Chapter : 35
This time, we’ll change the male lead
“Your Majesty, Aiden has dismissed the tutor Ellin that he appointed.”
Jane, the deputy commander of the Imperial Knights, reported to Hiperion.
“However, it seems Aiden is still lingering around the temple.”
“He still… hasn’t come to his senses.”
Hiperion’s long fingers tapped lightly on the desk.
“It may be unpleasant, but for now, we must observe.”
Jane cautiously added, sensing the limits of his patience.
“Do you still remember the last will the Empress left behind?”
At Jane’s words, Hiperion leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. Through the darkened vision, he recalled the miserable last moments of his mother.
― Leon, until your power is strong, never oppose the temple. You must not act until they show a weakness.
― …Mother.
― You must remember how I die.
“Every day Aiden gets closer to the Saintess is an advantage for us. Surely a day will come when they show a flaw.”
“Yes, it’s still worth keeping him alive for now.”
Hiperion murmured slowly as he opened his eyes.
“When everything is over…”
His gaze glimmered lazily, like a predator waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
“Granting the Saintess’s request… letting her die by my side wouldn’t be a bad idea either.”
Jane let out a small cough at his passing remark. She knew Hiperion would undoubtedly do exactly that.
“Yes. Moreover…”
Jane carefully chose her words before continuing.
“If it weren’t for the Laviel supplied by the temple, not only would the Emperor have lost consciousness, but Your Majesty could also be in danger.”
“Even if this is the Empire of Ignis under my reign, it wouldn’t be wrong to say so.”
Hiperion let out a low laugh.
Ironically, ever since the royal family’s madness manifested, the power of the temple had only grown stronger.
Compared to the fallen Emperors of Ignis over the centuries, the temple, which had been manipulating the royal lifelines through Laviel, had maintained its position for hundreds of years.
Now, with even the current Emperor collapsed, the de facto power of the empire lay with Crown Prince Hiperion.
And he was the first to resist the temple’s power.
As long as the temple was aware of that, all he could do now was wait for the right moment.
“Have there been any signs of the sacred relics?”
Hiperion asked, and Jane replied swiftly.
“Yes, Your Majesty. One of them is said to have been sensed in the south. We should wait. All the Empire’s high-ranking mages have been mobilized as well.”
“We must find them first.”
Hiperion rose from his seat and walked to the window.
“That way, we can awaken the power of the sealed spirits.”
He stared down at the darkened lands of Ignis for a long moment.
― Whoever finds the divine key and awakens the spirits shall lead the Empire to eternity.
Aypol, the first Emperor of Ignis and the first Sol, had, along with the first Saintess, Selen, sealed the guardian spirits deep underground.
The three relics capable of awakening the spirits were hidden and named Thalassa (Sea), Lus (Sky), and Terra (Earth), and only those who found the relics and awakened the spirits could wield their full power.
“Ah, and there was an incident at the temple today.”
“The Grand Minister has returned, right?”
Hiperion’s indifferent gaze swept over the office, showing little interest.
Babil, who should have been lingering somewhere, was nowhere to be seen.
Perhaps she was in the Princess’s room.
“Yes, but also…”
Jane spoke again.
“It seems Princess Veritas was involved in that incident.”
“What… do you mean?”
Only then did Hiperion’s red eyes turn toward Jane.
After reporting everything that happened today, Jane added:
“However, thanks to the magic circle installed in the temple, she is safe.”
“Magic circle?”
“Yes. After all, it was installed in the temple.”
A magic circle in the temple? Hiperion frowned.
Temples usually strictly forbid outsiders from entering, so magic circles are installed as protection. But today was one of the few days the temple was open for a festival.
‘The Grand Minister isn’t the type to make such a mistake.’
He would remove a magic circle if needed, but he wouldn’t have set one up…
“What did Marquis Carl Bate and the Princess talk about?”
“Well… up to that point, I’m not sure.”
“Not sure?”
Hiperion’s voice suddenly turned cold.
“I didn’t assign you to stay by the Princess’s side just to hear vague stories.”
“I apologize, my lord.”
Jane reflexively dropped to one knee.
“I feared that if I appeared at the temple, she would notice I was protecting her… Besides, in the end, the Grand Minister took the Princess away, so I couldn’t intervene. I apologize, my lord.”
“Say that again.”
“I apologize, my lord.”
“No, not that.”
Jane felt her lips dry. The more she spoke, the more Hiperion’s eyebrows knitted in anger.
She knew she had made a serious verbal misstep. It seemed she had truly provoked Hiperion’s already sharp temper.
“The Grand Minister escorted the Princess. It wasn’t a long distance—just to the temple entrance.”
“…”
“The Princess seemed very comfortable with the Grand Minister. Well, if they get along, it’s advantageous for us.”
Jane nodded confidently.
“We can gain more information about the Grand Minister through the Princess.”
“You’re talking nonsense today.”
“…What?”
Hiperion irritably removed his monocle and tossed it onto the desk.
The sharp clatter made Jane flinch.
“Did the Crown Princess send you to spy on the Grand Minister?”
“Ah… I misspoke, my lord.”
Jane was equally baffled by the day’s events. Her report hadn’t changed, yet Hiperion seemed unusually harsh.
‘Is it because I referred to the Crown Princess that way?’
Which part had upset him—her being with the Grand Minister? Or with Marquis Carl Bate?
That meant…
‘Could it be jealousy?’
No, that’s absurd. Jane shook her head inwardly. Hiperion isn’t the type to feel jealousy.
‘Well, it is a temple festival today. I suppose he could be extra sensitive.’
Having had no rest until now, Hiperion’s spiritual power was particularly sharp today.
“Your Majesty, shouldn’t you rest for the day?”
Jane concluded, speaking carefully.
“Haven’t you been working without a single day off because of the illegal merchant guilds lately?”
“…”
“If you collapse on top of the Emperor losing consciousness, it would be disastrous.”
“You’re noisy. Leave.”
Hiperion only ran his hand through his hair wearily, letting his golden strands fall across his eyes.
“Yes, understood.”
After Jane left, Hiperion pressed his temple with his hand.
‘Why am I so irritated?’
The sound of fireworks began—bang, bang!—growing louder and more distinct.
The unknown emotion annoyed him, and combined with the smell drifting from the temple and the fireworks, Hiperion muttered curses through clenched teeth.
“Damn it…”
Bang, bang! The sound grew even louder. The explosions felt like knives piercing his head, and his eyelashes trembled.
‘Hoo… I’m going crazy.’
Gasping, Hiperion frantically pulled out Laviel from a drawer.
As he forcibly opened the bottle—
― Don’t take that medicine.
The voice echoed faintly through his blurred vision.
If he continued, he would either pass out or vomit blood, yet his hands wouldn’t move.
“What the hell…”
Hiperion bit his lips tightly.
It felt as if his blood was draining away. Whoever stood before him would be torn apart without hesitation.
‘Kaela Veritas… who are you to suddenly appear and…’
“Ha…”
Clang! Hiperion violently tossed the glass bottle and collapsed onto the sofa.
The bottle shattered, and the scent of Laviel filled the room, making him nauseous.
― Hiperion. I’ve been waiting for you.
― Don’t take that medicine.
Through his dimming consciousness, only that figure and voice remained.
She must be asleep by now.
Should I see her sleeping face?
Hiperion let out a cold, hollow laugh. He hadn’t expected such futile instincts and emotions to still remain in him.
As he shut his eyes tightly to dispel the lingering image—
Tap, tap—
A strange sound came from somewhere.
“…”
Hiperion’s reddened eyes turned toward the window. He thought raindrops were falling—but they weren’t.
Tap, tap, tap.
Small stones continued to knock on the window.
Tap, tap, tap, tap!
What he expected to be a few knocks turned into a rhythmic, almost musical tapping.
What kind of madman… Annoyed, he got up and slammed open the window.
“Oh? You finally came out.”
In an instant, Hiperion’s expression froze.
Silver hair fluttering under the cloak, eyes bright and curved…
“I came to play because I was bored. Oh, it looks like it’s starting!”
Seeing that smiling face aimed at him, something indescribable tightened in his chest.
