“Episode 51”
And on a night, under the same sky, while Yoon was quietly watching the moon like Juliana Oban, she subtly listened to the Emperor’s scolding and turned to look at him. Even though she knew he had heard her, Lucian spoke again.
“You’re foolish.”
Noticing a hint of irritation in his golden eyes, Yoon chuckled.
“Me? Aren’t you the foolish one?”
“Wasn’t it your request?”
“Speak properly. How is this a request? It’s an order.”
Yoon sharply pointed out the truth. Lucian picked up the alcohol on the table.
The smell of alcohol emanated from him already. Yoon, as if disdainful, moved away from him and leaned against the windowsill, avoiding the drunken human. There was no need to talk to someone drunk.
Following her gaze, Lucian put down the drink without a glass. He sat down as if leaning on the chair. Through his open shirt, his lean chest was revealed.
Without straightening his clothes, Lucian wiped his face with a dry, despondent hand. As the heavy silence persisted, Lucian broke it first.
“…What should we do?”
“What about you? You heard about Erlaina meeting with the Duchess and still don’t have a plan?”
“Don’t mention Erlaina’s name.”
“Ah, fine. How should I stop the Empress Mother? I’ve been sincerely working to ensure she doesn’t die from natural causes. But now, your dear Empress Mother is directly teaming up with the Duchess to make us look bad, and you’re just going to sit there?”
“Don’t blackmail her using Erlaina.”
“I’m telling you again, I’m saving her life!”
Yoon stood up abruptly. Then, she walked over to Lucian and lightly tapped his shoulder.
“Spare me the lecture. Do you know what a hefty price it is to save one villain? But you, a sidekick like you, wouldn’t understand.”
She snatched the alcohol from Lucian’s hand right in front of him. Then she threw the bottle to the ground.
Crash!
The sound of the bottle shattering filled the villa. At the moment when the two of them were panting louder than their whispered breaths, Yoon clicked her tongue as if mocking the foolishness of her opponent. Without even justifying her violent actions, she spoke.
“Do you still think this is a power struggle or a petty part of your empire’s rule? Sorry, but everything changed after I appeared. I’m the creator who’s going to cultivate and improve this ugly world.”
“In the end, without my power, you can’t even hold your position here. What if I order you to be killed right now? Will the Creator resurrect you? Huh?”
Lucian sneered, gritting his teeth. Yoon brightened her eyes as if interested, folded her arms, and leaned back.
“You and I are connected through Aryakne. If I die, well… you’ll either become more twisted or suffer more than you do now. It’s better for you not to think about harming me before your pathetic life becomes even more worthless.”
“I didn’t expect to become the fate of my half-siblings. I got a worthless sister.”
Lucian of Aryakne pursed his lips with a touch of arrogance, self-deprecation evident.
Yoon, who had outwardly regained her calm demeanor, stepped back and sat back against the windowsill. She opened the window wide. The overpowering smell of alcohol from the broken bottle was terrible. She reflected on her actions for the first time.
Closing her eyes tightly and holding her breath for a moment, Yoon looked at Lucian and spoke.
“Lucian, if you just listen well, I can give you a happy ending. So, stop your Erlaina from doing anything foolish. Got it?”
Up to this point, I’ve done as you asked. I even circumvented Evan’s suggestion and secretly canceled the sacred power verification under the guise of noble induction. But, that doesn’t mean your status as a saint is exactly established. A saint who is not loved, can you imagine such a thing?”
Lucian shot back like a sullen child. It seemed like he was either forcibly controlling his anger or trying to raise his voice again.
“Tsk…”
Now, Yoon was tired of the conversation.
The family she inherited from this world didn’t seem to understand even when told once or twice.
It was indeed the limit of a supporting role.
She clicked her tongue again and reached out her hand. Then, she casually grabbed his shoulder. Lucian, who was about to brush her off, froze in shock. It was because Aryakne’s magic extended from her and captivated him instantly.
“The position of saint you gave me is just temporary. I simply meant to help you go down in a spectacular downfall, but you can’t even do that?”
He writhed in agony. As Lucian struggled, Yoon whispered as if pitying him.
“Poor, Lucian. You need to understand me a little more.”
As if seared by the scorching sunlight, Lucian shrank his body. He buried his face in the damp collar with a sob.
His throat tightened. He grabbed Yoon’s ankle with trembling hands, and she gently allowed herself to be held by him. With a very affectionate demeanor, she stroked Lucian’s golden hair.
“Shh, close your eyes. Pain runs deep, but the price is eternal. You’ve already become Emperor using the same method, so you should understand your sister the same way.”
She comforted him. Lucian choked, grinding his teeth and trembling around the edges of his eyes.
His mind grew foggy, and his eyelids trembled. Sensing her comforting touch, Lucian completely let go of his mind.
***
Buzz…
When he opened his eyes, oddly enough, cicadas were chirping outside the window. Lucian fell into the delusion that he was dreaming.
But if it were a nightmare, it wouldn’t have felt so real.
He stepped back, avoiding the sunlight streaming through the small window, and retreated into the excessively dark corridor as if in a trance.
The scraping sound echoed in his ears. Someone was scratching the floor. Lucian of Aryakne stopped in front of the black door, which seemed to be built entirely of shadows.
Then the scraping sound stopped abruptly. Afraid of the ominous silence, Lucian hesitated.
But he collided with someone. Even without turning around, Lucian knew who was behind him.
“You need to open the door.”
Yoon ordered from behind.
As always.
Lucian stood still, rebellious. His gaze drifted like a speck of dust in the black corridor, chased away by the sunlight and the wind.
He partly knew what this nightmare was showing him. As she said, he had obtained a price through suffering, and thus became the brightest figure in the empire. So, he knew how agonizing the suffering ahead would be. He didn’t want to see it again. It was a survival instinct.
Just as Lucian was about to flee, a pale hand emerged from behind and firmly grasped Lucian.
“I was curious about what you were thinking. I said I’d show you, so why are you trying to run away?”
Yoon scolded. She held Lucian’s wrist firmly from behind. The two struggled, but eventually, Lucian gave up. Her overly assertive and neurotic attitude made him equally nervous.
“Okay! Okay, I get it!”
Thunk…
As the door opened, there was a small girl crouching inside. In the dimly lit space without a lantern, the hidden girl looked so small and fragile that Lucian suddenly wanted to grab her hand and run away.
But Yoon dragged Lucian forcibly inside. Lucian, who had his arm grabbed by her, pushed her away nervously and asked, “Where are we? Who is she again?”
“When I was a fool.”
Lucian tilted his head at her absurd words. He couldn’t believe that such a memory existed for her, even through Aryakne.
She was a woman who forced herself upon others more like a tyrant than a tyrant himself. He scoffed, “So what? Do you want me to understand you just because you have a pitiful past? Are we supposed to determine who is more pathetic between us?”
“Hush.”
Yoon interrupted him then. With a compassionate demeanor as if she had sensed his fear underlying his words, she closed her eyes and smiled. It amused her a bit to see Lucian Bu Aryakne, her newly found family, being scared.
“Wait a moment. The monster is coming now.”
“What?”
Thud, thud…
