Chapter 127

“To think you can create mana stones so effortlessly. It’s incredible.”

 

Lilithia’s cries for release did not reach the ears of Ivailo or the Tower Master. They began to laugh greedily, staring at the mana stone atop the altar as it pulsed with surging magical power. Eventually, Lilithia squeezed her eyes shut, enduring the agonizing pain.

 

Ivailo glanced down at the collapsed Lilithia and spoke curtly. “Be careful. It’s over if Lilithia Baimery dies.”

 

“Of course. I do not handle precious human resources recklessly.”

 

“I should hope not.”

 

The sound of footsteps treading upon the thick carpet echoed through the room. Ivailo spread his arms wide toward the newcomer, his face filled with elation. “My dear brother, whom I’ve missed so much, has finally made his appearance.”

 

Freyer’s hardened gaze fixed upon the curled-up figure of Lilithia. “Crown Prince…!”

 

The veins along Freyer’s neck bulged red; his fists trembled as if he were ready to charge and fight at any moment. Seeing Freyer poised to dash toward Lilithia, Ivailo made a sharp gesture. The magic circles engraved on the floor began to glow brilliantly. Lilithia groaned again, curling further into herself.

 

“Try moving. That is, if you want to lose Lilithia Baimery. Where is the Emperor’s Seal?”

 

Ivailo had intended to kill the Emperor and seize the Seal, but the Emperor had not possessed it. The location of the Seal was obvious—the Emperor would ultimately protect his biological son, Freyer.

 

“Promise me you will release Lilithia.”

 

“There must be a give and take, after all.”

 

Freyer looked at Lilithia and pulled the Seal he had received from the Emperor out of his pocket. It shone brilliantly in his hand. Freyer carefully rolled the Seal across the floor; Ivailo gingerly picked it up from beneath his feet.

 

“Finally, I have it in my hands. The Emperor’s Seal.”

 

“Keep your promise.”

 

Seeing Ivailo nod, Freyer immediately tried to go to Lilithia. However, Ivailo, who had suddenly produced a blade, slashed the back of the approaching Freyer.

 

“I was aiming for the neck. What a shame.”

 

Freyer lost his balance and collapsed onto the floor. “Ugh… I complied… peacefully…”

 

Freyer tried to push himself up, but a crimson magic circle had already formed on the floor. His body felt heavy, as if his feet were shackled. Ivailo walked toward the fallen Freyer with steady thuds.

 

“You were truly naive to believe that. You are my obstacle, so you should have lived in the shadows without ever stepping foot in the Imperial Palace. Freyer Lundberg.”

 

“…Ivailo…!”

 

“Perhaps because you’ve returned from the dead, you seem to have lost your sense of place. Do not forget that I am still your elder brother.”

 

Meeting Freyer’s eyes, Ivailo looked down at him with a chilling gaze. “I’ve always dreamed of hanging your head in the Imperial Hall, but it’s a pity—I can’t leave any traces of you behind.”

 

Ivailo signaled to the Tower Master again. With a low humming sound, light began to emanate from the magician’s hands. Windows shattered and the ground shook with a heavy vibration. Amidst the tremors, Lilithia slowly opened her heavy eyes.

 

Her gaze was filled with sorrow.

 

‘In the end, did I fail to protect her?’

 

Desperate to save at least Lilithia, Freyer reached out his hand.

 

“Lilithia.”

 

A brilliant magical light filled the cathedral. Freyer stared into the blinding glare until he could no longer see the world.

 

‘Am I losing everything in the end?’

 

As time passed and the light faded, the scene that unfolded made Freyer’s hands tremble. His voice shook violently at the sight of Lilithia hugging him, coughing up blood.

 

“Li, Lilithia.”

 

“…Th-thank goodness.”

 

 

***

 

 

Was it because of my desperate wish for Freyer to live? As soon as I felt the power shackling my feet vanish, I ran toward Freyer and threw my arms around him. The magic intended for him hit me instead; my body jolted with a pain so sharp it felt like being hit by a car. I wondered if being hit by a truck felt like this—it was an unfathomable agony.

 

Crimson blood spilled from my mouth.

 

“Lilithia!”

 

I wanted to tell him not to shake me because it hurt, but he was simply holding me tight.

 

‘Dammit. This really hurts.’

 

The previous pain was nothing compared to this.

 

“Lilithia, no!”

 

Every time I tried to speak, blood welled up. It felt as though shards of glass were embedded throughout my entire body.

 

“Lilithia Baimery!”

 

I moved my lips to speak, but no voice came out.

 

“Please, I beg you!”

 

Strangely, my eyelids grew heavy. Freyer shook his head repeatedly, his vacant eyes tracing my face in desperation. He gripped my shoulders tightly, crying out as he tried to hold onto my fading consciousness.

 

‘I guess I’m dying like this.’

 

Freyer’s grief-stricken voice filled my ears. The warm droplets falling on my cheeks were his tears.

 

‘Why are you crying like this, Freyer?’

 

I wanted to tell him not to cry anymore, but I could no longer control my body, as if my soul were already detaching.

 

‘There was something I always wanted to tell you. I always wanted you to be happy, Freyer.’

 

“Lilithia!”

 

‘I’m sorry. I couldn’t give you your happy ending.’

 

Soon, my body shook uncontrollably and the image of Freyer began to blur. Eventually, my arm dropped limp, and my consciousness vanished.

 

 

***

 

 

Lilithia Baimery had broken free from the binding circle, taken the blow meant for Freyer, and died. To Ivailo, the sight of the weeping Freyer was pathetic.

 

“The plan has gone awry, but it doesn’t matter.”

 

Looking at the numerous mana stones scattered around, Ivailo laughed with euphoria. It didn’t matter as long as he found another person with the right constitution. He had heard there were five in total.

 

“We just need to find the person, don’t we?”

 

“That is correct.”

 

“It will be a simple task once I am Emperor.”

 

Ivailo leaned back into the throne prepared in the cathedral, chuckling to himself.

 

“That would only happen if I were dead, Ivailo.”

 

From directly ahead, the Emperor appeared, supported by Hor, followed by the nobility. Ivailo’s eyes crinkled into a smirk. The nobles gasped at the sight of the fallen Lilithia and Freyer, murmuring at Ivailo’s subsequent words.

 

“I didn’t expect you to be alive. You have quite the tenacious life—it makes me want to kill you all over again.”

 

“…!?”

 

Hor stepped forward, drawing his sword to shield the Emperor.

 

“The Emperor’s Seal is in my hand. From this moment on, I am the Emperor. Therefore, you must all follow me.”

 

Ivailo waved the Seal. However, the expressions of the nobles began to twist strangely.

 

“…Shouldn’t the Emperor’s Seal glow if held by one of the bloodline?”

 

“…Could it be that His Majesty summoned us here for this…?”

 

Unpleasant gazes fell upon Ivailo. The Emperor, clutching his stomach, spoke.

 

“Ivailo Lundberg, who plotted treason, is hereby stripped of his title as Crown Prince. From this moment, the title of Crown Prince is bestowed upon Freyer, the sole legitimate member of the imperial family.”

 

“So, that’s why you brought the nobles.”

 

Ivailo clicked his tongue. He frowned and signaled the Tower Master. “Overturn everything!”

 

Despite the signal, the Tower Master merely blinked, taking no action.

 

“The thing is, Your Highness… no, Ivailo. I am a man who moves only for profit.”

 

“What…?”

 

“I’m glad I prepared an exit.”

 

Picking up several mana stones from the floor, the Tower Master pulled a teleportation parchment from his robe. As soon as he tore it, he vanished.

 

The veins in Ivailo’s neck throbbed. “You bastard!”

 

“His crimes are grave. I authorize the immediate execution of Ivailo Lundberg.”

 

As soon as the Emperor finished speaking, Freyer carefully laid Lilithia on the floor and stood up, limping.

 

“Ivailo Lundberg, for the attempted murder of the Emperor and treason, I execute you here and now.”

 

Freyer took the sword from Hor and approached Ivailo.

 

“Hahaha! Do you think I can’t do anything?!”

 

Ivailo fumbled at his waist to draw his sword, but unfortunately, he saw the blade lying on the floor some distance away. It was the sword he had carelessly dropped after cutting Freyer.

 

“Feel the pain you inflicted on Lilithia, Ivailo.”

 

“Freyer! You son of a…!”

 

While Ivailo scrambled, Freyer plunged the sword directly into Ivailo’s heart. Ivailo’s eyes rolled back. As his body slumped, he let out a final scream.

 

“…The continent… should have been… mine…”

 

His rolling pupils and tensed brows froze. Ivailo closed his eyes, slumped in the chair. His grand dream had come to an end.

 

 

***

 

 

The first thing Freyer did after returning from the brink of death was to conduct a purge. People reacted with a mix of relief and shock at the fact that he was alive. However, everyone was equally horrified to learn that the empire had been manipulated by a malicious mother and son.

 

The truth—that the second prince, Freyer, was the only biological son—and the Queen’s numerous atrocities committed to put her own son on the throne were revealed. The poisoning of Felicia, the evidence of the assassination attempt on the second prince—countless pieces of evidence sent the Queen to the guillotine.

 

Beneath the blood-stained blade, the Queen screamed toward the Emperor.

 

“I did it because I loved you!”

 

Her final words were merely the petty heart of a woman compared to the ambition that had shaken the empire, earning her nothing but jeers from the citizens. Love could not justify poisoning and murder. Thus, the Queen’s life was taken by the cold blade.

 

Due to the Emperor’s failing health and the death of the former Crown Prince, Freyer took the position of Crown Prince and spent his days in a blur of work. However, he could not sleep peacefully for even a moment.

 

A week had passed since Lilithia collapsed, but there was no progress in her recovery. They said her internal mana had overloaded after taking the magic head-on. They told him it was a miracle she was even alive.

 

“You must get some sleep to keep working, Your Highness.”

 

Despite Derek’s concern, Freyer shook his head violently. He was terrified she might slip away while he slept—that Lilithia would vanish like sand in a moment. During the day, the Baimery family tended to her, and at night, Freyer stayed by her side after finishing his duties.

 

“I’ve come to see you before I leave, Your Highness.”

 

“It… was all thanks to you.”

 

“I want to live my own life now.”

 

It was Ruben, Ivailo’s secretary. Without his help, they wouldn’t have found the representative of the Baimery Merchant Guild. They had cleared out the northern mages’ hideout and ensured no more victims would be made.

 

Ruben bowed and departed. Everyone was finding their place again, but Freyer felt he was not. He was still in the darkness. He hadn’t lived this long just to face this kind of ending. He felt that everything was in vain.

 

“Lilithia. It’s all over.”

 

Everything was resolved, yet he remained in the shadows. Freyer’s tears fell onto Lilithia’s hand and spread.

 

“I don’t need anything… just wake up.”

 

Gazing at Lilithia’s pale face, Freyer closed his eyes.