<Episode 96>
As I thought that meeting the gaze of death at such a close distance that our breaths would mingle was the limit…
[I agree with what you say. I will grant you a reprieve until you complete the mission that Lore has given you.]
The spirit king of death spoke in a calm voice, finally removing the huge shadow that had been cast over me.
[However, you should always be under my watch.]
As he waved his hand lightly in the air, a large, black crow flew in from outside through the window, which was so shattered that it could not even function as a blind, and landed on the Spirit King of Death’s hand.
[You are my kin. From this moment onward, you shall not take your eyes off her, so be mindful.]
The crow, which looked like an ordinary bird except that its feathers were slightly fluttering, seemed to understand everything he said, and it flew down lightly and walked towards my feet with a tap-tap.
[Caak-!]
As I gazed down in wonder at the crow’s figure with its black eyes shining cleverly, the Spirit King of Death spoke.
[Don’t forget. I only gave you a reprieve, I didn’t take my eyes off you.]
“…!”
The Spirit King of Death, who left those words in a voice that felt empty and emotionless, instantly collapsed into black fog.
The black fog hovered there for a moment before quietly flowing away beyond the broken window and disappearing without a trace.
“…I almost got in big trouble.”
Caak-
As I was muttering in a daze, all my energy drained from my body and the watchman crow he had left behind cried out a couple of times.
The mission hadn’t even begun, and yet this series of shocks, fears, and crises had been on full swing.
Ah, I lay sprawled on the floor, sighing as I thought about the bleak future ahead.
***
In a castle filled with solemn darkness, dozens of soldiers knelt at the feet of the one leaning on a high throne built with splendid but also extremely sinful sins.
Clink-
King Orhan Einar of Nisha opened his mouth in anger and threw down the goblet he was holding in one of his hands.
“Are you saying that you missed out on that princess of a ruined country because you didn’t properly monitor her?!”
“…I beg your Majesty for forgiveness.”
“What incompetent people. It took decades to destroy the Water Principality. If we think about the losses we’ve suffered during that time, we should have found the Water Relic and offered it to the Dark Spirit King already!”
Orhan wiped his face, which was flushed with rage, with his dry hands and let out a ragged breath.
Rose Hacardella.
She was one of the only two heirs to the Principality, and the only blood relative of House Hacardella they had secured.
The prime minister of Hacardella and the other high-ranking officials had their hands and feet, as well as their limbs, crushed, and were threatened with horrible hallucinations, but they refused to reveal the location of the relic, and were eventually beheaded.
“I have to find that woman…!”
Even if it meant risking the criticism of other countries, he would capture that princess, even if it meant killing her halfway.
It was imperative to find out where the water relic was.
“Only by dedicating it can our prosperity continue for hundreds of years again…!”
Orhan muttered desperately, his heart burning inside.
Nisha’s soldiers, holding their breath under the wrath of their monarch, exchanged glances and hardened their expressions.
“Your Majesty, Prince Ilkai has requested audience.”
At that moment, the eunuch walked quickly to the king’s side, making Orhan open his eyes wide and shout at the words he had said.
“Let him in, let him in!”
After he left and some time had passed.
A young man of tall build walked with long strides in front of the throne, knelt down, and paid respect.
“The Prince of Ilkai greets the King of Einar.”
“Why are you so late, Khalid!”
That prince.
“Because of the destruction of the Duchy of Hacardella…”
Khalid Ilkai stood up again and met Orhan’s gaze.
“The Roshan Empire is strongly condemning this and is inciting other countries… Therefore, there was a slight delay in confirming the document reporting the situation on the continent.”
The calm, composed voice was solid yet dignified that it inspired trust just by listening to it.
Nisha’s soldiers looked up at the young prince with eyes filled with admiration and loyalty, as if they were meeting a savior.
“The words and actions of the Roshan Empire are not important. Aren’t they just hypocrites who always talk about justice and peace but never actually take any action?”
Orhan suppressed his anger and slowly muttered, looking down at the face of the prince, who was so beautiful that it was rumored that there was not a single young woman in Nisha who did not suffer from lovesickness when she thought of him.
“Khalid. You too are aware of the problems we face today.”
He looked down at his hollow, ash-colored eyes, symbolizing Nisha’s royalty.
“…Yes. Princess Hacardella escaped from the prison.”
He answered in a low voice.
“Don’t use honorifics for her! That ****, if she just told me where the water relic is, I won’t be so upset.”
Orhan strode up to the throne with angry steps and sat down with a thud.
“So, we need a justification. Khalid, you are the head of the Ilkai royal family, the brother of our Einar, and have accomplished many great feats. Your fame and popularity are well known even in foreign countries.”
Orhan’s murky, gray eyes flashed darkly as he spoke.
“I inserted Luisa into that woman’s body. It should have forcibly blocked the mana flowing through her body, causing her to experience excruciating pain without warning, and is now slowly eroding her life until she eventually died. She wouldn’t have been able to run away in that state.”
“What Your Majesty wants to say to me is…”
“According to Annushka’s prophecy, lead the army and go to the Duchy of Hacardella. Half of the troops of the Kingdom of Nisha are still deployed, so use them as you see fit. Also…”
Only for their own enrichment and prosperity.
“Capture Rose Hacardella alive.”
The descendants of Einar were renowned for carrying blades sharpened with cruelty.
“Make sure to make her spit out where the water relic is now. By any means necessary!”
“…As the Prince of Ilkai.”
In that moment, Khalid suppressed the emotions that had been on his face and knelt down again.
“I obey the orders of my Majesty.”
He expressed his submission.
And so, viciously, the dark gaze, as persistent and cruel as that of a criminal, was completely focused on one woman.
***
I think I was so tired that I fell asleep for a moment.
The nap revealed dizzying memories, but they weren’t my memories at all.
It seemed to be the memories held by Rose Hacardella, the owner of this body.
1From this point on, she is describing the memories she saw.The stagnant air was cold and sharp, as if it would sting my lungs.
This place, with its blue and white ceiling and tranquil and peaceful scenery as if you were underwater in the deep sea… must have been the castle where the Duke of Hacardella resided.
‘Mother told us to run away with the water relic. But if both of us run away, we won’t have enough time. Also, if we leave together and get caught by them, there will be no hope left.’
A cool, rational voice spoke calmly, yet at the same time with determination.
‘Sister, please stop!’
A brown-haired woman who had been trembling with her back turned in front of me suddenly turned around and shouted in a sobbing voice.
‘How could I run away alone, leaving my sister behind? I know what kind of hardships my sister would face if she is to be captured by those evil Nishas!’
With curly light brown hair and clear silver eyes.
The young girl with a gentle and lovely appearance spoke sadly, her tears falling like beads.
‘Sister… Let’s run away together. I absolutely can’t leave you behind, never!’
It seemed that this girl was the younger sister of Rose Hacardella, the master of this body and my ancestor.
‘…’
Rose remained silent for a while at the pleas of the girl who was presumed to be her sister.
Her silence felt like conflict.
But soon, with that cold yet lonely voice, she opened her mouth.
‘Marie Hacardella.’
Rose recited her sister’s name.
Marie Hacardella.
‘Remember your identity and the mission our mother gave us.’
‘Ugh… No, I don’t like it…’
‘… Stop crying and come to your senses!’
At that moment, it was as if the composure that she had been maintaining with all her might was broken.
Rose let out an enraged scream and grabbed her sister’s shoulder roughly.
Marie, with tears welling up in her innocent eyes, looked up at Rose blankly.
The figure reflected in those brilliantly shining silver eyes was one with blue hair and silver eyes like hers.
The girl with a cold beauty that could send shivers down people’s spine just by looking down at them, glared at her sister with her face painfully distorted.
‘Our mother has passed away. Everyone we could rely on is gone from this world.’
‘But, sis…’
‘Being descended from Hacardella is a privilege, but it is also a great responsibility. Up until now, we have lived in luxury that ordinary people could not afford, so we must now pay the price.’
Rose roughly grabbed Marie’s hand and placed her hand on the huge door that reached up to the high ceiling.
‘The Spirit King’s intervention in human affairs has been strictly forbidden since ancient times… So our only hope is to protect the water relic bestowed by Naiad until the end.’
‘Don’t cry. Because neither your mother nor I can… protect you any longer.’
Marie seemed to finally understand what Rose was saying, and kept her mouth shut, letting her large tears fall.
At that moment, I felt a sharp pain piercing my heart as if I had become Rose Hacardella in that situation.
But I forced myself to keep my composure by clenching my trembling hands.
Ah, so she tried to speak calmly and encourage her younger sister, despite her own heart becoming tattered as she acted like that.
Rose turned her head away, as if it was difficult to look at her sobbing younger sister any longer, and spoke softly.
‘His Majesty Rezeck is waiting for you. Take the water relic and go to the Kingdom of Dryas, our long-standing ally.’
Hello dear readers, from today I plan to update two locked chapters every week and unlock them the next. The goal is to move on with the story and force myself to update more per time. If you don’t like it, please tell me and I will return to the previous updating style—one per time (◍•ᴗ•◍)❤
