episode_0028

Elaine cautiously lifted her head. The flow of blood from the prince’s neck had suddenly ceased. Phew. It was fortunate. A strange sense of joy was felt from the soft cloth brushing against her cheek. From their touching bodies, the refreshing scent of the morning forest, laden with dew and warm body temperature, wafted distinctly.

The struggling had come to a halt. There was no strength left now. Her trembling hands and her legs, as unsteady as they were, seemed like they could collapse at any moment. That’s why it couldn’t be helped. Truly exhausted, she felt like she might collapse at any moment. So, in order not to fall, she had no choice but to firmly grasp the prince’s broad back.

It was a humiliating rationalization that even brought a sense of shame, yet the exhilarating excitement surged so intensely that it effortlessly transcended embarrassment, compelling her to act boldly. Thump thump! Thump thump! Since first seeing the prince at the Queen’s Palace, her heart had been pounding incessantly. And now, being embraced by the prince, even the term “pounding” seemed insufficient.

Her heart was explosively and violently beating, to the point where it seemed remarkable that it didn’t burst. Each palpitation was so powerful that it felt like the ground was shaking. Perhaps, it was an excessive imagination, but it almost felt like a giant from a myth was nearby, stomping its feet. Confined tightly within the prince’s embrace, the intense heat had nowhere to escape, resulting in beads of sweat forming.

Yet, she didn’t dislike it in the slightest. If she could be held like this forever, it seemed there would be nothing more to wish for. When he suddenly embraced her, she was truly astonished. “Your Highness, I missed you so much…!” For some reason, she felt joy, even without speaking. She finally realized what kind of relationship allows one to understand each other’s hearts without words. Love was like that, she recalled hearing from her mother when she was young.

Of course, at that time, Elaine had confidently declared that she would never believe in such things as love, which couldn’t even be achieved through magic.

However, is this really possible?

“I really missed you, Elaine.”

Somehow, his heart sounded as vivid as an echo hitting a cliff.

By the way, this is really a big deal.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Even now, the sound of his heartbeat was too loud.

What if the prince finds out? Suddenly, I felt a bit scared. It would be so embarrassing if he did.

I hastily recalled the number of plates and teacups on the viscount’s table. I even tried to estimate the number of trees planted in the garden and the number of flower petals, but no matter how much I tried to think about something else, my heart, which had already crossed its limit, refused to calm down.

Still, they say happiness comes after hardship.

That phrase, which had always sounded so futile, seemed to be true after all.

Like crushing a bug, when the queen insulted me, I felt like a fool, not knowing what to do, just bowing my head.

No matter how our feelings are between the prince and me.

Stamped with the lowly status like a brand, I could only feel boundless despair at the thought that it couldn’t be any different.

Perhaps the prince feels the same way. That thought was too terrifying.

While the empress sipped her soup and sliced her steak, I had to silently chew on the terribly miserable feeling.

Still, I could bear being berated. But when the empress insulted the prince, I could no longer endure it.

I was so angry.

So, I glared at the empress.

What does she know about the prince?

If she were the empress, then what?

Just recalling that moment, I was still so filled with anger, so intensely furious.

Of course, looking back now, I don’t know where I found such courage.

To dare to retort in front of the most noble woman in the empire.

It could have been a situation where I might face immediate execution for insulting the royal family.

If the prince hadn’t appeared like a legendary hero, it could have been a real disaster.

Unconsciously, a clear smile formed on Elaine’s lips, pressed against one of the prince’s cheeks.

It was because of the embarrassing words he had boldly shouted.

“Wherever you touch my woman again, I’ll really kill you.”

“My woman…”

It was a phrase that slipped out of me without my knowledge, while still embracing her. Just thinking about it once made my whole body tingle. I feel so happy that my mind keeps going blank. I don’t know. I don’t know anything. Whether it’s embarrassment or something else. Now, I don’t even want to know.

Elaine tightened her grip on the prince’s back even more. She would never let go like this forever. But frighteningly, just as I thought that, the happy moment came to an end.

“I’ll see you at the Hwangja Palace.”

As those words came out of the prince’s mouth, suddenly everything in front of my eyes blurred. It felt like looking at a landscape from underwater. The prince, gradually getting farther under the blue sky. The red-haired court lady behind him. The countless flowering trees within the palace and the emperor slowly approaching—all seemed to sway like water plants.

***

Thanks to Aku’s power, I managed to make Elaine transparent just in time. Then, with a gust of wind, I sent her off to the Hwangja Palace. Glenitno will take good care of her, so there’s nothing to worry about. Feeling a sudden closeness, I turned around cautiously. The emperor and the chief eunuch were now just ten steps away.

“This can’t be—”

But for some reason, the chief eunuch’s expression as he looked at me seemed unusual.

Thud—

He even went as far as dropping to his knees and prostrating himself before me. Did this guy suddenly lose his mind?

“Oh… great Aurora, forgive me…”

In the end, he looked up at me with a moved expression, tears streaming down his face, which reflexively made me take a step back. It was a situation I couldn’t comprehend at all.

Could it be that he saw Elaine? But that’s impossible. As soon as he saw the chief eunuch, I hugged Elaine tightly and turned slightly, so he definitely couldn’t have seen her. Although we weren’t too far, it was a distance that could never be considered close. With the sun shining brightly, it was absurd to think he could have seen the faint divine power emanating from Elaine’s hand.

In that case, he must be completely insane. With such a look on his face, I gazed at the emperor, rolling my eyes up and down, earnestly requesting an explanation for what on earth was happening.

However, the emperor simply returned a look of not understanding English. In the end, he tried to ignore the weeping court lady. For now, he observed the proper etiquette towards the emperor.

“I greet Your Majesty.”

“Hmm. Yes, Eos. Have you eaten? Are you feeling unwell? Did you sleep well last night?”

Certainly, the emperor’s demeanor was strange. His usual kind attitude seemed somewhat more insincere and quite unsettling.

Come to think of it, it seemed to have changed since the day he was stabbed in the heart by the emperor’s sword. The way he treated me had definitely changed. Could it be because of that…?

The morning after being stabbed, the emperor came to the prince’s palace. As he suddenly glanced down, I almost revealed my secret affair. I quickly ordered Ruck to hide, thankfully avoiding being caught by the emperor. Nevertheless, I had hidden it well. The change in the emperor’s attitude must have been due to another reason.

I was very curious about the reason, but at that moment, the court lady was more urgent than the emperor. I couldn’t shake the ominous feeling that this chubby man was about to cause a major incident.

“Oh, Aurora…”

As our eyes met, I shuddered all over. His eyes were clearer than the flowing stream in the deep mountains. There was nothing to be wary of in those clear eyes. They were no different from the fanatics who would gladly sacrifice their lives for the glory of God.

Finally breaking the awkward silence, the emperor began to mediate.

“Look here, Court Lady. Why are you acting like this? There are many eyes watching, so stop this.”

At his words, the guards and attendants behind the emperor promptly turned around. Each of them signaled to the soldiers and servants following them to stay alert, and about twenty people dispersed in all directions.

The still prostrate court lady, however, could not take her eyes off me, only lifting her head.

“Your Majesty, I clearly felt it just now.”

“What do you mean? Get up first, then speak.”

“I cannot allow that. Sob. Finally, after hundreds of years! The goddess has sent a saint for us fallen ones, how dare I even think of getting up from my place? Saint, please lead us to salvation!”

Hehe…

Me, a saint…

What in the…

I’m so shocked I can’t even speak properly.

Seeing him sigh with a deeply creased face, the Emperor seemed to share a similar sentiment to mine.

***

The Emperor’s visit to the Prince’s Palace was to introduce the high priest of the temple, Lergio, to Eos. It was a casual pretext for the future. Then suddenly, he saw her.

Golden hair more dazzling than gold itself, and eyes like beads shining with a sky-blue radiance.

Not far away.

Elaine and Eos were walking hand in hand towards the Prince’s Palace.

It was a heartwarming sight that made me smile involuntarily just by watching them.

Nevertheless, it was still not the time for Elaine and the high priest to meet.

The saint’s true identity had to be revealed only after marriage.

That way, they couldn’t take her from the temple.

– Your Highness, it seems the goddess is expressing her anger towards the unfaithful subjects at last.

– Hm… Baek-ya, you say. The fact that this remarkable miracle, which occurs once every few hundred years, has appeared here must undoubtedly mean that Aurora is looking favorably upon Mersen, isn’t it?

– Who on earth could it be? The adult who has risen as the successor to the goddess’s will… I’m truly going crazy wanting to meet that person as soon as possible. But we still can’t find even a small clue…

Fortunately, it seemed that the high priest was too engrossed in his own muttering to have seen Elaine.

After a brief hesitation,

As he tried to take the high priest elsewhere, absentmindedly turning his head, Elaine had disappeared without a trace.

Indeed.

This confirmed the speculation from earlier.

The fact that Elaine, who had clearly existed just moments ago, had suddenly vanished.

Eos had undoubtedly regained the abilities of an elf.

It must have been Elaine who fixed his son’s failing heart with her own mistake.

The scattered pieces of the puzzle fell neatly into place, finally forming a complete picture. Of course, since he remained silent, the exact details were unknown, but it was clear there were reasons beyond his control. Regardless, as everything seemed to be progressing favorably, there was no need to force anything unwanted upon his son.

Just as the flow had improved, any thoughts of interference were boldly halted, fearing the potential introduction of negativity. The only task at hand was simply to establish legitimacy in restoring Eos to his princely position. With the involvement of Duke Bart, things had been proceeding smoothly.

However, one thing was certain: there wouldn’t be many supporters for Eos’s restoration in this vast empire. The first faces that came to mind were those of the Empress, Cervis, and Duke Shurain, who would suffer the most if Eos were restored. Recalling their faces still made his blood boil, even now.

If only they hadn’t been deceived and committed adultery. Perhaps Wiblea wouldn’t have fallen ill, and his relationship with Eos wouldn’t have deteriorated so much.

“Those despicable people.”

Suddenly feeling something amiss, I found myself swearing in anger without realizing it. The eunuch, who had not stopped talking for a moment, was now silent.

“This, this can’t be….”

Lergio suddenly began running with an expression of disbelief. Despite his plump body wobbling unsteadily, his speed towards the prince was increasing rapidly. It seemed far from ordinary.

Perplexed by the situation, the Emperor instinctively followed. Not even slightly out of breath, his body had strengthened daily since Eos had healed him. It was as if his former weakness was being reversed, and even his depleted mana was slowly replenishing each day.

Then, when he approached Eos…

“….!”

The eunuch abruptly fell to his knees, directed towards his own son.

Honestly, it was a sight that made one doubt their own eyes, but given the many peculiar individuals in the temple from ancient times, such behavior was somewhat expected.

…But to call his own son a saint.

From the powerful religious organization that dominates the entire continent known as the Goddess Church.

The archbishop directly under the most powerful authority, Pope.

He had referred to the notorious debauched prince who had caused numerous scandals for years as a saint.

No matter how corrupt, it’s unbelievable that an archbishop would have such delusions.

“This guy…”

It was so unbelievable that he almost blurted out vulgar curses he used on the battlefield in the past.

His head nodded involuntarily.

No wonder the goddess abandoned the temple.

What emerged after a small sigh was nothing but belated regret that he should have called for a different archbishop instead of Lergio.