The Billionaire CEO Becomes the Youngest Emperor-Chapter 16 - 15.5 : POV

Chris Hartner's Point of View

Aside from the emperor, no one knows my true origins. After all, I'm a foreigner on this continent... or so I believed.

Even little Lucian never said it outright, but the casual way he gives me orders set off alarm bells. He acts like someone who knows.

My suspicions were confirmed the day he ordered me to use "that" against Clerc and his allies...

Could the former emperor have told him?

...

No. He's not the type to break his promises. Besides, Lucian hadn't even reached the age of reason back then.

I let out a sigh, sinking deeper into the couch in the emperor's office. Of course, I had his permission... After all, he didn't even hesitate to dump all the dirty work on me after the disasters he created.

— "I thought you had returned to the lair of the Sword Gods."

I looked up at the woman sitting across from me, legs crossed, her posture relaxed but still exuding an air of intimidation.

— "Well, I don't recall ever publicly announcing my departure date, did I?"

— "That's true. My apologies, Your Majesty."

There was nothing to gain by antagonizing a member of the imperial family — especially not Selene Voldreck, the youngest and most feared Sword Goddess in history.

— "Let's skip the formalities, Chris."

Her voice was cold. Sharp. Almost threatening.

— "Tell me, Chris... why didn't you kill him?"

She looked at me, her gaze filled with both curiosity and suspicion.

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Just as I suspected... she knows

— "I wonder that myself... But perhaps that same question could be asked of you, couldn't it?"

I made sure to wear the same professional smile the former emperor taught me never to drop.

— "Hmmm... I suppose I won't be getting any answers from you, will I? But sooner or later, we'll have to deal with him... for the safety of the continent."

Her words lingered in the air even after she vanished — as if she'd never been there at all.

As expected of Selene...

When it comes to choosing between saving a single life and millions of lives, human ethics always prioritize the greater good.

But to follow that kind of ethic...

Chris closed his eyes, the air around him growing heavy and dark. A sinister aura seeped out, his polite smile twisting into a wicked grin accompanied by a low, chilling laugh.

... You need to be human.

— "Sometimes... I just want to destroy everything."

_____

Livia Red's Point of View

"Don't forget that classes resume next week, my dear. So make sure to study hard and train. This is no time to slack off."

Lying on my bed, I listened absentmindedly to my father's words.

"I hope you understand."

I raised a thumb in response.

"Good. I'll be home late today, so have dinner without me — you and your mother."

"Okay. Have a good day, Dad."

"Thank you."

He left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Of course I understand... After all, I'm now at the top of the second-year rankings.

...

...

Then why... why do I feel nothing?

I slowly stood up and walked over to my mirror, brushing my long red hair without much thought.

A bitter smirk stretched across my lips.

— I really do look like that old red fox...

The Grand Duke Angelos Red. My father.

A memory from school suddenly surfaced.

There was a girl. A girl admired by everyone, praised for her exceptional swordsmanship. Though we weren't in the same class, we were often compared.

We both excelled... but in different fields.

She wielded the sword. I wielded magic.

And naturally, she was considered the strongest. After all, swordsmen have always been seen as superior to mages... at least in theory.

Sword gods are literally worshiped like divine beings. Even though I've never seen one in action, the remnants of their power are engraved across the continent.

As for the Grand Mages... they care little for combat. They're scholars, researchers, and curious lunatics. Their fame pales in comparison to that of the sword gods.

And that's why mages are seen as the weakest.

But I don't agree.

That's precisely why I challenged that girl... that shining star everyone admired and feared.

Adeline Clerc.

Or rather... Adeline.

As I expected, she was strong. Incredibly strong.

I'd never felt such a thrill in battle. She was the only one... the only one who made me feel that way.

For the first time, I felt like magic... might not be all-powerful.

One strike.

It only took one well-placed strike for me to fall, defeated.

I want to understand.

I need to understand.

How is that possible?!

Even if she uses aura — a pale imitation of magic — how could she defeat me, the heir of the Red family... the chosen ones of infernal magic?

Ah...

Maybe, in the end, mages really are just curious lunatics, trapped in their illusions of grandeur.

But this top-ranking position... this ready-made title they handed me — I don't want it.

I want to crush her.

I want to show her... and the entire world... that magic is superior to those vulgar pieces of metal they call swords.

— Zik!

A few seconds passed before someone knocked on the door.

— "Madam, you called for me?"

— "Yes, Zik. Prepare

my horse, please."

— "Are you going riding?"

— "No... we're going to Fjordale."

...

On top of that, she was the emperor's fiancée.

Does he love her?