‘Yes, maybe it’s fortunate. Because I can apologize for what happened in my past life.’
The moment Rabes was sealed, his blue eyes were stained with anger and betrayal, and Elaine still remembered them vividly. At that time, she thought she would never be forgiven by Rabes.
But Rabes was still kind.
[But… Lancer was the only one I had. That’s why I cherished him, and that’s why I couldn’t kill him. The time I spent with him was everything to me. If it were you, could you truly hate someone like that?]
Although he could have just hated Lancer, Rabes cherished the memories he had with Lancer, with whom he had shared a fleeting moment.
Then, suddenly, Elaine remembered the time she had asked Rabes,
“The truth is… you loved that contractor from 500 years ago, didn’t you?”
‘Ahhh! There’s nothing scarier than ignorance, seriously.’
Thinking about what must have gone through Rabes’ mind—knowing full well who Elaine really was—made her want to die from embarrassment.
As she was trying to raise her heavy hand to cover his burning face, something like a bead rolled down and fell to the side.
The sound snapped her back to reality.
‘This was no time to reminisce about the past.’
Elaine clutched her throbbing head and sat up, picking up the bright red bead that had fallen to the floor.
‘I’m glad I came to my senses just then, Otherwise, this thing might have ended up inside my body.’
Recalling Malek trying to force something down her throat, Elaine floated the bead in the air, then sealed it with magic, enclosing it in a protective barrier.
“If I break it carelessly, the dragon might notice…”
She turned the bead back and forth in her hands, watching it glisten like a crimson gemstone before slipping it into her pocket.
“Still… this feeling, it’s been a while.”
She flicked her fingers, and a faint shimmer of light appeared before dispersing.
Though it had been 500 years since she had last awakened, the magic she had learned was still intact.
Her fingertips and toes felt tingly because the magic she hadn’t used for a long time was flowing through her veins, but it didn’t feel bad.
‘Come to think of it, Rabes’ magic core has been protecting me all this time—I just never noticed.’
The fact that she had never fallen ill and that her wounds healed quickly was all thanks to the magic core.
Elaine recalled Rabes asking her, “What are you so afraid of?” when she had been trembling in fear, completely unaware of the truth.
Elaine looked around with a bitter smile.
Whether she was going to apologize to Rabes or thank him, it was something that happened after she left this room.
‘I guessed that since there was no one guarding it, there was a barrier.’
The room she was locked in was decorated so extravagantly that it was immediately recognizable as a noble’s room, but there was no ‘door’ anywhere.
It was a completely sealed room, with no windows or doors.
But it was clear that Malek had set up a barrier, as such a room could not exist.
‘An illusory barrier that only allows entry from the outside but no exit unless you are the owner of the barrier.’
‘I have to break the barrier at the moment when someone enters.’
She knew how to break the barrier, but she was trapped until someone came in.
As Elaine sat quietly and looked around, the headache that had been threatening to split her head gradually subsided.
Then, Elaine remembered the situation before she lost consciousness.
Hubert was trying so hard to protect me, and Malek was slamming Hubert into the wall and twisting all the bones in his body.
‘Butler…’
Elaine knew that her threat to Malek might look ridiculous, but somehow, she felt that Malek would not kill Hubert.
‘Malek’s goal wasn’t just the magic core inside me—it was also Rabes, so he must have sent Butler alive to provoke Rabes.’
And the fact that Elaine was still alive meant Malek intended to use her as bait.
‘I have to get out of here quickly.’
Elaine didn’t want to cause any more trouble to Rabes.
At that moment, suicide had seemed like the best option—to drive a dagger through her own heart rather than be a pawn in Malek’s game.
But in the current situation where Malek had already taken some of Rabes’ magic power, it was best to show Rabes directly that she was safe.
Growing impatient, Elaine aimed a shockwave at the center of the wall across from her.
A loud boom echoed through the room, but aside from some shattered decorations, the wall remained intact.
Elaine looked down at her hands, a little surprised.
‘Why….Why am I stronger than before?’
It wasn’t her imagination.
Even compared to when she had lived as Lancer Aquinal, freely wielding the magic core Rabes had given her, her power had increased significantly.
Not only that, but the usual resistance she felt when using magic was completely gone.
It’s as if she was using the magical power that originally flowed from her body.
‘Even after the priests stole my magic… I’m still this strong? What happened to me?’
Elaine couldn’t understand it, but it was fortunate.
‘The stronger the power, the better it would be for escaping.’
‘So please, anyone, come. Just open the door once!’
Her throat felt dry with anxiety, fearing that Rabes would be put in danger because of her.
* * *
The nobles gathered in the conference room were waiting for the Emperor, who had called the meeting earlier than scheduled.
“Isn’t it because of the crown prince’s position?”
“Wasn’t that supposed to be discussed a month later? Why is he suddenly bringing it forward?”
“Perhaps His Majesty’s health has worsened? I haven’t seen him in public recently.”
“How can he convene a meeting of nobles when he’s not in good health? I heard that today’s meeting is clearly presided over by His Majesty the Emperor.”
Everyone racked their brains, combining the information they had, but no answer came to them.
The emperor finally entered the room, about thirty minutes late.
“I think it’s a health issue. His Majesty’s complexion gets worse every time I see him.”
“Indeed. He looks particularly unwell today. He might be pushing for the crown prince decision while he still can.”
“But why is the Marquise Haberon over there? She may be akin to an empress, but she was never formally crowned.”
When someone raised a question, everyone turned their attention to Sasha, who was following the Emperor.
But Sasha, enjoying the gaze, smiled seductively and helped the staggering Emperor to sit at the head of the conference hall.
“Begin the meeting…”
The Emperor’s voice, which was weak and phlegmy, did not convey even a hint of the spirit of a man who should lead the great empire.
But an emperor is an emperor.
Everyone bowed to him and the chairman of the noble officially opened the meeting session.
After some boring greetings, the emperor slowly looked around the conference room and opened his mouth.
“The reason I have summoned you all so urgently today is…”
The ears of the people filling the conference room perked up.
“I deprive Anais Bailey Aspen of her crown princess status…and give Abel Charis Aspen the crown prince status.”
It was not a proposal up for discussion. It was a decree.
The conference room suddenly became noisy.
“Your Majesty! We were supposed to discuss this next month—how can you simply declare it!”
“It is absurd to depose the heir to the imperial lineage without any just cause!”
Not only did the Crown Princess’ supporters rise up, but even the nobles who supported Abel were shocked because the announcement had not even been announced to them.
The Marquis Orlov, the family of the dead empress, stood up with the determination to say everything he had to say at that time.
“Your Majesty, please regain your wisdom! You have been deceived by that woman’s charms!”
Yes! Princess Anais is the sole legitimate heir and has lived a life without any irregularities. On what grounds do you strip her of her title?”
However, despite the nobles’ strong opposition, the emperor’s expression did not change.
He just stared blankly at Sasha with his haggard appearance.
Realizing something was very wrong, the nobles began murmuring.
But before they could ask questions, Sasha stood up, looked around the room, and smiled.
“Whoever objects to His Majesty’s decision, please stand?”
Then, more than half of the nobles who filled the conference room suddenly stood up.
They glared at Sasha with sharp eyes, but Sasha smiled as if she was happy to see them.
“Oh dear… Are you certain you won’t regret this?”
“Marquise Haberon! You should watch your arrogant attitude! Prince Abel was only recognized as a prince thanks to the generosity of the late Empress and Princess Anais. How dare you commit such an ungrateful act!”
“Oh my! Why are people who have been through a lot in politics suddenly acting so innocently?”
Even in front of the nobles who were yelling at her, Sasha was not the least bit intimidated.
Rather, her bright red lips curved sharply as if she was glad of their opposition.
And behind her, a crimson glow—matching the color of her lips—began to surge.
* * *
