Chapter 010
4. Snow and a Butterfly
Evren let out a bitter smile. He automatically recalled the Second Prince, Kyle Taranidia, back at the Imperial Palace. Although Kyle was more tactful, they both shared a knack for grating on his nerves in the exact same way.
From the corner of his eye, Evren saw the knights who followed him supporting Lillian. She was in a pitiable state.
Thump, thump…
In his heart, he could still hear the beating drums of hell.
Ramio Tillard.
‘In what way should I break him to make it entertaining?’
Shadows danced in his eyes, from which all light had vanished.
The power of Annihilation whispered dangerously: ‘This bastard tried to break what belongs to us first. Let’s see how much this human can shatter. Haven’t we always wanted to test this on humans?’
No matter how much his body trembled, Evren had never before surrendered to that voice. Isn’t it ridiculous to submit to an invisible entity?
“…Should I?”
That was his state until this very moment.
The power rejoiced: ‘Wonderful! How long we’ve waited to break something! Live according to your nature, Evren Taranidia. Destruction is a truly joyous sensation.’
Thump—
As the drums of hell beat in his heart once more—
“…Ah.”
The rampage exploded.
A brilliant white space began to expand from the center where he stood. Trees collapsed in an instant as if they were powdered snow. It was a pure, flawless hell.
Evren smiled with relief. It’s so easy once you hit the bottom. So why had he been struggling and resisting with all his might to avoid this?
‘How shall I amuse myself with you?’
Evren began to calculate his next move with the living being he gripped in his hands. But at that moment, a vision passed before his eyes.
It was an illusion resembling a shimmering, pale pink butterfly.
‘What is this?’
He reached out with both hands and encircled the vision. The butterfly scattered a scent that was clear, sweet, and transparent.
Even the power that intended to riot stopped in its tracks, stunned. Where did that wild urge to destroy—the one that claimed the scent was “beautiful”—go?
The vision that had been dyed white began to clear gradually.
And when he opened his eyes—
Evren was holding both arms of a woman with pink hair.
“Your… Highness.”
“…Tillard?”
Lillian was in his hands.
Ramio fell to the ground, writhing, and the world that had been bleached white returned to its natural state.
Lillian panted, her teeth grit: “That bastard brother of mine… if you kill Ramio Tillard here…”
Lillian, who had been struggling to stay upright, suddenly collapsed.
“Who will… really bear the consequences…”
“Wait, you.”
Evren caught Lillian quickly. Her body was burning like a piece of coal.
“Your Highness… I…”
“Tillard? Open your eyes—”
“I’m just… going to lose consciousness.”
As soon as she finished informing him, her eyes closed completely.
* * *
Several hours later—
All the unconscious Tillard knights, including Ramio, were bound. After gathering them in the center of the camp, a memory-erasure spell was cast upon them.
“Scum.”
Ptooie. The sound of spitting was heard from time to time. Those sounds came from the Shadows. Ramio was the one who received the largest share of this resentment.
“Hey, did you hear what this bastard said?”
“I’ve never seen someone so two-faced.”
“Hypocritical Tillard bastards, as usual…”
“This is why even the Palace Knights are trash!”
Ramio Tillard’s reputation had been quite good. A cheerful, tactful young knight, beloved by ladies and nobles alike. He was also known for his kindness toward Lillian.
‘In truth, Lady Lillian is a pitiable person. Even if she lacks ability, it would have been nice if she put in a little more effort.’
That was why Lillian Tillard was always seen as a “disgrace to the family.” But through the communication device he carried, the Shadows had heard part of the dialogue.
“Have you lost your mind because you wandered outside? Come here this instant!”
“Why? To take me back and enslave me as a maid again? Isn’t the only reason you ‘came to get me’ now because your work is piling up?”
“This monster—isn’t it lovely to see it after all this time? It’s the one that loves you most, Sister.”
The Ruler of Creation formed supernatural users for the purpose of exterminating monsters. In this day and age, there are those who summon monsters in secret as a form of entertainment. But for someone holding the rank of a Knight in the Imperial Palace to do so was utterly unacceptable. Moreover, to use it against his own cousin.
‘If the youngest member of the family is like this—’
Doesn’t it mean that the eldest son, Young Duke Quern, and Iris are complicit with him? Even the family knights didn’t hesitate to insult her in such a manner.
Elias muttered with his arms crossed: “…She said it was a ‘runaway from home’.”
When he had first heard that while guarding the Prince, he had mocked Lillian’s words in his heart. He thought she was just a person causing a stir to gain attention for such a bold act.
But that wasn’t it. Perhaps, truly…
‘Running away was just an excuse, and she really intends to die…?’
Lillian’s terrifying resolve sent chills down his spine, but…
‘The Prince’s rampage has calmed.’
It wasn’t possible that he had suddenly learned how to control it; the power of Annihilation didn’t allow for that. So, as expected.
“…Is the credit due to Lillian Tillard?”
The woman who was currently suffering from a severe fever in the tent.
* * *
The Prince’s Tent—
The physician accompanying the journey repeated his diagnosis of Lillian once more.
“It appears to be an Awakening Fever.”
“I’m not asking because I don’t know what it is.”
“I—I apologize, Your Highness.”
The Prince’s rampage had subsided. It didn’t show on his features, but his internal state, which had been worn down, had recovered. However, there was no time for rest.
Evren listened quietly to the sounds coming from the adjacent room behind the curtain. The continuous groans of pain were clearly audible.
Awakening Fever.
It is the fever that supernatural users and Guides experience when their powers literally wake up. Usually, it occurs at the age of three or four and passes like a mild cold.
But…
“Isn’t Tillard at an age that doesn’t allow for an Awakening Fever? And it shouldn’t usually be this painful.”
“Hasn’t Lady Tillard been powerless for a long time?”
The fever she should have experienced in her youth had remained suppressed and then exploded now at full strength. Therefore, the reaction would be equally violent, or so the doctor replied…
“Can such a thing really happen?”
“Though rare, there are cases like this that occur once every few decades, Your Highness.”
The doctor narrowed his eyes as he saw Evren’s expression.
‘This is truly amazing.’
He had served the First Prince for a long time. He wasn’t cruel to his subordinates, but he was indifferent. Excessive concern usually caused the power of Annihilation to incite him toward destruction.
‘But was his relationship with Lillian Tillard this close…?’
Regardless, this wasn’t the time to wonder about such things.
“Your Highness, I will first ensure that female supernatural users take over her care.”
Since the Awakening Fever results from excessive power, a supernatural user can absorb the guiding energy through physical contact. But it was not possible to allow a man to touch her without permission.
“Do so.”
“As you command, Your Highness.”
The doctor felt relieved. After the rampage, Evren’s condition seemed much better than expected.
‘He has always suffered because of his destructive power.’
The voices attacking his mind must have vanished. After responding, Evren simply stared silently at the curtain of the room where Lillian lay.
.
.
Contrary to what the doctor thought, the voice of his power had not vanished. Instead, they had become completely one.
The red spider-web pattern flickered quietly and then faded away.
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