As I gazed into his blue eyes as if possessed, he smiled softly.
“I don’t think it’s okay to ask for that, Elsia. It’s not okay to forget.”
“Well, um.”
I barely looked away and coughed in vain.
“Then there is nothing we can do about it.”
“I guess we’re getting closer.”
” …..why?”
“At the time of Count Rescecil’s banquet, you told me to forget everything and live my life.”
I nodded slowly. At that time, the marriage proposal was so absurd that I said that.
But now, Ixion was definitely not as unfamiliar or awkward as he was then.
Maybe it’s because we went through various things together in the Marquis’ dominion and had a lot of good times……
So, I was able to nod my head without hesitation despite his suggestion to keep getting along as a ‘friend’.
“At that time, I was strangely really angry…”
“Why is the prince angry?”
“Now that I think about it, I think I was disappointed.”
My heart started beating all of a sudden at the friendly tone.
Then again, it felt strange to be running on horseback in such a deep mountain just the two of us.
Now, even with Ixion, it’s not awkward, and whenever he said kind words, I felt like my heart softened.
That was the moment when my ears were strangely burning.
“Uwaaak!”
Suddenly, a man’s scream was heard in the distance. It was a voice I had not heard in a long time, but I knew the owner of the voice at once.
‘Ridan?’
Ixion and I hurriedly stopped talking. I had to find out which way.
‘Are you coming across this dangerous forest road to see me?’
If that was true, I had to run and rescue him. It would have been a big deal if the cursed smoke had met even a puddle of water.
I was very nervous, but there was silence.
No more screams, so we made eye contact and cautiously set off.
The conversation with Ixion was cut off because of the tension.
‘Ridan, I hope nothing goes wrong… Please be safe… ‘
When we were going deep into the forest.
“Elsia, be careful. The road is not good.”
Sure enough, there were bumpy rocks scattered all over the way Isis was walking, and to make matters worse, even a fast-flowing stream was flowing underneath.
As I was carefully changing the reins.
“Uwaaaaaaaak!”
The birds flew all at once at the sudden sound of a loud scream.
“Be, Beth!”
And the horse, who was very nervous by the wind, stumbled on its foot and tripped.
***
The moment Beth stumbled on its foot, my heart dropped and I honestly thought it was going to die or be seriously injured.
But in the blink of an eye, Ixion, who jumped out of Isis, caught me in the air.
He wrapped his arms around my head and together we tumbled downhill, not too steep.
Ixion was quite large, and he hugged me tightly, so I wasn’t seriously hurt except for being overwhelmed.
“Prince!”
A stream was flowing right next to him.
“Are you okay? Are you seriously hurt?”
“I’m okay.”
I got out of his arms and quickly inspected his limbs.
I was checking for any broken parts, but after a while, Beth rolled over in the distance.
And it couldn’t move because it was seriously injured.
“Prince, are you really okay?”
“Yeah. I think I’ll be able to get up on my own in a little while, so don’t worry.”
“Then wait a minute. There’s White over there… I’ll bring it.”
After confirming that Ixion raised his body with his elbow, I managed to rescue White lying under the fallen Beth.
The pouch that Irene had fixed was separated from the big shock.
“Mah!”
“White, are you hurt?”
There didn’t seem to be any hit, but I was worried and looked around, and White struggled and cried.
“Mah, Mah!”
“Why, what’s wrong?”
I looked back to where White’s gaze was headed, and I was startled and frozen.
“Prince!”
I called on Ixion with a look of disbelief.
But his back, who was looking at the stream, did not move.
Isis was right next to me and was fussy as if not knowing what to do.
Even a clever black horse seemed to not know what to do with Ixion.
“…Your Highness.”
When I called Ixion, who had not turned his back, he was only muttering while looking at the stream as if possessed.
The rippling stream was dyed black, and to my surprise, a middle-aged man who looked just like Ixion was reflected.
It must have been the Emperor.
I grabbed White and rushed to him.
[You are good.]
I saw the young Emperor stroking Little Ixion’s hair.
He was so handsome and decent looking that I thought he really looked like Ixion.
[When you grow up, become a great prince serving the Empire.]
[Yes, Your Majesty.]
It was said that the fog of curse loves water and traps people in the memory of the person who makes them most unhappy.
It must have been the Emperor who bound him with his unfortunate memories.
While running, the scene reflected in the water changed in an instant.
It was Ixion’s back, who was watching the older Emperor.
Even in the vision reflected in the water, his expression was not visible.
[If I successfully complete the Artize conquest, grant my wish.]
I stopped walking unknowingly at the sound of his firm voice.
It was when Ixion had an audience with the Emperor before going out on the Artize expedition.
It seems that Ixion clearly said at that time, ‘I’ll try to do something about the imperial family.’
[Artize tried to kill you. Isn’t revenge natural?]
[……]
[I am mobilizing the Imperial Army for your revenge, but I don’t know what else you want.]
[When I return after winning the battle, what will happen to Artize?]
[You don’t have to worry about that. If you come to victory, your reputation will be higher.]
Oh my, it was so ridiculous.
In the first place, Artize wanted to kill Ixion in order to invade the Empire.
It meant that it wasn’t because of personal feelings for Ixion.
However, the Emperor’s face, saying that he was helping Ixion’s revenge by striking Artize for the Empire, was too brazen.
[Your Majesty. This is the first time I have asked Your Majesty anything.]
[I don’t know why you’re doing something you didn’t do. I’m tired, so get out.]
I clicked my tongue as if I was watching a crazy drama.
Ixion has been rolling on the battlefield for the sake of the stability of the Empire, but he has never received a duke rank and had no territories.
I was about to become frustrated as he quietly fought the war without asking for anything.
[I will pass the victory ball to Brother Ramon.]
[…What?]
[When the battle is over and the King of Artize is killed, I will step down so that Brother Ramon can take over the work himself. Wasn’t Artize’s land originally meant for Brother Ramon?]
‘Oh, so…..’
I bit my lip.
The reason for Ixion’s faster return than expected and the reason why the Crown Prince was in Artize’s land was clearly explained.
I didn’t even think about it because I wasn’t curious about it.
Ixion’s words meant that he would do all the hard work, but he would leave the ‘Artize conquest’ as the Crown Prince’s contribution to the next generation.
[I’m negotiating because I can’t ask. Your Majesty.]
[…What do you want?]
‘Only now you’re asking what he wanted? You bad Emperor!’
[The freedom of Princess Elsia Artize.]
It was strangely heartbreaking.
[Release Artize’s hostage, Princess Elsia, and let me take responsibility for her future safety.]
[That is not something I can decide on my own.]
[Still, if Your Majesty the Emperor gives strength, it will be of great help.]
[…If that’s all you want… ]
[If you listen, I will live my life the way you want me to live.]
[…..]
[I do not covet anything, only serve the Empire and return to my original place….]
There was nothing more to hear.
My freedom was something that did not affect anyone, so the Emperor would have granted it favorably.
However, he didn’t do anything big enough to persuade the nobles or anything, and it was just a simple deal that he had to accept.
I ran quickly and grabbed Ixion’s cheeks forcibly.
His eyes were unfocused, and his gaze continued to focus only on the stream.
“Prince! Wake up.”
I said earnestly knowing that it would not be delivered anyway.
“What is with your original place….. Your place is decided by you, not your parents.”
Then, with all my might, I began to pour divine magic on him.
I didn’t know how much I had to spend because I wasn’t healing his wounds, but I put all my energy into it.
“If His Majesty makes the Prince unhappy…”
However, Ixion came to this deep hunting ground to find the Emperor. I sighed at that strange love and hatred.
“You only need to meet people who make you happy. Isn’t that the Prince’s place?”
I smiled brightly as the focus returned to Ixion’s eyes.
“Well, I was talking about living like that.”
As if completely free from the influence of the fog, Ixion’s cold face returned to full color.
Slightly embarrassed, I tried to move the hands around his cheeks, but he gently grabbed my wrists.
“I’m in big trouble, Elsia.”
“…..Yes?”
“What if I say that I will only see you for the rest of my life?”
Come to think of it, he was too close.
I felt my ears heat up.
The blue eyes gleamed beautifully.
“What if I insist that my place is next to you?
“…Let’s, let’s be friends.”
I rolled my eyes and muttered.
I was nervous because I was afraid he would find out that my heart was beating fast.
No, in common sense, if he put his handsome face on and said something like this, I couldn’t help but feel too embarrassed for a moment.
“Is this what friends do?”
“Can’t we do this with friends? I don’t know because I don’t have friends.”
At least I knew that these weren’t just friends.
“Uh… I’ve never done this with a friend before. With Irene, with Niel, with Ridan…”
Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only
“You, who came from Artisee, have a lot more friends than me.”
“What….”
“That’s understandable. You’re such a shining person.”
You’re such a shining person. This was a body that could soon become a dark monster.
I felt like he was waking up, so I gave strength to remove my hand and got up quickly.