Chapter 16
If anyone learned about my situation, they would be wondering why I didn’t reveal my identity.
‘If only we met under normal circumstances, I might have said it first.’
Signus would’ve recognized me even in a different body. Of course, if he was the good Signus that I knew.
‘If I hadn’t opened my eyes, the marquis would’ve gone after me .’
I couldn’t let the marquis and Ulysse die. Even if he was the original Signus, I would still think about whether to tell him or not.
To the man who dug my wound, took off my clothes, rolled me up like an object, and turned a deaf ear to anything I said. Would he believe me when I told him that I lived and entered someone else’s body?
Nope. He would slit my throat for talking nonsense.
His eyes were filled with killing intent. I wonder if it was genuine?
‘But still, how dare you to treat me like this.’
With an annoyed gesture, I removed the already loose bandage from my face. Next time I see the aide, I would wrap him up in a bandage to return the favor.
Then a question came to me.
“Don’t you know me?”
“Is there anyone who doesn’t know Your Highness?”
Signus tilted his head when I answered straightforwardly.
“You said you don’t know who you’re imitating.”
“Like I said, who is it?”
“If you recognize me even if I don’t tell you my name, then you must remember her. Normally it’s like that.”
“…Why?”
“Because that person is more famous than I am.”
Someone more famous than the Crown Prince Signus?
“Even an antling in the countryside knows her.”
Suddenly I became worse than the countryside antling.
He crossed his legs as he looked at me. His slightly exposed white ankle fascinated my eyes.
“From what I see, you’re not completely ignorant. You have been confined in the mansion all your life, yet you were able to send a properly written letter. I don’t think it was ghostwritten either, so does it make sense for you not to know?”
When I felt his cynical gaze, I answered.
“Are you talking about Lady Ayaran?”
“Why are you bringing her up?”
It wasn’t her?
‘But Ayaran is famous. She’s the daughter of Duke Cyben.’
I thought it over again when I saw Signus frowning his brows.
‘So there’s a woman who is more famous than Signus. And I’m supposed to imitate that woman.’
But I couldn’t think of anyone. I’ve never heard of a woman like that.
“Give me a hint.”
Signus looked dumbfounded at what I said. It was his first humane expression.
“You really don’t know.”
“Listen when people talk…!”
I took a deep breath instead of continuing my words. I felt like I was going to collapse if I go on. How many times have I told you that I don’t know?!
“I knew about big events, but I don’t know much about anything else. I know that you’ve become the Crown Prince.”
“Do you think that makes sense?”
“Try to ask the servants or whoever you like.”
Signus, who had been silent for a while, asked.
“How far do you know?”
I’m not sure, how far do I know again?
“Do you know about the demon’s invasion of the Imperial palace?”
“I know.”
“Then try to explain.”
After hesitating, I answered with a sigh.
“I heard you’ve been through a lot. A lot of people died.”
“That’s not all.”
“Of course. One year ago, Your Highness was a kind and good-natured man.”
While hiding my complicated feelings, I continued.
“So I couldn’t easily believe you had changed, but now I know for sure.”
I shouldn’t associate myself with him anymore. After a moment of silence, I heard a murmur.
“You couldn’t believe it?”
I didn’t answer him. If I opened my mouth, I felt like a curse would burst out. How could I not be angry when my caring and friendly friend became like this?
‘That’s enough. It’s just an old story.’
What should I do to stop reminiscing about the past?
“Do you want to know why?”
I opened my eyes wide. Did he really want to tell me why he had changed?
The corners of his lips went up smoothly.
“It’s all crap.”
“Pardon?”
“You’re mistaken. I am this kind of bastard from the start. So stop judging people however you like and listen carefully. I’ll get to the point.”
“….”
Signus looked out the window. I heard the sound of people bustling, perhaps we had arrived at the capital.
“I’ll take your words for it. The engagement is in two days, I’ll check on that day.”
Only two days?
“If you’re busy, you can put it off…”
“Don’t be silly.”
“No, but…”
“Don’t even think to betray me by going to Damian.”
It’s not surprising. No matter how much he changed, his ghost-like perception never went away. So after giving up, I finally asked what I wanted to ask.
“I’ve been wondering, but is there any reason to be engaged with me?”
“There is.”
“What is it?”
“I’ll take care of that.”
I frowned at his word. Be clear, were you going to give me a hint or not?
“If you stay calm, I won’t touch you in the meantime.”
I was quite dumbfounded with him and responded.
“If you’re going to be like that, just do it now.”
“You said you didn’t like it now.”
“I wouldn’t like it later on, either.”
You crazy womanizer!
When I internally insulted him, he laughed as if he found it ridiculous.
“You should be thankful to me for giving you two days. I don’t know what you are scheming, but I never put up with anyone this much.”
The golden eyes touched my shoulders. I felt like I was left alone in a dark maze when I saw him. It was even more so when I saw his glistening golden eyes.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
It didn’t matter if you touched me. You did everything you wanted to do, anyway.
“About what you’re checking. You can’t tell me about it, can you?”
“That’s right.”
“You have no faith in me, don’t you?”
Signus showed his feelings for the first time in my words.
“The limit is here. There are other reasons, but not more than this.”
His face was filled with a self-deprecating smile that I had never seen before.
“I’ll bear with you. I’ll wait for you. But that’s it.”
In a flash, the golden eyes turned cold.
“So stay calm for two days. Stay in the mansion until I call you.”
Look at how bratty he spoke.
Signus, who crumpled his face like a paper, sat next to my head.
“If you do something useless.”
He smiled and reached his hand to me. I wanted to ask what else he was going to do, but my voice didn’t come out. Because I saw the old Signus among his completely different appearances.
“I’ll kill you right away.”
That blinding smile was a smile that only Signus could make.
***
A green-haired man mumbled as he looked at the scenery outside the window.
“How peaceful.”
In the room where the man was sitting, Damian, the first prince of the empire, was laying on the bed like a corpse. Soon the man, who was looking outside, slumped to the chair.
“It’s not fun and I’m free. How boring!”
The knight, who was looking at Damian from the side of the bed, opened his mouth.
“If you’re bored, then work.”
“I’ve got nothing to do.”
“Then find something else to do. Don’t just take the hallucinogens out of town.”
The green-haired man grinned at the knight.
“I’ve shown you the fantasy that could never be attained by a humble subject like us, didn’t I? So don’t blame me too much.”
“Just take care of Damian. Signus entrusted him to you after all.”
Next to Damian, there were several alchemists covered in robes reciting spells. The green-haired man pointed toward the bed and spoke.
“That’s the duty of Count Mori who sponsored the alchemist guild. Count Mori wants to rest now. I’m just Modeus now.”
Contractor Modeus was one of the people who signed the contract with the leader to serve the demon. Then the knight warned him that his public name was Count Mori.
“This is the palace, not our hideout. Watch your mouth.”
“Such an unwavering loyalty. As expected, you’re a knight to the bone.”
The knight’s vice general, Elon, looked down at the pale-faced Damian. The dark energy that was invisible to ordinary people was squashing into Damian’s body.
“If you have time to talk nonsense, take a look at the prince. We brought Damian to the palace, but he’s still not strong enough.”
Only those with Avita’s blood could completely open the sacred ground that was protecting the empire. In other words, if Signus, who inherited the strongest Avita’s blood was in the palace, the power became stronger.
“Then let’s run a test.”
“What.”
“Let’s shake the empire’s barrier again.”
Elon had an unpleasant look on his face.
“Are you enjoying this?”
“We’ll need to see how much power we’ve got. The knights are back, and the temple is watching the barrier. So what’s wrong with it?”
Elon took off his gloves without saying a word. The snake pattern on his hand glistened.
“Do it moderately. Don’t forget to control your strength.”
Ignoring his friend’s worried voice, Elon put his hand on Damian’s head. As Damian opened his eyes wide, quiet waves spread throughout the empire. The birds flew up into the sky at the invisible sinister force.
Damian closed his eyes when Elon withdrew his hand. Avita’s blood was sucked dry from him, so his complexion was as white as paper. Modeus, who was feeling the wave, said with grimace.
“Ah, shoot. He’s a terrible medium. Do it moderately, won’t you?”
“What is your standard of being moderate?”
“Of course, as long as the prince does not die. Do I need to explain it to you?”
“Did he die? No, right?”
Elon, who answered back irritably, said again.
“This is not enough. I thought it would be possible if I brought him to the palace, but I was mistaken.”
Damian couldn’t even open the barrier. It meant they needed a stronger Avita’s blood.
“What a nasty temper.” Modeus clicked his tongue.
Elon had just signed a contract with the leader for a year. He was ordered to practice power control, but he made a wrong choice.
“This much wave must have caused the monsters to emerge.”
“I heard the temple went to the barrier.”
Modeus cried out in frustration.
“Don’t you have any ideas? If they need support, they’ll call the military troops again. Then we’ll have to put off the uprising for a little longer.”
Elon answered back coldly.
“The one year we spent on brainwashing the prince has been a blunder. Uprising? You must be kidding me.”
“I mean, what do we do if the Crown Prince leaves for the barrier. Only when Signus is in the Imperial Palace will Avita’s power be strengthened…”
Wait a minute. The talking Modeus raised his eyes as if he realized something.
“…Why did Signus go there?”