Chapter 194
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The nobles tensed, staring at the Emperor.
“…Do as the Empress wishes…”
His voice sounded as if he were partly in a trance as he spoke.
The nobles’ eyes widened as their voices rose in protest. Amid the uproar, Yeshion was still nestled in Adelio’s arms, and lifted his gaze.
Since realizing the Empress was the one who cursed him, Adelio had been unable to utter a word.
A surge of betrayal and despair. His face was a chaotic mix of a dozen different emotions. Yet, even amidst all that, the Empress remained as composed as ever.
“Your Highness…”
Yeshion reached up and gently caressed Adelio’s cheek, as if asking if he was okay.
The Empress, who had been watching them quietly, finally spoke.
“Priest Yeshion.”
“……”
“My heart nearly dropped, thanks to you. I never imagined you’d be able to suppress Adelio’s curse. But…”
She paused, fingering one of her earrings. As the gemstone embedded in it sparkled, Adelio’s arms tightened suddenly around Yeshion.
“Urk…!”
A soft whimper escaped him.
“If the curse cannot be lifted, that child will remain nothing more than my slave.”
Crunch.
With the whisper came a sharp, stinging pain in the neck.
“….Yeshion!”
As Eldis shouted, a knight restrained him. Now not only the Emperor, but even the knight’s eyes had grown dull, as if they were puppets being controlled.
“Haah…”
Yeshion clutched at his neck, blood pooling thickly through his fingers, while from Adelio’s lips came another animalistic growl.
Though the curse had been suppressed, despite his best efforts, Adelio was in a daze.
“Kill him, Adelio. Kill that wretched priest, and then… yes, kill the rest of them too. The only ones who need to remain here are me, you, and His Imperial Majesty.”
“..…”
“Shall we say… the cause of death was that the cursed Crown Prince lost his mind and killed everyone?”
The Empress’s crimson lips curved into a long smile.
“No…”
Yeshion, grasping at the wound on his neck, reached toward Adelio. He wrapped his arms around Adelio’s neck, holding him in place, gasping for breath.
“You can’t… do that…”
Desperately, with all hope that Adelio would regain his senses, Yeshion summoned his divine power. Suddenly, Eldis’s urgent cry.
“You mustn’t, Yeshion! If you use any more power in that state…!”
What did he mean? Why shouldn’t I?
At this rate, Adelio might kill someone against his will. Innocent people might die.
Yeshion wanted nothing but for the curse tormenting Adelio to subside.
And then, he felt it, that viscous energy from the Empress began to seep into his body. As if the curse that had burdened Adelio was now transferring to him.
‘No way…’
Was it possible that pouring divine power into him, not once but continuously, had been working? If so, wouldn’t Adelio’s curse be lifted if I poured just a little more divine power into it?
The moment that thought crossed his mind, Yeshion drew even more divine power.
“No, Yeshion. Stop!”
Eldis’s desperate voice echoed.
The terror in his eyes made it clear what he meant. That if Yeshion gave any more to Adelio, he might not survive.
“Ghk…!”
A dry cough burst out, and with it, a sudden gush of blood.
He didn’t know if it was from the bite or the strain of pouring in divine power, but his consciousness began to fade, little by little.
“Your Highness…”
Yeshion pulled Adelio into a tighter embrace, shutting his eyes.
If Adelio could be completely healed here, what would change?
‘So much would change.’
Everyone gathered here wouldn’t be wrongfully killed by the Empress’s scheme. Eldis and Adelio would live.
With only his own death, he could bring the Empress to justice.
“I’m not saving you because… you’re the Crown Prince…”
Yeshion recalled what Adelio had said three days ago. That if Yeshion was saving him because of his title, he wanted no part in being Crown Prince.
But no matter how he looked at it, if one of them had to die here and now, it had to be him, not Adelio. Only then could he stop the Empress’s tyranny.
He knew it would wound Eldis. And Adelio. And Rosaline.
Even so….
“I don’t want… any of you to die…”
