Chapter 272 Distress Call (1/2)

CHAPTER 272

DISTRESS CALL

Lino was currently standing at the edge of the Palace's grounds, looking over the city well down beneath. Brisk breeze caressed his cheeks, his slightly loose clothes fluttering on him. He directed his gaze into the horizon, where right about now the sun was supposed to be dawning on the world; yet, far and wide, there were only ashen clouds and occasional flicker of lighting.

There were too many things at the moment that were ripping apart his ability to think properly; according to Non, the Emperor had settled in a rather obscure village near the edge of the Holy Continent for a few weeks now, which either meant he was waiting for someone or that really was his plan on prolonging his existence. There was also the matter of Devils he had captured and were currently residing in his Dimensional Pouch and what to do with them; there was also the mission he and Hannah were supposed to be solving by now, tracking down the members of the Order of Eternity.

Then there were more personal issues looming over him -- Lucky, for starters, as he was still entirely blind to what he can do there. There was also Eggor who 'stealthily' shadowed him wherever he went, the matter of what Hannah's visit home would do to her, and his place in all of that. He'd made too many promises to too many people, and the tolls were beginning to catch up to him.

This was all without even thinking about the fact that he'd become the most wanted person in the entire world -- that, right now, there were probably tens of thousands of people crossing Continents searching for him. All of it seemed too much to unload and unpack, yet he seldom could relax; he hadn't took a sip of a drink for nearly three days simply because he couldn't afford to.

”... you look eerily handsome, gazing off into the distance like that.” a rather settled voice spoke out next to him; he briefly glanced sideways and saw that Princess Annabelle had joined him, wearing a rather decorated dress and so much jewelry she could almost replace the sun in the sky. ”The rugged, brave sort of soul, a forbidden romance for us Maidens.”

”... I'm honored.” Lino smiled faintly, putting his hands into his pockets. ”You look... effervescent.”

”Apparently it is easy to bedazzle the minds so long as you bedazzle the eyes,” she chuckled. ”And we still have quite a lot of bedazzling to do.”

”... 's that so...?”

”... I've figured it out, you know?”

”Figured what out?” Lino asked.

”Who you are.”

”Oh? Besides being the rugged, brave sort of soul, a forbidden romance for Maidens such as yourself?” both laughed for a moment before she replied.

”... you're the Descender,” she said. ”The one I met way-back-when.”

”... you seem to be handling that revelation well enough.” Lino said.

”With it, things make much more sense.” Annabelle chuckled faintly, taking a deep breath. ”Don't worry, your secret's safe with me.”

”... thanks.”

”... you have the same look my Father used to have,” she said after a few moments of silence. ”Right after it, he would lock himself up into his Chambers for months at the time. We never knew what he was doing... until, well, recently, when we had to do everything he did.”

”Everybody wants the Crown,” Lino said. ”Nobody wants the title's burden.”

”... are you alright?” she asked, concern flashing in her voice.

”... I will be,” Lino smiled widely, glancing at her. ”You know, you ought to bear a whole lot more hatred toward me. After all, I've pretty much sent your Father into exile.”

”... Father's a term rather loosely applied here,” she said, sighing, gazing off into distance herself. ”Besides, even if I were angry, you think I'd dare show it to a Descender?”

”... your Father's mistake was that he was too terrified of me,” Lino said. ”Had he not been, he might have even told me the truth. But, he feared I'd not only take it all away, but possibly execute him in the end.”

”... would you?” she asked.