C6 Chapter 6 : Palace (Part 2)

“Lift your head.” The emperor’s words sounded heavy, each word carrying conviction and a clear purpose, leaving no room for objection.

Am I trembling now?

Cassian clenched his fists, raising his gaze directly to the emperor.

The figure looked imposing, standing without a trace of hesitation.

“Cassian, correct?” the middle-aged man asked, his tone commanding as if addressing an army.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Cassian replied, his hands hanging loosely at his sides.

“Cassandra. It seems you are incapable of taking care of a child,” he snapped through his thin lips.

His sharp eyes fixed on her.

Cassandra placed her hands together and knelt, trembling.

The young man glared at the emperor sharply, stepping forward to shield his mother.

“Cassian!”

Cassandra called out to her son, her sobs mingled with worry, afraid of offending the figure before them.

“Don’t speak to my mother as you please!” Cassian retorted firmly, his jaw clenching tightly.

The emperor narrowed his eyes.

He observed the young man from head to toe, as if scanning an object.

“Lucien. Explain what happened.”

The emperor continued.

Marquis Lucien bowed to the emperor until he cleared his throat.

“Very well, Your Majesty. In short, this boy is your son with your former personal servant, Cassandra. His name is Cassian Leonce Magnus,” Marquis Lucien explained, his voice calm like falling rain.

“Magnus?” the emperor interjected sharply.

“Have you not already allowed Cassian to enter the palace?” asked Marquis Lucien, confirming.

The emperor did not respond further. He stepped heavily and sank into a solid brown wooden chair.

“Cassian. I will only say this once.” Silence gripped the room.

Not a single voice dared to speak—not even a fly.

“The truth is this—you are an illegitimate child. Your mother, Cassandra, was my personal servant. Blood is blood, and no one can bury that fact. But this palace is no playground. The empire has its own rules, and sometimes they show no mercy to anyone, no exceptions,” he continued.

“Your presence… is chaos… Many will object to the decision I have made. Remember this: human uselessness is a sin. You may carry the name Magnus. But…” The man paused for a moment.

His gaze shifted.

“Life and death, you bear them yourself. I will not aid you. You may become a prince, and your mother I will raise as a consort. Always remember, my decree is absolute in the palace you now stand in.”

Cassandra pressed her pale hands to her lips, her sobs nearly escaping.

Tears of fleeting happiness glistened in her eyes.

Cassian remained silent, closing his eyes before looking at the emperor with his head raised.

Even if I manage to enter the palace, in the end, no one will guarantee the safety of my mother and me.

Not even the emperor himself.

Cassian’s gaze went blank. He stared out the window, though his mind had likely drifted far beyond it.

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Morning: The Next Day

The scent of roses wafted through the paths lined with plants.

In one section of the palace grounds, rows of lush green trees exuded the fresh aroma of morning dew. Cassian walked alongside his mother.

The stone-paved path was neatly arranged, adorned with white roses along the edges.

Her worn, tattered clothes had been replaced.

A sudden silence fell. Cassandra’s lips parted.

“Cassian… forgive me,” whispered the woman in white.

Her steps froze midway, her eyes downcast.

She looked at her son.

Something wanted to be said, but it remained unspoken.

Cassian turned to her, shaking his head.

His lips curved into a small smile.

His gaze moved forward.

“That’s in the past, Mother. We will stay here from now on,” he said calmly, glancing at their intertwined hands.

A faint laugh escaped, mingling with the echo of their footsteps.

Two women in black-and-white tunics blocked their path.

One guided the young black-haired man.

The other escorted his mother.

The imperial palace spans 288 hectares, containing numerous buildings.

The layout divides the area into several structures, including four main palaces, a large library, a wide training ground for sword practice, the main hall, competition areas, armories, soldiers’ dormitories, public meeting areas, guest pavilions, and more.

The four main palaces consist of: the emperor’s palace, called the Sun Palace; the empress’s palace, also called the Moon Palace; the princes’ and princesses’ palace, named the Star Palace; and the concubines’ palace, called the Sky Palace.

While Cassandra headed toward the Sky Palace, Cassian had walked along the path long enough to reach an uncovered gate.

Two guards lowered their heads.

Cassian nodded, but the journey was not yet over.

He continued until he stopped before a row of oval-shaped lights.

“Is this… magic?” he asked, glancing around.

“Your Majesty, this is architecture personally designed by the emperor for the princes and princesses. Each will have a private pavilion, spaced apart from one another,” the servant explained, gesturing for him to proceed.