80
“His Majesty the Emperor?”
In the Harkia Empire, this title is only given to one person: the current Emperor, Clouis Arelkyan Harkia.
"What's going on? Why does Evie look like that...ah!"
Seraphina, who was running in panic, suddenly stopped, putting her hand over her mouth.
“I'm dead!”
In her moment of astonishment, as she was entering the office because she thought that Cloyce had gotten into trouble, she unintentionally uttered “Your Majesty.”
Cloyce had repeatedly assured her that he did not want to reveal his identity, and had strongly warned her not to do so. However, I made this huge mistake.
“No, I mean, I…”
Seraphina was more confused than she had ever been when she failed to cast a massive spell during the war. Cloyce saw her confusion, made a faint sound with his tongue and said:
“It's okay. I'm not going to hide it anymore.”
Seraphina breathed a sigh of relief, and bowed respectfully.
“I thank Your Majesty for your endless generosity.”
When she straightened and gave the formal salute according to protocol, silence fell over the room.
At first, everyone thought they had misheard. But when they saw Seraphina, a witch known for her toughness and who would not bow to anyone, lower her head, they knew it was real.
Arcel and Lusca, who were hesitant, followed behind her, knelt down on one knee and bowed to Cloïse. As Serafina greeted, then Arcel and Luska, everyone in the room stopped breathing.
Professor Sian Ruochen, who was known by this name, was the Emperor. The man who sent a magic stone to Yvette Alden, and set aside a special office for her education. No one was stupid enough not to realize the significance of it.
“Hail, His Majesty the Emperor!”
“We salute your majesty!”
The students quickly imitated Serafina, Arcel, and Luska, bowing in confusion. But, not being trained to salute the emperor before, they looked in disarray.
Amidst this kneeling crowd, one figure stood in amazement: Isabella.
“What does this mean? Your Majesty?”
Isabella was not only unable to understand the situation, she was refusing to accept it.
She saw Effie in Cloïs's arms, her face flushed and hunched over, and on her delicate cheek the clear mark of a slap left by Isabella.
“Dean Serafina, what is the punishment for someone who uses violence against a colleague at the elite institute?”
The word “punishment” pierced Isabella’s ears like an arrow.
“Depending on the seriousness of the act, the punishment may range from a week of contemplation and writing an apology, to expulsion from the institute.”
“In this case, what is the extent of the punishment expected?”
“You mean this case...”
“I mean a case where a colleague is accused of committing a crime based on mere suspicions, without evidence, and then violence is used by a group against a much younger child.”
Clois's voice was filled with anger, no one dared to raise their heads, and they remained staring at the ground.
Everyone felt their throats dry and cold sweat running down their backs. There was a clear determination in the Emperor's tone not to overlook this matter.
“As far as I remember, if the affected student is injured, it can lead to expulsion, with a ban on re-applying to the institute. The person involved is also banned from joining the academy for ten years, and if there is interference from relatives, relatives are also prohibited from applying.”
Isabella collapsed to the ground, unable to stand, upon hearing Serafina's words. The punishment I just mentioned would have beenfall her.
“No, it's not true! I just... I thought she was lying... I was just trying to make sure...”
Isabella mumbled in a daze, as if she had lost her mind.
Although she is older than Evie, she is still in her early teens. And now, because of her actions, not only will she be expelled, but her entire family will be deprived of the opportunity to attend the institute or academy.
Her family were ancient nobles in the Central Region, and her parents took great pride in that.
But now, she would be expelled, and her family would be deprived of educational opportunities, and with such shame, who would accept dealing with a family that faced such punishment?
“This can't be...!”
Her hands trembled and her teeth chattered. She imagined her parents, who were always strict about family honor.
Then Cloyce spoke again:
“This student claimed that her older brother investigated the matter. Can this be considered interference by relatives in the affairs of the institute?”
“It should be investigated further, but if you act on outside information, it would likely be considered interference.”
“Good. I entrust you, Dean, to investigate everything related to this matter and impose the necessary penalties.”
“I receive Your Majesty’s orders.”
Seraphina dropped her usual lightness of manner, and bowed with dignity and sternness.
“Your Majesty! No, this is wrong! Listen to me! I did not intend to hit her...”
Isabella shouted, trying to regain her composure when she saw him turn around.
But Cloyce left the room without looking at her once.
Arcel and Loska quickly followed. Irene tried to follow them, but they motioned for her to stop with firm eyes.
Erin had to stop, and looked at Evie who was turning away with a look filled with sorrow.
“Evie...”
No one dared to raise his head as he passed. Onlookers knew that a single word from the Emperor could implicate Isabella's family or someone else as an accomplice.
Fortunately, Cloyce didn't pay attention to the others and left the room. When he left the building, Arcel said eagerly:
“Your Majesty, the institute’s clinic is in this direction...”
“No, I will take her to the main palace.”
Arcel and Luska were surprised by the word “Main Palace,” and so was Evie who was on his lap.
"I'm fine!"
“No, we'd better check what happened.”
Clois said as he almost ran, carrying Evie towards the main mansion.
* * *
After an hour of commotion engulfing the elite institute, Cloyce paced back and forth in his office. After a while, he heard a voice in the hallway, and then the familiar palace doctor entered.
“Your Majesty, the child you brought...”
“How is Evie?”
Cloyce interrupted him with an urgent question before the doctor could continue.
“There are no serious injuries. However, since her skin is still thin, there might be a bruise on her cheek from the slap for a few days...”
“If this isn't a serious injury, then what is?”
Cloyce shouted at the doctor, who was speaking quietly, but quickly regained his composure.
“I apologize. Hearing that a child was beaten and that this was not considered a serious injury confused me.”
"It's okay. It seems I misjudged the situation based on the standards of palace knights. The bruises and swelling will mostly disappear within a week. We also checked her mouth, fortunately there are no lacerations, and her teeth are intact. A female doctor from the palace also examined her body, and found some swelling and minor bruises like the one on her cheek, but the bones are intact."
“That's good...”
Cloyce rubbed his face in relief upon hearing that Evie would be well within a week.
“There is something else to tell. Usually, in such cases, young children panic or faint from fear, but this child is unexpectedly calm.”
“That's reassuring.”
“But...”
The doctor hesitated before adding cautiously:
"She might be used to situations like this. I heard she's from an orphanage, so maybe there's…"
“No, that's not true.”
Cloyce immediately denied the doctor's opinion.
"Even when she didn't know who I was, she would defend and praise the orphanage director. There was nothing like that."
“I see. Anyway, the baby is now in stable condition. Would you like to visit her?”
"naturally."
Cloyce left his office and hurried to the palace clinic. When he knocked on the door and entered, he saw Evie, her face lightly covered with gauze, kneeling down, with her head bowed to the floor.
“I salute His Majesty the Emperor!”
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