Chapter 37

Are you still thinking of coming to the Crown Prince’s palace?

Since I and Blake stormed into the bedroom of Tenstheon three years ago, the two have never met face to face.

I wanted to force it, but I could have given the Duke of Cassil an excuse to attack.

The Emperor knows that, so he’s holding back even if he wants to see him.

“How’s today?”

He asked Blake’s condition implicitly. He can’t come to see him, but he’s worried.

“It’s all right. He didn’t have a fever, and he looked happy.”

“Good thing. What about you, Ancia?”

“I’m so happy that Blake and dad enjoy my food.”

“Nonsense,”

He spoke bluntly, but there was a slight smile hanging around his mouth.

“It’s true, Father, try some of this, too. I boiled it for your father.”

“What about you?”

“I already ate.”

“Don’t you like spicy things? You wouldn’t have eaten it when you were with Blake, take a sip.”

“Shall I?”

I thought I ate a lot, but when I saw the spicy stew, I had an appetite again.

Shall I try some stew? I couldn’t overcome it and caught the spoon.

“Oh, it’s spicy.”

It was a bit disappointing that there was no kimchi in the soft tofu stew, but the tofu was so savory that it was tasty in its own way.

“It’s so delicious. Isn’t it?”

I was a little embarrassed after I spoke out. Was I too proud of myself after I made it?

I was worried that I might look a little impudent, but Tenstheon had a subtle smile.

“My daughter-in-law made it, and it can’t taste bad.”

“Hehe.”

“Is there anything you want? Since you’ve served me such a precious meal, I’ll give you a present.”

Normally, I would have refused even if he offered like that. Tenstheon sent me a gift every day.

It wasn’t that I was greedy, my room was so full of things that I didn’t want anything more. But today was different.

“There’s a place I want to go.”

“Where? Just say it.”

“Tenlarn palace.”

Tenstheon stiffen after hearing my statement.

“Tenlarn palace?”

Tenlarn Palace was the last palace of the Zelcan Empire, and at the same time the first palace of the Asteric Empire.

Phillip, the first emperor, destroyed the Zelcan Empire, which was obsessed with luxury and pleasure, and established the Asteric Empire.

Although it was natural to build a new imperial palace when a new country was founded, Phillip used the royal palace of the previous era.

To build a new palace, they needed money and labor for the new palace. Phillip said he didn’t want to burden the people who suffered from Zelcan’s tyranny, so he changed the name of Zelcan’s palace, the Altar Palace, to Tenlarn palace.

However, good intentions have caused tragedy.

Rakshul, the head of the Zelcan revival movement and the last prince of Zelcan, knew the structure of the Tenlarn palace. He had to know where he was born and raised.

He raided and set fire to the Imperial Palace through the secret passage of the Tenlarn Palace.

The huge fire had been expected to go on for more than a month, and the Tenlarn Palace, as well as the Zelcan capital, had all disappeared into the flames.

Not only that, but also the Roums polluted the land and water with black magic, making the whole “Khan” a lifeless land.

Emperor Phillip was forced to change the capital city to “Senion” and build a new “Senion’s Palace.” And Senion has been the capital of Asteric for the past thousand years.

Hence, Tenlarn Palace and Khan’s area became ‘prohibited land’ where no one could enter.

“Why do you want to go to Tenlarn Palace?”

“I may find clues about the stone tablets when I go to the palace.”

An ancient language was carved on the stone plate found in the pond of the star palace.

She has been trying to uncover the secrets of the tombstone, but has been hovering in place without finding any results.

But a few days ago, I had a vision.

A woman’s scream, a blazing fire, a splendid ballroom decorated with jewels. And the stone plates on the other side,…

The scene still came to mind vividly…

The interior decoration was luxurious and unique. Based on the vivid memories, I searched for the materials and found that they were the architectural styles that were popular during the Zelcan Empire.

In addition, the gold pillars decorated with jewels are said to be the symbol of Tenlarn Palace, which is stained with luxury and pleasure.

Maybe that’s the Tenlarn Palace. What I’ve seen is a vision at the time of the fire.

I don’t know why what happened a thousand years ago suddenly appear before me.

I don’t know why, but if it’s really a scene from the past, I had to go to the Tenlarn Palace. There was a stone plate just like the one found in the pond.

“The huge flames took everything away, and the land is polluted by black magic. I can’t send you to such a dangerous place.”

“I’ll just go to the Tenlarn Palace. It’ll only take a minute.”

“There’s nothing left because it’s all burnt out.”

Tenstheon listened to everything I said, but this time he was stubborn….

“But you never know. Maybe we can find a little clue.”…

“It’s forbidden land. The imperial family cannot go there.”

Just before he died, Phillip left a will to never step on the land of Khan.

If anyone steps on the land of Khan, misfortune will come, and if he is the emperor, there will be a great disaster for the entire empire.

This made it a forbidden land not only for individuals but also for the emperor.

“Do you believe in the will of Emperor Phillip?”

If we don’t know the truth about the heir of the curse, I thought Tenstheon couldn’t believe such a will.

“I don’t believe in will. I don’t know if that words is true, and even so, it was a political statement aimed at Zelcan’s remnants.”

Tenstheon was also not misled by such nonsense. With a smile on his face, he added.

“But others will believe. If the royal family goes to a place where even ordinary people don’t walk, there will be a strong backlash.”

“I can go secretly.”

“Ancia.”

Tenstheon called me by my name, but I didn’t want to retract my statement.

I don’t think Tenstheon cares what Phillip says anyway. Isn’t it Phillip himself who betrayed the goddess and bought wrath?

“People didn’t spy on me as much. So I can go quietly…”

“If so, ask someone else to go instead.”

“No, I have the ability to decipher ancient languages to find clues in the Tenlarn palace. I have to go myself.”

I have to find a clue in the debris that has been burned. Without knowing the ancient language, it would have been impossible to tell which was the clue.

When I didn’t retract my words, Tenstheon gently closed his eyes.

He was always a proud emperor. I’ve never seen him agonizing. But I couldn’t give up.

“His Highness condition is unusual. He’s fine today, but I don’t know when he’ll be sick again. I might find a way to solve his curse at Tenlarn Palace. No, I can definitely find it! I mean it…!”

Tenstheon continued to talk,

“Ancia, you’re my child, too. I can’t send you to a dangerous place for Blake.”

“…..”

When did the ferocious beast come to look at me with such warm eyes?

“It’s not dangerous. I’m just going on an outing to an old historic site.”

“It’s not an ordinary site.”

“I can protect yourself with the magic stone of the light. Blake is a family to me, too. I might be able to loft his curse, so I can’t give it up like this. Nothing’s going to happen.”

“Ancia.”

“I’ll really be right back. Ah, father.”

“…….”

The moment I called my father, the red pupil of Tenstheon trembled. I clasped his hand.

“Please. Father, please allow me this once.”

“…just this once.”

Tenstheon opened his mouth with difficulty. I smiled broadly and hugged him.

“Yes! Thank you! Thank you! Father!”

***

Eunhan agonized. The Crown Prince caught his lies of turning into a cat and hang around Ancia.

The Crown Prince told no one this fact. Eunhan wanted to be honest, but he felt uncomfortable because he seemed to be fooling his master.

He wandered around the Phillion Palace, then slowly into the emperor’s bedroom. It was late, but the lights were on.

“Eunhan?”

Tenstheon, who was sitting on the sofa, slowly opened his eyes.

“I beg your pardon. Did I wake you up?”

“No. I was thinking. And I was waiting for you.”

At his words, Eunhan immediately straightened his posture and bowed his head.

“Please give me a command.”

“I’m going to ask you a favor, not an order.”

Tenstheon was blunt yet kind-hearted.

But it was the first time he used the term ‘please.’

“Say anything. I’ll even give my life up for you.”

“Why would I want your life, anyway?”