Turning Chapter 888

Chapter 888

"You, of all people, should know what that means, right?"

Of course, there was nothing else to guess. Yuder knew very well what Emperor Keilusa's ability was.

The Emperor had the power to imbue a specific object he touched with his energy, allowing him to see and hear what happened around that object. This ability was perfect for gathering information about distant enemies or for communicating with his beloved Empress without direct contact. However, the downside was the limited duration of its use.

After training with Yuder, he began to enhance this ability, but such powers seldom leap forward rapidly. When Yuder left the capital, the maximum range of the Emperor's ability was only around the vicinity of the capital.

'I was sure of that... Has it developed further? Is it now possible to connect from the capital to the south?'

Seeing Yuder's expression, Kishiar pulled something out of his pocket with the grin of a child who had succeeded in a prank. In his palm lay a small gem brooch, uncut to maintain its natural shape and dazzling in its redness. Such an exquisite item, held by someone of Kishiar's stature, wouldn't raise any suspicion.

"Thanks to an outstanding teacher, His Majesty's abilities have significantly improved. I heard he's been testing how far he can communicate with the help of others, and now, it seems, he can reach even here without issue."

"So, does that mean... he can now see and hear everything in the Empire at any time?"

"Well, in theory, yes. But as the distance increases, it still remains difficult to see and hear 'at any time.' Currently, for such long distances, the imbued energy in the object is made to last as long as possible, limiting his observation to once a day, for a very brief period."

This meant that Emperor Keilusa had become much more precise and delicate in gauging and utilizing the amount of his power in objects. Even Yuder, who had rigorously trained him, hadn't anticipated such rapid progress.

"His Majesty was using our communication not so much for important exchanges, but as part of his training to develop his abilities. That's why even you were kept in the dark. He was quite embarrassed about it."

"So... when exactly is this once-a-day opportunity to communicate with His Majesty?"

"His Majesty's evening reading time. Since his days as a prince, he always had his own reading time in the evening after finishing his daily tasks. It's been his pleasure."

Emperor Keilusa, often buried in his work, could not always adhere to fixed waking, sleeping, and meal times. However, the one routine he strictly maintained was his reading time after dinner. Despite his busy life as an emperor, he always managed to find time for reading alone, showing his profound love for books.

"That time is reserved just for him, with even the chief attendant staying outside. It's the ideal time for him to practice his ability without anyone watching. Using his long-distance ability is exhausting, and it takes him a while to recover."

"I see."

"It seems that time is approaching soon, if my senses are still functioning correctly."

Even though Kishiar had woken up later than usual and was still not fully recovered, his extraordinary senses were functioning well. The man smiled as he checked the expensive magic clock on the table and gripped the brooch tightly.

"Do you have any message for His Majesty?"

"Well... I'm relieved to see His Majesty training diligently, and I hope he doesn't overexert himself."

Intensifying training to foster progress is commendable. However, if one's physical condition falls below half of the usual, it becomes challenging to respond to unforeseen emergencies. What a regrettable situation it would be if, due to training, one couldn't exert strength in real battles.

Particularly for Emperor Keilusa, who was holding his ground in a world full of adversaries, intelligently conserving his energy was not just important, but essential.

Kishiar nodded in agreement, as if sharing this sentiment.

"Good advice. Anything else? Both His Majesty and the Empress were quite worried when they heard you had been asleep for two weeks. Her Majesty even mobilized all connections in the South to ensure that the honor of the Hero of the West was not tarnished by this incident."

Despite Yuder's severe injuries during the hailstorm, the fact remained unchanged: he failed to stop Hosanna and missed capturing Nahan. The Empress was reportedly the most furious when Duke Diarca's faction tried to use this as leverage to attack.

Yuder knew that the Emperor and Empress had joined forces behind the scenes to protect the Cavalry from disgrace. However, he hadn't realized that his own honor was also included.

'My honor, as if that matters... I wouldn't mind being spoken ill of.'

But he knew better now not to say such things.

So, the appropriate response would be...

"....Then, please tell His Majesty that I am now well and he needn't worry. ...And that I am truly grateful for their concern."

It felt peculiar to be the subject of such worry and concern, not just from others but also from the Emperor and Empress. It wasn't a bad feeling, though.

It was different from when he had helped with Emperor Keilusa's awakening; this time, they were genuinely upset and angry for him, even though his injury was unrelated to them.

"Alright. I will convey your message. They will be pleased to hear it."

Kishiar's eyes sparkled.

Gauging both the landscape outside the window and the magic clock, he reached the right moment and confidently grasped the brooch, beginning to speak.

"Beloved Majesty, fortunately, I am awake at this hour and able to contact you directly. I hope you are in good health in the capital. ...Not sure if you are watching, but today I have my assistant at my side. He woke up yesterday, unwrapped the bandages energetically, and even managed to take care of some outdoor tasks. He asked me to convey his sincere thanks for both Your Majesty's and Empress' concerns and to assure you that you need not worry anymore. Such a considerate and polite heart, isn’t it? Thinking about how envious Your Majesty must be of me for having such a capable assistant, it brightens my days."

"..."

It had started as a proper and elegant greeting... but as the words flowed, something seemed increasingly amiss.

Yuder looked at Kishiar with a wry expression, but Kishiar's shameless words continued unabated.

"But even if Your Majesty covets talented individuals, I would prefer not to hear any more suggestions about using this incident as an opportunity to summon my assistant to the imperial palace. I do not deny that it could be a choice beneficial for the safety of both Your Majesty and the assistant, but if that were to happen, I would be utterly devastated. If Your Majesty truly cherishes and loves me as a brother, Your Majesty would never repeat such a sorrowful suggestion. My assistant also agrees, so please understand this."

"....Just wait a moment. Did His Majesty actually say that? When…”

The idea of selecting personnel from the Cavalry to guard the palace was not surprising, as it had been a topic of discussion before he left the capital. However, the inclusion of him as a leader in this was a different matter.

Of course, Yuder had no intention of accepting the offer, but this was the first he heard of such discussions. As Yuder looked perplexed, Kishiar winked and chuckled softly before changing the subject.

"Since Your Majesty said last time that unnecessary formalities were unwelcome, I won't drag this out and will get straight to the point. ...For the quicker recovery of my condition, I need the medium that is kept there."

"..."

"This is based on my assistant's assessment after examining my internal state, and I too think it's worth a try. However, moving it here is considerably risky, so it will require discussion and ample preparation. We will send a letter soon regarding this. Please prepare in advance, Your Majesty. Until we meet again, please stay healthy."

After finishing his speech with not a single lapse in his precise voice and pronunciation, Kishiar placed the brooch back into his pocket and exhaled.

"That should have gotten the message across. According to the last letter, the longest His Majesty can hear me is just a bit longer than now."

"Was what you said earlier true?"

"Absolutely. While you were bedridden, out of excessive worry, His Majesty proposed sending you to the palace as a new solution, thinking it might be better for everyone."

"I have no intention of going."

"Right?"

Kishiar nodded, as if he had expected this response.

"Of course, I believed you would say that, which is why I mentioned it just now. His Majesty spoke out of concern, so don't worry. It's merely a worry, not an obligation."