CH 196

And finally, she was crowned by the gods. 

The majestic funeral march was over and darkness came upon them like death. The audience was visibly confused and had no idea how to react. This was the first time a [Primo Salvatio] had ended this way in the Empire’s history. The performances usually ended in splendour but the majority of the audience seemed flustered by the fact that this time, it didn’t.

Just then, a faint flight sprouted from the stage. The small purple ball gradually grew in size and swallowed the faint golden light lingering on the stage before exploding into what looked like rain. As the remnants of the light fluttered down on them, a wave of awe rippled from the first row of the audience. 

They discovered that what had been floating around them were butterflies. 

Hundreds and thousands of butterflies decorated the large square and everyone was enamoured by them. The butterflies soon turned to purple dust that left a trail in the sky that looked a lot like the Milky Way. It looked more beautiful than the northern lights she had once seen in pictures. 

Ashley stared at the sky in wonder. Did he come up with this by himself? Amor? However, when the last snowflake fell, darkness fell once again as the bracelet lost its glow. But she managed to see the sky clearly. 

Exhausted, she stared at the beautiful sight. 

Boom!

As if they had been waiting, fireworks exploded in the sky. Vulcanus’ divinity adorned the sky with countless fireworks. As if they had been waiting as well, the people of the Empire burst into hurrah at the sight of the sky that was more beautiful than ever. In addition to the fireworks, numerous flowers and trees spring to life throughout the square and they laid upon their surroundings a thick fragrance. When Ashley glanced at her wrist, her bracelet was glowing in green again. She slowly looked at the sky. 

“Have you decided to stop acting now?”

An enchanting voice trickled into her ears with what clearly sounded like a warning. Tired, the girl raised her head.

“If that’s what I’m planning on doing…”

Wiping the sweat dripping down the tip of her chin with the back of her hand, she twisted her lips into a smirk.

“What are you going to do about it?”

***

That had been the most successful dance in the Empire’s history. 

Cheers filled the square. Still in the midst of returning from the stage, she had to cover her ears from how loud it was. She could hear people chanting her name repeatedly from afar. Numerous people were singing her praises. Rather than worshipping her like some sacred being, their prayers felt more cordial. They didn’t make her feel uncomfortable. 

When she glanced back, she spotted the Templars of Dance and Song, who had been waiting, go up the stage. They were templars belonging to the Imperial Palace and were performing a dance to honour the history of the Empire where the [Primo Salvatio] left off. It was only when she saw them did Ashley realise that she had finally done it. 

A circle could be seen drawn in the crowds. A circle of people. And there were quite a few of them sprinkled throughout the spectators. And within them were the people responsible for exciting the crowds this year. They were encouraging people to participate in dancing the traditional Imperial dance. As they followed the lead of the beautiful dancers, the people began dancing to the music too. It was truly a festival enjoyed by all those who were in the square. 

The fate of the year could be said to be decided by the success of this festival. It could also be said that the [Primo Salvatio] served to elevate the princess’ status to an even higher pedestal. The princess, who performed what was said to be the most successful [Primo Salvatio] with a Templar of Fire 200 years ago, became the empress of a powerful country to the north of the Empire after her performance. Rebecca did mention something about it. 

“It will be the moment when a nameless princess finally finds her colour.”

Ashley laughed to herself subconsciously. She might have been smiling to herself because she was so tired. It might be because she finally found her motivation again but the smiling Ashley had momentarily forgotten about the man next to her. As she staggered from laughing too hard, a firm hand grabbed onto her. 

“This is not the time to relax.”

“Brother.”

The girl acknowledged the man with a mumble. With a blank expression on his face, Castor narrowed his eyes. At Castor’s orders to stand back, the surrounding knights and footmen could only remain silent. The Crown Prince lowered his back towards the princess and closed the distance between their faces making them look as if they were about to kiss. She could hear someone gasping.

As his face got closer to hers, Castor spoke with a growl. She looked up. There was an unquenchable heat rising within her.

“Ashley Rosé. Do you know when’s the easiest time to hunt?”

“…..”

“Right when your prey starts to relax. Like now.”

The eyes that had lost their light regained their colour. Flustered and shocked, her eyes started shaking. In pain, Ashley stared at the sinner’s hand. The moment she noticed that their hands were intertwined like how they were earlier on stage, she quickly shook his hand off. 

‘Get away from me.’

With one look from Castor, all his footmen and knights retreated.

“I-I was just a little tired.”

“Really?”

Numerous thoughts crossed her mind. The most effective way she had managed to deceive Castor so far was by being shameless about it. Even in the beginning, from the moment she started acting like a clown to get over her crises, hadn’t she been reluctant to act naive? But now that she got caught, she couldn’t decide how she should act from now on. As if he knew what Ashley was thinking, Castor smiled and tilted his head while capturing her side profile in his gaze. 

The man and woman left in the empty space locked gazes. 

“Do you remember me saying how I had the ability to see the truth. What I want isn’t the incomplete you.”

“… Incomplete?”

“Haven’t you ever felt that you’ve lost something?”

Lost. It was a familiar word. She recalled what the Saintess told her. She recalled Amor who acted nonchalant but she could tell he was hiding something. She also recalled the people around her who kept telling her she had changed. Ashley contorted her face. 

“Who… what right do you have to judge whether or not I’m complete?”

She herself had no problems. And she believed it. She thought that as long as she ate well, slept well, laughed well and felt happy, she could be satisfied. But the people around her constantly reminded her that she had changed, lost something or felt different. 

“Don’t try to remember. Let yourself stay happy.”

Everyone kept telling ‘her’ not to remember. Ashley recalled the letter she had written to herself. The overall message the letter was trying to convey with its many words was simple. Be careful of Castor but don’t try to remember anything and stay happy. But Ashley just realised something. 

“What am I forgetting?”

But she couldn’t do anything without the piece that she was missing. So, Ashley asked Castor what she had asked Amor. From the purple eyes that stared directly at him, there was an undeniable naivety that even her words couldn’t hide. When she asked, Castor slowly twisted his lips into a smirk. 

“Being obedient doesn’t suit you. And… it doesn’t suit me either.”

The man wearing a revealing toga did not try to hide his mystique. 

“Should we make a bet?”

“… A bet?”

Castor smiled slowly and languidly. There was a dangerous glint in his golden eyes. 

“I’m not the only one who can see the future. Right?”

It was true. It was then Ashley thought of the diary she had left behind and her hands suddenly felt empty. She was used to reaching out for her diary immediately, it became instinct. Goosebumps suddenly swept down her skin. Come to think of it, when did she leave the diary behind? She was sure she wasn’t the type of person to leave it behind so easily. Her memories were getting mixed up.

“Someone is going to die at the banquet you and I will be attending this evening.”

“W-who?”

“You already know who, don’t you?”

His brilliant eyes began to glow brightly before quickly subsiding. The glint in his eyes made no sense considering the situation they were in.

“Try stopping that person from dying.”

As she slowly retreated from him, Ashley let out the breath she had been struggling to hold and confusion as to what he was talking about soon took over.

“If you manage to stop it, I’ll grant you one wish. As well as the ‘truth’.”

“The ‘truth’?”

“Isn’t there something you want from me?

Her confusion only got worse from his nonchalant answer. Why? It was a bet Castor had nothing to gain from. It was also very sudden. Unable to hide her bewilderment, Ashley looked up to see Castor curling his eyes as if he knew everything. However, unlike his blank expression, madness was swirling in his orbs. 

“… Would you grant my wish even if it were for you to let go of me for good?”

“Of course.”

Chills travelled down her spine. Even with madness in his eyes, he still managed to put on a rational yet refined appearance. 

“But if you fail.”

But from his expression, it seemed as if he was certain that she would fail. 

“Ah. How fun it is to not know the results in advance.”

Between blinks, she spotted a ball of light in the distance. Unable to endure it anymore, she collapsed. She couldn’t feel any strength in her legs. The last words he muttered were ringing in her ears. 

“Then, you’ll get to know everything.”

***

Bang.

Lena and Haina who had been standing close to the door that opened roughly gasped in surprise. Lena had been so shocked that she fell backwards. They were surprised once again to find out that the one who swung the door open and stormed in was none other than their mistress. They wondered what was going on when she had never once stormed in like that before. 

Haina who wanted to talk to her soon zipped her lips because her mistress’ expression looked strange. 

Ashley immediately spotted Rebecca. 

“Rebecca, do you have my diary?”

“Huh? Yes. You handed it over to me before the dance…”

“Hand it over.”

She quickly received the diary from Rebecca before flipping it open. She could feel her maids’ curious and anxious gazes directed at her but Ashley did not have the time to care. The pages that quickly flipped open then stopped. It was today’s date. 

[The – Day of the Month of Venus.

After safely performing the [Primo Salvatio, we gathered for a banquet in the evening. 

For the first time ever, I met my ‘mother’. It was someone I felt too awkward to call my mother. 

(omitted)

10 minutes had passed after I talked to this prince from a neighbouring country. I spotted a crescent moon hanging from the highest branch on a tree. 

Just then, a high-pitched scream rippled through the hall. When I looked around in surprise, I spotted a man collapsed on the ground. It was clear that he was a noble from the Empire as he was wearing traditional Imperial attire. 

Someone shouted for a cleric. Until then, I had been frozen in shock. This was the first time I had ever seen someone die. It was really scary…

Just then, someone else screamed.

“The Crown Prince! The Crown Prince was the one who did it!”

When she read that. Ashley looked away from the page. With a hand cupping her face, she gasped. Something came to mind. Why had she forgotten this till now? She bit her lips as she lamented. 

‘The side story.’

The scene where Rusbella and Castor first met was shown in the side story. All she thought was how crazy she was for forgetting the side story but from her vivid memories, she could clearly remember. The reason why Castor left the banquet hall early was because there had been a murder. 

‘At midnight, on the top of the clock tower…”

Ashley’s face turned white. She bit her lips so hard they started bleeding. 

‘He’s going to meet Rusbella soon.’