Episode 77

Vitrain gathered the reserve forces he had urgently summoned, along with part of the Western Imperial Army, to begin the search from Brincia’s western region. Once the west was combed through, the plan was to expand the search northward. Meanwhile, Aiden and the capital’s security forces took responsibility for the eastern and southern areas.

White Shadow, the espionage network, mobilized all its members to investigate Lian Zernia’s past. If he had prepared a hideout with the intent of staying hidden long-term, it wouldn’t be a hastily assembled location. It was likely a plan he had set in motion long ago, for reasons yet unknown.

Nobles expressed their displeasure over the unexpected raids on their lands, but with the two “beasts” of the empire—those who shared control over its military—searching relentlessly, there was little they could do. Additionally, with Sione, who had served as the Emperor’s deputy, now missing, Crown Princess Lothania, who had remained guarded under the Empress’s protection, began to assert her authority.

Lothania appeared before a gathering of high-ranking nobles, flanked by Chamberlain Tito and maid Anna. Her crimson eyes, symbolic of the Luminal royal family, shone with confidence as the twelve-year-old declared, unshaken and resolute:

“From this day until Her Imperial Majesty the Empress is safely returned, Belpator will devote every resource to finding her. I expect all nobles to cooperate out of loyalty to the Empire and the Imperial family.”

With the Emperor and Empress both absent, as well as Princess Bonita and her son, Lothania was, in this moment, the embodiment of the Belpator Empire and the Luminal lineage. The vile act of the traitorous snake was well known, and in the face of this young Crown Princess, who commanded even the two beasts without having fully awakened to her power, the nobles had no choice but to bow.

The resolute will of Crown Princess Lothania to retrieve her mother, combined with the nobles’ cooperation, accelerated the search. In less than a week, three territories in the east were thoroughly searched.

Aiden, the White Shadow agents, and even the guards worked tirelessly day and night, but the Empire was vast, and the search area remained extensive.

After a brief regrouping, they set out to investigate the next territory—a land under the branch family of House Zernia, about eight hours’ travel from Brincia, making it a promising lead.

Perhaps she might be here…

Just then, Eric arrived from Brincia, appearing before Aiden, who had been pushing himself to the limit. “Commander, I’ve brought something you need to see.”

“What is it?”

“It’s from the Summer Palace. They found it washed up on Lake Beryl.”

Eric handed over a small glass bottle typically used for milk, containing a torn piece of paper inside. Miraculously, it had washed ashore without breaking.

Aiden uncorked the bottle and carefully removed the paper, his eyes widening as he unfolded it.

[The Empress is here.]

The writing, messy and childlike as if written with a colored pencil, was impossible to ignore.

“This floated ashore on Lake Beryl?”

“Yes, sir. I sent a few men to confirm it, but I thought you should see it yourself.”

“Good work. Eric, take charge of the search here.”

“Yes, sir!”

Entrusting Eric with command, Aiden turned his horse and headed back.

* * *

After securing some paper and colored pencils, I grew more restless. Staying cooped up in this room wouldn’t help the situation, so I decided to take matters into my own hands and explore. However, as soon as I stepped outside, Lian’s men blocked my way, their expressions grim.

“Move.”

“Please go back inside, madam.”

“I told you to move! Who dares stand in my way?”

Even feigning boldness and yelling didn’t work. Unfazed, Lian’s subordinate replied in an intimidating voice, “Without Lord Lian’s presence, you may go nowhere.”

“I’m trying to get to that ‘lord’ of yours, so move aside!”

If I had to stick close to him, then so be it. Changing tactics, I informed them of my intentions, and Lian’s subordinate nodded, leading me forward.

“I will escort you.”

He guided me with exaggerated courtesy to Lian’s room, flanked by guards the entire way, so attentive that I feared they might start dragging me around if I pushed them further.

As I opened the door, they watched closely, refusing to look away until I fully entered the room. Their determination, like their master’s, was relentless.

Lian was lying on the sofa, seemingly asleep, but as I got closer, I noticed he was curled up rather than simply resting.

“Lian?”

“Ah, madam.”

Sweat glistened on his forehead as he raised his head.

Lian struggled to his feet, his steps unsteady as he stumbled toward a drawer, retrieving a yellow pill bottle and swallowing its contents. It looked identical to the painkillers he’d once given me.

Leaning against the wall, he paused to catch his breath, then lifted his head, appearing more at ease.

“What brings you here?”

He was trying to act composed, but his forehead was still damp with sweat.

Seeing him like this, I couldn’t help but ask, “Lian, are you unwell?”

“I’m fine now, thanks to the medicine.”

It seemed they were indeed painkillers. I recognized the effect well; the relief they provided was remarkable. I had used them myself once for a simple muscle ache, but after half the bottle, I’d been pain-free all day. The following day, I finished the rest to get through it, and by the next day, I was healed.

Was he in so much pain that he needed to take an entire bottle at once?

I’d noticed his drawer was full of those yellow bottles. “Are you so ill that you need to hoard painkillers?”

With a bitter smile, Lian brushed his fingers along the edge of the drawer.

He looked as though he wanted to avoid the question, so I stepped closer and asked again. “If you’re in so much pain, you need more than just painkillers. What exactly is wrong?”

“I told you… I’m going to die in agony.”

“What…?”

I stopped, staring at him.

My eyes must have been trembling, because his smile only grew brighter as he met my gaze.

And in that hauntingly calm face, I remembered his words:

‘I only wish for Her Majesty to pity me, to look only at me, and to stay by my side. And when I die in agony, please, shed tears for me.’

“Did you mean it literally—that you’re actually going to die in agony?”

The idea of “four years left” hadn’t meant that he would simply die in four years. It meant that he would suffer, dying a little each day for four long years.

“Is that the price for using the Serpent’s power?”

“When you gain something significant, you have to give up something just as great. I told you, didn’t I? Nothing comes without a price. And I was right, wasn’t I?”

“Does it make you happy to be right? Is this something to be glad about?”

I stared at his smiling face, disbelief overwhelming me. He laughed louder, a deep, unsettling chuckle.

Why was he laughing? What could possibly be funny about this?

Was he mad?

Could it be that he was simply insane?

“You used your third power even knowing it would end like this?”

“If Bonita was put on trial, I’d have to reveal that I bound her with the Serpent’s curse and forced her to confess to the Emperor’s murder, wouldn’t I?”

Lian was throwing my own words from a few days ago right back at me.

The moment I had said that, Lian, like a serpent shedding its skin, had freely recounted his sins and the madness that drove him. Facing execution for orchestrating the assassination of the Emperor or dying slowly over four agonizing years after killing Bonita—if I were him, which would I have chosen?

Why had he chosen the latter?

He was the Empire’s serpent, a liar with poison hidden on his tongue.

I had once believed every word he spoke was a lie to deceive me.

But now…I wasn’t sure I could tell truth from lies anymore.

Lian stepped slowly toward me as I stared at the floor, lost in thought. His pain seemed to have subsided, his face calm as he bent down to meet my gaze.

“Your Majesty, are you crying?”

There was an undeniable hint of anticipation in his voice.

Even now, he was such a madman that I felt more uncertain than ever.

I took a slow, steadying breath and lifted my head, meeting his sparkling violet eyes. I forced myself to reply as calmly as I could.

“I’m not crying.”

Apparently, it wasn’t the answer he wanted, as his lips turned down into a small pout.

Feigning a gentle smile, he asked, “What brings you to my room, Your Majesty?”

I realized then that I might never truly know who he was.

If I had to spend my time with this enigmatic madman, then I would do only what I knew I could.

“Lian, I’ve been cooped up in this room too long. Let’s go for a walk.”

“A walk? Sounds lovely.”

With a wide smile, Lian extended his hand to me.