Chapter 96
Chapter 96. Pray for My Victory
Feeling his back suddenly lighten, Nemil hurriedly turned around. Discovering Sefitiana rolling on the floor, he quickly picked up the fallen cloth with a shocked face and wrapped it around the crystal.
Eurene stumbled back, flustered.
“I-I’m sorry. It was an accident…”
Nemil looked at her as if he wanted to say something more, but only moved his lips before turning away. His demeanor reminded Eurene of her family’s final look as they gave up on her and turned away, causing her to lower her gaze with a hardened expression.
Eventually, Eurene turned away as well. Belatedly remembering where she was originally headed, she took out a small pocket watch from her bosom to check the time, but it had already passed the departure time Marquis Gendal had mentioned.
“Ah…”
Why did she get involved in unnecessary matters, only to miss such an important event?
Eurene frowned, recalling the incredibly rude guard and the priest.
“It’s fine. They said the temple side had already prepared more than enough evidence, so the trial will proceed as planned even without me.”
As she was about to return to the detached palace after calming her agitated mind, her foot caught on a small coin. Bending down to pick it up, the silver coin glinted in the sunlight.
“A silver coin?”
Realizing it must belong to the priest who had just left for the Empress’s Palace, Eurene hesitated for a moment before walking in the direction the priest had gone.
Having caught her breath, she shook her head with a slightly deflated demeanor.
“Right, I was too sensitive. I’ve been having trouble controlling my emotions lately… I should meet him and apologize again. You’re not a rude person, Eurene. You need to regain your former composure.”
Muttering to herself as if to remind herself, she walked for quite a while until the Empress’s Palace came into view in the distance.
Her legs ached as she wasn’t used to walking for so long, but perhaps this too was a form of atonement. The act of realizing her mistake and going to apologize to the priest – what a noble sentiment for a good person to have.
“…After this is over, it might be nice to visit an imperial villa far from the capital. There might be meaning in taking a carriage or walking there instead of using magic.”
As she imagined the future after the trial, she found herself right in front of the Empress’s Palace. She naturally hadn’t thought of entering due to the strict security, but for some reason, the knights guarding the entrance were absent.
“I heard the Empress was strictly guarding His Majesty’s body…”
However, she soon understood the reason. Once again, she heard the voice of the priest she had just sent away.
“Let go of this! I really am a priest! I’ve visited the palace during the Empire Foundation Day before, so my identity can be verified if you check!”
“We can’t let you wander alone until we verify your identity with the guard station! Hand over what you’re carrying as well!”
“That’s not possible! It’s something I must deliver to Her Majesty the Empress!”
Hearing this, Eurene thought that if she hadn’t helped him earlier, he probably wouldn’t have been able to enter the palace at all.
The person she was going to return the silver coin to had been taken to the guard station, so her trip had been in vain.
Sighing softly at the thought of having to make the long journey back again, Eurene hesitated as she looked at the empty entrance of the Empress’s Palace.
With no one guarding the entrance right now, couldn’t she go inside and confirm His Majesty’s body?
It wasn’t for any other reason. She just wanted to see him one last time before he would be buried after the divine trial ended. The one who died because of her mistake—
“…!”
Eurene, startled, covered her mouth with her left hand despite not making a sound.
What terrible thought had she just had? It wasn’t her who killed him, but the Empress. She had stolen Sefitiana to cloud His Majesty’s mind and made him die in front of her at the right moment.
The fact that she had obtained the medicine from Ansha, that the head of the Valita Trading Company had switched it, and that she had made him pour the medicine into his mouth – it was all part of the Empress’s plan.
Fear and guilt flashed like smoke in Eurene’s eyes before disappearing as she removed her hand from her lips.
As if shaking off her thoughts, she carefully stepped inside the Empress’s Palace and climbed the stairs, finding her way with familiarity. Cautiously avoiding the servants moving through the corridors, she was able to reach the front of the Empress’s bedroom without much difficulty.
Eurene placed her hand on the cold door and moved her lips.
“Your Majesty…”
At some point, she could no longer call him “brother.” Was it because she could no longer look back on those times when she had built memories with him?
Although she had driven him to death, caught up in the Empress’s schemes, she couldn’t proudly say she was innocent.
If her love had been a little more noble, a little more grand. Then perhaps she could have defeated the Empress and protected him.
Eurene carefully opened the door and entered.
Through the long white curtains, she saw a familiar silhouette. The figure looked as if he were merely sleeping rather than dead, causing Eurene to call out to him once more.
“…Your Majesty?”
Of course, there was no answer. Eurene placed her right hand over her pounding heart and carefully pulled back the curtain with her other hand.
‘What will His Majesty look like…? I’ve heard the skin of those who die from poison is terribly discolored. I’ve also heard that old corpses decay to the point where their form is barely recognizable.’
But it didn’t matter what he looked like. She just wanted to face him directly and pray that he could safely return to God’s side.
When she fully drew back the curtain, surprisingly, a clean Tetar appeared before Eurene’s eyes. His handsome features, with eyes closed, were reflected in her widened green eyes.
“It’s as if he’s alive…”
Eurene, with a glimmer of hope, brought her hand to Tetar’s nose but felt no breath. Next, she placed her hand on his heart, but likewise, felt no beating pulse.
“He really is dead.”
A faint sense of relief mixed into her unconscious mutter. Realizing this emotion, Eurene stepped back with a startled face.
“Relief, of all things.”
Even as she said this, not a single tear welled up in her green eyes. Her widened eyes blinked repeatedly, unable to bear the dryness.
“My heart is aching and feels so empty right now. It feels like it’s about to tear apart.”
Eurene carefully approached him again and sat on the soft bed.
“What trick did the Empress use…?”
To preserve a week-old corpse so perfectly, it once again reinforced her belief that the Empress might have gained the power of Sefitiana.
Eurene’s fingertips touched Tetar’s hand, which was two joints larger than her own. Her hand moved from his fingertips to his palm, then carefully grasped his hand.
Using her other hand as well, Eurene enveloped his right hand and brought the cold hand to her forehead.
“Oh, Urogia…”
Eurene prayed earnestly.
Please guide his soul, who met an unfortunate death because of the Empress, to the light where God resides. I will bear all the thorny paths of revenge against the Empress. Please protect his soul.
Eurene sincerely prayed to God.
Slowly opening her eyes, Eurene placed Tetar’s hand, which she had been holding, back on the bed.
If she hadn’t confirmed that he wasn’t breathing and his heart wasn’t beating, she would have truly thought he was alive.
Eurene’s steps were heavy as she stood up to leave before others arrived.
“Just a little longer…”
Couldn’t she stay with him just a bit longer? Since the guards were human and couldn’t watch the palace every second, she might be able to slip out more safely if she waited.
Looking at Tetar’s sculpture-like beautiful face, Eurene bent her knees on the bed and slowly lowered her upper body. Her sky-blue hair rustled as it covered his face.
Her heart trembled somehow, being this close to him when she thought she could never get close.
“I’m sorry, Tetar. For not being able to protect you…”
Eurene carefully caressed Tetar’s lips, which weren’t breathing.
If I had stopped the Empress earlier, you and I might be whispering words of love to each other right now. With regret and self-blame, Eurene’s slightly parted lips quivered.
As her head gradually drew closer, even knowing it was wrong, Eurene couldn’t stop herself from approaching.
Just before her pink lips touched his, a scream-like sound that felt like it would tear her eardrums struck her ears.
[You mustn’t, Eurene! You and His Majesty can never be together! He is your—]
“Aagh!”
Eurene’s upper body swayed greatly. With a thud, she collapsed onto Tetar’s chest, frowning and clutching her throbbing head.
“Ugh…! My head hurts so much…”
Tears welled up in her dry eyes. A pain so intense it made breathing difficult struck her head for a moment.
It sounded just like her mother’s voice. She couldn’t distinguish whether she had actually heard it or if it was a voice in a hallucination caused by the pain.
For the past few days, her memories would intermittently cut off like this, and strange sounds and headaches would reverberate in her head. One day, when she came to her senses, she found what looked like someone’s letter torn to shreds and scattered on the floor.
She couldn’t remember reading it and had no confidence in piecing the fragments together, so she just threw it away.
They say a pregnant woman’s body undergoes many changes, could this be an extension of that? With no one to turn to for help, she could only guess.
Staggering as she rose from Tetar’s chest, Eurene smiled bitterly.
“Even at the end, I show you such an unsightly appearance, Your Majesty.”
Lightly tucking her fallen hair behind her ear, Eurene stood up from the bed.
“Please pray for my victory. And for the courage to avenge you against the Empress…”
It was the moment Eurene turned away with sad eyes and took a step.
