Chapter 283: Chapter 283

TL: Zimmings

Before the lunar eclipse, Emeline came to me. It was to convey words to me at the request of Tri.

“Empress Cecilia asked me to stop Aslan’s summoning?”

“Tri was desperate too.”

“I also hope the temple doesn’t use Mina to summon angels, but… why did the empress and the Tri said that?”

“I asked why, but she said she couldn’t answer. Tri, there’s something that the girl can’t tell us. Can you believe it?”

“…….”

“She just left some words. Aslan can’t be used. Aslan is…”

“Can I meet Tri?”

“Empress Cecilia seems to have a restriction order, also Tri. I could only communicate with Tri through the other beggars.”

“Does the imperial family could not intervene in the battle between the temple and Dubblede?… Anyways, I get it. Tell Tri that it will be difficult to summon an angel, no, a devil, due to Mina’s physical strength. Even more so when it’s a powerful devil like Gremory.”

Cecilia and Tri lost their older sister and mother, Beryl, because of the temple. It is natural they do not want an angel to be summoned because they hate the temple.

That’s what I thought, but what if the thing they emphasized that should not be summoned was “Aslan” rather than an angel?

I looked at the chairman.

“Why did the emperor allow the church to do it?”

“Isn’t he trying to stop Dubblede’s influence?”

“I thought so too… but couldn’t the emperor have predicted that if I were known as a fake, Dubblede would wage an all-out war against the temple to protect me?”

“As you might have predicted, isn’t the existence of a ‘child of fate’ as important to them? They’re called a daughter God gave to the imperial family, right?”

“The emperor? Who doesn’t have faith in religion?”

“Any emperor would want it to be recorded during his reign that the daughter of a god descended and sent an angel to them.”

I thought so too.

Alexander, the current emperor, is one of the top five emperors of all time with greed.

But what if….

“What if the temple threatened the emperor?”

“No way. How many crises have there been in the temple so far? They didn’t use threats until then, but now? If it were me, I would have used threats even from before.”

“There are threats that even the temple cannot easily use.”

“Huh?”

“Devil.”

The first significance of the temple’s existence is to protect this land from devils.

If the imperial family were entangled with the devil, the temple would never reveal it to the public.

‘If there is a secret related to Aslan in the imperial family, the temple may know.’

When it comes to angels, devils, and gods, the temple has the most information.

“… The temple threatened the emperor. It must be related to Aslan.”

“Pardon?”

I stared at the paper with my forehead narrowed.

“It may have been related to Empress Elsa.”

I hurriedly grabbed my coat that was lying on the chair.

“Where are you going?”

The chairman asked, and I shouted.

“Adrian would know the best if it was related to Empress Elsa.”

***

I headed to the imperial palace. Although it was not approved in advance, the title given by the emperor was helpful. My status makes it possible to enter without permission.

But it was weird.

“I’m sorry. As for the second prince, it would be difficult to meet him.”

“You’re saying no without asking the prince?”

As soon as the servant who was guarding in front of Adrian’s palace saw me, my entrance was restricted.

“He have commanded me not to take anyone in.”

“Please tell him that Lady Dubblede is here.”

“I’m sorry.”

I crossed my arms with my forehead narrowed.

“How is he?”

“I cannot tell you about the state of the imperial family.”

I took a deep breath.

‘I thought I could come and talk with him.’

I was in a hurry, so I came to the imperial palace first. I thought Adrian wouldn’t reject me.

‘Why didn’t I consider the possibility before? Stupid.’

Isn’t it too shameless to think that I rejected Adrian once?

“Okay. Tell him I hope he’s well.”

When I said that, I turned around and muttered, “Then should I go to Marquis Chantelle (Adrian’s grandfather’s family)

It was then.

“Wait!”

The servant shouted. As he turned his head, his face was slightly pal3, he gulped and said.

“I’ll ask the prince.”

“…… So suddenly?”

“Come to think of it, I thought that the prince would be happy to see you if you’re Lady Dubblede.”

He fumbled as if trying to please me. Then he rushed into the palace.

But I still sense something is weird.

‘As soon as Marquis Chatelle’s name comes out, he does that?’

The servant returned shortly after.

“Come in.”

“…….”

I entered the palace looking at the servant suspiciously.

Standing in front of the huge door, the servant knocked on the door. Soon after, the door opened and Adrian, sitting on a chair, appeared.

He gestured at the servant, and the servant closed the door.

Only me and Adrian are left in the room.

“You’re here?”

He smiled and asked.

He was a little thin, perhaps because he was really sick. His jawline became sharper, and he was slightly disorganized.

“Are you sick?”

When I asked, he nodded and gestured to a chair.

“No.”

“But you didn’t even allow me to enter the room?”

“I was just tired.”

While I was fighting with the temple outside, Adrian must also have a battle inside the imperial palace.

The first prince Andre and second prince Adrian have surpassed the age of twenty, but the crown prince title has not yet been decided.

Cecilia was well aware of how brutal the battle will be. Maybe even more than me and the temple’s fight .

“What did Empress Yvonne do?”

“It’s not that hard as Cecilia is here.”

“…….”

“It’s all thanks to you, Leblaine.”

I touched the hem of my skirt.

‘What should I say?’

You have a secret about your mother, right? Maybe not like that…

Your father is suspicious. Someone is threatening him, right? It’s definitely not that either….

It’s something I might get slapped for if I say it to Emeline. She would say ‘Are you picking a fight?’

I think of a good question to ask. Then I found a fountain pen on the desk. A mixture of brown and blue. It’s the birthday gift I gave Adrian.

“Oh, that one.”

“Fountain pen?”

I smiled and nodded.

‘We had a good time.’

I thought so, but Adrian grabbed a fountain pen.

“Do you want it?”

“…… Huh?”

“You can take it if you want.”

Adrian, who said so, smiled softly.

‘What?’

How could I accept this?

No matter how young I was, is that not a gift worthy for the prince?

Did he feel uncomfortable when I pushed my way into the palace? Is that why he didn’t think of it as special?

It means that our memories are not precious to him.

Is he pushing me away with the roundabout way of speaking that nobles and imperial families use?

While contemplating, I soon burst into laughter.

‘Adrian? To me?’

He probably won’t tell me that even if someone puts a knife in front of him.

I had such belief in him.

To someone like me who doesn’t trust people, Adrian gave that kind of faith for over 10 years.

“You’re returning the gift I gave you?”

I smiled and said, then Adrian’s hand tightened while holding the fountain pen.

He smiled and nodded.

“I was joking.”

“It wasn’t funny. I was wondering what it meant.”

“Yes. That was not a funny joke.”

Adrian sat across from me.

“Yes, I can’t give it to you…because it’s mine.”

“…….”

“The gift you gave me…”

For a moment, it was strange.

I narrowed my brow and stared at Adrian.

“When did I give it to you?”

“…… Birthday.”

“When, where.”

“…….”

“Adrian!”

“Birthday party.”

My expression completely hardened.

When I didn’t open my mouth, Adrian smiled and said.

“I was happy.”

“……Yes. You were happy. You’re delighted, but not like the one who received the cheap fountain pen in the shabby store at the back alley.”

Adrian’s expression also hardened. Once again, veins popped in his hand holding a fountain pen.

“What? Why can’t you remember?”

“It happened when I was young.”

“But don’t you remember that the prince escaped from the castle and held a birthday party in the back alley?”

“…….”

“Did you guess that it was a birthday present too? Because the only anniversary worth giving a present between us is our birthday. So you said you got it at the birthday party?”

“…….”

“Adrian, what’s wrong with you?”

I got up from the chair and approached Adrian. I looked closely while holding his face.

Adrian smiled as he took my hand and hold my face.

“It’s nothing to worry about.”

“Lie.”

“I’m telling you. It’s just… I just don’t remember.”

You just don’t remember?

At that moment, I remembered the conversation I had with God.

The reason why people such as Boone, Pymon, and Pur cannot remember is that they have blood on their hands.

‘The more the pioneers get blood on their hands, the more their memories disappear.’

The emperor was threatened by the temple.

The secret of the imperial family that is clearly intertwined with the devil.

Cecilia’s message is that Aslan should not be summoned.

Empress Elsa.

Adrian, who inherited her blood, lost his memory.

“… Empress Elsa is Aslan.”

Adrian’s eyes fluttered slightly.