IDED | Chapter 118

Episode 118

At the end of the restored memories, the sacred mirror returned to pitch-black darkness, reflecting nothing.

Serena stood blankly in front of the mirror, lingering in the aftertaste of the memories that had come back. The moment the forgotten past resurfaced, everything that had been unclear until now became perfectly resolved.

As the blockage was suddenly lifted, a cold fury settled in its place.

“The boy was his Majesty.”

Serena’s head spun from the truth she had just realized. Azaid was the boy from her dreams. The one who had been her only friend in childhood, who had now become her precious lover.

And also the master of the man who had erased her awakened memories without a word.

Serena leaned against a pillar, exhaling shakily. Too many things were entangled for her to process at once.

‘Did His Majesty know? That I was Levin?’

No, that couldn’t be it. That day, when he spoke about his awakening memory, he still believed she was a boy.

And—

— Besides, my power was a bit unstable back then. I ended up dragging an unrelated person into it, too.

— An unrelated person? So someone else was there?

— Yeah, there was… but… I thought there wasn’t.

— Huh? What do you mean? There was, but there wasn’t?

— What the…? Why did I completely forget about that until now?

Azaid had only recently recalled that she had been there at the scene. Considering that the aftermath of his rampage included partial memory distortion, he might have truly been unaware of this incident.

Even in her past life, Azaid had not been able to recall his memories from the rampage right away.

‘But Raffaello must have known. He saw my awakening with his own eyes.’

That day, Serena had undoubtedly awakened in a spectacular manner. The purple waves engulfing the blue flames like an aurora—everyone had witnessed it.

She had risked her life to protect him, only to have her awakened memories stolen in return.

Serena clenched her fist at the thought of Raffaello. A cold fury burned in her eyes like frost forming over ice.

Lydia had mentioned that Raffaello was the one who took her home that day. He had even ordered her to keep the incident a secret.

‘He erased my memories knowing everything. For His Majesty’s sake.’

Considering Azaid’s precarious position at the time, it was obvious. A secluded illegitimate prince who awakened at a young age and possessed magic far superior to his siblings?

Naturally, he would become the first target for elimination. Raffaello must have judged that erasing the young Serena’s memories was a safer choice than trusting her.

But Raffaello had made a grave mistake. He had no idea how Serena had stopped Azaid’# rampage.

‘I’m not the only victim in this.’

Serena massaged her throbbing forehead as she recalled what she had done that day.

Though rage surged within her, she couldn’t help but feel sorrow when she thought of Azaid. Now, she understood why he had been in pain.

That day, Serena wasn’t the only one who had suffered unjustly. Azaid had lost something irreplaceable as well.

‘It makes me so angry, yet I can’t even bring myself to hate him.’

Serena swallowed the tears welling up in her throat, trying to steady herself. But the sudden flood of memories made her legs go weak.

“Ah.”

She thought she would collapse, but then, a warm touch enveloped her. Just from the warmth alone, Serena knew who it was.

“Your Majesty.”

Her voice came out colder than she expected, but she didn’t deny it. She was too exhausted and tormented to pretend she was fine.

“Serena.”

Azaid called her name with a rough, choked voice, as if he were barely holding himself together. But Serena simply stepped out of his embrace in response.

Azaid clenched his teeth, his face contorting with pain. Serena thought he still didn’t know and tried to maintain a nonchalant attitude.

Yes, he must not know anything yet.

“What brings you here? Surely you didn’t just follow me around because I wasn’t there?”

“I did. I followed you.”

“Oh, come on. Now I can’t even go anywhere in peace. Aren’t you following me too much?”

The brighter Serena tried to sound, the stiffer Azaid’s expression became. But since she kept her gaze down, she failed to see it.

Azaid shifted his eyes to the sacred stone in Serina’s hand. The stone, which had already lost its divine power, was now just an ordinary rock.

That was enough for Azaid to be certain—Serena had recovered her memories. And he now understood why she was avoiding his touch, why she wouldn’t even look at him.

“Serena…”

“Your Majesty, what should I do? I still have things to take care of here.”

“…….”

“Don’t worry about me and return to the palace first. I’ll just finish talking and—”

“Serena.”

Azaid grasped her wrist as she turned away. He pulled her to face him, making sure their eyes met.

Serena’s eyes were wet. The tears hanging on the verge of falling seemed like they would spill over at the slightest touch. Her waterlogged gaze shimmered pitifully, like a moon reflected in a river.

She quickly lowered her eyes to hide her expression, but Azaid cupped her cheeks and gently lifted her gaze back to his.

For a moment, they simply exchanged silent glances. Serena, who had been avoiding his eyes all along, now wore a desolate expression.

“Your Majesty.”

The moment she saw Azaid’s expression, she realized it.

He knew.

“What… You already knew everything?”

“Yes.”

Azaid let out a pained breath and admitted it. Serina trembled as she shoved his hands away, stepping back.

“When? Since when did you know?”

“When Lady Vincent told me you had come here to see Raffaello.”

“…….”

“I’m sorry. That I only recognized you now. That I only tried to find you too late.”

“…….”

“I always wondered how you were living.”

“…Liar!”

Serena’s voice cracked with anger. She knew deep down that it wasn’t something to blame him for, but her emotions were uncontrollable.

Resentment swelled within her. The fact that her dear friend had unknowingly thrown her into the abyss was unbearable.

“If you were curious, you should have looked for me! You could’ve at least checked how I was doing!”

“…….”

“You’re always so good at investigating others, but why didn’t you look for me?”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Serena.”

Azaid didn’t make excuses. He simply apologized again and again, reaching out to her.

But Serena only stepped further away, and the distance between them refused to close.

The tense atmosphere weighed heavily on the room, and then, Serina spoke with chilling clarity.

“If I hadn’t regained my memories today, were you planning to keep it a secret?”

“No. I was going to tell you. Right away. And ask for your forgiveness.”

“How am I supposed to believe that?”

“…….”

“I can’t trust you. I can’t trust you anymore!”

Serena finally broke down in tears. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

The truth was, living without magic hadn’t been terribly inconvenient. But that wasn’t the issue.

It was only occasionally, when she felt down, that a negative thought crossed her mind—‘Maybe I can’t use magic because I’m an illegitimate child?’

And each time, she allowed herself to be sad for just one day. By the next morning, she would return to her usual spirited self. Serena’s creed had always been to grieve freely for a single day and then shake it off.

But the truth she learned today was too deep to mourn for just one day. Even if a day passed, the overwhelming betrayal swelling inside her didn’t seem like it would fade.

“I hate you so much, Your Majesty. I do, but…”

I also like you too much, and that makes me hate you even more.

Serena swallowed the rest of her words and sobbed, while Azaid’s face contorted in anguish.

Every time her delicate shoulders trembled, it felt like he was being cut to the bone. He wanted to approach her, but the fear that he couldn’t made his heart ache even more.

“Serena.”

Summoning his courage, Azaid took a step closer. Thankfully, Serena didn’t step back.

He took another careful step forward. This time too, she didn’t retreat.

Serena wished, deep down, that he would embrace her. Yet at the same time, she wished he wouldn’t come any closer.

So she remained frozen, unable to move in either direction, her shoulders shaking as she wept.

Just as she was thinking that nothing mattered anymore—

Azaid reached right in front of her. He took off his outer coat and draped it over her shoulders. Then, stepping back again, he spoke in a voice filled with longing.

“It’s okay if you hate me. You can beat me up as much as you want until your anger subsides.”

“…….”

“I won’t cowardly ask for forgiveness. Just because I didn’t know doesn’t erase what you went through.”

His voice trembled just as much as Serena’s. Unlike her, who was openly sobbing, he was swallowing his emotions.

Because he felt he had no right to cry—because right now, all that mattered to him was Serena’s feelings.

“But if… if you can bear it…”

“…….”

“Please, just let me stay by your side.”

As he finished speaking, Azaid lowered his head.