Episode 130

The reason I had kept refusing his offer to form a contract wasn’t just because it was bothersome.

There was a lullaby that had been passed down through the Empire — a song sung to children who couldn’t fall asleep.

Everyone would have heard it at least once during their childhood, and one line in the lyrics went like this:

‘Never form a contract with a spirit lightly.’

Since the song had been passed down from ancient times, no one knew who wrote it or why such a lyric was included.

But according to scholars, the song likely originated from the Disel family, who had received the love of spirits since ancient times.

The meaning of the lyric was clear: spirits were such fickle beings that once you formed a contract with them, you would be toyed with like a plaything.

“……”

I stared at Askan in front of me.

His blue-silver eyes were so clear it felt like they could see right through me.

“Askan, when you say you want to protect me… do you mean me, Sierra? Or are you trying to ease the guilt of failing to protect Tias a long time ago through me, her reincarnation?”

At my words, Askan paused for a moment before letting out a small laugh.

[You’ve hit the mark. You’re right — it’s not entirely wrong. I instinctively feel the need to protect you. Because you’re the reincarnation of Tias, and the daughter of Sionna. To me, you’re someone as precious as a treasure.]

Askan looked at me and said,

[But that doesn’t mean I’m seeing someone else through you, Sierra Drenihan. I already treasure you for who you are.]

“……”

His eyes were so sincere, like clear glass beads, that I couldn’t even think of what to say.

[More importantly…]

Askan suddenly leaned in closer and pointed at my neck.

[You ended up receiving Terium’s blessing after all!]

He scolded me in a half-exasperated tone.

I sheepishly touched the mark etched into the back of my neck.

I had fully braced myself to get an earful from him.

Askan rubbed his forehead, sighing with a look that said, “What am I going to do with this disobedient child?”

“I couldn’t just stand by and watch that ticking time bomb stay with Father.”

[Then you could have passed it on to any other relative.]

“If it’s passed to a relative who isn’t a direct lineal descendant, there’s a grace period of over a year. We don’t know when Bergeus might awaken — we can’t just sit around and wait.”

As I spoke, I let out a sigh of my own.

“And besides, I couldn’t just carelessly hand this ticking bomb over to my relatives, knowing what might happen.”

Well, maybe if it were Orzen, who was probably rotting away in the Imperial underground prison, I wouldn’t mind.

“And… if I’m going to run away eventually, it doesn’t really matter, does it?”

This was still a huge headache.

[About that… I also have something to say.]

Askan ran a hand through his long blue hair and spoke in a low voice.

[……Bergeus. It seems that bastard is about to wake up.]

At his words, I felt my heart sink.

“But the Emperor said they shattered the gem that sealed Bergeus’ soul. He said that meant Bergeus had entered eternal sleep…”

[Humans are such fools. The shattering of the sealing stone only means that Bergeus is about to be reborn. Just like a bird breaks its egg when it’s time to hatch — when the sealing stone breaks, it signals Bergeus’ resurrection.]

So, after all, things were flowing exactly as the prophecy had foretold.

Even in the visions, which had taken the form of a novel, the sealing stone had broken, the Empire had celebrated the dragon’s “eternal slumber” — but it all ended in destruction.

“So, the only way left is for me to leave the Empire.”

Abandoning everything, running away — was that really the only way to save everyone?

As I spoke, my face darkened, and Askan kept silent for a moment before finally opening his mouth.

[Maybe you won’t have to leave forever.]

“What? What do you mean?”

[Just what I said — it feels like you might be able to solve this by leaving for a little while.]

Askan rubbed his forehead like he was dealing with a massive headache.

[But this is something I need to look into a little more. I’ll explain it properly next time.]

Then he leaned in close and said,

[So hurry up and form a contract with me. I’ll only tell you if you do.]

His persistence and stubbornness were honestly impressive.

At this point, I was even starting to think maybe I should just give in and form the contract.

[I chose to fall into a deep sleep after the war where Tias died — to wait until my power fully recovered.]

He spoke as if recalling the distant past.

[I had my doubts. I wondered if, in the far future, there would still be anyone from the Disel family capable of bearing me. After I disappeared, the Disel family slowly declined and eventually was wiped out.]

Askan pretended to sniffle sadly.

Until now, I had only heard his voice, but seeing him physically manifest like this, I realized he could make quite a range of expressions.

[But it seems their bloodline stubbornly survived. When I look at you and Sionna. Especially when we were in the South — I felt not just you, but the aura of another Disel.]

“When I was in the South?”

Another Disel besides me…

[It was an aura very similar to Sionna’s. It must’ve been a very close family member.]

A close relative of my mother…

She had grown up in an orphanage before being adopted by a minor noble family.

Could it be that she still had living relatives in the South?

[I sensed your connection to another Disel when you were down there. Doesn’t anyone come to mind?]

The only ties I had made in the South were with the Chetwind family.

“No way…”

Could it be… the missing daughter from the Chetwind County was actually my mother?

[Connections are destined to twist and tangle together.]

“……”

The faces of Countess Catherine and the Count of Chetwind flashed through my mind, and as I stood there in stunned disbelief, Askan waved a hand in front of me.

[I’ll be honest. I want to see the Disel family rise again by your hand. I want the family I loved to stand at the top of the Empire once more.]

“You want me to revive the Disel family?”

[I’ll give you the power to do it. And, just as much as you give, I’ll help you protect the ones you love from Bergeus.]

“……”

[My time for maintaining this form is running out. Have you made your decision?]

“Yes.”

I steadied myself and said,

“I’ll do it. Let’s form a contract.”

Whatever I thought, I knew I needed Askan’s help.

Askan’s lips curled into a soft smile.

[You made the right choice.]

He closed his eyes and pressed his lips to my forehead.

* * *

Lying on the bed, I gently touched my forehead where Askan’s lips had landed, blinking slowly.

It still felt like a faint warmth remained there.

‘Was that really enough to form a contract?’

It still didn’t feel real.

Thanks to Theodore’s arrangement, I had been assigned a room in a castle separated from the other guests.

Ludwig and Father were also staying in the same castle, and since it housed both a Grand Duke and a Duke, the security was as tight as a fortress.

Peter was standing guard right outside my door, so it honestly felt like I was being smothered with protection.

But I couldn’t live under such suffocating vigilance forever.

I sat up from the bed and walked out onto the terrace.

The sky was clear, and the white moonlight was so bright it almost hurt my eyes.

Maybe because this castle was separated from the others, the surroundings were completely silent.

As I breathed in the cool night air, I heard the soft click of another terrace door opening nearby.

Soon, Theodore appeared from that direction.

“Your Highness?”

I barely stopped myself from blurting out, Why are you coming out of there?

I had thought he returned to the Acel Palace where the royals stayed…

“I didn’t know Your Highness was still at Jain Palace.”

At my words, Theodore smiled and said,

“I often stay at Jain Palace even outside of events. It’s like my own private annex.”

“Ah…”

So this place was Theodore’s personal annex.

“When I was younger, I faced many threats to my life, so I started hiding out here.”

“……”

I was at a loss for words, caught off guard by his unexpected confession, but then Theodore smoothly shifted the topic.

“More importantly, are you unable to sleep?”

“Ah, yes. I thought I was fine, but maybe the shock hasn’t worn off yet.”

Hearing that, Theodore looked at me with a worried face.

“It’s really nothing serious.”

“Forgive me. I still feel responsible that you experienced such a thing within the Imperial City.”

“It’s not Your Highness’s fault.”

Theodore threw his gaze toward the darkness beyond the terrace and said,

“In truth, I wanted to take this quiet time to tell you something.”