#146

Yurisis was in the form of Silfir. The first time Lasano saw his changed appearance was in the winter he visited the palace. At the Imperial Palace, where he visited to deliver an unexpected oracle from the goddess, Lasano encountered Yurisis with Kihelene.

Yurisis, who always seemed somewhat melancholic, had a different face next to Kihelene. His eyes were genuinely affectionate and tender, far beyond what could be created with the numerous relics or artifacts Yurisis had forcibly acquired. When Kihelene worried, he suffered with her, and when she said something even slightly cute, he genuinely laughed.

It was the first time Lasano had seen Yurisis look so happy. If Kihelene always looked at him, Yurisis watched her even when she looked elsewhere. His gaze never left her, filled with affection.

Like a Crown Prince’s servant, he personally did everything for her. He was a true, loyal subordinate, not out of guilt or as solace for future sins.

If they had been born in a different era, they might have become good rulers. Lasano disliked Kihelene’s naivety, but he knew she was an intelligent and good person. As Lasano genuinely cared for his cousin, he often wished that if the goddess had any mercy, the fated future would not come to pass.

But, as expected, the goddess granted no prayers.

“…Silfi?”

Kihelene, whom he met after a long time, had a poor complexion, unlike in the past. It was a difficult time for everyone. The disaster that began with the death of the former emperor brought only despair to all involved.

Kihelene could not imagine the things her fiancé had to do while guarding the palace alone.

“Is this a joke? If so, please stop. I’m a little scared. I like everything Silfi does, but this kind of joke isn’t funny.”

Naturally, Kihelene did not understand the situation at once. Lasano didn’t know exactly when Yurisis had returned, but since he also couldn’t go to the palace during Lasano’s journey, it was likely just before this moment.

“It is not a joke. Kihelene, if you do not summon the Dragon, I will kill you.”

With every word she spoke, Yurisis struggled to compose his crumbling face. To others, it might have looked expressionless, but Lasano knew. That side resembled someone. The new Crown Prince, Cullen Larkan, whom he had impersonated as a colleague for a while, was like that.

Lasano suddenly realized. He had compared Yurisis to Cullen. Was it because they spent nearly every day together for a considerable time? Realizing that, dizziness struck him belatedly. It was undoubtedly the aftereffect of using a Magic scroll. It was better to think so.

Because admitting that these swirling emotions stemmed from betrayal would make him feel like collapsing. Now was not the time. He had to help Yurisis. That’s why he left many people behind. Hurting those who called him a colleague.

“Silfi, don’t.”

Instead of Lasano, Kihelene despaired. While denying it, her eyes, tinged with red as if she were about to cry, looked at him. Her intuition must have told her. Yurisis was serious.

“Why are you doing this? You just came back. Did something happen? Did I do something wrong? Don’t do this, Silfi…”

Instead of accepting, she tried to find a reason. Lasano stared blankly at the agonizing scene, then slowly walked towards them. Yurisis seemed to have known he was coming for a while, but Kihelene, startled by the sudden presence, turned around.

The three met in the brilliant Grand Hall of the Imperial Palace. Light poured down from the high ceiling like arrows. Kihelene’s eyes widened as she saw Lasano.

“Who… are you?”

Startled by the appearance of a stranger, she instinctively tried to move towards Silfir. In doing so, the sword touched her heart. Lasano noticed that Yurisis’s sword had slightly pulled back. He seemed not to see her, as he was staring at Lasano.

Yurisis maintained a stern expression, but he didn’t seem to intend to attack her. Lasano observed the tip of his sword tremble slightly. Even in this situation, his betrothed approaching him seemed to cause him pain.

Because Kihelene didn’t recognize him, Lasano realized belatedly. Ah, her hair had changed. It took him a little while to recognize it as the form the goddess had created as a mark for traitors. Even though it was the moment he had anticipated his whole life, his feelings were ambiguous.

“It has been a while, Princess.”

Lasano put a smile on his face. Her expression slowly softened at his bright voice, which was out of place for the situation.

“High Priest…?”

At that moment, he felt a little angry. The fact that she, who had lived a sheltered life, tried to trust him innocently even in this situation, seemed pathetic.

Ah, that’s probably why he didn’t visit the Imperial Palace often. Nobles and royalty alike lived such lives. The only exceptions were Cullen Larkan and… his colleagues.

They knew how to laugh even while bearing misfortune.

“It’s fortunate you’ve been well. No, no, it should be called misfortune, shouldn’t it?”

The displeasure that suddenly arose made his words come out harshly. Yurisis looked at Lasano at his sarcasm. Their gazes met, and he soon spotted the ‘that’ sword Lasano had brought back. His expression darkened.

“Helen, if you don’t want to die, summon the Dragon. Immediately.”

Despite having pulled his sword back, Yurisis threatened her. His deliberately menacing voice reached Kihelene. Her hand trembled slightly. Flustered, she bit her lip tightly, then finally showed a resolute reaction.

“Silfir Exion, this isn’t funny. It’s an order. Lower your sword!”

“I am not Silfir Exion, my Helen.”

Yurisis disobeyed the order and whispered a secret he had buried for many years to her. Kihelene blinked.

“The real Silfir Exion died by my hand a long time ago. It was when he was fifteen. Duke Exion, unaware that the corpse of his own son was buried on the castle grounds, always kept me, a fake, by his side. I am a very different person from what you imagine. So, you’d better listen to me.”

His voice, filled with resignation, revealed a cruel truth. Kihelene fell silent. As if she needed time to comprehend what she had heard.

A few seconds of silence passed, then she began to shake her head. Tears finally flowed down her face.

“No.”

“Yes.”

Yurisis brought the sword close to her heart. He gritted his teeth. He must be in a hurry. Knowing Lasano had arrived, Iris would appear soon. When she appeared, Kihelene would die, or at least be gravely injured.

“No, no… No…!”

Kihelene staggered with a scream. As she cried out, a change occurred. Perhaps the revelation of her fiancé’s true identity, rather than the threat of death, shocked her, the situation Yurisis had demanded finally unfolded.

Golden light enveloped Kihelene’s body. As the golden light flowing from her body filled the Grand Hall, someone walked out of the darkness. Yurisis and Lasano turned towards the direction from which the clacking of heels was heard. There stood a middle-aged woman with long white hair.

“Kia is dead.”

The woman had an unusual appearance. Her eyes were of different colors. One was red, the other green. The red left iris resembled that of a Demonic Beast rather than a human’s, and a pattern covered half her face along with that eye.

“The Dragon must have used its power.”

Her dry voice also sounded inhuman. The deep, resonant voice, paradoxically, felt like that of a god she had never seen before. Lasano looked down at the sword, then bowed his head and apologized.

“I couldn’t bring it, I’m sorry.”

“It was expected, so it’s fine. You brought the sword, so that’s enough. You’ve finally proven your worth.”

The woman who walked towards Lasano glanced at Yurisis. Her gaze, which glared at him, swept over him standing defiantly and Kihelene collapsed in the light, with indifference.

“The effort my son made to bring you here is finally becoming meaningful.”

Saying so, the woman reached out her hand.

“Give it.”

Lasano, who was about to hand over the sword naturally, hesitated for a moment. Having come this far, he felt fear as he was about to hand the sword to her.

It was strange. He hated the goddess more than anyone. He joined Iris in her plan because of her firm belief that she would kill the goddess. Wasn’t it a good thing, as it would allow him to eliminate the being he hated most while helping Yurisis?

But Arne and Cullen, who had tried to stop him, flashed through his mind. He didn’t know what the world would be like after the goddess died. Nor what consequences would arise in the process.

“What are you doing? Not giving it.”

As if not tolerating hesitation, the woman extended her hand. A bony hand covered in a leather glove was visible. Her body, excessively thin for her age, was like a mummy if stripped of her clothes. Lasano suppressed his hesitation and handed her the sword.

The woman finally smiled. The large, magnificent sword, with a subtle purple hue, was lighter than its appearance suggested. Gazing intently at the jewel below the red-glowing hilt, she turned her body.

“Now, let’s see if the legend is true.”

She walked slowly towards Yurisis. Just in time, the golden light that had enveloped Kihelene’s body subsided. Along with it, the wind began to blow. The air in the Grand Hall vibrated, as if announcing the summoning of a great being.

WHOOSH!

With a loud sound, the wind drew a circle in the air. From within it, giant wings first began to appear. Feathers fluttered down and landed at Lasano’s feet. A familiar face, which he had just parted with, slowly revealed itself.

Kiyen, spreading his wings, looked down at them. He was different from his usual self. His entire body was covered in blood.Kiyen, spreading his wings, looked down at them. He was different from his usual self. His entire body was covered in blood. Dark red blood had dried on his bare white feet and on his robe. It was clearly Kia’s blood.

Kiyen, who had been expressionless, met Lasano’s gaze. Kiyen’s eyes, upon spotting him, instantly filled with rage. Just as his pale face was about to contort, the woman moved. She was resolute, without hesitation.

The moment Kiyen glanced at Lasano—

“Die, you horrific murderer!”

Iris, screaming in fury, threw her sword directly at Kiyen’s heart.