April 1, 2021
"Thank you, my lord."
An elderly man with wisps of white hair trembled as he reached out his hand. Beneath his thick white eyebrows, his aged eyes shone with reverence.
"There’s no need for thanks."
James extended his hand and clasped the old man’s. As his sleeve shifted slightly, a bracelet on his wrist caught the light, glinting faintly.
"How can you say such a thing after what you have done for us!"
"I only did what needed to be done."
"Hearing you say that moves me deeply. It seems the Prime has not abandoned us after all."
"Of course, the Prime always watches over us."
"Ahh...."
"Don’t worry too much."
The fate of the witch was already decided. James offered one final reassuring smile before releasing the old man’s hand and turning away. His gaze landed on the woman bound helplessly before him. Her hair was red—eerily reminiscent of someone else. James silently observed her for a moment before abruptly turning away.
"...How much longer do I have to keep doing this?"
James strode forward, his steps firm and agitated. The man beside him, cloaked in a deep white hood, followed closely behind.
"We have no choice. The escalating tension between the Grand Duke of Schwarhan and the Emperor has made the imperial court more cautious than ever. We need to adjust our plans accordingly."
"This isn’t just a slight adjustment," James retorted, his voice sharper.
"Would you prefer to be exposed and sent to the guillotine instead?"
"Then do you think this situation is acceptable?"
"It’s not just acceptable—it’s ideal."
"Ideal?"
James’s forehead creased deeply.
"The Emperor’s position is growing weaker. Whispers circulate that he isn’t the rightful ruler of the throne."
"And how does that relate to this?"
"For him to maintain his authority, he can no longer afford to go against the will of the divine."
"But I...."
James hesitated, covering his mouth. He was merely acting the role Fenril had assigned him—he was no true representative of God.
"Don’t worry. The time for playing savior is almost over."
"Over?"
"Soon, we must go see the Emperor."
Fenril began counting the days since the witch hunts had started, folding his fingers one by one. They had successfully captured a witch resembling Alicia and unleashed chaos as planned, but things had taken longer than anticipated. It was time to move to the next phase.
"Do we have a way to approach the Emperor?"
"We hold the title of the Prime’s representative, don’t we?"
"But that title isn’t real."
"The people believe it is."
"......."
"The Emperor, sitting comfortably in his palace, seems far less real to them than the one who hunts witches and extends a helping hand to the people."
Fenril smirked as he observed the crowds bowing in gratitude. He briefly wondered if they would react the same way if they knew he was from Roakin. But now wasn’t the time for jokes.
"There’s no need to hesitate now. You made a deal with me, and once you get what you want, it will be over."
"......."
"Besides, being a divine representative is far more appealing than just another noble. Those who once scorned you will now bow before you."
Just like they’re doing now. Fenril lightly tapped James’s shoulder. James flinched and scowled. Fenril’s words were like an intrusive hand, constantly reaching out, tempting him with what he desired.
"There’s nothing to worry about. I’ll set the stage. You just need to play your part perfectly."
"...Are you sure this won’t # Nоvеlight # cause any problems?"
"There won’t be any."
"......."
James’s pupils wavered. Even if the Emperor was considered incompetent, he was still the ruler of the empire. The way Fenril remained so composed was what unnerved him the most.
"You still seem uneasy."
"......."
"Then perhaps I should tell you a story."
Fenril’s voice was slow and deliberate.
"A story?"
"That witch—she is a pawn of the Prime Temple."
"...The temple is using witches?"
"Strictly speaking, she isn’t a witch but a mage. To commoners unfamiliar with magic, she appears no different from a witch."
For a brief moment, green eyes flashed beneath Fenril’s hood. James instinctively swallowed. The vibrant green of Fenril’s eyes was a distinct trait of Roakin, but his stood out even more.
"For generations, the Prime Temple has created disasters and eradicated them as needed."
"Are you saying the temple has been orchestrating these catastrophes?"
"The Grand Duke of Schwarhan knew this but concealed it. He needed the temple’s power to become Emperor."
"......."
"He even sacrificed his own woman for that ambition."
Fenril pulled his hood lower, turning his gaze northward. His lips curled with disdain.
"There’s no need to overthink this. Just revealing the atrocities committed by the Prime Temple will force the Emperor to accept us."
"......."
"Besides, the Emperor has already sent envoys to us."
"He sent people?"
"Don’t worry. Storms only last a moment. Once they pass, the sands will bury everything, and people will build upon them anew."
James stared at Fenril. As always, the expression beneath the hood remained a sly, unreadable curve.
***
This had happened before.
Alicia had collapsed, unmoving, as if dead. But she had awakened safely in the past.
So she would wake up this time as well.
Cabelenus ran a rough hand through his hair, trying to shake off the horrifying thoughts creeping into his mind.
But once such thoughts surfaced, they were difficult to suppress.
Every second that passed felt like it was draining the blood from his body.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
"...Mom, when will she wake up?"
"......."
Cabelenus wanted to kill every beast surrounding the fortress and demand that they return Alicia to him. But he couldn’t—not with the child clinging to his sleeve. He took Mikael’s small, trembling hand into his own.
Mikael’s hand was far smaller and more delicate than Alicia’s. There were still things he had to protect.
"She’ll be fine."
"...Really?"
"Yes."
Cabelenus met Mikael’s eyes and gently stroked his hair. His insides twisted, but looking at the boy’s face—on the verge of tears—he couldn’t let his emotions show.
"Then when will Mom wake up?"
"Very soon. So don’t worry too much."
"......."
"Your mother wouldn’t like to see you like this."
Cabelenus forced a small smile. Mikael stared at him before suddenly leaning into his arms. Silently, Cabelenus rubbed the boy’s back, his breath catching. The way Mikael held back his sobs reminded him too much of Alicia.
It was then that he sensed something.
Cabelenus instinctively pulled Mikael closer and turned around. But there was nothing there.
‘What was that?’
He scanned his surroundings, his body tense. But nothing had changed. The fortress remained the same.
"It’s Rex."
Mikael, peeking out from his arms, mumbled softly.
"...Rex?"
Cabelenus frowned. The space Mikael was looking at was completely empty.
"Rex came here."
"Came?"
"He’s tugging at your clothes. He wants you to go over there."
Mikael pointed toward the window. Holding Mikael tightly, Cabelenus cautiously stepped forward. He still didn’t trust the beasts.
"He’s knocking on the window with his nose."
"He wants me to open it?"
Cabelenus muttered under his breath, reaching for the latch. Click. The heavy lock, meant to keep out the harsh cold, came undone. A rush of frigid air hit him, making him squint as he surveyed the outside.
The beasts still encircled the fortress walls.
And...
Cabelenus’s grip on Mikael tightened.
The beasts’ golden eyes—glowing even from a distance—were all fixed on him. Their gaze was blatant, filled with something so raw it was unsettling.
They were waiting.
For their king.
"Ha...."
Cabelenus let out a sharp breath. Their desires were clear, but he had no intention of giving them what they wanted.
Alicia was not theirs alone.
"Not there, over here."
Mikael tugged at his shirt impatiently. Frustrated by Cabelenus’s glare at the beasts, the boy pointed at the windowsill.
There lay a book.
"...This is..."
Cabelenus’s expression darkened as he read the title on the cover.
Why would a beast bring this book at the exact moment Alicia collapsed? What was their intention?
"What’s Rex doing now?"
"He disappeared."
"Disappeared?"
"I can’t see him anymore."
Mikael slumped his shoulders. Cabelenus scanned the surroundings one last time before meeting the beasts’ unrelenting stares. Without hesitation, he shut the window.
But in his hands was the book the beast had brought.
If they were truly on Alicia’s side, they wouldn’t harm her.
There was no time for doubt.
If there was even a shred of hope, he had to take it.
"What kind of book is that?"
"A botany guide."
Cabelenus frowned at his own words. A botany guide? It was such an absurd answer given the circumstances that he almost laughed.
"A botany guide? What’s that?"
"A book that describes different plants and their characteristics."
He turned the pages, but his fingers suddenly stopped.
There were several illustrations tucked inside.
"They’re pretty."
Mikael murmured, picking up a drawing of a flower. But Cabelenus only stared.
This wasn’t the first time he had seen these images.
Somewhere...
He had seen them before.
"......."
Flipping through the book, Cabelenus checked the descriptions of the plants in the drawings.
Every single one of them was poisonous.
"It’s not a coincidence. These were in the reports from before."
Hurriedly, he examined the book from every angle. Inside the front cover was a familiar signature.
"Umm... something about Lady Cloud?"
"It says, ‘To the esteemed Countess Cloud.’"
"Is it Sir Gajev’s book? His last name is Cloud."
"It’s not his."
Cabelenus traced the signature with his thumb.
Before being Countess Cloud, Lady Cloud had been Lady Morco’s twin sister.
And her belongings had been passed down to Lady Morco.
"This must have belonged to Lady Morco..."
"Lady Morco?"
Mikael tilted his head.
"You know her?"
Lady Morco had died before Mikael was even born. There was no way he should know that name.
But Mikael nodded without hesitation.
"Yes, I do. She’s the one who gave me my name."
