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Chapter : 34
Pope Gregory VII was holding a prayer session in the temple inside the imperial palace, summoning the royal family and nobles. Stone statues of angels were placed around, and at the very center stood a sculpture embodying the image of God.
“…We pray, Amen.”
As the long prayer concluded and the atmosphere began to settle, Empress Aria appeared.
The noblewoman of the Aden Empire, meant to be the most beautiful in the land, stood before the Pope in tattered rags.
All eyes of the nobles turned to Aria.
Ignoring the stares, she knelt before Gregory VII.
“I have something to say to Your Holiness.”
The Pope, pretending to know nothing, stood and looked at her.
They acted as if it were real.
“This place is open, so if you are uncomfortable, shall we move to the confessional?”
The empty politeness of his words did not sway the empress, who continued slowly.
“Right in front of me is God, and around are God’s messengers. What better place for confession could there be?”
At her words, the Pope gave a faint smile and looked around. The high-ranking nobles attending today’s mass were all standing.
These people would spread news of Empress Aria’s sins far and wide.
“I have given birth to a cursed beast.”
Aria’s confession rang calmly.
“I wish to atone for this sin by offering my life.”
The temple fell into a deathly silence.
The Pope, with a serious face, asked once more.
“You mean Your Majesty’s life?”
“Yes. It is my foolish fault, and I will wash it away with my life.”
According to the prophecy, it should have been Kaiden who died. She was not meant to kill the royal family—he was.
Yet no one objected. Everyone knew.
This was a staged act, orchestrated by the Pope and the Empress.
After a moment of contemplation, Gregory VII wore a sorrowful expression and gave instructions to a paladin.
Moments later, the paladin handed a sword to the Pope, who then passed it to the empress.
Aria placed the blade against her neck. She flinched at the cold touch but quickly steadied herself.
She carefully lifted her gaze toward the statue.
She revered the god of this land—the protector of her homeland, the Aden Empire, who safeguarded those dear to her and bestowed prosperity and well-being.
Sunlight poured through the glass dome, illuminating the statue.
‘If this is my destiny…’
If this excruciatingly painful end is what fate has given me, then I will accept it willingly.
Empress Aria used the sword to cut her neck. Blood flowed, pooling beneath her.
Her body began to collapse. She struggled to keep herself upright, but it was useless.
With her vision dimming, she looked at Arthur IV and Felix.
Felix turned away, unable to witness his dying mother, while Arthur IV watched her intently, as if to see her safely to the end.
Aria managed a weak smile—one filled with both apology and gratitude.
At that moment, murmurs arose behind her, and the doors burst open.
All eyes turned toward it, including Aria’s.
At the end stood Kaiden, restrained by the paladins, screaming.
Minutes before Empress Aria’s death.
Despite Ferred’s objections, Kaiden had rushed to the temple.
With his deal with Gregory VII concluded, all he could do was remain quietly confined to his room.
“This is not allowed, Your Highness!”
“Whether I cause chaos or stay still, the Pope will have no choice but to take me. Didn’t you hear me?”
Kaiden should have stayed invisible. Yet the restless feeling in his chest, which had been gnawing at him since yesterday, kept pulling him out.
‘After today, I won’t see her again.’
Ignoring Ferred’s protests, Kaiden ran to the temple.
By the time he arrived, his mother was already on the floor, blood everywhere.
Everyone else remained in their places, watching.
‘Everyone was just watching… except me.’
Even his father and brother, who loved their mother deeply, stayed in place.
The unpleasant feeling from last night crawled back like a swarm of insects, covering his face.
Nausea rose, and Kaiden bit down on his inner cheek without realizing it.
As he stared blankly, as if in a dream, Gregory VII commanded the paladins.
“Release the prince.”
The paladins made way at the Pope’s order.
Kaiden ran forward and embraced the dying Empress Aria.
He didn’t care about the blood covering him.
Seeing him, the empress struggled to speak.
“…Why… are you here…?”
“I wanted to see you.”
Spitting out blood, she barely managed to answer.
“You fool… why…!”
“…I won’t get to see you anymore, Mother.”
At that, Aria, instead of replying, held her son’s hand and murmured.
“I’m sorry.”
With that simple word, the empress finally closed her eyes.
Kaiden, witnessing his mother’s death, felt his chest tighten unbearably.
It was as if hot iron had been pressed onto his bare skin.
Roaring like a wild beast, he charged at the Pope.
Though he had made a deal, anger ruled over reason, and nothing else mattered.
‘It’s because of you.’
If it weren’t for him, his mother wouldn’t have died.
If not for God’s prophecy, his innocent mother wouldn’t have died!
He drew his sword at Gregory VII, who had completely forgotten that Empress Aria had died to save him.
“Because of you, my mother is dead!”
Even so, the Pope motioned for the paladins to stay back.
He calmly looked at Kaiden.
“So, you truly have become the beast of prophecy. Indeed, God exists.”
At the mention of the loathsome prophecy, Kaiden’s eyes lost focus.
A volatile moment.
It was Arthur IV who handled the situation.
He separated Kaiden from the Pope and slapped his son’s cheek.
The sharp sound echoed inside, and chaos settled instantly.
Stunned, Kaiden looked at Arthur IV with a dazed expression.
The Emperor, with a face completely opposite his usual one, scolded his son.
“Do you even realize what you have done?!”
At his father’s thunderous voice, Kaiden’s gaze slowly returned.
But his mind was still lost elsewhere.
“How dare you touch His Holiness the Pope! That cannot be forgiven!”
Arthur IV then immediately killed Ferred, who was kneeling nearby.
Since Kaiden, who had been confined, had left his room and attempted to kill the Pope, the servant paid the price in his place.
Two corpses now lay inside the temple, where murder should never occur.
The normally calm Countess Rohas turned pale and rushed out.
Amidst the chaos, the Emperor shouted without even wiping his blood-stained hands.
“Criminal Aria has died! If anyone speaks of the prophecy henceforth, no matter their rank, they will be beheaded!”
Then, a strict order was given to Kaiden.
“Return the prince to his room immediately! Do not give him water until I command it!”
Kaiden, because of his foolish choices, lost the two people he depended on and loved in an instant.
As he was dragged away by the knights, he laughed like a madman, as if the temple itself were going to collapse.
Surprisingly, only then did the anguish weighing on his chest vanish.
Truly, he was a beast cursed by God.
