"If you notice the six other carved figures on each of these tombs," said the Emperor. "And then, can you tell me who is on each tomb?"
Magnius the Mighty then noticed the carvings on the stone tomb covers. He recognized the four faces carved on each tomb but not the other three.
"This one is the Legendary Archer, Ra-Mhoan of the North. Then there's Morgh the Beast from the West. This one is obviously the tomb of His Majesty Emperor Durcala, your father. And the one before you is the tomb of Dyara the Lady Knight of the Southeast, your mother."
"What about the other three?"
"I beg your pardon, Your Majesty," Magnius replied. "I do not know them at all."
"Is that so?" The Emperor smiled.
She did not feel compelled to tell Magnius the rest. Perhaps it would be better to leave it at that.
"The one tomb of the three you do not recognize," the Emperor continued after a long breath. "It is an empty tomb, Magnius."
"Empty?" Magnius frowned.
The Emperor approached the tomb pointing southwest.
"This tomb," she said. "Try to move the cover!"
Magnius did as he was told by the Emperor. With his big, muscular body, it wasn't that difficult for him to shift the stone tomb cover.
The Emperor's words turned out to be true. Not a single bone was found in the tomb.
"What does all this mean?" Magnius frowned again. "Your Majesty?"
"Among the Seven Knights," the Emperor replied. "There was one who betrayed, Magnius."
"Betrayed?" repeated Magnius with growing curiosity. "But I never heard of this!"
"I know," replied the Emperor. "My father and my mother included, as well as the other four Knights agreed to keep this a secret from the people beforehand."
"I'm sure they had their reasons for keeping this unkind thing a secret," Magnius said. "But wouldn't it be better to let the people know about it? It's possible that the betrayal will cause one or two things that will harm the Central Empire later, right?"
"I agree with you, believe me," the Emperor replied. "However, in those days, they had to cover this up so as not to cause things that could ruin the victory and glory that had been achieved."
"Is that so, huh?" Magnius let out a deep breath. "Whatever the reason behind that decision, let it be their secret. Then, who was the betrayer?"
"Raemon!" replied the Emperor.
"Raemon?" Magnius frowned again. "Pardon me, I have never heard of that name."
"Of course!" said the Emperor. "Formerly, he was known as Ralph, the Genius of the Northwest."
"The God of Riders!" Magnius widened his eyes.
"That's correct," said the Emperor. "The god of riders as well as the first person to form the rider alliance."
"This..." Magnius massaged his throbbing forehead. "Who would have guessed, huh? It turns out that the man who has done so much for this country is a traitor!"
"So, now you understand, don't you?"
"Yeah!" Magnius nodded. "If the treachery of the Rider God spreads, then the riders in all corners of the world will surely defect and betray the Central Empire as well in the end."
"Absolutely!" The Emperor grinned subtly. "This is also why we protect the riders, Magnius, even though they like to act arbitrarily."
"There are too many things I don't know..." Magnius massaged his forehead again.
Well, all those things in the past that eventually shaped the present civilization, are too complex! thought the big man.
"But, is he still alive?"
"No one knows for sure," replied the Emperor. "And this is the thing that worries me the most, Magnius."
"Of course!" replied Magnius the Mighty. "If he were still alive, I think he would be seventy years or something. But, that's not what I was about to say." He let out a deep breath. "But before that, did he know about your identity, Your Majesty?"
"I don't think so," the Emperor replied. "Well, he might know about my mother and father's romance. But I doubt if he knows about me. Otherwise, the rumor of who I really am would already be circulating among the people."
"Right, I agree. We can conclude that he did not know that the Darya Knight carried the seed of His Majesty Durcala."
"Or it could be, when he betrayed them, he did not yet know that my mother was pregnant."
"Yeah, that's also a big possibility. My apologies," Magnius said. "What kind of betrayal did he commit?"
"I don't know for sure, Magnius. Not many details were told to me."
"From whom?" Magnius frowned.
"My mother and father."
And that must be a fact, Magnius thought. There was no way the former emperor and Rulca's mother would lie to their own daughter.
"All I know," the Emperor continued. "There has been a dispute between Raemon and the Six Knights."
Magnius let out a deep breath. Now he understood why the Emperor had been anxious and worried about so many things all these years.
"I deliberately brought you to the secret tomb of the Seven Knights, Magnius," the Emperor said. "Not only because I love you very much, but also because I want to ask you to do something for me."
"Just tell me, Your Majesty," Magnius bowed his head to his beautiful, masculine-voiced cousin. "My loyalty to you will never change."
"Oh, Magnius..." The Emperor touched the big man's chest again. "I truly depend on you for this one thing."
"Your Majesty?"
"Seek information on Raemon's whereabouts," the Emperor said. "And if he is still alive, arrest him. I would like to ask him a few questions before executing him."
"With pleasure," Magnius replied. "I will not let anyone harm you, Your Majesty."
"Thank you, you've been very understanding to me, Magnius. And now, you know the entrance to this secret tomb. If you do not find me in the palace in the future, then look for me here. I used to spend time praying at my mother's tomb. You know, at the same time to further deepen the ability of the Asurry ancestor that is in half of my blood."
"Whatever your wish, Your Majesty." Magnius bowed again.
***
Daisy stifled her laughter, as did Aira although the nine-year-old girl didn't know the real reason yet. All eyes were on Vir who, since returning this afternoon, had been wearing a sour face and a sulky frown.
And Vir realized what Daisy's smile meant to him.
"Stop laughing at me!" he said with a grumble. "You're happy, aren't you? Seeing me fail and have to suffer like this?"
"What a nutcase!" Daisy giggled. "Didn't I tell you that those fish are extinct? You're the stubborn one, you old fart!"
"You're such a kid!" Aira snorted softly as she ate her dinner.
"What did you say?" Vir glared at the little girl.
"Yeah, a kid!" Aira retorted. "A kid who sulked because he didn't get the toy he wanted."
"How nice of you to say!" Vir gulped down the redbrew in his cup. "You'll never understand how I feel, you little brat! You'll see when you're an adult, I wonder how you'll hold your lust!"
"Oh, so this is all about your crotch, huh?" Aira glared at Vir. "You disgusting bastard!"
"Tch!" Vir snorted loudly. "There's no point in me talking to you!"
"Hey, come on!" Daisy snapped. "Do you have to be that upset? And again, you shouldn't have said that in front of Aira. She's just a kid. You stupid!"
"See, see!" said Vir, glaring at Aira. "Because of you, now the princess is scolding me!"
"Take that!" said Aira. "What a pervert!"
"Oh, God..." Vir sighed weakly and looked down.
"That's enough, no more of this," said Daisy. "Now, you'd better finish your food. And Vir!"
"What else do you want?"
Daisy stifled her laughter at Vir's pouting, sulking demeanor.
"Thank you for the two rabbits and two partridges you brought home."
"Never mind," Vir replied. "I'm just wondering why such a big and beautiful river has turned into, I don't know, just a dirty ditch. It's sad, I was very sad to find that out this afternoon."
"What did you expect?" said Daisy. "People never appreciate nature. The last two years have been even worse with the construction of this mine and that."