Turning Chapter 1097

Chapter 1097

In the hall of the Sun Palace, filled with people laughing cheerfully,

Kiolle da Diarca stood there blankly, like an object mistakenly placed, thinking.

'Why on earth am I... here...'

He had never thought there would be a day when he would come to such a place alone in his life. It was natural because everyone who came here today were pro-emperor figures.

The pro-emperor nobles who had been grinning with satisfied faces ever since the emperor overcame his illness and returned.

And Kiolle among them.

It was so strange and bizarre that it didn't feel real at all... What on earth was this?

"His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress are entering. Pay your respects."

"Ooh!"

"They've finally arrived."

However, before he could find a chance to escape from this strange place, the Emperor and Empress appeared and ascended to the upper platform with majestic appearances. The Emperor, seated on the throne, slightly curved his red eyes behind his glasses and raised his hand towards Kiolle.

"Sir Diarca. Did you rest well in the palace yesterday? I created this occasion today because I wanted to commend your merits immediately, so enjoy yourself to the fullest."

"Ah..."

Before Kiolle could properly respond, the pro-emperor figures applauded with smiles. The Empress did the same.

Kiolle hurriedly bent his head to look at the ground to hide his trembling eyes as if an earthquake had occurred. The events that had happened to him up to this moment quickly flashed through his mind.

'Why on earth did this happen to me...!'

It was a few days ago.

When Kiolle, who had secretly visited the Imperial Knight Commander to send support to the South, expected to be severely scolded by his father, surprisingly, he received no reprimand and was finally completely released from his confinement.

'Haha. As expected, father finally understood my sincerity.'

The atmosphere in the Diarca main residence was much more gloomy than before he received the confinement order. Kiolle returned to his room to change clothes and listened to the recent news around him brought by a servant.

"You know that His Majesty the Emperor has declared his return after fully recovering from his illness, right? Sigh. Now that he's back, the peaceful country is in turmoil again. I heard there was a commotion yesterday because he ordered to revise the policies that had been running well until now."

"Hmm."

To be honest, Kiolle didn't know exactly when Emperor Keilusa had officially declared his return, or what he had been doing since then. He had barely returned to the capital after desperately trying to clean up the mess caused by the Crown Prince in the South, only to be immediately confined, so how could he know about the circumstances of such high-ranking people?

In fact, even if that hadn't happened, given Kiolle's personality, he wouldn't have been interested in the power struggle between the Emperor and his father, but the topic of the next words was a little different.

"Meanwhile, the Cavalry was given another group vacation and even excessively large rewards. How discouraged must the other knights and officials be when they hear the news that the Duke of Peletta is enjoying a wild rest after leaving the capital excitedly? I wonder what will become of the country... The Duke is also very concerned."

"Wait. The Cavalry received rewards and vacation?! When?"

The servant was startled and almost made a mistake because Kiolle suddenly raised his head.

"It's been several days already. I heard that the Duke of Peletta received the title of Master of the Western Light, and his knight of southern commoner origin became a swordmaster recognized by His Majesty the Emperor. There's a rumor that the atmosphere in the Imperial Knights became as gloomy as a funeral because of that..."

"I'm not interested in rumors! What reward did that... the Commander's aide... that Yuder Aile receive?"

"Ah. I heard that he only received the medal that everyone else got, and his baronial title was changed to an inheritable title. They say he was also granted a family crest... but that's just for show. Regarding him, most people say that His Majesty seemed to consider others' opinions a bit. Perhaps the Duke of Peletta has decided to stop playing around with commoners to some extent..."

"Shut up. Close your mouth."

The servant quickly closed his mouth at Kiolle's sharp reaction. He was very accustomed to the young master he served getting irritated for unknown reasons, so he didn't wonder why. Kiolle silently received the servant's attention for a while, and before the servant left, he asked with difficulty with a frowning face.

"...Do you happen to know how His Highness the Crown Prince is doing?"

"Ah... His Highness the Crown Prince...?"

The servant, who had been speaking well even about things Kiolle didn't want to know, showed consideration for the first time. He lowered his voice and informed Kiolle about the Crown Prince's news.

"Actually, there was a big incident when he came here at will while you were confined, young master."

"What? His Highness the Crown Prince came here? For what reason?"

"No one knows because the Duke ordered everyone to keep their mouths shut. However, although I don't know if it's related to that incident, I did hear that the Duke secretly ordered his subordinates to find out many things."

"What did he order them to find out?"

"I don't know that either. And just about two days ago, I heard that there was a statement from the Sun Palace saying they would finally pursue legal action against His Highness the Crown Prince. There were many rumors that the Duke seemed to be thinking a lot about that as well."

"Pursue legal action? So... you mean they said they would handle all the wrongdoings he's done so far in court?"

"I don't think it's like that? Anyway, the atmosphere in the Bright Palace is never good due to various issues. That at least won't change."

"Was there no mention of sending new healers or doctors to the Bright Palace?"

"As far as I know... there wasn't."

Kiolle's brow furrowed. After the servant left, he made a groaning sound and pressed his temples.

'Father... it seems he has completely lost the will to treat His Highness the Crown Prince like before. Well, he might be very concerned that frauds claiming to be sages might come again. And even if proper doctors or healers come...'

Kiolle recalled Katchian looking at him with gleaming eyes, defending the sage until the end and kicking him. Even now, remembering that scene made him feel chills as if ice had filled his stomach and left him dumbfounded.

Where had the Crown Prince gone who was believed to be intelligent, patient, and caring for Diarca? Who could possibly treat that boy who had gleaming eyes with excitement while trampling on others? Could that really be cured?

Even Kiolle, who was not very perceptive, could clearly see that Crown Prince Katchian's condition, his nature, was not ordinary.

Combining all the words he had heard so far, it was simple to understand what his father was doing. He was focusing all his attention on the political battle with the Emperor, and he had not even sent any consolation to the South, which had suffered a great disaster. It was unclear how much he had understood the meaning of Kiolle's words.

'Sigh... I don't know! Anyway, since my confinement is over, should I go to sleep and then go out for training?'

However, the world did not leave him to rest comfortably.

"Kiolle."

"Big brother...? What brings you here suddenly?"

Kiolle, who was about to sleep, rose from his seat, perplexed by the presence of the sudden visitor. It was none other than the eldest son of House Diarca, Kironne da Diarca.

He was a middle-aged man nearly twenty years older than Kiolle, and his first child, born from an early marriage, was only a few years apart from Kiolle in age.

Kiolle had always been inwardly intimidated by his eldest brother, who always held the implicit position of heir to Diarca with a solemn face. He had hardly ever had a private conversation with him, and it was truly the first time he had visited his room like this to talk.

"I heard you were released from confinement, so I came to see how you look. I heard you had a hard time visiting the South, but I'm glad to see you look healthy."

"Ah, yes. Thank you... for your concern."

"But Kiolle."

Kironne, who had been exchanging a few greetings, suddenly tilted his head and said in a low, sinking voice.

"You're not doing anything now after stepping down from the position of the Crown Prince's guard knight. Is that right?"