Chapter 2
The secret passage was narrow, barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side.
“Do not leave my side, Your Highness.”
Edith gripped Karl’s sleeve tightly. Karl enveloped her protectively and carefully moved forward.
No matter how far they walked, the passage seemed endless. Beads of sweat formed on Karl’s forehead. In the darkness, where not even an inch ahead was visible, the small lantern they carried was their only lifeline.
The two relied on each other as they walked along the seemingly infinite path.
Silence stretched between them, broken only by ragged breaths and the echo of footsteps along the walls, heightening their alertness.
It feels like I’ve stepped into a terribly bad dream…
If so, please let me wake up soon. Edith repeated to herself that this place, where nothing but endless darkness existed, could not possibly be reality.
After what felt like an eternity, she sensed a faint breeze from afar—a sign that the exit was near.
When they reached the end of the passage, a dead-end wall blocked their way. Karl handed the lantern to Edith, then groped and tapped the wall with his hands.
Thunk—
One of the stones above made a different sound. Pressing it upward with force, the stone shifted just enough to create a gap, and sand cascaded down from above.
Outside air rushed in immediately. Edith felt dizzy from the sudden influx of freshness, like waking from a dream. But unlike her wishful thoughts, the reality before her eyes was cold and tangible.
It can’t be…
Brushing away the dust, Edith wiped her eyes.
Karl checked the outside, then lifted Edith first and helped her climb out, following her himself.
He surveyed the surroundings cautiously. No one was nearby. Illuminating the area with their lantern, familiar features slowly came into view.
“This is the warehouse of the southern hunting grounds. It’s quite far from the palace—I didn’t expect a passage to lead all the way here.”
“I remember,” Edith said, her gaze drawn to the massive buffalo horns mounted on the wall. She had seen these decorations at every hunting competition. Dust lay thick on the unused furniture.
“It seems the Crown Prince has not arrived yet.”
“Nothing has happened, I hope?”
“If their passage is similar to ours, he’s probably still on his way. However…”
Karl approached a small window and gauged the time, pointing toward the tallest cedar in the forest.
“When the star visible there tilts down to the treetop, we cannot wait any longer.”
Edith snapped.
“I cannot leave the Crown Prince behind. Are you telling me to abandon even my brother now?”
“That’s not the case. We cannot predict when the soldiers of the Second Prince might pursue us. If we do not reach the designated time safely, we agreed to first move to the southeastern safehouse for our mutual protection.”
“Southeast… that would be Baron Bart’s territory…”
“That is correct.”
Edith recalled the route to the Baron’s estate: a secluded territory surrounded by forests of towering conifers and rocky mountains. While largely isolated, the southern border touched parts of the Allied Nations, giving it strategic importance.
“There is no reason for the Baron to risk himself to help us,” Edith said.
She knew Baron Rowan Bart. Almost forty, he always appeared at the palace in dark attire, as if attending a funeral. His piercing eyes and stern mouth had always frightened young Edith.
The Bart family had remained neutral for generations, serving neither emperor nor nobility, neither conservative nor progressive. Attempts to draw them into political factions had always failed, and by now, most regarded the family as insignificant, quietly living out their lives.
“Baron Bart has long operated in the shadows of the royal court,” Karl said with a wry smile.
“Even if I were to fall, make sure you find him,” he continued.
“Do not speak such words!” Edith snapped, recognizing the meaning behind his smile all too well. She tried to change the subject.
“To think they were connected all this time but never revealed themselves… Should I call that wisdom or cunning? Either way, it shows they were no ordinary person. Whatever the reason, there must have been loyalty.”
“Yes.” Karl confirmed.
“But people can betray.”
Even those once considered family might strike a knife in the back. How could anyone trust another fully? The memory of Richard’s crimson eyes forced Edith to clench her teeth.
Seeing her trembling, Karl shook his head.
“The Baron cannot betray. The founder of the Bart family swore allegiance in the name of Luhanon to Emperor Calix I.”
From his coat, Karl produced a small pouch.
“This is proof.”
As he opened it, light spread around them. Edith instinctively reached out. A pendant, crafted from silver and crystal, fell into her hand.
Engraved on the back were the emblems of the royal family and the Bart family. Within the crystal, nearly blue-white, an unknown power quietly swirled.
Edith’s eyes widened with awe and amazement. After staring in fascination, she finally spoke.
“The sacred power still remains in this token.”
“This is my first time seeing it as well,” Karl admitted.
Edith tried to calm herself. Sacred power, the divine force, appeared in myths across not only the Luhain Empire but throughout the continent.
The descendants of the goddess Luhanon had spread across the land, using the mystical power granted to cultivate lands and establish kingdoms. Though records suggested that some could wield sacred power in ancient times, over the centuries, legend became myth, and the sacred power seemed only a dream.
“One is for His Majesty, the other passes to the heads of the Bart family. It is very old, so I cannot be completely certain. But if the Baron were to betray, the pendant would break according to the oath, cursing all his bloodline until they vanish.”
Edith nodded. Unreal as it seemed, she now felt she could believe anything that happened. Above all, she knew no earthly craftsman could recreate the swirling blue light within the crystal.
“This was entrusted to you, Princess, in case of unforeseen events.”
After a long, fixed stare, Edith handed the pendant back to Karl.
“It’s better for you to keep it for now.”
As the bright light faded into the pouch, silence reclaimed the warehouse.
Chill air seeped through Edith’s thin chemise, cooling her sweat and making her body shiver. She wrapped her cloak tighter. So many events had unfolded in such a short time. She forced down her anxiety, silently praying for the Crown Prince’s party to arrive swiftly.
The last soldier guarding the Emperor had just fallen to Richard’s sword, yet Emperor Calix III of Luhain, a stocky man with short silver hair, remained composed, exuding authority without a flicker of fear.
Richard gestured for the surrounding soldiers to step back and approached the Emperor.
“Your Majesty.”
“Do not address me with that filthy mouth.”
Richard looked up at the Emperor seated on the throne. When had his long-desired affection turned to hatred? Even he could not recall—it felt endless. A bitter laugh escaped him.
“Ha ha, finally you see me. Your Majesty always treated me as though I did not exist. This hair! These eyes! None of it resembles you in any way!”
He threw his bloodied helmet to the ground, revealing dark blonde hair, entirely different from the Emperor’s silver. His reddened eyes glimmered with madness.
All imperial children were born with moonlit hair and amethyst eyes. Even when noble daughters or foreign princesses married into the imperial line, these traits persisted. The people of Luhain revered it as the goddess Luhanon’s blessing.
Yet Richard, though part of the royal family, lacked the iconic silver hair and violet eyes. He had always felt sidelined.
“And yet, what can be done? Soon, this seat will be mine.”
From today, the subtle scorn he endured would vanish entirely. Richard’s satisfaction was complete.
“…You have no right to sit there.”
“My soldiers are already pursuing them.”
Richard approached closely, close enough to feel the Emperor’s breath. Wrinkles lined the old face he now faced. How long had it taken to confront it? The once-imposing Emperor now appeared nothing more than a feeble old man.
“You will hear news soon. Until then, hand me that seat. I will not tolerate the title of patricide.”
“Your tricks are shallow. My words remain: be content with what you have, even now.”
“Then, Your Majesty, it seems this is the end.”
Without hesitation, Richard drove his sword in. The Emperor, barely holding himself upright, gripped Richard’s shoulder.
“Ri…chard… you…”
A small cough of blood was all that escaped; his final words could barely be heard by anyone—except Richard, standing directly before him.
Richard showed no concern, staring coldly at the collapsing Emperor.
Had the Emperor begged for mercy, casting aside pride and honor, Richard might have shown compassion. Yet even in his final moments, he remained Emperor of Luhain.
The Emperor’s breath ceased. Richard, realizing something, rummaged through the corpse and ground his teeth.
“The Emperor’s seal is missing. Ian must have it. He cannot have left the palace yet. Search every corner and quickly locate the two. Once we secure the seal and the princess, the rest is unnecessary.”
