Chapter 356

At Felix's declaration, the nobles froze, staring at him with mouths agape.

Even Theo was somewhat taken aback by his bold statement.

‘What on earth could have driven this man to such lengths?’

Theo found himself wondering where such unwavering loyalty stemmed from. How many people would ultimately suggest sacrificing themselves for the establishment of absolute imperial authority? Felix’s loyalty seemed to exist on an entirely different plane.

The conference room was engulfed in silence. Everyone present could feel it—the depth and intensity of Felix's devotion. Those who lacked such dedication hung their heads in shame, unable to meet his gaze.

It was Cassandra who finally broke the silence.

“This is unacceptable.”

Her voice carried a tinge of displeasure, and understandably so.

‘It’s practically a declaration of martyrdom.’

Felix's ardent support of Cassandra stemmed from her being a descendant of the late Emperor and the dream Felix once shared with him. The late Emperor had been assassinated before he could fulfill that vision, and now Felix sought to carry it forward, declaring that he would create a utopia and then follow in the Emperor’s footsteps.

It was only natural for Cassandra to be visibly displeased.

Felix realized immediately that he had made a mistake. Although he had already sworn to be the queen’s sword, his words just now had rendered that promise hollow.

‘So my heart still belongs to the late Emperor.’

Was it due to the guilt of having failed to serve him adequately? Or perhaps it was because Felix himself was worn down. Regardless, it was clear that his remark had been a misstep.

‘But even if it truly comes to that, I don’t mind.’

Though it was a blunder, the method was undeniably effective. History had repeatedly proven it. Now, Felix only felt regret for making the queen uncomfortable with his thoughtless comment.

“Distinctions must, of course, be made. If we cast out loyal servants who work tirelessly to maintain order and prepare for the future, who would remain to support me?”

Cassandra’s clear, commanding voice rang out, breaking the somber atmosphere.

“Your loyalty today will not be forgotten. Nor will I hold the sins of those who stood by in the past against them. I carry on the legacy of the late Emperor, ensuring the continuity of rightful rule.”

Felix closed his eyes, her words resonating deeply. She had chosen to uphold her predecessors’ contributions while refusing to abandon the founding loyalists. Yet, the absence of certain imperial traits—ruthlessness and charisma—meant that cracks could form in the imperial authority.

At that moment, Felix’s eyes met Cassandra’s. Her gaze was soft yet resolute, a look of quiet trust.

In response, Felix’s eyes lit up with strength, his gaze silently pledging his allegiance to safeguard her authority.

“I am grateful for Your Majesty’s compassion. If you grant me this opportunity, I will unite all knights stationed in the royal palace to ensure your reign is met with unwavering loyalty.”

Felix knelt on one knee as he made his vow.

Cassandra merely nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Watching the scene, Theo smiled with satisfaction.

‘Now, the relationship between sovereign and servant feels properly established.’

Though Felix’s heart still partially belonged to the late Emperor, Theo was confident that, in time, Felix would fully dedicate himself to Cassandra.

“Let’s conclude the meeting here. Everyone, rise.”

As Cassandra stood first, the other key figures followed suit, bowing as they rose.

‘Did I do well?’

As Cassandra passed by Theo, she whispered the question softly.

‘You were perfect.’

Theo’s reply prompted a faint smile from Cassandra.

She exited the conference room but paused momentarily beside Felix.

“As you said earlier, I hope you can follow through on those words.”

A subtle tension lingered between them.

Cassandra could see right through Felix. She knew he wasn’t truly following her out of genuine devotion but out of a sense of obligation tied to the imperial bloodline. That was why she urged him to offer his sincerity.

However...

“...Please forgive my disloyalty. From the day you don the crown before the people, my loyalty will belong solely to you.”

Felix wasn’t yet ready to let go of Horik, the late Emperor. A ruler who had been exploited by court politics his entire life, unable to even leave behind a legacy worth remembering. A ruler who would be written off as a failed monarch, forgotten by history.

Thus, Felix sought permission—for his loyalty to remain with Horik until his funeral rites were complete.

“For now, your words are enough. I will wait until your loyalty is truly mine.”

With those words, Cassandra gently patted Felix’s shoulder and left the conference room.

Click. Bang.

As the door shut behind her and her footsteps faded, the nobles, who had been tense with unease, let out audible breaths.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“The discussions regarding the funeral and coronation will remain confidential. Should any of this leak outside, I will hold the responsible party accountable, regardless of their status.”

“Yes, understood.”

At Felix’s warning, the nobles responded swiftly and then hurried out of the room as though fleeing.

In the end, only Theo and Felix remained in the conference room.

“Well done.”

Theo spoke with a lighthearted tone. Felix responded with a wry smile and a shrug.

“All thanks to you. But...”

Felix’s expression shifted slightly as he squinted at Theo.

After a brief pause, Felix scanned Theo from head to toe, then let out an awkward laugh.

“Is something the matter?”

“Oh, forgive me. It’s just that every time I see you, you feel like a completely different person. My apologies for the impropriety.”

Realizing his unintended rudeness, Felix apologized, cleared his throat, and left the conference room.

‘It’s harder to conceal than I thought.’

Theo glanced down at his own body, letting out a soft chuckle.

Despite his efforts to hide it, Felix had noticed. Perhaps his attempts had been in vain.

‘Well, I have my own tasks to attend to.’

With that thought, Theo turned and made his way out.

***

Crack. Crack.

The sound of fracturing echoed from all directions. Theo couldn’t tell if it came from his own body or from external impacts, as he was completely absorbed in controlling his power.

Boom. Boom.

Waves of energy pulsed from his dantian, flowing through his upper dantian, his brain’s gate, and the Dragon Heart. These waves surged through his body, pushing to the furthest limits of his flesh and returning in a relentless cycle.

‘My body is changing every day.’

Since the day he acquired the divine mystery, the massive power planted within Theo had been steadily unfurling, reshaping his body. It felt as though his skin itself was breathing, like every pore had turned into a tiny lung. At times, he even felt a surreal sensation, as though wings might sprout from his back.

‘No wonder Felix noticed something unusual.’

Felix was, after all, a master of considerable attainment. His sharp instincts allowed him to sense things others couldn’t, at times gazing at Theo with a look that seemed to suggest he was observing something more than human. It wasn’t the gaze one would direct at a monster—it was as if Felix were marveling at something extraordinary.

Theo, too, was becoming increasingly aware that his body was being reconstructed in ways he had never imagined. The most astonishing realization, however, was this:

‘When will this power ever diminish?’

Despite his best efforts to harness and stabilize the energy flowing from his dantian, the power’s volume refused to decrease. It felt almost like a self-sustaining machine, producing an endless stream of energy.

‘Is this what it means for divinity to take root?’

Though he had heard about it in words, experiencing it firsthand made the process of controlling such power feel like an exasperating ordeal. If he left it unattended for even a moment, it felt as though his body might explode.

And so, a sense of reverence naturally welled up within him.

‘Father suppressed this power and delayed his transcendence for so long… remarkable.’

Even a moment of carelessness could cause the radiance of transcendence to envelop him. The sheer willpower Kyle must have possessed to suppress such a force for so long was unimaginable.

‘I always thought I was catching up to him, but I was far from it.’

Theo finally admitted to himself that he had only been imitating his father. This realization gave rise to another question: where had Kyle obtained such power without divine mysteries, and how had he managed it? Especially in an era when a hindrance like Hilda existed.

“Hah, that’s enough for now.”

Theo finished harnessing the energy and stood up. The power, which had been spreading like an uncoiling snake, gradually subsided, retreating into his dantian. He tossed aside his sweat-soaked shirt and began wiping himself down with a towel.

At that moment...

“Come in.”

Theo spoke before the knock even came, sensing the presence approaching from afar. The realization surprised even him.

The presence belonged to none other than...

“Did you already know I was here?”

It was Black Dragon.

The stealthy, shadowy aura of Black Dragon, a master of infiltration and covert operations, was not something most could detect. It was ingrained into his very being. Yet Theo had sensed him from a distance, without even being consciously aware of it.

Even Black Dragon looked momentarily startled at Theo’s greeting.

“Of course. Please, make yourself comfortable.”

Theo’s calm response prompted Black Dragon to close the door behind him and take a seat.

‘Am I getting old?’

The thought briefly crossed Black Dragon’s mind. He felt a slight sting to his pride but soon realized why he had been detected as he watched Theo change his shirt.

“You’ve grown unbelievably stronger in such a short time since your last expedition. Haha! Such pleasant surprises one after another—this old man couldn’t be happier.”

Black Dragon laughed heartily, studying Theo closely. It had been ages since he’d felt such an overwhelming presence. For a fleeting moment, he wondered if Kyle had reincarnated through Theo’s body.

‘To think I would ever consider retirement.’

What shocked him was not the idea of retiring due to old age but because the gap in their abilities had made the thought inevitable.

“Strength is only natural in this world of survival,” Theo said.

“Indeed. But truly, I can see now why you carry your father’s bloodline. It reminds me of the old days.”

A wistful look passed through Black Dragon’s eyes as memories of serving Kyle came flooding back.

Theo, seated across from him, poured tea into a cup and handed it to Black Dragon. Watching the elder’s pleased expression, Theo smiled faintly.

“You almost seem like you came to announce your retirement. Is that right?”

“Well, the time is approaching.”

Black Dragon raised the tea to his lips and took a sip as he spoke. Seeing Theo grow into a strong and upright leader brought him immense satisfaction, fulfilling the vision Kyle had once entrusted to him. Now, Theo resembled Kyle so closely that Black Dragon felt he could finally consider stepping away to enjoy a quiet retirement.

‘It would be unseemly for an old man like me to linger in the inner circle.’

After decades of service, Black Dragon thought it wouldn’t be unreasonable to step back now.

“Haha! Don’t joke like that. You’re still in great health. Wisdom only grows more valuable with age.”

Theo dismissed the idea of Black Dragon’s retirement with a laugh.

‘There’s still so much to be done—absolutely no chance of that.’

Though Theo didn’t voice this thought aloud, his smile conveyed it clearly.

And Black Dragon...

‘It seems I’ll only retire when I’m six feet under.’

Despite a twinge of disappointment, he was secretly pleased to know he was still needed. With a mix of emotions, Black Dragon drained the tea in his cup.