Turning Chapter 1036

Chapter 1036

A chilly wind brushed against his skin. Yuder slowly lowered his head and greeted with the proper etiquette for meeting a member of the imperial family.

"...Greetings, Your Highness."

His voice was slow, and his expression was unreadable, but Yuder's mind was racing.

'I thought he hadn't taken a single step out of the palace since returning from the South after being caught by Kiolle. Why is he here?'

What purpose did he have for sneaking out, or was it an action taken without much thought? According to Kiolle, it seemed that Katchian's brainwashing hadn't been undone even after the sage's death, but it was difficult to ascertain that clearly just by looking at his current face.

'But... one thing is certain. He has lost a significant amount of weight.'

The last time Yuder had properly seen Katchian was at the imperial family's dining table. At that time, Katchian had shown a foolish appearance, declaring that he would take responsibility and investigate what Diarca had done, getting caught up in Kishiar's words before leaving first.

Even then, he must have been under the sage's brainwashing, but outwardly, he seemed no different from before. Now, his cheeks were sunken, and he had lost so much weight. Even when he smiled, it didn't give off a bright feeling like before but only felt eerie and sinister, probably because of that.

Yuder surveyed behind Katchian. He couldn't sense any human presence at all. This was also unlike him, who always ostentatiously dragged along many attendants.

As he slowly sharpened his senses, Katchian, who had been staring at Yuder as if gauging him, finally opened his mouth.

"While resting, I suddenly heard a story. The attendants were chattering about the Cavalry's return ceremony to the Imperial Palace held today and the amazing things that happened there."

"..."

"No matter how much they say I’m not a biological child... To not invite me, the Crown Prince, to such an auspicious occasion. They are truly heartless people. Don't you think so?"

"..."

"I asked if you don't think so. Do you dare ignore the Crown Prince's question?"

An intimidating tone of interrogation, changing only his voice while still smiling. An attitude that openly emphasized his status as a member of the imperial family to put down those beneath him.

Nothing was different from the previous life. However, Yuder was no longer the Cavalry Commander who would agree to anything if it was the Emperor's order.

'Come to think of it... This is the first time I've had a private meeting with Katchian La Orr since coming back.'

Even before, when he saw that face, he didn't particularly burn with a desire for revenge or feel awkward, but now, he felt no emotion at all, as if looking at someone completely out of his interest. A stone would probably elicit a greater emotional change in Yuder than this. Yuder keenly felt how much he had changed.

He silently sighed slowly and opened his mouth to answer.

"If you really want to hear my thoughts, I will tell you... When Your Highness, the Crown Prince, headed to the South without informing anyone, what do you think His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress thought when they found out belatedly?"

"What?"

"Just like what Your Highness said earlier, didn't they think the same way?"

Katchian's expression, who had been smiling with the corners of his lips raised, crumpled fiercely in an instant, as if making a crackling sound.

"Do you know what you're saying right now?"

"I merely answered because you asked for my thoughts."

"You're truly insolent. You're being arrogant, trusting the master behind you."

"I have never spoken out of trust in someone else. And those whom I follow are not behind but always ahead of me."

Would Katchian La Orr be able to properly understand the meaning of these words? Judging by his expression, it seemed unlikely.

Katchian glared at Yuder, biting his lips tightly without moving an eyelid. Yuder wouldn't have been surprised if he had thrown something in that moment, but unexpectedly, the young Crown Prince showed signs of quickly regaining control of his emotions.

"It's unfortunate. A dog that doesn't know how to keep its tail down will inevitably be killed by its master one day, but it's barking without knowing that."

"..."

"You may not know, but I know how different the inside and outside of the people here are and how they only care about themselves. You may be on your high horse now, but that joy won't last long."

This was, in fact, a curse. When Yuder was contemplating whether he should ask if he had finished cursing, Katchian changed his complexion and smiled.

"...But I'm different."

"..."

"Because I came from the outside that hasn't settled, I'm generous to new people like you. It's natural for new water to flow along a new path. From the moment I first saw you, I thought it would be great if I could use that ability to create the era I desire."

Yuder thought that no matter what Katchian said, it wouldn't be much of a surprise, but this was different. Yuder looked straight into Katchian's eyes.

'This is absurd. Is he serious?'

He had heard similar words in his previous life as well. It was a time when not much had passed since Emperor Katchian's ascension to the throne, and the people still had expectations for him as his misgovernment had not yet occurred. The young emperor not only followed Diarca's opinions but also said many plausible things about changing the world himself, and his words to Yudrain Aile, the Cavalry Commander, were one of them.

“The new Cavalry Commander will be the starting point for a new era.”

“I will create a new empire with Yudrain Aile and the newly reborn Cavalry.”

“His ability is for the Emperor and the empire. So there's no need to be afraid. I'll generously accept Awakeners and only think about the stability and development of the empire.”

Well, at that time, he might have thought that those words weren't wrong. No one had ever said such things clearly to Yuder and the Cavalry, so he felt a bit of a willing heart. Even though he killed Kishiar on his orders, by then, that fact had long become nothing to him.

He thought that if the Cavalry could be properly established within the empire without being rejected, as Emperor Katchian said, it would be worth going through some hardships for that. He believed that Katchian was showing everyone how he dealt with Yudrain Aile—firmly, harshly, yet sometimes kindly—to demonstrate that.

To show that he wasn't afraid of Awakeners and that there was no need to be afraid. So it wouldn't be bad to cooperate.

Of course, looking back now, nothing was right. Katchian had only used Yuder and the Cavalry for his personal gain and had never used them for the empire.

If the now Crown Prince truly thought of bringing Yuder to his side upon seeing him, it was likely just another desire to possess a compliant and powerful weapon.

'Because he seemed to be terribly good at grasping at least one such thing.'

It was ridiculous. And on the other hand, he felt a terribly bitter feeling.

It was ridiculous that he seemed easy enough to think that he could use him as his weapon again despite so many things happening, and it was bitterly felt once again that some things never change even when starting a game again.

'Still... at least this time, I know well what answer I should give.'

Yuder opened his mouth, feeling like spitting at the Emperor Katchian of the past and his stupid past self.

"I apologize, but does Your Highness, the Crown Prince, know how the one who called himself a 'sage' died in the South?"