Did Mores have an Embersoul Core from the very beginning?
At Seongjin’s question, the Holy Emperor paused, giving him a long, unreadable look before replying with an unexpectedly detached comment.
“You’re getting caught up in useless thoughts again with that small mind of yours.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Yes, my son. Your assumption is correct. You were born with an Embersoul Core. Though it wasn’t always active, I noticed you managed to channel it quite well when you were teaming up with Herna and Gades to play tricks.”
What? Son?
A sudden surge of emotion welled up in Seongjin’s chest, unbidden and intense.
This man, really…!
Seongjin shot up from the bed, his eyes locked onto the Holy Emperor, who remained unperturbed and continued to watch him with the same calm expression.
“When are you going to stop pretending you don’t know?”
For months, it had felt as though something had clenched around his throat, keeping him from voicing his deepest question.
But now that he’d finally unleashed it, the floodgates opened, releasing everything—his anxieties, uncertainties, and resentments—all at once.
“Why do you keep calling me your son, Your Majesty? Can’t you see who I really am?”