Chapter 189 - North Korean rabbit

Episode 189

“What do you mean by that?”

My tone was unintentionally sharp, interrogative.

The Black Serpent grinned and responded with an even more nonsensical statement, as if it were an answer.

“I’m asking if you need a father for the child.”

It was absurd, the way he pointed at himself so nonchalantly.

My unfiltered thoughts slipped out.

“What kind of insane talk is that?”

Of course it was.

The child’s father is perfectly alive, so why is this man suddenly nominating himself for the position?

Frankly, if I hadn’t dropped the teacup, I would have wanted to throw it at that smiling face.

Naturally, I wasn’t the only one furious.

“How dare you insult our lady with such words! Apologize at once!”

“Grant me a duel.”

“No, Lord Beltain.”

Even if he couldn’t use the Watcher’s Eye, a duel between the Black Serpent and Lord Beltain was dangerous.

He may not be a Sword Master, but he was a survivor of the hellish back alleys of the imperial capital.

It wasn’t just a matter of simple skill; the main issue was that he wasn’t the type to fight honorably in a sacred duel where honor was at stake.

‘And besides, now is not the time for insults and duels.’

Arpad is likely rushing here even now.

Our souls were intimately connected for a moment. That feeling has mostly faded now, but I feel as if I could almost reach out and know where he is, what emotions he’s feeling.

Arpad must surely be the same.

I had to assume our location here was already discovered.

Surprisingly, at my vehement refusal, the Black Serpent looked quite disappointed.

“I thought I made a very necessary proposal to you.”

“What gives you the confidence to keep spouting such madness since earlier?”

“Well, you’re currently divorced from the Crown Prince… hmm? Divorced… were you? What is it……?”

He seemed momentarily confused, as if struggling with his memory.

Through the Black Serpent’s perception of the divorce, I could be certain. The divorce I had written in the <Book of Fate> was erased due to Arpad’s resistance and changed to ‘something that never happened.’

If the Black Serpent near me perceives it this way, others might not even remember the fact of the divorce at all.

After a brief moment of confused head-tilting, the Black Serpent soon collected his thoughts and continued.

“Anyway, you’re currently separated from the Crown Prince. If the child’s existence becomes known, the imperial family won’t just leave it be.”

Surprisingly, he wasn’t wrong.

Arpad seemed unlikely to tolerate my leaving, and if he learned of the pregnancy, he would be even more unwilling to let me go.

“If you’re not planning to send the child to the imperial family, don’t you need a father to use as a shield?”

“And that should be you?”

“Yes.”

The Black Serpent smiled brightly.

What reason could this man have for making such absurd claims about accepting a child as his own when he has no relation to it?

Surely it couldn’t be because he’s fallen for me and is hanging on by a thread.

I couldn’t begin to guess what scheme he had in mind.

I replied coldly.

“Did I accidentally shatter your sanity too when I removed the Tower Lord’s binding?”

At that, the Black Serpent glanced sideways at Lord Beltain.

“Ah, perhaps it’s already decided?”

It was far too blatant.

I could see Lord Beltain stiffen like a stone pillar, shocked and flustered.

I shook my head, rescuing him from the awkwardness.

“No. Since earlier, you’ve been jumping to conclusions and even delusions, your thoughts are running too far ahead……”

As I tried to get angry, I soon reached my physical limit.

Exhaling roughly, Ani laid me back down on the bed.

“My lady, you must rest!”

I tried to shake my head but felt a severe dizziness and let out a low moan.

“Ugh.”

“Indeed, we shouldn’t overexert a pregnant woman.”

Mustering the last of my strength, I spoke.

“That’s enough, so get lost. That’s how you repay the favor I did for you, so just disappear quietly.”

The Black Serpent sighed and then obediently nodded.

“Understood. I shall take my leave then.”

“…?”

I hadn’t expected him to leave so compliantly.

The Black Serpent bowed gracefully with an exaggerated gesture and left the room.

But the next moment, my relief was shattered.

Because the Black Serpent, who had gone outside, entered through the side door of the inn room.

Bewildered, I asked.

“Why are you coming from there?”

“Because the next room is my room?”

Among high-end inns, there are cases where two rooms are connected by a small door for when nobles stay with their attendants.

This inn was such a place, and the Black Serpent had rented both connected rooms and taken the key to the connecting passage.

He smiled brightly, returned to the next room, closed the door, and bid farewell.

“Then, rest well.”

My mood was already complicated and my head hurt, and the Black Serpent had provoked my anger.

A surge of nonexistent energy rose, and I threw the pillow at the door where the Black Serpent had disappeared.

But perhaps my physical condition was excessively poor, as the pillow flew feebly, didn’t even reach the door, and fell to the floor.

I slumped back onto the bed.

“Aah……”

I heard Ani and Lord Beltain’s worried voices.

Clutching my throbbing head, I raised my hand.

The Star of Statalia, worn on my left ring finger, emitted no light whatsoever.

‘It must be because Arpad is alright?’

While it was a relief, anxiety also surged ahead.

Arpad is likely rushing toward me even at this moment.

‘I must leave as soon as possible, before he arrives.’

In my current physical state, getting up and boarding a ship immediately is impossible.

But I had the <Book of Fate>.

An overwhelming power that could change people’s perceptions and wills, and even alter existing reality.

Of course, it couldn’t make every impossibility possible.

‘For example… writing in the <Book of Fate> that I moved to another continent is far too inefficient.’

The cost required would likely be substantial.

According to the knowledge the <Book of Fate> gave me, physical distance or natural disasters were the domain of the higher gods, the Celestial God and the Earth Mother Goddess.

The five goddesses created the humans who live in this world.

Therefore, the influence of the divine artifact <Book of Fate>, where their power is concentrated, exerted strong power over matters related to human fate.

So, making all humans recognize that Arpad and I were divorced was easier than moving me to another continent.

‘Then, wouldn’t it be possible to improve my physical condition, even temporarily?’

At least until I can board a ship and leave this continent.

Thinking this, I tried to summon the <Book of Fate>.

But.

“…?”

The <Book of Fate> did not respond at all.

The other divine artifacts, including the Star of Statalia, were the same.

Soon, I could realize. That not a speck of divine power remained, combining the divine artifacts and my own body.

‘Could it be… it was all exhausted when I made contact with Arpad’s consciousness?’

And I could remember.

I hadn’t merely made contact with Arpad’s soul state beyond physical distance.

I had saved him from the brink of madness.

When considered, this too was ‘altering’ a reality that had already occurred.

And as the price, the divine power of myself and the divine artifacts had been completely depleted.

How long would it take for the <Book of Fate>’s power to recover?

I couldn’t even guess.

My plan to leave Veneta immediately using this power had come to nothing.

All I could do was sigh.

‘For now… the only thing to rely on is that it’s a distance of at least three weeks even at the fastest from the imperial capital to here.’

* * *

Galloping on his horse, Arpad gritted his teeth.

‘Too far!’

The moment his soul made contact, he could instinctively feel where Hilia was.

The port city of Veneta at the eastern edge.

Moreover, Hilia planned to board a ship there and depart for another continent.

The horse he rode was the finest steed in the Empire.

Furthermore, he had done the insane act of sharing his overflowing magical power with the horse, activating its muscles to more than double its speed.

But it wasn’t enough.

Even if he rode without sleeping or eating, it would take nearly two weeks to reach Veneta.

At this rate, by the time Arpad arrived in Veneta, Hilia would surely have already left.

A desperate longing and frustration tormented Arpad.

Hilia was utterly cruel.

She plundered Arpad’s heart, and even his soul, and then left.

Though he was chasing belatedly, the path to catching her seemed distant.

He had said he would chase her to the ends of the earth, and he intended to do so.

Even if she fled beyond another continent, he would follow without giving up and catch her.

But the pain of the lengthening period apart from Hilia was excruciating.

It was more cruel and painful than being abandoned in the middle of a desert without a drop of water.

He felt he could do anything if only he could reach her side a moment sooner.

He was willing to pay any price.

At that moment, Arpad sensed something strange.

“!”