Chapter 74

“Don’t worry, I won’t kill her. I’m not that cold-blooded.”

“Wow, I’m touched.”

“Don’t be sarcastic and think about the options. Which path would be the best for you to choose? It would be better to be an empress than to be locked here.”

His face gradually became closer as I pushed his chest.

“Get lost.”

“I’m looking forward to the day you gave up.”

He smiled and went away.

I would rather spend my whole life being locked up than to be his empress.

Knock knock.

I suddenly heard a knock on the window.

“Laon.”

“Ser!”

It was Ser’s voice.

I hurriedly opened the window.

Then Ser, who has a large waistband around her waist came inside.

It seemed that she came upstairs using the waistband.

There was still a black spot on her hand, it means that she still suffers from the disease.

“Sorry, I came too late. I’ve been trying to visit you but I failed everytime.”

“No, thank you for coming.”

“But is your body fine?”

“All I care about is you, Laon.”

Her face seemed really exhausted.

A lot seemed to have happened to her after I was locked.

“Phillip announced that he would make you the empress.”

“What?”

“He already set the wedding date, it’s month later.”

Phillip said he wouldn’t force me. I thought he said the truth because he hasn’t done anything for a year.

But it wasn’t like that.

I spent a year in this room, and it’ll be all over soon?

My legs became weak and I collapsed.

“Laon, I’ll do as you say. Can you give me back my powers?”

“Of course I will!”

We held each other’s hand. I returned the blessing I received from Ser.

Because both parties agree, the powers went back to Ser without any problem.

Her body is now engulfed in white lights,

“I’ll save you later.”

“Yes, I’ll be waiting.”

***

My memories of the past continue to flood in.

When I returned the powers to Ser. I thought that this terrible nightmare would come to an end.

I never dreamed that this was the beginning of a bigger tragedy.

The more I walked, the hotter I became.

Sweat pours down like a waterfall on my body, as my body is about to melt.

It was the same then.

Shortly after Ser’ departure, flames began to soar in the palace.

***

A fire broke out in Tenlarn palace.

The fire started on the main palace and quickly spread to other palaces as well.

A really strong flame engulfed the palace as people began to scream and ran away.

I knocked the door, but there was no response.

The knights guarding the gate must have fled in fear of the fire.

The fire spread quickly and it became hard to breath.

I couldn’t see anything because of the black smoke.

I thought that this is not a bad idea to die here.

I wanted to die and meet Rakshul rather than be stuck in the palace or forced to be Phillips’ wife.

When I was about to give up everything, Phillip came inside.

His expression remained calm even though the palace was being burned down.

I get up instinctively.

“Did you set the fire?”

“It’s dangerous, let’s go.”

Phillip forcefully grabbed my hand.

It must be right, he set the fire.

“Why did you set the fire! How can you do this?”

The whole place is on fire, people were screaming for help.

But there was no guilt in Phillip’s eyes.

He looked at me expressionless and continued to drag me away.

“Right, Ser!”

“….”

“Where’s Ser?”

He then proceeded to carry me instead without saying much.

“Let me go! Hey! Put me down right now!”

But Phillip continued to move with me on his arms.

The knights followed us from behind silently.

As we walked away, the flames and screams gradually faded away as the air cooled down.

The place where we arrive is the deepest place in the Tenlarn palace.

“Stay here for a moment.”

“Hey! Where’s Ser?”

Phillip went out without answering.

***

I was trapped in this room.

But where’s Ser?

What about the palace?

Why did Phillip start the fire?

Unlike the place I was in before, this place doesn’t even have a window.

I couldn’t tell how much time had passed or what happened now.

All I could see was a stone plate.

There was a record of death that continue on ever since the plague started, including Rakshul.

-In February 510, the crown prince passed away.

I read the sentence over and over again.

I didn’t want to see it, but my eyes were fixed on the stone plate.

“Rakshul, Rakshul…”

I missed him, I missed Rakshul.

“Rakshul…”

I continued to said his name and suddenly, a light flowed from my hands.

The blessings that Ser gave me has come back again to me.

And there were other things too,

It was the power of the goddess. Part of her strength flow to me.

What’s going on here?

Did Ser regain her strength?

And did she send me some of her power?

I was wondering what happened when I suddenly heard Ser’ voice in my ears.

[Laon! Save me! Save me!]

I got up from my seat.

There was no time to be lost in such thought.

I opened the door using the power she gave me.

The knight’s under Phillip’s order tried to stop me, but I silenced them all with the powers.

Coming out from the palace, I came to a halt.

The situation was far worse than expected.

The Tenlarn palace turned into a pile of ashes and the air was polluted with poison.

At first glance, it seemed like a black magic spell, but after closer inspection, it is the power of light.

The flow of light, which is different from usual was clearly visible to me because of Ser’s power.

This is what Phillip did.

I quickly headed to the palace where Phillip is.

There was no one left to stop me.

Everyone was already dead anyway, numerous dead bodies came out endlessly.

It was a terrible sight. As I neared the emperor’s palace, I saw a huge stone plate.

In this situation, how did the stone tablets stays untouched?

After Phillip ascended the throne as the emperor, he made many statues and stone plate to praise his achievements.

I thought it was just another one of his stone but the inscription on the stone plate caught my eyes.

-Rakshul, the former crown prince, said.

Rakshul?

I stopped on the spot.

-As Phillip dares to be the emperor and change the name of Altar Palace to his will, it is to be deplored. So on September 1, 687, Rakshul tried to destroy Phillip and the innocent people who dares to take over the place and destroy the corrupt Altar Palace.

-People, obey the Roum. If you disobey them, they will take away everything that they had gave you. The land will darken and be eaten by pain forever.

-Follow the Roum, this is the last chance we gave you. Give allegiance to Rakshul, the new emperor of Zelcan. Don’t forget you are Zelcan people!

What is this?

On the stone plate, Rakshul set fire to he palace.

This must be what Phillip did.

There’s no way someone had time to create this plate in the middle of the chaos.

It was obvious why he created it.

He’s trying to blame Rakshul for everything that he has done.

“I told you to stay still, but you’re here.”

Phillip was suddenly behind me.

“Phillip, what’s this! Are you out of your mind? How could you do this?! Are you even a human?”

I poured out my anger to him.

Phillip’s eyes flashed furiously.

“Don’t say anything thoughtlessly. I am the emperor of this empire. If you disrespect me again, I won’t forgive you.”

“Yes, you are the emperor! Then take responsibility for this! Rakshul didn’t do anything!”

Phillip looked at me crying and had a bitter smile on his fave.

“Laontele, as expected, you’re smart. I didn’t know you’ll notice who made this.”

“This kind of lie won’t work! Rakshul had already passed away! The people know it all!”

“Human beings are stupid. They are easily misled by everything.”

“I can fake it by saying, the crown prince is alive and set fire to the Tenlarn palace to restore his country and throne.”

“A massacre? Did you kill all of the people in the capital?”