Chapter 60 …
The Imperial Palace
When the Kingdom of Lobati changed its name to an empire and consolidated its power, it built the imperial palace. Even 300 years later, it remained dazzling with its smooth marble, gold-plated window frames and decorations, and the palace domes that bloomed in layers like flowers.
Ayla couldn’t enter this place until she received her ring at her coming-of-age ceremony, but today was special.
“Even if it’s special, the back door…”
She hadn’t expected her first visit to the palace to be through the back entrance.
Carlos wore a look of apology, but Ayla let it slide. Such experiences were exciting in their own way.
If not now, when would she ever—
“Is this… a secret passage?”
Ayla’s question made Carlos chuckle lightly, even in this situation.
“No. This is the servants’ path.”
“I see.”
Using the servants’ path, huh. Strangely, she sensed Sheilun standing behind them was enjoying this. A glance back revealed him simply smiling calmly—so why did it feel so deliberate?
Contrary to expectations, after crossing the main palace via a cloud bridge, they entered a building slightly apart from the main palace.
Sheilun smiled with satisfaction, as if thinking, “So this is where I’d end up.”
“This way.”
As Carlos spoke and opened the door, Sheilun stepped closer and lingered.
Carlos noticed and forced a wry smile.
“There’s no one in the room. You don’t need to worry.”
Ah.
Only then did Ayla realize Sheilun had been worried about the possibility of an ambush the moment the door opened. To ease that concern, Carlos stepped inside and fully opened the door.
Sheilun went ahead, lightly touching Ayla’s shoulder as he looked around, then smiled at her.
Only then did Ayla enter.
The room was smaller and more modest than she had expected.
“Smaller and simpler than the Crown Prince’s bedroom? Or are they just using a room that isn’t meant to be a bedroom?”
Thinking this, Ayla approached the bed, which had curtains drawn.
A glance at Carlos confirmed he nodded, so she opened the curtains.
She almost screamed.
A snake!!
She could restrain her scream because the Shooting Star on her right wrist simultaneously shouted, “It’s okay!”
A snake? Wait, isn’t it… not a snake? And did Shooting Star just talk?
The confusion only made her more bewildered, so she stepped back.
At first glance, it seemed a massive black snake coiled on the bed, but on closer inspection, it wasn’t really a snake—more like a black energy…
“Is this a curse? Wait, then what about Roland?”
Ayla squinted, staring at the bed.
As she froze in place, glaring at the bed, Carlos and Sheilun also stopped.
Carlos spoke anxiously.
“Miss Ayla, is there really something there?”
“Shh.”
Sheilun raised a finger.
Carlos looked at him. Sheilun’s eyes burned with passionate intensity as he stared at Ayla.
“We shouldn’t interfere. Not now.”
A once-in-a-lifetime event was unfolding right in front of them.
Carlos thought, “Are all Solalune’s tattoos like this?” but understood that they must not interfere with Ayla and turned his attention back to her.
Ayla clutched her pendant tightly. Under the huge black snake, she could see Roland.
Not just lying there—he was completely wrapped up.
[Ayla! Grab me and pour light into me!]
“Ah?!”
A voice escaped her without realizing it.
Shooting Star just spoke?!
[Now I can! Our connection has strengthened! Together, we are infinite! Come on, Ayla.]
Infinite? What does that mean?
Confused but prompted, Ayla released Shooting Star from her wrist and poured her light into it.
The Shooting Star stretched, forming the shape of a spear.
“Ohhh!”
Sheilun clasped both hands tightly, letting out an awed exclamation.
Carlos was also surprised—but for a different reason.
“Ayla, wait—!”
To him, it looked like Roland lying on the bed, and Ayla standing before him with a weapon.
Sheilun stopped Carlos from rushing forward.
Carlos turned sharply toward him.
Sheilun smiled.
“You trust the lady, right?”
Carlos hesitated, then nodded. At this point, he had no choice but to trust her.
Ayla stared at the spear-shaped Shooting Star in her hands, surprised, but calmness returned with the weapon.
“Now what?”
She asked, gripping the spear with both hands. Shooting Star shouted:
[Attack!]
Eh? Really? That’s it? From now on, I fight with my own power?
[Go, Ayla! You are strong!]
Ayla lifted her head, thinking, “Right. I fight with my own power.”
Adopting the stance Sir Lupen had taught her, she faced the snake.
It seemed to sense her and raised its head stiffly.
Hiss!
A sharp sound cut through the air.
It swayed threateningly, clearly aiming at her. Taller than Ayla, it loomed over her.
“This… is…”
Ayla tightened her grip on the spear and poured more light into it.
The light spread around, and Carlos and Sheilun began to see the black snake clearly.
Carlos gasped, and Sheilun covered his mouth with both hands. Tears began to form in their eyes.
The snake lunged at Ayla.
Shyaaa!
“This is tormenting my friend?!”
Ayla swung the spear.
The snake dodged quickly, giving her hope.
“I just have to hit it!”
“Yaaah!”
Ayla thrust with all her might. It was so large that piercing it wasn’t difficult.
Kyah!
With a brief death rattle, the snake flailed and shattered into pieces in the light.
“Defeated!”
[Don’t let your guard down!]
But the pieces turned into small snakes and lunged at her.
Ayla instinctively rotated her spear, striking the incoming snakes quickly.
“Are they all gone?”
[No lines! Raise the light!]
Ayla focused, creating a sphere of light in the air, and maximized its brightness. The remaining small snakes screamed and melted away.
Shooting Star quickly returned to her wrist, saying:
[Now just maintain the light.]
Ayla hovered the light above her head and leapt onto the bed.
“Roland! Roland, are you okay?”
Roland covered his ears and curled up.
The whispered curse tormented his ears, his insides seemed to melt, and fear swelled in his heart.
The people around him sounded muffled, like from underwater.
Humans didn’t look like humans.
Snake-headed humans approached, hissing.
Roland chose to stay curled on the bed.
Breathing became increasingly difficult, as if his lungs were being compressed.
Would he drown right there on the bed? Or be crushed?
He didn’t even know if he was already dead.
Even in death, as a demon, he might linger in that spot like a ghost.
Reality?
Dream?
The line blurred, and only the stabbing pain drove him forward.
Where to?
Someone grabbed his hand and removed it from his ear.
“…Roland!”
Though she shouted, it didn’t pierce painfully.
Her clear, gentle voice pushed away the curse.
A glimmering light caught his eyes, and Roland squinted to look at her.
Through the shimmering haze, her bright blue eyes appeared.
“Roland.”
When she spoke again, the curse completely receded.
A comforting silence pressed down around them.
Roland stared blankly at her.
Why was there a crescent moon behind Ayla’s head?
Light, like opal, streamed from it, illuminating everything.
Staring blankly at the halo behind her head, Roland looked back at Ayla.
Coldness ran down his temple, and he realized, a moment late, that he was crying.
Ayla looked at him with a concerned expression.
Holding his hand firmly, she asked again:
“Roland, are you awake?”
Roland looked at his hand in hers.
Five fingers, complete with nails—human hands. He felt relief.
Taking a deep breath, the air tasted sweet.
He reached out his other hand to Ayla.
Though his fingertips trembled, they touched her cheek.
She didn’t resist and smiled gently.
Her cheek was surprisingly cool, and it felt good.
Later, he realized it was likely because he had been suffering a high fever.
Ayla spoke kindly:
“It’s okay now.”
Roland blinked and clenched his teeth.
He survived.
And he hadn’t killed anyone.
He immediately grabbed Ayla’s collar and pulled her.
Ayla, realizing the situation, quickly grabbed the blanket, shielding them completely from view.
Roland rested his head against Ayla’s shoulder and sobbed quietly.
In the darkness that concealed everything, Ayla stroked his back.
No comforting words, no gentle voice—but it was enough that Ayla herself was crying.
That alone was enough.
Roland cried as though expelling everything from within.
