Translator: yun

I froze in place. Glancing at Rebecca, I noticed that she too had a similar expression on her faceas if she had not expected this to happen either.

I quickly controlled my expression. I then swept my hair back roughly before raising my head.

When and from where did you hear this news?

His Majesty had declared it this morning to all the high-ranked templars and officials.

In the novel I was familiar with, Castor had become the emperor after Julians coup. In fact, according to the novel, Castor had been the one to stop the coup. That was why no one had opposed his ascension to the throne.

Cause theyd die if they did.

When he ascended the throne, the Empire became one taken over by the tyranny of a dictator, the tyrant.

How did the emperor feel about Castors ascension? I had vague memories of it. It was either something I had forgotten or was never mentioned in the novel in the first place.

In fact, the present relationship between the emperor and Castor was strange. The emperor hated Castor. And Castor also hated the emperor. However, the emperor acknowledged Castors powers as the Heir of the Lord. It was evident from how he continued being the Crown Prince. Castor would also heed the commands of the emperor who was weaker than himself.

Its strange. Why did the emperor lose his powers?

He spent them controlling Castor. He had decided to use his son in order to prevent the end of the Age of Gods.

A long time ago, Auresia had spoken about the emperor who had tried to sacrifice his living son to the crystal.

The emperor had taken everything Castor loved. He then killed him to kickstart the curse. He had planned on sacrificing Castor after he had gotten stronger from repeating his lives to the crystal.

However, the emperor failed and with all his remaining strength, he managed to place Castor on the palm of his hands as a beast.

Castor couldnt die on his own or refuse the emperors orders till the emperor passed.

Because of the emperor, Castor had been cursed and repeated his deaths. But from some point, he managed to escape his repeated deaths.

Castor had become the embodiment of the Lord of the Gods.

The Power of the Lord was a power that grew as the number of deaths experienced increased. As a result, Castor had grown stronger than anyone else.

Castor, he is a monster born out of the Empires, the emperors greed and ambition.

However, the emperor was handing the throne over to the son he tried to sacrifice to the crystal.

Was he placing his son on the throne to keep him under his control since he couldnt kill him? It was strange.

Its probably because he had no idea where the sword that was Castor would point towards.

If Julian was to enter the picture, the relationship would only become more bizarre.

Julian Pollux Kaltanias.

Like the Crown Prince, the 2nd Prince was a powerful contender for the throne. He was a gentle and warm person who was much like King Solomon in that he willingly embraced everyone who approached.

Even in the novel was familiar with, he thought pleasantly of Castor who was his rival, and had felt sorry for Amor and taken care of him.

The emperor cherished the 2nd Prince. In fact, no one could understand why the emperor, who was so obsessed with the Power of the Lord in hopes of saving the Empire more than anybody else, would care so much about the son who was a non-templar.

The funniest thing about this was that Julian had betrayed him and started a coup.

But the affection he had showered him with was sincere.

Look there, despite being the mastermind behind the coup, he was only imprisoned in the northern tower. He might have been imprisoned, but he was still alive. Fleon had died for his sins.

It was a terribly twisted relationship.

The emperor had lost the son he cherished and turned the monster he created out of a son into the emperor. The one who had dreamed of peace had been imprisoned. Every other prince had died or gone missing. The reasons behind their disappearances were also unexplained. All that remained for this land was the worst ever tyrant who would destroy it in the future.

Soricks. When will the Succession Ceremony be held? Has it been decided?

Yes. It will be held

I slightly frowned at the date.

There isnt much time left till the ceremony.

It didnt feel rushed but it was soon. But it was going to be held sooner than this.

We had first planned on holding it a week from now.

A week? Isnt that too early?

Yes. The templars argued that itd be one of the biggest ceremonies held in the Empire so it has to at least go through some kind of preparation period.

Considering how there was opposition even under such a threatening atmosphere, it must have been a very important ceremony. Well, it was something decided by the emperor.

Its funny. My Coming-of-Age Ceremony keeps getting pushed back.

I pulled up the corners of my lips. Soricks nodded stiffly.

So, theyre planning on trapping me like this.

The emperor had been putting off my Coming-of-Age Ceremony using all sorts of excuses. Even his letters? They always came written with different plausible reasons for the delay but everyone knew that the real reason remained the same. Moreover, I knew how the emperor felt about me. He thought of me as a spare key he could sacrifice to the crystal at any time.

Not being publicly accepted as an adult has a lot of restrictions.

An Imperial member would only be acknowledged by the emperor after the Coming-of-Age Ceremony. Without this acknowledgement, I wasnt able to own private property, leave the palace without permission and would have to acquire permission from the emperor for all of my activities. In many ways, it would only prove inconvenient for me.

These restrictions on me were useless considering the chaotic times we were living in but to the remaining templars, there was a big difference as to whether or not the Imperial daughter had gone through her Coming-of-Age Ceremony.

Theyre not going to hear some kid out.

More importantly, the emperor would not marry me off. I would need to become an adult in order to get married and leave the palace. He would not have agreed with the conditions needed for my marriage. It was obvious.

What are you going to do, mistress?

Rebecca, who had become a skilled counsellor after becoming my lady-in-waiting, asked. Staring at her beautiful face, I tilted my head slowly.

Well, what should we do?

I thought of what I had been preparing.

This is not the time for me to make any big moves yet.

There was something I had prepared but this was not the time to reveal it. But I couldnt just stay and watch like this.

First, you would have to get more used to your powers, princess.

Soricks said seriously.

Threats against you have only been increasing.

Moreover, the number of people of Rome surveying my palace had increased.

Ah, it must be because of me.

Huh?

Instead of replying, I smiled.

It seems like the drug must be taking effect.

It was quite hilarious how they thought they could find Dane by keeping an eye on me. It would never work.

Well. Theres no need to be that worried. Its not something we can resolve immediately, is it?

After saying that, I tapped my chin.

You know. Are we very far from the North Tower? No, is it difficult to get there?

What?

Soricks replied.

In the novel, Rusbella had been imprisoned by Castor in the North Tower where she met a strange prince. That was where Julian, the 2nd Prince, who had failed his coup, was imprisoned.

At that point, Castor was already the emperor, wasnt he?

The kind and sympathetic female lead had felt sorry for the prince who had been locked up for so long and helped his escape. And alongside him, she escaped as well.

Like hell she was sympathetic.

No, she really might have been kind.

But Rusbella was not here now and Castor had yet to become emperor. No, Rusbella was not going to elope here with her lover in this reality either. But Julian was imprisoned.

There are very few people living around the North Tower. There are only the templars, maids and a few footmen who look after the convicts who stay there.

Really?

According to the novel, Julian had been trapped there for a long time. But here was where things got strange.

Ill be heading north.

Why did the emperor save both Castor and Julian?

Rebecca, I will be heading to the North Tower as soon as I can. Please help me get ready.

I folded my arms that had been resting against my armrest. I then smiled before saying.

I want to see the 2nd Prince at least once.

Princess, he is the mastermind behind the coup. You could be putting yourself in danger.

Thats why I have to travel there in secret.

Glancing at Soricks, I noticed him frowning as if he had found himself in a dilemma.

Most of the templars who had been following the 2nd Prince had been imprisoned, right? But theres still the ones who got off lightly.

Because imprisoning them all would cripple the political affairs of the Empire.

Will they choose to follow the emperor? Or the Crown Prince? Even if they choose to follow someone else, are they going to be sincere?

Do you plan on hearing something from the 2nd Prince?

Well. That too.

I smiled before knocking on my diary.

The prince I had been living in the Imperial Palace with for decades yet had not met once, would he have something for me once we met for the last time?

No, even if he doesnt have anything, it doesnt matter.

I could just make up a reason to meet him. And while thinking about it, I recalled the words I had forgotten from a long time ago.

Im sure Hernan was the one who said it.

Slowly, I was reminded of his pale face.

The Crown Prince does not kill in front of the 2nd Prince.

The soulful gaze felt so distant now.

I quickly shook my head. It wouldnt be a bad idea to go anyway.

Theres nothing I can do now.

It would be enough for me to find out the reason behind Hernans words.

Are you sure you want to go?

Soricks scratched the bottom of his chin. He looked worried.

Well get things ready.

Rebecca, who had been staring at me with mixed feelings, lowered her head.

You wont listen even if I try to stop you.

A few days later, on the day I was headed for the North Tower, Rebecca spoke as we walked down the hallway.

As I was wearing my mantle, I glanced at Rebecca. Before I awakened, I had to look up to see her face.

I knew you wouldnt listen, thats why I hadnt said anything.

Are you mad?

At my words, Rebecca glanced at me.

What do you mean by that? Getting angry here will only undermine me.

You make it sound like Im just going to mess around.

Id rather if you just mess around. But, mistress, what youre doing now is causing a scandal.

Her words pierced me, the one who had been hurt again and again.

A few days ago, you returned with a blue bruise on your neck. You never revealed who did that to you.

Theres nothing you can do even if you find out who did it.

The day Deros grabbed my neck, he left a blue bruise on my neck. Fortunately, the bruise had disappeared soon after. Because I had Amors medicine.

Before you get hurt, you should think about how not to first. Youre not actually a moron, are you? For how long must I continue nagging at you about common sense?

She continued indifferently. A banquet of words spouted from her lips.

Rebecca. Im too old for your nagging. Go back to how you were before.

Fleon, Dane and Lord Ray were gone. Because of that, it felt as if Rebeccas nagging had tripled. In a way, thanks to her nagging, I couldnt feel my loss.

Funnily enough.

I shook my head before stepping out.

After those three had left, Im just doing my part.