Published at 23rd of November 2020 05:14:07 PM
When some agreement was reached on what they should do, the two Black Hawk Knights, Serus and Logan, left the room first .
Fabian and Liam, who were left alone, appeared to have no more desire to fight . At least the silent cooperation between them would continue until their mutual enemy had disappeared .
“I brought the book . ” Liam carefully handed over old books wrapped in paper to Fabian .
“Is this the ancient book that Evelyn said?” Fabian took it, looking at it closely .
“Yes . ”
“Have you read it, Duke?”
“Yes . ”
The conversation between them was still dry . Frankly, they weren’t on good terms even though they said they would cooperate .
“What’s your impression? Is there something strange?” asked Fabian .
Liam bowed his head slightly and began to explain, “There are passages to interpret . And I checked it before coming here, but I have absolutely no idea of the book’s source . It’s just an ancient book . It’s not even listed in the royal library the Princess had found . “
“In many ways, it’s a suspicious book . ”
“I put a bookmark in the relevant part . ”
Fabian nodded, focusing on the book for a moment . However, the book’s picture was so dark, and the book’s look was very shabby . Without realizing it, Fabian’s face turned sour .
“How dare…”
According to the interpretation, the story inside the book was about the insults to the imperial family’s blood and the slander of the Emperor’s ancestors .
“I understand your anger, Your Majesty . But please focus more on the other pages . ” Liam, who had read the contents of the book beforehand, told him .
“The demon curses the Emperor’s bloodline? Bullshit . The demon is, by nature, a natural enemy of human . ”
“Well, the demons are just a low-class race that wants easy and big prey . ”
“Right . ” Fabian’s voice sank low . During the Devil Eye attack, the demons chased Adrian in the carriage in a way he had never heard or seen before .
‘Kill Adrian… . kill him!’
The frightened child told him that the demons had said those words over and over again . It wasn’t just a delusion that came out of fear, but because it’s only that child who heard it, Fabian heeded it for a while .
“But there are many things that don’t make any sense . If that rambling nonsense is true, my ancestor is a bloodthirsty murderer, asking for help from a creature of mysterious power . But according to the book’s content, there’s no reason for the demons to hate Emperor’s bloodline . ”
Until now, the Imperial family had never suffered direct harm from demons . That part was also written in the book . The Emperor’s ancestors asked someone to seal his madness . And the divine-guardian who promised to stabilize the demons who resided on the continent .
“If there’s a guardian or whatever he is as promised, why did the demons attack Adrian?”
“Why did you… …think so?” Liam fell into his own thought for a moment, listening to Fabian’s analysis .
“Didn’t you hear about the Devil Eye’s raid? Evelyn was also suspicious of the Wyverns incident . ”
“I agree, but if they threaten the Imperial family, why is Your Majesty safe?”
Fabian blinked in response to his reply . Indeed, wasn’t the Devil Eye aiming for the Emperor’s blood? But they lunged at Adrian in unison instead of him, who was nearby and had a bigger figure .
“They’ve been targeting little Adrian since the beginning . But it was hard for them to strike because of the carriage”, Fabian recalled that painful memory . “I didn’t know if Adrian was blabbing out of surprise or not, but …… No, I thought that child actually heard it . He said that the countless swarms of demons had shouted killing words to him . ”
“Huh? The demons said…… . , Ah, common sense is not important right now . ” Liam quickly erased the nonsense .
“That child repeatedly told me . He was trembling with fear as the demons were screaming to kill him . ”
“…… Then? What if the demon doesn’t actually target the Emperor’s bloodline, but only Prince Adrian?”
Liam’s conclusion seemed to hit Fabian’s head . And the two were silent for a moment .
“I’ve always suspected that the Vatican could control demon appearances . ”
Frankly, it was a top-secret, but there was no reason to hide it from Liam right now .
“Look . ” Fabian handed over a small notebook . From the emergence of demons, the damage and the Vatican’s appearance were clearly written on the chart inside . “It’s no longer a groundless suspicion . The appearance of the Paladin was always overlapped with demonic attacks . It wasn’t a mere coincidence . ”
Since that mysterious Paladin appeared, the pattern of the demon’s appearance had changed entirely . It was no longer dependent on the season and the cycle . And when they emerged in some locations, they were instantly killed by the Vatican, controlling the demonic slaughter perfectly .
“I don’t know the means at all . But isn’t it obvious that that suspicious Vatican Paladin is a demon as well?” said Liam .
“I assume his power has a limit . ” There were already too many questions, and Fabian chose to make a quick decision .
“That Paladin has an inhuman ability to control a demon?”
“Evidence showed that the number of demons that appeared in one year was always the same . Whether the Paladin showed up on the scene or not, the number didn’t change . ”
Liam stared back at the notebook and realized that Fabian was right, “From the number of demons that appeared …… So most likely, he only can create limited demons . ”
“Huh, create? There can’t be such nonsense ability . If he has it, I wouldn’t be able to save Adrian when he sent out the Devil Eyes . “
“Then, there’s only one reasonable conclusion . ”
“Yes . ”
They nodded at the same time .
“About his ability, it’s exactly unknown, but perhaps … . yes, we could say ‘controlling’ as it is written in this shabby book” Fabian looked displeased .
“Then, can we consider that he can place or move demons that already exist in different places?”
“I have the same thoughts . That’s why every year, the number of demonic manifestations is the same . And there must be another explanation why he couldn’t control more demons beyond that limit . ”
“Then I understand now, why did he choose to become a Paladin despite having such extraordinary abilities . ”
“Yes, why doesn’t he take my throne if he has the infinite ability?” Fabian said coolly . “His ability can only change the order or place . That’s why he needed a convenient tool called the Vatican . ”
There was a moment of silence . “But if the Paladin has a similar power to the guardian in the book . For what purpose does he exist for?” Liam opened his mouth, asking a theoretical question .
“I’m thinking of finding out about it from now on . ”
This was the first time that Fabian and Liam had the same opinion .
“If he goes after Evelyn and Adrian, he will have to pay for it . Either He’s a human being or a demon . To have no more worries in the future, I must erase his existence to the roots of this world . ”
“I think the same way . ” Liam said softly, and their gaze met each other in the same eye-level, “Of course, for the Princess . ” His will seemed strong to the end .
“I’m proud to see you’ve worked hard for my Empress and my son . ” Fabian’s sarcasm also remained the same . But, unlike the beginning, there was a slight change . There seemed to be a bit of solidarity growing between them .
The more suspicious the enemy’s identity, the more threatened by his unknown ability, the less bickering between them . Because their purpose of protecting Evelyn and Adrian was the same .
And that was only the beginning of their dangerous alliance .
The Empress Dowager firmly asked the Emperor to see her . But still, Fabian didn’t respond, ignoring his mother .
Monica soon gave up and was relaxed drinking tea . It was Stella, the Empress candidate, who was heartburn to see it .
“Stupid, why are you looking so restless?” Monica rebuked Stella as if she were annoyed, seeing her niece .
“Well, that’s… …if the former Empress is in this Palace with her son now… I’m… . . what will happen then?”
“I don’t know . It’s your father’s business . His Majesty’s decision wasn’t bad, but to be precise, it’s not easy to remarry the same partner . ”
“But, she already has a child, and he’s also His Majesty’s son…… . ” Stella bit her lips nervously .
“So?”
“If they get back together like this, I can’t do anything . ”
Stella’s anxiety was reasonable . The Metis family couldn’t shine, nor could they foresee the future . Her heart, which had always dreamed of the Empress’ seat, was full of determination . So, she couldn’t give up now .
“Haa……” Monica sighed and beckoned her . Stella approached and sat beside Monica with teary eyes . Then she patted her niece’s shoulder, comforting her, “You’re still young, so you don’t know, but a bad situation won’t last forever . ”
“Even if the woman, who already has a successor, becomes the Empress again? Of all things, the child is his real son . ” Her voice cracked into a sob . And a crooked smile engraved on Monica’s lips .
“That’s only now,” said Monica . She was also a Emperor’s wife who once served as an Empress and had Fabian as her successor . Less than 20 years she spent in the Imperial family felt like an eternity, but she realized that it was just a moment . “There’s nothing eternal in this Imperial family . ”
All was something that she couldn’t even imagine after a woman wore an Empress crown . It was the same with her husband’s love, who was the previous Emperor, for her . Monica also lost the luster of power as a mother’s successor at one point . After that, she couldn’t find any meaning in life .
“You don’t have to worry about that . Looking at his personality, my brother won’t give up . ”
“But, if His Majesty remarries like this, even my father…… . ”
“Ha… If the first and second Empress seats have been taken, then you can become the third Empress . ”
Stella’s eyes bulged, listening to Monica’s frustrating words . Of course, Stella didn’t think that way, “No, It has to be me . I’ve already… . . made up my mind . ”
Just like the first candidate in the past, who was Stella’s eldest sister . If time was delayed, the younger Lady Metis, whoever she was, would replace her .
“You can’t make a choice as you wish . It depends on your fate . ” Monica returned to her usual nonchalant attitude . Frankly, she couldn’t understand Stella’s ambition, why she was so eager to become an Empress .
Empress’ status was a terrifying specter . It was like a stroke at a young age that she didn’t realize . Once she sat in that position and gave birth to a child, her tears had dried up .
“I will give you an advice, don’t even think about using tricks . ” Monica gave a hint, but at the same time, a clear warning to her niece .
“The former Empress now is living in a secret chamber . But after His Majesty announced it at the Congress, she will immediately take over the inner Palace . First of all, she has a solid reason for being the Crown Prince’s biological mother . “
Just imagining that, Stella couldn’t stand it . Only those who had experienced it could feel how hurt it was to see their dreams disappear like bubbles before their eyes .
“But we are not backing down . Since that’s our family’s will . ”
“What do you mean……I don’t understand . ” Stella asked bluntly, and Monica’s expression somehow became a little generous .
“If you’re desperate and try to hurt her child out of despair, you will definitely be severely punished . At that time, no one could defend you even though the child is gone . Like it or not, that child is the Emperor’s son, and every attempt to harm the Imperial family will cause destruction . “
Monica seemed to have already seen Stella’s innermost thoughts . She might not know that Stella already had the intention of poisoning the little Prince by asking her father, Duke Metis .
“So, what can I do?”
“As usual……Be normal . ”
“What?”
Stella looked dumbfounded, but the Empress grinned a little bit bitter, “The former Empress is a beautiful woman . She has a good heart . But she’s weak . It means she’s too naive to live in this imperial family . ”
Evelyn had no other emotions besides that . She never really hated or liked something and only had a few opportunities to face other people . However, Monica sympathized with her as she knew the pressure of sitting in the Empress’s seat .
“Do you know the Lady Satin?”
“Yes . She’s the leader of the Imperial noble wife group and contributes a lot to the world of socialites” .
“How do you feel if her gang mocked you before your eyes at a social party?”
For Stella, it was a simple question, “My feeling? I don’t know about that, but I think I’ll slap her cheek first and stuff the feather fan into her mouth . ” Stella was indeed the daughter of Duke Metis as she answered calmly without a moment of hesitation .
“Right, but the former Empress couldn’t cope with them . ”
“Ah…… . ” A hope suddenly bloomed in her clear eyes . “Yes, if she could handle them, she wouldn’t get divorced …… I’m sorry … I acted recklessly like an idiot . ” Stella, who was restless, quickly found her grace and smiled . She was a resourceful child who resembled her father .
“If you know, go and rest . You’ll meet the former Empress soon . ”
“Yes . ” Stella set a polite example and walked away .
Monica looked at her figure with sullen eyes, wondering how her niece really looked like her brother a lot .