Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 169

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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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Chapter 169
The Fairy Tale Book written in the Ancient Language appeared worthless except for its age.
Yet the episode depicted within it bore a striking resemblance to the present situation.
To summarize the contents:
A petulant, ill-mannered prince of a small kingdom tormented a virtuous fairy and received punishment for it.
He contracted an incurable disease that no method could cure.
The king and queen, desperate to heal their beloved son, offered a great reward and searched for someone who could treat the prince’s affliction.
After countless failures, a young sorceress dressed in shabby clothes finally succeeded in curing the prince.
‘In the Ancient Imperial era, the concept of fictional fairy tales didn’t exist.’
I became convinced that this book was almost certainly written based on true events.
‘It’s worth attempting.’
I clutched the worn Fairy Tale Book as though it were a treasure.
* * *
When the carefully prepared forces failed to achieve the anticipated results, the enemy boldly revealed their true identity.
“A union of the Temple and the Western Region.”
Edwin, upon receiving the report, smiled coldly.
Since learning of the Cardinal’s covert contact with Duke Camelot, it was exactly as he’d anticipated—hardly surprising at all.
The only truly new information was that the private soldiers of the Western Nobility were gathering in secret.
The Temple and the Western Region seemed to regard this as their final opportunity.
Those who had been thrashing beneath the surface were now attempting to break through to the top.
“Mobilize the Imperial Army.”
Edwin’s tone, wholly untroubled by the prospect of defeat, was quite ordinary.
But what followed was not.
“I’m inclined to believe this mysterious illness is also their handiwork.”
Edwin spoke bitterly, recalling his father—the Former Crown Prince—who had departed this life in agony.
At the thought of the Former Crown Prince and his consort, who had shown such warmth even to his son’s friends, Kyle’s expression darkened as well.
“The one who brought on the illness is almost certainly from the Temple’s side, I suspect.”
Yet Edwin quickly shook off the somber mood.
“All the better. Once we tear into the Temple, we’ll uncover either a cure or evidence—or both.”
Edwin twisted his lips into a smile, speaking with genuine delight.
“Kyle, I’ve always regretted ending the Former Emperor so easily.”
The twenty-three-year-old Edwin knew far more than the fifteen-year-old he once was.
For instance, how to inflict extreme suffering while keeping someone alive.
Edwin felt a grim satisfaction knowing there remained enemies yet to avenge.
* * *
The High Priest glared at the newspaper carrying rumors of the Emperor’s romantic entanglement, then crumpled it.
All his meticulously prepared plans had unfolded contrary to his designs.
‘Where did things go wrong?’
The High Priest suppressed the rising fury and analyzed the cause of failure.
Yet nothing concrete came to mind.
It was inevitable that the Empire’s people would find greater interest in the young, handsome Emperor’s first paramour than in blemishes upon the Saint.
‘These foolish subjects—toss them entertainment, and they’ll flock to it.’
He could only sense that fortune was favoring the boy Emperor.
‘Does the Divine truly abandon me thus?’
Resentment flickered across the High Priest’s weathered eyes.
Yet he had not clawed his way to this position easily.
It mattered not if the Divine withheld its aid.
For now he would twist the Divine’s will to serve his own.
The High Priest waited for public interest in the Emperor’s romantic rumors to wane.
Then, at the opportune moment, he announced that a Divine Oracle from the Minos God had descended.
Phrased in language simple enough for the ignorant to comprehend, the Oracle’s message was straightforward.
‘By the Divine’s favor, we shall punish the Saint who has been tainted by worldly values and establish anew.’
Though the Oracle was fabricated, public reaction was fierce.
The Temple deftly inflamed public opinion, claiming that the reason those close to the Saint were contracting incurable diseases was Divine Punishment directed at her.
Simultaneously, they produced patients they had secreted away beforehand.
And using the families of patients under the Emperor’s protection, they spread rumors that the Emperor and the Saint were confining the patients to conceal this matter.
Once eclipsed by rumors of the Emperor’s romance, the far more sensational scandal finally drew the people’s attention toward the incurable disease.
‘Humans despise seeing others prosper; they’ll not pass up this chance to bring down the Saint.’
The preparation of a replacement was also complete.
The High Priest smiled.
* * *
Rumors began circulating that the misfortunes befalling Ibeta were Divine Punishment.
The source was the Temple’s so-called Divine Oracle—an absurd proclamation that defied logic.
The Temple had very likely been the one to spread this disease in the first place.
That the Temple would now weaponize it against Ibeta made my vision blur with fury.
Priests who had committed countless atrocities throughout their lives escaped divine retribution even when accused of defiling the Divine’s will.
Yet the Minos God would allegedly punish the Saint, whom He favored so greatly as to announce her awakening with fanfare? It made no sense whatsoever.
The problem was that the Temple’s assault was proving disturbingly effective.
The power of the Oracle was that formidable.
Even though it was clearly a fabrication.
The Temple paraded forth patients who had received no treatment whatsoever and whose condition had progressed further than Coni’s.
When the people witnessed priests pouring forth Holy Power and administering Holy Water, yet seeing no improvement whatsoever, they recoiled in horror.
The Temple shrieked that this was punishment from a Divine being enraged at Ibeta’s indulgence in worldly pleasures.
Their argument was that because of Ibeta’s debauchery, the Divine had sent a disease even powerful Holy Power and medicine could not touch, and thus the Saint and the Emperor who condoned her excess must bear responsibility.
Whispers spread that this trial was the Minos God’s final opportunity for forgiveness; should they fail to earn pardon this time, an outraged Minos God might withdraw all Holy Power.
Both the nobility with the means to afford Temple treatment and the destitute unable to pay plunged into chaos.
Such was the weight Holy Power held in treating the Empire’s diseases and injuries.
Ed issued a formal proclamation dismissing the Temple’s nonsensical claims.
If the Minos God were angered by Ibeta’s indulgence, He need only strip her of Holy Power—why sacrifice the innocent? The logic was self-evident.
But people already seized by fear could not judge rationally.
Anxiety began eating away at the Empire bit by bit.
Within the Imperial Palace, every available resource was marshaled to investigate either the Temple’s connection to the incurable disease or to discover a cure.
I found myself lost in contemplation of how that young sorceress in the fairy tale had healed the prince’s affliction.
“Healing Magic?”
Though less potent than Holy Power specialized in Healing, Healing Magic was nonetheless a sufficiently effective approach.
Yet the Former Crown Prince’s medical records contained instances where even the Grand Sorcerer of the Magic Tower had been summoned to apply Healing Magic.
‘That doesn’t seem to be it.’
I decided to return to basics and think simply.
‘Ibeta’s Healing doesn’t fail to work entirely.’
In fact, those whom Ibeta treated with Holy Power daily showed far slower disease progression compared to the Former Crown Prince’s medical records or the patients the Temple kept.
‘It’s more that she’s replenishing their stamina to endure, rather than treating the disease’s root cause.’
Based on what I’d observed dozens of times while tending to Coni.
Holy Power wasn’t entirely ineffective against those afflicted.
‘Then perhaps…’
An idea struck me like divine revelation.
I hurried toward Ibeta, the person most likely to know the answer to this puzzle.
“Ibeta!”
Ibeta happened to be in Coni’s room, applying Holy Power to her.
She seemed to hear me call, but answered only after exhausting her Holy Power to its limit.
“Yes, Lina?”
Her expression was weary, yet given the stream of condemnation from the Temple and the people, it could fairly be called composed.
I asked her, desperately hoping my theory would prove correct.
“Ibeta, what if someone used Healing while wearing, say, a Strength Enhancement Artifact—something unrelated to illness or injury? What would happen?”
Ibeta paused briefly to consider, then spoke.
“I’d imagine nothing would occur. Though if the muscles were damaged from overusing the Strength Enhancement Artifact, that could be healed.”
My hypothesis had been correct.
“Thank you, Ibeta.”
I threw my arms around her.
Hope for curing Coni lay right before me.

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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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