Chapter 1

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Translated by Sylph

Read only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net.
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“It’s boring.”

Clois thought as he watched the ministers chattering in front of him.

Seven years had passed since he became the Emperor after undergoing numerous wars and finally beheading his brother.

He no longer felt moved by anything.

He did not become Emperor because he wanted to. He only fought to protect those he loved.

“But…”

A heavy fatigue weighed down on him. Although it was the throne he obtained by cutting down many people, he did not think this position was meaningful.

“Because of this insignificant thing.”

His most beloved wife, and his newborn daughter whom he had never even seen, were murdered.

Clois’s gaze lingered on the crest on the back of his hand.

The crest, which only appeared on the direct bloodline of the imperial family, was now something only he possessed in the world.

If his daughter were alive, that child would have had it too, but…

He closed his eyes as the fatigue rushed in again. The Minister of State beside him looked at him with concern.

For the past seven years, Clois had ruled the Empire as a wise monarch who would remain in the history books for a long time.

However, recently, he could not hide his tired appearance.

It was an Empire that had finally stabilized after settling a long civil war.

Therefore, the Emperor had to hold out even more firmly, but…

In the meantime, the voices of the ministers in the meeting room grew louder.

“What do you mean this child is lacking to enter the Gifted Center?”

“Can’t you see just by looking? Aren’t the grades lacking?”

“That’s right. Besides, age is also a problem! If they are 17 years old, they are already outside the target!”

“Still, this family is one that achieved great merit during the war…!”

The Minister of State clicked his tongue inwardly at the sight of them daring to shout in front of the Emperor.

‘Well, everyone must be desperate.’

The Minister of State looked at the documents placed on the table.

[Application for Admission to the Gifted Center]

The documents piled up like a mountain were all applications for the Imperial Gifted Center.

The Gifted Center was a special institution of the Imperial Palace that gathered children between the ages of 7 and 15 with special talents.

Seven years ago, when the war broke out, the Gifted Center had to close its doors.

But this year, to announce that the Empire had finally been perfectly stabilized, they decided to recruit new students.

In fact, the Empire had already been stabilized a few years ago. Nevertheless, there was a reason why the Gifted Center had not opened.

‘It’s because of Lady Evbien.’

The Emperor’s daughter, who left only a name and passed away as soon as she was born.

Clois deeply missed the daughter whose face he had never seen.

Perhaps that was why. Whenever there was a young child in the Imperial Palace, he would often stare blankly for a long time.

Seeing that, there were those who had vain dreams.

The Emperor had said that he would never have another Empress because he deeply loved his dead wife.

Because of that, the position of successor was empty.

If so, the position of the next Emperor would be inherited by adopting one of the noble children with imperial blood.

In the past, there was a history of an Emperor who had no children adopting one of the children from the Imperial Gifted Center.

‘If my child receives the Emperor’s attention…’

If they receive that love instead of the dead daughter of the Emperor, they will be able to obtain a high position without any problems.

If they trace back the genealogy and prove that the imperial blood is connected, it will be possible to become the successor.

Those who had such schemes all tried to put their children into the Imperial Gifted Center.

Did he notice that? Clois continued to postpone the opening of the Gifted Center.

Then, only reaching this year did Clois allow the reopening of the Gifted Center.

People thought the Emperor’s heart had finally softened and submitted applications to put their children, or the children of their factions, into the Gifted Center.

Those were the documents piled up before his eyes now.

‘Everyone is mistaken.’

The Minister of State shook his head.

The shadows of his wife and daughter still lingered beside him.

Clois would have no affection to give to other children.

At that time, one of the ministers clicked his tongue and crumpled a document, throwing it on the floor.

Clois stared at the document fallen on the floor for a long time, then raised his hand.

“Minister of State.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Would you bring that document that fell on the floor?”

“Pardon?”

The Minister of State looked at Clois with surprised eyes at the unexpected command.

Then he quickly stood up from his seat and brought the document he ordered.

Clois took the messily crumpled document and flattened it out.

The minister looked on with a flustered face when the Emperor showed interest in the document he had discarded.

“It is an admission application, so why did you throw it away?”

“That is, because it is a document submitted by someone whose qualifications are very lacking…”

At the minister’s words, Clois opened and looked at the crumpled document.

His expression turned cold as he read down the admission application.

“I don’t see any particularly lacking points in my eyes?”

“But isn’t it a child from the orphanage? There is no way a child like that could dare enter the Imperial Gifted Center that will determine Your Majesty’s adoptee…”

“Adoptee? Who said I would choose my adoptee from the Gifted Center?”

At Clois’s cold voice, silence instantly descended upon the meeting room.

The ministers, who until a moment ago were raising their voices to put in the children they supported, shut their mouths and watched his mood.

“The Imperial Gifted Center is a place where anyone with talent can enter, regardless of the field. Yet you all make rules at your own discretion and eliminate those who are qualified?”

“…”

No one could open their mouth at the frost-like reprimand.

Clois clicked his tongue and turned his eyes to the document.

Unlike the high-quality paper piled high on the table, it was an admission application written again on the back of a paper that had been used once.

Just looking at that, one could tell it was a document submitted by a child in very destitute circumstances.

As the minister said, it was written that the child in the document was from an orphanage in Elam City, which was in a corner of the Empire.

Clois tried to recall where that was. A small city bordering the sea at the eastern end of the Empire.

It was a city that fortunately had no major damage during the succession war seven years ago because it was so far in the corner.

“They passed the graduation exam for the upper school in Elam City this year.”

Upper schools are schools attended by children aged 15 to 18.

Even so, for an upper school, there would be quite a few students attending, so to pass the exam there.

Just by that, the child in the document was qualified to enter the Gifted Center.

“H-However, by that alone…”

The minister who had crumpled and thrown the document opened his mouth with difficulty, sweating coldly.

This Gifted Center, whether they were children from prestigious families or even commoners from wealthy families, everyone wanted to enter.

Because there was a high probability that one of the children entering this time would become the adoptee, and even if they didn’t, there was a possibility of making an impression on the Emperor in advance.

Not only that, but the children of the Gifted Center would occupy important positions in the future of the Empire.

In fact, this Gifted Center was the same as a small social circle.

This year’s quota was 500 in total.

Although it was said they received up to 2,000 before the war, the number was reduced this year as it was the first year of reopening.

Because of that, the competition was more intense than ever.

‘In a situation where even one seat is precious, a child from an orphanage. It’s ridiculous.’

Shouldn’t such a child just graduate from an external upper school and live while processing documents for a noble family?

That’s why he thought it was impudent and threw away the admission application, but to think the Emperor saw it.

While the minister’s face turned dark, Clois continued to read the document.

In the document, it was written not just that they graduated from the upper school, but also that they passed the exam with a perfect score in all subjects.

Then Clois’s gaze stopped at one place.

[Hobby, Speciality: Cleaning]

“…”

Clois recalled the hobbies and specialties written in other admission applications he had caught a glimpse of.

They were children of noble families, or children of wealthy families even if they weren’t nobles.

In their hobby and specialty columns, all sorts of arts or hobbies in unusual fields were written.

From art to instruments with even unfamiliar names, and even ancient languages that are now almost disappearing.

Everyone wrote things to claim they were talents suitable for the Gifted Center… but cleaning.

A bitter smile hung on his face.

Clois commanded as he put down the document he was holding on the table.

“I authorize this child’s admission.”