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Chapter 332: Emperor Herman’s Sadness
As Princess Loraine saw the figures outside the door, her eyes widened, and her heartbeat quickened with nervousness. Aldrian and Prince Claude then entered the room. At the same time, Aldrian noticed the princess looking at him with a trembling gaze, prompting him to smile.
"Why is that man here?!" Princess Loraine thought.
Emperor Herman, who sensed the change in his daughter’s demeanor and noticed her slight trembling, knew why his daughter like that. However, he put the matter aside for now as he stood up from his seat.
As he approached Aldrian, he couldn’t help but be surprised by how young the person before him was. He had assumed that the mysterious swordmaster would be at least a middle-aged man, but Aldrian appeared to be in his teens.
He considered the possibility that this was merely a disguise for some unknown reason, but he still believed Aldrian was truly young—he could sense it. Nonetheless, he set aside the matter of age, deciding not to pursue it further.
"Father, I brought the swordmaster I told you about. He is the one who helped us," Prince Claude said while gesturing with his hand.
Aldrian gave a slight bow after the prince introduced him to Emperor Herman.
"So, you are the one many have been talking about? Rumors can say anything, but now that you are standing before me, I must admit they do not do you justice. What can I say? The previous generation will always be surpassed by the new. Welcome to the imperial palace," Emperor Herman said, offering his hand for a handshake.
Aldrian, of course, did not refuse the emperor’s offer and accepted it.
"It is my honor to be invited here, Your Majesty. This truly gives my humble self an experience I will never forget."
"Ahahaha, you exaggerate. With your strength, I am sure you have experienced this many times already. Have a seat—it is not good to keep standing when you have just arrived."
They then sat near Princess Loraine, with Prince Claude sitting beside her.
"So, may I know your name? I would feel rude if I called you without knowing what to call you. Claude also did not mention your name when he communicated with me," Emperor Herman said.
"This one’s name is Aldrian, Your Majesty."
Hearing his name, Emperor Herman embedded it in his memory as if it were something he must remember.
"Aldrian... a good name, a good name," he said.
The emperor then shifted his gaze to his daughter. What he had heard from Claude was still fresh in his mind—Loraine had met this young man before, something he had not expected. He decided to feign ignorance and asked his daughter,
"My dear, have you met this young man before? You have seemed strange since you saw him."
Princess Loraine paused for a moment.
"Uhm—" However, before she could say anything further, Aldrian had already cut her off.
"It is truly a surprise for me to meet Her Highness, the famous Princess Loraine. Today must be one of the most honored days of my life, as the heavens have allowed me to meet the entire imperial family," Aldrian said, looking at Princess Loraine with a smile.
He knew that if the emperor had already heard about his conversation with Claude, then he must also be aware that he knew the princess personally.
If the emperor was feigning ignorance, then he would follow along with the act.
Aldrian then looked at the emperor again. "We have already met before in Flamecrest City under unexpected circumstances, Your Majesty. At that time, I was truly impressed by the princess’s character—she seemed loyal and the type who would never easily abandon her beloved."
Hearing Aldrian’s words, everyone in the room more or less understood the implicit message behind them.
Princess Loraine’s heart was already racing, and she couldn’t keep it calm. She also knew exactly what Aldrian meant, and now, she was more afraid than ever that her family would finally discover what she had done behind their backs.
Emperor Herman suddenly covered the entire room by activating the soundproof formation, ensuring that no one outside could hear what they discussed inside.
He then looked at his daughter before turning to Aldrian again. 𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝙤𝒎
"Young Aldrian, regarding the issue with the Duclan and Larson families, as well as the plot of the devils in the Flamecrest Grand Duchy, may I hear it from you personally? How far were you involved in this matter, and how did you manage to uncover and resolve the devils’ plot in such a short time? I’ve heard more or less from Claude, but I want to hear the details directly from you, Young Aldrian," he said.
"Of course, Your Majesty, I would gladly tell you, and even provide a more detailed explanation than when I spoke to His Highness," Aldrian replied.
He then retold his findings and experiences, starting with the resolution of the situation in Flamecrest and continuing up to the most recent events with the Larson family. Emperor Herman and prince Claude listened intently to Aldrian, especially Emperor Herman, who seemed to be absorbing every word. He paid close attention, wanting to ensure that what Aldrian was saying aligned with what he had in mind.
Throughout the story, Aldrian subtly implied that some of the incidents could not have occurred without someone from the imperial family’s intervention, and everyone in the room was not oblivious to this.
Princess Loraine’s mind was in chaos, as she felt like she was on the edge of a cliff, and it was only a matter of time before she was discovered. Truthfully, she was shocked by how Aldrian knew some information that was only privy to her and the devils in the Vindas Empire. What was more, she was stunned to realize that Aldrian was actually the mysterious swordsman, a figure whom many had sought. He is now a living legend among cultivators across the continent.
"No wonder, he can kidnap Rodwin!" Princess Loraine thought. If he’s the mysterious swordsman capable of causing phenomenon across the continent, then he could certainly accomplish that.
Once Aldrian had finished telling the details, which took more than an hour, a brief silence followed. After a few moments, Emperor Herman turned his gaze toward his daughter.
"Dear, as you know, the recent events involving the devils are all somehow connected to your case, and this is no coincidence. So, would you mind telling me your side of the story? How did you manage to solve the devils’ case in the past? I never asked you about this before, but the recent troubles have made me start questioning the truth behind it. Please, child, do tell me the details of what happened when you visited the Duclan family, your connection with the Larson family, and what you did inside Flamecrest Grand Duchy," he said.
Princess Loraine already knew that she would likely be found out after this, as Aldrian’s story had already insinuated the involvement of someone from the imperial family, and who else could be the most suspect but her?
She longed to escape, regretting her decision to meet her father now. If she had known that Aldrian would come at this time, she would have left the imperial palace until he had gone. But there was no remedy for regret, and now, she was desperately trying to think of a way to get out of this place.
Seeing his daughter fidgeting and clearly nervous, Emperor Herman’s heart sank deeper, and he felt a suffocating weight in his chest.
"Father, I really don’t know about the Larson family or their connection to the devils. I didn’t realize that what I did would lead to the destruction of the innocent. Please forgive me, Father," Princess Loraine said, her voice full of desperation.
"Then what about the incident at the brothel in Larson city? Your brother’s undercover mission was known by only a few, and you were the only one who could have directed him to the brothel to follow the young master of the Larson family. The source of the information came from someone associated with your guardian knight, and they could not have known about your brother’s undercover mission. So it can only mean one thing—it came from you."
"I... I..." Princess Loraine wanted to refute, but the emperor continued.
"What about the fact that Sir Klain’s traces can be found in hidden locations within parts of the capital and the Larson Grand Duchy? And the death of one of the Seven Devils of Annihilation inside our dungeon, where she was being held under heavy guard? After my investigation, I found that the only way someone could move freely within the dungeon, knowing all the formations, and cause the guards around the palace to drop their guard, was if they met with a figure of authority. Sir Klain was known to be near the dungeon at the time of the incident. Do you have anything to say about that?"
"I... I..." Princess Loraine’s eyes trembled as she struggled to find the words, her mind a chaotic mess. She couldn’t bring herself to answer her father’s questioning gaze. Seeing her at a loss, Emperor Herman suddenly stood up and walked toward the window, his gaze fixed on the vast garden of the imperial palace.
A deep sadness enveloped him, a sorrow he had never felt before. All the signs pointed to the undeniable truth—his daughter was guilty of something that could harm not just herself, but the entire empire.
"Loraine, how could you do this?" A trembling voice cut through the silence—Prince Claude’s voice, laced with hurt.
