(30 Minutes Ago)
(Royal Palace of Velmoria — Luca’s Chamber)
A soft, pale glow pulsed from the magic communicator resting on Luca’s desk. The air hummed faintly with residual mana as a familiar voice flowed through the crystal.
“Brother… is everything ready?”
Eva’s voice was calm — but there was a quiet excitement hidden beneath it.
Luca leaned back against the edge of the table, arms loosely folded, a slow smile already tugging at his lips.
“Yes, sister-in-law,” he replied smoothly. “Everything is prepared exactly as you instructed. Leo will arrive at the Royal Palace in thirty minutes…”
His smile widened, eyes gleaming with mischief. “And I have already informed Hans about the plan.”
A brief pause came from the other side.
“…Okay,” Eva said softly. “Then take care of everything there.”
"I will, sister don't worry" Luca replied.
The glow flickered.
Then vanished.
The connection cut.
Silence settled into the room.
Luca gently placed the communicator back onto the table… and then, unable to help himself, he let out a quiet chuckle.
“It’s going to be so much fun.”
__________________________________
(30 Minutes Later — Emperor’s Study)
The study doors flew open with a thunderous crash.
Eyan jerked in his seat, the quill in his hand jolting sharply across the parchment.
His head snapped up, irritation flashing instantly across his face.
“Hans,” Eyan said coldly, “what is the meaning of this?”
Hans stumbled inside, breathing heavily, his usually composed demeanor completely shattered.
“Your Majesty—” he panted. “He… he came to meet you!”
Eyan’s brows pulled together. “…Who came to meet me?”
Hans swallowed hard.
Then dropped the bomb. “Your son.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Absolute.
Eyan’s mind went completely blank.
He stared at Hans.
“…My what?”
“Your son, Your Majesty,” Hans repeated, voice tight with urgency.
Eyan suddenly laughed. A short, disbelieving sound.
“Hans,” he said dryly, leaning back in his chair, “Hans, did you start drinking in the morning? No wonder you’re spouting nonsense.”
Hans straightened immediately. “Your Majesty, I am not drunk.”
Eyan waved a dismissive hand.
“Then I believe you are simply overworked and have finally lost your mind. Take leave for a few days. Go home. You need rest.”
“Your Majesty, I am not crazy!”
Eyan’s patience snapped.
“If you are not crazy, then what are you?” His voice sharpened dangerously. “You barge into my study and tell me I have a son? That is beyond nonsense!”
Hans held his ground, unusually firm. “…Your Majesty, if you do not believe me, please come and see the boy yourself. He is in the living hall. Waiting for you.”
That did it.
Eyan pushed back his chair and stood.
His expression had gone completely flat.
“Fine.”
He strode toward the door.
__________________________________
(Palace Hallway)
Eyan strode down the long marble corridor, cloak swaying sharply behind him. Hans hurried beside him, still tense.
After a few steps, Eyan spoke, voice cool and cutting.
“Hans, you have worked in this palace for nearly ten years… and you still cannot tell when someone is an impostor?”
His gaze never shifted forward.
“That boy is lying. And you believed him.”
Hans hurried to respond.
“No, Your Majesty, that’s not—”
Eyan stopped.
They had reached the living hall.
Without waiting another second—
He shoved the doors open.
__________________________________
(Living Hall)
The doors slammed wide.
Eyan stepped inside, already speaking, his tone sharp with cold authority.
“You— are you the one who came here claiming to be my son? I’m afraid you won’t fool me with such a cheap lie, impost—”
The words stopped.
Because the boy moved.Standing calmly in the center of the hall, the child slowly lifted his hands and pulled the hood back.
Silver hair spilled into the light. Red eyes rose. And met Eyan’s.
For the first time in years— The Emperor froze. His mind went completely blank. His breath caught sharply in his throat.
“…No,” Eyan whispered, the sound hoarse with disbelief. “It can’t be.”
The boy smiled. Soft. Polite. Dangerously composed.
He bowed deeply with perfect noble etiquette.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“Greetings, Your Majesty. I finally got the chance to meet you.”
He straightened, those identical red eyes unwavering. “My name is Leo…”
A small pause.
Then—
“…and I am .”
The word 'son' echoed sharply through the vast hall, bouncing off the high ceilings and marble walls like a verdict from fate itself.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
From the side, Luca — who had been quietly observing the entire scene — lifted a brow and looked toward Eyan with poorly hidden amusement.
“Eyan,” Luca drawled, clearly entertained, “I didn’t know I had a nephew.”
Eyan did not respond. He was still staring at Leo. Still frozen.
Then—
Something in his expression snapped.
His eyes darkened.
“KID,” Eyan’s voice dropped, sharp with rising anger, “how dare you come into my palace and play cheap tricks on me.”
He stepped forward, each footfall echoing ominously across the marble. “You think you can fool me with a disguise spell, you little fraud?”
Eyan turned sharply toward Luca, irritation flashing like steel.
“Luca. What are you doing standing there? You actually believe this brat's lie?” His voice sharpened into command. “Dismiss his disguise spell. I want to see what this boy really looks like.”
Luca pushed himself off the pillar he’d been leaning on and stepped forward.
“…Alright,” he murmured.
He lifted his hand. Mana gathered instantly at his fingertips. A pale ray of magic washed over Leo’s small figure—
Light shimmered. Flickered. Then faded.
Leo stood exactly the same.
Silver hair. Red eyes. Unchanged.
“…Eyan,” Luca said quietly, “he isn’t using a disguise spell. That is how he looks.”
Eyan’s composure cracked. “…What?”
Luca folded his arms, studying Leo more carefully now. “Eyan… how long were you planning to hide your son from everyone?”
That did it.
“Luca,” Eyan’s voice dropped dangerously low, “don’t speak nonsense. I know nothing about this child.” His glare sharpened like drawn steel. “And he is not my son.”
Luca lifted one brow. “Then care to explain why he looks exactly like you?”
Silence.
Thick.
Tense.
Then—
Eyan suddenly laughed. Cold. Disbelieving.
He turned his head slightly toward Luca, eyes narrowed.
“Now I understand,” he said slowly. “This little runt is highly skilled in magic… skilled enough to even fool you.”
His gaze slid back to Leo, sharp and unforgiving.
“You may have deceived him,” Eyan said coolly, “and perhaps your appearance is convincing…”
His voice dropped to something far more dangerous.
“…but you will not fool them—”
His voice snapped like a whip.
“Come out, boys.”
The shadows along the far wall stirred. Darkness rippled—
—and from it stepped three massive black wolves. Talon. Fen. Mara.
Their golden eyes glowed faintly as they padded forward, low growls rumbling in their chests.
The temperature in the hall seemed to drop.
Leo’s eyes widened the moment he saw them. He instinctively took a small step back.
Eyan’s lips curved into a cold, satisfied smile.
“Already scared, you little pest?” he mocked softly. “Where did all that confidence go?”
The three wolves looked toward Leo, their growls deepening.
Eyan folded his arms. “Go on,” he said flatly. “They will expose you soon enough.”
The wolves advanced.
Closer.
Closer—
Then Talon reached Leo first.
And instead of attacking…
…the massive wolf lowered his head and began licking Leo’s face.
Leo broke into soft, startled giggles. “Oh— that tickles!”
Eyan’s expression froze.
Behind him, Hans very quickly looked down. Luca’s lips twitched.
Fen and Mara moved in next, rubbing affectionately against Leo’s small frame in clear, unmistakable welcome.
The boy laughed, completely at ease, small hands automatically petting them like this was the most natural thing in the world.
Eyan’s brain short-circuited.
His wolves…
…his war beasts…
…were cuddling the brat.
Behind him, Luca cleared his throat — a little too carefully.
“Eyan… you can deny it all you want,” he said, voice suspiciously neutral, “but that child is clearly yours.”
Eyan spun toward him sharply.
“That is not true,” he snapped. “Perhaps the brat can control wolves as well—”
Even he heard it.
How thin it sounded.
Eyan abruptly turned away, beginning to pace.
“Wait,” he said quickly, agitation finally breaking through his composure. “I can prove it. He is not my child.”
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
Think.
Think—
A small tug stopped him.
Eyan froze mid-step.
Slowly… very slowly… he looked down.
Leo stood close, small fingers gripping the edge of his robe.
Those red eyes looked up at him — calm… steady… almost like he knew exactly what he was doing.
From his pocket, Leo carefully pulled something out.
He extended it upward.
“Your Majesty,” Leo said softly, “you will believe me once you see this.”
For a brief second—
Luca and Hans exchanged a very quick glance.
Eyan didn’t notice.
His attention was fully on the object now resting in Leo’s palm.
Slowly, Eyan took it.
The moment it touched his skin—
Everything collapsed.
Color drained from his face.
His pupils trembled violently.
“…No…”
His knees hit the floor.
Hard.
The pendant slipped from his numb fingers and clattered across the marble.
This time, Luca didn’t even try to hide his focus as he stepped forward and picked it up.
When he saw it—
His brows lifted.
“Eyan…” Luca said slowly, turning the pendant in the light. “If he is not your son…”
His gaze sharpened slightly.
“…then why does he have your mother’s pendant?”
Silence crushed the hall.
Even the wolves stilled.
Eyan couldn’t answer.
Because he truly didn’t know.
Leo stepped forward carefully, stopping just in front of the kneeling emperor.
His voice came out soft..Careful. “…Father—”
“DON’T.”
Eyan’s head snapped up sharply, red eyes fierce despite the crack in his composure.
“DO NOT CALL ME THAT,” he said coldly.
Luca only folded his arms, utterly unmoved.
“Then how else should he address you? Your Majesty? Stranger? He has shown everything he has. You must accept him as your son.”
That was the final crack.
Eyan remained on his knees. For a long moment, he didn’t move.
Then slowly—
He dragged a hand down his face. Once. Twice. His breathing grew uneven. Because nothing—nothing about this made sense. This was impossible.
His jaw tightened.
“…No,” Eyan muttered hoarsely. “No… I can’t accept this. It’s impossible.”
Luca sighed — the deep, patient sigh of a man forced to deal with someone deeply, tragically dense.
“What is impossible?” Luca asked calmly. Then he leaned forward slightly. “Maybe you simply… forgot.”
Eyan’s head snapped up so fast his neck audibly cracked.
“…Forgot?”
The word came out strangled.
He pointed at Leo with a visibly shaking finger.
“You think,” Eyan said slowly, dangerously, “that I could forget something like
Leo gave a small, awkward wave.
Luca hummed, completely unfazed. “Well… you do attend many banquets,” he said thoughtfully. “There is wine. Music. Emotional atmospheres…”
Eyan’s eye twitched. “I. Do. Not. Lose. Control.”
“Mm,” Luca nodded politely, like he was humoring a child. “Of course. Of course.”
Hans turned slightly away, already sensing disaster.
Luca sighed like a long-suffering relative. Then he glanced at Leo.
“Hey, kid… close your ears for a moment.”
Leo obediently covered his ears with his small hands.
Only then did Luca step closer to the visibly unraveling emperor, lowering his voice.
“Now let me help you remember,” he said. “Was there ever a night… where you were perhaps a little drunk… a little distracted… and may have spent a night with a woman?”
Eyan’s face went flat.
“No.”
“Think carefully.”
“I am thinking.”
“Very carefully.”
“I HAVE NEVER SPENT A NIGHT WITH ANY WOMAN BESIDES MY WIFE!” Eyan Snapped.
The declaration echoed through the room.
Leo flinched.
Hans pressed his lips together.
But Luca…
Luca’s eyes suddenly lit up.
“Oh,” he said slowly. “Then I remember something.”
Eyan froze. “…What.”
Luca nodded to himself like a scholar uncovering ancient truth.
“There was that noble lady,” he said casually. “The one who touched your hand once.”
Silence.
Eyan blinked. “…What.”
Luca continued, warming to his own nonsense. “Yes, yes — at the spring banquet. Very bold woman. Very forward.” He snapped his fingers. “Ah, and you threw her into prison afterward.”
Luca leaned forward slightly and delivered, with full seriousness: “…Perhaps the child is hers.”
The world stopped.
Actually stopped.
For three full seconds, Eyan did not breathe.
Then—
“I DIDN’T KNOW CHILDREN COULD BE PRODUCED BY TOUCHING HANDS JUST ONCE!”
The shout shook the windows.
Hans turned fully away, shoulders shaking violently.
And Luca—
Luca choked. Actually choked.
His composure shattered as he coughed into his fist, clearly not expecting Eyan to snap that hard.
Eyan was half-standing now, hair slightly disheveled, eyes wide with offended dignity and existential betrayal.
“Have you lost your mind?!” he demanded. “What kind of horrifying biological theory are you inventing in this room?!”
Luca wheezed once more, trying — and failing — to recover his usual calm. “…I was merely exploring possibilities.”
Eyan pointed at him like he was personally responsible for the collapse of logic. “Explore them somewhere else!”
Luca finally cleared his throat.This time… he was completely serious. He looked straight at Eyan.
“Now tell me,” Luca said calmly, far too calmly, “how do you plan to explain this child to sister-in-law?”
A beat.
Then the final blow—
“How,” Luca continued smoothly, “will you tell your wife… that you already had a son?”
Silence.
Absolute.
Eyan’s pupils shrank.
His face went blank.
“…Her,” he whispered faintly.
The color drained from his face so fast it was almost impressive.
His body swayed.
Then—
He nearly collapsed.
“Y–Your Majesty!”
Hans lunged forward and caught him just in time, gripping his shoulders tightly. “Your Majesty, are you alright?!”
Eyan looked up slowly. He looked… devastated. Truly, spiritually devastated. His lips trembled.
In a hollow voice, Eyan said—
“Hans…”
Hans stiffened. “…Yes, Your Majesty?”
Eyan inhaled shakily, then spoke with grave, world-ending seriousness: “…Prepare my coffin.”
Hans froze. “…Your Majesty?”
“And bring me paper and a quill,” Eyan added solemnly.
Hans blinked rapidly, completely lost. “Why… why paper and quill, Your Majesty?”
Eyan slowly lifted his gaze. The look in his eyes was the look of a man who had already accepted death.
“I must write my will.”
Across the room, Luca’s mouth twitched.
Leo looked mildly concerned.
Hans, however, looked like his soul was leaving his body second-hand. “Y-Your Majesty—”
Eyan covered his face with one trembling hand. His voice dropped into pure tragic despair.
“She's going to kill me.”
And then—
A calm voice echoed from the entrance.
“Honey… who is going to kill you?”
Eyan’s soul left his body.
He turned his head slowly.
Standing at the door was Eva.
Beside her stood Aranel.
Eyan stared, frozen.
“Eva…” he whispered.
And for the first time in his reign as Emperor of Velmoria—
Eyan truly felt fear.
.
.
To be continued—
