The Abandoned Prince’s Ghost Bride - Chapter 130

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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 Ghost Bride of the Forsaken Prince, Episode 130

Just as expected, Pedro—having endured every manner of insult—laughed while his neck flushed crimson.
“……Then before I depart, allow me to offer one final Prayer to Your Majesty. Your Majesty, if you would extend your hand.”
Even under the sharp gazes of Ruber and Serena, Pedro remained unmoved.
As Leopold moved to offer his hand without hesitation, Lucian stepped in between them.
“Is there truly a need to hold hands while offering a Prayer? Spare us the unnecessary contact and pray from where you stand.”
“……But contact allows for a more efficacious Prayer.”
‘A Black Mage offering Prayer—what a jest.’
Naturally, Lucian’s skepticism was unmoved. Sure enough, Habier behind them quietly shook his head.
It was a clear signal: that hand must not be grasped under any circumstance.
“Everyone is being far too protective. It’s just a Prayer—why all this caution?”
Yet an unexpected complication arose. Lucian had not anticipated that Leopold himself would take the priest’s side.
Before he could intervene, Leopold’s outstretched hand was caught by Pedro, and the Prayer began.
No matter how little Lucian liked the situation, he could not interrupt a Prayer in progress, and so his brow darkened.
After roughly a minute, the Prayer ended and Pedro opened his eyes with a markedly confused expression.
Lucian, who had expected some sort of treachery, narrowed his eyes at that incomprehensible look.
“Is that all?”
“Ah……! Yes, the Prayer is complete. May the grace of the Divine touch upon Your Majesty’s path.”
Pedro rose and departed with the priests. Just before they left, Lucian exchanged a brief glance with Habier.
-The Underground Tunnels have been examined. Besides the location we found before, there are no others connected to the Imperial Palace.
Habier sent the message to Lucian via Telepathic Communication, employing Black Magic. When Lucian nodded, Habier followed the priests out.
Soon after, Lucian turned to face Leopold.
“You were reckless just now.”
“Hmm?”
“He’s right—you shouldn’t have grasped his hand like that. Who knows what those wretches might have attempted?”
“Have you forgotten that it was the Temple who dragged you into this disaster?”
As reproaches poured from Lucian, Ruber, and Serena in turn, Leopold blinked. Then he waved his hand, dismissing their concerns.
“But if I hadn’t done so, they would surely have used Prayer as a pretext to visit again. Wouldn’t it be better to settle everything now and ensure they never return to this place?”
Everyone’s expression soured at his words, yet because there was merit to what he said, they fell silent.
“Still, please be careful. The New Faction is manageable, but the Old Faction contains many reckless individuals.”
“I understand. I’ll keep it in mind. I’ve made you worry too much, little brother.”
At Leopold’s cheerful smile, Lucian found himself unable to voice further complaints.
Watching the exchange, Ruber spoke.
“……Your bond is closer than I expected.”
Leopold and Lucian stiffened. Turning, they saw Ruber’s bitter expression.
“I worried you might be confused by suddenly having a younger brother, but I’m glad to see you getting along.”
Ruber and Serena did not know that Leopold and Lucian already knew each other. They believed the two had only begun interacting since Leopold’s awakening…….
‘Was I too careless?’
Perhaps it was the relief of no longer needing to suspect Leopold. Their vigilance had entirely dissolved.
As Lucian considered how to explain the situation, Leopold spoke first.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t shocked. But he’s not just anyone—he’s my Twins brother. I’m genuinely happy to have a brother. Haven’t I always said I wanted siblings?”
“You have.”
Serena smiled bitterly. By contrast, Leopold’s smile grew all the brighter.
“My brother looks up to me, and I find him endearing! Isn’t that right, Lucian?”
“……Of course, brother.”
Watching his brother’s steadfast support, Lucian could only smile gently.
As they turned to smile at each other, Ruber and Serena’s hearts stirred.
‘……Such affectionate children.’
‘What was it we feared so greatly……?’
If they had accepted Lucian as he was without regard for the pressures around them, raising him alongside Leopold—what might that have been?
Such meaningless imaginings, now far too late to matter.
On the verge of tears, Serena changed the subject.
“I’ve heard that Lirlis has been visiting frequently of late. Once the Succession is complete, what do you say to holding the wedding ceremony at once?”
Ruber and Lucian froze. The two exchanged glances while observing Serena’s expression.
Serena, oblivious to their peculiar atmosphere, continued.
“Lirlis has suffered considerable heartache over the years, you know. There was even an unseemly incident recently.”
Realizing she was speaking of matters related to Lia, Lucian’s brow tightened almost imperceptibly.
Serena, catching herself slandering Lia without intention, quickly cleared her throat.
“In any case, you said yourself you wouldn’t marry until after assuming the throne. Thirteen years have passed since the betrothal—wouldn’t it be time now?”
“Mother has a point. But I’d like to wait a bit longer.”
“Is there a reason?”
“Much has changed these past five years. With the Succession alone, things will be quite busy. Adding wedding preparations would leave hardly a moment’s rest. I’d prefer to take things at a measured pace.”
“True—you’ve only been awake for a month. There’s no harm in moving slowly.”
Even with Ruber’s endorsement, Serena realized her own haste.
“We’ll speak of this another time. But don’t keep her waiting too long. Lirlis has waited quite a long time for you, after all.”
“I shall do as you say.”
After further pleasant conversation, Ruber and Serena eventually took their leave.
Only once the door had closed did Lucian turn.
“That was unexpected.”
“What was?”
“I thought you’d say you’d marry Lirlis immediately.”
Leopold’s eyes widened, then he burst into laughter.
“I can barely manage my own affairs as it is—how could I marry now? I want marriage to happen when I’m truly ready. Besides, the Succession hasn’t even begun.”
Lucian felt a twinge of guilt. He had been delaying the Succession under the pretense that Leopold hadn’t fully recovered.
“When are you planning to begin the Succession anyway? Don’t tell me you…….”
At Leopold’s suspicious gaze, Lucian quietly swallowed hard.
“You do covet the throne after all!”
But the words that followed left Lucian deflated. Leopold went on, insisting Lucian defend himself—but his eyes held only teasing.
“If I’d wanted the throne, I’d have settled it long ago while you were unconscious. Stop talking nonsense and get some rest.”
“Then you truly have no interest in being Emperor?”
“None whatsoever. I’d rather hand it over to you and leave this dreary place as soon as possible. The Succession will happen soon, so don’t complain when it does.”
Though Leopold’s gaze remained suspicious, Lucian detected the playfulness beneath it and flicked his forehead.
“The priests may have done something odd during that Prayer just now, so tell me immediately if anything feels wrong. Understand?”
“Sure. Oh, can you call in my personal guard when you leave?”
“Your personal guard?”
“A knight who’s been with me since childhood. He doesn’t seem to be here, so I asked Father to assign him to me. His name is Jordi.”
All the knights stationed here had been vetted through either Ruber or Lucian, so it was possible Leopold’s guard was not among them.
‘Still, it’s strange. If he was a knight who guarded him since childhood, Father would have arranged to have him stationed here separately.’
Perhaps he’d been reassigned elsewhere?
Thinking thus, Lucian stepped outside and found Jordi. He was waiting just outside the door. Certainly an unfamiliar face.
“His Majesty requests your presence.”
“Very well.”
Lucian stepped into the corridor first, and then Jordi entered the chamber.
Just before the door closed, a tiny marking was barely visible on the back of his ear.
It was none other than the Möbius Symbol.

* * *

The High Priest and his band of Black Mages, having returned to the Temple, made their way deep within it—to a place only Black Mages could enter.
As Habier, the last to enter, carefully closed the door, a Bishop who had been waiting spoke to the High Priest, Pedro.
“Pedro, how did His Majesty seem to you?”
“The atmosphere was somewhat odd, but…….”
“The Ritual was successful, then?”
Just moments before, Pedro had planned to confirm Leopold’s Spirit under the guise of Prayer.
But when Pedro showed a reaction entirely at odds with his expectations, the Black Mages, unaware of the outcome, grew uncertain and anxious.
“……It seems the Ritual has failed.”
“Impossible!”
One Black Mage gasped, and the others could not hide their confusion. Though Habier displayed the same reaction outwardly, inwardly he exulted.
“Still, we cannot be certain, so we shall attempt verification once more. He would not depart so easily.”
“Is there nothing we can do?”
“I’m not certain…….”
The Black Mages shared their thoughts one by one, pondering how to resolve this predicament.
“But if he truly has vanished like this, what are we to do moving forward?”
Habier, observing the situation, finally spoke. As multiple gazes turned toward him, Habier tensed without meaning to.
“……We must find a way to survive. Our current position is precarious, is it not?”
“We weren’t trying to antagonize the Seventeenth Emperor.”
“If those New Faction dogs join hands to drive us out, we’ll have serious trouble.”
“If all else fails, we could always use Black Magic for Mind Control…….”
“Wait.”
Just as dangerous talk was about to commence, one of Pedro’s attendants cut the meeting short and turned toward Habier.
“You lot—you may leave now.”
The command was directed at Habier and the Bishops. Despite the trust he had earned, he was still not granted full access, and Habier swallowed his frustration.
Reluctantly, he and the other Bishops filed out.
“What will become of us now?”
“The High Priest must have his own designs.”
“How did I even become a Black Mage…….”
The Bishops trembled with anxiety, worrying over what fate awaited them. Habier quietly slipped away from their midst.
‘I must inform His Majesty of this at once.’
Thirteen long years of espionage work. Evading the Black Mages’ notice to contact Lucian or Sebastian was exceedingly easy.
Still, to sow confusion, Habier made his usual stops elsewhere, and after some thirty minutes of wandering, he met with his habitual contact.
That person was a New Faction priest.
Since several New Faction priests worked alongside Lucian and Sebastian, they knew Habier’s role as a Spy. The one before him was among them.
“Habier…….”
“I have urgent word for His Majesty.”
“…….”
Habier sensed something strange in the air. The priest’s face had stiffened subtly, and his hands trembled faintly.
As Habier cocked his head at the odd atmosphere, his eyes suddenly went wide.
“……You!”
“Forgive me—I’m so sorry, Habier. I’m truly sorry.”
The priest wept and apologized. Simultaneously, his eyes rolled back and his body began to convulse violently.
Habier gritted his teeth, shielded himself with Black Magic, and stumbled backward.
But it was already too late.
“So the rat was you all along.”
“I had placed my trust in you……yet you strike me down so treacherously.”
Behind the dying New Faction priest, a band of Black Mages appeared. Standing among the Bishops he had just been with, Pedro emanated an abyss of black Mana.
“Why did you betray us?”
“……It wasn’t betrayal. I was always on His Majesty Lucian’s side from the beginning. I wanted to expose your filthy truth to the people!”
“How bold. But how long do you suppose that will last?”
As Pedro snapped his fingers, the Black Mages surrounding Habier unleashed Black Magic.
A Magic Circle materialized on the ground in an instant, and black lightning tore into Habier.
“Gahhhhhhh!”
“Now then, shall we have a serious conversation? I’m quite curious how long you can endure.”
The Temple, as always, resounded with cheerful laughter, peaceful and serene.

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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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