◈ 322. [Side Story] In the Mood for Love (4)
Ash passed out as it was, perhaps as a result of being revived after dying once.
He fell asleep in Dustia’s arms in the carriage.
Dustia spat out while wiping her sleeping son’s straight forehead with her hand.
“How did you know that you came to save me?”
The emperor-Traha, who stood outside and looked at his wife and son without entering the carriage, answered.
“The ‘Prophet’ told me.”
Five hundred years ago, when Everblack was a small kingdom.
There was a wizard who appeared out of nowhere and helped revive Everblack.
This sorceress transformed an ordinary thorn tree into a magical beacon that predicted the future, and thanks to this, Everblack grew into a powerful nation.
Afterwards, Everblack declared its title and was able to become the current empire.
Five hundred years have passed since then, and he is still alive, an eternal being who often advises the emperor on future matters.
This old man was called the ‘prophet’ in the imperial family.
“They told me to go quickly and save you because you’re going to be attacked. That’s why I immediately brought the knights out.”
“… … The trickster’s prophecies sometimes come true.”
“Please refrain from talking. You are the benefactor of our Everblack.”
Traha, who had spat out indifferently, looked at Dustia’s face, who had a bad complexion.
“Your regression magic is always used to save the lives of others. To protect me all my life, and now to protect my son.”
“… … .”
“Did you use up all your remaining power in this regression magic?”
“… … That’s right.”
“Then you won’t last long.”
“Is that what you say to your soon-to-be-dead wife?”
Dustia’s eyes fell on her husband.
“The heavenly sentence handed down on our clan… … The curse of regression is one-man victory. blood lineage. After I die, I will move on to this child.”
Her trembling hand stroked Ash’s hair.
“All they share is the trait of reversing time, but the way they express themselves is different… … It is a pity that I cannot tell you in advance how this child will receive this curse.”
“Ash will overcome it well.”
Traha smiled and bowed toward Dustia.
“Because he is our son.”
The emperor and the second empress shared a short kiss.
His lips parted, and after stroking his wife’s cheek, Traha slowly pulled himself out.
“Go back to the palace and take care of yourself. Make good use of your last hour.”
Turning around, Traha strode forward. Dustia, who was staring at the back of her distant husband, spat out with difficulty.
“My last wish, please go to hell, Your Majesty.”
With a wry smile, the emperor answered quietly.
“If I can reunite with you there, that wouldn’t be too bad.”
What an emperor on a white horse! With a sound, it ran towards the Hwangseong.
Dustia, who kept her mouth shut and controlled her emotions, let out a long sigh.
“… … Let’s go, Lucas.”
Lucas, who had been standing guard and overhearing the conversation not far away, came running with his shoulders trembling. Dustia smiled haggardly.
“Let’s spend the rest of the vacation at home.”
Thus, the second Empress Dustia, who had been on vacation for the first time in decades, returned to the detached palace.
And never came out of it again.
***
After the attack, Second Empress Dustia’s condition rapidly deteriorated.
“… … Haven’t you ever been like this before?”
In all 24 hours, she felt an intense sense of déjà vu.
“It’s deja vu again… … I feel like I’ve been through hundreds and thousands of times every day… … .”
“You must be in the mood, Mama. look. Right now, this tea is the first one from the South this time-”
“no. I, drank that tea.”
Dustia glared at the teacup Ash held out, then trembled violently and tore her hair out.
“Even this situation where you smile like that and hand over the tea while saying that… … ! Everyone, I’ve been through this before!”
“Oh my, calm down… … !”
Chaeng-Grang-!
Dustia’s arm pushed Ash, and the teacup in Ash’s hand fell to the floor and shattered. Hot tea water splashed in all directions.
Dustia, who suddenly came to her senses with a gasp, hurriedly hugged Ash and muttered,
“Ah, Ash, Ash, my poor, pitiful child… … .”
“Oh my God… … ?”
“I can’t pass this pain on to you… … Mama, she’ll live a long, long life. I will last as long as possible… … .”
These things were repeated every day.
Dustia felt a sense of deja vu in everything, and she couldn’t stand it and had seizures. The gentle and warm detached palace quickly became impoverished.
Rumors that Dustia was suffering from madness spread throughout the imperial palace.
The rumor that the second empress went mad because the other wives of the imperial palace had been harassed was the most persuasive and widespread.
but, however.
Despite suffering from madness, Dustia persisted in her life.
“When I die, this curse will pass on to you.”
Dustia, who had dried up after a few months, muttered with dry lips.
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“So, Mom will live… … .”
Ash, who did not give up on her mother and nursed her right next to her, tried to hold back her tears and smiled.
“Yes, Mom. live. We live.”
“… … ”
Lucas was watching the whole scene right next to him.
***
Time passed.
All those who attacked Dustia committed suicide before being caught.
… … It is so known.
It was Fernandez who led the pursuit and investigation that lasted for a year and six months.
Fernandez, who had been in charge of the Aegis task force under direct control of the imperial family since long ago, was ordered by the emperor to investigate the case, and after finding and killing the last assailant, the investigation was terminated.
“When Obama conquered the north, Second Empress Dustia built several majors next to him.”
widely.
After signing the case closing papers, Fernandez said as he closed the files.
“At that time, the survivors of the destroyed kingdom held a grudge and attacked Second Empress Dustia… … Reports will go up.”
Villa of Fernandez.
Lucas, who was sitting on his knees, was listening to the story in silence, and Fernandez smiled leisurely.
“There was also an investigation into the spy inside, but… … Lucas. You weren’t on the suspect’s line in the first place. That’s also true, because we almost died together while trying to prevent an attack.”
“… … .”
“If you paid that much attention, you wouldn’t have been able to help with the mission, but you were actually interfering… … .”
Fernandez, tongue-tied, stepped in front of Lucas and lowered his gaze.
“You seem to have forgotten where you belong, Lucas. Have you forgotten your family debt?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
Lucas sighed briefly. A frown flashed in Fernandez’s eyes.
“Hoo?”
“I cannot betray His Highness Prince Ash and Empress Dustia any longer.”
The smile on Fernandez’s lips grew thicker. Lucas, who jerked his head back, gnashed his teeth.
“It’s like the McGregor family. Debt will file for bankruptcy. Like the family, they will fall and disappear.”
There was no more regret.
Lucas decided to live for Dustia and Ash as he really wanted to. He could have given up his family for his sake.
Lucas stood up and turned around, but Fernandez whispered softly.
“What if it turns out that you are the insider behind the attack on the second empress?”
“what… … ?”
When Lucas, startled, turned around, Fernandez was still laughing leisurely.
“Your Majesty will be quite angry. Because he hates traitors… … It can be considered almost unconditionally the death penalty.”
“Then, then I, too, will tell you that it was you-”
“Who are you going to tell? I am the head of the investigative agency in this country. The Imperial Defense Army and the Aegis Task Force are all in my hands.”
“… … .”
Only then, belatedly, Lucas realized.
He had been caught in a spider’s web from the very beginning.
So that you can’t even move, with your arms and legs wrapped around you… … .
“And this too… … bring it.”
When Fernandez chinned his subordinates, they dragged someone to bring them.
The one who was dragged out of captivity,
“young master… … !”
He was a MacGregor family loyalist and a dojo swordsman master, Mason.
Mason’s huge body, covered in blood as if he had been tortured, was thrown to the floor. Lucas screamed.
“Mason!”
“It’s not just this guy. Everyone who remained in your family is now being held captive by our task force.”
In a soft voice, Fernandez spoke comfortably. Lucas gnashed his teeth.
“Fernandez, Your Highness… … !”
“As an example, cut off their necks one by one in front of you.”
Fernandez’s long fingers ran across his slender neck.
“And I will slit your neck and send you to the second empress’s villa. I wish I could tell you that this is the end of the filthy traitor.”
“… … .”
“Did you think you had a choice, Lucas?”
Along with the natural lower body, the dark red eyes of the second prince emitted an eerie light in the glasses.
“sit down. Get down on your knees.”
“… … .”
Lucas gritted his teeth, and eventually had to slowly kneel on the floor. A clear sneer formed on Fernandez’s lips.
“I need a lot of usable dogs, Lucas… … so i give you a chance One last chance to prove your allegiance to me.”
Lucas’ eyes widened at the words that followed.
“Soon my agents will raid the second empress’ villa. join us at this time Open the gates of the palace, let our agents inside.”
“Uh, what… … !”
“And help to kill the second Empress Dustia and Prince Ash. If you do it with your own hands, you will get more points from me.”
Lucas shook his head violently.
“I can’t, I can’t do that!”
“Then we will all die here.”
As Fernandez beckoned, his men drew swords from their waists in unison.
A knife was pointed at Mason’s throat as he fell to the floor. The cool metal felt on Lucas’ neck as well.
“Even if you don’t cooperate anyway, Second Empress Dustia and Ash will die. But if you cooperate, you and your family will survive.”
“… … .”
“Lucas. I highly value the potential of you and the McGregor family, so I’m trying to prove your worth by doing troublesome things like this.”
With a soft voice, Fernandez whispered kindly.
“I will become emperor. And I want to moderate you in the future.”
“Ugh, kuh… … !”
“think carefully. A low-born empress with madness, and a prince who was kind enough to fall in love without any talent… … By sticking under it, what else do you get but death?”
Fernandez, who was level with Lucas in front of him, looked into Lucas’ blue eyes.
“This is the last offer. Prove your allegiance to me.”
“… … .”
“Then I will give you everything. Life and future.”
Lucas closed his eyes tightly.
***
It was a clear winter night.
Just like that day seven years ago when Lucas first came to the villa here.
Lucas, now 14 years old, stood at the back door of the villa, blankly looking up at the sky.
There were no options from the beginning. If you refuse, everyone will die, but if you accept, Lucas and the MacGregor family can live.
If that’s the case, I have no choice but to agree… … .
The sound of a cuckoo sounded in Lucas’s ears as he rationalized himself. It was a signal.
kiik-
When Lucas carefully opened the back door, people in robes wearing black masks poured in.
Without saying a word, they infiltrated the palace through the backyard with agile footwork.
The leader of the assassination unit quietly handed something to Lucas, who was watching this scene trembling.
“If you can’t do it with your sober mind… … Put this on yourself.”
It was something like a syringe filled with dark blue blood. Lucas asked, puzzled.
“… … What is this?”
“Beastification Serum. It’s being tested in the dark part, but it’s a half-failure that can’t even generate factors… … The berserk effect is quite usable.”
“… … .”
“The ‘Central’ told me to give it to you. If you use it, you will get the power of the beast in a short time… … It also removes troublesome emotions such as guilt and conscience.”
“… … .”
“I also used it on my first mission. It will help.”
Leaving behind Lucas, who stood blankly, the leader of the assassination unit strode into the detached palace.
Lucas gritted his teeth and squeezed the serum in his hand.
After Dustia fell mad, the detached palace gradually reduced the number of servants, and it was in a situation where it did not even have its own guard force.
There were defense magic and guard magic on the outskirts of the palace, but they were all nullified the moment I opened the door on my own from inside.
Dustia and Ash’s lives were now a beacon in front of the wind.
