Chapter 118

The morning sun was shining. 

Dylan looked at Charlize. He kept looking at her. He’d rather she fall asleep. Because he can look at her as much as he wants. 

Dylan knew. That the mixed emotions in his eyes are no longer pure and refreshing.

“…”

But it doesn’t really matter.

Everything is peaceful only when she’s sleeping. It is fixed. It is a quiet sleep resembling death, so if he wants full possession, it’s more appropriate now. 

But time passes. Charlize’s eyelids trembled. She will soon open her eyes. Sleep didn’t last forever.

“…Are you awake?”

Dylan poked in softly, looking at her hazy eyes.

He held Charlize with her upper body raised up by the bedside. Hot pressure. However, he put her in his arms so softly that she did not feel the urge to escape.

Charlize breathed peacefully in the warmth. A small breath that scatters in his ear.

Dylan relaxed a bit.

Suddenly, in Charlize’s eyes, Dylan was completely captured. Her fingers smoothed Dylan’s hair. 

“I like you, Your Majesty.”

With a slightly defenseless and sleepy face, his heart ached from the first word. Dylan flinched as if he had been suddenly struck by an unexpected raid.

‘I’ll have to give her an answer.’

That’s what lovers do. 

However, for a moment, he was dazed and knew the answer, but he couldn’t answer it right away.

“…I love you.”

Without any modifier, he meant it in itself.

When Charlize looked at Dylan, she opened her arms and hugged him around his neck. Then he pulled softly onto the bed. 

Originally, he had prepared a luxurious meal for Charlize to have breakfast, but she just held him by the neck. 

His heart shook and he placed her hand on the blanket. The quilt was warm, with Charlize’s warmth remaining. The pleasant sunlight tickles the skin. Morning.

“It’s a sudden thought, but I’ve never given you much praise.”

“Yes…”

“Therefore…”

Her hand stroking him as if she was doing this was full of affection. When he was a boy of the past, he would have been loyal and followed her blindly. 

“Good job, all this time. Well done, Your Majesty. Thank you as always.”

“I’m more…”

Their gazes entangled, and Dylan sat completely on the bed. He had a lot of plans because it was the morning at the Imperial Palace with her after a long time, but he wondered what it had to do with it. Charlize, doing like this. 

Did she know he’s trying to be sharp?

Dylan’s eyes turned to Charlize. It’s like she’s saying she knows something.

Yes, Dylan thought he would never be read by anyone, but he was always read by Charlize.

‘No matter how much you know the future.’  

It was a brilliant insight, different from Kahu. When Dylan had absolute trust in Charlize, she left without saying a word.

That is why, even now, he looks at her with boundaries, rather than full trust, but it is also true that she is slightly softened.

“I’m going to call the young duke.”

“Is that so?” 

Dylan risked his life to make an oath.

So he can’t force Charlize, and he can’t disobey. But his heart ached.

“May I ask why?”

“He has returned, and he must have witnessed a lot of situations about Kiera as a person that I don’t know.” 

Charlize continued slowly. 

“Maybe there’s a clue.”

He didn’t want Charlize to think about Kahu again. 

“He may be the clue to the secret magic tower.” 

In the end, it meant that she was working with Kahu again. Dylan managed to suppress his growing jealousy towards Kahu. 

“Weren’t you on vacation with me leaving the work to your subordinates?”

He lowered his voice and looked at Charlize and tilted his head. He knew that this posture and expression weakened Charlize the most.

Charlize was also secretly weak in beauty. And, as intended, the tyrant looked quite pitiful on the outside.

Blinking. 

Charlize closed her eyes and opened them. She ran through the back of Dylan’s head as if digging into him with her palm. As expected, it felt good.

“Come to think of it, Your Majesty, stay with me.” 

“…”

Dylan was silent.

But it wasn’t bad. Now she meant that she wouldn’t hide her conversation with Kahu from Dylan.

Shadow used to report that Charlize often hit the wall of mana in the past and they didn’t hear what she was talking about. The person who always mentioned the words of apology was Kahu.  

‘When I met the child in the orphanage, Master had hit the mana wall.’

That was the distance Dylan first witnessed. Maybe he remembered the girl’s name was Gold. 

But, at least for now, she said she would talk to Kahu in front of Dylan.

‘Has the relationship progressed?’

It’s good to be closer. Dylan nodded his head.

Of course, no matter how much he tried to think positively, the strange boiling feelings were not easily dispelled.

Kahu’s safety is not included in his oath, so he wants to kill him, but she will be sad.

‘But one day when she forgets it.’

Dylan broke his jealous thoughts.

Charlize, unaware of Dylan’s feelings, smiled softly in the Emperor’s gaze. 

The grandmaster was just terribly seductive.

***

He asked them to wait for a moment, so everyone passed the clue and looked at Payne. The tense atmosphere was breathtaking.

“When the hidden patterns in the darkness are revealed.”  

Payne’s voice fell low.

“Nature will shine brightly.”

Etyam Voujir.

It was a document enchanted with protection magic. Even passwords written in an ancient language that ordinary people could not easily decipher were scattered irregularly like earthworms.

However, when Payne continued to say the spell, the strong protective magic was broken. The blue light stood on the code, and it came together in a sentence like gears interlocking.

It was an ancient language code that had a proper shape only after each letter.  

Since it was Payne who usually only showed a playful side, V and Lucy remained silent at this moment and paid attention.

“…!” 

The way the blue light spreads was very mysterious.

Rapine, who arrived late after hearing Shadow’s message, also paused and stared at Payne. 

Lucy’s expression was sharp. Because she got attached to Charlize. Now she was undeniably on her side.

“What is it written on?”

When Lucy asked, Payne answered slowly. Since he had to speak while deciphering the code, the pronunciation was exceptionally clear and accurate.

“The true identity of the evil god.”

But the ending was not concluded. Payne’s mouth shut. 

‘This.’

A piece of unexpected information that was very shocking. 

They had to move right away.

“We need to find the leader, right now.”

The clue crumpled in Payne’s grasp. This clue was dangerous to Charlize. It was a fact he realized as if he felt it.

Payne lifted his head and immediately turned around. 

An unusual reaction. They noticed that it was a clue deeply related to Charlize. Everyone’s faces were shocked and worried. 

***

“From whom did this letter come?”

“From the grandmaster.”

Kahu stiffened in surprise. He couldn’t believe he had to ask the sender again even though he heard it already. 

In the letter given by the messenger, it was clearly written that he should come to the Imperial Palace.

「 I have a question I would like to ask you to come to the Imperial Palace. 

His Majesty will also be present in the seat.

From Charlize. 」

He had never met Charlize before, because Dylan, knowingly and unknowingly, interrupted the meeting in the middle.

It was also against the customs to privately meet the grandmaster who was officially declared the emperor’s lover.

He thought he had forgotten her, but his heart was suddenly pounding like a thorn. Even after 3 years have passed, Charlize’s figure is still in front of his eyes.

‘Is it because she’s my first love?’

Charlize had clearly rejected Kahu’s feelings from the beginning. Even when they were talking about their marriage, she said that she had no intention of marrying Kahu, but she secretly drew a line saying that it’s not like she was single.

He thought it would be rude to be caught by anyone, but his feelings were not easily covered up. 

Because love doesn’t flow freely.

“Tell the grandmaster I’ll be there soon.”

“Yes.”

The messenger bowed down and withdrew.

Kahu changed his clothes first. He had to go to the Imperial Palace for the knights’ work anyway.

Since it was just a place to greet the emperor and the grandmaster, he had to wear clothes that fit him, not the knight’s uniform he was wearing now.

He soon arrived at the Imperial Palace.

Mary, the maid, came out and guided Kahu politely. The place where he was invited was the Imperial Palace, the center of the Imperial Palace, and the VIP room, which is also the core of the palace.

A place where soundproofing is distinctive and is usually used when having to have a very close conversation. 

What kind of question is she going to ask?

“I greet His Majesty the Emperor and the grandmaster.” 

Fortunately, his voice did not tremble. Kahu lifted his head slowly.

And there sat Charlize, whom he met after three years. The mysterious ash blond was still beautiful as if it was shining by mixing the moonlight and sunlight evenly.

Her eyes are like a calm, subtle scented candle. The navy blue eyes were still. Sometimes he used to wonder what it would have been like if she hadn’t gone missing before returning.

If so,

“It’s been a while, young duke.”

Dylan said, turning away from him, not accepting Kahu’s greetings.

Kahu’s back neck was stiffened for a moment by the atmosphere of the emperor. During the past three years without Charlize, he’s often been alone with Dylan.

The horrors and fears that he felt every time.

The pressure of strangling was still the same. Kahu was afraid of Dylan.

No matter how much a beast pretends to be a gentle sheep, how can he not know that he is playing over the trainer’s head?

“Have a seat.”

“Yes.”

At Charlize’s suggestion, Kahu sat down. He became more cautious with a stiff attitude. 

Nothing will happen right now, but if he’s having an unnecessary conversation personally.

‘In an unseen place.’

A hand will reach out.

‘It’s unpleasant.’

But the discomfort Kahu felt was not an illusion. Because Dylan was actually very displeased with him.

Is it because of Charlize? But that wasn’t the only thing. It’s always been like that. Strangely, there was a clear feeling of rejection in his mind.

‘Like a physiologically perfect incompatibility.’

Dylan sometimes abruptly reads the essence. Is it like this now?

Kahu looked at Charlize, and the feeling of watching it was very strange. It’s not like Charlize to be attacked by a monster, but it feels like a monster that is out of step with nature is staring at her.

“Kahu.”

Charlize drew attention.

In front of his name that was being called for the first time, Kahu was stunned for a moment.

“Do you know why you have returned?”

Charlize asked calmly.

The question was, do you know why you regressed?

Not only do you eat a piece of Ehyrit, but you have to absorb them completely and make them yours to remember the time before the return like Charlize and the late Emperor.

‘Did Kahu ever do that?’

Talking informally was just natural, and no one pointed it out.

“What did you do before you returned?”

The voice was thrown casually, but it was the most accurate question. When Charlize, who had always respected him, spoke informally, Kahu realized the intimidation and importance of it.

Kahu nervously held his hands under the table.

“My answer is the same as three years ago, grandmaster. I lived a peaceful life, but my memory was cut off.”

<Kiera, would you like to solve that?> 

<Shall we solve it?> 

The ancient gods who suddenly appeared roamed around Charlize and whispered.

Because they were the only loyal vassal for Charlize, they were seen by no one but her.

Only Charlize paid attention to the word choice of the gods.

‘Solve it?’

Does that mean that Kahu has memories of being blocked like Charlize? 

Charlize looked straight at Kahu’s green eyes. A good impression resembling the green of nature. Beside him, the ancient gods flapped their wings with the body of a fairy.

“Kahu?”

Kahu, who was just sweating in a cold sweat and nervous, stiffened and raised his head.

There was a moment of silence. But soon Kahu’s face turned white.

His trembling and anxious eyes shook aimlessly. His voice was unstable. 

As if he had remembered something.

“I…”

“…”

“I, too, went missing.”

***

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