Chapter 28
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The one revered as the High Priest.
But Chris knew himself all too well.
He was twisted, filled with anger.
He might be the one who loved the gods the most—but that meant he also hated them the most.
After closing the door behind him, Chris walked briskly, even as the Hilington retainers watched him leave.
No one tried to stop him, so he was soon able to get to a place where no one else was around.
‘Why did I do that? What the hell was that?’
He stared blankly at the sky.
He’d always done things his way.
Smoothly, directly, toward his goals.
‘I’ve never deviated—not even once. So what were those things I said? What the hell is she?’
It was strange—far too strange. Like he’d had too much to drink and been entranced.
He began to suspect—Could it be that her hidden ability is something like that?
When Chris had come to Hilington, his purpose had been simple:
Chaos. Wounds. Resentment. Misunderstanding.
When he first heard the rumors about Hildea, what came to mind was a fragile, withered plant.
One whose roots were so weak that it wouldn’t be surprising if it collapsed at any moment. A dry and decaying flower.
‘Just a few words and she’ll self-destruct.’
Compassion? Love? Affection?
What a joke.
She was a woman surrounded by bad rumors—he thought that with just a little prodding, she’d be full of misunderstanding, easily swayed by things she should never believe.
Unlike her radiant younger sister shining in high society, Hildea, a direct heir of the Hilington family, stood in the shadows, her pride trampled and crushed.
Chris believed she might be driven to a choice she could never take back.
If that happened, she’d flee to the temple, and then it would be all the easier to get her into his hands later.
Above all, it would complete his revenge.
‘I couldn’t think at all.’
Everything started to go wrong the moment he looked Hildea properly in the eye.
The moment their eyes met—those calm, clear red eyes that looked straight at him—Chris forgot who he was.
‘Like being pulled into a whirlpool.’
It felt as if he had split in two: the Chris from before facing Hildea, and the Chris after.
‘What on earth is that woman?’
Seeing her shaken eyes when she heard her prophecy—it didn’t feel like she was dying. It felt like he was.
“And that’s why I said all those ridiculous things…”
Chris growled, shaking his head violently, like he was trying to erase the thoughts.
His pride was deeply wounded, and he walked quickly away from the Hilington estate—as if fleeing something terrifying in this world.
‘I’m not going to change.’
That overflowing rapture, that joy when he held Hildea’s hand—it had also felt like terror.
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“I was rather disappointed, Duke Belkius.”
Back when the tragedy struck, the one who shielded the young Gabriel and ensured he didn’t die was the very sovereign now standing before him.
Emperor Detroit. Hot-tempered and fierce, he was a man like a lion roaming the plains.
The air that prickled against Gabriel’s skin was sharp and biting—it was a test, and he knew it. He twisted his lips.
“I hear you didn’t even return to the palace and instead ran straight to the Hilington estate. What was so urgent that you cast aside your dignity like a worn-out shoe?”
Having been protected from a young age meant Gabriel had been under the emperor’s guidance.
But their relationship was not one of pure loyalty between mentor and disciple—it was a transactional one, where both gave and took for benefit.
So Gabriel understood the emperor well. He knew exactly what that line meant.
The emperor had changed his mind.
He no longer approved of the engagement between House Hilington and House Belkius.
Is he trying to break off the engagement?
Just the thought of it stirred a cold fury. He had been badgered into marriage—now, the emperor dared to reverse course like flipping a hand?
Gabriel’s lips twisted with suppressed rage.
“The air feels so sharp it’s choking, Your Majesty. Forgive me, but the years have been harsh. There’s no need to test your servant further.”
The emperor narrowed his eyes. Then, like he’d never said a thing, he offered a warm smile and withdrew his pressure.
“Yes, very well. Time makes the finest fertilizer, as they say. That’s good. But you still haven’t answered my earlier question, have you?”
“It was urgent.”
Gabriel chose to speak boldly. The emperor’s eyes twitched at the sheer audacity of that blunt reply.
“What was?”
“I’ve fought. I’ve won. I’ve tried to give you what you desire—so now, is it not time for me to take what I desire in return?”
“And that desire… is this engagement?”
Twelve years. A full twelve years.
If saving him earned that much usefulness, then shouldn’t a sovereign at least know a bit of shame?
To Gabriel, those years were nothing short of torture—twelve years of not being able to go to Hildea’s side, not being able to speak to her, not being able to give her anything.
“Have you forgotten, Gabriel?”
The emperor’s thick, calloused fingers drummed against the armrest of his seat with displeasure.
The imperial throne.
“I once told you I’d give you this seat.”
Gabriel was unimpressed.
He wouldn’t take it, even if it was handed to him.
“I believe I told you I had no interest. There’s someone else who’s practically foaming at the mouth for that throne—why not give it to him?”
He was referring to the Crown Prince. That was the emperor’s sore spot.
The emperor’s expression briefly contorted, like he’d been jabbed in the ribs. His fist slammed down.
“Why haven’t you changed? You’re the only one who still talks like that.”
“It’s called knowing my place—and having a shred of humility. Am I a prince? No, I’m just a duke”
“It’s not impossible, though. Anyone who knows that much wouldn’t dare speak such nonsense about the emperor’s seat.”
Gabriel didn’t bother hiding his boredom. He rubbed between his brows.
Truthfully, their conversations were always like this.
Gabriel would speak rudely, and the emperor would ignore it. The emperor would dig into Gabriel’s wounds, and Gabriel would bear it like usual.
“Your Majesty, I’m quite tired. May I return now?”
The emperor snorted.
“You act like a bear hiding a pot of honey. Even if I know what it is, you still think I’ll let it slide?”
For a moment, his gaze turned razor sharp.
“Your Majesty, if I may speak freely—anything else is fine but-”
“But?”
“But not that. If you touch that, I may lose my mind. And who knows what a mad dog might bite?”
A tense silence spread between them.
The emperor liked to pretend they were close—but that wasn’t even close to the truth.
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If Gabriel confessed his feelings to Hildea now, it would be a miracle if she didn’t look at him with pure contempt.
And with the emperor starting to interfere at this moment, when he hadn’t even earned her favor?
Seriously?
The image of Hildea coldly turning her back flashed vividly in his mind, as if she were saying,
“I heard you’ve received another marriage proposal. Let’s consider our family alliance void, then. Goodbye.”
Gabriel bit the inside of his cheek.
Absolutely not.
“What do you think of marrying the princess?”
Has the old man lost his mind?
Even though the thought was far too disrespectful to direct at the emperor, Gabriel couldn’t help but curse inwardly—and his face showed it.
“That is my will,” said the emperor.
“You’re abusing your power.”
His feelings. His love. His devotion.
There was only one person in the world who had the right to ask him to give all of that up.
Hildea.
If she were to permit it, Gabriel would not hesitate to do anything.
But if Hildea were to sincerely reject him, he would have no choice but to let go of the hand he so desperately wished to reach.
“If there is nothing else, Your Majesty, I shall take my leave.”
The emperor didn’t stop him. But that quiet smile twisted something deep in Gabriel’s gut.
What game is he playing?
Marriage to the princess? That was utter madness.
By the time he stepped out and closed the door, Gabriel’s face was once again twisted in frustration.
“It’s been a while, Duke Belkius.”
The woman before him looked like a peacock in full display—glamorous and proud.
Her makeup sparkled like it had been painted on, and her dress was so dazzling it could easily have been mistaken for the centerpiece of a grand ballroom.
The reflected light was practically blinding.
Her eyes were fixed squarely on Gabriel.
“I nearly walked right past you, Duke. You’ve changed so much I almost didn’t recognize you.”
Didn’t recognize me? As if. She’d clearly been waiting.
I’d rather be on a battlefield, he thought grimly.
The way her eyes curved in a smile the moment their gazes met was all too telling.
And arrogant.
Gabriel knew exactly who she was the moment he saw that look in her eyes.
No one else could make eyes like that.
Princess Rafiia.
“Why aren’t you saying anything, Duke? Have you gone blind from the beauty before you? Fufu.”
The sultry tone was full of flirtation, but to Gabriel—whose standards of beauty had been set entirely by Hildea—it was worth less than a pebble on the street.
Even the sound of her voice felt like nonsense.
He gave a slight nod and tried to walk past. The woman’s sharply arched brows twitched with hostility.
“Wait. Just what do you think you’re doing?”
As he glanced at the fan blocking his way, Gabriel thought the feathers looked like they came from a chicken.
He spoke with disinterest.
“I didn’t recognize you.”
“What… did you just say?”
“Why should I greet someone I don’t know?”
Her face flushed bright red, as though she might slap him any second.
Gabriel twisted his lips and continued speaking clearly and firmly.
“I don’t know who you are, and to block someone’s path without cause is extremely rude. I hope you understand. Now then, if you’ll excuse me.”
“How dare you—to me!”
He had never liked her. Back when they were children in the palace, that woman had hunted him like a rat.
She’d once sneered that even a flea-bitten rat was better than him and warned him not to even dream of stealing her father’s affection.
Though the situation had changed drastically now, he didn’t find it amusing—only exhausting.
“I have an important engagement. So if you’ll excuse me.”
Ignoring the eyes boring into him as if she wanted to devour him, Gabriel quickened his pace.
Hildea. He hadn’t seen Hildea today.
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Meanwhile…
The princess’s hand, left behind, trembled uncontrollably.
Though she’d said as much to her father already, the relationship between her and Belkius was at rock bottom.
She had no intention of giggling and flirting to gain favor. And yet—
‘That little wretch dares to ignore me?’
Her eyes gleamed with a cutting coldness.
