Chapter 146

Chapter 146

Her thoughts didnt have time to wander far. In an instant of violent vomiting, pain seized her entire body. Rosaline looked down at the ground, spit up blood, and struggled to lift her head. In her blurred vision, she saw Diechs figure fading away.

When Rosaline coughed up blood again, Macaron hurriedly approached her.

A few minutes later, members of the Lasso Mercenary Corps arrived. The men scanned the surroundings with a defensive stance, and upon seeing Rosaline partially collapsed, they exclaimed in horror.

Sir Rosaline! No, Mr. Juju, whats?

You dont need to know. Dont touch her.

Macaron lifted Rosaline into their arms. They wiped her streaming tears with a sleeve.

Get some sleep now.

Immediately after Macaron spoke those words, Rosaline sank into a deep sleep.

***

Diech paused his steps briefly at the astonished voices coming from afar. People murmured at the spot where he had been just moments ago. It was so noisy that it gave him a splitting headache. He furrowed his brow and pressed his temples.

He slowly walked, distancing himself from their location. Naturally, his footsteps led him deeper into the dense forest. A place where they say a strange wind blew strongly, and indeed, an endless cliff was in sight. The wind blew up from below. Diech dropped the dagger that had pierced Rosaline there. The smell of blood wafted up, making him dizzy.

Until the moment he departed, Rosalines eyes held a sense of puzzlement. Why did you wish for Rosalines death? Why did you kill her? Why do you want to kill me again?

His reason for not providing an answer was not solely because of the interference of an intruder. How could he explain this? Diech had no clue.

Rosaline, you know. If We set our minds to it, we would never miss prey in such close proximity. Yet, she fell beneath the cliff. Rosaline, you know what that means. Only you know.

So, unable to kill her with his own hands, he drove her off the cliff. Abandoning the risks of everything he had built up in his plan, he reached out his hand toward her as she fell. Why did I do it again? How could I?

His breath caught. He felt a cold sensation on the back of his hand. It was only after looking that he realized it was his tears.RêAd lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only

***

It began with people dying inside iron bars.

The Emperor, who brought her to the capital at a young age because he desired her, couldnt provide any support. He wasnt compassionate enough to comfort a woman who was constantly melancholic due to nostalgia, nor did he have enough affection for her to take on such a troublesome task.

She was just young and charming, and it was pleasant to look at her. That was the extent of the attention she received. The range of the Emperors affection if you could even call it affection.

In such a context, Diech was born. A son was born. Regardless of Elpidios power, it was natural for the son to be considered a candidate for crown prince. People began to come and congratulate the previously quiet White Jade Castle, and the Emperor, upon hearing the news of a son, smiled indulgently and praised her. He showered her with many shiny and coveted things.

She found it. The only thread she could grasp in this dark and frightening, maze-like palace. The slender thread guiding her to the maze exit was the child she had given birth to.

The golden-haired boy was not only beautiful but also intelligent. Expectations soared. Even as Elpidios power exponentially grew as he matured, even threatening the current Emperors, she did not doubt that Diech would become the next ruler of the Empire.

Thanks to that, Diech grew up under her persistent gaze. She monitored everything: his clothing, his food, his education, time that should have been his own, the space he should have hadeven his every thought.

You cant do that, Diech. The Emperor dislikes the color red, Diech. You have to wake up at 6, have breakfast until 7, and study history until 9. Read the scriptures until 12, have lunch until 1 Its all about the demeanor of a noble Its all for you to become the Emperor All the preparations All for your sake.

Whether it was because he grew up under such parents or if it was his inherent nature, Diech was fragile. He got swept away by her attention and was obedient to her demands. Diech often felt frustrated, but he smiled for her sake.

Weak and spineless. That was Its evaluation of the past Diech. He felt that way when he was Diechs pet. But after becoming him, his evaluation became even more scathing.

Diech.

Ah, shes here again. Diechs mother entered the room with a suspicious glance and a stern face. No, his mother.

Diech looked at her and smiled gently. It was the result of practicing in front of a mirror. Even though he looked exactly like the past Diech, the womans expression still paled. Her eyes were displeased.

His clothing, food, education, living space, time, even his every thought Even if he did everything according to his mothers will, she must have realized he wasnt her Diech.

Could this be what they called love? How incredibly repulsive.

That night, the White Jade Castle burned, with Diech found unconscious three days after. Due to the nature of the Imperial family, which sought to conceal unfavorable incidents as much as possible, only the people of White Jade Castle knew about his collapse.

Thus, the story of the 5th Prince Diech collapsing before the fire and waking up unable to speak vanished along with White Jade Castle; the truth laid to rest with the blackened ashes.

The flickering light illuminated the dark sky. Diech prodded at the sparks that popped up from the places touched by the heat. It was hot.

With a rumbling sound, a part of the castle collapsed. As Diech stepped back, heavy debris fell onto where he had just stood. Diech turned around and headed toward the place where it all began. The lakeside where Diech disappeared and transformed into his current self. He found a spot amidst the beautiful blossoming flowers and sat down.