Chapter 254: The Three-Way Battle |
Shaela slightly raised her hand.
“It’s fine if you go first,” Carson said, willingly conceding.
“I personally think it’s a good idea. I’ve experienced firsthand how powerful warlocks can be. If Hamel hadn’t helped me, I would have lost all my magical senses.”
Lucion’s hand trembled slightly as he held his teacup.
“As you know, Father, warlocks possess an ability known as the ‘invisible eye.’”
T/N: Just a reminder—the ‘invisible eye’ refers to ghosts.
Carson briefly glanced at Lucion before continuing.
“If the enemy has a warlock, they can use this ability to observe us freely. However, if we have a warlock on our side, we can counter that, right?”
“Exactly,” Novio replied.
During his time at the Magic Tower, Carson had once accompanied Heint to confirm the arrival of some warlocks.
As he had reported to Novio, they were just ordinary people. In fact, they were quite naive, timid, and unfamiliar with the world.
“After learning the truth about Nevast from a high-ranking priest yesterday, I no longer see them as forces of light or darkness—just people. The warlocks in the Ale organization are not a threat. They will be an asset to us.”
[Exactly. If they weren’t so innocent, I might be worried, but they have good hearts,] Russell agreed with a nod.
Those blessed by darkness had been cleansing the Sea of Death, working diligently to remove the stigma they carried.
“They actually purified the Sea of Death—something even the priests couldn’t accomplish,” Carson added, still in disbelief over what he had witnessed.
They had seemed like true agents of God.
“So, even if corruption does arise, we’ll be able to handle it,” he concluded.
Novio nodded in satisfaction and turned to Shaela. Just seeing his children together filled him with joy.
“Well then, Shaela…”
“Yes, Father?”
“Will you be joining them on this journey?”
“Have you forgotten why I learned magic?”
“How could I forget? I simply wanted to hear your intentions, so please don’t misunderstand.”
“Even if you try to stop me, I will still go. I returned to this mansion as a member of Cronia because I didn’t want to repeat my past mistakes. I hope you’ll allow me to come along.”
Shaela’s eyes burned with determination as she looked at Novio. This was the reason she had learned magic.
To reclaim that purpose, she had returned to Cronia, burdened with regret and sorrow. After seeing her father, she immediately went to her room.
Though everything remained unchanged, a wave of emotions washed over her. Yet, Shaela did not cry. The only difference was the bouquet of flowers Lucion had carefully placed in the room—a silent reminder of the passage of time.
The little Lucion she once knew was gone.
Still, Shaela did not cry. Today was a day of joy.
“Shaela.”
“I’m listening, Father.”
“I respect your choice.”
Novio, who had long carried worries due to his own actions, spoke with calm acceptance.
“…I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Father. I’ve made you… so very sad.”
Shaela could no longer hold back her trembling emotions. To Novio, she had always been the incompetent daughter.
When she left for the Magic Tower, the first letter she received from him had read:
| I’ll be waiting for your return. Do whatever you wish. |
There had been no resentment, no demands for an explanation—only warmth in those words.
How many times had she wept silently upon reading that letter?
How many times had it given her strength when life in the Magic Tower became unbearable?
“You’re back now, and that’s enough. Look, our family of four is finally sitting at the same table.”
Novio had heard everything he needed to hear. He was content.
He rang the bell, and soon, the servants arrived, filling the table with an array of dishes.
“Let’s eat.”
His voice wavered slightly with emotion. As he spoke, his gaze moved from Carson to Shaela, then to Lucion.
What he had longed for was finally happening before his eyes.
How could he not be happy?
* * *
Thud.
Ben Neubra, the Duke of Neubra and a leading figure in the anti-monarchist faction, placed a document in front of Norvion, the king of Neubra.
“What is the meaning of this?” Norvion demanded.
“You’ll understand once you read it, Your Majesty.”
“Then why don’t you just explain what’s happening?!”
“This is a confession letter in which His Majesty himself admits to his crimes. The handwriting has been verified, and I have secured witnesses and testimonies to support this confession. I also have notarized documents.”
“W-What are you talking about?!”
Norvion could sense no lies in Ben’s confident demeanor.
Cough, cough.
Suppressing the sudden coughing fit brought on by his agitation, Norvion hastily flipped through the documents.
As he turned each page, his face paled.
“Wha… What… is this?”
It was undoubtedly his own handwriting.
The crimes he had committed were laid bare in the confession, and the supporting testimonies and evidence left no room for denial.
“…It’s that warlock!”
The masked warlock who had struck him from behind.
“So, you hired him and had him use black magic against me!”
“Get a hold of yourself, Your Majesty. It was you who hired the warlock organization known as ‘The Hand of the Void’ to commit acts no human should ever carry out.”
Ben’s voice grew sharper.
The truth was cruel. Norvion, in his reckless ambition, had abandoned his humanity.
But Ben offered him a proposal.
“Your Majesty, do you understand what will happen once this truth is exposed? Do you realize the consequences you will face and how history will remember you?”
Even someone like Norvion still had value—just as Ketlan had said.
“Your Majesty, your love for Neubra is genuine, isn’t it? Do you truly wish to see this nation crumble under Nevast? Do you really want to see your people left in despair?”
Norvion felt cornered.
If word of this spread, a civil war would be inevitable.
And the outcome was clear.
The fall of Neubra.
Norvion gasped for breath. He didn’t want to believe Ben’s words, but the fear of his country’s destruction was undeniable.
“I… I wanted to be the greatest in the world.”
His voice trembled with suppressed anger.
“I wanted Neubra to be the strongest nation. Is that really such a terrible ambition?!”
“Yes. You simply chose the wrong path. If you had walked a different one, I would have followed you without hesitation.”
Bang!
Ben slammed his hand on the table.
“Make your choice, Your Majesty. There will be no second chances.”
Norvion’s lips quivered.
The power had shifted.
His fate would be decided here
Would he die as a villain, his kingdom collapsing with him?
Or would he quietly relinquish his throne and live out the rest of his life in disgrace?
Neither path would save him from the nightmare.
* * *
Four days later.
Still basking in the happiness of his reunited family, Novio finally unwrapped the gift Ketlan had sent.
As he turned the first page, he realized it was a confidential document smuggled out of Neubra.
‘How did Ketlan manage to obtain this?’
The only sound in the room was the turning of pages.
Then, his breath caught.
Lucion’s name appeared.
And then—Renia’s.
Novio covered his face with one hand.
Tears slipped through his fingers, soaking the table.
Though he pressed his lips together tightly, a faint sob still escaped.
“…Ugh.”
How could he possibly put this feeling into words? The helplessness of failing to protect his wife and children surged within him once more, yet it was accompanied by an overwhelming sense of joy.
At first, Novio didn’t fully understand the meaning of the letter Ketlan had included with the documents. But now, he did.
| Novio, soon you will be able to settle your past with your own hands. I should have protected you—not just as an emperor, but as a friend. Now, at last, I can face you properly. |
Now, he had the opportunity to eliminate those bastards from Neubra that he hadn’t been able to kill.
| The one who sent this is not me, but Hamel. The same Hamel you spoke of—the one who helped Cronia. |
Hamel.
How many people in this world share that name?
There was no rule dictating that this Hamel had to be Lucion’s old name.
Even so, the first time Novio had heard it through Carson, his heart had trembled uncontrollably.
“Dad, I… I’m Lucion, right? Why are you calling me Hamel? I don’t like that name. I’m not Hamel. Who is Hamel? I’m Lucion… Lucion!”
Because Renia had shielded Lucion, he had survived the carriage accident.
But when he awoke, they had called him Hamel. Lucion rejected the name so vehemently that he suffered seizures. He had no recollection of Renia and had erased his original identity.
Hamel had been Renia’s name for him. Lucion was the name Novio had chosen for him. But before Lucion had denied his birth name, it had been nothing more than a lingering regret.
“Did I win again this time? What a shame… This lovely child’s name is Hamel. Hamel Cronia. Novio, please don’t look so sad. Hmm… how about this? I’ll occasionally call him ‘Lucion.’ I’ll also remind him that it was a name you wanted to give him. Then, everything will be alright, won’t it?”
How could Novio ever forget Renia’s gentle smile, her soothing voice—the warmth that had always brought him comfort?
‘It wasn’t your fault, Lucion.’
Novio clenched his fists, struggling to swallow the tears that refused to stop flowing. He wanted to run to Lucion—to Carson and Shaela as well.
Then—
Knock. Knock.
A quiet knock on the door preceded Carson’s entrance.
“Father…”
He hesitated upon seeing Novio’s tear-streaked face, at a loss for words.
What had happened?
“It wasn’t your fault, Carson.”
“Pardon?”
“It was all orchestrated by Neubra. None of it was ever your fault.”
“What do you mean?”
“Look.”
Novio wiped his tears and handed Carson the document. Carson’s hands trembled as he took it.
A scheme. He had long suspected that everything had been carefully planned by Neubra. But no matter how hard he searched, no proof had ever surfaced.
The people who should have been witnesses—those who might have spoken the truth—had already perished, silenced by Novio’s rage and his own vengeful hands.
He had wondered whether it was possible to mend the severed past, but he had never once regretted his actions. If given the chance, he would kill those bastards again.
“Father.” Carson’s voice wavered.
As he read the document, he could no longer hold back his tears.
The fact that he hadn’t been able to prevent the tragedy would never change. But now, at least, there was a way to atone—to stand before Lucion with pride instead of guilt.
“…Father.”
“Yes, Carson?”
“Lucion told me, over and over, that it was okay… That there was nothing to forgive.”
Novio met his son’s eyes.
The one who had carried the deepest guilt had always been Carson.
“…Now, I can finally believe it’s okay.”
Carson swallowed his tears.
“I will… let Shaela know.”
He had to tell her—immediately.
* * *
“…?”
Lucion blinked as he looked at Novio and Shaela. Their eyes were swollen, as if they had been crying.
This was his first official journey outside the empire, and unlike his previous trips, the weight of the moment overwhelmed him.
Why was there so much to prepare?
Hume had asked him the same questions dozens of times a day. The maids had spent hours fussing over what clothes he should wear. Heint had personally come to discuss the security arrangements.
Even Kran had stopped by Cronia to discuss the upcoming journey, relaying important details.
Finally, Lucion could no longer contain his curiosity.
“What exactly happened yesterday?”
How many times had they all urged him to go to bed early? Even Ratta had been unusually insistent, bustling around him while urging him to sleep.
And now, despite waking at dawn, he had spent the entire morning being meticulously groomed by the maids—leaving him with no opportunity to see anyone else.
His eyelids felt heavy, his fatigue unshakable, yet Ratta’s sparkling eyes remained fixated on him.
Novio forced a smile.
“What could have possibly happened?”
“Then why do all of you look like you’ve been crying?” Lucion asked, narrowing his eyes.
Carson’s eyes were less swollen than Novio’s and Shaela’s, but there was no hiding the redness.
No—
Why were all three of them like this?
A realization dawned upon Lucion.
Ketlan’s document.
Novio had received it.
Lucion clenched his jaw, forcing himself to remain composed.
“Lucion.” Novio spoke softly. “Take care on this journey. When you return, there’s something I wish to discuss with you.”
‘So, as expected… it is about the document.’
Lucion, already aware of the truth, feigned ignorance. With a warm smile, he stepped forward and embraced Novio.
“I’ll return safely.”
“Good. Just come back healthy.”
Carson ruffled Lucion’s hair before turning to Shaela.
“Shaela.”
“I know,” she cut in. “You might be soft-hearted when it comes to Lucion, but I’m not. I’ll keep an eye on him, so don’t worry.”
“No, I’m worried about you too. Come back safe, Shaela.”
Turning his gaze from Shaela back to Lucion, Carson sighed as he spoke.
“Lucion. Please, just—don’t get hurt.
[Did you hear that?] Russell chimed in, repeating Carson’s words with emphasis.
‘As if that’s something I can control.’
Lucion swallowed the retort and simply nodded.
“Father,” Shaela added with a playful smile, “you’re not allowed to cry until Lucion and I come back.”
She hugged Novio tightly, her warmth lingering.
“All right,” Novio murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “Go on, now. It’s a long road ahead.”
Finally, he stepped back, urging them toward the carriage.
As Lucion and Shaela climbed in, Novio turned to Heint.
“I’m counting on you, Sir Heint.”
Heint nodded solemnly. “Of course, my lord. I will not betray your trust.”
Only after Heint mounted his horse did the carriage finally set off.
Novio and Carson stood in silent farewell, watching them disappear into the distance.