Fabian felt that his life was on the verge of dying and would drop dead at any time soon.
He didnât know how long time had passed since he had leaped into the magic circle pattern to pursue Evelyn. Fortunately, his exceptional physical strength that ran through his blood, as well as his strong mentality, held him awake and allowed him to sense the existence of his spirit.
âI â¦â¦ Yes, Iâm looking for Evelyn.â
As his body began to shudder violently, his memories that had once been shattered had now been reassembled. Fabian could see bright lights glistening in the distance, but he couldnât get near enough to reach it. But somehow, he had nostalgic feelings that were tinged with a deep sense of longing, and he believed Evelyn was there.
âEvelynâ¦.â
There was a strong desire driving him to go there when he recalled Evelynâs sad eyes saying goodbye. Never, for the last time, he couldnât let Evelyn cry alone in an unfamiliar place.
âNo matter what, I canât sacrifice you.â
The Emperorâs title was meaningless for him, as he was a husband and a father first.
So if someone had to make a sacrifice, it was him, not Evelyn or Adrian.
âEvelynâ¦..â
Fabian couldnât see or listen to her voice. Still, he could sense her presence. But at the same time, the interfering sound, on the other side, constantly fazed his ears.
(âYour Majesty⦠please come back!â)
(âEmperor, at this rate you will wander forever in eternal time!â)
Serus and Davidâs voices could be heard from a long way far, but Fabian ignored them and continued on his way to the light.
The closest he was to the light, the signs of Evelynâs presence grew more pronounced. Fabian overheard two voices having conversations, although he couldnât grasp their stories. Nevertheless, he knew that Evelynâs voice was filled with deep grief.
âHeâsâ¦â¦like a demonâ¦â¦that manâ¦â¦.Emperorâ¦â¦ bloodline, sinâ¦â¦in itself.â
Although Fabian could only hear Davidâs intermittent voice, he was aware that those words were aimed at him. He hadnât said anything wrong, but Fabian struggled to hold back Evelynâs sadness that seeped into his heart.
âEven if heâs a sinnerâ¦â¦.â
When he could hear Evelynâs voice, Fabian got even more concentrated on listening carefully to what they were saying.
ââ¦â¦â¦because heâs my only husband.â
At that very moment, suddenly, Evelynâs figure emerged in front of his eyes. But when Fabian attempted to reach her out, someoneâs voice from somewhere distracted his hearing.
(ââ¦â¦Your Majesty! )
Again, Serusâ obnoxious voice yelled something at him.
(âEmperor â¦â¦ your hands â¦â¦.â)
That moment, Fabianâs body was unexpectedly struck by something solid when he tried to dismiss Davidâs voice, which he no longer wanted to hear. His left arm, which he had been unable to sense since he became a spirit, was abruptly consumed by extreme heat, feeling as if it were burning.
They did something to his body in the real world, and Fabian began to experience pain. Vaguely, a faint limp hand appeared in his sight. It was his hand that was soaked with blood.
âNo, I canât go back alone.â
Fabian made a wager with himself and rubbed his bloodied left hand on his chest. And his body part was seen after he smeared it with his blood. It was just; he felt a terrible headache as Evelynâs figure before his eyes became more vivid.
Butâ¦.. he didnât want to stop there.
âEvelyn!â
His cries, which reverberated across the silent place, could not reach the barrier that separated them. Instead, he saw Evelynâs face messing with tears even more, along with Davidâs staring coldly at her.
âThe Emperor is a sinnerâ¦.â
That hoarse made Fabian grit his teeth.
âSerus!! If you can hear me, stab me harder!!!â
Did Serus hear my voice?
When Fabian endured extreme dizziness to the extent that he nearly fainted, he was sure that it was his blood that jolted him awake. So, there was only one chance. He only had one chance to take Evelyn as David, at the exact moment, had commenced a lowly chanting of his spell.
It dawned on Fabian that this was his last chance.
âNow!! I need more blood !!!!â
His left arm was stabbed once again by a sharp pain. Hot blood gushed out of his body, drenching him entirely. And, at long last, Fabianâs spirit, which had seemed blurry at first, appeared visible now.
ââ¦â¦ You â¦â¦ how could you â¦â¦.â
Davidâs voice quivered when he saw Fabian unexpectedly arise in front of him.
âYes, the Emperor is a sinner by nature, just as you said.â Fabian squeezed his lips tight and fixed his eyes on him. âIâll accept that.â
He reached out his bloodied hands and pulled Evelyn into his embrace. âBut I wonât be a sinful man.â
âFaâ¦bian? Is that you? â
Evelyn said something startling in a shaky voice, while David was also lost for words in a situation he hadnât expected.
âIâm coming to get you.â
Fabianâs blood kept dripping from his left hand and flowed down Evelynâs shoulder. The Imperial familyâs blood, which was shed by Fabian himself in the real world, was the only blood in this world that had the immense power to break beyond time boundaries.
âEvelyn, letâs go back. Iâ¦â¦ I donât want to commit a sin for leaving my wife first.â
His condition couldnât last for too long since his original body was losing a lot of blood. But Fabian was hell-bent on getting Evelyn back home at all costs, even though it meant sacrificing his own life.
âPlease, donât make me a sinner.â His deep voice rang desperately in Evelynâs ear.
âFabian, this is an unavoidable choice. Youâ¦â¦.â
âLetâs go back. Even if I have to give up my life, I wonât leave you to walk alone on the lonely road.â
Fabian cradled her back in his arms even stronger, and Evelyn cautiously grasped his left hand with a pale face after she realized the identity of the liquid that damped her.
âFabianâ¦â¦ what did you doâ¦?â
âI can do anything for you.â
The air surrounding them was slowly rolling. The two were hugging each other tightly, engulfed by the volatile wind currents.
âNo â thereâs no way something like this could have happened!â David shouted out of breath, but he could no longer see the gap separating them. âStop you two! Your soul can perish! If you stop now ⦠â¦!â
After ensuring that he would never be able to touch them, with his usual haughty stern gaze, Fabian looked at David.
âDonât you dare order meâ?
Evelyn couldnât believe it when his low voice touched her back. She witnessed a little while before how Fabian was stained in blood like a dead person, and now, she could feel the warmth of her beloved husband.
âLetâs go back together, Evelyn.â
Evelyn couldnât tell whether it was the tears or the blood that ran down through her dress. But she was gratified to know that Fabian was still alive as a human being.
âI made a promise to you. I wonât let you go again.â
The man who embraced her now wasnât the bloodthirsty demon she had seen from the prophetic beads.
Evelyn slowly drew her eyes closed.
The two were sucked into the time-vortex by the swirling air. Her consciousness faded gradually⦠and then vanished in the cascade of time.
ââ¦â¦I wonât let you go no matter what.â
Fabianâs whispering vow was everything she could hear and remember.
It was a promise.
And the desire of a man born with the worldâs strongest fate.
***
The sight that unfolded in that cramped attic was quite terrifying.
âOh, seriously, your Emperor is such aloose-cannonâ¦â¦â David was speechless. âWhat the hell is he thinkingâ¦â¦!â His critical gaze turned to Serus, who remained lifeless as a statue, gazing blankly at the sword stuck in Fabianâs body. He didnât hesitate to stab his blade squarely onto his masterâs body after he abruptly heard the Emperorâs scream from afar.
âIf your Emperor dies, everything is done. This continent is over â¦â¦.â
âHis Majesty wonât die.â
Fabianâs body, which had been stabbed by the sword, began to twitch into convulsions due to the heavy bleeding gushing out of his wound.
âWhy â¦â¦â¦ Princess Evelynâs sacrifice was ultimately in vain. Why are humans so stupid?â David took a seat, muttering something cryptic. Fabian Blood, which had flooded the whole floor surface, tasted like poison to him and painfully drained his life.
âWhyâ¦you askedâ¦?â
Someoneâs unexpected voice suddenly resounded. The next moment, after David lifted his head in bewilderment, Fabianâs fist flew in and landed hard on his face.
âYour Majesty!â
âNot yetâ¦â¦ stay away from meâ.
Fabian seemed to be holding something in his arms. That blood-stained translucent thing resembled a woman in appearance. And after a brief moment of confusion, they realized it was Evelyn.
âYour Majesty, youâre bleeding too much.â
âNot yetâ¦â¦ just a little moreâ¦.â
Fabian groaned in pain as he continued to thrust the sword deeper into his wound. Evelynâs silhouette, drenched in red blood that flooded like a pool, became even more visible, and she occurred in his arms.
âNonsense.â
David was starting to have doubts about his eyesight. Evelyn, who had been jumped and lost through the pillar of time, was now lying in Fabianâs embrace, as he witnessed. Furthermore, her soul and body inexplicably returned to their original states as perfectly as before in a matter of seconds.
âWhat have you done? How could humans interfere the ti- â¦â¦.ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
However, Davidâs words were cut off as soon as Evelyn breathed out violently.
âEvelynâ¦? Evelyn!â Fabian looked at Evelyn, who laid in his arms.
âFabianâ¦.â
Miraculously, Evelyn opened her eyes in Fabianâs arms. At the moment their eyes met each other, Fabian realized that his reckless gambling had succeeded. âHaâ¦.â As a sigh of relief flowed, and his whole body was relieved. âThank God.â
Fabianâs voice sounded weak and powerless. Serus soon approached him and tried to stop his bleeding in a hurry. But Evelyn had not yet figured out what was going on around her.
âFaâ¦â¦Bian?â
Tuk..tukâ¦.
Something damp and sticky was wetting Evelynâs body all over. That red thing kept dripping down without stoppingâ¦â¦hotâ¦â¦ Fabianâs vision began to blur, and his consciousness began to shatter rapidly.
âFabian!â
âFineâ¦.. Iâm fineâ¦.â Fabian comforted Evelyn despite his bloodied appearance.
âJustâ¦.. Iâm tired⦠⦠I want to sleep a little⦠⦠.â
âNo, Fabian! Open your eyes! Please wake up!â
Fabianâs eyes began to close despite Evelynâs pleading
âIâm going to sleep a littleâ¦â¦you wonât leave in the meantime, wonât you?â
Evelyn couldnât even look straight at her husbandâs face because he kept on crying.
âLeaving you? â¦â¦ where will I goâ¦.?â
Evelyn didnât know what she was saying? Even though she was determined to save Adrian, she would be a heartless person if she left Fabian now.
âI wonât leave. Iâll stay here.â
When he heard Evelynâs answer, a peaceful smile adorned the edge of Fabianâs lips.
âNeverâ¦. Iâll never leave you again.â
With tears in her eyes, Evelyn couldnât imagine how she could live her life after burying the memories of her husband? It is impossible. If Fabian didnât chase after her and bring her back, Evelyn would have gone crazy.
âSo, just for a moment â¦â¦ Promise me; you will only sleep a little and wake up soon.â Evelyn hugged Fabian, who had already closed her eyes, said mournfully. âIâll be hereâ¦â¦.â
Tukâ¦tuk⦠Evelynâs tears fell on Fabianâs face. âDonât sleep too longâ¦â¦ you have to save our child, and you said you wouldnât leave me aloneâ¦..â Evelyn said with her voice hovering in the air hollowly.
****
âPrincess, excuse me.â
Serus pulled Fabian from Evelynâs embrace, and before long, several people walked in and immediately gave first aid.
David was again arrested and dragged outside. The fainted Fabian was laid in Evelynâs bedroom and immediately was treated by Sir Philip.
Evelyn, who was sitting and daydreaming for a moment, suddenly slapped herself on the cheek. -Itâs not the time to mourn-
âYour Highness?â
âSerus, tell me about His Majestyâs condition!â
Even though Evelyn was a mess of blood and tears, her dignity was still shone.
âWe can minimize the stab wounds on his hands, but he has already lost a lot of blood. But I believe in his bodyâs resilience because His Majesty is the strongest person on this continent.â
Serus spoke silently. Evelyn wanted to believe it, too, for now.
âDavid, youâre wrong.â
Evelynâs blue eyes turned coldly towards David.
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