TOOCM 103

Chapter 103

They had encountered an unexpected threat. Reina spoke with a serious expression. “When I think about it, it seems the Emperor was able to scheme behind the scenes all because of the ancient magic books. I heard in the Imperial reports that there are quite a few magic books concerning ancient magic.”

In ancient times, people could use magic directly without magical artifacts. Highly developed magic made the continent prosperous but also corrupted it. Eventually, a massive disaster was caused when a sorcerer who abused forbidden black magic underwent monsterization.

It was truly a catastrophe. As the Gate to the Demon Realm opened, monsters poured out incessantly. Afterward, the world’s mana flow became distorted, making it impossible to use magic freely without magical artifacts. Even then, the aid of a Divine Stone was necessary.

The only powers that could still be used without a medium were the authority of Mernier’s Divine Beast and Crensia’s Aura. In fact, since the Divine Beast’s authority also had limitations, the only pure innate power was Crensia’s Aura.

Rika was the substance that enabled the use of magic, disregarding these principles.

Reina spoke with a worried face. “Will Jeffrey be okay?”

“I wonder. If he’s been exposed to Rika, the memory loss is somewhat understandable. It’s a power that gnaws away at a person.”

“I’m worried. I’m afraid something bad will happen to Jeffrey.”

Reina trembled and leaned against Kaiden’s shoulder. Before the regression, she hadn’t even met Jeffrey.

The Emperor might have intentionally hidden him, but he might also have died from Rika poisoning. His self-regeneration ability must have limits. Reina prayed that she hadn’t found him too late.

Then, Kaiden put his arm around her shoulder and kissed her on the forehead. “Don’t worry. I’ll search the whole continent to find a doctor who knows a lot about Rika poisoning.”

“Thank you.”

He gazed silently at her forced smile, then kissed her. Reina closed her eyes to the kiss, which was now completely natural between them. The lips that lightly held hers before falling away were warm and soft.

“Shall we go to sleep now?”

Reina’s heart fluttered at his tenderly whispered voice. Nights spent with him always filled her with profound emotion.

When she nodded lightly, he embraced her and lay her down on the bed. After truly becoming a married couple, they grew closer at an astonishing speed. They made passionate love every night, whispering words of affection. And as if that wasn’t enough, they never let go of each other from their embrace.

Kaiden quietly looked at Reina, who had fallen asleep after their long lovemaking. He gently stroked her fair, smooth cheek. She whined softly and burrowed into his embrace, and he found her adorable.

He stroked Reina, who was nestled in his arms, and fell into thought.

For some time now, he had been having strange dreams. In fragmented, connected dreams, he lost loved ones due to the Emperor, and was driven into a corner, even resorting to using forbidden power to stage a rebellion.

And for the first time, Reina appeared in his dream today. A gaunt body sitting alone in a deep basement. Her hollow eyes and detached face, as if she were waiting for death.

The moment he saw Reina, he knew instantly. The person who had been blocking his path was not the Emperor, but her.

The dream ended there.

Kaiden instinctively believed that this was no futile dream. Some things in the dreams had almost happened, and others hadn’t. These changes mostly occurred after Reina came to him.

And in the dream, there was another familiar person besides Reina.

‘Isadal, that man is hiding something.’

It was fortunate that Isadal was scheduled to visit Mernier for training soon.

Kaiden’s expression, bathed in moonlight, was chilling, devoid of any warmth.

* * *

Isabelle’s Princess Palace was in an uproar.

“Aaargh! Is this even possible?”

Isabelle threw a pillow and raged for a long time. This was because she had only belatedly found out that Reina and Kaiden were included in the guest list for the upcoming banquet. Isabelle couldn’t contain her resentment at what was clearly preferential treatment for Reina.

This cannot be.

Isabelle growled, her eyes bloodshot. “Even if I generously concede that inviting Reina to the banquet is acceptable, inviting Duke Crensia to the banquet as well?! A non-direct Royal has never been invited before!”

“Princess, please calm down! You’ll harm yourself.”

“How can I calm down?! I’m getting married soon too! Eric will also soon be a Mernier…! And yet, they didn’t say anything to me!”

Clang!

She finally swept everything off the table, and glass shards pierced the back of her hand, drawing blood.

“Ugh.”

“Aah, Princess!”

A maid rushed over to remove the shards and stop the bleeding. The cut was deep, and the blood wouldn’t stop. However, the pain in her hand was nothing compared to the resentment of being overshadowed by Reina, which consumed her entire mind.

“I hate everything. What is it that I lack compared to Reina, exactly?”

She cried bitterly, muttering ominously. The maid flinched and backed away.

“Princess…”

“Just you wait. I will absolutely reclaim the place that witch stole from me!”

Isabelle’s eyes flashed more maliciously than ever. Then, her gaze fell upon the flowers in the garden.

“Ah, there was that.”

At that moment, Isabelle, who had been panting, calmed down. The quick-witted maid softly asked, “Shall I pick some flowers for you?”

“Yes. I’m going to give them as a gift, so wrap them as carefully as possible.”

Isabelle smiled brightly, as if she hadn’t been crying moments before. The maid was terrified by this disconnect but accepted the order without showing it.

“Yes, I will prepare them right away.”

* * *

The day of the banquet.

The carriage sent directly by the Emperor arrived at the Crensia mansion. It was a golden carriage, engraved with the Imperial family’s symbol in gold.

Kaiden looked disgusted by its splendid display. He whispered softly to Reina, “Reina, the Emperor must be properly insane. He used to treat us with disdain, but now this.”

“Pft. I know. He went to quite a lot of effort.” Reina answered, suppressing her laughter.

As Kaiden said, the Emperor was treating them with the highest honor. Of course, she didn’t believe the Emperor’s favor would last. He was a man who would ruthlessly cut ties if he thought it was no longer to his advantage.

The golden carriage carrying Reina and Kaiden headed toward the Imperial Palace.

The Imperial Palace was at the center of the Imperial capital, but entry was difficult for anyone not authorized. Separate palaces were located east, west, north, and south of the main Imperial Palace, and Reina had stayed in the western Princess Palace before her marriage.

“It’s been a long time.” Reina murmured sentimentally as she saw the carriage pass the western Princess Palace. “I never thought I would come back here.”

Then, Reina looked at Kaiden and grinned. “I ended up coming back here on my own two feet.”

“How does it feel to be back?”

“It’s surprising how unaffected I am. I think I must have adopted your optimistic nature.”

“They say that people in love start to resemble each other.” Kaiden smirked and kissed the back of Reina’s hand. “So, try a little harder. You still have a long way to go to become like me.”

“What did you say?”

Reina frowned, then burst into a soft laugh. She knew he was intentionally making a teasing joke to ease her tension.

A moment later, the carriage stopped in front of the Imperial Palace.

The Chamberlain greeted them. “Welcome. We have been waiting.”

Reina, escorted by Kaiden, silently gazed at the Imperial Palace. The first time she was invited to a banquet, she felt overwhelmed by the enormous palace. She was so worried about being trapped that she hadn’t properly observed it.

Now that she was back, she wondered why she had been so afraid.

Just then, Kaiden murmured softly, “It’s not as much as I expected. I thought the Imperial Palace would be more imposing.”