Marcus' words hung in the air, the tension in the throne room was palpable, Vesper felt the chillness in the air as Marcus looked at him, releasing his pressure of a Grandmaster rank.
"Your Majesty, it is true that I have recently been able to control mana, but I had an encounter of good fortune." Vesper said.
"Do tell us, what this good fortune is and how it came to be." Marcus said, lessening his pressure.
"Your majesty, during the last battle I went for, I scouted the woods a night before and met a man cloaked in black, I wanted to report to the commander but before I knew what was happening I was frozen in my position, the man walked to me and said that he was not my enemy but just a passer by."
"I doubted him at first, but then the man, just sat and cooked a meal while inviting me to eat, his reason being that he had not communicated with anyone for the past hundred years, and he just came out of a seclusive training."
"Helplessly, I sat with him while he talked on tales of his journey, but I did not pay too much attention, only that he was given a title called the Forgotten Hermit, due to how he was forgotten by his own people after a previous seclusive training in the past."
At this point Marcus' eyes widened in surprise and it was not only him, all the queens and a few of the children, such as Adolfus, Amon, Catherine and a few others had their face coloured with surprise.
"Boy, did you just say the Forgotten Hermit?" Marcus asked again, his pressure increasing by tenfold on Vesper.
Vesper gritted his teeth in pain as he nodded using all his strength. Then Marcus' pressure vanished like it was never there.
"So how did you manage to control mana?" Marcus asked.
"I ate from the food which he offered me, and he said they would help cleanse my body and enhance my mind, it was a red root-like herb that was warm a bit." Vesper continued with his fake tale.
Ever since he showed his mana to the second queen he knew he had to give a report, and as someone with the knowledge of this world he knew a lot of people, and things many people didn't even imagine.
Marcus looked at Vesper with surprise and laughed, "It really is a fortunate encounter, tell me Vesper, do you know the herb you ate?"
Vesper shook his head and replied, "Your Majesty, I do not know this herb, all I know is after eating it I felt immense pain, and the man placed his hands over me before saying I would receive a pleasant surprise in a few days. After that I fainted to wake up at my tent."
"First of all, you met a man we all know as a sage, the forgotten Hermit, the man who wiped out an entire army of a first rate empire by just swinging his staff. Then he fed you a Nirvana ginseng, a herb that is said to have the ability to turn a cripple to a cultivator, and it can also heal the most critical of injuries restoring the person to his prime state. Truly a fortunate encounter." Marcus laughed as he said.
"But then not saying a word and hiding this fact from me, are you trying to fool me boy?" Marcus said as his aura turned sharp once again.
"Not at all your majesty, I just did not want to tell you then find out it was a temporary boon. Forgive me your majesty." Vesper said as he clasped his hands together like he was praying.
"Very well, then but I can not still let this go, and I can not seem to think of a punishment, when you return from the war, I would give you a desirable punishment." Marcus said.
As he was about to get up, a female voice spread as she said, "Lord Emperor, if I may?"
Marcus turned to see Anna looking at him, then he shook his head and sat back waving his hands.
"Vesper you have harboured intent of treason by hiding the news of your fortunate encounter, and also you have endangered the life of two royalties, do you accept your crime?" Anna's voice spread.
Vesper looked at the Empress and sighed, he knew this was not going to end well for him, but he was defenceless against her right now.
"Yes your majesty." Vesper replied.
"Very well, out of the merciful heart of the Emperor he does not wish to punish you too harshly, but laws must be kept for order and peace to reign, in three months you would head to the northern borders and defend the empire for one year before you return, do you accept your punishment." Anna said.
Everyone in the throne room were taken by surprise, aside Marcus, Chloe looked at Vesper while a woman with black hair and golden eyes gazed at him for a while before turning back to Anna.
"Is there any other alternative your majesty?" Vesper asked.
"The only other alternative is death, so which do you choose Vesper?" Anna's voice sounded again.
"I accept my punishment your majesty, may you reign long lord Emperor and Empress." Vesper said, placing his hand across his chest.
"You are all dismissed." Marcus finally said.
They all got up and placed their hands on their chest before saying, "May you reign long Lord Emperor."
Then they left, Marcus sat back while watching all the children leave, while the Empress and the Queens remained.
Soon after the throne room only had four people, the Emperor and his wives.
"Do you not think that punishment was too harsh for such a minor action Anna?" The woman with black hair and golden eyes asked.
"Diane, I have given out the punishment, harsh or not it can not be changed again, not any more." Anna spoke.
Outside where the young princes and princesses were Catherine and Aurora looked at Vesper who was walking away on his own, they wanted to go to him, but they felt it was not a good time.
Aurora had tears in her eyes, while Catherine felt guilty and bad, while they were thinking of how to approach Vesper, a voice echoed.
"Well, I can see why he won against Theo now, he could control mana already and cheated from the get go. It is not like I can expect anything good from a bastard right?"
After that the room turned chilly.