Chapter 47: The Emperor’s infatuation with Lucius

Julian didn’t even need to check the Scholar’s affection level to know that he was either in the negative or had no affection for him at all.

Then, the Scholar gave a mocking huff, clearly disappointed he couldn’t get a rise out of the ’disgraced’ son of the Astrea family. He would’ve made quite the entertaining piece, he thought.

Then, just as Julian predicted, the bored old scholar turned on his heel and left through the side door, leaving a trail of expensive incense.

Julian let out a slow breath. ’The ’Veil’ makes me look like a commoner, but it doesn’t change my history for those who already know my face,’ he noted. It was a flaw he’d have to account for.

Then, the heavy gold doors to the throne room groaned open. A herald didn’t even need to announce the name; the sheer pressure in the air told Julian exactly who was waiting inside.

"Bring them in," a voice commanded. It was smooth, devoid of the Duke’s gravelly roughness, but it carried an edge that felt like a blade pressed against Julian’s throat.

Julian took in a deep breath, preparing himself as if he already had a sword to his throat, and then walked in, his hand resting on Lucius’s shoulder.

The room was practically blinding. Gold leaf covered every pillar, and the ceiling was a massive painting of the first Emperor crushing a dragon.

At the far end, sitting on a throne that looked too large for any man, was Emperor Aurelian.

The very one Julian had seen in the Duke’s memories that night.

He looked like a more polished, lethal version of the Duke but with lighter skin. His golden hair was perfectly groomed, and his eyes weren’t blue like Duke Alaric’s—they were a piercing, metallic gold.

Still, there was no doubt about the resemblance between the two as they were side by side at this point, the Duke standing next to him and glancing back at his son and Julian, who just walked in.

Julian watched as the heavy, oppressive tension in the room snapped—not with a shout, but with a sudden, high-pitched laugh from the throne.

The Emperor, who had been sitting with the posture of a predator, practically flew off his seat. He didn’t walk toward them; he marched, his golden robes swishing with a frantic energy that caught Julian completely off guard.

"Look at this!" Emperor Aurelian cried out, his eyes wide and shimmering with a strange, intense delight.

Before Lucius could even finish his practiced bow, the Emperor had scooped the boy up. He didn’t care about the child’s stiff etiquette or the fact that he was the ruler of a continent; he sat right back down on the dais steps and pulled Lucius onto his lap.

"Brother! He’s a masterpiece!" the Emperor beamed, hugging the boy so tightly that Lucius’s small feet dangled in the air. "It’s uncanny. It’s like looking at a miniature version of you from twenty years ago. The nose, the brow, the eyes—even the way he pouts!"

He began petting Lucius’s head with a frantic, genuine affection and poking at the confused boy’s cheeks to see every version of him.

"Oh, I could just keep him. You should’ve brought him sooner. If you had no plans to raise the boy, I would’ve done so with my whole heart."

Judging by the excitement and genuine affection in the Emperor’s gold eyes, he was telling the truth.

He would’ve loved and cherished Lucius to bits, raising him with the affection he couldn’t show during council meetings or when he was dealing with state affairs. He didn’t even shower his own children with this much affection.

This boy... the one who took everything from the hair, to the skin, and to the eyes from his father... he would never let him go for anyone.

But then the question rose. Did he love the boy deeply as a child because he resembled the brother he so much cherished? Or was there another motive behind it all?

"Haha," The Emperor laughed, hugging Lucius again. "He’s much more pleasant to look at than your grumpy face."

The Duke just stood there, looking like he wanted to be away from this conversation, but he remained frozen. He didn’t know if to be worried that the son he wanted to get along with might just get snatched before he could make up for anything, or to worry that his brother was excessively fond of him already.

Lucius, meanwhile, was wide-eyed and paralyzed. Being hugged by the most powerful man in the world was overwhelming, but the Emperor’s warmth was so chaotic and loud that it actually acted as a shield to that overwhelming feeling.

The boy’s anxiety was still there, but it was being drowned out by the sheer absurdity of the situation.

Julian, standing a few paces back, felt a massive weight lift off his shoulders. He had been practically forgotten the moment the Emperor laid eyes on the ’Mini-Alaric.’ But he did not worry since it was better for Lucius to be loved this deeply than scrutinized.

And above all, he had faded into the background during all of this. What more could he ask for?

’Thank god,’ Julian thought, letting out a silent, shaky breath. ’Infatuation really is a powerful tool.’

As long as the Emperor was busy doting on his nephew and teasing his brother, Julian was just a shadow in the corner—exactly where he wanted to be. He took a subtle glance toward the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The Forbidden Garden was also visible from here, its exotic plants swaying gently.

If he could just get a moment to get in, he would get what he needed in a flash and—

"You!" the Emperor suddenly called out, pointing a finger at Julian while still holding Lucius in a headlock-style hug. "You’re the tutor, right?"

Julian nearly stiffened, but he immediately bowed his head.

"Yes, your majesty. Praise to the sun of the Empire. I am Julian Von Astrea." He greeted the Emperor and introduced himself, but the Emperor did not respond.

He looked at Julian, his eyes trying to find what was ’special’ about him.

"I heard the rumors first, brother." The Emperor spoke up. "I heard you finally stopped grieving your late wife. I was happy and wanted to send you a letter, but then, do you know what I heard next?"

"What?" The Duke asked, not even trying to guess such an obvious answer.

"They said that your son’s tutor had you wrapped around his fingers." He said, and Julian’s body finally stiffened.

What were those rumors?

Julian didn’t know where this was going and quickly took a look at the Emperor’s affection level to know his fate.

>[Target: Emperor Aurelian — Affection level: -0% (intrigued)]

Julian’s breath hitched. He couldn’t understand. How was it that the Emperor had a negative to his 0%?

Things were definitely not looking good for him if there was a negative like that.

The Duke cleared his throat inwardly and said,

"Well, rumors are just rumors."

"Of course, rumors are just rumors." The Emperor said over a light chuckle as he began to stroke little Lucius’s head. "But rumors do not stem from nowhere, Brother. I would really like to hear the gossip right from the horse’s mouth. You know, here in the palace, it’s always so boring. Duties here and duties there. I would like a change of conversation once in a while."

Julian... was short of words.