Tale of a Hedonistic wizard-Chapter 414: His emperor and his uncle

Jaegar's mouth went dry as he coughed slightly, as soon as he saw her.

Veronica chuckled softly, nudging him with her elbow. "Now, there's a look I haven't seen on your face before," she whispered.

Jaegar smirked, barely hiding his shock. "A reunion indeed," he murmured, half to himself.

There was a knowing smile on his lips and a glint in his eyes as he watched the Empress and the young woman glide toward the centre of the hall, stopping in front of the grand dais.

The Empress ascended the steps, her presence commanding as she addressed the crowd.

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Her voice was rich and melodious, filling the hall as she spoke of the empire's prosperity and her gratitude to the loyal subjects who gathered here tonight. She then motioned gracefully toward the young woman. "It brings me great joy to present the warrior princess, Kyra, who has come from the kingdom of Wrescia."

The crowd burst into polite applause, but Jaegar barely heard it. His focus remained fixed on Kyra, who stood with poised elegance beside the empress, her expression neutral yet captivating. It was so shocking to him that he was unable to believe what he was seeing.

Just as he was lost in thought, one of the Chryso Knights approached him, bowing respectfully. "Prince Jaegar, the Emperor requests your presence."

"Ah, what?" Jaegar turned his attention to the knight, standing in front of him as he relayed the news again. He thought it might be the reason for his invitation to the soiree. He sighed and decided to leave the matter of the princess for later.

Jaegar exchanged a quick glance with Veronica. "I'll be back as soon as I can," he assured her.

She gave him a slight nod, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. Danyael and Arnal exchanged curious glances as they watched Jaegar leave.

Following the knight, Jaegar exited the hall under everyone's watchful gaze.

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As Jaegar was led through the palace's back corridors toward the large gardens, he quickly realised that there were more men guarding the pathway.

As soon as he entered the garden, he noticed men; of course he knew most of them, as they were the influential people of the empire. Duke Bordaulf was also among them, and so various other important people were present.

The garden had now become a sanctuary for dukes and influential figures of the empire, gathering away from the bustling hall where their wives and daughters mingled in the soiree.

Lanterns cast soft, golden light across the garden, creating a subdued atmosphere as drinks were served by attendants, the scent of fine liquors mingling with the crisp night air.

Upon entering, Jaegar's eyes landed on the Emperor, Zenumus Varis Gadfraye, who stood near a small cluster of men. He had only this man for a couple of times, and a lot of times in the paper. He didn't know much about him except that he looked like his father. With a complex expression, he walked to him, wondering if he had invited him.

Several Black Knights lingered close to the Emperor, their silent vigilance a testament to their skill. The same aura that he felt on Arnal lingered on all of them. And all of them were at the grand level of knights.

Jaegar's gaze shifted over their stances and he found himself noting their strength and readiness, a mark of the Emperor's carefully chosen inner circle.

"Ah, my boy! You have come," Zenumus called, his tone surprisingly warm. "I was afraid you wouldn't. Come, let's go somewhere quieter to talk."

Jaegar, caught off guard by the Emperor's familiar demeanour, composed himself, a slight smile curving his lips. "If the Emperor himself sends an invitation, it would be remiss of me not to come."

Zenumus smiled, his eyes briefly taking in the young man before him.

It was rare they had a moment alone; though Jaegar was his younger brother's son, their encounters had been few and far between, neither one having had time to truly catch up over the years.

The Emperor motioned toward a balcony overlooking the sprawling garden.

"How have you been?" Zenumus asked once they reached the edge of the balcony, his gaze fixed on the faintly illuminated garden grounds below.

"I've been fine, Your Majesty," Jaegar replied, maintaining a respectful tone but offering little more.

"You can call me uncle; we aren't in an official gathering here," Zenumus tried to loosen the tension.

But Jaegar remained courteous. "I would consider this an official meeting." He thought he had no obligation to connect with those who abandoned him when he needed them—not that he desired their help now. It bothered him that they had disowned him outright, without any repercussions from the court. There was no sense of familial bond between the imperial family and Jaegar. In fact, he had never even met the majority of them, not once.

A silence settled between them as Zenumus seemed to gather his thoughts.

The light of the moons cast long shadows across the garden, and from their elevated position, Jaegar could see the flickering lights illuminating pockets of the grounds below.

"Are you upset that I disowned you?" Zenumus finally asked, his tone almost casual but laced with a hint of regret.

Jaegar turned to him, his expression impassive. "I'm not, Your Majesty," he replied with surprising ease. "I couldn't care less about the imperial family."

At this, Zenumus smiled, a hint of nostalgia in his expression. "You speak just like your father, Angus," he said, the name hanging between them.

Jaegar's brow twitched at the mention of his father, a flicker of emotion passing through him.

The Emperor seemed to notice.

He paused, studying Jaegar with a thoughtful gaze. "I wanted to ask if you'd be interested in joining the crown system. It would mean competition, trials…a chance to claim the throne."

But Jaegar's answer was immediate and resolute. "No, please leave me be, Your Majesty. I have no interest in the throne or the games surrounding it."

The Emperor exhaled, an expression of resignation crossing his face as he regarded Jaegar. He had expected Jaegar to react this way; from what he has observed so far, Jaegar was very like his father—fiercely independent and uninterested in the politics of the kingdom. Despite his disappointment, the Emperor respected Jaegar's decision.

Though he couldn't judge both father and son. They seemed alike, but their paths were clearly different.