Chapter 322

Ash seemed to be disoriented from the aftermath of coming back to life.

He had fallen asleep in Dustia's arms inside the carriage.

Gently stroking her son's smooth forehead, Dustia asked, "How did you know to come and save us?"

Standing outside the carriage and looking in at his wife and son was the Emperor—Traha, who replied, "The 'Prophet' informed me."

Five hundred years ago, when Everblack was just a small kingdom, a mage had suddenly appeared and contributed to its revival.

This mage had transformed a mere thorn bush into a magical lighthouse that foresaw the future, and thanks to that, Everblack grew into a powerful nation.

Ever since, it had declared itself an empire. And even now, five hundred years later, the immortal who advised the Emperor on future matters was still alive.

In the Imperial Family, this elderly figure was called the 'Prophet.'

"He warned me that you would be attacked and advised me to go save you immediately. So, I promptly took knights with me and came."

"Turns out, that scammer's prophecies are occasionally accurate."

"Watch your language. He is a benefactor of Everblack."

Traha casually spoke, noticing the displeasure on Dustia's face.

"Your regression magic always seems to be used to save others' lives. All your life you've protected me, and now our son."

"..."

"Did you use up all the remaining power in this recent use of regression magic?"

"...Yes."

"Then you won't hold out much longer."

"Is that what you say to a dying wife?"

Dustia looked away from her husband, her eyes dropping.

"The heavenly punishment bestowed upon our clan... The curse of regression is inherited. Bloodline inheritance. After I die, it will transfer to this child."

Her trembling hand gently stroked Ash's head.

"I can only share the characteristic that it reverses time, not how it will manifest... I can't predict how this child will inherit this curse, which is unfortunate."

"Ash will overcome it."

Traha smirked and bowed slightly toward Dustia.

"Because he is our son."

The Emperor and the Second Empress shared a brief kiss.

After their lips parted and he stroked her cheek, Traha slowly stepped outside.

"Return to the palace to recuperate. Make good use of your remaining time."

As Traha turned and walked away, Dustia weakly muttered, "For my last wish, may you fall into hell, Your Majesty."

With a bitter smile, the Emperor softly replied, "If I could be reunited with you there, it wouldn't be so bad."

Mounting his white horse, Emperor Traha shouted, "Forward!" and galloped toward the King's Castle.

Dustia, who had been holding back her emotions, let out a long sigh.

"...Let's go, Lucas."

Lucas, who had been eavesdropping while standing guard nearby, hurriedly ran over, startled. Dustia managed a weak smile.

"Let's spend the remaining vacation at home."

Thus, Dustia, the Second Empress, who had taken her first vacation in decades, returned to the Star Palace.

And she never stepped out again.

***

After the ambush, the Second Empress Dustia's condition deteriorated rapidly.

"...Hasn't this happened before?"

Every moment of every day, she felt a strong sense of déjà vu.

"Another déjà vu... it feels like I've lived through this, hundreds, thousands of times..."

"It's probably just your imagination, Mother. Look, this tea just came in from the south—"

"No. I have... I've tasted this tea before."

Dustia glared at the teacup that Ash extended toward her and violently shook her head, tearing at her hair.

"If you say that while smiling, handing me the tea in this situation...! It's all something I've experienced before!"

"Mother, calm down...!"

Clang-!

Dustia's flailing arm pushed Ash away, and the teacup in Ash's hand fell to the floor, shattering into pieces. Hot tea splashed all around.

Gasping, Dustia quickly snapped to her senses and murmured as she hugged Ash tightly.

"Ah, Ash, Ash, my poor and pitiful child..."

"Mother...?"

"I can't pass this torment onto you... I'll live, for as long as possible. Just bear with it for a little longer..."

Such events repeated daily.

Dustia felt uneasy about everything and would have uncontrollable fits. The once warm and comforting imperial residence quickly deteriorated.

Rumors that Dustia was going mad spread throughout the imperial family.

The other wives of the imperial family tormented her, making the story of the second empress going insane the most convincing and widely accepted.

However, despite her fits, Dustia stubbornly clung to life.

"If I die, this curse will move onto you."

Months later, the withered Dustia muttered through dry lips.

"So, I'll live..."

Ash, who had been taking care of her mother without giving up, tried hard to hold back tears and smiled.

"Yes, Mother. Please live. Let's survive this."

"..."

Lucas had been watching this entire spectacle from the sidelines.

***

Time passed.

Those who had attacked Dustia committed suicide before they could be captured.

...Or so it was reported.

The person leading the investigation and manhunt for over a year and a half was none other than Fernandez.

Fernandez, who had been directing the Aegis Special Forces directly under the imperial family, received the emperor's command to investigate the case. He concluded the investigation by finding and killing the last attacker.

"When Father was conquering the North, the Second Empress Dustia was right by his side, winning several battles."

Thud.

Finishing his signature on the case-closure documents, Fernandez spoke as he closed the file.

"The surviving members of the fallen kingdoms harbored resentment and attacked the Second Empress Dustia... that's what will be reported."

Fernandez's residence.

Lucas sat on his knees in silence, listening. Fernandez gave a relaxed smile.

"We also investigated internal spies... Lucas, you were never a suspect from the beginning. Understandable, since you nearly died trying to prevent the attack."

"..."

"And you not only refused to assist in the mission but actually obstructed it..."

Fernandez walked over to Lucas and lowered his gaze.

"Seems you've forgotten your loyalties, Lucas. Has your family forgotten their debt?"

"Sorry, but I can't continue this anymore."

Lucas spat out briefly. A flicker of interest crossed Fernandez's eyes.

"Oh?"

"I can't betray Prince Ash and Empress Mother Dustia anymore."

The smile on Fernandez's face deepened. Lucas clenched his teeth as he lifted his head.

"Let the McGregor family go to hell. Let the family fall into ruin and disappear."

There were no more lingering attachments.

Lucas had resolved to live for Dustia and Ash, the people he truly cared about. Even if it meant forsaking his own family.

As Lucas stood up and turned to leave, Fernandez whispered softly.

"And if it's revealed that you were the internal spy in the attack on the Second Empress?"

"What...?"

Startled, Lucas turned around to find Fernandez still smiling leisurely.

"His Majesty will be quite furious. He detests traitors... You can almost certainly expect a death sentence."

"But, if that's the case, I'll tell them you ordered me to—"

"Tell who? I'm the head of this country's intelligence agency. Even the Imperial Capital's Defense Force and Aegis Special Forces are under my control."

"..."

Only then did Lucas realize.

He had been caught in a spider's web for a long time.

Trapped, unable to move, his limbs tightly bound...

"And there's this... Bring him in."

At Fernandez's nod, his subordinates dragged someone in.

The person roughly brought forth was—

"Master...!"

Mason, a loyal servant of the McGregor family and an instructor of swordsmanship.

His large frame, bloody as if he'd been tortured, was thrown onto the floor. Lucas screamed.

"Mason!"

"It's not just him. Everyone left in your family is currently detained by our Special Forces."

Fernandez casually spoke, his voice silky smooth. Lucas gritted his teeth.

"Your Highness Fernandez...!"

"As an example, I'll have their heads severed one by one right in front of you."

Fernandez ran his slender finger horizontally across his own neck.

"And then I'll have your head cut off and send it to the secondary palace of the Second Empress. I'd like it to be known as the fate of a filthy traitor."

"..."

"Did you think you had a choice, Lucas?"

With a natural condescension, the red eyes behind the glasses emitted a creepy light.

"Sit. Kneel."

With gritted teeth, Lucas finally had no choice but to slowly kneel on the floor. A clear smirk formed on the edge of Fernandez's lips.

"I need useful dogs, Lucas... so I'm giving you a last chance to prove your loyalty to me."

Lucas's eyes bulged at the following words.

"My agents will soon attack the secondary palace of the Second Empress. Cooperate then. Open the gates and let my agents in."

"Wha, what...!"

"And assist in the assassination of the Second Empress of Dustia and Prince Ash. If you do it with your own hands, you'll score more points with me."

Lucas shook his head roughly.

"I can't do it, I can't do such a thing!"

"Then everyone dies here."

At Fernandez's signal, his subordinates simultaneously drew their swords.

The sight of a sword pointed at Mason's neck on the floor was visible. The cold touch of metal touched Lucas's neck as well.

"Even if you don't cooperate, the Second Empress of Dustia and Ash will die. But if you cooperate, you and your family can live."

"..."

"Lucas. I value you and the potential of the McGregor family, that's why I'm going through this troublesome process to prove your worth."

Fernandez softly whispered, his voice becoming gentle.

"I'm going to be Emperor. And I want to employ you heavily in the future."

"Uh, guh...!"

"Think carefully. What will you gain by sticking with an empress plagued by madness and a prince who is nothing but kind and talentless?"

Fernandez leveled his eyes with Lucas's, staring into his blue eyes.

"This is my last offer. Prove your loyalty to me."

"..."

"I'll give you everything. Your life, your future."

With that, Lucas closed his eyes tightly.

***

It was a clear winter night.

Just like that day seven years ago when Lucas first came to this secondary palace.

Now fourteen, Lucas stood at the back gate of the palace, blankly staring up at the sky.

The choice was never there to begin with. If he refused, everyone would die; if he accepted, both Lucas and the McGregor family could live.

In that case, what choice did he have but to accept?

As Lucas was justifying his decision to himself, the sound of a cuckoo bird reached his ears. It was the signal.

Screech—

Carefully opening the back door, people clad in black masks and robes streamed in.

Without a word, they moved swiftly through the backyard and infiltrated the Star Palace.

Trembling as he watched this scene unfold, the leader of the assassination squad quietly handed something to Lucas.

"If you can't do it sober... place this in your body."

It looked like a syringe filled with dark blue blood. Lucas asked with curiosity.

"...What is this?"

"A beastification serum. It's still being tested in the dark division. It's somewhat of a failure since it can't produce antibodies, but... the berserk effect is quite useful."

"..."

"It's from the 'Center.' It allows you to wield the power of a beast for a short period and... it removes cumbersome emotions like guilt and conscience."

"..."

"I used it on my first mission too. It will help."

Leaving a stunned Lucas behind, the leader of the assassination squad strode into the Star Palace.

Gritting his teeth, Lucas clenched the serum tightly in his hand.

After Dustia had gone mad, the Star Palace had gradually reduced its servants and had no reliable security force of its own.

Though defensive and security magic had been set up around the periphery of the Star Palace, the moment the door was opened from the inside, they were all nullified.

Now, the lives of Dustia and Ash were as fragile as a flame in the wind.