IDED | Chapter 114

Episode 114

“Of course.”

Benjamin readily agreed and began leading Serena to the Marimond Room. Even on the way, he couldn’t stop talking.

“I was disappointed that we couldn’t talk much last time. I’m glad you came to visit.”

The nuance of his words made it seem like she had come to see him, but Serena ignored it lightly.

“I’ve been quite busy lately.”

“I heard. They say you’re in a relationship with His Majesty. I wonder if I unknowingly upset him back then.”

Benjamin awkwardly chuckled, recalling the moment when Azaid had kicked the chair.

It seemed he had been worried after hearing about Serena and Azaid. Clasping his hands together, he smiled awkwardly and continued.

“You never really know how life will turn out. Who would’ve thought you’d become the Imperial doctor and even be considered the next Empress?”

“That’s true.”

In reality, Benjamin was simply spreading rumors without realizing it. Pretty and fragrant flowers always attract bees and butterflies.

With a decent background, good looks, and even polite manners, it was easy for women to misunderstand his intentions.

Especially someone as vain and naïve as Lydia—she could easily get the wrong idea and start chasing after him. Serena had suffered unnecessary trouble because of this more than once.

Recalling past incidents, Serena rubbed her forehead. With someone as oblivious as Benjamin, she needed to be firm.

“So, from now on, stop calling me ‘Rena.’ His Majesty doesn’t like it.”

“Oh… alright.”

Benjamin responded in a subdued voice, clearly intimidated by the mention of the Emperor’s disapproval. That should be enough to stop him from calling her “Rena” again.

After a short walk, Benjamin pointed to a room.

“This is it.”

The Marimond Room resembled an exhibition hall, with sacred relics neatly displayed. As Serena scanned the room, she asked,

“Where’s that mirror you mentioned before?”

“Oh, it’s over there.”

Benjamin, now noticeably more respectful, obediently led her to the mirror. Serina stood in front of it, silently observing for a moment.

It was a mirror, yet it reflected nothing.

It seemed that without divine power, the mirror wouldn’t function. As Serena reached out as if to touch the mirror mounted on the wall, she asked,

“I’ve been curious—what happens to the memories erased by this mirror? Is there a way to restore them?”

“Of course. No matter how painful a memory is, people always end up wanting it back. Lord Pherianus understands that—it’s a testament to his mercy.”

Unlike his usual casual demeanor, Benjamin spoke with a tone befitting a priest. It seemed he had adapted well to the temple, despite having wandered between different sanctuaries before.

But what was the real intention behind creating a tool that could erase memories? Was it truly divine mercy, or merely a trick?

Regardless of the answer, Serena knew one thing—she had to reclaim her lost memories. After all, Raffaello had erased them without her permission.

“So, how does one restore them?”

As Serena met his gaze, Benjamin answered.

“It’s simple. The person who had their memories erased just needs to reflect their face in the mirror again while channeling divine power.”

“I see.”

As Serena fell into thought, Benjamin’s rosary gleamed.

“Oh, the service must have ended. I’ll go fetch Archbishop Raffaello, so take your time looking around.”

“Alright. Take your time.”

Serena smiled, and Benjamin quickly walked out of the Marimond Room.

Now, completely alone, she reached into her bag and pulled out the divine stone Raffaello had given her before.

She had kept it with her, thinking it might help in healing due to its opposing nature to mana.

The shimmering divine stone contained refined sacred energy—one of the only stones that allowed non-priests to wield divine power.

Without hesitation, Serena brought the stone close to the mirror.

And in that very moment—

Flash!

A brilliant light burst from the mirror, and the once-empty reflection now displayed Serena’s face.

The sky was heavily clouded and extremely overcast, as if it were about to rain. That day, as always, Serena headed to that place to meet the boy.

A cool breeze lightly tousled Serena’s violet hair.

Her short hair fluttered in strands, giving off a damp feeling, as if it were a sign that autumn rain would soon fall.

That place was where Serena and Azaid first met—and it had since become their secret hideout.

It was a large maple tree standing atop a hill, visible after passing by the stone wall of the imperial palace. The tree was very old, with a broad trunk and a canopy that cast beautiful shade.

When summer passed and the cool autumn arrived, its leaves would turn a brilliant red, making for a breathtaking sight. And now, as it was autumn, the maple leaves were steadily deepening into a fiery crimson.

“Wow.”

Serena smiled brightly as she looked at the tree.

Beside the tree stood a boy. He was leaning against the trunk, staring blankly down at the imperial palace below the hill.

Feeling a sudden urge to tease him, she crept up behind him and suddenly called out his name.

“Zed!”

“Levin. Sorry, but I saw your shadow.”

The boy smirked, addressing Serena as Levin.

“Ah, damn. I forgot about my shadow.”

As Serena let out an awkward laugh, the boy playfully patted the spot beside him.

“You’re big, so your shadow is big too.”

“Zed, you’re such an idiot. Shadows are big because of the sunlight.”

“Nope. It’s because you’re big.”

The boy chuckled, insisting on his ridiculous claim.

His name was Azaid. He never mentioned his surname, which made Serena think he was probably a bastard child like her.

But judging by his fine clothes, his parents hadn’t completely abandoned him.

“Anyway, I told you to call me by my real name.”

“Your name is too long. Levin sounds like a nice nickname—what’s wrong with that?”

“It’s disgusting when a guy calls another guy by a nickname.”

When Azaid glared at her, Serena pouted.

“Then just think of me as a girl from now on.”

“Do you even hear yourself?”

Azaid shook his head as if he had just heard the most absurd joke.

Why not? I really am a girl, after all.

Serena had only just realized that Azaid mistook her for a boy, but she didn’t correct him. She was curious to see how shocked and flustered he’d be when he finally figured it out.

“Why are you so sulky today? Did you fight with your mother again?”

Serena poked at him playfully, but Azaid shrugged her off and changed the subject.

“You really have no filter, do you?”

“What do you mean, ‘brother’?”

He wasn’t even her older brother.

“It’s just… The Founding Festival is coming up soon, and my mother is really on edge.”

“The Founding Festival? But that’s a celebration! It’s a happy day, isn’t it?”

“For you, maybe. Not for me.”

Azaid’s face hardened, turning as pale as the gray sky before rain. Serena tilted her head in confusion and met his gaze.

“Why not?”

“Because that’s the day I have to meet my father.”

Azaid propped his elbows on his knees and turned his gaze away, as if he didn’t even want to think about it.

So he has a bad relationship with his father, just like me.

Well, no matter how fine the clothes they put on a illegal child, their situation would never be the same as the legitimate ones.

Of course, it was still better than being treated like a servant by his own father, like Baron Vincent did to his own child. But Azaid must have had his own struggles.

Serina, watching Azaid avoid her gaze for a long while, subtly made a suggestion.

“Then why don’t we ditch that day?”

“Stop saying nonsense.”

Azaid, finding her idea absurd, finally looked back at her and frowned. But Serina was serious.

“I mean it. There’s a festival anyway, so let’s go check it out together. You have a bunch of siblings, right? If you sneak out, no one will notice.”

“I can’t do that, Levin.”

“What do you mean, you can’t? You said yourself your father doesn’t even care about you or your mother.”

“Still, I have a duty to—”

“Duty, my ass. Hey! Tell your father to do his duty first before demanding anything from you.”

“You—”

Azaid’s face went pale, as if Serena had just said something forbidden. But she didn’t stop.

“Just fathering a child doesn’t make him a real father. I don’t accept that. Why do you have to act like his son when he won’t even act like a parent?”

“……”

“Azaid, you’re part of the problem too. Why do you always just stay quiet?”

“Because saying anything wouldn’t change a thing. I don’t have that kind of power.”

Azaid muttered bitterly, but Serina shouted back at him.

“How would you know if you’ve never even tried?”

“Well…”

“That’s it! If you’re just going to keep your mouth shut, you might as well rip it off and toss it into the river! You’ll get by just fine without it anyway!”

Serena, fuming, jabbed a finger toward the distant river. Azaid, after a moment of bewilderment, suddenly burst into laughter.

Was it because she had said what he couldn’t? Because she had voiced his frustration for him?

“Hahaha.”

“You’re laughing? How can you laugh right now?”

“Haha.”

As Azaid kept laughing, Serena’s face turned red with frustration.

She had been completely serious, yet he was just laughing. The more he laughed, the more irritated she became.

In the end, she smacked Azaid hard on the head in a fit of anger.

“You idiot!”

“Ugh.”

The sharp pain snapped Azaid back to reality, and he rubbed the back of his head with a dazed expression.

“Did you just hit me?”