episode_0207

Without my knowing, the darkness was growing thicker.

Before night fully arrived—while there was still even a little light—I had to escape this underground area.

Reluctantly, I hurried my steps, heading towards the corridor beyond the underground storeroom.

The distant sound of rain pattering could be heard. If the rain hitting the ground and the thunder could be heard even here, it seemed to be a quite severe storm.

Good.

The sky had been of no help until now. But perhaps it intended to help me today, as it had sent down a good gift.

Now, no one would hear me, no matter how roughly I moved.

I ran through the basement with quick steps.

The metal parts of my boots clanked together, but I paid them no mind.

Finally, I exited the underground storeroom.

Just then, an oil lamp, already filled, hung on the wall. I immediately grabbed it and lit it.

*Whoosh*—

A bright light illuminating the front.

At the same time, an unbelievably colossal corridor appeared before my eyes.

Overwhelming height, massive pillars. And rubies, entirely filled with a crimson glow…

Paradoxically, in that moment, I felt as if I had discovered an unknown ruin that no adventurer in the entire world had ever found.

As if possessed by something, I slowly walked in.

On the wide walls of the corridor hung portraits of past kings, with a door beside each one.

I read the inscriptions carved into the stone wall. They chronicled and praised the kings’ accomplishments. It was written that the rooms contained items favored by the kings, symbolic objects, or books containing records.

Though they were kings whose names and faces I didn’t know, looking at their various visages, I could discern one thing for sure.

Like the crimson rubies embedded in these walls and pillars.

Their hair and eyes were also red.

And that this foreign and unique color was identical to Tia’s.

*Thud*.

…That particular portrait, which made me stop in my tracks, was especially so.

The ancestral King Laichne, appearing as a benevolent old man.

His kind eyes perfectly resembled Tia’s pure and gentle gaze.

And right beside him, the vibrant smile of Prince Laichne.

Seeing his upturned lips and mischievous eyebrows, it was clear that Tia’s cheerful energy and enthusiastic personality were directly inherited.

Why the haughty Deceao nobles were immediately convinced upon seeing Tia’s face, I now understood completely by simply looking at this single painting within the frame.

The Laichne bloodline was truly special, possessing an aura that ordinary people like us dared not imitate.

“Tia…”

What I had always found mysterious. What had drawn me in.

Was it because every single aspect of Tia carried the ‘king’s’ aura?

Such a special being was by my side.

And she was right there—

I hadn’t even harbored a single doubt. I had pressured Tia with my own desires. And in the end, I lost her.

I am foolish.

No, “foolish” isn’t enough to describe it.

If this isn’t called ‘arrogance,’ what should it be called?

Because I believed Tia would always be by my side. Because I thought Tia would naturally never leave, I didn’t cherish her.

As punishment… did the heavens make me stand here blankly, like a skeleton knight with an empty skull?

*Rustle*—

I extended a finger, all that remained of my bones.

When my dry skin touched the frame of the ancestral King Laichne’s portrait, I felt a faint, thread-like resistance from beyond the painting.

It was a cold sensation, subtly trembling, as if the frame was alive and trying to burst into the real world.

There is something here. Believing this, I tightly gripped the large frame.

“…”

It’s certain.

I felt a breeze, impossible to feel underground, flowing between my fingertips and nails. And clearly, there was even enough space behind the frame to insert a finger.

Now, all that remained was to lift it. I spread my arms wide and firmly grasped the frame. Slowly, I applied force, pushing the frame away from the wall, and the portrait of Laichne came off with surprising ease.

It was quite heavy, but not so heavy that I couldn’t lift it.

The moment I set down the detached portrait.

*Whoosh*—!!

A cold, damp wind rushed onto my face. It was strong enough to sweep back my sweat-soaked hair.

I picked up the lamp again.

In the spot where the portrait had just hung, there was an empty cave.

As if a wall had been torn down and then abandoned, rough bricks hung precariously, forming a hole barely large enough for one person to pass through.

Is this the ‘secret passage’?

Indeed, Uncle Joseph hadn’t lied.

He truly spoke only the truth.

Even if he had lied, I would have found out eventually through my own abilities anyway.

Thanks to trusting Uncle’s words and coming straight here, I saved time and effort.

*Whistling*…

The wind that had been forcefully blowing out of the hole gradually subsided.

Before stepping into the passage, I glanced around.

It was quiet. Strangely so, to the point where not a single sign of life could be felt in this vast and ornate corridor. And eerily so.

Shall I go?

Without hesitation, I walked into the secret passage.

The passage immediately led to a narrow staircase.

It was a very tall spiral staircase. Its width was so narrow that only one person could pass at a time.

If I had been carrying a large bag or holding something in my hands, I probably would have had to scrape against the walls to get through. Fortunately, I had nothing of the sort.

I don’t know how air was flowing here. As I climbed the stairs, I didn’t see any small windows connecting to the outside, and when I thought I had climbed quite a bit, it felt as if the air current had completely stopped.

Like a moth circling endlessly around a lamp lit in the dead of night, I, too, climbed the stairs in endless circles.

Is the end of this place the king’s chamber?

Uncle Joseph said so.

That it was a path leading from the castle’s basement to the highest point in the castle.

*Clack*.

It’s long.

The time it takes to walk one step feels like an entire day.

But Tia, do you know?

That even if one step is a day, and all these countless steps are added up—

They still wouldn’t surpass the time we spent together.

*Clack*.

[Ritsu—! The bandages. I came to get them.]

[We’re having a party just the two of us tonight. How about it?]

So mischievous.

What—what were you planning to do, really?

*Clack*.

[Ritsu. Don’t you want to go?]

[If we keep going… keep going towards where the sun rises, we’ll eventually reach the land of flowers, won’t we?]

Then. I am ready.

Now… I can go.

Anywhere. Anytime.

*Clack*.

[I’ll… come back. Definitely. So…]

[Can you promise me?]

I swore. I kept it.

So Tia.

It’s your turn to keep it.

The promise to return to me.

*Clack*.

[Okay! I’ll take care of the pharmacy! Not me, but a child who looks exactly like Ritsu will take over!]

[…’Our’ child.]

Even if you become unable to bear my child.

My feelings for you won’t change.

I love you.

*Clack*.

[Because it’s my fault! Because I was wrong!]

[That’s why I wanted to leave… right now.]

It’s not your fault, Tia.

It’s all my fault.

*Clack*.

[Let’s go together. Just the two of us.]

[Far… very far. To the land of flowers. Let’s travel together.]

I will.

No, let’s do that.

To a place where no one knows us anymore—to the very edge of this world.

Travel with me.

*Clack*.

“…”

In the silence, I raised my head.

Before I knew it, Tia’s voice was no longer heard.

Fragments of the past were all buried beneath those dark stairs.

Before me, a door simply stood.

A shabby wooden door, with no handle or anything.

To open that door, I gently pushed it with my hand.

*Thud*—

The door panel weakly pushed open and fell to the floor. It was merely a light wooden board, so the sound of it falling wasn’t loud.

I looked down. There was a slightly raised step to the floor.

Carefully, I stepped down and landed, then raised the lamp to illuminate my surroundings.

It was distinctly different from the scenery I had seen beneath the royal palace.

A red carpet intricately embroidered with gold. Tables and chairs adorned with large rubies.

Decorative stands carved from ivory and golden candelabras. Beautiful amethyst pillars.

Even though it was shrouded in deep darkness, this hallway glowed splendidly.

All the extravagance of nobles I had seen so far turned into a laughable joke in comparison; this was the greatest majesty on earth.

Perhaps all the jewels of the world gathered here?

I don’t know.

I picked up the fallen door panel and put it back into the wall.

Now I saw that it wasn’t a door.

It was an unfinished portrait of Tia, not yet even framed.

To hide a secret passage behind the king’s portrait.

What in the world could be the meaning behind that?

I turned my head and walked onto the carpet.

I felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

Although the scenery was slightly different, I had definitely seen this place before.

I kept thinking why, and then I remembered.

Robert.

Yes. I saw this place in the memory illusion of that knight.

Then this is… the corridor adjacent to the queen’s chambers.

As I recalled the memory, the structure of this place came into full view.

Beyond the massive iron door on the left, four Royal Guards stood sentinel.

It would have been very difficult if I had tried to pass through the front. But I bypassed that iron door via the secret passage and came directly into the corridor.

The soldiers probably wouldn’t open the iron door and come inside unless I made unnecessary noise.

On the tightly closed iron door, a hook protruded inwards, allowing a bolt to be engaged.

And beside it, a bolt leaned against the wall, amusingly, even that was a thick, heavy chunk of gold, befitting royalty.

Perhaps there had never been a single instance in Deceao’s history where the king’s chamber needed to be bolted, yet the bolt was polished as if new.

“…*Gasp*!”

Without hesitation, I lifted the golden chunk with all my might.

Then, I watched the window, waiting for lightning to strike.

A flash of brilliant white light streaked by in an instant.

Immediately followed by the roaring sound of thunder, and at the same time—

I slid the bolt into place.

*Thud-clank*!

A rather dull sound echoed through the corridor, but there was no reaction from the Royal Guards.

With this, now… this place has become sealed off.

A unique place, with only Tia, Fosao, and me.

The only place.

“I’ve arrived.”

Whispering softly like that.

Strangely, I wasn’t nervous at all.

I had thought that even after reaching the end of such a long journey, some fear would remain.

My heart beat quietly, and not a single drop of cold sweat ran down me.

The eerie air circulating in the corridor made my mind and breathing clearer.

My unwavering steps kept me moving forward.

Yes.

If I just follow this carpet straight ahead.

I can meet Tia.

But on that path.

Illusions of memory remained.

They were undeniable.

[…You’re here?!]

Suddenly, an illusion of Tia appeared in the middle of the corridor.

She quickly rushed past my side.

I heard the sound of someone hugging softly from behind.

[I really—I was waiting for you.]

As if in response to Tia’s endearing nasal tone.

His vile laughter pierced my back.

[*Hee-hee*…]

Tia chattered away, as if eager to talk more as soon as possible.

[Is the foundation’s work all finished?]

[Mm-hmm. I did everything Tia asked. Oh. And the children wrote letters of thanks to Her Majesty the Queen and sent them. Look at this.]

[Wow—. I’ll definitely read them later. Thank you for delivering them!]

A brief silence. Then, a light kissing sound was heard.

[You’re welcome. *Hee-hee*… My dear, were you… alright?]

[I still have a lot to do, so I’m a bit tired—but I’m okay.]

[What about our baby? Should I… ask your belly?]

[*Heh-heh*…]

Tia, smiling awkwardly, rustled and stroked her clothes.

[He was wiggling diligently again today… He’s probably listening. Definitely.]

[Ho-how amazing. *Hee-hee*! Listening to Mom and Dad’s voices.]

[And… the primary physician said.]

Tia hesitated for a moment, as if embarrassed.

[Now… it’s the stable period, so it’s okay to do it.]

[Ohhh… Then. Sh-shall we go to the bedroom?]

“…”

In long silence.

Tia replied.

[Yes.]