Western Region, but they don’t have particularly close relationships. The solidarity among Western nobles isn’t very strong. However, then the probability of harboring grudges against all five nobles would be slim. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“An interesting deduction.”

“Now you’re evaluating me. Hehe.”

“If it sounded that way, I can only be sorry.”

Even with my precarious tightrope walking, the Emperor didn’t scold me further.

Only Hank beside me made a slight gasping sound.

“Good. Let’s continue. Then, quite coincidentally, tips related to five nobles – and ones that would be ‘helpful to the Imperial Palace’ – came in simultaneously… This could mean someone planned this.”

The Emperor continued with quite reasonable deduction.

And he spoke as if making a declaration.

“There aren’t many who could quickly obtain and organize such information. It would be impossible for a minor family. And again, quite coincidentally… in that situation, Dane Sogress’s complaint was filed, and all five young masters involved in the assault were expelled.”

The Emperor finally asked.

“What do you think?”

At this point, the attitude a ‘normal person’ should take is as follows:

Admit it and wait for the next words.

But why is it?

I don’t think the Emperor expects that and specifically called me here to conduct this difficult ‘audience’.

So I answered like this.

“If there was someone who orchestrated such a thing, I think they would be quite remarkable.”

A moment of silence flowed.

Is it my imagination that the gasping sound from the side seems a bit louder?

And I maintained my still composed expression without avoiding the Emperor’s gaze.

How much time had passed?

“Puhuhuhuh…”

A frivolous laugh hard to imagine from an Emperor.

As if it had burst out because he couldn’t hold it in anymore, even I was momentarily flustered by that laugh.

Of course, I didn’t show it outwardly, but I think I’ll never forget the Emperor’s laugh today.

“Yes, a remarkable fellow. A truly remarkable one.”

The Emperor asked me in an excited voice clearly different from before.

“Then, Dane Sogress, what if I said I wanted to keep that person by my side?”

This time, even if it’s not completely ruined, I really need to answer well.

Of course, still, the answer flowed out without hesitation.

“That person probably wouldn’t want that.”

“The reason?”

“If they had wanted that, they would have made those tips under their own name.”

“Right. That would be so. But what if I still wanted them? If I could, even if I had to search every corner of the Empire to find them and make them mine?”

Ah.

Now I understand.

The real reason this Emperor is called the Mad Emperor.

That greed filling his eyes.

He obtains everything he wants to possess.

He destroys everything that gets in the way during that process.

Thus, he ultimately gets his hands on it.

This is why he could remain completely unshaken despite the strong opposition from my father and Duke Termion along with other nobles.

“I want to have them. Someone with such capability for action.”

Seeing him emphasize it with inverted syntax, it seems I’ve entered a tiger’s den.

But what can I do about it.

If I keep my wits about me, there’s a way out.

And I’m calmer than ever before.

“If that happens, he may no longer be someone you’d want to keep by your side.”

I recalled the existence from the Underground City who had felt ‘interest’ in me.

An absolute being.

A being from Beyond the Horizon.

That being who told me to maintain that interest.

“Interesting. Continue.”

The Emperor extended his hand.

I silently watched his hand, then met his eyes again and continued speaking.

“The reason His Majesty the Emperor currently wants to keep him by your side is ultimately because of what he did in places other than by your side. However, if you keep him by your side, he may no longer be able to do such things.”

“Do you think that would be the case even if I guaranteed his freedom?”

“A bird once caged and tamed will eventually return.”

I thought about it.

If I chose to stay by the Emperor’s side, what then?

Could I really live the life I wanted?

Well.

It would be nothing more than a life where motivation and drive disappear.

That’s not what I want.

Success and advancement.

Wealth and glory.

All good.

But there’s something more important than that.

“And a caged bird may someday no longer be able to fly.”

That’s ‘me’.

The Emperor looked at me silently at those words.

This time it looks like anger.

Anger born from desire for something he wants to possess.

Why is that.

The reason the Emperor wants to possess me.

Simply because I’m talented?

Because I handle various matters smoothly based on experience, judgment, and composure?

Perhaps-

There might be another reason.

“Caged, you say. Even now, countless people wait years for an audience to catch my eye, and when they do, they shed tears of joy, yet you describe it as being caged.”

Like the mad Emperor he is, he smiles again.

“But it’s interesting, very interesting. As expected… interesting.”

Somehow it seems even more dangerous now.

“If all audiences were like this, handling daily state affairs wouldn’t be boring either.”

What I read this time is boredom.

I’m not sure if these kinds of judgments are correct, but anyway, it seems certain that the Emperor wants me.

The problem is I have no intention of going that way.

“In that sense… those words are also correct. If I keep him by my side, that fun would diminish. Of course, I could just discard him when the time comes.”

So that means everyone who has served him has been discarded.

When they’ve outlived their usefulness or become less interesting.

“However, I don’t want to discard that one. For now, at least. So… when I think it would be fine to use and discard him, I plan to call for him.”

What should I do about this.

Like that absolute being did, do I need to maintain ‘interest’ to survive?

Honestly, if the Emperor uses an imperial decree to summon me and keep me by his side, there’s no way to stop it immediately.

But I won’t just sit still either.

“Today’s audience ends here.”

The Emperor ended the audience with that lingering aftertaste and disappeared behind the barrier.

And the moment I went outside, I caught Hank who was about to collapse.

“…To so mercilessly abandon an old man’s wish.”

Hank gasped for breath.

“This was the most breathtaking and… unbelievable audience I’ve ever witnessed.”

“Unbelievable?”

“Because you walked out safely after refusing His Majesty the Emperor’s ‘request’.”

I tilted my head.

“I just answered because he asked. I didn’t refuse anything.”

“…”

Well, it’s wordplay.

Anyway, I grasped the Emperor’s general intentions.

Of course, I won’t live for his ‘will’.

Good heavens, having to live interestingly to avoid being summoned to the Emperor’s side.

Isn’t that quite ridiculous?

“Anyway… I think this is the first time I’ve seen His Majesty the Emperor like that.”

Hank let out a deep sigh and finally stood up on steadied legs.

“Let’s go. I’ll prepare a meal for you.”

“Let’s do that.”

For now-

It’s something to watch.

How the Emperor will treat me going forward.

I’ll need to find out more about exactly what his intentions are, but the certain fact is this.

If I had eagerly accepted the proposal in that audience just now, it wouldn’t have been very interesting.

In the midst of this, Hank asked.

“By the way, if you could tell me what time you’re departing tomorrow, I’d be grateful. I’ll prepare the carriage in advance.”

“Then please make it as early as possible.”

I answered with a grin.

“I need to prepare for final exams.”

Hank’s blank expression.

Right, I need to prepare for final exams and during vacation I also need to go to the Southern Jungle.

With so much to do and such a busy schedule, you want me to be confined in the Imperial Palace performing tricks before the Emperor?

Well.

That doesn’t sound fun at all.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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