“Just came to mind?” Brantley nodded in a confused state.
I was scared. Something that could influence Brantley. Something that could give him knowledge about the magic of the gods-
‘That could only be the medical book passed on by my family.’
Whenever we touched the book, it led me to Grauzer.
‘Could Brantley have been affected by Grauzer…?’
It made sense now that we could only be transported to Grauzer’s temple when Brantley held the book. Brantley was the connection between Grauzer and me.
‘Brantley… is Grauzer’s avatar.’
I looked at Brantley in disbelief.
‘What will happen when the god’s seal is broken?’
Will Brantley, having completed his duty, be absorbed by Grauzer and disappear? The frightening thought made everything go dark.
“Hanelope, was I acting strange?”
Brantley asked in a flustered voice, seeing me tremble. I wanted to answer his question, but my body wouldn’t move.
Just then-
“Ugh…” Dad groaned and opened his eyes.
“Dad?!”
“Are you alright?”
“What happened to me?” Dad asked as he looked at my flushed, pink cheeks.
He spoke in such a calm manner that he seemed as if he just had a good nap.
“No, it’s fine as long as you’re safe. I-”
“You were in grave danger. As the Prince, you recklessly took the chocolate and collapsed.”
Suddenly, Brantley spoke in a stiff tone. The one who always wanted to be cautious around Dad was now speaking like that.
Dad and I stared at him. But Brantley, with a face full of resentment, continued, “Do you know how worried Hanelope was because of you, Your Highness?”
“Worried? Was it that serious?”
Dad didn’t care about Brantley’s rude words at all, and turned to see my expression.
I hurriedly explained the situation to Dad before Brantley got angrier.
That the chocolate Prince Patrick had given him was enchanted with a brainwashing spell. And how Brantley had helped me develop the cure.
“Thank you, Hanelope. And…” Dad glanced at Brantley and said, “Thank you as well.”
“There’s no need for that. Just please be more careful next time so that Hanelope doesn’t have to worry.”
Brantley remained stiff.
Dad looked at him with annoyance but he didn’t seem to mind too much.
“Well, at least it turned out well.”
“Turned out well? But you collapsed!”
“Due to this, I can finally confront Patrick.”
Only then did I understand Dad’s intention.
Yenna had been persistently hiding Prince Patrick. He had planned to stay hidden under the excuse of being ill until the wedding.
‘But now that such a serious matter has occurred, Yenna won’t be able to hide him any longer.’
As I thought that, Maxim suddenly entered the room. Seeing that Dad was awake, he couldn’t hide his joy.
“Your Highness! You’ve awakened…”
“What is it?”
But Dad didn’t give his loyal servant a chance to express his emotions.
At Dad’s sharp command, Maxim quickly composed himself and answered.
“Sir Alan has come to see you, Your Highness.”
“Sir Alan? Isn’t he Patrick’s aide?”
“He says it’s an urgent matter.”
Soon, Sir Alan entered the room. He looked around nervously, like a fugitive on the run.
“State your business,” Dad asked coldly, causing Sir Alan to flinch.
“H- His Highness Prince Patrick has sent a secret letter.”
“A letter?”
“Yes. I must deliver it and leave immediately. If it’s discovered that I’ve come here, Prince Patrick will be in great danger.”
“What do you mean? What danger is Patrick facing?”
“I… I can’t say that.”
Dad abruptly stood up. Then, drawing the sword from Maxim’s belt, he pointed it at Sir Alan’s throat.
“Y-Your Highness!”
“Speak clearly.”
“S- Sniff… Prince Patrick is in grave danger right now.”
Dad’s expression hardened.
“P-Please let me go now. The Saint might have sent someone to follow me.”
“Did Patrick write the letter himself?”
“Ye- Yes. He wrote it in haste and told me to deliver it.”
“I see. I’ll confirm the rest in the letter. You may go.”
“T-Thank you!”
Sir Alan hurriedly left the estate. After reading Prince Patrick’s letter, Dad’s face darkened.
I asked, “What does it say?”
“Patrick is asking for help.”
Dad handed me the letter, telling me to read it.
The letter was written in a hurry as the fonts seemed jumbled.
Brother! I am currently trapped by Yenna’s schemes.
I’ve been caught in a strange spell that turns me into a machine that follows only Yenna’s orders.
Sometimes, I regain my senses, and with great difficulty, I’ve written this letter to you.
There will be many eyes on us during the wedding, so it will be harder for Yenna to monitor me as closely as she usually does. Please come and see me then.
Please, help me!
– Your younger brother, Patrick.
***
The grand temple, which had once been desolate like a ruin, was now bustling with people. It was as if the temple had returned to its heyday.
But unlike back then, the people had not come to pray to the gods. They had come to witness the wedding of Prince Patrick and the Saint Yenna.
People from all walks of life had been invited to the wedding. Even my grandfather, the emperor, had received an invitation. Of course, he declined to attend.
‘Instead, his imperial guards are here.’
Pretending to be regular guests.
It wasn’t just the guards. Knights disguised as guests were hiding their weapons amidst the crowd.
When my grandfather heard about Prince Patrick from my Dad, he was furious. But he didn’t act rashly.
“I want to wipe them all out, but the wedding is tomorrow. As long as Patrick is in their hands, attacking now would be dangerous.”
It was possible that if Yenna felt cornered before the wedding, Prince Patrick could be harmed.
In the end, my grandfather decided to use the wedding to his advantage.
‘Everything shall be put to rest today.’
I attended the wedding with my Dad. Brantley attended as Duke Eisen.
At that moment, I heard the whispers of the crowd.
“Where is His Highness Prince Patrick? Isn’t the groom supposed to greet the guests?”
“He must be with Lady Yenna in the bride’s room. They say he doesn’t want to be apart from her for even a moment.”
“Oh my, they’re already so close! How in love they must be to go against the norm!”
“That’s why the wedding hall is decorated so lavishly and beautifully.”
The hall where the wedding was to take place was, as they said, dazzling.
The bright, colorful decorations were almost painful to look at. Even after Brantley had trimmed it down, this was still the result.
Suddenly something strange happened.
“Oh my! What’s that?”
Someone among the guests exclaimed. All eyes turned to the center of the room. An old urn, completely out of place in such a luxurious setting, was put conspicuously.
“It’s a sacred relic that summons the souls of the dead,” Todd in the crowd spoke.
The guests began to back away in fear
“Why is such a precious relic from the temple here?” Natu chimed in, pretending to be puzzled.
As people hesitantly stepped back, the lights that had been brightly illuminating the temple suddenly went out.
“What’s going on?”
“The lights at the wedding hall just went out!”
“Is this a bad omen?”
“W- What is that? Aaaah!”
Golden vines began emerging from the urn, spreading out like a web.
The vines intertwined into the shape of High Priest Liang, who then let out a wretched scream.
“I’ve been wronged!”
“Eeeek!” The guests shrieked at the horrible wailing.
The form of High Priest Liang continued to shout, “I only did as Yenna commanded! So why am I the only one who has to die?!”
The soul of High Priest Liang had emerged from the sacred relic that summoned the dead. Seeing that the crowd began to flee in all directions.
“Yenna, come to hell with me!”
The golden vines shot towards the bride’s room, where Yenna and Prince Patrick were.
Along the way, the vines grabbed those who had fallen or collided in the chaos, gently holding them in place to prevent further harm.
‘Aite was too kind to act like a vengeful spirit.’
This was the stunt we had planned to separate Yenna from Partick.
I rushed into the bride’s room ahead of Aite.
Everyone guarding the room had already fled, so nothing stood in my way. Yenna, who had stood from her chair due to the commotion outside, scowled when she saw me.
“You’re not supposed to be in here- ”
“Lady Yenna, it’s dangerous! You must leave this place! High Priest Liang’s soul has come to capture you!”
“What nonsense are you—”
“Yenna! Come to hell with me!”
The booming shout from outside made Yenna freeze in place.
I took the opportunity to grab her wrist and drag her along.
“L-Let go of me…!”
I channeled mana into my grip so that Yenna was unable to resist.
I stopped in an empty lounge.
“What’s all this about High Priest Liang’s soul? I need to go to His Highness, Prince Patrick!”
“Answer my question first.”
I blocked Yenna’s path.
Her expression, filled with irritation, was eerily familiar. The look that saw me as an obstacle to be brushed aside— just like in the nightmares of my past life.
I bit my lip and pushed aside the memories of those nightmares.
Then I greeted her coldly.
“Long time no see, Seo Dajong.”
