Chapter 152 - North Korean rabbit

Chapter 152

In the memory shown by the dragon, the archbishop knelt before me with a face full of emotion.

"At last, I meet you. The true master of destiny. I have sinned, not knowing it pointed to you, and serving an imposter all this time."

"An imposter?"

What is this about now?

Master of destiny?

He dragged a disheveled Evangeline before me.

"I leave the disposition of this sinner, who dared impersonate the master of destiny despite being a fake, to you."

"Don't be ridiculous! You were the one who found me first and called me the master of destiny!"

Evangeline and the archbishop argued before me, who was utterly bewildered.

From their conversation, I could grasp the general situation.

'That I am the master of the Book of Destiny created by the five goddesses, and Evangeline was mistaken for that being.'

'That the master of destiny is, as the name implies, a being akin to the protagonist of this world.'

'And that the Evangeline who possessed this body has been mistaken for that master of destiny until now.'

The archbishop said he had realized Evangeline was a fake while deciphering something called the 'Book of Destiny.'

And that he had found me too late.

It was absurd.

The archbishop's attitude, calling me the master of destiny and worshipping me, was chilling to the bone.

Because it reminded me of the attitude he showed in the life I remember from after the first regression.

"I am on your side. No matter how the Emperor stands at the pinnacle of secular power, he cannot force a marriage. Your will is paramount. The Temple will protect it."

And when I trusted and relied on him, confiding all my secrets and consulting him.

The archbishop pretended to believe my words.

"...You are saying you are... living your life again?"

Later, when he revealed his true colors, Archbishop Bio even mocked that fact.

"Do you truly think I believed such a grandiose delusion?"

Back then, the archbishop probably believed Evangeline was the real 'master of destiny.'

So he took her side and thoroughly crushed me.

But for me to be the real one...

It was ironic.

'I am curious what expression he would make now if he knew the truth.'

Moreover, having once experienced the archbishop's false words and actions, I could tell.

The archbishop who called Evangeline a fake, dragged her here, and knelt was sincere.

"The gods have chosen you. As an apostle to save this world from the clutches of the beast!"

"...I have no idea what you're talking about."

This commotion was ended by Arpad, who barged in.

"What is this? A dog of the gods dares set foot in my home without fear."

"You mad beast!"

The fight between these two destroyed the small hut where Arpad and I had lived in hiding for several years.

Amidst that chaos, Evangeline managed to escape, evading the archbishop's surveillance.

* * *

Time passed swiftly.

About a month and a half after the Crown Prince and Princess's disappearance.

The State Council meeting, held regularly every three days, had become a complete shambles.

It was due to the heated debate concerning the Crown Prince and Princess, who were officially missing and whom most believed to be dead.

"We must now announce their deaths and hold a state funeral, Your Majesty!"

"But one, we have no trace of either of their bodies! We cannot be certain they have perished!"

"Given this situation, even Duke Kieln...!"

"But the Duke's whereabouts are also unknown!"

It was a discussion that had continued ever since Arpad's disappearance.

Whether to acknowledge and announce the deaths of Arpad and Hilia.

And if so, what to do about the succession issue.

Given the extremely small number of royals, if Arpad were confirmed dead, the situation would be that there are no direct-line royals besides the Emperor.

The Istride Empire could not install an Emperor who was not a possessor of dragon blood due to the ownership issue of the Artanus Plains.

Even if of illegitimate birth, one had to be a possessor of dragon blood to ascend the throne.

It was then.

That an uninvited guest, whom no one expected, intervened.

"Your Majesty. Her Majesty the Empress requests an audience."

The Emperor's brow twitched.

"Tell her I am in a meeting."

The Emperor's temper had been extremely foul since the disappearance of his only son and daughter-in-law.

As the Emperor did not hide his emotions but revealed them, even those who moments ago insisted on acknowledging Arpad's death fell silent.

They had been able to speak freely because they knew the Emperor was not a man who handled matters with personal emotion.

He did not use authority and violence to suppress words spoken with valid reason in an official setting, even if they opposed his own will.

But for the first time since losing his wife, the Emperor felt the impulse to do so.

This foul temper was revealed unfiltered. Thanks to this, the ministers had to stiffen in fear all at once.

The Chief Chamberlain went out himself to convey the Emperor's will to the Empress.

And then.

*Bang—!*

The Empress pushed aside the imperial knights and attendants blocking the door and entered. It was an outrageous act she had never dared before.

The Emperor's icy rage erupted.

"What is this insolent behavior!"

The Empress shouted without batting an eyelash.

"I have come because there is something I must reveal for the future of the Imperial Family and the Empire!"

A question arose on the Emperor's face, filled with anger. Those filling the council chamber felt similarly.

"...The future of the Imperial Family and the Empire?"

The Empress got straight to the point.

"As the Imperial bloodline faces the risk of being severed, I have learned of the existence of a child who has inherited the dragon blood and have come to report this."

"...What?"

The astonished Emperor rose from his seat without realizing it.

And soon the council chamber became as noisy as a marketplace floor.

The Imperial bloodline?

Then, as if waiting for this moment, a woman entered the council chamber escorted by a man in white priestly robes.

A woman with half her face covered by a black veil, her entire body clad in a black dress.

As her only jewelry was a single gray pearl necklace around her neck, her attire was typical mourning wear.

Many knew her face, but few had seen her dressed like this.

For she had always been the flower of high society, surrounded by bright clothes and dazzling jewelry.

Thus, it took people a moment to recall her name.

The Emperor muttered.

"Evangeline?"

Evangeline, covering her mouth with her sleeve, enjoyed the fact that the surrounding gazes were focused on her.

'Yes. This is the thrill of becoming the protagonist.'

Whether positive or negative, everyone's attention and interest should rightfully be directed at her.

The Empress raised her voice even higher and shouted.

"This child, my daughter, is currently with child of the Imperial bloodline."

Astonishment spread like wildfire.

But soon, people could understand.

"Ah, now that you mention it, Duke Kieln was close with the Marchioness of Ruth's daughter, wasn't he?"

"That's right. During that trial, it was said those two had been involved for quite some time."

"Right. I heard it too. Having a fiancée and yet committing adultery... ahem."

"Still, to be unmarried and yet have no shame..."

"But if it is Duke Kieln's child, then it is currently the only Imperial grandchild, is it not?"

"Even so, to place a bastard's bastard on the throne..."

Evangeline smiled confidently despite the negative words pouring from all sides.

And she dropped a shocking statement. As if showing off, she placed a hand on her stomach.

"This child is not a bastard's bastard."

The Empress rolled only her eyes to glare at her daughter.

Her dissatisfied gaze went unnoticed by all, as their attention was focused on Evangeline.

Evangeline looked directly at the Emperor and spoke proudly.

"Because it is His Highness the Crown Prince's child."