The Abandoned Prince’s Ghost Bride - Chapter 122

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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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The Abandoned Prince’s Ghost Bride — Episode 122

The moment Kaiser’s feet touched the ground after teleporting, he discovered a cave pervaded by a biting cold.
“It’s been quite a while since I’ve been here.”
“……Is this Karserin’s Lair?”
“Yes. Since it’s been so long without an owner, the atmosphere is rather ominous.”
Age, who had been lost in thought in the frigid lair devoid of any warmth, turned his head.
“Looking at this, do you feel anything?”
Kaiser shook his head.
“Right, we’re still at the entrance. Let’s go deeper.”
Kaiser followed Age inside.
True to what one would expect from a dragon’s lair, there were chambers filled with gold and silver treasures, rooms stacked with precious artifacts, and even a library packed with magical tomes.
While Kaiser stood mesmerized by the sights, Age was intent on searching for the letter.
“I’m going to explore a bit further, so feel free to look around.”
After Age departed, Kaiser was left standing alone.
“……Huh, I’m getting tempted.”
Kaiser ran his tongue across his lips as he surveyed his surroundings.
To be honest, the lair aligned perfectly with his tastes. From the room’s arrangement to every single item inside, there wasn’t a thing that didn’t appeal to him.
“Since there’s no owner anyway, couldn’t I just ask for it? I’m my uncle’s reincarnation, after all.”
Mere minutes before he’d believed Karserin to be a different dragon entirely, but now that he saw the lair, greed bloomed in his chest.
“Wow! This is insane! This is here?!”
Upon spotting the equipment of an extinct master craftsman from ages past on display, Kaiser’s eyes lit up like a dragon spotting treasure.
While Kaiser was distracted by the objects, the Dragon Heart in his pocket began to pulse and react.
“I can’t leave this be. I need to ask Mom—no, Grandfather—if I can have this lair.”
Leaving such a magnificent lair to waste would be nothing short of a catastrophic loss.
-A greedy one, aren’t you.
“Greedy? Anyone would think the same seeing this! Honestly, Karserin’s been dead for ages! I’d take excellent care of it, so what’s the problem?”
-Tsk, tsk. Your thoughts are so transparent. Father will surely be delighted to hand it over to you.
“Ugh. Age, why do you keep picking fights—”
Kaiser turned around with an irritated huff, then froze, staring at the figure standing before him.
-To think my reincarnation is such a fool.
“……WAAAAAAH!”
Only after a long moment did Kaiser let out a shriek. The figure in front of him plugged his ears and clicked his tongue.
“You, you, you……!”
-Your voice carries just fine; lower it. My head’s ringing.
“But, but, how are you here! You’re dead!”
The figure before Kaiser was Karserin himself.
Kaiser’s uncle and the Red Dragon presumed to be his former incarnation.
The Karserin he’d seen in visions now stood tangibly before him.
But upon closer inspection, his form was quite translucent. Just as Lia had been when she was a spirit.
“……A spirit?”
-If I were a spirit, you’d never have been born. You’re my reincarnation, after all.
“Then what is this……?”
Karserin pointed at Kaiser. His finger directed toward Kaiser’s pocket, prompting him to reach inside.
Karserin’s Dragon Heart, which Age had entrusted to him, was glowing.
-I am a remnant of will dwelling within it. Think of it as the final intention left behind before death.
“Could it be that the vision I encountered in the Underground Chamber before was also……?”
-It was my final will to protect Aria.
Kaiser fell silent.
That a dragon who had sacrificed his own life for humanity three hundred years ago should still exist as a remnant of will even now—Kaiser found it almost impossible to believe.
-Without that Dragon Heart, I couldn’t have manifested like this.
Kaiser fondled Karserin’s Dragon Heart.
“Does it have something to do with me recovering those memories?”
-Not entirely. You are undoubtedly my soul’s reincarnation, after all.
The Dragon Heart that had shattered into pieces reformed into one whole when Lia and Kaiser collapsed in the Underground Chamber.
As the two recalled the past, the remnant of Karserin’s will dwelling in the Underground Chamber resonated in harmony.
“So it really is true that I’m your reincarnation. Damn it.”
-Foul language.
“Can you blame me? Because of you, I nearly killed Lucian!”
Karserin’s remnant of will.
Since it had been left behind when sealing Aria, it harbored profound hatred toward the first emperor.
And fifteen years ago, that hatred had taken root in Kaiser, and he showed his claws toward the young Lucian.
No matter that it was his former self—Kaiser harbored no intention of forgiving Karserin for that.
“I want to ask you something. Why did you seal Lia?”
-…….
“There had to have been another way to save her without sealing.”
-That was the best option at the time. Leon’s seal had already progressed considerably, and even if I’d spirited Lia away elsewhere, she never could have escaped his gaze for a lifetime. Besides, I had entered into a Soul Contract with that man; I couldn’t have resisted.
“……You’re foolish. That’s what happens when you make a Soul Contract with a mere human.”
-Since it was a mistake I made myself, I can’t make excuses.
His carefree laughter grated on Kaiser’s nerves.
-……But you’ll understand my heart someday. At the time I made the contract, I truly believed he was someone I could trust.
Karserin’s expression turned bitter. Not that he could blame him—the one who had lived through it must feel the wound far more keenly than Kaiser himself.
‘I just can’t believe this man is my past life.’
That wasn’t to say Karserin was foolish, though.
-Ah, my time is running out.
Karserin’s form began to dissolve. Kaiser, unprepared for his sudden disappearance, panicked.
“You’re just going to vanish like that?”
-No, I can appear one more time. But beyond that will be difficult. I am, after all, merely Karserin’s will.
That itself was only possible because the Dragon Heart existed. Had it not, his will would have gradually faded away in the Underground Chamber.
“……Karserin?”
Just then, Age, who had gone off to search for the letter, returned.
His hands went slack, and the letters he’d been holding scattered to the floor.
Seeing Age’s frozen expression, Karserin smiled slightly.
-Age, you’ve grown into quite the man. How is Luche doing?
“Karserin! How can you be……!”
-I’m sorry, but we don’t have much time. Help this one defeat Leon. Will you do that for me, Age?
Age’s lips trembled, and with an expression caught between tears, he reluctantly nodded.
Now Karserin’s form had become completely transparent.
“Wait! Before you disappear, answer me this one question!”
Karserin turned to look at Kaiser.
“Is it true that Leon has a twin brother named Odel?”
-…….
Karserin’s expression grew sorrowful. For some reason, looking at that face made Kaiser’s chest ache.
-Yes, Odel is Leon’s twin brother. And he was also the one who informed me that Aria was in danger.
“What? You mean Odel was alive back then?”
Kaiser hurried to ask another question, but Karserin’s lips had already vanished.
Before disappearing entirely, Karserin met Kaiser’s eyes with a look of profound significance, then crumbled into dust and faded from the world.
The Dragon Heart in Kaiser’s hand lost its light.
Age, who had been gazing blankly at the spot where Karserin had stood, turned to Kaiser and asked what had happened.
Kaiser spent the next five minutes explaining the extraordinary phenomenon that had unfolded.
“……A will.”
“Is this even possible in reality? Karserin died three hundred years ago.”
“Think of it as a kind of grievance. Karserin’s desire to protect Aria probably took on physical form, like an obsession. Or perhaps remnants of his presence lingered in this place and manifested…….”
‘Kaiser might have influenced it, too.’
Their souls were one and the same, after all. Age couldn’t dismiss the possibility that Kaiser’s presence had played a role.
Kaiser gazed at Karserin’s Dragon Heart for a moment, then tucked it into his pocket. He then examined the scattered letters Age had dropped.
Though he’d just confirmed Odel’s existence directly from Karserin, the man remained shrouded in mystery.
‘And Odel was the one who warned that Aria was in danger?’
What on earth had transpired between them?
Kaiser vowed to uncover the hidden secrets through these letters.

* * *

“Oh my, I can manage just fine.”
“You can’t even lift your arm properly. Stop that and open your mouth. Come on, say ‘ah.'”
Leopold groaned and reluctantly opened his mouth. Serena fed him like a mother bird feeding her chick.
Lia, who had come to check on Leopold’s condition, frowned as if witnessing something unseemly.
“……Such devoted care.”
Her sarcasm was short-lived; Lia hastily covered her mouth. Glancing to the side, she found Lucian standing expressionless.
‘Is Lucian all right?’
Watching Serena now, it was clear she was treating Leopold and Lucian differently.
Of course, even if they shared the same womb, there was affection born from having raised one, and Lucian had rejected contact before, so her distance was understandable.
Yet everything about how Serena addressed the two—her tone, voice, expression, manner of speech—was entirely different.
If even an outsider like herself could sense it, how much more would Lucian, the one directly affected, feel it?
Indignation toward Serena surged within her, and Lia squeezed Lucian’s hand firmly.
When Lucian felt the pressure on his left hand, he turned to look at Lia. Seeing her eyes blaze with anger, he smiled faintly.
In reassurance, he gently patted the hand holding his in return.
“Oh my, I’m quite full now.”
“Just one more bite. One more, hmm?”
“That’s enough. Overeating while your stomach is weak isn’t advisable.”
At Lucian and Lia’s appearance, Serena, whose entire attention had been fixed on Leopold, startled.
She then lowered the spoon she’d been holding, watching Lucian warily.
Leopold shot Lucian a grateful look the moment Serena wasn’t watching.
“I hear you’ve been here since this morning?”
“……My son was at death’s door and has just awakened. As his mother, isn’t it only natural?”
‘Who does she think she is, saying such things——!’
Lia surged forward in a burst of emotion, but Lucian swiftly caught her from behind and pulled her back, stepping closer to Serena.
“Devoted love is admirable, but please consider Leopold’s position. Surely he finds it awkward when his mother treats him like a child?”
“But……!”
“And Leopold needs rest. You’ll have plenty of time together ahead, so please reduce the time you spend here.”
Though Serena harbored discontent with Lucian’s words, she said nothing further. She merely glared at him slightly before turning back to Leopold.
“Leopold, tell me. Am I truly a burden to you?”
“Uh…….”
Leopold’s eyes darted back and forth between Serena and Lucian.
Lucian opened his mouth meaningfully toward Leopold.
‘If you don’t speak now, you’ll be trapped here.’
Leopold wholeheartedly agreed with that assessment and squeezed his eyes shut.
“……Honestly, yes, it is a burden.”
Serena staggered backward, struck as if by a blow.
“But I do understand that your concern for me comes from the heart. If you could just…… reduce the time you spend here.”
“……Very well. If that’s what you wish, I shall visit less often.”
Serena had no choice but to comply with Leopold’s words.
Lia remained dissatisfied even with the outcome. Serena hadn’t heeded Lucian’s advice, yet she’d immediately changed her attitude at Leopold’s words.

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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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