Chapter 102

Upon returning to the Imperial Palace, she looked for Joseph’s corpse right away. She extracted his dead soul and shred it to pieces. At last, the god’s spirit was scattered in the air now.

Perhaps, Barahan wouldn’t appear ever again.

But her newly restored power was very flimsy. Her body has been devoid of any divinity for a long time which caused her to be unable to handle the overflowing flower. This unruly power had been hiding deep within her like a seed under the soil.  

***

The Imperial Palace restored its splendid appearance once again after some time passed. The place that used to be filled with blood splatters and dead bodies everywhere on the ground had returned to its luxurious appearance.  

The joint funeral of the fallen soldiers was held magnificently.

The people outside of the Imperial Palace were kept in the dark about the incident. The meaning of the red flag, the source of the terrifying roars, and the sound of horns and drums that marked the start of the battle were also being kept under wraps.

An unknown accident took place, and all that remained was the fact that the Imperial Palace had covered it up.

It was true that a battle took place for the sake of the empire’s glory, but the Imperial family only gave a vague announcement to the public. 

Adelai’s rebellion and the Shinsu’s attack were also deeply buried. 

However, it wasn’t enough to prevent rumors from spreading.

Rumors blew through the narrow alleys like a wind and escaped from gossipers’ mouths.

“Did  you hear the rumors? I’m talking about what happened in the Imperial Palace.”

“Yeah. Is it true that Princess Adelai tried to overthrow the Imperial Palace with the count’s help?”

“Yeah, that’s right. But I guess His Majesty already saw this coming and defeated the rebels with the help of Shinsu.”

“But why are there so many victims?”

“His Majesty didn’t expect Princess Adelai to suddenly make a move. She’s his daughter, after all. So he probably put his guard down a little.”

They clinked their glass and began to converse about the first god.

“Princess Adelai brought Barahan’s descendant and tried to control the Shinsu, you know?”

“What happened after that?”

“But the Emperor already had someone who could deal with everything in one fell swoop!” 

“Someone who could deal with everything? Who is this person?”

“The First God! His ancestor!”

“What? Oh my god!”

The person listening to the story was very surprised judging by how wide he opened his eyes.

I can’t believe the First God really appeared! 

“Anyways, the Imperial Palace remained safe because of His Majesty’s insight and thorough preparation. I think the First God already tore the soul of Barahan’s descendants to pieces.”

“Does that mean Barahan’s descendants will never appear again?”

“Of course! Those descendants, whose existence could only wreak havoc, have finally ceased to exist! And humans will live peacefully again from now on! In the future and forever!” 

At last, everyone laughed freely while praising the Emperor. 

“All the Shinsu have His Majesty’s back and cut off the seed of evil! The greatest honor belongs to His Majesty the Emperor!”

“Absolutely!”

The truth was mixed with some falsehood. It elevated the emperor’s reputation and strengthened people’s faith in the Shinsu.

It was a peaceful and perfect ending, but only on the surface.

***

Adelai’s funeral was held in a shabby manner. It was very different from the grand funeral held for the Imperial Army’s knights fallen on the battlefield. The truth did not change even if they hide Adelai’s crime from public.

‘Treason.’

The traitor’s corpse had to be crushed until its form was completely unrecognizable and fed to wild dogs…

The Emperor shook his head. He could never bring himself to do that. She was still his daughter despite her betrayal. He loved her enough to hold a funeral while concealing the truth.

On a windy evening. Lart’s shoulders trembled as if he was hit by the chilly winter breeze. He watched Adelai’s shabby coffin enter a dark pit. 

Not even a funeral march was heard to send her off. Not even the nobles attended the funeral and only the Imperial Family appeared with flowers on their hands.

It was a shabby and lonely death. 

“Your Highness.”

The Duke quietly approached and called Lart.

Lart finally came back to his senses and threw the flower in his hand to the coffin. 

Tak, tak, tak.

The Empress and other relatives were also throwing flowers onto the coffin.

They began to bury the coffin. The Empress leaned on Lart as she saw her daughter for the last time.

No drop of tears could be shed in her immense agony. Her fair skin and hair have become  as dry as hay in the past few days.

She was prohibited to mourn her daughter, so she deliberately endured the grueling pain inside.

“Mother….”

Lart embraced the Empress’ shoulder and tried to soothe her.

Although she ended up as a traitor, he did share the same blood as Adelai. To him, she had always been his sister and his other half when he was born.

The attempt to kidnap and kill Belinda. The attempt to overthrow the Imperial Palace. He had no intention of forgiving such a horrendous crime. However, he couldn’t help but feel sadness due to the remaining affection that stayed behind.

Now the coffin was completely buried in the soil.

“….Adelai.”

Tears rolled down Lart’s cheeks and dropped from his chin. He embraced the grief and muttered to himself.

“Good bye.”

It was his last farewell to the person who was born with him.

***

“Do I have to swallow it first?”

Shanti asked in a serious tone. He held a small and bright red stone on his palm. It was a magic stone. The object that Count Otoman and Joseph shared and consumed.

“The order doesn’t matter. After we both eat it, we must cast the spell to conclude the pact.”

Lart calmly said and then swallowed the magic stone. Lapyan, the First God, made the magic stone for Barahan. It was a very precious item because only a pair of it existed in all the Empire.

The magic stones that were removed from Count Otoman and Joseph’s body would now be moved to Shanti and Lart’s body.

Shanti began to swallow the magic stone. 

Gulp.

The heat that settled in his throat was strange. Shanti frowned at the unpleasant sensation. 

“You can start now.”

At Shanti’s approval, Lart began to cast the spell. The two stones that glow faintly inside their stomach began to settle along with a hot sensation when the spell was over.

Feeling the increasing heat, Shanti muttered low. 

“Now I put my life in the hands of a human.”

His voice was filled with resignation.

He offered his life to Lart on his own volition to make amends for what all the Shinsu, except Aymon, had done. 

Even if they were controlled by Barahan’s descendant, the fact that they had attacked the Imperial Palace did not change. The Shinsu were not shameless enough to turn a blind eye to the blood they spilled

They were quite prideful, but at least they could take responsibility and apologize for their mistakes. As a result, Shanti became the representative to be restrained by the magic stone.

“Because of what happened, I will protect you with all my body.”

“Thank you.”

Lart nodded with a mournful look. 

His power would be very solid. The beasts had his back, and this Shinsu already vowed to become his weapon in the future.

But Lart didn’t feel energized by that fact for many reasons. 

Adelai’s death and the fallen soldiers. Belinda and Aymon. 

It felt like he was walking through a hazy fog with a lot of thoughts swirling on his head.  Slowly getting up to return to the forest, Shanti asked.

“Are you the next emperor?”

“Yes. His Majesty ordered me to inherit the throne as soon as possible.”

“Hmm.”

Shanti nodded with an uninterested expression even though he asked first.

He heard that humans have a great desire for power, so he found it quite strange. 

How can he be so impatient to bequeath his position as the emperor? Wasn’t the war between humans and the Shinsu in the past also caused by human’s desire to be the best and the most powerful being on earth?

But he nodded as if realizing something. He could understand why the Emperor wanted to put down power and honor.  

He must be mourning his daughter’s death.

The Emperor’s daughter, Princess Adelai. She was the conspirator of this incident that cost her own life. The mournful emperor wanted to put down all his luggage and live in seclusion. He was tired of everything.

“I’m leaving, future emperor. Don’t accidentally kill me by playing around with the magic stone.”

Shanti, who waved his hand, soon transformed into a leopard and slid out the door.

“Goodbye.”

Lart muttered bitterly as he looked at Shanti’s back.

***

After some time, a grand ceremony was held.

The enthronement ceremony of Emperor Lart Rune Ateez, the new sun that would light up the empire, took place. The citizens cheered in joy, and the nobles bowed their heads out of respect.

“I believe the rising sun will illuminate the empire abundantly!”

“For the endless glory of His Majesty the Emperor!”

The Imperial family released the national funds and held the festival for several days and nights. They opened the food granary and fed everyone including the beggars. There was only joy in the air, forgetting the painful past with laughter.

The lives of those left behind flowed smoothly as if nothing had happened.

***

“Belinda! Look out for that branch!”

“Yeah, Mazetto.”

Belinda pushed aside the small branch that got in her way.

“Belinda! Beware of the rocks below!”

“Okay, Mazetto.”

Belinda kicked the stone at Mazetto’s cry. The stone rolled and went under the bushes.

“Belinda, Belinda! Beware of butterflies in front of you!”

“Mazetto. You don’t have to worry to that extent.”

Belinda smiled and looked back at the butterfly passing by her.  The butterflies flapped their tiny wings and flew through the sunlight. Belinda continued to walk forward. 

Since Aymon’s change and disappearance, Mazetto never stopped worrying. A small sparrow kept poking her nose, telling a human being who was much bigger than him to pay attention to the reality.

She didn’t have any choice but to smile knowing Mazetto’s sincerity.

The tiny sparrow was very worried about her. She just lost her mate and succumbed to sorrow. And then….

Belinda lowered her head and touched her stomach. She could feel warmth every time her hands brushed against it.

Belinda raised her head and walked again. She tried to ignore the heat that welled up around her eyes. Longing and sorrow mixed up, becoming a sort of routine now.

***

Belinda opened her eyes. It seemed like morning had come. 

“…….”

She unconsciously touched the spot next to her, but she could only feel coldness. She got up and walked slowly toward the window.

“Good morning.”

Mumbling alone, she opened the window and a refreshing breeze blew in, caressing her skin.

The morning sun shone through the gently waving curtains. Outside that window was a dense forest. A lonely forest full of silence.

How long has it been since I came here?

It was a pretty familiar landscape now. There was grass full of dew and a mysterious mist.

After looking outside for a while, Belinda put a shawl over her shoulder and went for a walk.

She inhaled the morning air as she walked through the green vegetation. The cold air brushed her eyelids.

Belinda rubbed her eyes and walked for quite a while. One step at a time. She never stopped walking as she was waiting. 

Where are you, Aymon?

Will I ever see you again?

Can I really meet my lovely cat ever again?

He’s not dead. I believe it, he’s not dead.

She waited for him with vain hope that one day she would meet him again. She stayed in the mansion that lost its owner, and spent every night missing him.

After tossing and turning all night, she barely fell asleep until dawn, and every time she did fall asleep, she always had a nightmare. Of the day when the leopard forgot her and left her alone.

It was already morning once more when she opened her eyes again. And she had to face an empty space full of coldness again, not warm arms that hugged her. 

“Aymon.”

She whispered quietly.

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She wasn’t even in a snowy field, but her body trembled as if walking through one.

“Aymon….”

In the end, Belinda collapsed.

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PR/N: the feels…. this novel is getting sadder and sadder…