"To end a conflict, someone must step into the fire—not to burn, but to light the way for those who remain."
Uncle Arcanis's words sent a wave of silence crashing over the room. Grandpa's eyes widened in fury, his teeth clenched, but the old man seemed to be restraining himself from exploding.
A few nobles started whispering among themselves.
"Arcanis! We already agreed not to discuss this. The expedition team was finalized in the previous meeting and has been approved!"
Yet Arcanis remained unmoved. He stood tall, unwavering against the murmurs of protest rippling through the chamber. Raising a single eyebrow, he gauged everyone in the room's reaction. Then, slowly, deliberately, he placed his glasses on the table—his movements casual. However, his sharp, calculating eyes betrayed his composed demeanour.
"I'm merely offering a solution," he said, his tone almost bored. "If the issue here is the Crown Prince's contribution, then isn't this the perfect way to resolve it?"
Grandpa finally rose to his feet, the rustling of his ceremonial robes cutting through the tense silence like a blade. His gaze burned with anger, though he held himself back—perhaps realizing that an outburst now would only worsen matters. "You would send my grandson on an expedition where survival is not guaranteed?"
"I won't allow it either!" A thunderous voice erupted from Finnian. "The assault expedition is incredibly dangerous! The team was selected days ago, and we all agreed that the oversized baby wouldn't be part of it!"
I felt a tremor run through my body as Finnian's scathing words sliced through the air. The oppressive silence of the moment shattered, replaced by hushed whispers of disbelief and growing protest. Nobles exchanged glances—some filled with unease, others burning with barely contained outrage.
Uncle Arcanis stood tall, his gaze unwavering as he stared at Finnian. "The Crown Prince is not a child," he said calmly but firmly. "He is the heir to the throne, and it's time he learns to face the risks of battle. This is about fairness as well, Finnian!"
"You think too highly of him!" Finnian shot back, his tone sharp with anger. "We can't afford to risk putting him on such a dangerous expedition. This isn't a game!"
Grandpa's face darkened, though it was unclear whether he disagreed with Arcanis's proposal or simply disliked hearing Finnian call me a "big baby."
I tugged lightly at my Grandpa's robe. "Hey, Grandpa, why didn't I know about the expedition team selection?"
Grandpa sighed, some of the anger in his eyes fading as he turned to face me. "It was a sudden meeting," he explained, his voice noticeably softer than when he had spoken to Finnian or Uncle Arcanis.
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Sudden?"
"Don't take offence for not being invited," he continued in a lighthearted tone. "At the time, you were busy enjoying your honeymoon with Zura. I didn't want to interrupt your precious moments together."
I had to fight the urge to douse the old man's face with the water served for everyone in the room.
"I'm fifteen years old, old man!" I snapped. "And that night, I was inspecting the aid supplies with Zura!" My voice became more agitated than I intended, as if I needed to justify myself in front of Grandpa.
The man merely chuckled, ruffling my hair.
"That night, Arcanis shared some findings he uncovered from ancient documents, along with information gathered by the expedition team," he said.
He paused, his gaze drifting toward the ongoing argument between Arcanis, Finnian, and Cedric and the murmuring nobles who had started voicing their concerns.
"Arcanis discovered that the first Abyssal Gate wasn't completely sealed—it had hardened and crystallized instead. But the information ends there because the expedition team that made this discovery… vanished."
I exhaled sharply. "And Uncle Arcanis wants to investigate this crystal?"
Grandpa nodded slowly, his rough fingers tapping against the wooden table. "According to him, if we can understand how this crystal formed, we might be able to find a way to seal the other Abyssal Gates before more of them open."
Something about his expression told me he wasn't saying everything. "But?"
Grandpa gave a short huff, shifting his gaze back to Arcanis, who was still locked in a heated debate with Finnian and Cedric.
"But he also proposed something even more reckless."
I straightened my back. "What?"
Grandpa's voice turned flat. "He wants you to join the expedition to the ruins of Seraphic."
I froze in place.
Grandpa leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze fixed on me as if daring me to react. "He said you need to see the world you will rule one day to understand the threats we face. He even believes that you might discover something others cannot."
I swallowed hard. "And... what happened after that?"
Grandpa smirked, though it was far from amused. "I rejected it outright."
I blinked. "Grandpa—"
"And so did Finnian." He continued before I could speak. "But for different reasons. He doesn't care whether you're the crown prince—in his eyes, you'd just be a liability."
My chest tightened, but Grandpa pressed on, mimicking Finnian's sharp, sarcastic tone. "'This expedition isn't a training exercise. It's not a chance to prove something. It's a dangerous mission that requires strength and skill. If the Crown Prince joins, everyone will be too busy protecting him, and I won't allow that to jeopardize this mission.'"
I bit my lip.
I hadn't known Finnian for long, but he was clearly blunt and unfiltered.
Grandpa sighed, his gaze softening slightly. "That's what happened. Finnian won't allow you to go because he knows this mission cannot fail. If something happens to you, he believes the entire operation will collapse because everyone will focus on keeping you safe rather than completing their objective."
I clenched my hands in my lap. "So Finnian really doesn't believe I can survive?"
Grandpa shrugged. "He doesn't think you can fight, Elenio. That's a fact. But he also doesn't want to put the mission at risk because people have to watch over you."
I couldn't argue with that. Because, truthfully... I wasn't sure I could survive either.
"Then shouldn't we at least hear what the Crown Prince has to say?"
The room's murmurs died as Uncle Arcanist's voice rang clear.
All eyes turned to me.
I tensed in my seat, my heartbeat quickening.
Uncle Arcanist adjusted his slightly askew glasses and looked at me seriously. "Elenio is not a child we can simply exclude from such an important decision. We've been talking about him, but not once have we allowed him to speak for himself."
I could feel the weight of scrutiny from the nobles, the Hierophants, and the imperial family members. Some looked ready to protest, but Uncle Arcanist didn't leave them an opening.
"From the beginning, Elenio has been dismissed because he lacks magic," he said, his voice calm but piercing. "And now, you want to add another reason to belittle him—his contributions are invisible? Do you think that just because he cannot fight like Finnian or channel mana as we do, he has no role in defending the empire?"
The nobles who had whispered their doubts about me exchanged glances as if suddenly realizing something.
Uncle Arcanist exhaled. "I understand that this expedition is dangerous. But suppose we continue to sideline the Crown Prince and keep treating him as useless simply because his value cannot be measured in the usual way. How can we expect the people to respect him?"
He turned to face Grandpa and Finnian. "Your Majesty, Finnian, I know you want to protect him. But think about the consequences. If we keep Elenio away from matters like this, we shape the narrative that he does not belong here."
My throat felt dry.
Uncle…
I didn't know whether he believed I could contribute to this expedition. But I knew he didn't want me to be just a shadow in the empire's history. He didn't want my name to be remembered only as a crown prince who never truly participated in the struggle.
I clenched my fists.
"So, I'll ask you directly, Elenio." Uncle Arcanist's gaze was sharp and unwavering. "Do you want to join this expedition?"
I hesitated for a moment.
Before I could open my mouth, Grandpa's voice cut through the room, cold and firm.
"If you truly want the Crown Prince to contribute to the Mana sacrifice…" Grandpa leaned back in his chair, his eyes locking onto the Hierophants and nobles. "Then let me take his place."
Silence blanketed the room once again.
The Hierophant who had spoken earlier immediately looked uneasy. "But, Your Majesty, you must not—"
"Of course, I must not," Grandpa sneered, though his eyes burned with anger. "Because I still have to march onto the battlefield. My Mana must be reserved for that." His gaze narrowed. "So tell me, are you truly arguing for fairness, or are you just looking for an excuse to push my grandson aside?"
"I will join the expedition."
Grandpa turned sharply, eyes widening. "What did you say?"
"I will join the expedition," I repeated, this time with more conviction.
"I forbid it!" he barked. "You can't even fight, Elenio! What do you think this is? A school excursion?"
"Grandpa," I met Grandpa's gaze with unwavering determination. "I understand your concerns, and I know I lack experience. But I believe this is the right time to learn and prove myself. I want to see firsthand what our people are facing and show that I am ready to take responsibility."
Grandpa stared at me, his expression torn between affection and frustration. "Elenio, the battlefield is not a place where you can afford to learn from mistakes. The risks are too great, and you cannot simply force courage onto a situation you are unprepared to face."
I nodded, showing that I understood. "They're right, Grandpa. It's time we act with fairness. I should have done this from the beginning when the empire decided to carry out an emergency summoning ritual, sacrificing the Mana of our family."
Uncle Arcanist added gently, "Elenio has shown courage and a willingness to learn. We can give him a role where he can observe and understand without being directly involved in combat."
Goosebumps crawled over my skin as I locked eyes with Finnian. His gaze, filled with barely restrained fury, felt like it could bore a hole through my skull.
Finnian's expression was tight with disapproval. "Elenio, this isn't about proving yourself. Your presence in the expedition will only be a burden to the team. We must focus on the mission, not looking after a crown prince who isn't ready for this risk."
I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his sharp stare.
"I understand," I said, my voice steady despite the pressure. "And I promise I won't be a burden. I will learn from this experience and make sure to follow the guidance of the knights who have been chosen for this mission."
Finnian's expression remained displeased, but he chose to remain silent. He knew that arguing further would be futile once Uncle Arcanist had decided.
Grandpa's hard gaze was still fixed on me, his displeasure clear. But after a long moment, he sighed deeply and ran a hand down his face.
"Very well," he said, his voice weary yet commanding. "If you truly wish to do this, there is one condition."
I tensed. "What is it?"
"You may join the expedition, but for the next summoning ritual, I will be the one to sacrifice my Mana alongside Arcanist," he declared firmly.
Uncle Arcanist turned to him, his eyes widening slightly in surprise. But before he could say anything, murmurs of protest erupted across the room.
"Your Majesty, this is unacceptable!" one of the Hierophants exclaimed, his face stricken with worry. "You cannot sacrifice your Mana for the ritual! It will weaken you on the battlefield!"
Several nobles raised their voices in agreement. "If Grandpa himself performs the Mana sacrifice, it could jeopardize our entire war strategy!"
But Grandpa merely regarded them with a cold stare before leaning back in his chair. "Weren't you speaking of fairness and contribution just moments ago?" His tone was sharp, cutting through their protests. "If sacrifices must be made, then I will be the one to make them."
Uncle Arcanist finally exhaled, glancing at me briefly before turning back to Grandpa. "If that is your decision, I will not oppose it."
Grandpa gave a firm nod. Then, his gaze settled on me, his expression even more serious. "And you, Elenio," he said, his voice carrying undeniable weight. "You will lead the next summoning ritual."
A chill ran down my spine. The Hierophants and nobles broke into anxious murmurs again, but I held my Grandpa's gaze, refusing to look away.
He leaned back into his chair, a faint, humourless smile curving his lips. "You all wanted fairness, didn't you?" His voice was low, yet it rumbled like distant thunder. "Then this is my form of fairness. If I fall during the ritual, see that you protect our lands until I wake."
His piercing gaze swept across the room, meeting each pair of uneasy eyes. His words struck at their pride, leaving them with no room for argument.
"Let the princes and princesses who refuse to participate in the Mana sacrifice march to the front lines," he declared coldly. "If they don't contribute to the ritual, then let them be the ones to defend our territories in crisis."
Several nobles stiffened, their faces draining of colour. The Hierophants whispered urgently amongst themselves, their murmurs growing more frantic. Meanwhile, the gathered princes and princesses bristled, their expressions a mixture of shock and outrage at the decree.
"But, Your Majesty—" one of the nobles attempted to speak, but Grandpa silenced him sharply.
"I have made my decision," Grandpa continued, his voice absolute. "Right now, justice will not be determined by bloodline or status alone. Every person claiming to be part of this empire must fight for it—whether with their Mana or their blood on the battlefield."
I clenched my hands in my lap, trying to suppress the unease in my chest. Grandpa had always been like this—bold, fearless, and utterly indifferent to the political consequences of his words. His declaration just now solidified my resolve to join the expedition and created even more enemies for us.
The nobles who had long turned a blind eye to their duties would undoubtedly bear a grudge. The princes and princesses who had escaped the Mana sacrifice now had yet another reason to despise me because, once again, I had become the centre of Grandpa's decision—one that disrupted the balance of power.
And yet… I couldn't deny that this was justice. For the first time, I wasn't the only one whose contribution was questioned. I wasn't the only one seen as a burden.
I took a deep breath, my gaze falling to the wooden table before me. Perhaps this wasn't an ideal beginning. But at the very least, for once, I didn't feel alone in bearing the weight of their judgment.