Chapter 192: The Voice’s World. (3) (2/2)

“Oh! It’s Professor Deculein!”

Leo pointed at me.

“…You’re here too?”

I glanced behind them. The half-blood, Carlos, was who I searched for. Leo spoke.

“Carlos isn’t here.”

“I can see that.”

In the first place, if Carlos were nearby, my blood would react first. At that time, Julie cut in.

“Professor, why are you looking for Carlos?”

“This Professor is trying to harm Carlos.”

Leo spoke calmly, though his voice wasn’t one of blame.

“What… Professor, is that true? Are you trying to hurt a child? Carlos isn’t even thirteen.”

“…Have you gotten close already? You’re quite friendly, huh?”

Julie’s expression grew cold at my sarcasm. Then, she glared at me like she was asking for an explanation. I nodded.

“That’s right. It’s better for the world if he dies. He’s worse than the Demon Blood.”

“…NO!”

Julie suddenly shouted.

“How low can you become?!”

The dams broke, and venom spilled from her.

“Not just Veron, Rockfell, and my knights! The dozens of Demon Blood that you buried alive-“

“Are you defending the Demon Blood?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Julie was gasping and panting.

“…Forget it.”

She clenched her teeth and shook her head, her anger fading as she gave up.

“Julie, you hate me, right?”

“Yes.”

An answer without even a little bit of hesitation.

“I hate you.”

…That was correct.

“I loathe you.”

It was a very welcome emotion. As expected, my heart hurt to hear it, though, because I loved this woman.

“…Good. But, I’ll give you a piece of advice.”

I looked at Julie. This much hate wasn’t good enough. If she were to get better, to survive, and become a full knight, she still had a long way to go.

“If you’re going to hate someone, hate them sincerely. Hate them enough to kill them.”

“…”

“Nothing will change if you remain indecisive. No, rather, you could die.”

Julie clenched her fist.

“Is that a threat?”

“It’s advice.”

Julie closed her mouth tightly, and my eyes moved elsewhere to a street stall that sold whole chicken. I went there and bought two for Epherene, meanwhile ignoring Julie’s murderous gaze.

“I’ll be going now. Someone is waiting for me.”

Just like that, I returned to the hotel.

[Room 303]

I opened the door.

Zzzz… zzzz…

Epherene was lying on the bed, sleeping, and drooling. But, when I put down the food, her nose twitched. With just one whiff, she woke up like she was bewitched and reached out for the chicken.

“…Professor, aren’t you going to eat?”

I shook my head.

“Go ahead and eat.”

“Well, you don’t eat cheap things like this….”

Epherene tore off the chicken legs.

Whiiiiiiing—

“Hurry up, Epherene. We’re going back to the North soon.”

“Oh, yes, yes…”

*****

…A night where the red moon scattered red fog through the sky. The heart of the Empire, the Imperial Palace, was filled with a strange moonlight.

Tik tok— tik tok—

The most private part of the Palace, the Emperor’s bedroom, where only the sound of the clock could be heard. Sophien slowly opened her eyes, shining bright red in the darkness.

“Hmm…”

When she, who had been to the Voice, breathed out.

Thud—

There was a presence nearby. Suddenly, the veins in her temple bulged.

“…You?”

Beyond the darkness, someone dared to enter a bedroom where no one was allowed. A man Sophien knew well was standing there. She was speechless at his boldness.

“Why you…”

“It has been a while, Your Majesty.”

“Don’t call me with that dirty mouth, Rohakan.”

An idle man completely different from Deculein, the Empress killer, Rohakan. Sophien sat down.

“Did you seriously come here looking for me? In the bedroom where the empress that you killed slept?”

Rohakan replied with a nod.

“I also didn’t want to come, but I recently heard rumors that you’re exchanging letters with Deculein. That is quite unusual. Your Majesty has shared a personal letter with someone. I thought it didn’t make sense… but it’s true.”

Sophien now stood up. Her almost infinite mana raged around her. Everyone in the Imperial Palace woke up, and knights were dispatched after becoming aware of the trespasser.

“Your Majesty.”

While enduring that enormous mana… Rohakan asked her.

“Don’t tell me; you have feelings for Deculein?”

Tak—

Sophien’s mana faded. She squinted at Rohakan.

“Why are you asking such a thing? No, did you break into this place just to ask that?”

“It’s not like that. It’s very important.”

His serious tone bothered Sophien.

“You, you’re such a fool.”

“Your Majesty, I can partially see the future.”

The future. It was a miracle to see the future, but Rohakan’s power grew clearer the shorter his life remaining was. He continued in a low voice.

“…Among them, I saw a fragmentary and a very important scene related to your future.”

“If you want to commit suicide, I will gladly-“

“In that future.”

Dadadadada—

The knights were coming closer. Sophien released her mana, reciting the rune language to tie up Rohakan. Now he couldn’t run away, but Rohakan continued to speak.

“You confessed your love to Deculein.”

“…?”

At that moment, time seemed to stop.