episode_0022

I barely escaped from the palace. In the silent city, deserted in the late night, a thick white fog hung in the air.

All the while running towards Marquis Bart, I felt an intense pain in my left chest. It was as if a demon’s claw was tearing at my heart. Though I received emergency treatment, it was no superficial wound. My forcibly sutured heart continued to leak blood, threatening to burst, a severe injury beyond healing even if it meant depleting all my vitality.

Had my response been slightly delayed when the blade pierced me, undoubtedly, I would not have escaped immediate death. I never imagined that the Emperor, whom I thought was asleep, would attack with a concealed dagger. Was touching his ankle a blunder? Yet, to precisely detect the lingering poison deep within my body, I had no choice but to use the abilities of an elf, requiring physical contact.

If only I had known, I might have revealed the truth about regaining my abilities and sought cooperation. Of course, it was too late for regret. The time elapsed between regret and denying that regret wasn’t long.

The truth is inherently like water confined in a dam. Once a small crack appears, the water gradually seeps through. As the leaked water widens the crack, ultimately, it leads to the dam’s destruction. The truth that bursts forth immediately afterward will inevitably cause irreversible calamity. Without a doubt, if the Emperor learns of my recovered abilities, his attitude, whether large or small, will change. If the Empress notices, the situation may become extremely dire. Therefore, even the slightest truth must never be told to the Emperor.

A small relief was that the Emperor’s detoxification had been completed. However, the unfortunate reality that almost completely consumed all that relief was the moment I crossed the Marquis’s wall. I could no longer move. With a thud, unable to even land properly, I collapsed onto the ground. At that sight, the spirits desperately cried out.

Two men are approaching.

So, get up quickly.

But now, I can’t even move a finger.

Perhaps this time, I might really die.

The terror of death that swept over me like a tidal wave.

Fades faintly like the remaining embers.

The realization that this life was never meant for me led to a strange sense of relief.

The intense pain emanating from my heart had completely vanished.

It was because death had drawn so near that I couldn’t even feel that anymore.

Elaine is not far away.

If only I could receive her help.

It might not be too late yet.

But now, it’s even difficult to maintain consciousness.

My vision is rapidly blurring.

Even the cold moonlight, as chilly as the dawn air.

And the glistening dewdrops on the slender blades of grass.

All swallowed by darkness in an instant.

***

Why does it come to mind now?

Elaine, who couldn’t sleep until late at night, suddenly thought of the prince’s face.

When she impulsively shouted their engagement.

His expression was definitely not one of joy.

It was a mix of surprise, bewilderment, and a somewhat guilty look.

On his frozen face, like a shallow lake in midwinter, only those awkward things were engraved, like cracked ice.

Was there any room for doubt…?

It was a question that didn’t even need an answer.

None. At all.

The prince’s expression was definitely not a positive reaction.

Why do I regret recalling that expression now, so belatedly?

“What on earth have I done….”

Following that, the face of the lady-in-waiting sitting next to the prince came to mind.

With red hair imbued with warmth like blood, powerful eyes.

Her milk-white face held an abundance of beauty that made it hard to think of her as just a lady-in-waiting.

Despite having a tall, lean figure, she exuded vitality.

Just seeing her beautiful figure once seemed to accentuate my own wretchedness.

Perhaps that’s why.

This unbearable wretchedness I felt.

It must have been the result of striving solely to satisfy my own selfish desires, skipping even the briefest moment to confirm the prince’s feelings.

There was nothing more to consider about what was right.

This absurd engagement was the only right thing to break off. But somehow, I just can’t do it. Heading towards the edge of the night, two conflicting hearts were in constant turmoil. After tossing and turning for a while, I could finally manage to fall asleep with great difficulty. And then, I dreamt. Perhaps due to my dense thoughts even before falling asleep, the prince appeared in my dream. He smiled brightly and whispered in a sweet voice, “Come with me.” “I will make you happy.” “Will you marry me?” It felt so ecstatic that I wanted to shout “Yes!” immediately, but my lips, as if made of plaster, wouldn’t budge. Even though I wanted to desperately beg the prince not to go away, my voice failed me. Suddenly, the scene changed. It was a familiar place visible by just sticking my head out the window. There, the prince lay prostrate, clad in a black hood and cloak, identical to the last time, dying once again. He raised his bloodied hand shakily, pleading for help. Then I woke up. My body was drenched in sweat, tears streaming down my face. My legs weakened, my hands trembling. Even after waking, it remained an unsettling and dreadful nightmare. However, why did it feel so real? Despite being just a nightmare. Why did it all feel so tangible? Thump! Thump! Despite my efforts to deny it, my heart violently urged her on. What’s so difficult about checking? Get up now and look out the window, she clamored persistently. Elaine hastily got up and looked out the window. The spot where the prince was in her dream was near the wall. “…!” Faintly visible under the moonlight, someone lay there as if dead. A pitch-black figure covered by a black hood and a cloak that completely concealed their not-so-small stature. It was exactly like what she had seen in her dream. She couldn’t mistake it, having tried to wash away the bloodstains. The person lying there was undoubtedly the prince.

Just as she was about to descend, the voices of approaching soldiers were faintly heard not far away.

“Has Lady Katia been acting strange lately?”

“Yeah, she hardly comes out of her room.”

They were patrolling guards. Elaine felt suffocated. If they were to discover the dying prince, what would happen? Whether it be the intruding prince or the viscount who abandoned the dying prince, misunderstanding would inevitably worsen the situation.

She had to prevent it at all costs. Elaine urgently pointed in the opposite direction out the window and shouted, “Over there! There’s an intruder over there!”

Startled by the sudden voice, the soldiers reflexively moved, rushing in the opposite direction along Elaine’s pointing finger. There was no time to relax. Elaine dashed out of the bedroom, hurried down the stairs, and fled the mansion barefoot. Her breath was labored, her legs trembling, yet she didn’t stop running.

It wasn’t just physical exhaustion; it was fear that dominated her body and mind, more unbearable than her strained stamina. Please, let it not be a serious injury like in a dream.

Her thoughts couldn’t progress beyond the blinding panic. Sharp grass pricked her soles, small hard stones pierced her skin, drawing blood, but Elaine was oblivious. There was only urgency to save the prince.

However, even with such haste, there was no sound of breathing from the fallen prince. Elaine desperately turned him over, trying to ignore her pounding heart. Her hands were covered in blood. Blood was flowing steadily from the prince’s left chest, an alarming wound even to her untrained eyes. It seemed like a stab to the heart.

“No… Why do I keep ending up in life-threatening situations?” She had no time to ponder why this kept happening. Elaine quickly pressed both hands against the prince’s chest.

The prince had made it clear that his abilities should not be exposed, but now was not the time to worry about such things. She earnestly wished for one thing: that this man could rise unharmed. With desperate sincerity, she prayed to the gods, hoping for his recovery. It was at that moment. A brilliant light burst forth from her hand. The power to conceal was not the only ability of darkness. This bright light, symbolizing divine power, was more than sufficient to blind, an absolute radiance. It felt strange. ‘I’ vanished, and even the world disappeared. It was as if the absolute brilliance had descended upon this place, to the extent that it seemed like the very light itself. All through the palm of her hand. A massive pillar of light erupted unimpeded into the night sky. For a moment, it seemed as if night had retreated from the imperial capital of Mersenne. Thud— The light that had engulfed everything vanished as if it were a lie. Once again, Elaine lost consciousness and collapsed onto the prince. Someone came running, not long after that. “Elaine…!” Barefoot, Viscount Bart rushed out, frantically checking his daughter’s condition without pausing to catch his breath. Thankfully, she seemed unharmed. However, when he looked down at the man lying below, the viscount almost let out a scream without realizing it. It was truly an unbelievable situation. On such an ambitious night. Prince Eos, the infamous royal, lay unconscious in his mansion. Fortunately, he was breathing, but the strong scent of blood suggested a potentially fatal injury. What on earth had happened? He couldn’t make sense of any of it. However, one thing was certain. At this critical moment, his daughter’s collapse on the cold floor was undoubtedly due to the prince. And something even more important. Getting his fallen daughter onto the bed as quickly as possible. What was etched on the viscount’s face was not just painful concern, but a worry stronger than any anger.

He carefully embraced his daughter with a cautious touch. Step by step, he meticulously made his way into the mansion, fretting over the possibility of his daughter getting hurt.

Suddenly, after a few steps, someone revealed themselves from behind. “What should we do with this person?” It was a man clad entirely in black, resembling an assassin.

The viscount didn’t even turn around; he only stared straight ahead with sharp, intense eyes. “First, move them onto my bed,” he said in a low voice, tinged with what seemed like restrained anger.