Chapter 174…………………………………………
“…Terence, I leave the aftermath in your hands.”
The Emperor, seeing Terence, managed only those words before the effects of his medicine pulled him back into slumber.
“His life is not in danger,” the palace physician said.
“But he will likely need assistance moving about from now on.”
“Will he be able to manage state affairs?”
“Not at the moment. For the time being, he must remain in bed, and his mental state is still fragile.”
Terence furrowed his brow, staring at his father’s pale, sleeping face.
It was a strange feeling. He felt pity for his father’s misfortune, yet also a peculiar emptiness.
The man who once held the highest authority in the land could now barely move without assistance.
Is this the fate of someone who chose the throne over the woman he loved and his newborn son?
Terence shook his head to rid himself of the thoughts. There was no time for sentimentality.
Since the Emperor could no longer issue commands or even maintain consciousness, Terence—entrusted with everything—had to lead the Asterot Empire himself.
Stepping out of the Emperor’s bedchamber, he addressed the officials waiting for him.
“The Emperor and Empress suffered due to part of the Grand Temple collapsing. Announce it as such.”
In other words, the monster intrusion into the Grand Temple would be concealed.
“At a time when the Monster Wave approaches, we cannot allow the people’s faith in the temple to crumble.”
Moreover, if it were known that even the most protected figures in the empire—the Emperor and Empress—had fallen to monsters, the citizens would be gripped with fear.
Anticipating the social chaos that would follow, no one objected to Terence’s decision.
“The Empress’s funeral will be held once Mihail returns to the capital.”
Two days later, in a solemn atmosphere, the Empress’s funeral took place.
With the Emperor still bedridden and tensions running high both domestically and abroad, the ceremony was relatively simple.
Terence watched the Empress’s coffin being lowered into the ground with detached eyes.
“Mother… Mother…”
In contrast to Mihail, who clutched the coffin and wept, Terence felt no particular emotion.
There was no joy in seeing an old enemy finally dead, no anger at having lost the chance for revenge.
Only an overwhelming fatigue, coupled with the thought of wanting to see Idel.
“Your Highness, perhaps you should rest for now,” Jack said that night, observing Terence working at his desk until late hours.
“You haven’t slept a single moment since that day. I worry about your health.”
“I’m fine.”
“However—”
“I said I’m fine. You should go rest.”
Unable to argue against Terence’s stubbornness, Jack left the office.
Alone, Terence opened a drawer and retrieved the letter he had read hundreds of times already.
While I do what I must, Terence, you do what you must. I’ll return to you once everything is done. I love you.
Though not explicitly stated, Idel’s intentions were clear: wait. Stay here until she returned.
Terence knew that not only she, but Jack and others, wanted him to remain in the palace and act as the Emperor’s substitute.
“I know in my head.”
He understood it was his duty as prince and heir.
But his heart refused to follow.
Since Idel’s departure, Terence had to summon every ounce of patience to resist the urge to run to her immediately.
Why did he work without rest? Simple. If he lay in bed doing nothing, he knew he would inevitably bolt from the palace.
Others might think Terence devoted himself entirely to the empire, but in truth, he was mechanically working just to suppress his impulses.
“Idel…”
Terence traced her carefully written words with his fingers.
The desire to see her only grew stronger.
A few hours earlier, the Royal Knights he sent to track the wyvern had sent a report.
They apologized for losing sight of the target.
It was unsurprising. How could horses on the ground chase a flying monster?
Even if Terence had ignored Jack’s warnings and pursued them, catching the wyvern was impossible.
The only information they had was that it flew west.
Even that was cut off as the wyvern left the capital and headed toward sparsely populated areas.
The thought that he might never see Idel again tightened around Terence’s throat.
‘Did I misjudge this?’
Though he knew staying in the palace was his duty as prince and aligned with Idel’s wishes, he regretted his decision with every fiber of his being.
“…Idel, answer me.”
Terence muttered suddenly.
Is this truly what you wanted?
Is enduring this torment really what serves you best?
He set the letter on the desk and gazed at the darkened scenery outside the window.
Her bright face appeared in the darkness, then shifted into the face of the Emperor—the man who had chosen the throne over love.
“….”
The cold, unfeeling face of his father made Terence resolve himself.
The next morning, as soon as Terence learned the Emperor had regained consciousness, he went to his father’s bedchamber.
“Father.”
He spoke softly, and the Emperor raised his heavy eyelids to meet his son’s gaze.
“…Terence.”
“I have something to tell you.”
The Emperor didn’t immediately respond, as if trying to read his son’s expression with his dim eyes.
“I am leaving today. I will find Idel and return with her.”
“What?”
The Emperor’s eyes widened.
He was roughly aware that Liena had taken Idel away.
“No! I saw that woman in the Grand Temple. Do you know how dangerous the monsters she controls are?”
“They are capable of neutralizing the Royal Knights protecting the palace in an instant. I understand the risks, yet I will go.”
“And if you are not here, who will take responsibility for the empire?”
“Mihail is there. I’ve managed the urgent matters. He has spent his life preparing to be Emperor; the rest will be fine.”
“Are you out of your mind? Even if you have to restrain Mihail, you’ll leave the state in his hands?”
The Emperor, weak and trembling, grabbed Terence’s sleeve.
“Snap out of it, Terence! You’ve done well so far! Soon the throne will be yours. You could rule this empire, yet you’d throw yourself into a pit of fire for the sake of one woman?”
“Yes.”
“You fool! How dare you… before your father…”
Descending into the palace, the Emperor suddenly shifted his tone, recounting the events in the Grand Temple.
“Liena, that woman, asked me if Count Lucibius still remained in the palace.”
Terence had never heard this before.
“As soon as the Empress saw her, she raged, blaming Mihail. She ordered the knights to capture that woman and imprison her again.”
“….”
“In an instant, the knights who tried to capture the Empress and the woman were killed by a black monster. I nearly died too. But Liena restrained it.”
The Emperor’s eyes still held the vivid terror of that day.
“She only wished to speak with Count Lucibius and had no intent to harm others. It seemed genuine, not a lie.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“There was no hatred in her face when asking about Count Lucibius. He is probably, no—definitely safe.”
“So you mean there’s no need to chase her to rescue him?”
“Yes. Consider it a coincidence. Meetings come and go; it’s nothing serious.”
“And what about my mother?” Terence asked.
At that, the Emperor’s expression twisted.
“…Why bring that up now?”
“You ignored my mother for the throne. I will make a different choice.”
Terence continued calmly, without accusation.
“My mother never gave up hope that you would return to us, even as her health worsened, until her dying moment.”
Her constitution was never strong, and prolonged captivity during pregnancy left her bedridden after giving birth to Terence.
Though the Emperor occasionally visited with medicine or food, he never fully brought her back to his side.
The Emperor closed his eyes, muttering.
“Yes, that was my fault. But the circumstances are different now. For you, it’s not just a throne at stake—it’s a life.”
“For me, it is the same problem: whether to give up the woman I love or not.”
No matter what his father said, Terence remained steadfast.
“I will not let Idel suffer as my mother did.”
For some reason, the Emperor stared at his son’s face, then snapped out of his daze.
“I will not permit it! If you act on your own, not a single knight will be given to you. Anyone aiding you will be punished!”
“Even if I am alone, I will go.”
“Terence, please!”
“I hope you recover, Father.”
Turning away, Terence left his father’s bedchamber.
“Wait, wait a moment!”
At that moment, the Emperor’s tone changed as he reached into a drawer beside his bed and pulled out a familiar item.
