A Blend of Romance and Fantasy - Chapter 15
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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15.
The Blake Imperial Family, born with the blood of dragons, are perpetually consumed by fierce avarice, each coveting the throne from one another.
The imperial family is destined to divide into four elemental affinities—fire, wind, light, and ice—with mages of each attribute backed by powerful noble houses from the four cardinal directions in their struggle for succession.
The Blueheart Duchy of the north.
The Redford Earldom of the south.
The Silverstone Marquisate of the west.
And finally, the Blackwood Marquisate of the east—Leonard’s house.
Whichever house triumphs annihilates all the others entirely, yet the struggle for succession inevitably resurfaces in the next generation.
Thus, Blake is perpetually ravaged by war, a curse upon the realm itself.
But in this generation, a protagonist is born.
Though he carries dragon’s blood, he is peculiar in his love of peace, seeking to unify Blake through harmony rather than conquest.
Yet the antagonist comes to despise this protagonist for ‘some reason’ and seeks to end his life.
The tale of Blake’s succession struggle unfolding between such a protagonist and antagonist is none other than….
“The Song of Sky, Fire, and Moon.”
Truly orthodox fantasy.
I was bewildered by content so vastly different from what I knew, but I concealed my reaction.
“However, that narrative seems unrelated to Sincester’s downfall.”
“It is related. The antagonist desires the annihilation of Sincester’s Holy Knight Order.”
“What did you say?”
I jolted upright, striking the table in shock.
“What sort of absurd villain harbors such a notion? Without the Holy Knight Order, how could this world ever vanquish monsters?”
Monsters are denizens of the Demon Realm that slip into the Human Realm through rifts in space and time.
Each nation naturally handles their extermination independently, but when the burden becomes unbearable, they petition Sincester’s Holy Knight Order for aid.
Monsters possess demonic power, the antithesis of sacred power, making them vulnerable to Holy Knights who wield it.
Furthermore, the Holy Knight Order is bound by oath to answer every call for assistance.
They received their sacred power as noble guardians of the Elysium Continent, having sworn a covenant to vanquish monsters.
Should a Holy Knight refuse a deployment order, the goddess Elisia immediately revokes their sacred power.
Thus, all nations have forged a pact to never lay hands upon Sincester under any circumstance.
For should Sincester fall, those capable of defeating monsters would cease to exist.
Yet now this antagonist of the Song of Sky, Fire, and Moon wishes to obliterate these sacred beings entirely.
“Who is this antagonist? Why does he despise the protagonist and wish to destroy Sincester?”
At my question, Leonard’s expression grew troubled.
“As I mentioned before, I possessed no knowledge of the ending when I was possessed. Thus, I cannot fathom the antagonist’s hatred for the protagonist. However, there is one suspect—the 1st Prince, Demian.”
Born into the Blueheart house that dominates Blake’s north, a mage of ice affinity, and son of the current Empress—the 1st Prince.
Demian Blueheart Blake.
“The one contending with you for the throne?”
Leonard nodded, then continued.
“Currently, Demian employs ‘dark magic’ to send monsters into the Human Realm. The most effective means of handling monsters is through those who possess sacred power. In the original work, there was a Priest, but for some reason, he has yet to appear.”
“Is it because you were possessed?”
“I cannot say. But since I have not yet found him, I sought to request the Saint’s assistance first.”
Well, I understand—since I possessed this body, the original story has gradually twisted, with people who should have appeared later showing up belatedly, and those who shouldn’t have appeared yet arriving far too soon.
“Then I have one more question.”
“What is it?”
“Who is the protagonist of 【The Unbreakable Curse】? According to Romance Fantasy Novel, the 3rd Prince becomes emperor.”
I watched his response intently while moistening my parched lips with tea.
But the answer that came was utterly bewildering.
“There is no one left. In this world.”
“I’m sorry?”
What does that even mean? I clenched my handkerchief tightly.
“Did Prince Demian already kill the protagonist?”
But is it even possible to win in a world without a protagonist? I stood there biting my lip in shock when Leonard rose from his seat.
“Let’s stop talking about this. It’s not important.”
“If this isn’t important, what is?”
“Evidence that Sincester faces imminent destruction.”
Then Leonard spoke clearly in Korean.
“Late tonight, I’ll visit the study again. Let’s examine the evidence together then.”
* * *
As I returned to the study, I pondered deeply whether I should follow him.
What if it’s a trap after I’ve followed him so thoughtlessly?
“Your Highness, why did you seize the Prince’s collar?”
“He must have said something disrespectful, didn’t he?!”
While I was thinking, Abigail and Dorothy’s voices kept ringing in my ears.
“If he insulted Your Highness, it would be only fitting for Lord Lucas to challenge him to a duel.”
“This could escalate into a diplomatic incident!”
“Calm down.”
If these two are this agitated, what will happen to Leonard if word reaches Erdan and Aurora?
It seemed I had no choice but to quickly explain my relationship with Leonard to these two.
“I was mistaken. Don’t worry so much. I’ll tell Brother and Aurora myself, so don’t breathe a word of this.”
“But Your Highness….”
That’s when I noticed a Priestess Attendant standing before the study door, accompanying Aurora.
“What’s the matter?”
“Your Highness, the Saint has sent word.”
“Aurora?”
When the Priestess Attendant handed me a scroll and I unrolled it, it contained a message asking me to come to the Altar of Sacred Blood immediately upon my return.
* * *
“Look at this, Charlotte.”
The moment I entered the Altar of Sacred Blood, Aurora pointed to one of the three sacred relics—a pure gold mirror.
That mirror, bearing the magnificent title “Elisia’s Beauty” befitting a sacred relic, looked different from how we had seen it days before.
A person was reflected within the mirror.
There is only one reason why a person would be reflected in a pure gold mirror.
Because she poses a threat to Sincester.
“Aurora, this person isn’t Evelyn, is she?”
In the original work, she was Aurora’s motivation for temple life and merely an extra among extras who aided Knox Glaston.
Evelyn possessed platinum blonde hair and blue eyes, as if the author had deliberately crafted her as Aurora’s foil.
Yet unfortunately, in every aspect—beauty, ability, and character—she fell far short of Aurora.
Consumed by jealousy, she had aligned herself with Knox Glaston’s scheme to harm Aurora.
‘But I thought she was merely an extra, hardly worth eliminating. She only appeared up to Chapter 10, after all.’
Aurora began offering excuses, her expression flustered.
“Evelyn is serving as a Priestess Attendant at a small rural temple now. How could she possibly pose a threat to Sincester?”
“But sacred relics don’t lie, Aurora.”
I cut her off sharply and exhaled a sigh.
Aurora fidgeted, her face bearing a rare expression of genuine remorse.
“Charlotte, I’m truly sorry you had to experience this right before your departure. And she’s my temple companion too… Of course, Evelyn has a jealous nature and has slandered, ostracized, and struck others many times. She’s sneaked off to clubs frequently because she enjoys men and gambling. She’s even stolen things and spent time in prison.
“Wait, hold on.”
But I never imagined she’d be a threat to Sincester.”
Still, her quality as a Saint is far too questionable. What on earth has the High Priest been doing, keeping Evelyn around?
Aurora spoke to me with firm resolve.
“Charlotte, I’m sorry. The moment we leave here, I’ll send the Moonlight Shadow immediately.”
The Moonlight Shadow were assassins of the Holy Temple who answered to Aurora’s command.
Surely they would abduct Evelyn within days and bring her before us.
I gazed once more at the Altar where the sacred relic rested. Nowhere within it could I find evidence pertaining to Leonard.
“I don’t see any trace of Leonard.”
“I was puzzled too. He seems obviously suspicious. What could his true intentions possibly be?”
The reason the sacred relic didn’t reveal Leonard was that, no matter how suspiciously he behaved, his ultimate goal was ultimately to aid Sincester.
“Aurora. First, tell the Pope about this matter tonight.”
In the end, I resolved to meet Leonard this very night.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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