CHAPTER 17
“That damned wolf!”
Rie, who was always calm, suddenly had a vein bulging on her forehead.
She handed the tray to Bella and rolled up her sleeves.
“Miss, don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”
“Ah, y-yes.”
‘S-Scary…’
The hidden arm muscles inside Rie’s maid uniform seemed to say goodbye to Bella before disappearing again.
“…What even happened here?”
A bridal veil. A wedding corset.
And a half-naked man in front of a fountain spraying water.
Bella stood frozen for a long time.
***
Inside the Atlanta Imperial Palace
As soon as Acares teleported back into his room, a huge swarm of butterflies surrounded him.
His pretty blond hair turned back into silver filled with magical energy, and his emerald eyes glowed a deep ruby red again.
Acares—now fully restored to his perfect Crown Prince form—let out a rough breath.
“Haa…”
“…What now?”
“Oh? You’re already here?”
Eden, who had been waiting after being notified, stared at Acares with a cold expression. He held his wand in his hand—ready to strike if Acares asked him to do something stupid again.
“Sir, something terrible happened.”
“…What now? Bella Isis skipped another meal?”
His voice was full of disgust.
Acares’s “terrible problems” were no longer about enemy invasions—they were always about Bella eating or sleeping.
But Acares shook his head.
“No, not that. She ate half today and left half.”
Eden nodded, relieved.
At least today, he wouldn’t be ordered to research “101 foods young women like.”
“…Then what is it?”
“I think Bella really intends to marry me.”
“What?”
Eden’s eyebrow lifted sharply. He even rubbed his ear like he misheard.
“…Marry YOU, Your Highness?”
“Yeah. What do I do?”
Acares asked shyly, which made Eden’s forehead wrinkle even harder.
Acares didn’t look troubled—he looked bashful.
Eden put on his glasses slowly.
“Your Highness. You are the Crown Prince of Atlanta.”
“I know.”
“And I am your loyal servant.”
“I know.”
“So please. Tell me what exactly is going on in your mind.”
Eden sounded firm.
Until now, he endured Acares’s strange actions because he believed there was a good reason behind them.
But earlier, he’d seen something unsettling in Acares’s expression.
Excitement.
It was already bad enough that the Crown Prince was serving as a commoner girl’s summoned beast in the countryside.
But blushing while thinking about her?
Unacceptable.
“Sir, have you decoded all the magic books from the labyrinth yet?”
Acares asked, avoiding his question.
Eden sighed deeply.
“Not yet.”
“Really?”
Acares stroked his chin, then opened a magically sealed box from his desk—one so powerful no one had dared touch it.
He took out a small booklet and handed it to Eden.
“Take it.”
“What is this?”
“A letter from Simone Isis.”
“Simone Isis… that’s…”
“Bella’s mother.”
Acares’s expression became calm.
“How did Your Highness get this…?”
Eden trailed off as a memory hit him.
Simone Isis had been imprisoned before Acares revealed his special powers to the world.
Eden had heard stories—how the Emperor locked Acares in the underground prison whenever he disobeyed.
‘Did His Highness meet Simone Isis back then? But how…?’
“I’ll explain everything later. Just read it. We don’t have time.”
Acares poked Eden’s chest, urging him.
Aiden reluctantly unfolded the letter.
***
Dear Bella,
I didn’t know we would part so soon, so I leave you these words…
The letter began like a mother longing for her daughter.
Oracion is God’s creation and a gift. Your ancestors received it to stop the disasters of the world—you know that, right?
Disaster?
Eden remembered a prophecy from the temple.
A great disaster would soon arrive, worsening every year until eventually the world ends.
Bella, the world will soon fall. The day the white butterflies cover the whole world, God will destroy it with His own hands.
The day white butterflies cover the world…
That phrase symbolized the day the Atlanta Empire conquered the entire continent.
Eden’s expression darkened further.
Bella, only you can stop the disaster. Your power will awaken only within true love.
At the final part, Eden’s blue eyes trembled strongly.
Destiny is decided from birth. Bella, I entrust this letter to the person God has chosen for you. My beloved Bella, please…
The letter ended there.
Eden carefully folded it and asked quietly,
“…Your Highness… don’t tell me…”
Acares nodded.
“Correct, Sir.”
He slowly raised his left hand.
A golden aura—like the light of Oracion—glowed around his ring finger.
“The one chosen by God as Bella’s destined partner…is me.”
