Chapter 6 Part 6
“I have two requests. One is to see the Philosopher’s Stone in person. The second is…”
Elia paused, knowing that even speaking about this was dangerous.
“Sometime in the future, lend me your power. As much as you can muster.”
“…Power, you say. You must be preparing something.”
For a princess who had married and left the capital to seek power, the only plausible explanation was rebellion. Yet, Dias did not refuse her proposal.
“This sounds interesting. I’ll join you, cousin.”
Elia extended her hand. Dias took it and gave it a light shake. It was a signal of their deal. Elia then explained her plan.
“Place the Fragment of the Moon from the northern region of the Ivan Empire next to the Philosopher’s Stone. That will naturally increase the number of mages.”
“The Philosopher’s Stone… I’ve been investigating it consistently but couldn’t find any information. To obtain it here is a good start to our deal.”
A new contract was forged.
“I’ll return to Ivan in two weeks. I’ll leave my address here.”
Dias left, leaving his address behind. Elia and Aksion also got into a carriage heading to their residence.
The night was tranquil.
Elia was with Aksion for the resonance ritual.
‘The stabilization of magic has sped up.’
The once tumultuous magic within her had significantly calmed. The now docile magic followed Elia’s will and became hers.
Within three months, or perhaps half a year, with a little more effort, Aksion might be able to control his dark magic freely without being consumed by it.
As Elia focused on his body, Aksion, who was looking down at her, tucked her hair behind her ear and asked.
“Did you know Princess Dias?”
“Yes, from childhood. She’s my cousin, after all.”
Though they didn’t share blood, they were related as members of the royal family.
Aksion’s eyes were calm. Was there something he couldn’t say in Dias’s presence?
“Is the princess trustworthy?”
“Probably. As long as the throne is at stake, she won’t betray us.”
Nothing was absolute. But Dias was serious about the throne, and those who followed her were loyal to the death.
“Do you not like Dias?”
“That’s not it…”
Aksion shook his head. Elia, sensing his hesitation, urged him with her eyes.
“I’d prefer if you only made contracts with me.”
“…Is that jealousy?”
She asked, almost jokingly, but…
“Is it not allowed?”
To her surprise, his words were serious. Elia, taken aback, responded matter-of-factly.
“Dias is a woman.”
“There are many types of people in this world.”
“That’s true, but there’s no personal motive here.”
Hearing Aksion’s words, Elia felt as if she had been narrow-minded.
“Aksion, you’re my priority. We’re connected right now, aren’t we?”
The resonance was only possible with a partner.
Aksion then asked something unexpected.
“Can it be broken?”
“Yes. Only on my side. That’s why divorce is possible.”
Until now, they had performed the resonance ritual due to Aksion’s darkness. But even if it ended, she had no intention of ending their partnership.
‘The marriage needs to continue anyway.’
But was that the only reason?
Elia tried to stop her thoughts from becoming complicated. Unlike her, Aksion nodded obediently.
“I see.”
His reaction was unexpectedly calm. Elia looked at his hand and asked.
“What do you want to do once your magic is stabilized?”
“…I haven’t thought about it.”
His eyes were calm, like the eye of a storm.
“There is something I want to do.”
“What is it?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
With a gentle smile, he laid Elia down on the bed.
“It’s late. You should sleep.”
Only a single candle flickered in the room.
She was sleepy, but for some reason, she felt she shouldn’t sleep.
‘…This is bothering me.’
Both his heart and this empty moment.
As she was pondering whether to return to her room, Sasha, who had emerged from the gem, scolded her.
「Get up and go to your room. That man harbors dark intentions toward you.」
Had Sasha also sensed something was off? But…
‘I trust Aksion.’
Although the contract with Dias had been made, Elia’s trust was only in Aksion.
“Goodnight, Aksion.”
“Goodnight, Elia.”
Elia closed her eyes. Soon, her steady breathing filled the room.
A butterfly fluttered on the back of her hand. Aksion’s gaze caught it.
“Be quiet, little butterfly.”
At his slow warning, the butterfly’s wings trembled slightly.
* * *
A week later, at the imperial palace.
The verdict for Violet Amarantha’s trial was announced.
“We will imprison the princess in the isolation tower and promise to transfer the rights to the Pios Mine to the Ivan Empire.”
The Pios Mine, a mana stone mine on the border between Amarantha and Ivan, had once belonged to the Ivan Empire but had been transferred to Amarantha after the Imperial War.
The Pios Mine was famous for its inexhaustible mana stones. Even after mining, the mana stones would replenish themselves over time, a mysterious place that had to be given up to another empire because of Violet.
Violet bit her lower lip but did not protest the verdict.
‘They must have pre-arranged this.’
The princess in the isolation tower. It was an exile with no known end.
Elia knew why the Emperor had made such a decision.
‘He plans to release her after I am sacrificed.’
The world would soon end and be reborn anew. Violet’s past transgressions would be inconsequential in the newly opened world.
Elia approached Violet.
“Don’t worry, Violet. You’ll never get out of there.”
“What…!”
Ignoring her, Elia left the imperial courtroom.
The clear spring sunlight shone on Elia. She would never see Violet again. Yet, something still felt unsettled.
‘Why did Violet attack me?’
That day, Violet’s eyes had been entranced by something.
What she had felt then was undoubtedly dark magic.
“Elia?”
Aksion was waiting for her as she exited the courtroom.
Their eyes met.
As far as she knew, the only one who possessed dark magic was Aksion.
‘I don’t doubt Aksion. But…’
Still, she needed to confirm.
As they walked along the path in the palace, Elia stopped.
“Shall we hold hands?”
Without a word, Aksion extended his hand. Elia carefully took it.
His large, long fingers were calloused. Familiar, yet feeling strangely different today. Elia focused on sensing his magic.
‘Similar but different.’
Aksion’s magic was pure darkness.
However, the magic she had felt from Violet was murkier, like it was mixed with smoke.
‘They are different kinds of magic.’
Only after confirming this did she feel relieved.
“Elia, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Shall we go?”
Hand in hand, they walked through the palace gardens blooming with spring flowers.
The warm fragrance and gentle breeze tickled Elia’s hair.
The peacefulness continued even after they boarded the carriage.
But despite the tranquil scenery passing by outside, her mind was a whirl of complexity. Still, one clear benefit stood out.
‘Violet and Kanus won’t be able to act anymore.’
It was crucial to cut off any ties with the royal family, even one at a time.
Especially Violet and Kanus, who had been in charge of monitoring Elia.
Violet was now confined to a tower, and Kanus would face punishment for insulting the former Emperor in the royal court.
What remained were the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince.
‘Crown Prince Varlan.’
Elia recalled the name of her half-brother from her fading memories.
The night she was sacrificed, the Crown Prince had also returned from his imperial inspection.
‘Why did he have that look in his eyes?’
He had always looked at Elia with disdain or indifference.
But on the night she was sacrificed, his expression had been different.
Amidst his impassive face, his eyes had slightly trembled. She hadn’t noticed then but could recall it now.
