Chapter 96
Translator: wuttisyun
He did not even blink as he observed my reactions. His hands landed on my cheek as his fingers caressed my eye. The mad Crown Prince who managed to sew everyone’s mouth shut seemed satisfied as he burst into laughter by himself. The empress witnessed the way Castor was acting and spoke slowly.
“Your Highness.”
The woman’s voice was trembling.
“Is there something the matter? Isn’t that child’s mother one of your people?”
“Queen Auresia? Well, I never expected the empress to be able to utter her name.”
Relaxed, Castor raised his head.
“The empress has paid so much attention to me. You must have wanted to crush what’s precious to me at least once.”
He scanned the crowds before looking at me again and speaking leisurely.
“What the empress had stolen, what you’re trying to steal and what you’re planning on destroying. They are all mine.”
His black hair that flowed from his head whipped around in the gust of wind.
“I am quite a greedy person so when you touch what’s mine, I go crazy and can’t really see what’s in front of me clearly.”
Castor spoke as if what he said was of no importance.
“Wouldn’t it be a big problem if your precious ‘Julian’ happen to be in front of me when such a thing happens one day? Imperial mother.”
With a stiffened expression, the empress raised her head.
“Are you giving me advice?”
As she shivered, she spat into his pale face.
“Does it sound like advice?”
As the light of the dust began to creep up from behind the sunset, the sky was filled with scarlet. And under such a sky, Castor, the boy who had now grown up, smiled lukewarmly.
“I’m just saying, it’s best for you to stop now lest you want the mad crown prince to destroy what’s precious to you one day.”
His words made the empress unusually alarmed. She was staring at him as if he was her enemy. As soon as she opened her mouth, the master of ceremonies shouted across the hall once more.
“The 2nd Branch of the Empire, Julian Pollux Luche Kaltanias!”
A commotion began at the entrance as murmurs began erupting from the crowds. If Castor’s appearance was sudden and unexpected, the 2nd Prince’s appearance made everybody stand up as if he was not supposed to be here. People lined up to make a path in the centre of the banquet hall and even the empress headed towards it.
Flowers began raining from the ceiling again.
The amount was immeasurable compared to what trickled down during my entrance. It looked like a typhoon of petals began pouring down. The insignia that was hovering in the air by artificial winds looked like a triumphant flag.
‘Rebecca must be there.’
Before I knew it, I had escaped Castor’s grip and went out looking for Rebecca and my seat. I travelled against the waves of people. As I swept the petals away from my eyes, I lost Rebecca again and decided to stand in front of a window with a veil drawn over it.
‘I’m dizzy.’
The beautiful white dress, the golden glint of the wine goblet and my shiny gold plate. Even the colourful lanterns floating in the air using powers were all too colourful.
Unlike my entrance, the 2nd Prince who appeared with everybody’s blessings and joy greeted Castor first. There were only two in this banquet hall who could wear such a fancy purple cloth.
After shifting my gaze from the two who were gracefully wearing their togas, I spotted Dane.
As Dane approached me, his lips curled. What?
Suddenly, a candlestick was brought close to me and blinded me. Since the candles here were not real candles and instead made out of a templar’s powers, they could burn till dusk and the light they emitted was intense.
“Urgh, it’s blinding.”
It was too bright. Rubbing my eyes with my one hand, I tried to cover my eyes with the veil from the curtain behind me.
“Come here.”
Someone grabbed my wrist in the midst of the confusion. In my bewilderment, I walked aimlessly as the grip on my arms was as strong as roots anchoring into the ground. I could already tell who it was from the familiar voice but the hand that was gripping me was too strong for me to break off.
Fortunately, I had no problems with running as I was not wearing a long dress.
But the shoes I was wearing were the problem. It felt slightly uncomfortable.
‘I might get blisters.’
As I focused on my thoughts, I followed the hand that led me.
‘Hernandez.’
In the long hallway and under the dim light of dusk, his hair remained as white and fine as snow.
“… We’ll walk a little more.”
I glanced at the distancing banquet hall. After the flower rain stopped, the hedonic party began again. As the old nobles lifted their wine goblets, figures of people broke away and merged together.
Amongst those in the crowd, a dark haired man caught my eye. I spotted Castor who halted in his steps . He was looking this way too.
I was not mistaken. His laurel crown sparkled even from all the way here. And we made eye contact. It was as if everything slowed down when he moved his lips.
How strange. I could not believe he could see me from there. The fact that he could recognise me was ridiculous.
When we left the courtyard, we reached a small forest. The thicket was too thick for it to be considered a garden but the trees were placed too close together for it to be called a forest.
He stopped under a tree where a dark shade casted over us. Stared at the water spouting from the fountain before raising my head completely. I wiped my sweat with one hand.
I realised that this was due to my lack of exercise but I rarely had the time to train my body. It was a shame how my mind was forced to work as my body continued to weaken.
“Can we run again?”
He asked before I raised my head to face him. I waited till my breathing steadied.
“To where?”
The idea of leaving Castor with my people was madness. I did not even bother to wonder where Hernan was taking me. I had to go back.
“… Where else?”
“”Let me go. I have to go back.”
“I’ll bring you to your palace.”
“I’m not talking about my palace, there!”
Whipping my head around loosely, I glared at him. I was furious to even look at him. I did not know how I got here. I could not even go back.
“Take me back! I can’t leave my brother with Rebecca!”
Hernan widened his eyes in curiosity. Soon after, he shook his head. His voice was as warm and friendly as the sun.
He scoffed before saying, “If you think someone is going to die because of His Highness, don’t worry.”
“How? How can you be so sure?”
“His Highness will never kill in front of Sir Julian. Never.”
I was left briefly speechless by his strangely determined voice. That was something I had never heard before. I tried to recall the original novel slowly. But my head was filled with thoughts about Rebecca and my brothers so I could not afford to make any more space.
“No, I don’t believe you. So I’m going back.”
I bit my lip.
“I cannot stand the thought of the brother who tried to kill me two years ago with the people who I cherish being together.”
“Princess… I swear, nothing you are worrying about will happen.”
“Are you really sure?”
“I swear it on my eyes and heart. I can also swear on the River Styx.’
An oath on the River Styx was a dangerous oath that could never be broken. Once it did, it would take one’s life. I calmed myself down.
But I did not believe him.
‘If anything goes wrong , I can return to before the clock strikes 12. And that’s enough.’
As I watched Hernan make an oath on the River Styx, I recalled Castor’s last words.
‘Just like I thought, he came to warn the 2nd Empress of something.’
And to achieve that, he used me.
All the meaningless favours he did for me were erased from my head. I was only going to feel unpleasant.
I regretted it.
I should have brought my diary no matter what. I mean, I should have flipped through it at least once. A moment of complacency created this situation. It was as if I had dug my own grave.
“Are you confused?”
I hated him for talking so sweetly now.
“Answer, Hernandez.”
“Anything, please name it.’
If I asked him anything, he would tell the truth.
I tried to cool my head and press the tension and bewilderment coursing all throughout my body down. But the diary, my scar, Castor and now Hernandez. Everything was getting messed up.
I had to calm down.
When had I lived my life to the fullest?
As I got more used to my confusion and dizziness, I opened my eyes.
‘Can I trust him to tell the truth?’
The white haired man who kneeled in front of me calmly waited for me to speak. It felt like I had no choice.
“Why are you here today?”
“I follow His Highness wherever he goes.”
“Well then, why did my brother come here?”
“…..”
Though he did not speak much, he was filling my mind with thoughts.
“Hernandez, did my brother leave this scar on my cheek?”
Funnily enough, though I expected it not to be Castor, I hoped it was.
“No.”
“Then, who? I don’t know what their purpose is. Do you know?”
“… Yes. I do.”
I took a step closer to the truth. I stared only at his lips.
“I’m curious. Because no one tells me the truth.”
It felt miserable to speak. I had no one but Hernan to tell me the truth. To ask for help from the knight of the man who killed me. What irony.
But the man who was the closest to the criminal would know the crime best. So I had to know Hernan to know Castor.
I did not want to be always one step behind the tyrant and gasp at his every action.
The reason why he announced my scar today. Maybe it was not just for his entertainment.
“Tell me. Is it really Castor?”
“His Highness knows the truth but he is not involved in the sin.”
For a moment, I stopped breathing before slowly raising my head and pushing the words out of me.
“That scar involves someone you know, someone you don’t… and someone you’ll know in the future.”
“Sin?”
This was the kindest I could be to him.
“Do you know the person?”
His face stiffened.
“…..”
His blue eyes scanned my face. I met his gaze directly. I looked at the me reflected in his eyes. Before I knew it, his eyes became pebbles I would see along the street. It shone white in the dark, under the moonlight.
“Your life… has been cursed since your birth.’
He spoke sadly.
“Someone had tried to take advantage of you. Trying to involve you in a huge ‘conspiracy’. Fortunately, the person failed and you were able to live on as the princess.”
At that moment, a strange light began shining from his neck as he let out a loud sound whilst grabbing his neck.
T/N:
I WANTED TO SEE JULIAN but alas we’ll have to wait again… sorry this was late I have no excuses but hope you still enjoyed the chapter!
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