Chapter 176 - North Rabbit

Chapter 176

Chapter 19. Choice

At the heart of the imperial capital, the Imperial Palace existed, shining brilliantly in gold as if modeled after the sun.

And like the moon and stars orbiting the sun, there were several key locations, most notably the temples of the Celestial God and the Earth Mother Goddess.

Among the many temples, only these two were permitted to erect buildings within the imperial capital.

Like most temples, the two shone with a dazzling white light.

And there was one more symbolic and distinctive place: the Magical Tower.

An arrogantly soaring, elongated black structure, darker than a raven's wing feather, that seemed to pierce the heavens.

Apart from the Imperial Palace, these three places shared one more commonality besides being within the imperial capital.

They were, albeit limitedly, free from imperial authority.

The powerful imperial family, backed by the authority of the dragon Artanus, had historically raised its sword against these three places on only one condition.

Treason.

It was a rare occurrence, but not one that had never existed.

This time, the imperial sword was pointed at the Magical Tower.

Because the current Tower Lord, Gaspard, had colluded with traitors such as Isabel, Evangeline, and Bio.

Now, the Tower was like the hollowed-out shell of an insect whose corpse had been devoured.

The Tower changed its members and tendencies with each master, and Gaspard acted as the Tower itself.

He did not nurture disciples or comrades, filling the Tower solely with tools.

The important figures called the Tower Lord's close associates froze and collapsed on the spot immediately after Gaspard's head fell.

Soon, bodies resembling corpses were scattered everywhere.

Even as time passed, these did not decay.

They were homunculi, or puppets of a similar nature.

Some lowly workers, who could never have imagined this, trembled in confusion before being arrested and dragged away.

The imperial knights, though feeling uneasy, guarded the Tower as tightly as a fortress until the disposal was carried out.

However, no matter how tightly they tried to guard it, gaps inevitably existed.

Into the empty shell, a man resembling a shadow, like a black snake, slipped in.

*Rustle.*

Torn paper and shattered glass fragments made a light sound under the tread of leather boots.

The man, his body concealed by a black wolf-fur cloak, slowly walked into the empty Tower, muttering softly.

"Still a place that puts one in a foul mood."

There was not a single good memory for him here.

Though it was empty, having lost its master, he hadn't expected to be able to enter so easily.

Originally, this was not a place one could easily come and go without the master's permission.

The man glared around with his single eye.

As if searching for some trace left by the Tower's master.

"...Had I known it would be like this, I should have returned sooner."

That was when it happened. Clearly, there had been no presence, yet a woman's voice came from the empty air.

"Why, are you dissatisfied that you couldn't cut off your enemy's head yourself?"

"...!"

The one-eyed man draped in black fur was astonished.

'How? My 'eye' clearly saw nothing.'

He wasn't referring to his remaining physical eye.

Though concealed by a black eyepatch, his hidden eye could not be blocked by a mere layer of leather.

He threw a dagger toward the direction of the voice.

*Swish—!*

The blade, flying with a sharp sound, did not bounce off with a metallic clang.

With a strange, slicing sound, it was split in half and fell powerlessly to the floor.

Thanks to that, the man could see the knight who had suddenly intervened, swinging her aura.

"The young Duke of Müzen, I see."

The moment he perceived the presence as the woman's voice was heard, the magic that had been interfering with his perception shattered.

Thus, he could see Aaron, holding a sword clad in aura, and the woman with pink hair standing behind him.

"What business does the new bride, whose fame has spread even to the remote north, have in such a place?"

It was a declaration that he knew her identity.

As the woman's slender finger moved slightly, the Sword Master withdrew his aura and stepped aside.

The woman with hair the color of spring blossoms stepped forward boldly and answered.

"It's our first meeting. Duke Krau Teslan."

Hilia had essentially thrown his words back at him.

* * *

Krau Teslan.

Nicknamed the Black Serpent. This man had ruled the back alleys of the imperial capital until a few years ago.

In my previous life, the place I met him was the same location where we now stood.

Of course, the circumstances were different in many ways.

"Judging by your appearance, it seems you are the experimental subject that Gaspard found most interesting. Isn't it terrifying to be alive?"

"How... how do you know that?"

"Naturally, I know, being his predecessor."

He smiled a murderous smile and asked me.

"I rarely act out of cheap pity, so tell me straight. Do you want to die or not?"

"...Why?"

"If you want to die, I'll kill you."

I didn't have the courage to say I wanted to die.

In the end, I suffered more before being dragged to the guillotine.

I still don't know if that choice was right or not back then.

No, now I could say it.

'Back then, I made the right choice.'

Because of that, I was able to learn about the possessor.

Otherwise, the current situation would never have been possible.

Finding Arpad, becoming his wife.

Falling in love like this.

Regaining the memory of my true first meeting with him before the regression.

I forcibly calmed my fluttering heart once more.

And focused on the situation unfolding before me.

Krau Teslan. The Black Serpent was not someone to let one's guard down around.

A low voice echoed through the empty tower.

"Does His Highness the Crown Prince know that his precious wife is facing a strange man in such a dangerous place?"

It was a threat to inform Arpad.

Normally, those words would not have been a threat to me.

When proceeding with such matters, I never hid anything from Arpad.

But this time was different. The meeting with the Black Serpent was kept secret.

The reason was simple.

I sought out the Black Serpent to confirm one last thing.

'And also... in case even that fails... it's to leave Arpad's side.'

He absolutely must not find out.

* * *

After the Crown Prince couple's return, the Crown Prince's Palace was filled with joy and liveliness.

Even more so, work had piled up like a mountain, driving the palace servants and officials to overwork, but still.

In any case, it was a situation preceding a celebration.

Everyone was happy and joyful.

Except for exactly one person.

"......"

A shadow fell over Arpad's handsome, pale face.

Even a faint wrinkle had formed between his brows.

In truth, the person who should be in the best mood in the Crown Prince's Palace was this man.

Arpad Istrid, who had defeated all his political enemies and was soon to ascend the throne.

Moreover, not long ago, hadn't he finally been united with the woman he loved?

He was truly a winner in life.

When he was dragged away due to piled-up work after their true first night, even Yulken found it absurd.

"I've truly never seen Your Highness's mouth reach your ears in all my life. Are you that happy?"

Furthermore, the madness that had tormented him all his life was also scheduled to be resolved soon.

Because a few days ago, his beloved wife had finally confessed all the secrets she had been hiding like a clam, saying this:

"Artanus has confirmed it. He said if we truly love each other and are physically united, the madness will disappear."

To that, Arpad replied with a confident laugh.

"Then it must already be gone."

"How can you be so sure right away?"

"Loving you is what I'm most confident about in this world. You just need to love me back. Do you, by any chance, not love me?"

Hilia answered with a breathtakingly beautiful smile. Without hesitation.

"I love you. Truly."

"Then that's that. We'll be able to confirm our love during the Crimson Moon."

Yulken asked anxiously.

"Are you... alright, Your Highness?"

Then Arpad cast off the shadow from moments ago and the wrinkle between his brows, and smiled brightly.

"Of course I'm alright. Very good. It has to be good."

Yulken, who had served him for a long time, knew very well.

'Right now, he is in an extremely foul mood.'

It was a state like gunpowder with its fuse lit. Touch it wrong and it would explode immediately.

Yulken truly, sincerely, did not want to provoke the current Arpad.

But he had no choice. After all, it was Arpad himself who had earnestly entrusted him with 'this task'.

"It is reported that Her Highness the Crown Princess has secretly stepped outside the Imperial Palace."

"...What?"

The unnatural smile that had covered Arpad's pale face vanished completely.

Romance, Fantasy,