Chapter 184 - Book Rabbit

Episode 184

The Black Serpent's lips moved without a sound.

Though it could not be heard by the ear, it could be read by the eye.

'Your Highness, the Crown Princess.'

...it said.

I was momentarily startled, but I soon regained my composure.

It wasn't that the power of the <Book of Fate> was ineffective against the Duke.

Even in the reality altered by that power, the fact that I had been the Crown Princess did not become undone.

'Changing it to where we were never married at all would likely have required a greater price...'

And for some reason, I didn't want that.

...No, let's not avoid it.

I disliked the idea of us becoming nothing to each other.

In the end, my selfish attachment was correct.

Though I severed our ties to protect him, I did not want to be the only one to remember the fact that I had been by his side.

There was no more leisure to be lost in such thoughts.

A black serpent had suddenly appeared before me, and its purpose was unknown.

Gathering my wits, I replied coldly.

"I cannot fathom what you hope to gain from me by using an old title."

It was not difficult to feign ignorance.

I was currently moving in secret.

My conspicuous hair was dyed a plain black, and I had also created a separate identity.

The mercenaries guarding me knew me only as an ordinary Viscountess.

Having to check Arpad's resistance in the <Book of Fate> daily, I had no choice but to prepare thoroughly.

For one never knew when Arpad's memories might return.

Simultaneously, this question arose.

'Do I wish for Arpad's memories to return? Or do I not?'

Perhaps...

I shook my head, trying to shake off the unnecessary thoughts.

My actions seemed strange to the Black Serpent.

His expression grew subtle as he took a step toward me.

The mercenaries I had hired faithfully shielded me.

"Do not approach!"

I had gone through trouble to hire those not under Gerald's influence, and they seemed surprisingly competent.

The Black Serpent did not force his way past the mercenaries.

"I do not know why you are so wary, but I have come merely to repay a favor."

A favor.

It wasn't an incorrect statement.

When Gaspard had attempted to control the Black Serpent through magic.

It was I who had saved him from the Tower Lord's clutches.

The <Book of Fate>, now complete with the Needle of Remnemia, is a divine artifact possessing the greatest power currently in existence.

The divine power it radiated completely incinerated the remnants of Gaspard's magic and bindings left within the Black Serpent's body.

Of course, it was not without cost.

'The Eye of the Watcher is now almost unusable.'

But what was regained was his own life.

It was worth paying such a price.

Just as he had said.

"The Needle of Remnemia... was it necessary to wield that tremendous divine power from a moment ago?"

"Remarkable. With the Needle of Remnemia, sealing was all that was possible. If such a thing is achievable, I would offer up any number of them."

The Black Serpent looked over his own body meticulously, genuinely impressed.

"It feels like being reborn. I cannot sense that dreadful presence within me at all."

"...That is indeed fortunate."

At that time, I was too lost in despair to have the leisure to pay attention even to the Black Serpent.

'Because I was frustrated that even completing the <Book of Fate> could not break the dragon's oath of Artanus.'

So, whether it was the Black Serpent's moved reaction or his earnest promises, I only half-listened.

"I do not know how you did it, but it is true that you prevented what I wished to avoid for a lifetime."

"Ah, really?"

"I shall repay this debt without fail. I swear upon both my name as the Black Serpent and as the Duke of Teslan."

"...As you wish."

After all, all I had wanted from the Black Serpent was the final divine artifact needed to complete the <Book of Fate>.

Had I remained as the Crown Princess, and furthermore as the Empress, there might have been matters I would have needed to request of the Duke of Teslan.

'But then, as now, it is none of my concern.'

The Black Serpent, a knowing smile spreading across his face, extended his hand to me.

"You seem to be in quite a predicament now. Is my assistance not desperately needed?"

It was a natural assumption to make, if a woman who had been the Crown Princess was leaving the capital after a divorce.

The problem was, that was not the case at all.

I nodded.

"There is one thing I would ask of you."

Only then did a satisfied smile finally appear on the Black Serpent's face.

"Speak, anything. As I have already promised, regarding this favor..."

I cut off his pompous speech mid-sentence and stated flatly.

"Get out of the way."

"...What?"

"Are your ears not working either?"

The Black Serpent stared at me dumbfoundedly with his single eye.

I was in a very bad mood right now.

Naturally so.

'Because of that lizard bastard, I'm having to leave my man behind. How could I possibly be in a good mood?'

And in the midst of that, this pitch-black fellow suddenly appears spouting nonsense. There's no reason for my mood to be good.

Flustered, the Black Serpent asked again.

"Did I hear correctly? I said I would grant you anything as repayment for what you did!"

"You stepping aside right there is what I want."

"Have you gone mad?! Do you even know what kind of opportunity you are refusing?!"

I waved my hand dismissively, returned to the carriage, and ordered the coachman and mercenaries.

"Just push through and go."

"W-wait a moment!"

* * *

Arpad did not particularly like the night.

It was not simply a matter of preference for light or dark.

Nor was it being gripped by the fear of something leaping out from the darkness at any moment.

For him, it was an exceedingly tedious time.

Since gaining self-awareness after birth, Arpad had almost never experienced the sensation of sinking deeply into the swamp of sleep.

He did not know how it might have been in his early childhood, which he could not even remember.

No, recalling the words his mother had spoken with a bitter smile when he was not even ten years old, it was likely similar even then.

"Even as a newborn, you were too sensitive. You would wake at the slightest sound..."

"Did I cry noisily and make a fuss?"

"No. That's why it was even more pitiful."

"If I did not trouble my mother or the wet nurse, that is fortunate. Is there anything to pity?"

A white, delicate finger stroked the cheek of the young Arpad.

Contrary to her gaze and actions, pressing firmly on her son's still plump, soft cheek, Roxelline smiled a pale smile.

"You didn't cry, you didn't startle, you just looked straight ahead as if it were natural. To me, that seemed even more pitiful."

It was still difficult to understand what his mother had pitied.

"Because it seemed so natural that there was no expectation of escaping or improving. A newborn swaddled in cloth."

This conversation was a memory belonging to Arpad alone, unknown even to his Imperial Father.

But strangely, at the end of this conversation, the voice of a woman who could not possibly exist there bloomed.

"Really? That's hard to believe? You've been sleeping so deeply lately beside me that you don't even notice when I nudge you."

Was that so?

When he tried to recall, the voice grew distant again.

He had no memory of ever falling asleep so deeply as to lose consciousness beside someone.

Yet, strangely, a sensation remained.

A reassuring body temperature, light breathing, the sound of laughter chattering by his ear.

All of it bestowed upon Arpad sensations he was experiencing for the first time since birth.

Whether positive or negative.

Arpad wandered desperately.

The lost piece was too large, and the empty void left by its absence was consuming most of Arpad.

He could not help but know that something had been taken from him. Only, he could not know precisely what had been taken.

That drove Arpad even more to madness.

The place where his wandering led him was to the deepest, darkest corner of the capital.

A hideout inside the catacombs.

The gravedigger guarding the place recognized Arpad—or more precisely, the Mercenary King Gerald—and bowed his head.

"It has been a long time. You did not visit during the last Crimson Month, so I thought you would not come again."

That was right. During the recent Crimson Month, Arpad had not come here.

Because he had realized he was freed from his loathsome mania.

Arpad tossed the gravedigger the silver coin to be placed in the mouth of the deceased, as was customary.

He entered the deepest part of the catacombs, the prison he had prepared to confine himself during his most dangerous periods.

The moment he stepped into the darkness, Arpad saw a phantom.

"!"

Pink hair resembling cherry blossom petals cascaded luxuriantly under the moonlight.

Deep purple eyes were looking straight at him.

Moist-looking lips parted to throw out a provocative statement.

"Please, abduct me."

That single sentence struck Arpad's mind like a thunderbolt.