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Chapter 53……………
How does the Tower Master know him? Why call him so suddenly?
Because he’s my knight captain?
“You don’t know why he called for my knight?”
“No, I wasn’t told that much.”
Hmm.
Roziana gave a nasal hum.
“Shall I go eavesdrop for you?”
“Hm?”
With an expression that asked if that were even possible, Roziana blinked her big violet eyes and looked up at Mari.
Oh, right! Mari belonged to Asterios’s shadow unit!
“Mari, didn’t you say you’re under the Storm Dragon’s protection?”
Knights who had reached a certain level—though not quite at master or captain level—were often described as “those blessed by a dragon.”
“That is correct.”
“Then someone like you must have been pretty shocked when, last time, Mephisto attacked and my strike ended up trapping you in the tower.”
She recalled the time when even Asterios and all the Guardian Knights had been fooled by her act, struck down by her, and imprisoned inside the tower. The guilt bubbled up in her again.
“It’s been weighing on my mind. In fact, today I was going to use the chance to apologize and share some refreshments with you.”
“No, Your Highness! Please don’t apologize! It was my own inadequacy. I beg you, reprimand me instead.”
Mari immediately dropped to her knees. Roziana rose and gently took Mari’s hands.
“No, it’s I who should apologize, Mari. I didn’t tell you, I hid my intent.”
“If it is Your Highness’s will, then my duty is to follow without question. The fault is mine. I was already deeply grateful and overjoyed that you returned safely.”
Mari also carried a heavy burden of guilt for having failed to prevent the demon invasion when she was with the ducal house.
“Next time, I’ll protect you even if it costs me my life.”
No, Mari. You must stay alive—to stand beside Asterios, to be his strength.
Instead of speaking her true feelings, Roziana chose a command Mari could accept.
“To protect me, you must stay alive, Mari. The Tower Master is teaching you techniques to counter demonic black magic, isn’t he? Please master them diligently.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll devote myself completely. Even if I’m unseen, I will never disappear from your side.”
Roziana smiled wryly, her face saying That’ll be a problem.
Then what about when Asterios is in danger? His body’s still frail. Ah, but Nox is there… is that enough?
Still, Nox was a demon—he couldn’t openly reveal his true form in front of others. Last time had been fine only because they were in the demon realm. In Dreath or the Holy Empire, Nox was nothing but an invader.
“Anyway, my knight needs to recover soon so that we can safely hold the fiancé selection tournament.”
Busy times, indeed.
“By the way, Mari. What do you think of me choosing my fiancé publicly like this?”
“My opinion doesn’t matter, Your Highness.”
“Hm.”
Was it because her master was Asterios? Mari seemed to thoroughly hide her own thoughts.
“And if I said I want to hear your opinion?”
“…Honestly, I just want Your Highness to marry the one you truly love.”
Though short, Mari’s answer was sincere. Somehow it made Roziana’s nose sting with emotion. In this life, too, she wanted to live happily, more than anyone.
“Thank you. That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.”
Roziana gave her brightest smile.
“That’s the real reason I’m holding this tournament.”
“…Excuse me?”
Finally, she leaned close to Mari, as though revealing the real reason she had called her.
Bending down as well, Mari listened as Roziana whispered into her ear:
“Asterios’s name must be on the list of candidates.”
“!”
Mari stiffened instantly as she grasped the meaning.
If her master, Asterios, ever heard this, he would be happier than with anything else in the world—but Mari couldn’t show her reaction here. Was this just the princess’s whim? Or her true feelings?
Either way, it wasn’t Mari’s place to judge.
“I haven’t noticed anything.”
“Oh? Then that’s disappointing. I told you so you’d notice my heart.”
Roziana winked playfully at her.
Mari, frozen a moment ago, quickly caught on and shifted to a solemn expression.
“If that is Your Highness’s will.”
“Yes, I’m counting on you, Mari.”
Mari, given her most important mission yet, placed her fist to her chest and knelt.
“I will risk my life to see your wish fulfilled.”
“I told you, stop wagering your life.”
Even so, Mari, if need be I’ll stake my life to have what I want.
Roziana held back the words and instead gave Mari a gentle smile.
“T-Tene…bres.”
Was it truly him?
At the sound of that familiar name, Edwin’s entire world froze.
His thoughts, his breath—everything stopped.
He hadn’t known that when longing piled up too high, words would fail and his body would turn to stone.
Disbelieving, he raised a trembling hand to the earring on his ear, touching it again and again.
Vmm.
The crystal, imbued with special magic, resonated—detecting and nullifying all magic in the space.
The jewel’s glow faded, confirming there was no illusion or deception.
The figure before him was no phantom.
“Edwin.”
A low, honeyed voice filled the room.
Yes—no wonder it had sounded so achingly familiar.
But now that the impossible hope stood before his eyes, Edwin’s sense of reality wavered. Heat welled at his eyes, and tears streamed down.
“….”
Asterios couldn’t bring himself to say I’m sorry. For over five centuries, his friend had searched for him, never believing his death. What words of apology could possibly comfort that?
Even saying forgive me felt shameless.
So instead, he chose different words.
“…I never thought you would search for me for so long.”
It was gratitude.
At that, Edwin rushed forward and embraced his ancient friend tightly.
They stayed wordless for a long while, yet everything in their hearts was conveyed.
To be remembered—not erased even from the world—that was a blessing beyond words.
Emotion laced both men’s voices at last.
“Thank you for waiting for me.”
Edwin drew back, wiped his tears, and smiled faintly.
“You must have had good reason to disappear without a word.”
Asterios only nodded silently.
For Edwin, this reunion ended a centuries-long wait. Yet he accepted it calmly, as though he’d expected it. Perhaps not expected—but dreamed of, countless times.
“At first, I worried. Then I missed you endlessly. Sometimes I was even unbearably angry. But in the end, time washed it all away.”
Even Edwin was amazed at how long his yearning had lasted.
“So just seeing you again is enough. Thank you for returning, Tenebres.”
At last, they smiled at each other.
“Wait—does this mean the First Duke of House Tenebres is still alive?”
“Correct. Successive dukes and duchesses have always known and kept the secret.”
Henryet and Penelope too, knew the truth.
“A near-thousand-year-old patriarch… that’s practically horror.”
Seeing Edwin relax enough to joke, Asterios finally let out the truth he’d held back.
“I owe you and Erica a debt I can never repay.”
It was his way of admitting his guilt. Saying sorry would have been too shameless.
“If you insist, then someday give up something precious for me. Isn’t my friendship worth at least that?”
Half-teasing, Edwin smirked.
“I’ll give it serious thought.”
“Hahaha.”
Edwin burst into bright laughter. He hadn’t felt this light in ages.
“It feels like we’re young again.”
“Yes.”
Just a few exchanged words, and it was as though five hundred years had vanished.
“By the way, my name is Asterios now.”
“Wasn’t that the young heir’s name?”
“I had to live as him, so I lent him my own name. His real name was Henryet.”
“Asterios is too long. I’ll shorten it to As.”
“No.”
Asterios refused firmly.
“No?”
Edwin’s face showed his indignation—after all their years together, he couldn’t even use a nickname?
“That name’s already reserved for someone else.”
“Reserved?”
Startled, Edwin gaped as though seeing a ghost.
“Wait—are you in love?”
“…Regrettably, it’s one-sided.”
What? The great Tenebres, lovesick?
Edwin narrowed his eyes, a sly grin spreading. He leaned closer, whispering mischievously:
“Confess. I’ll help you.”
“…Can you take responsibility for that promise?”
At that, Edwin stepped back with wide eyes, folding his arms.
“On second thought, maybe you and I aren’t on the same side.”
“….”
Of course. He always grew twice as sharp when it came to romance.
Edwin had a beastlike intuition for others’ love lives—despite never having had a romance of his own.
They locked eyes silently, tension crackling.
The tears from their emotional reunion felt almost like a lie, replaced now by an icy stare.
