Chapter 95: The Price of Power

The rumor of Ethan Prescott becoming Ethan Gradis spread like wildfire among the nobility. Given that autonomous regions had even waged territorial wars over the ultra-pure Ekaneum ore veins, fervent interest followed regarding Veliki’s affiliated title and the Viscount Gradis family.

This meant Ethan, who had diligently attended the academy for nearly two months despite constant summons from the festival’s events department, was now unable to go with just over ten days remaining until the event.

“Your Highness, Ethan Prescott, the new flower of the Empire, has requested an audience to receive your Nishan.”

“Tell them I’m busy with other matters.”

Devon, having given a terse reply to the Chief Chamberlain, finally lifted his gaze from the ancient tome he was perusing and murmured.

‘…That’s quite unexpected. The Moore family, having sided with the Lord of Riga, introduced Veliki’s direct subordinate—the very one who betrayed Riga—as a foster parent. And they accepted it.’

“There is a sound justification, Your Highness. Riga and Veliki are, after all, bound by a marriage alliance. Should the Moore family demand mining rights in Riga, thereby protecting it from Zaisler, and simultaneously forge ties with Veliki, it would create a formidable shield of power over the ultra-pure northern ore veins.”

“They would undoubtedly faint if they ever learned that Marchioness Annabelle Moore and certain members of the Elder Council established a factory in Veliki, intending to amass illicit wealth through weapon replication.”

Devon scoffed at them, a smirk playing on his lips as if he found their ignorance immensely satisfying. Naturally, a substantial portion of those very profits was flowing directly into his own coffers, making this a private jest.

“Viscount Gradis, it seems, desires a promotion in rank.”

“That would be his greatest wish, wouldn’t it? Is he hoping to become a vassal of the Moore family by accepting Ethan?”

“It appeared he wished to become the lord of an autonomous region, receiving the land in Riga that Zaisler had conquered.”

A faint, knowing smile curved Devon’s lips. For Zaisler, who had claimed half of the vast northern territories as their own, to offer the land conquered in the territorial war was tantamount to asking for it directly from Devon. Zaisler was, after all, Devon’s proxy, a power he had meticulously cultivated with immense financial investment.

The Zaisler Lord’s matching Guide was, in fact, utterly subservient to Devon. She was the very woman who had used drugs, infused with Huey’s ‘Drug’ ability, to drive the Lord of Veliki’s original matching Guide—his wife—to madness and suicide, thus seizing her position. As the territorial wars began and Zaisler achieved continuous victories, their Lord became entirely bound to Devon. Furthermore, the Lord’s exceptional son was granted the honor of being personally claimed as an Esper by the benevolent Prince Devon.

“That is, if he has the courage to eliminate Ethan Gradis, who will become his son.”

“Your Highness!”

“Why so sensitive? It’s a joke. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Have you perhaps grown fond of this rare Guide, whose abilities are entirely concentrated in the ‘Shadow’ affinity, during your tutelage?”

At Devon’s light teasing, Huey’s gaze turned cold, cutting through the Prince’s sarcasm with a chilling indifference.

“I have no desire to call a student with such atrocious classroom etiquette my disciple.”

Having heard numerous accounts of Ethan’s classroom demeanor, Devon merely chuckled to himself.

Huey’s gaze drifted towards the ancient book Devon was examining, catching sight of an octagonal figure etched faintly on its large, worn cover. Noticing Huey’s attention, Devon stopped chuckling, pointed to the symbol, and let out a sigh.

“It seems Anna Green was attempting some ancient Han Dynasty royal ritual. I simply can’t fathom what mistake she made to die while receiving a guardian gwi.”

“…Why does the Han Dynasty’s lineage flow so strongly in Your Highness’s blood?”

Huey’s mind drifted to the genetic test results of Devon, which he had meticulously analyzed in his own laboratory. As he hesitantly extended his hand, Devon clasped it firmly. Though Devon’s thoughts flowed into him, even the Prince himself remained ignorant as to why the Han Dynasty’s lineage manifested so strongly within his own blood.

“Is it atavism, perhaps? The Green family absorbed the ancient dynasty anyway, so their bloodlines would naturally mix. Anna Green was the same. Therefore, I am surely qualified to possess what Anna Green failed to achieve.”

“…You already command eight powerful Espers, Your Highness. Is it truly necessary to acquire a being such as a guardian gwi?”

*Thud—*

With a decisive motion, Devon closed the book, simultaneously withdrawing his hand from Huey’s grasp.

“The revival of a legend. It was nothing short of luck that the Green family, along with powerful houses like the Moore family, were able to absorb the Han Dynasty. This was because the king was a minor who had not received a guardian gwi. Of course, we worked behind the scenes to make that happen, but as a result, a world where Espers held superiority unfolded.”

Within Aitoolia’s long and storied history, dating back to the inception of the Green Dynasty, there exists a period of profound shame. This very perception was still deeply entrenched, even in Anna Green’s generation, which was not so far removed from the present.

‘A Guide is an Esper’s possession.’

There were, indeed, instances where Guides ascended to the throne. However, these occurred only when no suitable Esper was born among the royal lineage, and a Guide royal, demonstrating truly exceptional abilities, was then elevated to kingship by a powerful, opportunistic nobility. In such circumstances, the monarch invariably became a pawn, easily swayed by the nobles. Royal authority would ebb as the king became a mere puppet or was dominated by their Esper spouse, only to strengthen once more when an Esper eventually claimed the throne. This precarious cycle persisted until Anna Green’s unprecedented manifestation as a multi-Guide began to fundamentally alter these deeply ingrained concepts.

While official records stated she commanded five Espers, the truth was far more complex. The remaining three were, in fact, commoners who handled intelligence and ‘dirty work’ in the shadows, influential figures from powerful autonomous regions who offered assistance, or the wealthy masters of vast trading guilds.

“…It’s not certain whether Princess Anna Green truly intended to become a monarch, Your Highness.”

Her political maneuvers were far too passive for such an ambition, and more importantly, the available clues were simply too scarce to make a definitive judgment. Though Huey voiced his doubts, Devon vehemently denied them.

“No. She intended to become the most perfect monarch. One who would not be swayed by Espers, but rather ascend to a position where she could sway them.”

“…Your Highness’s policies have already resolved some of these issues to a certain extent.”

Devon had already meticulously crafted policies to protect Guides using his own considerable influence, and he had seen them successfully implemented. Therefore, Huey found himself questioning the necessity of such overwhelming power.

Devon let out a short, mirthless chuckle.

“Huey, my first Esper. You have witnessed everything about me and share the most secrets, yet you alone always question me. Why do you perpetually observe me from such a distance? I haven’t changed. Even before I met you, I had already acquired fragments of the ancient book that Anna Green possessed. It’s not some treasure map, and I’ve been struggling terribly with it, piece by agonizing piece, until now.”

“Your Highness already possesses immense power. Was it truly necessary to induce an imprinting phenomenon with even the Lord of Wilfried Zaisler, just to complete your eight?”

Devon, momentarily lost in thought, suddenly burst into boisterous laughter and pulled Huey into an embrace. Huey, caught off guard by the unexpected guiding, wore a thoroughly bewildered expression.

“To still be concerned about that… It seems you, an Esper, still don’t understand.”

Devon’s dismissive attitude, reducing his profound feelings to mere jealousy, was infuriating. As his oldest Esper, Huey’s heart had been worn raw by enduring this particular slight countless times. Receiving the guiding, Huey managed to compose his expression, though a flicker of pain remained. Still embracing him, Devon leaned in and whispered into his ear.

“As a multi-Guide, it is a longing for power to protect myself. The guardian gwi is one thing, but if it doesn’t become entirely mine, it’s useless. That’s precisely why I didn’t seek out the Ancaster family, who sealed their own family, from the beginning. How can I trust a mutant who only uses a Guide’s power to strengthen themselves and can’t even imprint?”

“……”

“Anna Green probably regretted making an Ancaster her first Esper the most as she was dying. They deserve to suffer a little more.”

Power to protect oneself. That had been the initial motivation, and even now, his stated goal remained unchanged. However, as Huey watched him—the very man who claimed he would create a world for Guides—deceive and sacrifice them as mere tools to bind high-ranking Espers for his ‘grand endeavor,’ a profound realization dawned upon him.

He desired not power merely for self-preservation, but a state of absolute, unbridled control, allowing him to manipulate Espers at his whim. The perpetually circling conversation always returned to this same, unsettling point.

Huey fell silent, his thoughts drifting to the blue-eyed Guide who had always regarded his Esper with such unwavering warmth.

From a certain point, an afterimage, lodged stubbornly within the depths of his mind, began to prick at him incessantly.

📚 Also on NHV Novels

Male Body, Female Soul

DramaFemale ProtagonistGender Bender

Read Now →
Not interested