Announcement
Hello, this is Alyalia. I’m here to make some announcements first regarding ITETP. First, I’ve been adding the illustrations for chapters 66 and 98 (you might not have seen the illustrations before if you had been purchasing advanced chapters). Second, since the author mentioned that they had made some edits from the beginning chapters, I’ll also gradually edit it according to the new raws. Third, it’s about the POV of the story. ITETP originally used the third POV story, but I’ve been translating it using the first POV, considering the title itself and how frequently internal thoughts are written. After much reflection, I’ve decided to shift it from the first POV to the third POV, following the raws. Therefore, starting from this chapter, I’ll use the third POV and then gradually edit the already published chapters. I apologize for the inconvenience.
* * *
A faint noise nudged her consciousness awake.
“I bet we can sell her for a good price.”
“So, about this much…”
It was the voices of unfamiliar men.
“Isn’t this some kind of luck?”
“Doesn’t she look like a noble lady?”
“Even better. The higher the status, the more expensive she sells.”
And the sensation of hands groping her. That unpleasant feeling snapped Dana back to reality. She forced her heavy eyelids open with all her might.
“Ah? She’s awake.”
“Hello there, Lady?”
Who are these people? Dana blinked her bleary eyes. Two strange men were looking down at her.
“Why were you sleeping in a place like this? It’s a wonder you didn’t freeze to death.”
“Looks like you’ve got a story. Why don’t you come with us? We’ll listen on the way.”
Without responding, Dana quickly scanned her surroundings. She was inside the cabin, bathed in the bright morning sunlight. Neither the guard nor the emperor were in sight. So…
The emperor left me behind?
Dana clenched her fists.
That terrible man! Rage surged within her.
Dana knew the emperor disliked her. She was well aware of his hatred for the Windsor family, who were part of Protestants.
But he promised!
Even knowing she might faint, knowing she would be defenseless, Dana had still poured all her power into the purification. She had trusted the emperor’s promise not to leave her alone.
“Now, let’s go then.”
The man forcibly lifted Dana up.
That b*stard emperor…
Dizziness overwhelmed her. Her condition was still at its worst, so she couldn’t even put up a proper resistance.
“Oh, so compliant?”
“Yeah, we’re not bad people.”
“We’ll sell you to a nice place, so don’t worry.”
Dana was dragged along, stumbling. She had expected this when she made the promise, but still, that emperor, that b*stard…
It was the moment they reached the door. Bang, the door swung open.
“Huh?”
The man holding her uttered a dumbfounded sound. It was because a very large man stood there, backlit by the binding sun.
“Who are you…?”
It was Emperor Yustio. With a frown, he looked Dana up and down, then reached out and pulled her towards him.
“Uh, uugh!” The man’s grip loosened with an odd groan, clearly outmatched in strength.
Ouch! And Dana grimaced. The emperor had pulled her so roughly that her face slammed against his chest.
At that moment, flutter. His cloak enveloped her field of vision. Emperor Yustio had wrapped her entire body with his cloak as if to hide her.
“Y-You, what are—”
Then came the bewildered voice of the man from beyond the cloak. That was the end of it. The sound of something compressed exploding in an instant and the loud noise of the liquid and chunks splattering against the wall assaulted her ears. That was…
“Let’s go.”
Emperor Yustio led her, wrapped in his cloak, out of the cabin. Only after the cabin door clicked shut did he remove the cloak. Then, a lingering scent of blood hit her, sending chills down her spine.
So, just now. Did he just… blow up their bodies to kill them?
She felt a chill. This was Dana’s first time witnessing the Geranze imperial family’s power in action, having only heard of them. Each member was said to have different powers, and she had heard that the emperor could make anything he touched explode.
“Human trafficking is subject to immediate execution by national law.” Noticing her freeze, the emperor spoke calmly. “I acted according to the law.”
“…”
Dana swallowed dryly.
Right, she almost forgot. This man was the inquisitor who killed the most demon worshippers in history…
But then,
“Your Majesty, where have you been?”
She asked with a hint of dissatisfaction, and the emperor gestured with his head.
“I was taking the guard to a nearby village doctor.”
“…How is his condition?”
“Similar to your secretary’s. He’ll come back on his own once he regains consciousness. Mount up.”
“…”
Once again, she had to ride together. Standing before the massive horse, Dana felt disheartened. In this cold winter, with her body so weary, she had to ride a horse again.
I wish the Windsor railway would spread nationwide already.
It would make life so much easier.
* * *
This time, Dana didn’t even have the strength to hold onto the emperor’s waist, so she sat in front of him.
I’m nervous…
Emperor Yustio made her uncomfortable. All her nerves focused on her back, causing her nape to stiffen and her shoulders to ache. Though she only occasionally brushed against his thighs and forearms due to sitting as forward as possible, perhaps her tension made those touches feel particularly sensitive.
Come to think of it, Dana once rode a horse like this with Carl Windsor. It was when they left the Kaltusa territory. Looking back now, it seems Carl was incredibly considerate of her back then. That’s probably why she felt so comfortable on the horse at the time.
“The scripture.”
Above her head, the emperor’s low voice fell.
“Is indeed genuine.”
“Yes.”
“Are you aware that there are missing pages in the middle?”
Of course she did. I wonder why he hadn’t mentioned that.
Several pages in the middle of the scripture had been torn out. And notably, that section was…
“It just so happens to be the chapter about Daiana.”
The part that talks about the moon god.
“I didn’t tear it out, Your Majesty.”
“Is that so?”
“…”
His response was dripping with disbelief. He didn’t believe her, for sure. However, the emperor didn’t press further about the missing pages.
“Have you read the final chapter of the scripture?”
Instead, he asked a different question.
“No. That language is unknown to me.”
Why ask when you already know?
The last chapter of the scripture was written in an ancient language that not just anyone could learn. It was a language passed down like a legacy to the pope and the 7 cardinals.
“There was a very strange story written in the last chapter.”
“What was it?”
“Do you remember the night when the red moon rose three years ago?”
“Yes.”
Of course, she remembered. How could she forget? That night three years ago, when the red moon rose, was the night when the dimensional gate opened. I should have left then. Now, she was suffering for having stayed.
“According to the last chapter of the scripture, that night…”
What? What is it? Dana listened intently. However, the emperor…
“…”
It was after a moment of silence.
“Do you know where the <True Prophecy> is?”
He suddenly brought up an unrelated topic.
Feeling deflated, Dana weakly shook her head. “No. I don’t know.”
In truth, Dana knew where the book <True Prophecy> was. I just don’t want to get involved with the emperor anymore. This was as far as it goes. To hold the Holy Court. She only needed the emperor up to that point. That’s why she kept her mouth shut.
The emperor didn’t bring up the last chapter of the scripture again. It seemed he wouldn’t discuss it further.
What happened on the night the dimensional gate opened three years ago? Dana was incredibly curious, but she knew this damned emperor wouldn’t answer if she asked. So, she made one last request.
“Your Majesty, please proceed with opening the Holy Trial without Raios knowing.”
He might interfere if he knew. It had to be held secretly, by surprise.
“I will do so.” With that response, the emperor began to drive the horse quickly again.
At that moment, a sudden ominous feeling crept her. What if Raios hasn’t broken the vow of chastity?
Of course, that’s unlikely. Raios had been seen sharing a bed with Allice numerous times, even in the aftermath of their intimate relations. But what if, just if, Raios and Allice hadn’t gone all the way?
…Well, there’s no helping it. Dana sighed.
If that was really the case, there was only one way out. She had to lose her virginity first. Then, it should be publicized, proven, and declared that the vow had been broken. An engagement with a broken vow holds no power anymore. Everything would be solved after that.
It wouldn’t hurt to have a plan, just in case. Being prepared is never a bad thing.
If it really came to that, with whom should she do it?
I don’t want to do it with a complete stranger.
Dana seriously considered the men around her. Although Yeon Dana wasn’t a virgin, this body, Danae Windsor, had no experience with men. It would surely hurt a lot for her first time.
Who was around her?
Someone who could comfort her while in pain. A man who is gentle and caring, yet skilled, preferably someone who could make it feel good…
For a moment, the face of the kindest man she knew almost came to mind.
No.
Dana desperately suppressed it.
No, no, I can’t do that.
Even if she knew only a few men, even if only one of them was kind, how could she even think of such a thing? It was impossible from the start. Besides, just the thought was repulsive.
Shaking off the discomfort, Dana sank back into thought. Maybe a complete stranger would be better?
A chuckle escaped her. Searching for a man to take her virginity? It was ridiculous.
Surely, it won’t come to that.
Raios wasn’t impotent, and he had spent numerous nights in bed with Allice. There was no way nothing had happened.
So, as soon as the Holy Trial is convened, I’ll be able to annul my engagement easily.
Dana thought, gritting her teeth as she endured the rough ride on the horse. It really wasn’t much longer now.
Hi, now you can purchase 10 advance chapters in here.
I love this novel