Chapter 75 — “I Will Do As You Command”
“This will settle it.”
Nikolai produced something gleaming from behind his belt.
They were four short blades, each about the size of a palm.
“What are those?” I asked.
“Custom-made daggers. They proved quite useful when I borrowed yours.” He answered with a tone that made me resentfully admit he had a point.
He seemed to be recalling the moment he used the dagger Douglas had given him to deal with Simon.
“You said you wouldn’t fight,” I snapped, stung by betrayal.
He flashed a grin that revealed dazzling, dangerous teeth.
“Why would I fight? It’s easier to massacre them.”
“What did you say?”
“I don’t fight. Fighting is about trading blows.”
That smile was so innocent it sent shivers down my spine.
“What do you plan to do about the fallout?”
“Just for setting foot before the Emperor? That’s execution-worthy.”
“But those people don’t know His Majesty’s identity.”
“Then I’ll simply teach them myself.”
Nikolai raised a dagger between his fingers.
He pressed a throbbing temple with his hand and lowered his voice.
“Listen carefully — do not you dare touch a single hair on the paladins’ heads.”
“Is that a threat?”
“If you ignore this warning, both His Majesty and I will be finished right here!” He mimed cutting his own throat with his thumb.
A deep furrow formed between Nikolai’s brows.
“What about—?”
“Kisses, hugs, back-hugs, sleeping in the same bed, riding the same horse — all of it!” I finished.
“A bed?” Nikolai repeated.
My cheeks burned like fire. I wanted to burrow into a mousehole.
Does this mean if I behave, he’ll keep doing all those things? As if on cue, Nikolai’s eyes lit up.
“All right. I will do whatever you command, unconditionally.”
“Are you serious?”
“I can’t let a few mice forbid the very best things.”
“Your Majesty!”
Nikolai laughed freely.
By then the paladins had surrounded us. They eyed me — my flushed cheeks — and Nikolai — who couldn’t stop smiling — with bewildered expressions, unaware that they had nearly sent us to the next world.
We arrived at the Thirteenth Temple.
Strictly speaking, we were locked in the stables, but still.
“I want to see the Thirteenth High Priest,” I said. My wrists were bound with thick rope.
A paladin snorted contemptuously.
“An impudent heretic who rides into the sanctuary cannot possibly be granted audience.”
“There’s a reason I must see him.”
“Wait until the elders have ruled on your case.”
“What crime did we commit to be locked up like this? This is an injustice!”
“Here church law takes precedence. If you wish to argue, take it up with the goddess.”
The stable door slammed violently shut. The heavy clatter continued; they had bolted and even locked it.
“What is with these people?” I muttered, annoyed.
Nikolai replied casually. “Fanatics are all the same. Say one thing and they call it religious persecution or oppression. Noisy fools.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” I asked.
“Because I told you to behave, did I not?” Nikolai answered with an expression so guilelessly innocent it was infuriating. The rope wound around my wrists didn’t look uncomfortable to him at all. In the hay-scented, horse-manure-filled stable, Blackwing snorted as if delighted.
‘They’re exactly the same as their masters. So composed!’ I huffed. Nikolai said to me:
“In a little while they’ll offer to release them.”
“Really?”
“But with a demand for a large donation.”
I was stunned. I’d thought that worshipping the Healing Goddess meant purity, but corruption existed everywhere.
“That’s just business. Sounds like a scam.”
“This is why I despise clerical riffraff. The Cardinal of Arkansas seemed different, though.” Nikolai’s tone suggested rare approval.
“You should’ve gone to him,” I said.
When I fled, I didn’t know Arkansas had gone to see Nikolai. I never heard that a divine oracle would be given to me. Nikolai asked:
“Why choose the Thirteenth Temple? It’s nothing special apart from its age.”
“Douglas’s grandfather was a devout Morasincia worshipper. He visited many temples for an undiagnosed patient… he visited the Thirteenth Temple especially often.”
“I see.”
“We found the first relic at the Netleton marquis’ estate. That’s why we came here. Asking for relics at the high priest’s residence would get us nowhere.”
Nikolai must have realized the patient was ‘Laila’, but he didn’t react. His attention was elsewhere.
“Did Douglas tell you this?” His gaze sharpened. I gave a slight nod to hide the sting of it.
He launched into a tirade as if he’d been waiting.
“If you had consulted me, you wouldn’t be caught in such trouble. Relying on Douglas’s shoddy information wastes time.”
“But Your Majesty doesn’t know about the relics either.”
“Grasping such objects is too simple.” Nikolai lifted his chin arrogantly. I turned to him with curiosity and expectation.
“How so?”
“Order someone to bring them to me by imperial edict.”
“That’s theft!”
“You could dispatch troops to search every temple nationwide. If you inspect from underground storerooms to spires, you’ll find something.”
“That’s plunder…” I sighed. Not telling Nikolai first was the right decision. Religion is dangerous territory to meddle with.
“You were told to collect Morasincia’s relics?”
“When we obtained the first relic, that was the demand. That’s why I ended up on a treasure hunt, which isn’t in my fate.”
“Meaning there might be a third and fourth?” he said.
“I’m curious too.” I protested as I shook my aching wrists. Nikolai cut the ropes with the casual efficiency of someone peeling away a lint from clothing. I felt anew how capable he was, almost rivaling Claudia. He rubbed my wrists and bit his lip.
‘If it hadn’t been for that white light, I wouldn’t be suffering like this. If I had been possessed, it would have been over. Why give me missions? What’s this “soul-erasure” flag?’ The righteous deceased — that was the name the white light had given me. In my previous life, I had indeed given my oxygen to a child. But I’d only given up on life in despair; it wasn’t a noble death at all. Did Morasincia misunderstand something?
“You seem chosen by the goddess,” Nikolai said seriously. “Only you can use the relic. If a transcendent being weren’t involved, it would be hard to explain.”
“This is the worst.”
“The Healing Goddess is not as merciful as the world thinks. She’s arrogant and capricious. She exploits lives as she pleases.” His voice deepened as if recounting experience.
“Didn’t the former Emperor rid the realm of the Death-Field (yeosung-kkot) with Morasincia’s help?”
“There’s no such thing as a free ride. Gods are the same. I know well — they demand payment more thoroughly than any human.”
“Did the former Emperor pay a price?” I had read many theological histories but never that. They only sang the former Emperor’s devotion and Morasincia’s greatness.
“He gave his life, his son’s life, and the lives of his descendants to the goddess — in return for suppressing and monitoring the Death-Field.” A bluish vein stood out on Nikolai’s temple. Rage, fury, frustration — many emotions flashed in his eyes.
‘If his son and descendants are in question, that means Nikolai and Franz, right? What does it mean to offer one’s life?’ The phrase “there’s no free ride” resonated. White Light had told me the same: packaged as privilege, it amounted to a threat — find the relics if you want to live. I hadn’t expected the goddess to oppress the royal family.
“I thought the Death-Field vanished. Why the need for surveillance?”
“That is—”
“Could the Death-Field return?” I asked.
Nikolai’s complexion drained white. I had seen that expression before — at Claudia and Simon’s duel. When the fence I’d stood on fell and the duel resumed, he had looked exactly like this.
“Was Simon afflicted by the Death-Field?” Nikolai’s pupils trembled. I could no longer pretend not to understand. Simon’s death had never been explained. The royal family’s fate — bound to Morasincia — hinted at the possibility of the Death-Field’s recurrence.
‘Is this why the white light chose me?’ A dizzy vertigo swept over me. The reason for collecting Morasincia’s relics began to faintly reveal itself.
Soldiers stood in front of the Netleton marquis’ mansion.
Douglas was under house arrest, but the soldiers didn’t prevent Claudia from approaching. Even a ban on visitors couldn’t stop the newly acclaimed Imperial Star, the newly appointed commander of the knights, from entering. Douglas came out to meet Claudia in the garden.
“You look unwell,” he said before greeting.
“Because I lost my appetite,” she replied coldly.
“Is it because of Elizabeth?”
“Do you think I live thinking only of Elizabeth?”
“Am I underestimated?” he asked.
Claudia, who had returned alone from leaving Elizabeth behind, felt pangs in her chest. Douglas still stared only at Elizabeth, and Claudia — who knew him well — felt bitter.
“I’m surprised His Majesty didn’t send you to the Ice Tower.”
“If Elizabeth hadn’t defended me, who knows what would have happened.”
“Neither Elizabeth nor His Majesty are the reckless sort.”
“Do you trust them?”
A flicker crossed Douglas’s face. Claudia frowned as if displeased.
“I don’t trust them blindly.”
“I’m glad that you pledged your help.”
“What is there to be glad about?”
“I’m glad my friend Radia will climb high.” Douglas joked, but Claudia didn’t smile.
“What I want is reform. If His Majesty is sincere, I’ll protect the Yevrei throne.”
“And if he walks a path of tyranny?”
“I’ll bear the guilt of assassinating my liege for life,” she replied.
“Since Radia has resolved it, the empire won’t be a problem. The Crown Prince’s safety too.” Douglas looked visibly relieved. His steadfast goodwill and loyalty irritated Claudia.
“You fool. To win Elizabeth, it’d be better to depose His Majesty.”
“Is my foolishness that famous?”
“Don’t joke, Dougie.”
“I truly love Elizabeth, Radia.” He meant it.
I already knew. No need to remind me with that look.
Claudia bit the inside of her cheek hard. Douglas’s gaze was too pure. His love for Elizabeth was so direct. Claudia was insanely jealous that Elizabeth, who had Douglas’s love all to herself, could drive her mad with envy.
“Elizabeth doesn’t admit it, but she dreams of reform too. She prays for the safety of His Majesty and the Crown Prince. I want the same,” Claudia said.
“Pathetic,” Douglas said.
“Maybe.”
The real pitiful thing was that I continued to look only at Douglas, despite knowing I could not have him.
‘Douglas won’t kill His Majesty to take Elizabeth. But I could remove Elizabeth for my purpose.’ I pictured Elizabeth standing defenseless — translucent skin where veins showed and a slender neck. The sight of blood gushing from that neck was not hard to imagine.
