That Piece Of Trash Was Me - Chapter 297

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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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Special Side Story 4
As the heir to the Imperial Throne scheduled for coronation, understanding came to him in an instant. This island was surely one of many private estates passed down through generations of Briyang Emperors.
The Altar, judging by its age, had clearly been constructed for a specific purpose—to be used only when something needed to be specially preserved.
Did the Emperor of Briyang who first prepared such magic ever imagine? That one day, an Emperor would ascend the throne and commit this madness to destroy his own biological child?
“Stay close to me. Tulia.”
Tulia pressed herself against him at once. As he felt her warmth, laughter bubbled up despite everything. Now he truly understood why her name came from the tulip—the flower that bridges earth and sky.
Ferdinand moved to the Altar in a heartbeat and scraped his palm open. The blood of the Direct Imperial Bloodline fell in droplets, reacting to the magic and beginning to writhe.
‘He’s bleeding too much, isn’t he?’
It was then that Tulia’s face went pale.
“Get down!”
Tulia felt Ferdinand wrap his arms around her head and pull her close to the ground.
She felt it. In an instant. Tulia instinctively knew that this magic circle contained a Curse.
It was like the sensation of smelling earth rise before heavy rain, that gut feeling that warns of the coming downpour.
‘Is he insane?’
Tulia screamed silently in her mind.
‘To do this just to trap his own son?’
Curses usually work on those who make contact with them. The blood that had just been consumed was Ferdinand’s, so it was certainly a Curse meant to take Ferdinand’s life.
“Ferdinand!”
Tulia turned to him reflexively. Her eyes widened in shock.
Black smoke was rising from Ferdinand’s feet, coiling around him like a viper. The smoke climbing upward seemed capable of suffocating anyone it touched.
Even Ferdinand, who had keener instincts about death than most, clenched his teeth.
On one hand, he had to admit his father’s calculation was brilliant. He had known Ferdinand would bleed, and had layered a Curse that would trigger only once but from which there was no escape.
He didn’t think his father was excessively cruel.
He merely thought it… fitting.
The Imperial Palace had been merciless since the beginning of time.
The Imperial Family was a place where one would devour their own children for power, strip them of honor, and even kill their own parents for prestige.
And Alessandro, his father, was a man who had deliberately turned a blind eye even as a child Ferdinand suffered unspeakable abuse.
He was more than capable of such cruelty.
Ferdinand shoved Tulia away and chose to fall to the ground, allowing the rising Curse to embrace his body completely.
Just before the Curse burrowed deep into his skin.
“Kim Ddongbyeol!”
A shout that rang through the cave accompanied a cold, clear “bomb” hurled toward Ferdinand.
His Dynamic Vision was exceptional enough that he could see vividly exactly how the situation unfolded in that brief moment.
First, Tulia saw him falling and went pale as ash.
Next, she summoned the “Star” she wore on her head whenever she was bored.
Then she threw it at him.
Then an ice-valley chill spread outward, and the “Curse” was suddenly overwhelmed.
Ferdinand seized the moment of freedom and swung his Sword.
Whoosh!
The magic shattered with a burning sound and writhed.
Crack.
Ferdinand stomped on the corpse of the magic until it was gone, then drew a ragged breath.
Rarely, he stood motionless, replaying the dreamlike events over and over in his mind.
“Ferdinand!”
Tulia, scrambling down the low Cliff, rushed toward Ferdinand.
“Are you all right? Are you hurt? Can you see my eyes?”
“I see them. I’m not hurt. I’m fine. Just now……”
“That’s my Star. Didn’t you see it before?”
“…Thanks to it, I lived.”
“Thank goodness.”
Tulia let out a sigh of relief and grasped Ferdinand’s wrist.
“Let’s go back up. Don’t stay here……. Are you hurt?”
As Ferdinand let out a low groan, Tulia startled. Before he could protest, she rolled up his sleeve and fell silent.
“……”
Ferdinand’s arm was covered entirely with massive bruises.
It was where Tulia had struck with the full force of summoning Kim Ddongbyeol.
“Well. It’s not that I’m so strong; the Star is just a magnificent being……”
As Tulia averted her gaze, Ferdinand finally laughed aloud.
* * *
Ferdinand couldn’t use his arm for four days straight.
They said it was fractured.
“……”
Tulia, inwardly pained, glared at Kim Ddongbyeol, but there was no real way to resolve it.
Besides, when you thought about it, it was also true that Kim Ddongbyeol had broken the Curse magic.
“You’re alive—that’s what matters. If it weren’t for you, I’d be dead.”
“……”
Tulia walked with Ferdinand across the Deck, gazing out at the distant Ocean.
“It’s all better now. Tulia.”
“You’ve been saying that since four days ago, but you’re not a Doctor.”
“My Divine Power just surged for a moment—I’m not actually injured.”
“Are you a Doctor?”
“I know my own body better than anyone else.”
“Your bone is fractured.”
Ferdinand absently ran his hand over his arm.
“I’ve always had high Recovery Power. There’s a lot of Divine Power in my body.”
He smiled.
“Come to think of it, I’m probably the only one ever to have a bone broken by Divine Power.”
“……”
“I don’t think anyone ever will be again.”
“……”
“At this rate, don’t you think I’ll make it into the history books? Tulia?”
Ferdinand grew flustered when Tulia suddenly turned her head away and moved closer.
“Tulia? Are you angry? I was joking.”
Tulia spoke while ignoring Ferdinand.
“How could someone so insignificant as I be angry with Your Highness? I’m too ashamed to even look at you.”
“Tulia.”
“I can’t speak with someone who will be recorded in history.”
“Tulia. Look at me.”
Ferdinand was at a loss.
Originally, he had sustained far worse injuries on the Battlefield, so truly this small Abrasion meant nothing to him.
But the problem was that Tulia had taken to waking in the morning and checking on his condition first thing, which had made him overly cautious.
Eventually, after spending considerable time comforting her, he let out a sigh of relief.
* * *
For Tulia’s sake, who loved Ships, Ferdinand deliberately chose the longer Sea Route on the way back.
So unlike the journey there, they could stay on the luxury cruise ship for nearly a week.
Tulia ate delicious seafood dishes in abundance every single day.
And finally, the last night.
As the sun set in twilight, Tulia was lost in admiration.
‘This really is a luxurious cruise vacation.’
There’s even a party being prepared!
This place was different from the rigid, suffocating High Society of the Imperial Capital. Whether a Lady entered whenever she wished or received an Escort from anyone, the atmosphere was far more free.
Tulia’s eyes sparkled as she saw the dresses the Cruise Ship’s Designers had brought.
“Why are there so many dresses on a cruise ship?”
“My, this is something we must naturally stock, of course. Please do examine them, Lady. These dresses are all the latest creations from the Baektul Salon—that prestigious Salon of the Briyang Empire.”
Tulia nodded and examined the dresses.
Truth be told, she had been amazed when she first saw the pieces the Designers brought.
‘These really are the latest colors from the Baektul Salon.’
As Tulia examined the dresses carefully with greed gleaming in her eyes, the Designers’ hearts raced.
On this cruise ship with astronomically priced tickets, this young couple had booked the finest cabin.
Moreover, the incredibly handsome Young Lord seemed completely distracted by his wife, utterly enchanted. If this young Lady took a liking to something, it was clear he would buy the entire ship for her.
The Designers prayed silently. Please let this young Noble Lady choose the most expensive dress!
“How about this red dress? The color is so vivid, as if rose petals were dyed by hand. Velvet makes it wonderfully warm, perfect for an evening party. Of course, our Banquet Hall is quite warm anyway……”
“Or perhaps this more brilliant emerald? It would make this young Lady’s eyes shine even brighter. A color like this commands a very high price even at the Baektul Salon.”
Tulia felt as though she’d worn a rainbow. Changing clothes was usually tiresome, but seeing Baektul Salon dyes in this unfamiliar place made her tireless with fascination.
Besides, it was gratifying that the Designers all brought expensive dresses.
‘Right. They’re upselling.’
They’re supposed to dress all the other Guests in expensive dresses too.
“Huh?”
Tulia’s eyes widened as she was happily selecting a dress a moment later.

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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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