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~Chapter 27~
Two years ago.
He knew they were crazy, but not this crazy.
Noxian Rubellot admitted he had underestimated the mindset of the Argen Marquis family.
It was a painful, humiliating realization.
Even if the engagement papers were worth less than a sales contract, it was still a contract bound by the king’s guarantee.
Before the ink on the seal had even dried, they struck him in the back.
Damn Argen people.
He ground his teeth. He swore he would pay them back.
No matter what drug they used or how much, even the dragon’s blessed body had been neutralized.
Not only that. There had been times when his consciousness became clouded and he couldn’t think clearly.
Inside the fog, his will swayed with every push, and strange words came from his mouth as if not his own.
For some reason, they seemed to want his authority.
It was the secret Blanche Argen had stubbornly tried to uncover while humiliating him.
Dreams.
Out of all his powers, it was the most useless, the weakest, barely worth being called authority.
But he could not give it to the enemy.
All he could do was desperately hold onto his fragile will and swallow down the most dangerous secret that must never be spoken.
Maybe even that wouldn’t have lasted long.
If it hadn’t been for the woman he met on the cliff’s edge.
“Shasha.”
Like a ghost, the woman approached silently, checking his condition with clear eyes.
Light blonde hair. Gray eyes. Her features were as plain as her name. She was always expressionless.
Like someone bleached of all color.
[How is your condition?]
Her lips moved silently.
Shasha couldn’t speak.
She didn’t know sign language either, so she usually just mouthed words or reached for a pen.
Noxian guessed she hadn’t been mute from birth, but had lost her voice in some accident.
“Very good. Thanks to you.”
Luckily, Noxian could read lips, so communication wasn’t too hard.
[That’s good. You’ll be able to leave tomorrow as planned.]
After checking his state carefully, Shasha gave her judgment. It was good news, but Noxian’s eyes narrowed at her calm face.
“You sure you’re really okay?”
[Me? Why?]
Her puzzled gaze blinked at him. Noxian clenched his fist tightly behind his back.
Cold sweat had gathered in his palm without him realizing.
Just two days ago—
She had been lying in front of him like a cold corpse.
She had drunk the potion herself, saying it was the way to get him out.
She said she would prove its effect.
It was a potion that put someone into temporary suspended animation, making them appear dead.
He hadn’t told her, but the hours until she breathed and opened her eyes again had felt like eternity.
Even though he had been warned, that moment crushed him with shock, leaving him unable to think.
He didn’t know how to explain it logically, but he never wanted to see that sight again—her corpse.
Not even in a dream.
[Oh, is this about the Verona potion? Don’t worry. The only danger is being mistaken for truly dead and buried, but that won’t happen to you.]
“It’s not about me, it’s about you, Shasha.”
Noxian spoke slowly. The sweat in his hand dried, but the chill running down his spine remained.
“If I disappear, you’ll be the first to be suspected.”
[You saw it. I’m useful, so it’s fine.]
Shasha often spoke calmly cold words like that.
But she also had clumsy, soft sides, showing embarrassment or surprise at times.
Especially when their eyes met deeply like now—
Her dreamlike gaze replaced her usual calmness.
It was cute, but at the same time, he wanted to ask:
What do you see in me? Who do you see?
Instead of unnecessary questions, he made a promise.
“Wait. I’ll wipe out every last Argen, and then I’ll take you out of here.”
[…]
“You’ll be safe in Rubellot. I promise strict protection for any internal allies.”
The weight of his promise lightened the guilt in his chest. Enough to ignore the whispers of instinct.
She quietly looked at him, then nodded.
[Yes… I’ll wait.]
He should have known that was the last lie.
Rubellot declared a territorial war against Argen for breaking the peace treaty.
Only a month had passed since they had recovered their heir.
It was half a month earlier than the time Noxian had promised Shasha.
Leaving the control of the main castle to his deputy, the first place he headed was the Latium forest—the Argen family’s sanctuary.
The sanctuary was where the god protecting their house slept, and the strongest power resided.
If an unapproved intruder entered, a curse would fall.
As the heir, he knew it better than anyone, but Noxian Rubellot entered the forest without hesitation.
“Curse? Screw that.”
The humiliation and disgrace from the Argens were worse curses than anything else.
He didn’t care what punishment or curse fell.
He had to destroy the Latium barrier for Shasha to escape this damned place.
Even if there were no other options, he would still use her goodwill to get out.
The price was his burden to bear.
The forest was unnaturally quiet.
The flames and war outside seemed like they belonged to another world.
The leaves shone like green jewels, glittering all around.
Noxian stood before the sanctuary’s center—the tallest, largest tree.
“So this is the divine tree of Latium the Argens trusted in?”
It wasn’t hard to find.
Its trunk was white, its leaves bright green to the point of pain.
The choking, suffocating pressure pushing him out since entering the forest peaked here.
“I can’t destroy divinity, but a barrier? I can break it for a while.”
He stepped closer and drew his sword. At the motion alone, fierce aura exploded.
At that moment, a voice pierced into his mind with an overwhelming weight.
“……!”
Crushed by transcendent power, Noxian dropped to one knee without realizing.
「Intruder of the sanctuary. You are the Dreamer.」
Of all things, it called him by the name he hated most.
He braced himself on his reversed sword and endured.
「Dreamer. You will never dream again.
What you seek lies in the past.
You will wander reality forever.」
“What a poetic curse.”
He mocked through clenched teeth, trembling with effort as he forced himself up.
“If you’re done lecturing, disappear. Stop binding her—stop touching that woman.”
Grinding his teeth, he swung his power again.
Scarlet aura ripped the forest apart, tearing the barrier. Violent flames burst through the cracks like screams.
At the same time—
South sewer gate of Argen Castle.
“So beautiful…”
Shariette whispered in awe as she watched the dazzling sight.
She always loved shining things—even if it was the light of destruction.
Her eyes stung.
‘It’s just because the light is too bright.’
She pressed her wet eyes with her uninjured hand.
Then, forcing her trembling legs to stand—
The forest’s magic wavered for an instant.
This was the chance to escape.
Internal ally was another word for traitor. After victory, she would just be discarded.
And soon, Noxian Rubellot would find out—
That she too carried the Argen blood he so despised.
‘Run before then.’
Shariette turned without hesitation and headed for the escape route she had prepared.
Now it was over.
Everything left behind would be buried in a box, never to be opened again.
