It was in the dead of night when everyone was asleep.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
“Ah…”
“Tomorrow is the general assembly. The ministers will be well-prepared, so you should get ready.” Kailus, who entered through the door, spoke to the emperor. “Moreover, I heard you will announce the development plan for the vacation island that day.”
The nobles and ministers would undoubtedly go wild over that surprise.
“I’ve been thinking about who my successor will be. Didn’t Izel always say when I was faltering that the next emperor would be the one with the strongest imperial power?” But suddenly, the emperor brought up a story from long ago. “She used to comfort me with those words.”
Recalling his sister’s comforting words, he smiled faintly. “Through the underground of that castle.”
Following the emperor’s pensive gaze, Kailus looked as well. That sealed castle was where Izel had stayed until her death. And…
“There might be another way. We can hide him in an inconspicuous place, like an orphanage or with distant relatives.”
“No, he must be killed.”
“That child is Izel’s son. He’s also our nephew. How can you be so—”
“Fate will kill that child anyway.”
That castle was also where a child with strangely bright blue eyes was born.
“You said it, didn’t you? That fate would kill that child.” The emperor spoke as if vividly recalling that day. “There’s one question I missed asking back then.”
“…”
“What if that child returns after defeating fate?”
A silence fell between them for a moment.
“Well.” Kailus’s expression under the moonlight was calm. “I haven’t thought that far yet.”
“By now, he must be around eighteen or nineteen. He looked much taller than when I was twenty.”
“…Surely not.” At those words, Kailus stared at the emperor. “Do you believe Izel’s son has returned?”
“I have my suspicions.”
“You have someone in mind.”
“You do too, don’t you?”
They both seemed to think of the same person without saying it aloud.
“Princess Felicite said, ‘Could it be that the goddess answered Izel’s prayers?’” But the emperor seemed to be in a surprisingly good mood despite not showing it. “He grew up well. Maybe because he resembles Izel, he also looks a bit like my younger self, doesn’t he?”
Unlike him, Kailus’s complexion grew complicated.
“Please wait a bit, Your Majesty.”
He sensed it was time to reveal the memories he had hidden even from the emperor. Therefore…
“What happens if that child returns after defying fate?”
The memory of the night he first coughed up blood.
“I’ll find the answer.”
* * *
Returning to the temple, Kailus headed straight for the central altar. How long had he been kneeling there? When he opened his eyes again,
…As expected.
Purple blood had pooled on the floor. It was undeniable evidence, no longer a coincidence.
“Remember, my Ananke. Your blood is the tears I shed.”
The prophecy left by the goddess was clear. Ananke, that is, the high priest, could feel the power of the demon. Therefore, this blood signaled the approach of ‘Peidion.’
“Are you alright, Your Holiness?”
The first time Kailus’s blood turned like this was 19 years ago… The same time when Izel’s son was born.
He wiped the blood from his hands and thought. “Why is this happening?”
And…
When I saw that article.
“Open the door of Nornu.”
“Yes? Why the door of Nornu?” The senior priests’ eyes widened at the unexpected command.
“I will ask the goddess directly about the identity of this blood.”
That door led to the lake of the goddess.
* * *
After five senior priests held four consecration ceremonies, the door of Nornu finally opened. Kailus stepped into the rising smoke. His vision changed instantly, and a grand door swallowed his body.
“…”
Before him, a dazzlingly blue lake spread out.
The World Tree of this empire and the source of Meteora. The place where the consciousness of the Archangel Ananke, who followed the goddess, rested.
“My descendant.”
As Kailus took a step, the water rippled.
“I will ask again. Did you really kill the devil?”
A tranquil voice echoed, almost deafening.
“…19 years ago.” After a long silence, Kailus spoke. “I thought he was killed. For sure.”
Yes. On the day Izel’s son was born, Kailus first coughed up blood.
“But I could not bring myself to stab my nephew’s heart with my own hands…”
So he pushed the small body into the darkness to freeze to death or be killed by a beast. But.
“See, the blood on your hands tells you that your words are a lie.”
“Then truly…” His always dry voice wavered slightly.
Is he alive? Kailus urgently pulled something from his pocket.
On the day of the monster hunting tournament, his only purpose in rescuing Princess Felicite and the knight was to obtain this.
Silver hair.
“Ananke, if that child has returned, what happens then?”
“He will become the ruler of Meteora.”
“How…!” Kailus shouted, unable to understand. “The goddess sealed Peidion and created Meteora. How can the reincarnation of Peidion…!”
The nephew he tried to kill was not only reincarnated as Peidion but would also become the ruler of Meteora.
“As you said, he defied fate and came this far.” But Ananke’s answer was concise and firm. “Nothing can control him.”
“Indeed. No one can predict how far he will go.”
He was one who defied even the destiny set by the goddess. Thus, he could swallow not only Meteora but the entire continent.
“Goddess, please answer me through Ananke.”
There was no time left to hesitate.
“Has Peidion…”
Kailus dropped the boy’s silver hair into the lake. As the hair sank into the blue waves holding ancient secrets.
“Returned?”
The water began to surge as if something was rising.
“You found me again.”
Before the lake, which turned pitch black in an instant, Kailus finally had to kneel.
“Peidion.”
“Gasp…!”
He shuddered all over. No matter how hard he tried to kill him, no matter how many shackles of fate or punishments of time he imposed…
Again.
Peidion overcame it all and returned today. Solely to find the goddess. To follow the scattered traces of the goddess everywhere!
Ah, this is truly an obsession and a tragic love.
Kailus closed his eyes in resignation.
* * *
It was a few days later.
“Why are yur eyes so big?” Moriana, sitting on the empress’s lap, tilted her head.
“Today is an important day.”
“Ah.”
The empress, that is, Juyong’s expression, was solemn as she glared at the mirror.
“All the ministers’ carriages have arrived, Your Majesty.”
“I see. Let’s go with a slightly darker lip color.”
Today was the day of the general assembly. A day when all the ministers, who each held a position, gathered. At this biannual assembly, many things were announced and decided. The Treasury presented the budget, the Imperial Palace Affairs reported state affairs, and the emperor’s secretariat presented important agendas. And…
“Brother?” Moriana read Juyong’s gaze and beamed.
“That’s right.”
Although she couldn’t attend the assembly six months ago due to a skin condition, today was different.
“Today is the day the male lead, or rather, the heir to the Rixon imperial family, will be revealed.”
As the empress, Juyong would attend the assembly and announce it. That Izel’s son is alive.
Her heart pounded with excitement. Finally, she would break free from being an extra who caused trouble while locked in a room!
“Kyaang.” Moriana clapped her small hands in praise of Juyong. “Yu did well! Moder must help the goddess!”
“Of course, huh?”
At that moment.
The goddess?
Until meeting Siani, she hadn’t thought much about Mori calling her the goddess. Even as a woman, Siani’s grace was mesmerizing enough.
“If you’re Lee Juyong, then who am I?”
Why did those words feel so strange today?
“Your Majesty, it’s time to leave if you’re ready.”
The maid’s call snapped Juyong out of her thoughts.
“Moder! Yu can do it!”
“Yes!”
Responding to Moriana, who clenched her tiny fists, Juyong stepped out. Let’s go. Her expression changed instantly. Now, it was time to be the empress of Meteora, not Lee Juyong.
Hi, now you can purchase 10 advance chapters in here.
