Chapter 39.

Omen (Part 3)

“Apparently, she’s been tucked away in the countryside for a while and has just come out. Who would want an old lady? How can you know what she’s been up to all this time? Just take her out for a bit and then marry someone else when the time is right.”

“Hey, ease up a bit. Your ears are too sharp. Do you see the Deneuve’s over there?”

“Huh? Are you scared? Honestly, Crystal Moon isn’t something she received because of her age, is it? She’s probably had the Duke grease the wheels. You should know that life isn’t easy for someone her age.”

In his drunken stupor, Langerhans young lord couldn’t distinguish time and place and ranted on. His companions tried to stop his nonsense, but once a mouth was opened, it seemed impossible to shut it.

“That kind of woman can easily… Uh, ugh! Who, who are you! Who dares to, cough, cough.”

Held by the throat and lifted off the ground, he couldn’t finish his sentence. He squirmed, unable to complete his words. As his face, which was not clearly visible, was pummeled like dough, only his bright red pupils, like blood, could be seen. He trembled in terror as he stared at the eyes that glared at him with madness, as if they would devour him.

“Ugh! A monster, a mon, monster!”

“Monster, huh? You lack manners. To the Crown Prince of the Empire.”

Unlike the cold, sunken pupils, Herald spoke calmly. In his frenzy to save his life, Langerhans Young Lord’s hand moved before Herald’s fist. The excitement, which was more intense than ever due to the splattering crimson droplets, couldn’t be suppressed. Although glass shards dug into his flesh, he felt no pain.

Having seen blood, Herald couldn’t release his grip until the opponent’s movements ceased. No one could easily stop the Crown Prince, who had fallen into madness.

No one among them considered interfering, deeming their own lives more precious.

“Ugh, urggh, ple, please, spare me! Ugh.”

Taking advantage of a brief moment, Langerhans tried to escape, but he was dragged away, still clutching onto his captor’s hand. A scream burst from his lips, begging for help from those far away. Even amidst the human screams, Herald, unaffected, clearly demonstrated why he had earned the nickname of a madman obsessed with blood.

“Herald!”

“This damn lunatic.”

Haint and Sat, who had come running from their card game upon hearing the commotion, shouted curses. Herald’s eyes, already gone wild upon seeing blood, indicated he was not in his right mind. He had seemed to be getting better lately, so why was he like this now? Without a second thought, they each grabbed one of Herald’s arms and pulled him away from Langerhans.

“Let go. Are you planning to kill him?”

“What the hell are you talking about? If he causes a scene during the tournament, what will happen?”

“The Crown Prince has the authority for immediate execution, don’t you know? I’ll let him go when I feel like it.”

“But does that mean you’ll kill him by hitting him?”

Once reason was lost, the Crown Prince could easily overwhelm those who didn’t confront him seriously. Even using force, someone had to hold onto him until the symptoms subsided. So, those who could restrain Herald were few.

“What did he say that made him act like this all of a sudden? Did he insult the imperial family in front of you?”

Translators: Stardust. Read on moonlight novels only

“Indeed.”

“A warning should be enough; calm down.”

“I’m trying to. It’s just that I feel like I’m going crazy because of these headaches. I’ll just kill him and be done with it.”

Although there seemed to be some rationality left in him for conversation, the situation was graver than they thought. Words were not enough to stop him. Even if they managed to separate him, he would charge again at the slightest sight. In the end, it was Haint who managed to knock Herald out by choking him.

“He, heek!”

Seeing Langerhans Young Lord’s limp body, which had crawled away in terror, using his plump buttocks, he immediately recognized who the men in front of him were. If they knew what I said, I’d be dead.

“Do you have anything to say?”

Sensing the danger and trying to leave before being caught, two legs blocked his path. Sat, who had blocked Langerhans’s way, glanced at him and called over his companions.

* * *

The sensation of being engulfed in a roaring wildfire haunted him when the madness struck. The boiling blood, the searing heat, and the throbbing pain accompanied the feeling of burning alive. This rendered him incapable of rational action.

The sudden onsets were like time bombs, unpredictable and with no fixed duration. The anxiety of not knowing when they would strike again soon turned into fear.

Herald gazed into the endless, uncertain path ahead. No one was going to save him; he had to escape this hell on his own. Sometimes, he felt an urge to surrender to the flames of madness, to give up everything.

‘Herald!! You damn lunatic. Snap out of it!’

At times, his own voice, guiding him back to reality, was weak, and he was tempted to give in.

‘The Rudenheim royal family is generally short-lived.’

Even his father, the Emperor himself, was eagerly awaiting the day when he could pass on the throne due to his ongoing illness. Chronic stress had taken a toll on his body and mind. Living a life tormented by madness, only to meet death through madness, was his destiny. The symptoms had become so severe that he was barely enduring it, worse than his father.

Herald, though faintly aware, kept his eyes closed. He felt the discomfort of his heavy eyelids, and amidst this, the image of a person flickered in his mind.

‘Already relying on her?’

Even when nothing had been resolved, he impulsively sought her out. If he could just escape the tormenting symptoms, even for a moment, and sleep deeply, His face twisted in pain, and deep creases formed on his forehead. It was time to get up, despite the pain.

“……”

Translators: Stardust. Read on moonlight novels only

He heard a soft murmur near his head, and a hand gently touched his forehead. The fever that had tormented him so ceased all at once. Just her presence alone made him feel like he should worship her. Herald slowly opened his eyes.

“Ah… this is…”

With her lovely voice, the platinum-haired woman he had been searching for so desperately. No, the woman with silver hair shining brilliantly like moonlight filled his vision.

“You…”

He couldn’t be mistaken. He raised his arm, and as their eyes met, he pulled her towards him. He bound her wrist with his hand, brought her face closer, and buried his face in her smooth, cool palm.

“Since that day, I’ve been looking for you continuously.”

With his mind still not completely clear, he moved his lips without even realizing it. He placed a gentle, light kiss on the soft skin at the edge of her lips, his hand still firmly gripping her wrist.

“When I thought about how I should greet you when I found you…”

He appeared flustered, gazing at the woman he held in his grasp. He still had her arm in his grip as he pulled her towards the bed, and he embraced the slenderly dressed woman tightly. He held her chin gently, making her look into his eyes. The blue eyes, which he had seen countless times before, now held a bewildered look.

The moment their eyes met, his heartbeats seemed to slow down dramatically, almost coming to a halt. A throbbing pain in his chest made it difficult to breathe. Time appeared to stand still as silence filled the air, and slowly, he lowered his head, bringing his lips to hers.

His bandaged hand carefully cradled her cheeks, and their lips met. The simple kiss carried with it feelings of respect, admiration, and reverence. In the suddenness of the kiss, he nervously bit his lip, unsure of how to proceed. The fear of rejection from the woman he had tirelessly searched for was evident.

“I think… I might want you after all,” he whispered, his forehead touching hers. At last, he had embraced the woman, and the fleeting consciousness that had briefly returned faded away. Despite the inner turmoil, he held her tightly in his arms, unwilling to let her go.