ITIF Chapter 21

A Duel to Survive

Meanwhile, in the Emperor’s private reception room, the Emperor and Philipo sat facing each other, playing chess.

Moving a chess piece, the Emperor smiled at Philipo.

“Philipo, I didn’t know you had such a hobby.”

That was only natural. Until now, the Emperor had been a cold father who wouldn’t even spare Philipo a glance.

So there was no way he would know that he and Philipo shared such a common interest.

However, instead of expressing his grievances, Philipo smiled awkwardly and moved his chess piece.

“My skills are humble, so I dared not mention it.”

Philipo had begun taking interest in chess due to the encouragement of his mother, Countess Tarel.

Looking back now, it seemed she was trying to create something for Philipo to bond with the Emperor over, but he had never even thought of challenging the Emperor to a match.

No, even before that, he had never even thought of coming to the imperial palace alone to meet the Emperor.

And for good reason. Though Philipo was of the Emperor’s bloodline, he was only half. Because Philipo’s mother had been the Emperor’s mistress.

In the past, there had been cases where a mistress’s son became Emperor of the empire, but those were truly rare occurrences.

Generally, a mistress’s son would be killed in his mother’s womb before he was even born.

The fact that Philipo had safely come into this world could be considered purely lucky.

Countess Tarel had also said that when she was pregnant with Philipo, she had narrowly escaped death several times.

Though everyone kept quiet about it, Philipo was not unaware that this was the Empress’s scheme.

After giving birth to Philipo, the Empress’s persecution of Countess Tarel became even worse, and Countess Tarel was indignant about it.

She lived with the words “I hate the Empress” constantly on her lips.

But Philipo’s thoughts were somewhat different from his mother, Countess Tarel.

Though he might be called half-blooded, wasn’t he able to grow up in a good environment thanks to the noble status of being the Emperor’s son?

Of course, instead of being called a prince, he was referred to as the heir of Count Tarel.

Still, Philipo never lost his pride in being a member of the imperial family.

Then someone appeared who called Philipo by the title of prince, which everyone else was reluctant to mention.

It was none other than Duke Amaterasu’s daughter.

Though there were rumors that she was somewhat lacking in intelligence, Philipo didn’t mind much.

For the first time in his life, someone of the noble status of a duke’s daughter had acknowledged the value of his existence, and that was a very significant event in Philipo’s life.

That wasn’t all.

Giselle Grante, whom he had actually seen, was so beautiful that one couldn’t easily look away.

Though they had only exchanged a few words, her speech and behavior were steeped in the dignity befitting a high noble.

She seemed no less impressive than his half-sister, Princess Trinity, whom he had only observed from afar.

Such a woman had called Philipo a prince. She had chosen him.

Countess Tarel thought this was an indirect expression that the Amaterasu ducal house would support Philipo.

Furthermore, they might even be planning to make Philipo the husband of Duke Amaterasu’s daughter.

“Ho, you’re going to place it there…?”

Just as the Emperor was looking at the chessboard with careful eyes, crossing his arms with an interested expression,

“Your Majesty, for a moment…”

The chamberlain approached and whispered in the Emperor’s ear.

“The Empress?”

Raising one eyebrow, the Emperor asked back with a puzzled expression.

“Yes… What shall we do?”

The chamberlain glanced at Philipo as he spoke, and the Emperor let out a light sigh.

Just as Philipo’s curiosity was growing about what matter this might be, the Emperor spoke.

“Since we were just taking a break anyway, tell her to come in.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll convey that message.”

The chamberlain left, and Philipo, who had been anxiously glancing at the entrance to the reception room, suppressed his rising tension and spoke.

“Is Her Majesty the Empress coming here?”

The Emperor, seemingly focused on chess, only nodded.

“….”

It had been when he was very young that he had directly encountered the Empress, so he didn’t remember much about her.

But through his mother, Countess Tarel, he had learned well how cold and frightening a person the Empress was.

[I wonder if they’ve arrested some innocent person…]

When Princess Trinity had died, Countess Tarel, who had visited the imperial palace, had briefly expressed doubt.

[Arresting an innocent person? What do you mean by that, Mother?]

At that time, lost in thought with her gaze lowered, Countess Tarel had muttered.

[No. I must be overthinking.]

She had immediately dismissed it as nothing, but Philipo couldn’t shake the feeling that his mother’s reaction was somehow suspicious.

In fact, Philipo had also once harbored doubts about whether there might be someone else behind Princess Trinity’s murder.

Of course, even if that were true, it was a matter that had nothing to do with him, so he had let it pass.

“Caught you.”

Just as Philipo took his hand off the chess piece, the Emperor burst into pleased laughter.

“Ah…”

A low exclamation escaped from Philipo’s lips.

Only then did he realize that he had fallen beautifully into the Emperor’s trap.

“Your concentration seems to have wavered?”

“I didn’t expect you to attack from that direction.”

When Philipo made a regretful expression, the Emperor uncrossed his arms and raised one eyebrow.

“How about it, shall I take back a move?”

“Oh, no. The world of competition is cold, after all.”

When Philipo waved his hands dismissively, saying it was out of the question, the Emperor moved his chess piece and said,

“Checkmate. Well, well… you still have a long way to go.”

“I… I’ve lost. As expected, I’m no match for Your Majesty.”

Philipo shook his head and raised both hands in surrender.

In fact, he had never intended to win against the Emperor from the beginning.

The Emperor was a man with a very strong competitive spirit, and Duke Amaterasu’s daughter had also advised him thus:

[First, engage in the match with all your heart and soul. Then, try to lose foolishly from a position where you could have the advantage. That way, he won’t suspect the heir’s intention in visiting the palace.]

At first, Philipo had only nodded without understanding what Duke Amaterasu’s daughter meant, but as he pondered her words, he was able to grasp her intention.

Countess Tarel had said that just once, she had heard an important story from the Emperor’s mouth when he was thoroughly drunk.

About the oracle regarding the Emperor’s succession.

An oracle that if the previous Empress’s firstborn was a prince, he would try to break his father’s neck and take his place.

Fortunately, the previous Empress had given birth to a princess, but none of the Emperor’s close associates who knew the oracle’s content at the time doubted it.

If the previous Empress had given birth to a prince, the Emperor would have had no hesitation in disposing of his own child with his own hands.

Having disposed of his elder brother, the crown prince, and taken his place, bloodline could not be an exception for the Emperor.

‘The meaning was not to beat the Emperor if you want to live.’

The Emperor might judge this not as a simple chess match between father and son.

“Although I lost the match due to my insufficient skills, I learned a great deal. May I come to play chess occasionally?”

At Philipo’s carefully spoken words, the Emperor readily nodded.

“Of course. Do you know how to drink?”

At the Emperor’s question, Philipo nodded slightly.

“I can drink a little.”

“Who first taught you to drink?”

The Emperor smiled pleasantly and held out an empty glass.

The father and son continued their harmonious conversation for only a brief moment.

The chamberlain announced the Empress’s arrival.

“Your Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress has arrived.”

Philipo tensely watched the Empress walking into the reception room, then stood up and gave a proper greeting.

“I pay my respects to Her Majesty the Empress.”

The Empress looked at Philipo with a surprised expression.

“The heir of Count Tarel? It’s been quite a long time since I’ve seen you.”

“It’s been a long time. Have you been well?”

At Philipo’s courteous greeting, the Empress slightly lowered her gaze.

“I can’t say I’ve been well…”

It was a well-known fact that the Empress had cherished Princess Trinity.

“Your grief must be great.”

At Philipo’s words of comfort, the Empress looked wistful and continued,

“…I’m constantly striving to overcome my sorrow.”

“I’m sure you are. Just as the sky clears after rain, may happiness always fill Your Majesty’s days.”

The Emperor nodded slightly, apparently pleased with Philipo’s words.

The Empress, who had been glancing at the Emperor, quickly changed the subject.

“But what brings you to the palace, heir of Count Tarel?”

“Just as Your Majesty grieves, I thought His Majesty the Emperor would also be deeply saddened, so I came to offer comfort.”

Philipo looked at the Emperor with an awkward smile.

The Emperor, who had been wearing a bitter smile for a moment, soon spoke.

“It seems the Empress and I need to have an urgent conversation, so it would be best to end here for today.”

“Yes, thanks to Your Majesty, I learned a lesson. Then I’ll take my leave now.”

Philipo bowed to both the Emperor and Empress and left the reception room.

Then an attendant who had been waiting outside the reception room approached Philipo.

“I shall escort you.”

Just as Philipo was walking down the wide corridor with the attendant, there was someone walking around the corner toward them from far away.

Pale blonde hair and grayish-green eyes resembling the Empress.

Tall with a lean build.

‘Joshua?’

Philipo greeted Joshua with the same respectful manner he had shown the Empress.

“It’s been a long time. Your Highness.”

Joshua, on the other hand, only gazed at Philipo quietly with narrowed eyes.

Then the attendant behind Joshua spoke.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, this is the heir of Count Tarel.”

“…The heir of Count Tarel?”

When Joshua raised one eyebrow and asked back, the attendant made a troubled expression, moved his lips, then whispered in Joshua’s ear.

“Ah…”

As if he had just remembered, Joshua twisted up one corner of his mouth.

“I have to hurry off for the investiture ceremony. Take care on your way back.”

With those words, Joshua strode away.

Philipo watched his half-brother’s retreating figure before turning around.

As Philipo walked down the imperial palace corridor where the ceiling, walls, and floor were all pure white, his fists clenched with strength.