For the heart - Chapter 77

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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 77

“You can grant me anything I want. Even if it costs you your life. Isn’t that right, Ran?”

It was that day when Empress Catalina and Desmorak spoke of the false oracle in the darkness, claiming that a saint had appeared.

The Empress had definitely called Desmorak ‘Ran.’

‘Could it be… that Randino is Desmorak’s other name, ‘Ran’?’

Nina bit her lower lip as she pulled together the pieces of what she knew.

“How long have you been in the Imperial Palace?”

“It’s been exactly 20 years this year. I came not long after the princesses were born.”

He had definitely said it had been 20 years since he entered the Imperial Palace.

The Randino in the records would have been there from 22 years ago, so the timing doesn’t match, but if Desmorak and he are the same person…

’22 years ago he was priest Randino, and after being expelled, he returned 2 years later under the name Desmorak. He could easily lie about the time.’

It was definitely Desmorak who had taken her heart.

Didn’t the thorn-covered chain-shaped scar left on the monster whose heart was torn out match perfectly with the scar left on her chest?

And that series of spells was definitely black magic.

Nina organized the information in her head once more.

‘The Randino in these records is Desmorak, and Desmorak was expelled from the Imperial Palace when Father discovered his black magic. Then 2 years later, he changed his name to Desmorak and returned to the Imperial Palace. Right at that moment, a fire broke out in the Empress’s Palace and Mother died, Father disappeared without a trace, and my heart, born with an immortal body, vanished.’

Nina clenched her fists tightly.

Desmorak was definitely involved in the secrets behind her mother’s death and her father’s disappearance that occurred that day.

* * *

Nina, who didn’t leave the library until late at night, walked looking at the ground.

Combining the chronology with what she knew, the date she needed to investigate was narrowed down to just one day.

‘The day I was born, when the fire broke out in the Empress’s Palace and they announced that the Former Emperor had passed away—that day is important.’

When she heard the story from her teacher Tark, Desmorak wasn’t part of the combination in her head.

But if he, who claimed to have entered the Imperial Palace after she and Lillien were born, was already in the Imperial Palace, and all those events happened simultaneously that day, then the story fits together.

What Catalina had wanted.

To put Rainer on the throne, she harmed the Former Emperor and his wife, tried to remove her heart to cast a spell but failed, and because she didn’t die due to her immortal body, disguised her as Rainer’s daughter.

‘They would have tried to announce an oracle changed to their liking. That’s why they executed everyone from the Grand Temple—the Grand Steward, the Saint, and the Priestly Order.’

Thus their remaining goal became hiding the truth of the oracle.

The oracle they had arbitrarily created functioned to deceive the entire empire for 20 years and steadily tighten Nina’s noose.

“Are you taking care of dinner while staying in the library?”

When her thoughts were deepening, only after hearing a low voice did Nina raise her head.

It was Casian.

The moment from last night when they shared a mind-numbing kiss flashed through her mind.

Nina’s steps toward Casian hesitated for no reason.

Casian approached her without hesitation.

Seeing Casian heading straight for her, Nina couldn’t approach any further and just stood there.

When she caught the subtle scent of cedar from him as he approached, the kiss they shared while she was practically in his arms came to mind again, making her cheeks burn.

But unlike Nina, Casian’s face was somewhat hardened.

As soon as they faced each other, he took Nina’s hand first.

“Ah, it’s fine though…”

Casian unwrapped the cloth wound around Nina’s fingertips and quietly examined the wound.

The cut that curved from the fingertip to the side was clearly visible.

Seeing his brow furrow deeply, Nina tried to slip her hand away.

But as if that was out of the question, Casian’s grip tightened.

“You should have come to me first. You spent the whole day in the library with a hand like this.”

“…Books are for reading with your eyes, so it doesn’t matter.”

“Does the librarian pull out all the books you want and turn the pages for you too?”

“This hand is perfectly fine.”

“Ha…”

Casian closed his eyes tightly and opened them like someone getting more irritated the more they talked.

It’s really nothing serious.

Yesterday when she asked Stella for healing, she acted annoying saying she doesn’t use healing power carelessly and that it’s difficult.

Casian treating this small wound like something major was strange, yet her heart fluttered again.

It was even more so since she had realized she liked Casian.

Soon Casian, who had relaxed his hardened expression, sighed and pressed his lips to Nina’s palm.

His breath tickled her palm.

After a moment, Casian raised his head and examined Nina’s fingertips. Then his expression hardened again.

“What’s wrong?”

At Nina’s question, Casian silently lowered his lips to Nina’s hand. Unlike before when he had closed his eyes gently, his eyes were wide open.

He raised his head again and examined Nina’s fingertips.

“…It’s all healed now.”

Nina thought she now understood why Casian’s face had been hardened.

‘It didn’t heal in one go.’

He was the one who had immediately healed her when her chest was pierced by Baraguz.

But seeing that even such a small wound didn’t heal at once…

“So it wasn’t because Pieruto’s healing power was weak after all.”

At the voice that flowed out calmly, Casian pulled her wrist and embraced her.

Casian had been waiting for Nina all evening after hearing the story that Pieruto brought to the Western Palace.

“My healing power seems terrible. The princess had a small wound on her hand, but I couldn’t even heal that.”

At the dejected child’s words, Casian felt as if all the blood was draining from his body.

And what immediately came to mind was the warning Anny had given to Nina.

He already knew that Nina’s healing wasn’t happening as quickly as it used to.

If Nina really couldn’t heal anymore and was losing her immortal abilities…

Nina, quietly held in Casian’s arms, weakly dropped her head against his chest.

“Seeing that your healing power doesn’t work properly either, it’s become certain. Just as Anny said, I’m definitely losing my immortal abilities.”

“…”

“It probably won’t happen now, but I should hope that situations where I might injure my body don’t arise.”

Nina took a deep breath and exhaled.

Fortunately, with continental unification achieved, there wouldn’t be occasions to rush into battlefields like before.

But if she were to get injured like on the battlefield, she wouldn’t die immediately, but since healing wouldn’t work properly, she’d have to endure more terrible pain than before.

The pain of past days came vividly to her senses – bones breaking all over her body, arrows piercing her eyes, spears penetrating her throat, holes punched in her abdomen with organs spilling out that she had to catch and hold with her hands.

To endure such pain without the Healer’s healing until natural recovery – if recovery would even happen at all.

“…Hah.”

A shallow laugh escaped from Nina.

Casian, who had been holding Nina, pulled back slightly and looked down at her quietly.

Nina, who couldn’t mistake the meaning in those eyes, lowered her gaze and spoke indifferently.

“A few days ago, I declared that I would defy the oracle. So maybe that’s why. I wonder if I’m being punished.”

“To His Majesty the Emperor?”

“Yes.”

“Oh my…”

To say she would defy the oracle in front of the Emperor. That was tantamount to declaring war on Rainer.

Casian pulled Nina into his arms tightly.

He had thought she would secretly search for the Former Emperor and his heart behind Emperor Rainer’s back.

She was applying her boldness from the battlefield exactly as it was now. Even though her opponent was the Emperor of the great empire Arsed.

Separate from his worry, his feelings toward her blazed even hotter as if oil had been poured on them.

He wanted to do anything she desired.

“Don’t worry. I’ll definitely find your heart for you.”

“Why would you find my heart for me?”

At Nina’s question, Casian separated her from his arms again.

Looking into her transparently blue eyes, he let out a light laugh.

“Why do you think I would do that?”

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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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