Episode 81

“What could the lady possibly do? Waiting for the physician is the best option right now.”

Despite the protests from those around her, Jenna took a deep breath and placed her hands on Lucion’s body.

She must have believed that she alone could help Lucion at this moment.

Jenna had regained her memories only recently, and it was still too early for her to fully awaken the senses she used as a child to wield the power of purification.

However, Arzen, Jenna, and the Selber twins possessed abilities that defied common understanding.

Arzen Selber, the most powerful healer in Selber history, and Jenna, the empire’s first born with the power of purification.

Jenna could suppress pain caused by curses, black magic, or rampages—situations that conventional medicine could not resolve.

Closing her eyes tightly and focusing all her energy on channeling her power, Jenna’s hands began to emit a radiant white light.

A pure white hue—a force so strong it seemed capable of washing away any impurities.

But then…

‘What is that?’

As Jenna’s power suffused Lucion’s body, black mist began seeping out from him.

Upon closer inspection, incomprehensible ancient symbols coiled around Lucion’s body like shackles.

The more Jenna drew upon her abilities, the more pronounced these brand-like symbols became.

“D-do you see that? Those strange symbols on His Highness’s body.”

“Symbols? I don’t see anything like that.”

Not only Ludwig but also everyone else appeared undisturbed, suggesting that this strange phenomenon was visible only to me.

A sinister aura enveloped Lucion, and the power radiating from Jenna’s hands, which initially appeared pure, now seemed like a murky fog.

“I’ve never seen such divine power before.”

Princess Devar murmured as if entranced.

She wasn’t the only one.

Even those who had initially tried to stop Jenna now gazed at her power with reverence, as though worshipping it.

‘Why am I the only one seeing it this way?’

The oppressive, murky aura felt like it was choking me, making me want to flee the hall immediately.

Noticing my labored breathing, Ludwig asked in a worried tone, “Sierra, are you all right?”

“…Yes, I’m fine.”

Just as an unfamiliar sensation crept over me, Jenna thankfully ceased using her powers, and the strange phenomenon gradually dissipated.

Simultaneously, the peculiar mist filling the hall and the ancient symbols branded on Lucion’s body vanished.

“Cough, haah…”

Gasping for breath, Lucion, who had been clutching his neck moments earlier, now visibly recovered his breathing.

“Lady…?”

On the verge of losing consciousness, Lucion’s eyes refocused as he called out to Jenna, who was holding him.

“Your Highness, are you conscious?”

Relief washed over Jenna’s face as she let out a sigh and gave a weary smile. Lucion was momentarily at a loss for words.

Finally, seeing Lucion’s seizure subside, the Emperor, who had been waiting anxiously, spoke.

“Is he all right now?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I have managed to stabilize the rampaging energy within His Highness. It seems the crisis has passed.”

“What caused the crown prince to be in such a state?”

“It was a rampage.”

“A rampage?”

At those words, murmurs broke out among the crowd.

A rampage was a chronic issue faced by some individuals born with powers too vast for a human vessel to contain.

In the original storyline, Jenna helped Lucion through his rampage at the New Year’s banquet. As a result, she was recognized by the Emperor and became the empire’s designated purifier for those at risk of rampaging.

Until moments ago, I too believed Lucion’s condition to be a simple rampage.

But…

‘Was that really a rampage?’

Having witnessed Ludwig’s rampage symptoms twice before, I could clearly distinguish the differences.

The black mist and incomprehensible ancient symbols—they resembled black magic more than a rampage.

Yet no one doubted Jenna’s explanation.

“His Highness the Crown Prince possesses excessive innate power. While I have calmed the surging energy for now, his body is under great strain and needs rest.”

“A rampage, of all things…”

The Emperor muttered with a troubled expression, his relief fleeting.

The empire assessed the abilities of those who awakened powers using magical measurement stones and identified high-risk individuals. Even those without prior rampages were placed under special surveillance.

At present, there were seven such high-risk individuals.

Thergon Drenihan, Serkhan Drenihan, Duke Selber, Arzen Selber, Duke Millein—currently away from the empire—, the current Tower Master, and Desar, who would later join this list.

Among them, the most dangerous individual was Ludwig Karsian.

These individuals were revered by the masses but also bore the weight of their immense power.

In the past, there were instances where awakened individuals had rampaged, causing significant harm to the empire. As such, these high-risk individuals underwent regular evaluations, and those with unstable power were temporarily isolated.

I remembered how my father had been isolated for a week when he struggled to control his powers. Although it was called isolation, he was essentially imprisoned in a spire, bound with cuffs designed for high-magic creatures.

But now, with the crown prince labeled as a rampage risk…

This was a different matter altogether.

Even a minor ailment could jeopardize one’s hold on the throne.

“A rampage is no small issue!”

Marquess Vitren, the leader of Prince Theodore’s faction, exclaimed.

“It is concerning that the crown prince could collapse or even rampage at any moment. What would happen if such an incident occurred again?”

“Indeed. If not for Lady Selber just now, the banquet hall—filled with the empire’s and other nations’ royals—would have descended into chaos.”

“If anyone had been injured, the situation could have spiraled into an international crisis.”

Seizing the opportunity, voices critical of the crown prince added their remarks, causing the faces of his supporters to pale.

If Prince Theodore’s faction capitalized on this issue, the worst-case scenario could see the crown prince dethroned.

While some imperial family members had been born with powers, they were typically weak, and there had never been an emperor at risk of rampaging.

In this unprecedented situation, anxious voices filled the banquet hall.

The Emperor himself seemed lost in thought, wearing a grave expression.

The imperial family, backed by the support of the Marchioness Minerva’s family—the Empress’s lineage—had achieved unprecedented centralization of imperial power.

‘The Emperor wants Lucion to be his successor.’

Having invested substantial capital to expand imperial enterprises and consolidated the Emperor’s faction through vast networks of influence, the Minerva family could not simply be cast aside.

However, leaving things as they were would surely provoke Prince Theodore’s faction.

After much deliberation, the Emperor had arrived at a conclusion:

“Lady Selber, as the only individual in the empire blessed with the power of purification, would you grant me a favor?”

“Of course, Your Majesty. Please command me.”

“I would like you to take on the role of the purifier for those at risk of rampaging.”

“By those at risk of rampaging, do you mean…?”

Rampages typically occurred in youth, so at this time, Jenna would be responsible for a total of three individuals.

“Our Crown Prince, Duke Millein, who is currently absent but will return next month, and finally, Grand Duke Karsian.”

In truth, both Ludwig and Duke Millein were being used as pawns to solidify the Crown Prince’s position.

“How troublesome,” Ludwig murmured quietly.

“I shall accept your command, Your Majesty. If my power can be of help, I will do anything.”

“Haha, this is indeed a stroke of fortune for our empire, is it not?”

The Emperor’s pleased laughter was echoed by nobles aligned with the Crown Prince.

“Indeed, this is truly a blessing!”

“With such a strong power as Lady Selber’s, there is no longer any reason to worry.”

Though Theodore’s supporters looked displeased, none dared oppose a matter that the Emperor had already settled.

Shortly thereafter, Lucion was attended by a physician who conducted a brief examination. With support, Lucion left the hall.

Jenna followed closely behind, keeping an eye on his condition.

Though the banquet hall resumed its festivities with the orchestra playing seamlessly, the murmurs of the attendees did not die down.

‘What exactly was that?’

The strange, unsettling sensation I had felt earlier lingered, refusing to fade away.

 

 

 

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