Chapter 58

Chapter 58

King Ielro said that there was no such relic, and suggested another method of compensation. However, Declan increased the level of threats day after day over the lives of Andre and the delegation.

He had only one son, Andre. And, as he acted as if he would invade, in the end, the King eventually raised a white flag.

“Wow, you finally got it.”

“It lasted longer than I thought.”

Declan grinned as he gazed at me lying on the sofa.

“I guess the relic is really worthwhile?”

“Looks like that, seeing the Pope send a letter like this.”

Saying so, he showed the envelope in his hand that was stamped with gold leaf and the Pope’s seal.

“I didn’t know the news would reach there already.”

“That’s how much the Great Temple has been keeping an eye on.”

I slid over to his side and sat down on a chair. Meanwhile, Declan slowly opened the envelope and read the contents.

“They said that the holy relic was originally theirs, and they want it back.”

“Hey, to get anything you want, it must be a really great thing.”

“However, we can’t give it back. How can they do that?”

He turned his gaze away from the letter.

“I think the Pope will be persistent in asking, will it be okay?”

“Did you consider me as emperor?” Declan said as he clenched his chin and snorted with dissatisfaction.

“Absolutely.”

The look in his eyes, as if he couldn’t believe it, was bewildered.

“You’re only good at answering, thinking that I would not be able to defeat a pope with no strength whatsoever.”

Oh, that was the problem…?

“It’s because I’m worried that Your Majesty will get in trouble because of me.”

“Were you so worried about that?”

He then said he was the strongest on the continent. Hearing that, I laughed out loud at the unreasonable excess of narcissism. Still, such arrogance suited him so well that I thought he was a natural ruler.

“Then, I will only trust Your Majesty.”

When I bowed my head slightly to greet him, he was satisfied.

***

A few more weeks passed, and the relics arrived. As the delegation returned to Ielro, we faced Stella again with the holy relics.

“I did what you wanted. Now, it’s your turn to explain.”

“First of all, thank you for saving me.”

Stella got up from her seat and bowed her back deeply. She looked more comfortable and more stable than the last time I saw her.

“Come on, prove your worth.”

She stared at the relics placed on the table at the urging.

“Epist.”

The relic, which she called ‘Epist,’ was a slab about the length of a wrist to the elbow. There was an inscription on it.

“As I said, the location of Perseum is recorded here.”

“Did the Pope see this?”

“Only once to check if it is genuine. However, neither he nor the priests were able to decipher it.”

It was a holy thing, though the priests couldn’t decipher it?

‘Nevertheless, how could she read it…?’

The inscriptions on the stone tablet were in the same language as those in Mazvin. It was surprising, but I wasn’t afraid of the strange attraction I felt from this slab.

‘How does Stella know about this relic?’

I was most curious about that. It was because she had never been outside the palace and probably had no other interactions.

“How do you know about this relic?”

Declan asked Stella as if he was thinking the same.

“That…”

She picked her words for a moment as she clasped her necklace before opening her mouth again, “I think the story is going to be long, would you mind?”

As we nodded, Stella took a breath.

“My mother was from a desert tribe.”

AD

…Desert tribe?

In the original story, it was just said she was a commoner.

“My mother saved my father from an accident of getting separated in the desert from his companions.”

The King, who had spent the night with her mother, left, and she said that she had lived with her mother.

“When I was six, my mother took me to visit my father. With this relic, saying that death is near.”

How did her mother, who was not a priest but a minority tribe, have a holy relic…? At the same time, Declan had a slightly surprised expression as he had not expected it.

“How did your mother get this? Besides, why did she entrust it to the King?”

“That…”

Stella hesitated and fiddled with her necklace again.

Again. That necklace. It seemed that whenever she talked about her mother, she would touch it like a habit.

‘…Is it a keepsake?’

I glanced at Stella’s necklace hanging around her neck.

“Your Majesty, I can’t tell you any more about my mother.”

“It must have been a promise, though you will tell me everything at the price of your life.”

“The only thing I promised was about Ielro. My mother does not belong to the Kingdom of Ielro, so I have no obligation to tell her.”

She was very different from what I had seen before. It seemed that was how it was an important issue for her.

“Your mother is also the King’s person, and isn’t the desert tribe also the people of Ielro?”

“My mother is not listed in the royal family register, and that tribe does not belong to Ierlo either.”

Declan furrowed his eyebrows in annoyance.

‘It looks like she has a secret with her mother.’

Nevertheless, Stella didn’t seem to open her mouth easily. Could we find out more about how Stella’s mother got her slate…?

“First, let’s look at something else.”

He nodded at my words and turned to Stella.

“Can you read this?”

“No. I can’t either.”

“Then, you don’t know the details?”

“Yes…”

Again, I guess it was something I had to deal with myself.

“That’s it for today. I’ll call you if you need help deciphering the slate.”

Stella’s eyes widened, although she was surprised by his words.

“If you have any discomfort during your stay, don’t hesitate to tell the maid.”

After finishing his words, Declan prepared to go out with the doll before Stella even got up. He was about to call Noah to get the slate, but she called him out with a confused look.

“Your, your Majesty… Are you going to be able to decipher the slate?”

Staring at her for a moment, it seemed as if he was trying to figure out what her intentions were.

“Not me.”

“Well then, is there anyone who can decipher it?”

“Yes.”

Stella’s eyes trembled slightly as she clutched the necklace in her hand.

“Then, who is that person? Can they really decipher it?”

I tilted my head at the tone that looked pretty impatient.

‘It is surprising that no one had decrypted it so far, but it has nothing to do with Stella, isn’t it?’

“I can’t tell you.”

Declan immediately pulled the string and called Noah.

“Noah, bring the slate and follow me.”

“Understood.”

After making sure that Noah collected the slate, he strode to the door.

“Your, Your Majesty, wait. Wait a minute, wait a minute.” Stella, who had been standing still, hurriedly rushed after Declan.

“I am not free.”

“Well, if you decipher the slate, will I be able to meet the person who deciphered it?”

“The reason is?”

“I have to deliver my mother’s will. I ask of you.”

…Mother’s will? I knew nothing about Stella nor the holy relic.

“I’ll think about it.”

Leaving those words behind, he immediately left the parlor.

***

Declan placed Mazvin and Epist side by side on the bedroom table.

“First, let’s organize the contents of the slate.”

As I watched him prepare the paper and pen, I slowly read the inscription on the slate.

“Find Kefiena. A long-forgotten Namos awaits, blown by the hot wind on the dry land. Follow the 8 Hodein in the face of the rising sun. You will find the lost door.”

Dictated what I said, Declan then recited it softly.

“…It’s like a riddle.”

He placed the paper down and narrowed his brow. Even though I was skeptical at first, while listening to Stella’s story, one thing was inferred. With that thought, I opened my mouth again.

“Your Majesty, she said earlier that her mother came from a desert tribe.”

“Yes, it was.”

“This part.”

The part I pointed to was ‘blown by the hot wind on dry land.’ Then, I continued my words, “Isn’t it the desert where that tribe lives…?”

“Hmm. There is a possibility just by looking at the description.”

When I brought the map and unfolded it, there was a desert to the northwest of the Ielro Kingdom.

“About two-thirds do not belong to any country.”

Looking at the map, I understood what Stella meant when she said that the desert tribe did not belong to the Kingdom.

“Because it’s useless land. If you go in without knowing it, you’re likely to die.”

“Then, we should take a look here.”

The next verse was ‘A long-forgotten Namos awaits.’

What was this Namos…?

I didn’t think it would be human… Was it an object or a place?

“Your Majesty, are there any abandoned ruins in this desert?”

“Well, in the first place, very few people live here, so not much is known about it.”

So, was there no choice but to visit it yourself…? In order to move, the doll’s body must be together, and to do so, someone must follow as a guardian. And, of course, Declan would claim to be its protector,

‘Things are getting bigger…’

In order for the Emperor Declan to move, there were many procedures and restrictions.

‘Besides, he would have to leave the empire and go to another country.’

In the meantime, Duke Otien might do something. In addition, there were too many dangers because he was also targeted in other countries.

‘In order to check the contents of the slate, I have to go there myself…’

A sigh escaped from my heart.

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