For the heart - Chapter 13

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 13

Meanwhile, Casian narrowed his eyes.

Why would the Empress be at Maryeonso at this hour…?

Over the years, while traveling from country to country under the pretense of studying abroad, he had countless near-death experiences from assassins.

They had been sent by Serena Montregger, who rose from imperial consort to the new Empress position after his mother, the former Empress, died.

His eyesight, several times superior to others, was an innate ability, but his sense for detecting killing intent and presence from humans had been honed through accumulated threats.

Though he had hidden himself after first noticing someone approaching through the darkness, the person who appeared was completely unexpected.

He could feel clear confusion and bewilderment from Nina, who stood with her back pressed against his chest.

Creak—

Shortly after, the outer iron gate of Maryeonso opened with a sound, and Desmorak emerged from inside.

His manner of looking around was exactly the same as Empress Catalina’s moments before.

‘Did the two of them arrange to meet?’

‘Mother came to Maryeonso to meet Desmorak at this hour?’

Both had similar thoughts as they watched the Empress and Desmorak.

Smack—!

At that moment, the Empress’s hand flew sharply toward Desmorak’s cheek.

He, who was at least two spans taller than her, silently bowed his head.

The Empress glaring at him was breathing so roughly that her heaving chest was clearly visible.

Soon, a suppressed voice filled with anger quietly echoed through the space.

“It’s already been ten days! We’re pouring money and manpower into finding that so-called saint, but since then, not a single person has properly seen her.”

“I apologize, Your Majesty. I will definitely find her by any means necessary.”

“How foolish of me to trust you. You properly dealt with the high priest and priests who were present during the last oracle, right? You said you killed them all! Then how did a saint appear after 20 years!”

Ten days ago, Duke Cedric Velan, Catalina’s brother, had entered the palace with a pale face.

“Your Majesty the Empress. Do you know who visited the duchy yesterday?”

“Did some beggar visit?”

“It’s not like that!”

Only then realizing that her brother looked anxious about something, Catalina straightened her body that had been reclining on the sofa.

Duke Velan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and swallowed before continuing.

“The saint who was killed 20 years ago, the one who delivered the last oracle. It was that saint!”

Crash.

The teacup that fell from Catalina’s hand as she was about to drink tea hit the floor with a sharp shattering sound.

“What, what do you mean, brother? How could a saint who died 20 years ago suddenly visit the duchy?!”

“How would I know? She told me that now was the time for everything to find its proper place, then disappeared.”

“That’s impossible. Are you sure it was really that saint? Maybe, maybe it was just some crazy woman.”

Duke Velan irritably threw the handkerchief he’d been using to wipe his forehead onto the table.

“Even 20 years ago, she was over sixty but looked like a young girl! She appeared exactly as she did then, so I couldn’t have been mistaken!”

“That, that’s impossible… At that time, they said everyone was definitely killed. I’ll look into it. There might have been some mistake.”

“What mistake! That idiot Randino didn’t do his job properly!”

Catalina thought this matter had to be resolved by her own hands no matter what.

If the Emperor found out that the saint who received the last oracle was alive, he would surely go mad with rage.

Twenty years ago, the Velan Duchy and the Emperor, who had dealt with the priests, saint, and clerics of the Ministerial Palace who had proclaimed the oracle, became bound in a very close and inseverable relationship.

The privileges the Velan Duchy gained from this were beyond counting.

Everyone in Arsed knew that the noble family with the most wealth and greatest power was the Velan Duchy, the Empress’s maternal family.

If things went wrong, the Emperor would try to deal with the Velan Duchy first.

Catalina knew that his wariness toward the Velan Duchy, which shared too many of his secrets, was deepening day by day.

No matter how much the Emperor loved her, if even the slightest scratch appeared on the authority he valued like his life, he was someone who would turn on them without hesitation.

Catalina calmed her rising excitement and spoke to Desmorak.

“Before His Majesty the Emperor finds out, we absolutely must find her first. Before that saint your brother mentioned goes somewhere and starts talking about the oracle, we need to find and eliminate her. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress. I’ve also commissioned the Information Guild of the Shadow District to find the saint. Of course, I didn’t mention that she was a saint. It’s a place renowned for discreet and accurate work, so we should find her soon.”

“Sigh… Ran.”

“Your Highness…”

The Empress, who called him ‘Ran,’ placed her hand on Desmorak’s cheek.

Then he called her ‘Your Highness.’ His voice was so sorrowful.

Gently caressing the cheek she had just struck, the Empress looked at Desmorak with tender eyes.

“You can grant me anything I want, can’t you? Even at the cost of your life. Isn’t that right, Ran?”

She whispered and caressed his collar with her fingertips.

Desmorak gently grasped that hand and smiled.

“Of course. You’re the one who gave me the name Randino, Your Highness.”

He whispered low as he kissed the back of the Empress’s hand.

“For my beloved Your Highness, I would do anything.”

Nina’s eyes, watching the two from hiding in the darkness, were shaking mercilessly.

After the oracle she received, all temples, high priests, saints, and clerics disappeared from Arsed.

‘I understood that while the former Emperor suddenly passed away and the throne was vacant, House of Demonth and the Ministerial Palace conspired to target Arsed’s imperial power but failed. That’s why I thought they were executed by beheading then.’

So it wasn’t an official execution, but Desmorak who dealt with them.

This was different from what she knew.

The fact that even the saint who suddenly appeared had to be dealt with without the Emperor’s knowledge meant there was something that must not be revealed.

Moreover, her mother was having an affair with the Emperor’s sorcerer.

Nina’s mind was in complete chaos from the successive shocks.

But unlike the shocked Nina, Casian’s eyes were full of interest.

From the moment the Empress appeared at this late hour without a single maid, he had expected it wouldn’t be an ordinary matter.

But to think she was in an adulterous relationship with Desmorak.

The corners of my mouth even lifted at the thought that someday this would become a useful card for me to play.

Nina watched them breathlessly, forgetting that she was being held in Casian’s arms.

“Ran, we need to hurry.”

“I will absolutely not disappoint you. Your Highness, please don’t worry about anything.”

“Just know that if the last oracle is revealed to be false, everything we’ve worked for over the past 20 years will be finished.”

Crack—!

Lightning flashed through the moonlit clouds, followed by thunder so loud it seemed to shake the Imperial Palace.

That flash pierced into Nina’s blue eyes.

Startled by the earth-splitting sound, Catalina raised her head and looked up at the sky.

Fear flooded her eyes as if heaven had discovered her sins.

Catalina coldly withdrew her hand and hurriedly ran back the way she came without looking back.

Desmorak, who had been watching her blankly, also turned his steps toward his own quarters rather than Maryeonso.

Even after they disappeared, Nina remained motionless for a while before slowly turning around.

Casian’s arm that had been wrapped around her waist slowly loosened.

“…You heard it too…”

Nina’s eyes, facing Casian as if to confirm she hadn’t misheard, were contorting with pain for the first time.

“The oracle I received… was false.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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