CHAPTER 17
I stammered in the face of the demon boy’s overly serious expression.
“L-Leave again, you say…”
I tried to act like it was nothing, but cold sweat trickled down my back.
‘I thought he was just a kid… but he’s oddly sharp when it counts!’
But I quickly pulled myself together and fired back.
“That’s not happening! I’m not going anywhere!”
“Hmph. Good.”
Ares shrugged smugly. Watching him, I hesitantly spoke again.
“Ares.”
“What now?”
“What if I’m actually, um… really old.”
“Huh?”
“Like, I don’t even look like this… I’m not who you think I am.”
“……”
“Even then… would you still…”
Would this child still come to me the way he does now?
Ares let out a snort with a smug expression.
“What’s this? You’ve been acting like such an old fart I was starting to think you really were the future monarch.”
“Ugh.”
“Turns out you’re just a baby.”
“You little…”
This brat. I should have smacked him again when he was sleeping.
Ares pointed to the moon.
“The moon changes shape all the time, but it’s still the moon.”
“Uh…”
“And even when it looks different, it’s still the brightest thing in the night sky.”
“……”
“Always.”
I was speechless at his words.
His metaphor hit right in the heart.
Eyes shining, Ares continued speaking excitedly.
“So, no matter what you look like—”
“Young master…”
“AAAH!”
“Eek!”
Ares and I both screamed at the same time.
A dark shadow had crept up between us unnoticed—it was one of the Epicus sisters, completely expressionless.
Minte grabbed Ares by the ear and scolded him sternly.
“Young Master! How many times must I remind you to speak properly to Her Highness!”
“Ow ow ow, Master, let go of my ear!”
“Five extra laps tomorrow!”
“Ares!”
Before I could even step in, Lethe had picked me up and carried me back to my bedroom.
She laid me down gently on the soft bed, muttering the whole time.
“Tch, I told him to be careful if he values his life. Didn’t listen at all.”
“Lethe, don’t be too mean to the little guy…”
“Oh, how very fitting for the future Erebus!”
Lethe affectionately stroked my cheek like she couldn’t handle how cute I was.
“You were only quiet for so long because you were building up the power… to say such sweet words!”
“Ugh…”
I’m going to lose it. I only sound sweet because I’m an adult on the inside!
Lethe smiled as if to reassure me.
“Don’t worry, Princess. Both I and Minte have grown fond of the Young Master.”
“Really?”
“Well, except for when his temper and tone almost give me a heart attack.”
“…Pfft.”
“Now, get some sleep.”
“Mmm…”
Once Lethe left, I was alone in the dimly lit bedroom.
Only the full moon outside the window glowed softly.
Gazing at it, I recalled what Ares had said earlier.
“Even when it looks different, it’s still the brightest thing in the night sky.”
“Heh. That really was cute.”
He already knows how to say things like that. Impressive, honestly.
His words had lightened my heart.
Even if I wasn’t really Elysion, that boy might still accept me.
Though facing reality made that thought a little bitter.
‘I wonder if he’ll even remember this when he’s older. And if he does… will he kick his blankets in embarrassment?’
Smiling faintly, I turned back toward the moon.
The corners of my lips, lifted by Ares, slowly fell again.
“…If I can’t return to the Holy Nation…”
No—if I don’t want to go back.
If I just want to forget everything and live here.
If, even if it’s selfish and shameful, I want to stay here and live this life…
“Is there no way to transfer divine power to someone else…?”
Then… is there a way to find the 14th Saintess?
As the new year began, the celebration of the princess’s fifth birthday approached.
But Phobos, buried in paperwork, stared at Erebus in disbelief.
“They’re really sending someone from Halcyon?”
“Yes.”
“Have they all lost their minds?”
Peace was ideal, of course, but relations between the two nations were the worst.
‘Even if the war’s over, we practically tore each other to pieces!’
Phobos himself had once flown a dragon over and obliterated a mountain.
Erebus, exhausted, signed document after document.
“They agreed to send a hostage from Halcyon as part of the truce anyway.”
“Just one hostage! Ha! What good does that do—”
“And they also promised to publicly announce something in front of the other human kingdoms.”
“…Announce what?”
“That Ria died because of them.”
Phobos’s eyes widened in shock.
That terrible incident in the Caron region, caused by the Holy Nation of Halcyon.
The Demon Queen had been gravely wounded and eventually died as a result.
Now, Halcyon was saying they would confess this to the other nations and formally apologize.
“So, we couldn’t exactly leave them out of the guest list.”
“…Ha! Why even do something so pointless? Humans know the phrase ‘you reap what you sow,’ don’t they?”
“Quiet. Want to read the reply from Alcyone’s king?”
“Ooh, I’d love to. Can’t wait to see what kind of nonsense they wrote.”
When Phobos sneered, Erebus unfolded the letter from Halcyon.
It bore the golden seal of Alcyone’s royal crest—a kingfisher in flight.
‘Despite past misfortunes, we sincerely congratulate Princess Elysion on her upcoming birthday—’
“Yeah, real misfortunes. You rotten human…”
“….”
‘In accordance with the agreement, we will send a member of the Alcyone royal family to Tartarus—specifically, our second prince to attend the princess’s birthday.’
“…Huh?”
Phobos narrowed his eyes at the last part.
“Wait, does the King of Alcyone even have a second son? I thought there was one prince and a few princesses?”
“They must’ve officially acknowledged an illegitimate child.”
“Oh, come on! Just tell them not to bother!”
Phobos nearly crumpled the letter in disbelief.
Erebus smirked at his friend’s outburst.
He felt just as furious.
‘The humans of Halcyon really are shameless.’
They walked around like they were chosen by the Saintess—as if that made them superior.
Calmly, Erebus explained:
“Alcyone can’t appoint a crown prince without our approval anymore. Their former heir is just a normal prince now.”
“Still…!”
“So whether it’s the first or the second son, it makes no difference to us.”
“Whether we welcome the delegation or cut off their heads, that’s up to us, right, Your Majesty?”
“Phobos.”
“Wait, there’s more. ‘Alongside the second prince, priests will be accompanying the delegation as a gesture of goodwill. We ask that you receive them warmly.’”
Silence fell over the room.
Phobos set the letter on the desk, expression blank.
“They’ve definitely lost it.”
“Yeah. I agree.”
“Do they not remember what those priests put us through?!”
The physical disparity between demons and humans could’ve made the war much shorter.
But the humans kept getting back up, no matter how badly they were wounded.
Seeing that, the demon knights of Tartarus had been horrified.
“Are they under some magic that revives them at death’s door?”
“What trick are they using?!”
The answer: priests supporting them from behind.
‘And most of all, that Saintess!’
Phobos gritted his teeth at the thought of her.
‘If not for that woman, we’d have razed Caron to the ground!’
That woman brought near-dead soldiers back to life.
She even erected barriers over key territories.
But at some point, the barriers vanished.
Erebus’s army seized the opportunity and pushed forward.
“The Saintess and those priests were the biggest threat! And they’re sending those enemies now?”
“….”
“They’ve got some nerve! Should I write the reply myself, Your Majesty?”
“Phobos. Your handwriting looks like a curse spell. They’ll panic.”
“Your Majesty!”
“Enough. This is a good chance to gauge Halcyon’s current strength.”
Erebus folded the unpleasant letter and floated it into the air.
It drifted down beneath a portrait of Asteria.
Looking at her, he thought of the child currently in the Perseon Palace.
‘Once Elysion grows up… she’ll probably resemble Ria even more.’
The only treasure his wife had left behind.
A daughter so precious it hurt just to love her.
‘Yes… This birthday celebration will make it clear to everyone.’
Halcyon took Ria from him—but the treasure she left behind lives on, healthy and strong.
