Chapter 86
The grand hall served as the social gathering place of the Emerald Castle.
In reality, due to Sethian's personality, it was practically a forgotten hall that would never be used as a real gathering place, but for the past three days, it had been packed with people like never before.
At the center of the hall, along with the servants and soldiers working at Emerald Castle, members of the Crown Prince’s knights had gathered. The Imperial Knights in golden armor, who were keeping watch over them, had spread out in a circle starting from the entrance of the hall, leaning against the walls and glaring with sharp eyes. It seemed impossible to escape or do anything suspicious.
‘There’s no need for them to glare like that. We’ll be quiet.’ Renoc, who was sitting comfortably on the floor, shifted his gaze from the Imperial Knights and scanned the people of Emerald Castle. The servants and soldiers were huddled together with tense expressions, but none of the knights appeared nervous. Some of them were comfortably lying down as though in their own bedroom, chatting leisurely. This left the Imperial Knights gazing at them with all sorts of questions.
Tap, tap.
Kirsty, who had been lying on the floor, turned to her side and tapped Renoc’s arm.
“How much longer do you think we’ll be here?”
Despite the question being vague, Renoc easily understood what Kirsty meant and glanced around at the Imperial Knights.
“We’ll have to stay at most two more days. Once the Crown Prince is ready, he’ll signal us. One way or another.”
“Ha, I’m getting antsy doing nothing for three days.” Kirsty scratched her cheek with a sour expression, then suddenly perked up her ears. A wide grin spread across her face.
“They’re here, they’re here, they’re here.” Muttering excitedly like a child, Kirsty sat up straight. The other knights who had been lying down followed suit and sat up, all watching the closed door intently.
A brief knock echoed, and the door opened to reveal one of the Imperial Knights in golden armor, who whispered something to the head knight in charge of the hall’s surveillance before quickly leaving.
The knight who had received the message stepped forward, made eye contact with Renoc, and spoke, “You are all free to return now. However, the knights will remain for a moment.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the Imperial Knights moved to usher the servants out. Though confused, the servants’ faces brightened at the thought of finally escaping the suffocating watch.
Once the servants and the knights escorting them left, only Sethian’s knights and a few golden-armored knights remained.
“The suspect has changed.”
“I figured as much.” Renoc responded as though he already knew what the golden-armored knight was going to say.
“The Crown Prince is truly innocent, as we have repeatedly claimed.”
The golden-armored knight, watching Renoc’s confident gaze, stepped aside and opened the door.
“The Crown Prince was attacked in the stone tower by the new suspect, and was injured before going missing.”
The knights’ eyes turned cold. Until just moments ago, they had seemed so relaxed, but now, the pressure from their presence alone could almost physically constrict the air around them. This was the sharp, intense gaze of Sethian’s knights.
‘It makes sense. Their lord was injured, after all.’ As a knight serving his lord, he could understand and accept the fierce gaze directed at him.
“Who is the new suspect?”
“…I cannot disclose that yet.”
A sardonic smile formed on Renoc’s lips. “Are you telling me that, despite the Crown Prince being attacked by the new suspect, you won’t reveal who it is?”
“We are trying to avoid causing unnecessary panic, so please understand.” The knight responded firmly, making eye contact with Renoc and the others as he asked.
“Would it be possible for you to cooperate with the search for the Crown Prince? Based on the amount of blood spilled, it seems he was seriously injured.”
“Of course. Our lord has not only been falsely accused as a suspect but also harmed. We cannot stand idly by.”
Renoc replied without hesitation and passed by the knight. “We’ll search for the Crown Prince independently. I trust you won’t restrict us now that we are no longer part of the suspect’s knight group.”
“Yes. But please inform us as soon as you find the Crown Prince.”
“I will.” Renoc swung the door wide open and stepped out of the hall, followed by his knights in red armor. Kirsty, who had been close by, asked with a relaxed expression.
“I didn’t expect His Highness to keep things moving even after getting injured.”
“There must be a reason for breaking the schedule.” Even as he answered, Renoc’s mind did not stop. He was comparing the current situation with the plan he had received from Sethian and wore a puzzled expression.
According to the original plan, it should have taken more time. He had thought they would move either tomorrow or on the fifth day, but here they were at dawn on the third day. The required information gathering and behind-the-scenes work had progressed quickly, but Sethian’s injury was an unexpected development.
There must have been a reason for this, but Renoc couldn’t help but feel concerned.
Not halting his steps, Renoc gave orders to his knights.
“Proceed as instructed. Team 4, pretend to search and disperse. Team 3, spread out around Zair’s castle. Kirsty and Team 2, find Joo Yi-Gyeol.”
The knights responded shortly and succinctly, and then Renoc gave his final command.
“Team 1 will move with me to join the Crown Prince immediately.”
* * *
[In a different location]
“As commanded, we will proceed.” The knight in golden armor bowed respectfully before leaving. The Emperor, who had been watching him, turned his gaze to the golden butterfly hovering nearby. It seemed as though the butterfly’s wings lacked strength, and he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sympathy.
“Even without a body, I can tell what kind of expression you’re making.”
—...
Yi-Gyeol remained silent, looking at the Emperor. Despite there being no reflection of himself in Yi-Gyeol’s eyes, it was clear that the butterfly was focused on him.
— There is something I wish to ask you.
“Speak.”
Yi-Gyeol hesitated for a moment before speaking cautiously.
— Does the vitality that Zair is using... have any effect on your lifespan, Your Majesty?
If he had been in a physical body, his eyes would have been twitching and his lips trembling. Having realized the unbreakable connection between Zair and the Emperor, Yi-Gyeol was troubled by something he could not ignore.
Perhaps it would be better not to know.
Perhaps it would be better not to hear.
But something inside him kept prodding, something unsettling.
A bitter smile spread across the Emperor’s face. “…The children believe my illness is caused by the poison they have all given me. Even Zair believes so.”
His children had long hoped for his death. They believed that, rather than waiting decades for the throne to be passed on, it would be better if the Emperor died, allowing for a fair power struggle over the throne.
The Emperor had not blamed them for their thoughts.
“I knew they were poisoning me, but I only pretended to take it. It served as a good... excuse.”
— An excuse...?
The Emperor’s forced smile grew weaker and eventually faded. “I wanted them to believe that my rapid aging and illness were because of their poison. I hoped they wouldn’t realize that I was dying far earlier than my given lifespan.”
Yi-Gyeol felt the shift in the air, sensing something disturbing deep within him. The strange feeling began to reverberate in his head, making his vision blur and his soul tremble.
“…I created two new bodies for ‘living spirits’ like you. And one of them… is using my vitality to create other bodies. As a result, my lifespan is dwindling rapidly. I won’t even live past one hundred years.”
The Emperor’s words felt like chains, wrapping tightly around Yi-Gyeol. Even the natural flutter of his wings slowed.
“Do you know… that you’re consuming Sethian’s lifespan?”
In reality, due to Sethian's personality, it was practically a forgotten hall that would never be used as a real gathering place, but for the past three days, it had been packed with people like never before.
At the center of the hall, along with the servants and soldiers working at Emerald Castle, members of the Crown Prince’s knights had gathered. The Imperial Knights in golden armor, who were keeping watch over them, had spread out in a circle starting from the entrance of the hall, leaning against the walls and glaring with sharp eyes. It seemed impossible to escape or do anything suspicious.
‘There’s no need for them to glare like that. We’ll be quiet.’ Renoc, who was sitting comfortably on the floor, shifted his gaze from the Imperial Knights and scanned the people of Emerald Castle. The servants and soldiers were huddled together with tense expressions, but none of the knights appeared nervous. Some of them were comfortably lying down as though in their own bedroom, chatting leisurely. This left the Imperial Knights gazing at them with all sorts of questions.
Tap, tap.
Kirsty, who had been lying on the floor, turned to her side and tapped Renoc’s arm.
“How much longer do you think we’ll be here?”
Despite the question being vague, Renoc easily understood what Kirsty meant and glanced around at the Imperial Knights.
“We’ll have to stay at most two more days. Once the Crown Prince is ready, he’ll signal us. One way or another.”
“Ha, I’m getting antsy doing nothing for three days.” Kirsty scratched her cheek with a sour expression, then suddenly perked up her ears. A wide grin spread across her face.
“They’re here, they’re here, they’re here.” Muttering excitedly like a child, Kirsty sat up straight. The other knights who had been lying down followed suit and sat up, all watching the closed door intently.
A brief knock echoed, and the door opened to reveal one of the Imperial Knights in golden armor, who whispered something to the head knight in charge of the hall’s surveillance before quickly leaving.
The knight who had received the message stepped forward, made eye contact with Renoc, and spoke, “You are all free to return now. However, the knights will remain for a moment.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the Imperial Knights moved to usher the servants out. Though confused, the servants’ faces brightened at the thought of finally escaping the suffocating watch.
Once the servants and the knights escorting them left, only Sethian’s knights and a few golden-armored knights remained.
“The suspect has changed.”
“I figured as much.” Renoc responded as though he already knew what the golden-armored knight was going to say.
“The Crown Prince is truly innocent, as we have repeatedly claimed.”
The golden-armored knight, watching Renoc’s confident gaze, stepped aside and opened the door.
“The Crown Prince was attacked in the stone tower by the new suspect, and was injured before going missing.”
The knights’ eyes turned cold. Until just moments ago, they had seemed so relaxed, but now, the pressure from their presence alone could almost physically constrict the air around them. This was the sharp, intense gaze of Sethian’s knights.
‘It makes sense. Their lord was injured, after all.’ As a knight serving his lord, he could understand and accept the fierce gaze directed at him.
“Who is the new suspect?”
“…I cannot disclose that yet.”
A sardonic smile formed on Renoc’s lips. “Are you telling me that, despite the Crown Prince being attacked by the new suspect, you won’t reveal who it is?”
“We are trying to avoid causing unnecessary panic, so please understand.” The knight responded firmly, making eye contact with Renoc and the others as he asked.
“Would it be possible for you to cooperate with the search for the Crown Prince? Based on the amount of blood spilled, it seems he was seriously injured.”
“Of course. Our lord has not only been falsely accused as a suspect but also harmed. We cannot stand idly by.”
Renoc replied without hesitation and passed by the knight. “We’ll search for the Crown Prince independently. I trust you won’t restrict us now that we are no longer part of the suspect’s knight group.”
“Yes. But please inform us as soon as you find the Crown Prince.”
“I will.” Renoc swung the door wide open and stepped out of the hall, followed by his knights in red armor. Kirsty, who had been close by, asked with a relaxed expression.
“I didn’t expect His Highness to keep things moving even after getting injured.”
“There must be a reason for breaking the schedule.” Even as he answered, Renoc’s mind did not stop. He was comparing the current situation with the plan he had received from Sethian and wore a puzzled expression.
According to the original plan, it should have taken more time. He had thought they would move either tomorrow or on the fifth day, but here they were at dawn on the third day. The required information gathering and behind-the-scenes work had progressed quickly, but Sethian’s injury was an unexpected development.
There must have been a reason for this, but Renoc couldn’t help but feel concerned.
Not halting his steps, Renoc gave orders to his knights.
“Proceed as instructed. Team 4, pretend to search and disperse. Team 3, spread out around Zair’s castle. Kirsty and Team 2, find Joo Yi-Gyeol.”
The knights responded shortly and succinctly, and then Renoc gave his final command.
“Team 1 will move with me to join the Crown Prince immediately.”
* * *
[In a different location]
“As commanded, we will proceed.” The knight in golden armor bowed respectfully before leaving. The Emperor, who had been watching him, turned his gaze to the golden butterfly hovering nearby. It seemed as though the butterfly’s wings lacked strength, and he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sympathy.
“Even without a body, I can tell what kind of expression you’re making.”
—...
Yi-Gyeol remained silent, looking at the Emperor. Despite there being no reflection of himself in Yi-Gyeol’s eyes, it was clear that the butterfly was focused on him.
— There is something I wish to ask you.
“Speak.”
Yi-Gyeol hesitated for a moment before speaking cautiously.
— Does the vitality that Zair is using... have any effect on your lifespan, Your Majesty?
If he had been in a physical body, his eyes would have been twitching and his lips trembling. Having realized the unbreakable connection between Zair and the Emperor, Yi-Gyeol was troubled by something he could not ignore.
Perhaps it would be better not to know.
Perhaps it would be better not to hear.
But something inside him kept prodding, something unsettling.
A bitter smile spread across the Emperor’s face. “…The children believe my illness is caused by the poison they have all given me. Even Zair believes so.”
His children had long hoped for his death. They believed that, rather than waiting decades for the throne to be passed on, it would be better if the Emperor died, allowing for a fair power struggle over the throne.
The Emperor had not blamed them for their thoughts.
“I knew they were poisoning me, but I only pretended to take it. It served as a good... excuse.”
— An excuse...?
The Emperor’s forced smile grew weaker and eventually faded. “I wanted them to believe that my rapid aging and illness were because of their poison. I hoped they wouldn’t realize that I was dying far earlier than my given lifespan.”
Yi-Gyeol felt the shift in the air, sensing something disturbing deep within him. The strange feeling began to reverberate in his head, making his vision blur and his soul tremble.
“…I created two new bodies for ‘living spirits’ like you. And one of them… is using my vitality to create other bodies. As a result, my lifespan is dwindling rapidly. I won’t even live past one hundred years.”
The Emperor’s words felt like chains, wrapping tightly around Yi-Gyeol. Even the natural flutter of his wings slowed.
“Do you know… that you’re consuming Sethian’s lifespan?”
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