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Chapter 68
“Don’t worry, I’m here. I’ll make you the emperor. Live and enjoy everything.”
“Hey, I’ve told you before, do you think being an emperor is that easy?”
“If it can happen, then it will! You have to believe that, Prince.”
Noah looked at Elia with a face that said he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“I can’t believe this, really.”
Elia smiled brightly.
“By the way, Prince… aren’t you curious about the rare treasure?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll show you around. Take my hand.”
“Uh… okay.”
Noah cautiously held Elia’s hand.
As Elia thought about wanting to enter the Dragon’s Rare, the two of them were immediately transported inside.
“Wow… what is this?”
Noah looked around in awe.
“It’s amazing, right?”
“It’s more than amazing… I can’t even close my mouth.”
“Look around as much as you like. I haven’t seen it all yet either.”
Elia pulled Noah along by the hand.
A feast of treasures spread out around a mound of gold coins.
Every single item was extraordinary.
“Is there anything you want?”
“For me?”
“Of course. Go ahead and pick.”
Noah stepped forward cautiously.
His hand naturally drifted toward the swords.
Drawn by some invisible force, Noah picked up a golden sword. Its hilt was adorned with a golden gem that looked just like the sun.
Elia carefully observed the sword Noah had picked up.
“Oh… this is incredible.”
“Do you know what it is?”
“Prince, you really don’t know?”
Noah shook his head.
“This is the Sun Sword, the treasure of the first emperor.”
In the past, Elia had read a lot of imperial history in the royal library. Naturally, she had paid close attention to the first emperor’s history.
But Noah had no clue.
“Really, you don’t know.”
“……”
“They said the Sun Sword was lost, but here it is.”
“Is this really the Sun Sword?”
“I think so. I’ve seen it in books. The ‘Eye of the Sun’ set in the golden hilt is proof.”
“This gem is the Eye of the Sun?”
“Try channeling the Sun’s blessing into it. Only someone with the Sun’s blessing can draw this sword.”
Noah followed Elia’s instructions and channeled the Sun’s blessing. The golden gem on the hilt absorbed it.
Then, the sword slid out of the scabbard, revealing its elegant form.
The pure white blade reflected Noah’s face.
“Even after all these years, it’s incredibly sharp. It really was made from White Dragon scales.”
There was a legend that the only human to rival the White Dragon was Adelhite, the first emperor.
The Sun Sword had been forged from the dragon’s own scales as a sign of the White Dragon’s recognition of the first emperor.
“It looks happy to have finally found its master.”
“Really?”
“Of course. It had been trapped here for so long, and now it has found someone with the Sun’s blessing.”
The question was why the first emperor’s sword was in the White Dragon’s treasure.
‘The last emperor with the Sun’s blessing disappeared, and so did the sword.’
Yet here it was, discovered in the White Dragon’s Rare.
‘The last emperor with the Sun’s blessing was Adrian. After he disappeared, no emperor with the Sun’s blessing appeared in the empire.’
And hundreds of years later, Noah was born.
It seemed no coincidence that Noah had found the Sun Sword. After all, a sword always has its rightful owner.
Elia thought perhaps the sword had led its master to her.
“Try commanding the gem to change the sword into any form you want. This sword can transform.”
Noah followed her instructions.
“Change into a bracelet.”
The sword immediately transformed into a bracelet and wrapped around Noah’s wrist.
“A bracelet, huh?”
“Yeah, this will be convenient.”
“The treasure has finally found its master. Congratulations.”
“Thanks, it’s all thanks to you.”
Noah smiled brightly for the first time.
When he smiled, it felt as if the surroundings brightened too.
He usually only gave a faint smirk, but this radiant smile made him look different.
‘A human smile…’
Could someone really be this beautiful?
Noah was a handsome young man with an angelic face, rivaling even Zirk.
“Do you need anything else?”
“I’m good just having this.”
“Good? Wait until you see the rest.”
“Huh?”
Elia went over to where the artifacts were and picked up a fine necklace.
“Here, take this.”
“What is it?”
“It’s an artifact with a powerful protection spell. It can save your life exactly three times when you’re in mortal danger. You haven’t earned your share yet.”
The round medallion on the artifact had detailed instructions engraved on the back.
Elia quickly put it around Noah’s neck.
“Wear it just in case.”
Noah clutched the pendant tightly.
“I’ll treasure it. Thanks.”
“Alright, now let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
With the treasures given to Noah, there was no need to linger in the Rare.
Outside, a cool breeze brushed past them.
“I’m going to work hard and become a proper swordsman.”
Elia saw the radiant violet in Noah’s eyes. His pupils sparkled like stars more than ever.
“So I’ll save you when you’re in danger.”
Elia burst out laughing.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Your ambition is so bold. If you’re going to protect me, it’ll take a hundred years.”
“A hundred years? That’s a bit extreme.”
“Anyway, you don’t need to protect me. I have the Duke.”
Elia’s words pricked Noah’s pride.
“Just wait, I’ll become even stronger.”
“Okay, I’ll be looking forward to it.”
“I’m not joking.”
“I know, that’s why I’m looking forward to it.”
Noah somehow felt drawn in by Elia’s words.
“From what I’ve seen, you’re not a bad person.”
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly that. You’re going to be a good person.”
“Prince, you can’t trust someone so easily. I could turn bad, you know.”
“You won’t.”
His eyes were filled with conviction.
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I’ll stop it.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’ll make sure you don’t go down a bad path.”
His clenched fists and determined face left no doubt.
“Instead of me, protect yourself. I’ll protect the Duke’s household. In the process, I might do bad things.”
“You wouldn’t kill anyone.”
“And if I did?”
“You wouldn’t be able to.”
“Why are you so sure?”
“Because you can’t stand seeing others suffer.”
“Still, I can’t guarantee it. I can’t promise I won’t kill someone.”
She wanted everyone in the Duke’s household to be happy.
She wanted to make it so no one could harm or covet them. To do that, she needed power and wealth.
She didn’t know any other way.
In this empire, a noble needed power and money to survive.
“Money and power aren’t everything, Elia.”
“……”
“People are important. Without people, money and power are useless.”
Elia was surprised.
For the first time, Noah had called her by her name.
“The world doesn’t run on money and power alone. They’re just tools to make life better. But if there’s no one to enjoy that life, what good are they?”
“Prince, you might be right.”
But having been betrayed twice, she said:
“Still, I can’t trust someone easily.”
“I’m not saying trust blindly. I’m saying give them a chance. Let them prove their worth and earn your trust.”
Noah always thought this.
Even though Elia had been adopted into the Duke’s household and became their daughter, she always looked far ahead.
Elia divided people into two types: those who were clearly on her side, and those who weren’t.
The line was clear.
Noah had lived trapped in the palace with a cursed body.
If the Duke of Kartellani hadn’t been his only light, he would have lived a lonely life in the palace until death.
“Prince, have you ever been betrayed by someone you trusted?”
“Huh?”
“I have.”
“What?”
“The person I trusted most stabbed me in the back. After that, you can’t help but distrust others.”
Noah looked at Elia with somber eyes.
