**Chapter Twenty-Three**
It was still early spring, and the sun set early behind the mountains, hiding its face from view.
As darkness fell on the Imperial Palace, the workers were hastening their steps to leave and return to their homes.
Usually, those working in the palace left before evening, and those who remained had either already eaten or brought something to eat.
Cloyce was one of them.
In fact, the Emperor did not have to care about meal times inside the palace.
If he wanted, he would not have been satisfied with an ordinary meal, but rather a luxurious banquet would have been prepared for him befitting his status.
But Cloyce was not fond of this type of meal.
People thought that his habits that he acquired during the war, along with his simple nature and his aversion to luxury, were what made him avoid luxurious banquets.
But the real reason for him avoiding eating in the palace's main dining hall was completely different.
“It is very spacious,” he thought as he ate a simple meal brought by the servants, conjuring up in his mind that spacious hall.
In the past, he always ate there. Those were days when the palace was crowded with members of the imperial family.
The former emperor and his wife, their seven children, their four daughters, and sometimes the children of those who married early.
Even if their relations were not entirely cordial, the hall was always full of life and noise. So, the memory of the dining hall in Cloyce's mind remained linked to crowds and sounds.
But now, the huge table in that hall hosts no one but him, alone. No other member of the imperial family remained.
Whenever he sat down to eat alone, he realized again that he was the only survivor of his lineage, and that no one would ever share that table with him again.
Therefore, he visited that hall less often, preferring to eat his simple meals in his office. While he was immersed in memories of the past, Cloyce lifted the lid of the plate placed on the cart.
The dishes looked very delicious, perhaps because the doctor had recommended that they be carefully prepared for him.
But Cloyce's face showed no expression, as if his appetite had completely disappeared.
After checking out the meals, he hesitates a moment, then picks up a sandwich from the middle shelf.
Although it was filled with abundant ingredients, it was the simplest of dishes around. Cloyce didn't care, so he picked up the plate and went back to his office.
Before he started eating, he took off his gloves, revealing an intricate tattoo resembling an ancient inscription on the back of his hand.
This was proof of his direct affiliation with the imperial family, a mark left by mysterious beings who aided the First Emperor when founding the empire.
Those who bore this mark had supernatural powers, although not as powerful as magic. In the time of the First Emperor, this power was said to be so great that it repelled flying arrows.
But now, that force is no longer that strong.
“Maybe some weak force remains…” Cloyce thought. It allowed him, at least, to instinctively avoid dangers, but this feeling was only seen by those whose strength was as strong as his.
Clowes didn't give this tattoo much importance.
The power he bestowed was a thing of the distant past, and even the children of emperors now might not have this tattoo. His absence did not mean a lack of talent.
His grandfather, for example, didn't have tattoos, but he was a good king who left a good mark.
But the former Emperor, Cloïs's father, was obsessed with this tattoo. Shocked that his son, the former emperor, had not inherited the tattoo, he attempted to erase all record of it.
This tattoo was a secret known only to few outside the imperial family, and over time, it became merely a legend told in imperial records and drawings.
“But the obsession persisted,” Cloyce thought.
The former emperor had seven children, and Cloues was the only one born with a tattoo.
For this, his father publicly favored him over his brothers. Not only that, but Clouis was the most talented among the Emperor's sons.
He moved his hand slightly, then a sudden thought came to his mind: “If Evpian were alive...”
Was she going to inherit the tattoo? The small body he found was rotting, so he couldn't be sure. “If she had been holding it, it would have been clearly visible by now.” usually.
Tattoos appear by five or six years of age. It might fade temporarily if his power was used too hard, but Ephebian, if she had been raised as a princess, would not have faced the danger that required it, and perhaps the tattoo would have been clearly visible.
Suddenly, an image of a little girl holding a wreath tied with great care passed through his mind.
Did she have a tattoo on her hand...? “Hey!” He suddenly realized who he thought of, and jumped out of his seat in shock.
"What is this…?" He ran his hand over his face several times, trying to calm himself. For a moment, he imagined Ephebian, his daughter, in the form of Effie, the child he had met yesterday. It was ridiculous.
Over the years, he had seen many children Evbian's age, but he had never associated any of them with her.
But this skinny little girl he had met for the first time yesterday, he suddenly imagined her as his daughter in his imagination.
Cloyce closed his eyes. It seems that his meeting with Ibi in front of the Lilian and Evbian monuments yesterday was more impactful than he expected. He stood for a moment, then approached the window.
He inadvertently recalled the image of Eppie bowing in greeting earlier today. “She must be very tired today,” he thought.
He remembered the academy schedule he had seen in passing. She must have wandered around the palace all day, which was daunting for a young girl. Maybe she's now back at the dormitory to rest.
At that moment, he was interrupted by a loud noise from outside: the sounds of hurried footsteps, the shouts of the butler and others in panic.
There was no visitor expected at this time.
“But there is no sound of the knights' shouts,” he thought.
So, it must be someone who has permission to enter at any time. But most of these come quietly and politely. Who could get into this mess?
“Your Majesty! I have arrived! I will enter!”
"Lady Seraphina! You can't come in like this!"
Cloyce sighed when he heard the butler's voice from outside his office. As he expected, it was Serafina.
He didn't need her voice to know her; Who else would dare act so recklessly in front of the Emperor's office? “Come in,” he said as he sat down, and the door opened immediately.
“Your faithful servant, Seraphina, greets you, huh, huh!” She was panting as if she had run all the way. Cloyce felt a headache looming, but decided to be patient. He was the one who convinced Seraphina, who insisted on isolation, to take the position of director of the academy.
"Enough. What made you rush here?"
“Please, lend me the Imperial Magic Stone!”
Cloyce frowned. “Have you finally decided to commit treason?”
“Why would I do something so tiring? Even if I succeeded, I would have to work like you, and this is not the life I want!”
Seraphina shuddered as if the thought was terrifying, making Cloyce's headache even worse.
She was the only one who dared to speak of betrayal so boldly in front of him, not only because she was a powerful witch, but also because she had saved his life many times during the Succession War.
“Also, I need permission to use massive magic inside the palace.”
“Magic inside the palace?”
Cloyce's eyes narrowed sharply. At first, he thought that Seraphina had come to chatter as usual, but something seemed serious.
“What exactly happened?”
When his voice cooled, Seraphina dropped her playful tone and stood up seriously. “During the academy students’ tour of the palace today, one of the students went missing. As the academy principal, I ask for your permission to use tracking magic to find him.”
“Missing student?” Cloyce felt a strange feeling come over him. “What is this student’s name?”
Seraphina looked at him in surprise and said, “Evie Alden, a seven-year-old girl.”
Upon hearing the name, Clowes got up from his seat unconsciously.
“I allow the use of magic within the palace. Search for her immediately!”
°. • .✦ . ◌ ⋆ ° ✬ • ✫ ⋆｡ .° ◌ • .●