Chapter 121
In the study, I listened to Hemillas as he explained the current state of the Imperial Guard.
"As you may already know, the military is currently in conflict with the imperial family on several matters. The fact that they secured the rights to the Catacomb Mines is a result of that."
Disloyal words came from Hemillas' mouth. What he spoke of now was not about ideology or beliefs—it was the reality of politics.
'The military and the Imperial Guard are at odds with the imperial family.'
The lower classes wouldn’t even imagine such conflicts existed. Until recently, neither had I. I had believed that every institution of the Empire was unified in loyalty under the Emperor.
But to speak of an unsettling truth—the Emperor does not control everything. There were areas within the Empire beyond his reach.
'If perfect control was possible through the system alone... there would be no need for Overseers or spies.'
Flawless rule cannot be achieved through institutions and governance alone. Even the imperial family was forced to resort to expedients.
The Empire was not perfect. It only managed to function, creaking along as best it could.
"The Imperial Guard is His Majesty's direct force. We are not under the military’s command. Shouldn’t our allegiance lie with the imperial family, not the military?"
I spoke sharply. It wasn’t just rhetoric—there was sincerity in my words.
"Principally, yes. In the early days of the Imperial Guard, you would have been correct. It operated as an organization wholly loyal and obedient to His Majesty. In fact, the Guard even played a role in keeping the military in check."
"‘Principally’—meaning that’s no longer the case?"
Hemillas fell silent for a long time, as if carefully considering his response. What he was about to say would be words the Imperial Guard should never utter.
"Luka, listen carefully and don’t misunderstand. The history of the Imperial Guard is long. There have always been generals from the Guard at the highest levels of the military, and the core leadership of the military is full of former Imperial Guards. Over time, it has become impossible for the Imperial Guard and the military to remain entirely separate organizations."
"Blocking members of the Guard from entering the military..."
I trailed off mid-sentence. Even to myself, it sounded like an absurd idea.
It would be a problem even if Imperial Guards were released into the civilian sector. The immense cost of their training would be wasted, and controlling those who entered the civilian market would be extremely difficult.
But keeping them confined within the Guard until death wasn’t a solution either. That would only breed enormous resentment, even among the most loyal Guards.
Ultimately, the reason Imperial Guards endure brutal training and undertake dangerous missions is... the promise of wealth and honor after retirement. No matter how strong their loyalty, no one wishes to die a pointless death.
"As time passed naturally, the Imperial Guard could no longer function as a check against the military. From the perspective of the imperial family, a drastic reorganization became necessary. But to achieve that, they would have to strip the Guard of its privileges. You may not know this… but the Imperial Guard was not the first direct force under the imperial family. Before us, there were other units similar to the Guard."
The fate of those nameless predecessors had likely been grim.
At this point, discussing right and wrong or assigning blame was meaningless. The issue ran far deeper.
'It’s a matter of survival.'
Both the Imperial Guard and the military were desperately fighting to protect their own interests. And the imperial family, for the sake of stable rule, needed to bring both the Guard and the military under control.
"This isn’t a matter of disloyalty or treason. It’s simply that the balance has been broken. Because of that, the scales have tipped."
But no matter how he framed it, it was still disloyalty and treason. Those who had served for decades might barely recall their original indoctrination, but as a cadet, I had undergone near-brainwashing levels of ideological training only recently.
'No matter the reason, the blade of the Imperial Guard must never turn inward toward the Empire or the imperial family.'
And yet, the very people who had drilled that lesson into us were now baring their fangs at the imperial family. When I thought about it, it was almost laughable. This world was full of ironies.
"So, how do you intend to restore the balance?"
"…That’s as much explanation as I’ll give, Luka. You’re just a cadet. What I’ve told you so far isn’t even known to most young Guards. Those freshly inducted are still too blindly loyal."
The younger the Guard, the stronger their devotion to the imperial family. But those who had served longer and had more entanglements… they would prioritize themselves, their families, and the well-being of their fellow Guards over the imperial family.
"I’ll keep my mouth shut. Then, I’ll take my leave…"
Hemillas waved a hand dismissively.
"Stay a little longer. I need a drink first. I can’t endure Eva’s nagging sober."
Once I left, Eva and Juppe would come in. Understanding his need, I waited as Hemillas took his drink.
He emptied his glass quickly. The burden he carried must have been unimaginable. Even for someone like him—beyond human—some form of respite was necessary.
With a flick of his hand, Hemillas signaled for me to leave.
Outside in the hallway, Eva and Juppe were seated on the sofa.
Eva sprang to her feet, her expression ferocious. She stormed toward the study door as if ready to smash it down.
"I have something to say, 'Mother.'"
I stepped in front of Eva, blocking her path.
Eva’s face burned with intense fury. However, like the mistress of a prestigious family, she quickly regained her composure.
"…Speak."
She kept her response brief, likely to prevent her emotions from seeping into her tone.
"Father doesn’t need to be interrogated right now—he needs comfort."
"So, you’ve reached the point where you think you can give me advice, Lukaus?"
Her words carried a sharp sting.
"Now is the time to trust in Father, in the judgment of the head of our family. I believe you are a wise woman, Mother. You, more than anyone, must know how to support a husband going through hardship."
Eva didn’t push me aside. Instead, she bit her lower lip with a quick, sharp motion.
I remained in place, blocking her path until she responded. Eventually, she closed her eyes briefly before reopening them and nodding.
"…If Nikolaos were alive, he would have said the exact same thing. In this situation, I suppose you’re right."
A distant longing flickered in Eva’s eyes. No matter how equally she had treated her two sons outwardly, she had supported Nikolaos over Juppe.
"Thank you."
I bowed respectfully and stepped past her.
Click.
Eva undid the top button of her blouse and entered the study.
Now that this had become a matter between husband and wife, Juppe naturally couldn’t follow. Instead, he and I descended the stairs together.
Being alone with Juppe felt awkward. Just this afternoon, we had shaken hands in a temporary truce. But now, it wouldn’t have been surprising if war had erupted between us.
Not knowing the full details, Juppe must have felt deeply betrayed by me.
I was prepared to take a hit from him if he lashed out. I did my best to suppress my combat reflexes.
"Luka."
At the bottom of the stairs, Juppe called my name. He concealed his turmoil behind a neutral expression, then spoke flatly.
"I haven’t given up yet. But for now… I have to acknowledge that you’ve pulled ahead."
"I wasn’t scheming anything. I didn’t expect Father to make this decision either."
"I know. You’re not that kind of person. If you were, Father wouldn’t favor you as much as he does."
Juppe took a deep breath, as if steadying himself. Then, with narrowed eyes, he clapped me on the shoulder twice.
"…Until the storm and chaos settle, our agreement still stands. For now, the family comes first."
For the first time, I truly felt like a member of the Custoria family. Even from Eva, I could sense a faint connection forming.
I haven’t lived in this world for long, but that statement feels true.
You just have to live long enough to see how things unfold.
* * *
A long day was coming to an end. The sky had been swallowed by darkness.
I returned to my room and began light training. Since I had recently received new prosthetic limbs, skipping training—no matter how busy I was—was not an option.
I tested my balance and reaction time with high-difficulty gymnastics, such as one-handed handstands. Even with advanced cybernetic implants, my movements weren’t yet flawless. I wobbled during some motions.
My brain and my prosthetics hadn’t fully synchronized yet. No matter how advanced cybernetic technology became, control ultimately relied on the brain.
Even with tools you’ve used for years, it takes time to adjust when you get a new one. That applied even more to prosthetic limbs.
Step, step.
Someone was walking toward my room.
At first, I assumed it was Giselle. I had sent her a summons message around the time I finished training.
'Two sets of footsteps. One is heavy.'
I didn’t even have time to wipe my sweat. I simply threw on a shirt.
Knock, knock.
The visitor knocked on my door.
Creak.
When I opened it, I saw familiar faces. But I wasn’t pleased to see them.
'Arthur… and Anna.'
My uncle and cousin.
Two unwelcome visitors stood before my door. And something about Anna’s appearance was off. A faint fragrance of powder clung to her, and her outfit exposed too much skin.
'What does this man even think of his own daughter?'
Disgust surged through me. But in aristocratic society, this was common.
Think of Lilian Lamones, Luka. Compared to that, Anna’s treatment is practically decent.
Suppressing my emotions, I greeted them indifferently.
"Were you training? As expected of the next head of the family. You’re already dependable."
Arthur showered me with flattery.
"I’d appreciate it if you didn’t say things that could be misinterpreted. I’m merely acting in the head’s absence."
"No need to be so modest. Everyone already knows. Do you think Hemillas would’ve chosen you without reason? Now, now. Anna, go inside and pour your strong little cousin a glass of water."
Anna lowered her head and entered the room. Moving like she owned the place, she rummaged through the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water.
"L-Lukaus? I can just call you Luka, right? This is the first time we’re having a proper conversation."
She smiled bashfully as she poured the water into a glass.
Looking at her now, I realized there was no need to pity her.
Father and daughter—both of them had come here deliberately to cling to me.
Clack.
Anna placed the glass of water in front of me. Reluctantly, I took a sip and looked at her.
I was thinking—no, fiercely strategizing—how to get Anna and Arthur out of my room.
Anna fanned herself with her hand, as if she were feeling hot. Then, stepping closer, she touched the top of her blouse.
Shff.
Her fingers hooked onto the buttons.
I immediately recalled what Eva had done earlier today and acted just as swiftly.
Snap!
I grabbed Anna’s wrist, stopping her from unbuttoning her blouse.
It seemed that, in this household, undoing buttons was the standard opening move for seduction.
"I-I was just feeling a little warm," Anna stammered, her face a mix of embarrassment and fluster.
"Then let me open the window for you."
I walked over and opened the window, all the while watching their reflection in the glass.
Anna was glancing at Arthur. Arthur, in turn, was signaling her to do something—as if urging her on.
They really thought I couldn’t see.
This was beyond ridiculous.
"By the way, Luka, do you remember what I mentioned last time? About my daughter wanting to get closer to you?"
I did remember. I just hadn’t given it any thought.
"I-I really want to get close to you too!"
Anna said as she moved in closer to me.
'What a mess.'
Embarrassing them outright wouldn’t cause any real trouble.
But I didn’t feel like being particularly harsh today.
It wasn’t the worst day I’d had, and I especially didn’t want to treat another Custoria family member too cruelly.
"Earlier, when I was moving, I noticed my prosthetic still isn’t fully calibrated. The women of the Custoria family are generally well-versed in cybernetics and engineering, so…"
I sat down and placed my arm on the table. Then, I pulled back a section of artificial skin on my left forearm, revealing a connector port.
"…If you take a quick look at my prosthetic, I think we’ll get close in no time."
I accessed the Overseer’s database and pulled up Anna’s records. As a daughter of the Custoria family, she had indeed studied mechanical engineering.
However, she hadn’t been admitted to the top-tier Royal Accretia Academy. Even in other institutions, her grades had been below average. There was no way she could handle the calibration of a high-output prosthetic.
"Uh, um… Ah… Dad?"
Unsure of what to do, Anna looked toward Arthur. She must have realized that if she messed with it carelessly, it would backfire on her.
"I’ll do it. My skills are probably better than Anna’s."
A voice came from beside the door.
Giselle appeared behind Arthur. I had already sensed her arrival.
"Mm… W-Well, Giselle’s skills are certainly better than my daughter’s."
"Dad!"
"What? It’s the truth. Well then, Luka, I’ll see you next time."
Arthur took this opportunity to quickly drag Anna out of the room.
Only after they left did Giselle step inside. She nodded toward the door.
"What were they even here for?"
"Probably to bring some entertainment to this dreary family."
At my words, Giselle let out a soft laugh. Looks like the joke landed.
"Anyway, do you actually need calibration? I’ll do it if you do."
"I do. It’s a new prosthetic, so I haven’t fully adjusted to it yet."
Giselle sat across from me and pulled out a terminal and some portable maintenance tools.
Click.
Before starting, she unbuttoned the top of her blouse.
I flinched and looked at her.
"What?"
She lifted her gaze at my reaction.
"No, uh… Nothing."
I turned my head toward the open window.