CHAPTER 16
The Tower Master Edwin, who had been staying in the imperial palace, urgently requested an audience with the emperor. It was not long after Asterios had left the palace.
“What’s the matter, Edwin?”
“I have to leave in haste and apologize for the discourtesy. Please forgive me for not being able to lend more support during such times.”
Leodian was truly surprised.
He hadn’t expected Edwin to leave so soon, and of his own accord, when there was still no news of Roziana.
‘It hasn’t even been long since I asked Asterios to handle it.’
Looking more closely, Edwin’s face was ashen.
‘All I did was send him a letter…’
The Tower Master’s reaction was clearly not normal.
“Are you all right, Edwin?”
“Yes, Leodian. I’m sorry I couldn’t help more in finding the princess. But I believe she will return safely.”
With an apology and a promise that the Magic Tower would continue to support Dreat in the future, Edwin departed in a hurry.
Left alone in the place where the Tower Master had stood, Leodian muttered to himself.
“Asterios, just what are you…”
Soon, the emperor called for his aide.
“Cedric.”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“I can’t stand the curiosity. Go and ask Asterios just what trick he used.”
“…Excuse me?”
The command, seemingly out of nowhere, left Cedric momentarily flustered.
“No, never mind. He’s probably too busy tending to the rose I specially asked him to look after.”
“…Excuse me?? A rose?”
That Lord Asterios… was tending a rose?
On imperial orders?
Cedric was so confused, his mouth simply opened and closed silently.
After a sweet teatime—
“Haawng.”
Roziana yawned, her small mouth stretching wide as her violet eyes blinked drowsily.
Without fail, whenever she had a sweet cup of tea after a meal, Roziana would grow sleepy.
Moments later, when Marie lifted her into her arms, the little girl was fast asleep.
To Asterios, the brief moment she spent asleep was incredibly precious.
Once Marie left the room, Asterios sat by Roziana’s bedside, watching her quietly breathe in sleep.
Her gem-like violet eyes now closed in peaceful slumber.
Her small, adorable nose.
Her red, dainty lips.
Her softly rounded, fair cheeks.
The lovely innocence of a child angel and the graceful beauty of a maiden were in perfect harmony.
She was perfectly beautiful, but what Asterios loved most was the unchanged gaze—those eyes he would recognize even if reborn in another form.
The eyes of the woman he had waited nearly a thousand years for.
They were the same eyes as Erika’s, the woman he had fallen in love with centuries ago.
Her appearance had changed. She was a child now.
But to Asterios, she was still Erika.
Yes.
Ever since he first fell for her, his long mission had essentially begun.
Everything he had done over the past centuries was to save her from the demon king Balzebuth who sought to consume her.
To him, it was a mission worth a lifetime.
Before he knew it, his hand had moved, gently stroking the ends of her hair.
Like a man bewitched, Asterios whispered softly:
“When is the next stage?”
[About five days remain.]
Nox’s voice echoed in his head.
“Five days…”
Her body was due to grow again.
Before that, he had to meet Edwin, put out the immediate fire, and help Roziana reach the next stage of growth.
In about a week, the princess would be able to return to the palace on her own.
But to Asterios, that week felt painfully short.
“Things are going to get busy.”
Would Roziana be able to find Nox once she returned to the imperial palace?
[What did you write in the letter to the Tower Master?]
Nox sounded worried, perhaps thinking Asterios had revealed his identity too easily after hiding it for centuries.
“I told him the truth. That I have a piece of the relic.”
A piece of the relic.
A “broken shard.”
It referred to the fragments into which Tenebres had divided his own original body.
It was one way divine or draconic beings could achieve immortality when in danger.
By splitting their essence and hiding the parts, they could later reunite them and return.
The fragments were essential for resurrection and were called “broken shards.”
Asterios continued:
“And if he wants to retrieve it, he should come to the Illusion Mountains.”
The Secret Fog was the perfect place to conceal his identity.
The fog of the Illusion Mountains created real magical hallucinations.
It made people see what they wanted to see.
No matter what form Asterios appeared in, Edwin—longing so desperately for Tenebres—would think the vision before him was merely his own yearning made manifest.
[You don’t actually plan to hand over the shard… right?]
To restore his former self, Asterios needed every single piece. The time and sacrifices he had made for that moment couldn’t be described with mere words.
“You can’t get everything without giving something up.”
He gently let go of Roziana’s hair and stroked her forehead.
So precious. So beloved.
My goddess.
My everything.
“Please take care of Her Highness while I’m gone.”
Though he wouldn’t be gone long—just enough time to reach the Illusion Mountains and return—for someone else, even that short time might not be brief at all.
Tower Master Edwin left the palace with a serious expression.
His destination: the Secret Fog, also known as the Illusion Mountains.
Just as the name suggested, the place was shrouded in mysterious energy.
From the entrance, the thick fog made it hard to see even a few steps ahead.
Moreover, the strange mist that filled the mountain had a magical effect on those who entered.
Edwin looked at the two mages who had accompanied him.
“I have somewhere to be. You two return to the Tower.”
“It’s dangerous, sir. Let us accompany you.”
“I’m going to the Secret Fog. The magic there won’t affect me, so don’t worry.”
Edwin was the most powerful mage alive—that was how he became the Tower Master.
He also had a special ability:
The power to nullify a specific type of magic for a certain period.
It was with that ability that he had seized control of the Magic Tower centuries ago.
The catch was—he could only nullify one type of magic at a time.
‘It’s a hassle if there are many opponents, but I can take them out one by one with time delays.’
In that way, he could eventually overcome even large groups.
Of course, he couldn’t take on an entire army by himself. The stronger the enemy’s magic, the faster the nullification would wear off.
But still, it had been more than enough for him to survive centuries and maintain his position as Tower Master.
“It won’t take long. If you’re worried, wait here at the mountain entrance.”
“Yes, sir.”
Leaving the two mages at the entrance, Edwin began ascending the mountain, cutting through the misty, smoke-like air.
‘Just who could it be…?’
He wondered about the person waiting for him there.
Curiosity pulled his lips into a faint smile.
A red crystal swayed from his ear with every step, catching the light.
The message delivered to him in the palace had been truly astonishing.
No sender.
“I have a shard of the ‘broken relic’ you seek.”
Just that one line had been enough to make Edwin drop everything and rush to the Secret Fog.
The entire letter merely told him to come verify the claim—and the sender—in person.
‘I thought I had quite the reputation…’
Since becoming Tower Master, Edwin was known to ignore even kings and priceless treasures.
Who could be so bold as to summon him with such a reckless letter?
“Could it be Mephisto?”
He pictured the unwelcomed face of a man with a chillingly mad smile.
Old enemy. Old friend. If it was him, such a letter wouldn’t be surprising.
After all, almost no one even knew that Edwin was collecting the broken shards.
‘I’ll find out soon enough.’
This was the first lead on the shards he’d had in centuries.
No matter how dangerous the mountain, he was ready to go in.
When I opened my eyes, the ceiling that greeted me was absolutely stunning.
Ah, the Grand Duke’s guest room.
‘Nox.’
Out of habit, I called to him in my mind.
[Awake, Sticky?]
‘Stop calling me Sticky!’
I flared up at his provocation the moment I awoke.
[Didn’t you vow to make even the emperor and prince stuck to you like glue?]
Ugh! When did he hear that!?
‘You…! Just wait till I get back to the palace! I’ll find where you’re stuck and rescue you right away!’
I couldn’t even have my own thoughts in peace!
Grinding my teeth in frustration—
[Ooo! Please do.]
He responded so casually it made him even more annoying.
Just then, Marie came in, realizing I was awake.
“Your Highness, you’re up? It’s time to eat. Shall I bring your meal?”
“Meal?”
Right as she said that, my stomach growled loudly.
Now that she mentioned it—I was starving.
Ah… but wait, didn’t I want to ask Nox something really important?
What was it…? I can’t remember now.
‘Well, a growing child must eat regularly. Yes. That’s how you grow strong.’
Since I was a child now, eating came first.
“Uung. Something tasty, please. And I don’t like eating alone, so bring Jeph, too.”
I meant the part about the tasty food, but the “not liking to eat alone” bit? That was a lie.
Of course eating alone was more comfortable.
But Jeph still seemed on edge, and I wanted to help him relax.
‘If we eat something yummy together, he might open up a bit.’
Then maybe he’d let his guard down.
“Yes, Your Highness. Right away!”
Marie smiled brightly and left the room.
She never left me alone for long.
Sure enough, once she was gone, the butler Matthew came in and called Jeph from the next room.
“Your Highness, thank you for inviting me again.”
Jeph entered immediately, still pale and clasping his hands like in prayer.
He looked better than when we had cocoa, but his hands still trembled.
“Come in.”
I greeted him with the gentlest smile I could manage.
If I kept smiling and sharing food, this timid, herbivore-like Jeph might eventually feel safe around me.
I won’t eat you, I promise.
“Jeph, sit.”
I took a seat at the beautiful table in the room and gestured for him to join me.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
When he moved to kneel on the floor again, I clicked my tongue and clarified:
“Not the floor. We’re eating, so sit here.”
“Eating…?”
A subtle look of relief flashed across his pale face.
‘Oh? You were hungry too?’
Perfect.
Whoever gives food when you’re hungry becomes the best person in the world.
Pleased with myself, I admired the table Matthew was carefully setting up.
Beautiful linens and shining cutlery were laid out before me.
‘Any moment now, Marie will come in pushing a tray full of delicious food.’
Hurry up, Marie. I’m drooling!
Without realizing it, I clutched a fork in one hand and a spoon in the other.
Jeph and I stared at the door, waiting eagerly.
Slide.
The door opened silently.
“…What?”
Sensing something strange, I snapped my gaze to the door.
Jeph flinched beside me at the sharp tension.
The door had opened—but no one was there.
No knights guarding the VIP room. No Marie with the food.
At the same time—thud!
Matthew, who had been standing beside me, collapsed without a sound.
“Well, well…”
Gripping the fork tighter, I glared toward the door.
‘To think I’d sense this same aura here as I did in the palace just days ago…’
A powerful surge of dark energy was rapidly engulfing the Grand Duke’s residence.
