Everyone was shocked by Zion’s sudden words, but Arundel was undoubtedly the most surprised.
“What, what do you mean, Zion!”
Arundel stood up, hitting the table. Despite the surrounding commotion, Zion maintained a consistent expression.
“Irina, I’ll explain later.”
Despite his calm words, Arundel was not at ease.
It’s right for Zion, who is in the important position of emperor, to avoid exposure to dangerous situations.
She would have accepted it for that reason, but she was worried because it was very different from Zion’s actions she had seen so far.
Zion had no way of backing down if it was a national matter. Those achievements also made Zion’s current position.
Royden, too, seemed to have a similar thought, his expression hardened in an instant.
Apparently, Royden, who had been a long-time friend with Zion, also seemed to have a bad feeling.
“That’s it for today.”
Zion stood up from his seat. Arundel approached and gently grabbed his sleeve.
“Let’s talk for a moment.”
“Alright.”
Bianca, Royden, and Lucas, she all had a lot to say to them, but Zion was more important at the moment.
When everyone left the meeting room, Arundel opened her mouth.
“What did you mean earlier?”
Arundel unknowingly bit her lip hard. Zion brought his finger to Arundel’s lips.
And he soothed the bitten lip. At the warm touch, Arundel released her bitten lip.
Seeing that, Zion let out a small laugh.
“Speak up.”
Arundel urged Zion again, who seemed somewhat distracted.
“I’ve told you before. These days, it’s hard to handle the power.”
Arundel remembered. No, she couldn’t forget.
[But these days, it’s hard to handle this power. It’s never been like this before.]
[It feels like a rough wave is crashing inside my body. If I lose focus for a moment, it feels like the ship will sink.]
She had also recently found out the source of that power.
“This power is not comparable to a wave. If it explodes, it will become a tsunami and sweep everything away.”
“Zion…”
“Of course, there might come a day when I can control the power.”
Even while speaking positively, Zion’s voice was close to resignation.
“But, Irina. I can’t gamble with you at stake.”
Arundel’s breath was choked off.
“So now, I’m thinking of giving up this power.”
Arundel knew what magic, what power, meant to Zion. It was the biggest contribution that allowed him, who was alone, to reach this position, and it was his biggest asset.
But he is trying to give up everything for herself.
“You don’t need to make that face. If I run wild again and something goes wrong with you, that would be,”
Zion’s eyes stared clearly at Arundel.
“Despair.”
Her heart was churning. What am I to him?
Arundel barely overcame the sourness in her nose and looked straight at Zion.
“…How are you going to give up that power?”
The source of Zion’s power is the forbidden seed. Then, even if he doesn’t use the power, it will be hard to control.
“I’m going to seal the power.”
Arundel’s mouth opened weakly for a moment.
“What, what did you say?”
Zion smiled faintly, as if he had expected it.
“Hills, I’m going to ask him. He was the one who suggested it first.”
Arundel remembered that Zion had recently gone to meet Hills. And earlier, he had said that he would accept Hills’ proposal, which was about the seal.
But the question did not go away, and another exclamation point popped up in her head.
“Hills said he could seal Zion’s power?”
Hills still doesn’t know where Zion’s power comes from. But he dares to say he will seal it.
“As I said, he was the one who suggested it first.”
“Will the power be sealed forever?”
“The seal may be temporary, or it may be forever.”
“Any other side effects?”
Zion, with his eyes closed, shook his head back and forth.
“I can’t be sure of anything.”
Arundel unknowingly bit her lip again.
“But you’re still going to do it?”
Arundel’s agitated voice popped out unknowingly. Zion, who seemed to have expected Arundel’s reaction, showed no sign of surprise.
Arundel, unable to control her overflowing emotions, slammed the table again.
“That’s too reckless!”
Zion wrapped his hand around Arundel’s reddened fist.
“Stop hitting, your hand will hurt.”
“Is my hand the problem now?”
Arundel felt anger beyond agitation. Why was Zion being so reckless?
“I’m not afraid of any future. But, Irina. I’m afraid to imagine myself without you.”
Zion looked down at Arundel’s reddened fist and laughed bitterly.
“Even in this situation, my heart races at the sight of you worrying about me. The only choice I can make is this.”
Arundel licked her lips and then closed her mouth.
It was heartbreaking that he had to make such an extreme choice, but it wasn’t all bad.
If the power is really sealed, he can escape from the crisis of being consumed by power. And more positively, he is an excellent person even without magic-like power.
However, one thing was worrying.
‘Side effects.’
She couldn’t tolerate that.
‘Just as Zion doesn’t want me to get hurt, I don’t want Zion to get hurt because of me.’
For now, since Zion was reacting too sensitively, she had to step back and make sure with Hills.
Arundel, who had parted with Zion, headed to where Hills might be.
The place she arrived was the training ground for the royal knights. She kept forgetting, but Hills was the captain of the royal knights.
When Arundel appeared, a knight ran up to her.
“What brings you here, Your Majesty the Empress!”
“I want to see the captain…”
Before she could finish speaking, Hills appeared from a tree. He landed lightly on the ground.
“…You surprised me.”
“I came looking for you.”
He speaks haughtily, appearing out of nowhere.
Hills had become a bit blunt compared to before, but Arundel just let it be.
She thought it would be awkward for him after the sudden confession. It was greedy to want him to treat her like before.
“What’s up?”
At Hills’ question, Arundel looked around once. There were too many people to talk about the seal.
“Let’s go in there and talk.”
Hills obediently followed Arundel.
Thud!
When the sound of the door closing was heard, Arundel sighed softly and stared straight at Hills.
“Did you say you would seal Zion’s power?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Why? You saw it too, Arundel. He’s running wild. The power keeps growing. Eventually, it will turn everything around it into a wasteland. And.”
Hills’ eyes were directed at Arundel. It was a worried look.
“I don’t want Arundel to get hurt.”
Even though she had expected it, hearing it directly from Hills made Arundel feel a surge of guilt.
Arundel quickly changed the subject.
“Can you seal it?”
Hills nodded.
“You don’t even know the nature of the power.”
“It would be better to know the nature, but it’s not difficult to simply seal the power.”
I see. She realized once again that Hills wasn’t exaggerating when he said he was one of the top demons in the demon world.
“But I don’t know how much I can seal.”
A careless remark fell out as soon as she thought about it. Arundel unknowingly frowned.
“As I said, I don’t know the maximum of Zion’s power.”
“…What about side effects? Are there no side effects?”
That was the part she was most curious about. Arundel unknowingly clenched her skirt tightly.
“Side effects?”
Hills made a nonchalant face. Then he stared straight at Arundel’s face.
Suddenly, one corner of his mouth rose slightly.
“I don’t know either.”
“What?”
At his indifferent words, Arundel’s voice rose.
“He has to endure it.”
Hills’ attitude was somewhat defiant.
