Chapter 258 : Chapter 258

Volume 2 ch1: The Fallen Genius

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍morning light of the Imperial Capital filtered through the delicate lace curtains, spilling softly into the room. The air was filled with the faint fragrance of flowers and the scent of expensive wood, utterly different from the reek of blood, medicine, and dust that had hung over the ruins camp.

Three ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍or four days passed in silence.

Ryan ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍and Ilyss had long since been transferred from the temporary camp outside the ruins entrance to the very heart of the Empire—Augustus.

Ilyss ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had been arranged to recuperate in a side residence near the Royal Princess’s palace.

What ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍she had exhausted was her origin and her spirit. With Cecilia sparing no expense in allocating rare potions to her, combined with the powerful natural recovery of the elves themselves, she had already recovered by more than half. Her body was still weak, however, and would require long-term nourishment.

Ryan’s ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍treatment, meanwhile, was even more unusual.

By personal imperial decree, His Majesty the Emperor had bestowed upon him an estate in the prime district of the Upper City.

This residence was no ordinary gift. It was said to have originally belonged to a prince who had once been deeply favored. Later, after changing hands several times, it was reclaimed by the Imperial Household. Rumor had it that the Emperor had intended to remodel it into either a refined detached palace or a residence for hosting the most important foreign dignitaries.

And now, it had been granted to Ryan Velt, the son of an obscure viscount from the Northlands.

The favor and political signal behind this decision stirred no small ripple through the nobility of the Imperial Capital, where people were exceedingly sensitive to such things.

The estate itself covered a large expanse of land. Living water had been diverted to form a lake, strange ornamental stones had been piled into miniature mountains, and many precious magical plants had been transplanted there. Between the lush greenery, the glow of sophisticated defensive Magic Circles could be seen flickering faintly.

The interior decoration was extravagantly luxurious, yet in the details there was unmistakable elegance. It was obvious that someone highly skilled had designed it.

Dozens of well-trained, silent, respectful servants moved about the estate, keeping everything in flawless order.

Ryan was settled in the largest and most comfortable master bedroom in the main building.

Every day, high-tier healers from the Royal Academy of Medicine arrived on schedule to conduct the most thorough examinations and provide the gentlest Mana nourishment treatments.

Rare potions and richly restorative meals were supplied in endless abundance.

Without question, this was the Empire’s highest standard of treatment for a hero who had conquered a dangerous elven ruin, and also a public display of how greatly the Empire valued talent and how vast imperial favor could be.

Lillian and Rex were granted permission to visit him at any time. Their injuries in the ruins had been comparatively light, and after treatment they had mostly recovered. They were arranged to stay in a rather luxurious guesthouse in the Imperial Capital.

Because they were soon to attend the Emperor’s investiture ceremony, they were also permitted a limited degree of free movement within the imperial city.

The two of them came almost every day to Ryan’s estate. Each time they looked at their friend, still asleep in bed with that striking silver hair, the worry on their faces grew deeper.

Compared to Cecilia’s surface-level warmth, which somehow always felt as though there were a layer between her and others, they felt closer to Ilyss instead, having gone through life and death with her. Yet Ilyss spent most of her time at the Royal Princess’s side, and her demeanor remained as cool and distant as it had been in the ruins. On the rare occasions they met, she offered only simple greetings. As a result, all the questions and emotions Lillian and Rex carried about the final, heart-stopping moments in the ruins remained buried in their chests—especially Rex, whom Lillian had repeatedly warned never to speak of them to outsiders.

At the same time, the undercurrents in the Imperial Capital had not quieted with the end of the ruins expedition. On the contrary, the unexpected result had stirred up fresh waves.

The factions of the Second Prince Keynes and the Third Prince Aster had suffered the greatest losses this time. Not only had they failed to obtain the key prize, they had also lost carefully cultivated confidants and powerful figures they had gone to such lengths to recruit.

It was said that the Second Prince had flown into a furious rage inside his residence. Though the news had been suppressed, that pent-up resentment and unwillingness had already begun spreading silently through the field of power. The Third Prince had grown even gloomier, shutting himself away from all company, and no one knew what he was doing.

The Emperor himself was also somewhat surprised by the outcome. His original intention had been to let his older sons use this opportunity to temper themselves, compete, and demonstrate their ability. He had not expected that the greatest spoils would ultimately fall into the hands of his youngest daughter, Cecilia, whose presence had always been rather faint, along with the handful of Saint Roland students she had sent, who had initially looked more like filler than anything else.

But the result benefited the Empire. The elven relics and documents brought back were of immense value, enough to shake the academic world and perhaps even reveal the secrets of ancient elven magic, thereby strengthening the Empire.

As a result, His Majesty was greatly pleased, and his generous decrees of reward were swiftly issued.

All survivors received a lavish sum of gold. As for Ryan’s group, who had stood at the core of the achievement, their rewards were even heavier: the commoner Rex was exceptionally granted the lowest noble rank of Baron; the Count’s daughter Lillian was awarded the honorary title of Lady Frostglaze; Vera and Ryan also received corresponding honorary titles.

Beyond that, there were many additional gifts—gold, silver, treasures, magical resources, and more.

The grand investiture ceremony was set to take place two days later in the main hall of the imperial palace.

That afternoon, Rex and Lillian visited once again and then left.

Rex ran a hand over his brand-new Baron’s sash and sighed. “Ryan still hasn’t woken up... What are we supposed to do about the ceremony the day after tomorrow? I don’t even feel right taking this title.”

Lillian’s ice-blue eyes were equally full of worry. “Don’t say that! Her Highness Cecilia said Ryan is only suffering from excessive depletion... He’ll get better.”

They continued their low-voiced conversation as they walked farther away.

Not long after they left, another figure entered the estate that now belonged to Ryan Velt, silently escorted by royal guards.

The servants all bowed and withdrew without a word.

Princess Cecilia entered Ryan’s bedchamber alone.

The room was spacious and bright, elegantly and luxuriously decorated. Sunlight streamed through broad glass windows, casting brilliant patches of light onto the carpet.

She walked to the bedside and dismissed the maids. Soon, only she and the sleeping man remained in the room.

Cecilia stood there quietly, her ice-blue eyes fixed on Ryan’s face.

Even unconscious, with his complexion pale and that silver-white hair spread in disarray across the pillow, his face still possessed an almost unreal beauty. It lacked some of the cold sharpness he wore while awake and instead held a fragile, breakable quality. With the silver hair and those overly delicate features, he even gave off a strange, almost eerie vulnerability.

It was completely different from the Ryan Velt she knew.

The viscount’s son who had coldly dissected interests and advantages during negotiations, nearly driving even her into a corner. The enigmatic man who had erupted with power in the ruins, power enough to alarm even an elf, only to fall at the end like a bird with broken wings.

Powerful. Calm. Unfathomable.

And yet he also seemed strangely indifferent to worldly power.

Cecilia had never met anyone like him.

Since the age of thirteen, she had willingly stepped into the Empire’s bloodiest and darkest game of power. The only things she could rely on were her own mind, her ruthlessness, and her precise grasp of human desire.

She was skilled at calculating.

And she was accustomed to control.

Had Ilyss not also begun with ulterior motives?

Yet under Cecilia’s layered application of both favor and pressure, had she not gradually become used to—and even begun to rely on—her role as Cecilia’s guard?

But Ryan Velt was completely different.

From the very beginning, the initiative in their cooperation had never rested in her hands.

The rules were his to set. The time limit was his to hold. She was the one who felt more like the petitioner—making requests, waiting to be judged, and then accepting his conditions.

The feeling was unfamiliar.

And unsettling.

Yet at the same time, it held a strange sort of allure.