Chapter 145
“Terence.”
He was from the Astaroth royal family, and with his immense power, he could help me.
“Yes. The power of the royal family has been passed down through generations, and over time it has become more worldly than the divine power of ordinary priests.”
Lucy nodded, as if to confirm my thought.
“But its origin still comes from Miela. Perhaps its worldly nature makes it better suited for you, master.”
“Why?”
“Because you are someone far removed from piety and sanctity.”
“…I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Moreover, such an act is safer if there is familiarity and trust between the giver and receiver of power. After all, the recipient must fully accept the other’s power into their body.”
“True. Terence would be much better than some priest I barely know.”
I could trust Terence completely.
I sent him a note through a messenger, asking him to come to the palace when he had free time.
I expected it would be evening before I could see him, given how busy he was—but to my surprise, he appeared before me shortly after.
“Idel.”
“Oh? Was this a convenient moment?”
“Yes.”
“You’re lying.”
“Oh, you caught me. But if you need my help, shouldn’t I drop everything and come running?”
Terence’s casual tone no longer made me feel embarrassed, as it once did.
“Still, you shouldn’t really drop everything—you have important duties.”
“In truth, I only put aside minor matters.”
We sat down, engaging in light conversation.
“So, what is this request?”
When I explained, Terence readily agreed.
“If I can help, I’ll gladly do so.”
“Lucy says that injecting too much power at once would strain the body. So, I’m afraid I’ll be asking your help multiple times.”
“Call on me as much as you like. In fact…”
Terence’s expression clouded slightly.
“Recently, I felt I haven’t been of much help to you, so I’m glad to be needed in any way, even like this.”
“Eh? That’s not true. You’ve always helped me.”
“Yet, even when coaxing the eccentric inventor, or freeing Mihail from brainwashing, or revealing that woman’s identity to the Cassius family… I mostly just followed along.”
It seemed that I had spent less time with Terence lately, but that did not mean he had been less helpful.
“No, even just listening to me is enough to make me feel reassured.”
Like yesterday.
“You told me it was okay whether I forgave the Cassius family or not, and that eased my heart so much.”
“That was just simple advice.”
“Exactly because it was simple, it resonated with me.”
I grabbed Terence’s hand resting on the table.
“Thank you for being by my side. Because of you, I can stay strong.”
Finally, a smile returned to Terence’s face.
“Thank you.”
“No, I should be the one thanking you.”
“And I want to say something clearly: you ease my heart as well, Idel.”
“Me?”
“When we cooperated temporarily with the Empress over Mihail’s matter, you said that such a temporary alliance was your responsibility and I need not be bound by it.”
“Ah, yes.”
Cooperating with the Empress was necessary to break Mihail’s brainwashing.
From Terence’s perspective, she had been a lifelong enemy who had threatened his life countless times.
The temporary alliance was essential to prevent Liena from using her blessing on the Emperor, but it was far from pleasant for him.
Moreover, I had even offered to provide mana stones to the Velrode Duke family to restrain the Empress.
I had expected Terence to object, yet…
‘He didn’t.’
Suddenly, I felt a pang of worry—what if he was suppressing his feelings for me?
“Terence, if my actions bother you, speak honestly. You don’t need to support me at the cost of your own heart.”
So one day, I said to him:
“Our opinions won’t always align. But when they don’t, let’s discuss seriously and decide what to do. Maybe we’ll even come up with better solutions together.”
At the time, Terence replied that he had no objections to my decisions, that his resentment toward the Empress could never be erased, but that there were more important matters at hand.
Terence spoke.
“Honestly, I was quite surprised back then. You, Idel, were mindful of what I had suffered in the past, yet you never spoke of revenge.”
“Revenge?”
“Yes. Usually, people fall into two categories regarding my relationship with the Empress.”
He held up his index and middle fingers.
“One group says, ‘Forget the past and move forward for the sake of the Empire.’ My father is among them.”
As Emperor, he cherished Terence, yet he would naturally resist civil strife. If Terence tried to kill the Empress, it could destabilize the Empire, possibly triggering civil war.
“The other group urges me to repay them in kind. Jack and other subordinates say this. I understand they mean well…”
“Does it feel burdensome?”
“Perhaps. I’m not without desire for revenge, but it doesn’t excite me as it once did. Before, imagining revenge made me laugh; now I enjoy planning the future with you more.”
Terence grasped my hands firmly.
“The most enjoyable moments now are working with you, discussing how to free her from brainwashing, and where to place the mana stones.”
I felt immense joy at his words.
“It makes sense to feel conflicted. But one thing is certain: whether you take revenge or not, I’m on your side.”
“Even if the revenge is cruel beyond imagination?”
“I don’t know how cruel it might be, but I know you would never betray my trust.”
I trusted Terence, more than any villain I’d ever read about in novels.
He would never cross the final moral line.
“Are we done talking?”
Lucy leapt onto the table, sensing it was unrelated to her. Finally, she was behaving like a proper being.
“Now, we will transfer the prince’s power to the master. Sit side by side.”
Following Lucy’s instruction, I sat on the sofa and raised my hand.
“Um, I forgot to ask—how exactly is it transferred? Like last time, Terence just held my arm?”
Lucy gave me a look that clearly said, What a ridiculous question.
“I could transfer a large amount of power with mere contact because I am a divine beast. Humans would take all night.”
“So how do we do it…?”
“Of course, closer contact is needed. Prince, lift the master in your arms immediately.”
“What?!”
“Stick as close as possible.”
Caught off guard, Terence and I awkwardly eyed each other.
Then Terence spoke first.
“Idel, it’s necessary. I’m fine with it.”
I sensed an inexplicable resolve in him.
“Alright… please take care of me.”
Immediately, Terence’s arms wrapped around my waist and legs.
“Ah.”
He lifted me onto his lap.
His face was now mere inches from mine. Embarrassed, I averted my gaze.
“What is this awkward posture?”
Lucy wasn’t letting me off easy.
“Your lower bodies touch, but your upper bodies are still too far. Closer.”
People behaving like proper adults… what nonsense!
I pressed closer, unable to back out.
Now, I was fully nestled in his embrace.
“Lucy, is this sufficient?”
Perched on my shoulder, Lucy shook her head sternly.
“Relax your body. If you remain tense, the power will flow back instead of into the master.”
Terence gently patted my back.
“Idel, relax. It’s alright.”
Seeing him calm and smiling helped me loosen up as well.
“What a show-off, Prince!”
Lucy leapt onto Terence’s shoulder sharply.
“Your body is even stiffer than the master’s!”
…Now that I noticed, it was true. His muscles were tense against me.
Lucy sighed heavily at our stiffness.
“Why don’t you both strip? Bare skin contact is actually more efficient.”
“Lucy! Please mind your words!”
I felt a sinking premonition: this process of increasing my divine power was not going to be quick.
At the same time, Isaac stared at an untouched meal tray in his mansion.
It was the tray he had delivered through the dog hole into Liena’s locked room.
“I’m not eating until you let me out!”
A stubborn voice cried from beyond the door.
“Then open the door if you don’t want me starving, Uncle!”
Liena had declared a hunger strike, demanding freedom and shouting at Isaac.
