Chapter 651: The Crown Revealed
Huh?
Luca’s head bobbed left and right like a confused chick as they sat in the medical bay near the people still needing assistance. His golden eyes were wide, because from the way his mother was speaking to the Empress, it sounded as though they were already acquainted.
And sure enough, they really were.
According to Xavier, who stepped in after catching Luca’s constant swiveling, it was not unusual for the Imperial family to summon members of House Kyros, given their standing.
Only, even Xavier had not expected them to know each other this well.
"Well, like you, we were all cadets at one point in time," Duchess Amelia said as she glanced at Xavier, especially after realizing their children were discussing them.
"And while Empress Gisella is now the Eternal Light of Solaris, there was once a time she was called Gisella the Iron Puppeteer."
Luca blinked.
That... sounded so cool.
People called him "Chipmunk." Meanwhile, there was someone out there known as "The Iron Puppeteer."
What did it even take to gain such an intimidating nickname? Maybe he could get one, too?
Apparently, it required manipulative techniques, like using someone else’s hands to fight battles or accomplish tasks.
Empress Gisella had to cover her face with one gloved hand, mortified.
Out loud, it truly sounded insane. Then again, when she had made pirates turn their blades against each other, she had not exactly been applying for sainthood.
"That was a long time ago, really!" she tried to reassure, though her voice carried a nervous laugh. "I’m much more mellow now."
Her efforts backfired instantly. Luca was staring up at her with the brightest, shiniest eyes.
"Though there are ways to use it in a positive light," Gisella added quickly, flustered. "You can still influence others to do things so you can conserve resources."
The admiration shining out of Luca was so blinding that she almost had to shield her eyes.
Off to the side, Xavier was completely unsurprised. Of course, his mother had mentioned conserving resources. And for his little money grubber, that was practically a love confession.
Then came the next innocent arrow.
"Then Papa knows the Empress and the Emperor, too?" Luca asked.
Duchess Amelia gave a small nod. "Yes, and if I’m being honest, that’s how I figured Xavier must be related to the Emperor."
"???"
"It was when he used what could only be a bloodline ability to save your aunties. Since we’ve fought alongside Emperor Xavian, it’s impossible not to recognize it."
"!!!"
Luca jolted as the memory of that time returned. Were bloodline abilities so rare that it was even possible to connect the dots when the population was much larger?
Back in Tesseris, it was possible for Espers to have similar abilities, but here it was enough to determine familial relationships!
Then... was it impossible for others to manifest such abilities, or was there some hidden condition?
But before Luca could spiral into thoughts about manifestation requirements, he realized... his mother never mentioned knowing Xavier’s identity?
Amelia, who was now more familiar with her son’s thought process, answered before he could even voice the question. "Keeping it a secret was the best way to protect you both. We were well aware of how the Imperial Crown Prince is usually raised and why so many troubles surround the process."
"And if any of us who suspected spoke up, it would have hindered Xavier’s growth. Which would, in turn, affect you too."
Luca was surprised, but when he looked back at the people standing behind them, they were nodding in agreement.
Whoa! That many people already knew?!
Then again, a certain mop who had long been pretty confident still looked shocked as he was carried like a wood carving.
"And because it’s a rather well-known fact, it’s hard to fault him for doing his duty. If anything, we should be grateful you seem to have been told early on." Duchess Amelia looked at both Luca and Xavier.
She figured her son would have opinions about this, and as expected, his bright face now had a small pout as he apologized, "About that, Mom... I—"
"You were doing your job as an Imperial citizen," Amelia cut in gently. "And you were keeping a promise you likely made when told, right?"
Luca nodded, his face blooming after realizing his mother had understood!
"Obviously, your father would need a little coaxing because even if he didn’t need it, he’d want it. But more than anyone in the Empire, he probably understands the need for this. And if he doesn’t, he would have to understand because there is no choice."
But then the Duchess let out a wistful chuckle. "But what honestly surprised me was how I never thought that of all things, Xavier would just come as is."
"What do you mean, Mom?" Luca tilted his head again.
"Ah. They’re disguised right now. But I believe you’ve seen photos of the Emperor and Empress? If you put them side by side, or happened to see them up close, you’d know how similar they look."
Then Xavier said evenly. He had heard her acceptance, but felt it was still necessary to apologize: "Your Grace, I apologize for keeping it a secret... and for hiding in plain sight."
Emperor Xavian almost choked on air.
Of course, this was a good thing, but seriously?
He remembered vividly when his son had first declared he would go without a disguise. The disturbed father had almost collapsed on the spot, convinced the brat simply wanted to avoid wasting time changing his appearance each day. And now, that same brat was apologizing as if it had been some noble masterstroke.
Although, to his incredible frustration, it really had been effective.
"Wait, so Xavier wasn’t supposed to go out looking like that?" Luca asked, utterly bewildered. His gaze darted around the room as realization dawned. In truth, he shouldn’t have even known what Xavier really looked like!
If his husband had decided to wear a disguise, then he would’ve missed out on his hair. On those eyes, that face. And what about the other parts? Would they have to be disguised, too?
The prince once thought the reveal would be daunting, that the way people treated him would change, but with Luca looking up at him like that, with questions that likely couldn’t be mentioned out loud... then it didn’t seem so bad.
"Yes," Xavier admitted, "but because everyone expects a disguised prince, they tend to ignore anyone bold enough to walk around while openly resembling the Imperial family."
It was apparently so effective that Emperor Xavian wondered why he had ever bothered with disguises before.
But then again, after seeing his son-in-law’s reaction when the three of them finally stood together, perhaps disguising every once in a while was not such a bad idea.
For when the Emperor and Empress at last took off their disguises, Luca let out a sound that could only be described as honest awe.
Silver hair, green-steel eyes, and that posture that radiated elegance even in something as plain as an attendant’s uniform. It was impossible not to notice how much little Nina would likely grow up to resemble her Imperial mother.
And then there was the Emperor, his white hair only slightly shorter than Xavier’s, and those piercing blue eyes that were impossible to ignore. No wonder his mother had said Xavier was hiding in plain sight.
With the three of them standing side by side, the truth was undeniable.
Luca’s first afterthought came out in a blur of innocence and excitement.
"Your Majesties, can I take a picture?"
Sharp gasps rippled through the medical bay, followed by the kind of silence that trembled with disbelief. Yet, somehow, the little chipmunk managed to convince the Glacier of Solaris himself to stand for a long-awaited photo together with the Eternal Lights of the Empire.
It was no longer the photo of a tiny child being carried between two parents.
They might have missed that chance, but what they had now was something different—something precious in its own odd way.
One photo.
All of them in mismatched clothing. The strangest backdrop of a medical bay that looked nothing like a royal portrait hall. Yet there stood a much taller son, eyes no longer hollow, gazing straight at the lens.
And for once, there was even a small grin tugging at his lips as he responded to the photographer’s cheerful, "Say cheese!"
As if fate wanted to gild the moment, the photographer added a final flourish, doodling a heart right over the corner.
It was imperfect. It was awkward. But it was theirs.
But somewhere that was not so far away, a little princess sat pouting on the great Imperial throne. Her tiny legs dangled well above the floor as she leaned against the oversized armrest, cheeks puffed with indignation.
"They said they wouldn’t take so long... When will they come back?" she asked in a small but determined voice, hugging the staff of office as though it were her favorite toy.
The sight of Nina, guarding the Empire with all the seriousness a child could muster, would have been adorable—if only she weren’t trying to look exactly like her father while doing it.