Mad Rosetta - Chapter 86

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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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Mad Rosetta

Episode 86

Land That Never Gets Wet (2)

Stone and sand. And red brick.

Since the buildings I encountered on the way to the palace were built in such a style, I expected the atmosphere to be somewhat rough and stern.

However, as if mocking my thoughts, Terkikan Palace exuded a much more relaxed and prosperous atmosphere.

‘They said he was a scary person…’

My maternal grandfather’s appearance was unexpectedly different from what I had imagined – someone so terrifyingly intimidating that my knees would buckle.

The Audience Hall of the Palace was filled with all kinds of fragrances.

With dozens of servants and knights lined up, anyone who saw him sitting on the red stone platform would think the same.

Zahhar Basil.

The King of Terkikan.

‘…They didn’t mean he was scary in a frightening way, but that he looked scary?’

I knelt on one knee to pay my respects, but I didn’t want to raise my head.

Below his deep crimson hair, the same as Mother’s and mine, his swamp-like green eyes were wickedly vivid, making one forget his advanced age.

His incredibly large build, and the stubbornness and dignity of years visible along his deep wrinkles…

Nothing about him seemed easy, so I could understand at once why he had never stepped down from the throne.

Father’s murmur that I might cry upon meeting him now felt painfully relevant, which was resentful.

The King looked down at me for a long while, then slowly rose from his seat and descended the steps in front of the throne.

Behind his heavy footsteps, his shadow stretched long.

“The long journey must have been arduous. I will give you plenty of time to recover from travel fatigue later, so Princess, spend some time with me for now.”

“…Yes. I will follow His Majesty’s will.”

“Protocol officer, escort Youngsik.”

Unable to speak easily in the bleak atmosphere, I had no choice but to let Sing go first, watching him with a troubled expression.

Don’t they usually provide hospitality together?

As soon as he finished speaking, the King strode away with large steps, so I was about to move as well.

‘…A child.’

I noticed a lady and a child who had been standing by the throne the entire time.

Were they royalty?

Based on the lady’s age, she seemed to be about the same age as Father, so I thought she might be a sister of my deceased mother.

* * *

‘Oh, this is really good.’

The tea served in the King’s reception room was slightly astringent at first sip, but soon left a gentle sweet fragrance on the tip of my tongue.

I tried to savor the aroma to avoid his gaze, when the King, who had been staring at me intently, asked in a calm voice.

“Did the Royal Guard treat you well without any trouble on your way here?”

“Yes. Though there were difficulties since it was my first time traveling this route, I was able to adapt quickly thanks to the knights you sent.”

“…It’s not your first time. You came here once when you were young.”

…I did?

Since I had no memory of hearing this from Father, I looked at him questioningly, and the King replied indifferently.

“You came with your parents when you were not even two years old, so it’s understandable you don’t remember. Don’t worry about it.”

“Ah, yes…”

“That aside. You’re engaged to Youngsik who accompanied you?”

“Yes? Ah, that’s right. It’s a marriage arrangement that has continued since childhood.”

“…Tsk.”

Did he just click his tongue?

I don’t know what displeased him so much… With that scary face clicking his tongue, setting aside how much scarier it made him, I felt a surge of unpleasant emotions.

Since I heard he had treated Father coldly, I thought this was his way of trying to intimidate me as well.

“No matter how poor one’s judgment might be, how could you keep such a worthless thing by your side.”

“…Your Majesty. He is clearly my fiancé. Your words are somewhat-“

“Something wicked dwells within him. It would be beneficial to keep your distance.”

My heart felt like it was sinking.

‘…What? What does he know to say such things?’

I was so shocked that I could only clutch the hem of my dress.

Something wicked? Doesn’t it sound like he knows that Sing has entered Cessia’s body?

Was it because I wasn’t showing my displeasure anymore?

Or perhaps I had revealed my bewilderment too clearly.

My eyes met with the King who was arrogantly tilting his head toward me, and he soon asked with somewhat surprised eyes.

“…Did you know?”

What should I do? Should I hide it? Should I pretend not to know?

I spent a long time pondering.

That alone was as good as giving an answer, so when he furrowed his brow, the wrinkles deepened considerably.

“Even knowing, you keep such a thing by your side-“

“How did you know?”

“What?”

“I’m asking how you knew that Youngsik I brought with me was somehow different.”

I asked desperately.

Wasn’t this the first time?

No one other than me had ever noticed Sing, who still remained in this world.

No, perhaps even I hadn’t.

“…Tell me the circumstances.”

“…”

“Let me hear it and judge for myself.”

After hesitating for a long while, I finally spoke.

It was the story of the Former Emperor who died unjustly.

I excluded the parts about Sing sending me back to the past and the fact that I was the one who killed Cessia, as they didn’t seem necessary to mention.

After listening to the story for a while, the King raised his palm to stop me from speaking.

“I have something to ask Youngsik. That should be acceptable.”

He looked ready to shout at me immediately even if I said it was inconvenient, so I just nodded obediently.

How many minutes had passed? Once that guy with a blank expression was seated, the King asked in a stern voice.

“The Former Emperor you speak of… would be from Calastaan 8 years ago.”

“…Hm?”

Sorry, honey. I spilled a little.

Due to the guy slowly turning to look at me with a face hard as stone, I deliberately avoided his gaze.

“Since I heard the general circumstances from the Princess, I won’t ask deeply, but there’s one thing I want to confirm.”

“…What might that be.”

“Do you happen to know of Taran?”

An unexpected name.

However, Sing’s expression showed not even a hint of disturbance, as if he had expected this.

– 【They say she’s the goddess who guides those who died in that desert.】

Right, I had definitely heard about her from Sing before. I think he said she was a famous deity in Terkikan…

Since it was equally sudden from my perspective, when I looked at the King, he immediately took off a palm-sized necklace he was wearing around his neck and placed it on the table.

It was made of solid wood, and the teardrop-shaped ornament hanging from it looked mysteriously antique.

“This is a sacred object and treasure passed down through generations in our Royal Family… According to legend, it brings the breath of time and allows one to see all things with the eyes of a god.”

“…”

“And this sacred object only functions when Lady Taran is awake.”

The King continued his explanation in a calm tone, as if telling a classical tale.

The content was about how the Terkikan Royal Family had princesses blessed by Taran born over several generations, and the sacred object would manifest its power along with those princesses.

In short, it was a story that when the authority received from Taran was used or when the princess died, the goddess would fall asleep again, and the sacred object would also lose its supernatural abilities while awaiting future generations…

‘So what about it?’

Unable to even guess why he was expounding on classical folklore, I could only be bewildered.

“Tabena… The princess who was my daughter and the mother of Your Highness was one who inherited the divine power of Taran.”

I was a bit surprised that my mother’s name suddenly came up.

“But Tabena passed away several years ago. Yet it was quite strange that the sacred relic hadn’t lost its power until now.”

“…”

“Moreover, it showed me a soul parasitizing a dead body, just like you.”

…So what he’s saying is.

My mother was someone who received the blessing of the Terkikan god called Taran or something. And since such a mother had passed away, the sacred relic should have quieted down, but it hasn’t done so until now?

Certainly, without something like a sacred relic, it would have been difficult to know about Sing’s alien identity.

I was thinking that it did seem like a somewhat strange phenomenon when I heard this.

“Ah, seriously…”

“…”

“I really didn’t want to talk about it this way.”

An irritated voice was heard.

Even though the king of a nation was right in front of him, the guy looked at me with a somewhat troubled smile.

“Well, Duke, no… the late Princess Tabena passed Taran on to me.”

“…What did you just say.”

“His. Ma. jes. ty’s. daugh. ter.”

“…”

“Dumped the goddess on me.”

“…”

“And that too when I was still in my mother’s womb?”

It was a fucking smile I hadn’t seen in a very long time.

Setting aside my shocked feelings from hearing such an incredible story just now.

At the sight of Sing losing his temper with a smile as if he had endured a lot, I clasped my hands together demurely.

Meanwhile, the King’s expression was bewilderment itself. I thought he was someone who could make such an expression.

Sing said that because the divine power was passed on to him, he wandered the Underworld even after death, and that’s how he met me.

‘No wonder… It was strange that only he was fine when other ghosts are supposed to disappear within three days.’

…But wait.

Then sending me back to the past wasn’t some ability possible because Sing was originally an evil being…

Did he use the divine power of the goddess called Taran?

No, no. He said Taran sleeps when divine power is used, so then the sacred relic wouldn’t have worked to expose Sing’s identity either.

…It was the moment I finished that thought.

“So darling. Strictly speaking, you returned to the past before dying.”

“…Huh?”

“Normally I would have disappeared as soon as I saved you… but I really didn’t want to vanish then. So I made a pact with you.”

“…Huuuh?”

“To His Majesty the King, well, I have nothing to say. It seems it will take some time before Taran falls asleep. What will you do? Now that things have turned out this way.”

Still not thinking this was entirely his responsibility, the guy who subtly mentioned my mother who caused this mess still had a smiling face.

‘…Mother. What on earth did you do.’

That smile was truly threatening.

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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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