Silence. Pure silence, only broken by the cloud wailing of Dante. No one reacted except for two individuals—the Emperor and Aurora. They both moved at once, embracing the baby. Aurora cradled her son protectively, soothing his cries while Justin, the Emperor, could only offer a pained, apologetic smile.
Turning away, Justin gestured to the royal guards. The grand doors swung open as he commanded, "Clean this up. Adam seems fine, so patch him up and make sure he's stable."
The guards hesitated, their eyes flickering toward the grotesque remains strewn across the floor. After a brief moment of confusion, they obeyed, swiftly restoring the room to its original state. However, the atmosphere remained thick with tension, and all eyes were now locked onto Dante with a mix of confusion, fear, and awe.
Justin settled back onto his throne, his voice calm but firm. "We were unable to determine the child's skills." His gaze shifted to the recovering Adam. "However, Adam's appraisal skill is level 15 of the Legendary tier. If even a skill of that calibre failed, then we can conclude the child either possesses an ability that blocks Legendary-tier appraisals—or he has a Mythical-tier skill."
The weight of his words settled over the room. These were seasoned warriors, individuals who had witnessed countless battles. Yet, they understood the significance of what had just been revealed.
A child with a Mythical-tier skill.
In the entire empire, few individuals were confirmed to possess Mythical skills— the Emperor, the Empress, the Grand Concubine, and the Crown Prince. That left only three others. And now, their young prince was among them.
Murmurs of excitement and joy rippled through the chamber. Aurora, overwhelmed with emotion, clutched her son tightly, pressing a kiss to his forehead as though he were the most precious treasure in the world.
Dante, however, was seething.
For FUCK'S SAKE. I went through all that trouble just to have my secret exposed anyway?! Shit!
[Master, there is no need for concern. They can only confirm that you possess a Mythical-tier skill—they do not know which one. You may choose which skill to display and claim it is your only one.]
Dante exhaled sharply, his frustration easing as he processed the system's words. True enough, unless someone else possessed a Mythical-tier skill of equal or higher level, they would have no way of discerning the full extent of his abilities. Still, he glanced warily at his father.
"System," he muttered internally, "he…"
[Indeed, Master. Your father most likely possesses a Mythical-tier skill that has surpassed lower levels. Fooling him into believing you do not would be impossible. It will take approximately three months before you can speak properly. When that time comes, he will ask, and it would be in your best interest to answer truthfully. I hate to say this, Master, but as Lord Ten once put it—your father seems to be one of the beings who could squash you like an insect if he wanted to.]
Dante sighed. Great. Just what I needed. An absolute monster for a father. At least he's not an enemy…
[Master,]
Huh? What now?
[I believe your mother, while slightly weaker than your father, also possesses a Mythical-tier skill in addition to a Legendary-tier skill.]
"EH?! THE FUCK?! Are Mythical skills just falling from the sky like bird shit now?!"
[Unlikely. I believe you simply hail from a particularly powerful bloodline. Based on current information, your family and empire likely rank among the highest in the world. However, we need more data for confirmation.]
Dante glanced toward his mother, who was now conversing with an elegant woman dressed in red-and-gold robes. Her curvy figure, striking red hair, and dark eyes left no doubt—this was Empress Olive.
As if sensing the moment, Olive picked up Dante, pressing a warm kiss to his forehead. Almost immediately, two other women of similar breathtaking beauty approached and took turns holding him.
One wore tight-fitting white robes that emphasized her shapely figure, her long green hair and emerald eyes adding to her beauty. Gold ornaments adorned her robes, her green slippers soft against the polished floor.
The other woman, dressed in flowing white-and-green robes, was not as voluptuous as the first but still held an undeniable allure. She had dark jet-black hair and warm brown eyes that twinkled as she playfully blew on Dante's stomach, making him giggle.
Dante listened to their conversation, noting the lack of hostility among them. No jealousy, no hidden animosity—just genuine affection and camaraderie.
Hmph. Either my father is a master diplomat or he's just really good in bed. How the hell did he convince four powerful women to share him and actually get along? I'll have to meet and speak with him myself. Maybe even an ex-gigolo like me can learn a thing or two.
Though Dante personally had no particular interest in a harem, he had no reason to judge those who did—so long as it worked.
The conversation continued, with the women trying to convince Aurora to let the Emperor hold Dante. He tuned them out, focusing instead on his own concerns.
"System, is my control over passive skills improving?"
[Yes, Master. Since you have activated them once, we now have a better understanding of their applications. Currently, they are functioning as passive defence rather than offensive capabilities.]
Dante nodded to himself. Mastering his skills as quickly as possible was his top priority. Passive skills were the best starting point—they required negligible mana yet were constantly active. It was the perfect foundation for future growth.
With that thought in mind, Dante yawned, feeling the fatigue of the day settle over him. Soon, he was returned to his mother's embrace, and the appraisal ceremony officially came to an end.
Yet, while the event itself was over, the impact lingered.
None present could forget the chilling words spoken before Lark's death. "Monster." That had been the last thing the physician had uttered.
And they were not fools.
Even if the prince had a Legendary or Mythical-tier skill, no appraisal in history had ever resulted in the appraiser's death. At worst, failures or mild headaches were reported. Even when the Emperor, the Empress and close royal nobility had been appraised, no such tragedy had ever occurred.
Still, they had not been invited here because they were mindless fools who stuck their noses where they did not belong.
As they exchanged wary glances, a silent understanding passed between them.
The young prince—laughing gleefully at the deaths of two appraisers—was something else entirely. A being capable of shaking the very foundations of the continent.
And none of them had any interest in digging for more infomation.
Unbeknownst to them, Abyss Veil had already taken effect, weaving its influence into their very souls.
Instinctively, they had begun to fear him.
...............…
Three months passed.
Dante sat comfortably on his mother's lap as they read together in her chambers. The room was quiet, save for the gentle rustling of pages.
"Mother does that mean you and Father are strong?" he asked, his young voice curious.
Aurora chuckled, nodding as she kissed his cheek. "Yes, my love. But your father… he's not just strong. He is one of the strongest beings in the world. Comparing me to him isn't exactly fair."
Dante hummed thoughtfully. "One of the strongest in the world, huh?"
His mother smiled at his expression. "You'll understand more as you grow. When you master your skills, when you learn to harness them completely, then you'll truly see. Okay, my little one?"
Dante nodded and turned his attention back to the book. Just as Aurora was about to continue reading, Solly entered the room and bowed respectfully.
"My lady, the Crown Prince and the First Princess have arrived."
Dante cursed internally. Another mythical skill user? Isn't it too early to be surrounded by powerful enemies? Where the hell are the cannon fodder? Everyone in this damn family is too strong!
Aurora remained composed. "Very well, we'll be on our way."
Solly nodded, stepping aside as two other maids followed her lead. Aurora gently lifted Dante off the bed and set him down, taking his small hand as they made their way toward the grand entrance hall.
This hall, a place reserved for welcoming the most prestigious guests, was as extravagant as Dante expected. As they walked, they passed two familiar figures— Concubine Samitara and Concubine Fiona. Their beauty was undeniable, each adorned in elegant robes that reflected their distinct styles.
Samitara's form-fitting white robes, embroidered with gold, highlighted her striking green hair and eyes. Fiona, in contrast, wore flowing white-and-green robes that complemented her jet-black hair and warm brown eyes. Both women radiated grace and presence, befitting their status.
Despite the grandeur of the hall and the presence of nobility, the emperor's gaze remained locked on Dante and Aurora. His reason was obvious—he had never once held his fifth child. It was an unspoken truth that weighed on him, an inconceivable reality for a man who wielded so much power. Yet, despite his strength, he didn't know how to bridge the distance between himself and Aurora, nor how to earn the chance to hold his son for the first time.
Aurora, standing tall and radiant, was breathtaking. Perhaps only the empress herself could match her beauty—if one could even call it a competition.
Dante, meanwhile, was growing accustomed to the presence of the three concubines and his younger sister, Emerald . She was a lively child, much like her mother, with jetblack hair and her father's golden-orange eyes. The moment she spotted him, she let out an excited cry, her tiny arms reaching toward him.
Dante wasn't particularly moved, but neither did he dislike her. She was cute— endearing, even.
His musings were interrupted by the grand announcement that echoed through the hall. "The Crown Prince and the First Princess have arrived."