However, Nelia couldnât get out of here like this. It would seem to acknowledge Carlosâ words, that she was here to watch him. She didnât want to feel guilty after this.
Nelia told Carlos before she went out.
âIâm not here to laugh at you, nor to give you any hope. I was just wonderingâŠâŠ what happened to you, Your Highness?â
ââŠâŠâ
âAnd I donât feel good at all seeing you bedridden like this.â
Nelia opened the door.
âThatâs all.â
ââŠâŠâ
Carlos didnât answer. Nelia left him just like that and got out of the room.
The atmosphere continued to subside as they walked down the long hallway of the imperial palace.
It felt as if she had seen something she shouldnât have seen.
Getting into the carriage, Nelia eventually spat out words that she had held back to Zenuit.
âIs this what you wanted, Zenuit? Makes my heart ache at the sight of the helpless Crown Prince, His Highness Carlos?â
Zenuit transformed into a child.
Unlike the angry Nelia, he sat across from her with a composed face.
âIâm sorry to make you feel that way. However, I couldnât help it because I thought youâd take my words when you saw Carlos.â
âWhat the h*ll are you trying to say while beating around the bush for so long like this? What does Carlos have to do with His GraceâŠâŠ!â
Zenuit took Neliaâs hand when she raised her voice. His little hand was full of strength.
âTo speak about the dukeâs fate, we need Carlos.â
What kind of relationship does the duke and Carlos have, and why is Zenuit so cautious about this?
The rage in Nelia was relieved because of Zenuitâs touch, but her heart remained heavy.
Nelia sighed deeply.
âNelia.â
âYes.â
âThe duke was born with a difficult fate, besides being born as a member of the Hart Family.â
Nelia frowned.
She wondered if there could be more difficult fate than what sheâd just heard?
Rather, she didnât want to hear about it, but there was nothing she could do other than listening to him, sheâd come all the way here anyway.
Nelia waited for what Zenuit was about to say.
It wasnât long before his grave voice came out.
âThatâsâŠâŠ Duke Hart is the reincarnation of Shilin.â
Nelia couldnât understand Zenuitâs explanation right away.
âZenuit, you said that the heads of the Hart Family were Shilinâs descendants. The same goes for His Grace. However, youâre suddenly talking about reincarnationâŠâŠâ
âItâs true that the Hart Family is the descendants of Shilin. However, reincarnation is also true.â
Zenuit continued in a serious voice.
âShilin had to be reincarnated once every few hundred years as a family member of the Hart Family who continued to inherit his blood because of his unresolved karma.â
But why is Shilin reincarnated once every few hundreds of years as the Duke of Hart?
âDeep inside Duke Hart, thereâs Shilin who hasnât been able to release his resentment. And if that resentment isnât resolved, the duke will gradually be encroached by Shilin.â
âSo, the reason why His Grace is in a poor condition is becauseâŠâŠâ
âYes, the duke is fighting a fierce battle with Shilin from within.â
So thatâs what it wasâŠâŠ
Would she have expected that the reason why the duke suddenly suffered was because of his past life?
âHow can I relieve Shilinâs anger?â
âHe has to face the person who made him angry.â
The one who infuriated Shilin must beâŠâŠ
When Nelia talked about Shilin, she realized that there was someone she couldnât miss out.
âThatâs Sieggritâs second son, Carl.â âCarl, the second son of Sigrid.â
Shilin was envious and bitter of Carl. The reason why Sigrid punished him was also because of Carl.
Zenuit nodded.
âYes, heâs the exact reincarnation of Carl.â
Reincarnation of CarlâŠâŠ
Nelia suddenly opened her eyes wide.
âNo wayâŠâŠ!â
âThatâs right. Carlos, whom you just met, is the reincarnation of Carl.â
Now everything seemed to fit in.
âIs that whyâŠâŠ?â
The fact that they have a mutual beef with each other for no reason from the beginning. Something similar that seemed as if they were different.
They were as different as white and black, completely separated by gray, but somehow had a subtle similar atmosphere.
However, she was curious about something.
âCarl wasnât even punished by Sigrid. However, why does he suffer so much even when heâs reincarnated?â
âJust because he wasnât punished, doesnât mean that Carl was able to lead a normal life. As we saw in the street drama at the festival the other day, Carl has envied Shilin, and his negativeness was increasing. He also couldnât get rid of his anger and continued to suffer even after being reincarnated.â
In the end, the brothers were envious of each other, therefore made them unhappyâŠâŠ She had no idea that such a secret would be hidden in the original plot.
âIn particular, his right arm, which was attacked by Shilin and got severely injured, will hurt as he gets angrier.â
ââŠâŠâ
âAnd before long, he will drown and die in the dark, while struggling on his own. He actually spent a couple of lives repeating it.â
DyingâŠâŠ Even if it was about Carlos, she felt suffocated.
âThatâs why I need your help, Nelia.â
Zenuit stared at Nelia.
âTo be precise, I need your approval.â
âWhat approval?â
âWhen the door of the dimension opens, let Carlos go along. So that they can take the test for getting the heart together.â
Neliaâs eyes trembled slightly.
âThatâs ridiculousâŠâŠ And if His Highness passes the testâŠâŠâ
âWe should leave it to fate.â
âNo, I canât allow it.â
For this moment, no word sounded as scary as fate.
Nelia was afraid.
She feared that fate would side with the main character of the original story, Carlos. She feared that Duke Hart would end up failing the test.
âThe only moment they can face each other completely and get rid of the resentment within them is when they take the test together.â
âEven if their resentment disappears, the duke would have to live forever neither as a snake or human if he doesnât obtain the heart.â
It was the ending she was most afraid of than anything.
Cannot become a complete human being until his death. Living a life with fear of turning into a snake for the rest of his life.
Zenuit sighed.
âThe duke canât even cross the door of the dimension in that state anyway. Itâs obvious that heâs going to go crazy on the day of the total lunar eclipse.â
ââŠâŠâ
âTherefore, why donât we do this?â
Nelia looked at Zenuit warily.
âI will somehow control the duke, whoâs going to get out of control, and take him over the door of the dimension. You will let Carlos go with him.â
Nelia shut her teeth hard. He pretended to offer her a deal, but she had no choice in the end.
âDid you predict this situation from the beginning and walked up to me, Zenuit?â
She had no idea. Zenuit was hiding so many secrets from her, she wondered if she could believe him.
And making her has to accept what he wanted at such a crucial moment.
âNelia. Itâs true that I have hidden a lot of things from you, but none of emotions Iâve expressed during my time with you have been a lie.â
ââŠâŠâ
âTrust me for this.â
Zenuit looked at her with a wry look.
Looking at him like that, the suspicion that she had for a moment gradually faded away. Even if she doubted him, nothing would change.
ââŠâŠI got it. Iâll let His Highness Carlos take the test with His Grace.â
Zenuitâs eyes, which were filled with a glint of anxiousness, opened widely for a moment.
âHowever, promise me for sure in return. Zenuit, youâre going to take responsibility for taking the duke over the door of the dimension.â
âOf course. Thank you, Nelia.â
Zenuit finally drew a faint smile as if he was relieved.
Nelia thought to herself when she saw Zenuit smiled that way.
Zenuit said emotions contained great power. It is enough to change someoneâs fate.
The duke would originally lose this test, but just as he completely changed Neliaâs fate with his love, he would have a chance when his fate had already changed as well.
Nelia wanted to hang her hopes on it.
âHowever, before thatâŠâŠ Didnât you say you donât have enough power to control monsters?â
When she asked him to do that, he said he would never do so, but now she resented Zenuit for saying he could possibly do that.
âItâs hard to do that in this appearance. However, now that Iâve got out of the seal and recovered to some extent, itâs possible for me to return to my true self.â
âYour true selfâŠâŠâ
âYes. Itâs impossible to calm down an enraged monster in this appearance.â
Nelia squinted her eyes as she stared at Zenuit.
He had his own true self after all. When she asked about his true self before, heâd beat around the bushâŠâŠ
âAnyway, Nelia, Iâll reorganize the power to control the duke on the day of total lunar eclipse, so you can focus on your job.â
âWhat do I have to do?â
âWhat else, you can persuade Carlos to cross the door of the dimension and take the test.â
ââŠâŠWas it something I had to convince him about?â
âYou canât just knock him out and take him, can you?â
Nelia put her fingers on her forehead.
This dragon was justâŠâŠ
Rather, she has to tell everything that has come out of Zenuitâs mouth so far in order to persuade Carlos, but she has no idea if he would believe this incredible truth.
However, the total lunar eclipse was the day after tomorrow. She had no time to lose.
ââŠâŠAlright. Iâll meet His Highness again tomorrow.â
âYes, I believe you will persuade him well, Nelia.â
Nelia glared at Januit.
When they couldnât even talkâŠâŠ
âWhen are you going to tell His Grace about the secrets of the Hart Family and Shilin?â
âAs I said, if he takes the test for obtaining the heart, heâll naturally know everything. Therefore, he doesnât need to know ahead of time. Rather, if he finds out about it now, it will create a harmful effect.â
âEven soâŠâŠâ
âHe canât even fight Shilinâs voice in his head right now. So we canât be hasty.â
Nelia nodded reluctantly.
She sympathized with the duke because even she, who had nothing to do with the story, wasnât able to handle the truth about the duke.
âHowever, shouldnât we talk about taking the test to him?â
He would need time to prepare his mind as well.
âYesâŠâŠ but I donât know if the duke can hear you now.â
âWhat?â
Zenuit, whose eyes were dropped, looked up and said.
âNothing. When we return to the dukeâs residence, letâs examine his condition.â
***
The building felt especially quieter. When they returned to the dukeâs residence, it seemed that the duke was still in his room. The building felt particularly hushed.
âTon, did His Grace not look for me while I was away?â
âYes, His Grace did not look for the young Lady. I believe heâs still sleeping.â
âI see. Thank you for notifying me.â
Nelia turned and was about to go, but Ton spoke urgently.
âExcuse me, Lady Nelia.â
Nelia stopped when she was about to climb the stairs.
âYes?â
âMarquis Clint has sent a letter offering to increase the amount of wizards visiting the mansion on the day of the total lunar eclipse just in caseâŠâŠ When His Grace woke up, I would like you to ask him about this matter.â
Come to think of it, he called wizards.
Nelia answered that she would, and proceeded to climb up the stairs. Zenuit asked in a hushed voice.
âWhat does he mean by wizard?â
âIn preparation for the day of total lunar eclipse, His Grace brings the wizards into the mansion every year. The same goes for this year.â
âI see. However, even if a wizard comes this year, itâs just going to be a bother if they come, so just say that we donât need them.â
Nelia narrowed her brows.
âItâs not like I can tell them not to come as I pleased. His Grace has the right to decide.â
âThen, you can tell him that the duke told them not to come.â
How could he say it so easily? At times like this, Nelia envied Zenuit, who thought in such a simple way.
âWe wonât be able to discuss this issue in the dukeâs current state anyway.â
What kind of thing is His Grace going through right nowâŠâŠ
The last time she saw the duke was when he lied on the bed and had a hopeless smile on his face.
âYou know what, Nelia. Call off the summoning of those wizards. Anyway, all the employees of this family should be put to sleep on that day so that they would stay in the mansion. I canât show the door of dimension to people.â
Nelia nodded.
If they were supposed to be put to sleep, they shouldnât be summoned in the first place.
As expected, the only thing she could believe for the day of the total lunar eclipse was Zenuit.
***
Ton, of course, looked worried. Nelia stopped by her room to get changed, and came down to inform Ton about this.
âAre you sure it would be fineâŠâŠ without any presence of wizards?â
âYes, itâs the dukeâs decision, so you can trust on it.â
She felt guilty as she pretended to be commanded by the duke to tell him so, but there was nothing she could do.
âI see. Then, Iâll pass the information to Marquis Clint. He said he would visit the mansion today, so I can inform him then.â
ââŠâŠFor your information, His Grace said he wasnât in the mood to meet anyone today. Ton, please tell the Marquis nicely so that he wonât be disappointed.â
Nelia knew that if Marquis Clint and the duke met, it would be troublesome.
If he asked about the reason for calling off the wizards, he would find out that she made a decision while he was bedridden.
Ton replied undoubtedly, knowing that the dukeâs bedroom door was tightly closed to anyone.
âUnderstood. Iâll inform him.â
âYes. Thank you, Ton.â
Ton handed the envelope in his hand to Nelia as she was trying to draw a smile without revealing her awkwardness.
âAnd, Lady Nelia. This is a letter from a maid who just came here. She asked for it to be delivered to your Lady.â