<Episode 111>

“I said I had something urgent to deal with and couldn’t go.”

“If you don’t tell me the truth, kissing is banned for a whole month.”

“I said that if they didn’t let me go immediately, I’d behead the Crown Prince and hang his head on the city gate, then use the Duke de Robein’s private army to usurp the throne and replace the Emperor.”

“Are you insane? Did you really say that?”

Elkais frowned, thinking once again that he shouldn’t have been honest.

“I may have exaggerated a little…”

“You didn’t. You told them everything exactly as it was.”

“…Yeah.”

He figured there was no use regretting it now.

Normally, he wasn’t someone who talked a lot, and even when he did, he’d think carefully before speaking. But when he was with Evelline, that wasn’t easy.

His heart raced too much, blood rushed to his head, and when he was busy following her every little move, he sometimes forgot what he was even saying.

And the way she frowned in anger—was just too beautiful.

“So I guess kissing is allowed now.”

“No, wait a min—mmph…”

It was happening again. Her angry face was just so stunning…

“Mmh, El, mmph…”

Even though he was both happy and anxious that she was mad at him, he couldn’t resist kissing her.

“This is the Imperial Palace!”

When Evelline turned her head to avoid him, he didn’t try to kiss her again. But since she didn’t exactly look displeased, he made another suggestion.

“I want to finish the rest in your room.”

“…Fine. But smoothing things over like this is really awful. Seduction tactics?”

Her heart was pounding—like he had just seduced her. Escaping like this whenever he was in trouble…

“Can I go with you to the Crown Prince’s palace?”

“No.”

“Then I’ll stay right here. So come find me first when you’re done.”

They were standing on the path leading to the Crown Prince’s palace, and Evelline felt uneasy, thinking he really would wait there the whole time.

“The sun’s too strong here. Go wait over there where there’s a roof.”

“Got it.”

She pointed toward the pavilion near the garden, and Elkais nodded.

“Hope you come back soon.”

“I will.”

“I might die while waiting.”

“I said I got it.”

He watched quietly as she walked into the Crown Prince’s palace. Once she disappeared from sight, he went to the pavilion just like she told him to and sat down.

* * *

When Eveline arrived at the Crown Prince’s palace—specifically, in Ferite’s receiving room—a familiar face greeted her with a smile.

“It’s been a while, my lady.”

Sensing the strange energy and friendliness radiating from him, Eveline spoke up.

“Weren’t you sealed?”

“If you mean Euros, then yes, he is sealed. But he can still share my sight.”

Maybe because he had used Ferite’s body, she could sense Euros’s presence around the Crown Prince.

“He doesn’t have much power left. Why would he even do that? He’s only prolonging the seal.”

“I don’t know either. But maybe… he just really wanted to see you with his own eyes.”

“I see.”

Eveline gave a half-hearted reply and crossed her legs as she sat down where he gestured.

“What would you like to drink?”

“I came to reject your proposal. Why are you offering me tea?”

“Just have some. It helps me save face.”

“Getting rejected won’t do much for your image anyway. Besides, Elkais is waiting.”

At that, Ferite motioned for the maid to enter.

“I’ll have black tea. For the lady, milk tea. No, wait. Cocoa.”

“…”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Once the maid left, Eveline looked at him with an even more unimpressed expression.

“Are you really only sharing sight?”

“Sometimes I hear his voice too.”

“Is that why you proposed to me?”

“That’s part of it. But I also think marrying you wouldn’t be so bad. Since the power within you has stabilized, there’s no more perfect match than you.”

Since he was aware of Euros, Eveline wondered if he also knew about what had happened on that deserted island. She folded her arms and stared at him.

“How much do you remember?”

At her question, he paused. A moment later, the maid returned, placing the teapot and cups before them and left again after a bow.

Eveline reached for the milk next to her cup to pour into her cocoa.

Ferite took the milk instead and poured it into her cup himself, then stirred it with a teaspoon before setting it down and replying to her earlier question.

“I remember almost everything. Though it’s hard to tell if it’s my memory or someone else’s… More than anything, at the time, I didn’t even realize Euros had possessed me.”

Eveline believed him.

Euros was the god of chaos—more powerful than the other three gods. If he had used his power to possess someone, it wouldn’t be strange for even the original host like Ferite to be unaware of it.

“What about Grand Duke Croppers?”

“He doesn’t remember anything. Only the four of us do.”

Even as he said that, Ferite had never revealed to anyone else—aside from Eveline—that he remembered that place. That’s why Eveline only now felt certain.

“Then do you happen to know how to calm the divine power?”

She figured he might know something, having once resonated with Euros.

“There is a way. And I think I know why you’re asking.”

Ferite looked at her with a bright smile.

His mischievous expression gave her a bad feeling, like he was purposely holding something back.

“What’ll you give me if I tell you?”

As she expected, she let out a short laugh at his words.

“What do you want?”

“Promise me that when your body reaches its limit, you’ll visit Euros at least once.”

“Why? Got attached from sharing a body?”

Eveline teased, but Ferite answered casually, like it didn’t matter much.

“Maybe. Plus, I think I’ve been influenced by how Euros sees you.”

“And how does he see me?”

“Euros sees you as his greatest creation. That’s why he wants to preserve your body once its time is up.”

“That’s a disturbing sentiment. I refuse the part about the body, but I’ll agree to visit after I die.”

“Swear it on your divinity.”

At his words, Eveline sighed.

“Fine. I swear on my divinity—once this body’s lifespan ends, I’ll visit Euros. Satisfied?”

“Delighted.”

Ferite smiled like a child and took a sip of his tea. Then, he continued to smile, waiting patiently for her to drink hers.

With another quiet sigh, Eveline finally took a sip of her cocoa.

“It’s a simple theory. You do what the gods before us did.”

“And that is?”

At her eagerness, Ferite leaned back into the couch and explained.

“Create a separate vessel, like the original gods did, and store your power in it. The world will keep turning on its own that way.”

“…But wouldn’t it take centuries to create a new vessel?”

“That’s true.”

She let out a deep sigh, and Ferite chuckled again.

“You want to marry Duke de Robein, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“That’s really unfortunate. Of all things, you have the power of Dekarv, the god of destruction. Destruction and creation don’t coexist easily.”

Eveline knew that all too well. But creating a vessel and returning afterward… felt too far off.

She had never lived as a god. She was human. And she didn’t know how slowly those hundreds of years might crawl by.

“What about another way?”

“If I tell you, promise to spend three days a year with me.”

“Deal. I swear on my divinity.”

This time, he looked like he was genuinely smiling.

“The three were originally meant to become one entity. Only one of the three personalities would remain. So the power itself can be merged into the god of order.”

“Which means…”

“One of you just has to take all the power and sacrifice yourself. But… is that even possible?”

Ferite spoke like he was thrilled. Eveline understood perfectly why he was smiling.

If she sacrificed herself to take in all the power, she wouldn’t be able to interfere with the world while creating a new vessel. That meant she’d never see Elkais or Abellard again.

But would Elkais or Abellard be willing to step aside?

“That’s the biggest problem.”

“Right?”

“What if it’s transferred to a third party…”

“No. I swear on my next life—it’s absolutely not allowed.”

Ferite’s smile reminded her of Euros, and Eveline let out a small sigh.

“My lady always tries to sacrifice herself again. But if you do it this time, will the other two really be okay?”

“What do you mean?”

She meant it.

If she merged the divine powers into one, Elkais and Abellard would likely regain their original lives.

But…

“To gain the power, you’ll need consent. And do you think either of them will willingly give up their power to you?”

“…”

“Oh, and what I just told you? The other gods heard it too. Euros can share everything he hears. And I’m still linked to him.”

“What do you…!”

“So what you just heard has now been equally shared with all three gods. It’s a system Remeros made to keep Euros in check—so blaming me won’t help.”

He looked at her again as he drank his tea.

“If I were you, I’d just live this life out and make a new vessel later.”

But Eveline would learn later—that neither Elkais nor Abellard had any intention of doing that.