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Chapter 65
Decades had passed since the fall of the Ravienne Empire, which once ruled the entire continent.
Even in the empire’s later years, uprisings and rebellions had already broken out across various regions. But after its collapse, even greater chaos swept across the world.
The first rift. Terrifying, unprecedented monsters—beasts and fiends—appeared, claiming countless lives.
Even afterward, the rifts appeared without warning, taking more lives. From the harsh conditions of the north to the great rift in the west, humanity repeatedly lost hope but somehow managed to endure, stubbornly surviving despite the decay.
“Yet everyone feels helpless in this endless war against the demonic.”
How could humans not tremble in the face of a disaster that had persisted for decades?
Eventually, people began to yearn for heroes who could protect them.
“Chartreux supports the descendants of Vascallia as the future emperor.”
They began to crave a continental leader who could bring an end to all this turmoil.
And there were two factions that sought to exploit this public desire to seize supreme power.
One, in the east, aimed to enthrone Grand Duke Frey as emperor, relying on Ravienne’s bloodline and solid financial resources.
The other was the temple, a sanctuary that aimed to save humanity as a countermeasure to the rifts.
Charlotte inwardly smirked as she observed the diamond radiance reflected in the Law King’s eyes.
‘You? No, the grand duchess who’s been studying so hard under you should be the one to receive it.’
The brilliance was astonishing, but shouldn’t a little greed be hidden? Charlotte carefully returned the diamond crown to its velvet box.
“Please handle it with care. If touched with bare hands, it will leave fingerprints.”
“…Ah, yes.”
The Law King’s fingertips twitched slightly.
“The North has high expectations for the grand duchess.”
“His Majesty simply believes the grand duchess will be well taught in the ways of the world.”
Charlotte lightly nodded and handed the box to a junior priest.
Suddenly, explosive applause erupted around them. As Charlotte adjusted her ears, numbed by the sound, a beam of light shone over her head.
-May the blessings of the heavens accompany a soul that does not lose its humanity.
…A divine oracle?
Not only Charlotte but even the Law King turned in surprise.
Saint Hermione also stood, watching them. Though her eyes were hidden beneath layers of pure white veils, her gaze was palpable.
Finally, she extended her hand toward them.
“May my prayers illuminate your path, and may my blessings lighten your steps.”
…No, it wasn’t an oracle.
“Do not fear, and move forward.”
Charlotte swallowed hard as she saw the light from a small glass window sweep past her in an instant.
It was the saint’s blessing—a personal, gentle protection granted to a distinguished guest.
When Charlotte met the saint’s gaze, Hermione pressed her veil firmly down.
‘Do you not love Eonian?’
‘Why did you abandon him?’
‘Every spring, you came north with him…’
Questions swelled in Charlotte’s mind, but the saint, mercilessly, returned to her place.
Even after leaving the temple, the saint’s clear voice lingered in Charlotte’s ears. She shook her head, trying to dismiss her thoughts.
A few days later, at the Law King’s residence:
“A clever child.”
The Law King assessed Charlotte as he examined the diamond accessories in the display case.
“What brings you to the capital?”
“Our honeymoon.”
“…Ah, honeymoon.”
Charlotte had only intended to secure a declaration of support for the emperor in the capital, but it turned out the visit was for her honeymoon, of all things.
‘Quite different from the rigid Grand Duke Richard… unexpected.’
Her cousin had been predictable due to careful ‘education’ and subtle indoctrination. Falling in love, as now, was an unpredictable variable—but as a wolf beast who loved only one mate, his behavioral patterns were fixed, which was reassuring to the Law King.
‘But Charlotte Chartreux… I really can’t figure her out. She stood out at the academy, but never drew major attention.’
Even gathering information revealed only common knowledge—frustratingly unhelpful.
‘Is there a weakness I can exploit?’
The Law King considered the things people typically hold dear: family, lands, wealth, subjects… things that were nearly untouchable by the temple.
All except one.
“…Eonian.”
Indeed, Eonian was the Law King’s only card against Charlotte.
It wasn’t just her power or influence—if the Law King crossed a line, he knew Eonian would react violently. Wolf-beasts could be dangerously extreme when defending the ones they loved. Having committed heinous acts himself without remorse, he could easily predict that his cousin would behave similarly.
‘Catch Eonian, and you control Grand Duchess Chartreux’s leash. The reverse is also true.’
The Law King pulled out a telegraph and typewriter, inputting the addresses and instructions for his closest cardinals.
Soon, the cardinals’ residences would receive orders to investigate Eonian Vascallia’s use of divine power.
‘Depending on his strength, they could even annul the marriage.’
The Law King had been responsible for returning a secularized saint to the clergy. If Eonian’s power reached saint-level, he would, by precedent, have to become clergy.
Separating lovers was regrettable, but unavoidable—he had someone he loved as well.
It was time to tighten the circle around his cousin. Humming a tune, the Law King pinned a location on the continental map beside the display case.
The pin marked the Vascallia grand duchy, below the capital.
“…Ruphelis, brother.”
He muttered the hated name. The Law King had kept Ruphelis alive to prevent his cousin from becoming Grand Duke, but now that she had, he was useless.
He prepared to order the trusted Marquis Fox and the knights to assassinate the grand duke, but suddenly:
Clack, clack. The typewriter moved on its own, printing a message. It was a telegraph from the knights on standby.
-Ruphelis Michael Vascallia has escaped.
“…What?”
Meanwhile, on a southern coastal mountain:
…Damn it. Why does the grand duke—or rather, the visioning—make me do these miserable tasks?!
Ren flapped his wings, guessing that Eonian’s resentment toward him hadn’t completely faded. He was swiftly moving, carrying an unconscious man.
“Catch him!”
“Secure the grand duke!”
…With dozens of holy knights tailing him like a train.
“Ren, kidnap my father for me.”
He should have realized the mission was insane when he heard such a request.
Yet, hearing the grand duchess’s plea to save her endangered family, he couldn’t ignore it. Ren continued flapping his wings, chastising himself silently.
Then, a terrifying metallic clanging came from behind.
“Shoot!”
Ren ducked, narrowly spotting an iron spear flying toward him. He had lost timing because he was adjusting the grand duke on his back.
“Aaaah!”
A scream that should have come from his own mouth sounded from below.
Ren opened his eyes slightly. The spear vibrated and hummed in front of him—it was magic.
Shadows rose around the holy knights, forming ominous shapes. Swallowing nervously, Ren climbed a nearby tree with the grand duke in his arms.
“What kind of monsters…!”
“Ugh, huff!”
A massacre unfolded. Though skilled, the knights could not handle the mages’ traps.
Ren, initially puzzled by the overwhelming difference in power, realized once the hunters finished, who they were.
‘Magic soldiers branded with anchors on their necks.’
They were naval personnel, each clearly a high-ranking officer.
The grand duchess was skilled at gathering information from wandering performers, tavern owners, and merchants—common jobs in a trade port.
Ren descended from the tree, realizing they were Eonian’s subordinates. He handed the grand duke to a jackal beast leader.
“….”
The surrounding navy fell silent.
The jackal spread his black cloak on the ground and carefully laid the grand duke on it, then called the grand duchess through the communicator.
Soon, Charlotte and Eonian arrived.
Charlotte bowed slightly to the unfamiliar naval personnel and followed Eonian, scanning the ground for any trace.
‘If we had been even slightly late, the Grand Duke would have been killed.’
Thanks to the support declaration at the capital, they had preempted the Law King’s plan. Charlotte breathed a sigh of relief.
The grand duke looked far thinner than before. His jet-black straight hair was streaked with gray. Once a muscular, elite knight admired by all, his body was now aged and dull.
Charlotte pressed her anxious heart down as she watched Eonian pour divine energy into the grand duke.
How much strength must he have expended…
“…Your eyes are twitching.”
A serpent beast pointed to the grand duke’s eyelids.
Slowly, the grand duke’s eyes opened.
Everyone’s faces brightened—except Eonian’s. He watched the grand duke with anxious eyes. Charlotte soon understood why.
The grand duke looked straight at Eonian and asked:
“…Father?”
