CHAPTER 35
A long, long time ago, it was said that Moria and Revilla were neighboring countries.
And as if to prove that the saying wasn’t just a myth, the path from Moria to Revilla wasn’t all that far.
“I didn’t realize it was this close.”
Asilia recalled the first time she had gone to Revilla.
Although she had received decent treatment on that visit, the journey had felt far, likely because she had walked it right after the war, weary and exhausted.
“Once we cross that bridge, we’ll be in the capital of Revilla.”
Asilia turned to look at Adrian. He wore a tense expression but then took a deep breath.
“Once we’re in, I’ll shout that I’ve captured Adrian de Monique. Then the knights will swarm in and take you away.”
“……”
“Revilla’s methods of interrogation are a bit… harsh. Especially if they plan to execute you. Are you really going through with this?”
Asilia looked at Adrian, concern in her eyes.
Truthfully, whether he lived or died was none of her business.
At least, that’s how she had felt when she first stepped foot in Moria.
But things were different now.
She wasn’t worried because he was from Moria, but because they had a shared history and memories.
“What’s this? Your Majesty the Empress… are you worried about me?”
Adrian asked with a surprised expression.
“Why? Do you wish I wouldn’t be?”
“No, it’s just…”
Adrian opened his mouth slightly.
He’d expected a teasing response, but her serious answer caught him off guard.
Scratching his head, he looked away, unsure of what to say. He coughed awkwardly.
“Don’t worry. I’ll just break out after being locked up for a couple of days.”
“Escape?”
Asilia’s eyes widened in surprise, but then she nodded—if anyone could do it, he could.
Especially if Creteth helped him. Escape would be inevitable.
“No matter which prison they take you to, if you’re planning to run, inspect the diagonal ceilings carefully. You should find somewhere to hide, at least for a while.”
The rest was luck.
Revilla’s prisons were known as some of the most escape-proof in the world.
She could only hope he wouldn’t be tortured too severely.
At her worried tone, Adrian quietly watched her back.
“Haa…”
Hymos, overhearing Adrian’s sigh, stepped closer and asked,
“Why are you sighing so heavily at the sight of Revilla’s land?”
“It’s just… I think the torture I’m about to receive is going to hurt.”
Hymos narrowed his eyes briefly at Adrian’s answer but then shrugged.
“Take this, then. It’s a drug that dulls your senses. While it’s in effect, it’ll be hard to hear or respond to people properly. Good for pretending to be dead or severely ill.”
Adrian’s eyes trembled slightly as he took the drug.
“This dulls pain, too?”
Hymos, examining the pill, looked at Adrian with a curious gaze.
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
“No, not a problem, it’s just… it looks similar to the medicine my younger sibling takes.”
Adrian stared at the drug for a long moment.
Surely not.
There’s no way they’d give this to his sibling under the pretense of medicine.
Wasn’t this developed by High Priest Lenore?
“You’re saying this looks like the medicine your sibling takes?”
“Yes.”
“That’s odd. Maybe High Priest Lenore gave the wrong one—better double-check when you return.”
Hymos, speaking casually as always, turned to leave, then paused.
“Sir Monique. Come to think of it… didn’t you say your ailing sibling at the temple received the blessing of the god of life?”
“Huh? Yes. But how do you—?”
Hymos let out a faint chuckle. After a brief pause, he added,
“You’ve served His Majesty loyally until now, so I’ll give you one piece of advice.”
“……?”
“Don’t trust High Priest Lenore too much.”
It was a loaded and ominous statement.
The plan went smoothly.
Creteth, using Isaiah’s face, entered Moria with Asilia. He claimed he had sustained a head injury and thus had no memory of past relationships. While this required verification, Asilia would vouch for everything.
The lie involving Adrian was based on a previous agreement between them. Adrian had offered to help Asilia escape. In return, Adrian would request asylum, using the excuse of “his family’s past crimes.”
Of course, Revilla wouldn’t accept defectors easily.
The idea was to make it seem like Asilia had tricked Adrian and brought him back as a prisoner.
Lastly, Hymos waited about an hour outside the capital.
It was close enough to receive updates from Lenore and to rush in if something happened to Creteth.
“Once we learn the location of the relic from High Priest Lenore, I’ll relay it to Your Majesty. Then, please inform Sir Monique. It’d be ideal if he can retrieve it himself.”
“You say that like I’m incapable of doing it alone.”
At Creteth’s comment, Hymos narrowed his eyes.
“You said you can’t sense the relic’s location even from this close, didn’t you?”
“……”
“If you’re that weakened, how would you find it alone?”
Creteth fell silent with a dry cough.
Asilia muttered quietly at the scene,
“You’re completely under his thumb.”
“He’s lived for a thousand years and turned into a nag.”
“Hymos has lived a thousand years? Is he a god too?”
Asilia’s question made Creteth pause. How to explain it in a way she’d understand?
After some thought, he stroked his chin.
“To be precise, he’s been alive since before human lifespans became short.”
“Human lifespans became short?”
“It’s a long and complicated story…”
Creteth looked flustered, unsure how to explain.
Hymos let out a sigh.
“See? He doesn’t care what happens to people, so he can’t even explain it properly.”
“……”
“I’ll explain. Everyone alive now has either died once or experienced near-death. I’m someone who hasn’t.”
Asilia’s expression turned more confused. Creteth’s silence was odd enough, but Hymos’ explanation made even less sense.
In the end, Hymos summed it up simply.
“I’ve been by the gods’ side for a long time and dodged death countless times. That’s why I’ve lived so long.”
He shrugged as if that was all she needed to know. Creteth grumbled, saying “you didn’t dodge all of them,” but Hymos shut him down with a glare.
She couldn’t grasp how they’d lived so long, but it was clear they’d known each other for ages and were very close.
As they chatted, the capital’s gate came into view.
Creteth ran a hand down his face, shifting it into Isaiah’s.
“Think I’ll pass for him?”
Asilia nodded.
Taking a deep breath, she crossed the bridge.
“Halt!”
A knight stepped forward to block her path.
Strangers.
“I am Asilia Lestantins.”
“Lestantins?”
The gatekeepers exchanged wary looks.
The Lestantins were a once-renowned knightly family in Revilla.
And now, only one person still used that name—that person.
“Wasn’t she captured in Revilla…?”
The gatekeeper eyed her suspiciously, but Asilia simply jerked her chin toward Creteth.
With Isaiah’s face, Creteth leaned in and whispered,
“We barely made it back from Moria, and now we’re being held up?”
“……”
“If the prisoner escapes because of your delay, it’ll be your fault.”
At that, the guard looked toward Adrian standing beside her.
Flaming red hair.
There was only one person in Moria with such hair.
Swallowing hard, the gatekeeper backed away.
Asilia stared him down.
“Aren’t you going to report?”
“Pardon?”
“You’ve learned the return protocol for agents, haven’t you?”
The gatekeeper hurried off.
Soon, a fully armed knight approached.
“Welcome back safely, Sir Asilia Lestantins and Sir Isaiah Hisklire. Sir Oswald is awaiting your report.”
“Lead the way. Ah, I’m accompanied by someone requesting asylum. May he come with us?”
“Of course.”
As Asilia proceeded, the knight gave a subtle nod.
It was about Adrian.
Asilia returned the nod, and the knight moved behind Adrian, flanking him.
“Who’s Sir Oswald?”
Creteth whispered beside her.
Barely moving her lips, Asilia replied,
“He’s in charge of agents returning from field missions. Just greet him politely.”
Creteth gave a small nod.
As they walked deeper into the city, the palace came into view.
“This road feels different. Is this a direct road to the palace?”
Adrian mused aloud. A nearby knight answered.
“In Revilla, knights are well-respected. This path is called the Knight Road—only those who’ve sworn the knight’s oath may walk it.”
“I swore my oath in Moria. Does that count here?”
The knight’s brow furrowed at Adrian’s casual tone.
“Today, you’re with Sir Lestantins and Sir Hisklire, so it’s allowed. But you’ll need to swear the oath here to use it again.”
His tone was firm and formal. Adrian shrugged and turned to Asilia.
“You sound just like him.”
They seemed quite familiar with each other.
“Hand over your sword.”
Asilia held out her hand confidently.
Adrian looked puzzled, and she pointed to the palace.
“To enter, foreigners must disarm. You’re not a Revillan yet.”
“Ah, right.”
He nodded and handed over the sword from his waist.
In that moment, Asilia drew the blade and pointed it at his throat.
With a dark smile, she said,
“You idiot.”
