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Chapter 3
“Who is it?”
Bella’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.
After all, who could the Crown Prince of the Empire possibly recommend?
Her curiosity didn’t last long.
“Me.”
…Huh?
“Didn’t you ask if I knew any decent men?” Evan said. “I’m standing right in front of you. Why am I not even a candidate?”
“W-Wait… hold on…”
“Honestly, I’m not lacking in looks. My personality… well, maybe not outstanding, but decent enough. I’m rich, and we’re the same age.”
He spoke in a rush.
His words sounded almost like a confession.
Bella smiled awkwardly.
But it wasn’t the bright smile she usually wore.
She knew he wasn’t joking.
In the end, she let out a long sigh.
“Your Majesty… I mean, your father… would never allow it.”
She knew her place.
There was no way the Emperor would hand over his precious only son to the daughter of a mere count.
“And if I married you, those foxes would bleed the imperial family dry.”
“But—”
“I couldn’t bear to watch that.”
She shook her head firmly.
“At that point, I’d honestly rather marry an old grandfather.”
Those women worshipped money.
If Bella became the Crown Prince’s wife, she couldn’t even imagine the kind of chaos they’d create.
“At worst… I’d only have to endure ten years.”
Those ten years would be miserable.
But after that, her elderly husband would probably pass away, and she’d become a widow.
When I actually think about it… that’s such a pathetic future.
Bella laughed bitterly.
For a moment, she pitied herself.
Just as she was about to resume scanning the ballroom for potential husbands—
“Your Highness.”
A servant had quietly approached.
Perfectly dressed, he bowed respectfully.
“His Majesty is looking for you.”
“I understand.”
Evan sighed.
“Tell him I’ll be there shortly.”
His expression darkened.
“They won’t leave me alone for even a moment…”
Watching him, Bella quietly stepped away.
“You look busy. I should get going.”
“So soon?”
“There aren’t many people on the first day anyway.”
Although it was the Founding Festival, the opening day was little more than a welcoming celebration.
The real festivities began on the second day, when the Emperor and the high-ranking nobles attended.
“I’ll walk you to the entrance.”
Despite the servant urging him to hurry, Evan insisted on accompanying her.
“I’ll do something about Baron LeBlanc.”
His voice softened.
“If I speak to Father, he’ll take action.”
“He thinks of you like a daughter.”
Yet there was no conviction behind his words.
Bella felt the same uncertainty.
When her parents had died…
The Emperor had done nothing but watch from afar.
When she was little, he had always welcomed her warmly whenever she accompanied her parents to the Imperial Palace.
But after her mother—the Empire’s only Prophet—died…
Everything changed.
“You have to understand.”
Evan smiled bitterly.
“Everyone’s on edge.”
“It’s already been thirteen years, and no new Prophet has appeared.”
“Because of that, the priests who oppose the Imperial Family have only become more arrogant.”
“They keep claiming that the Supreme God, Morpheus, refuses to answer because people have lost their faith.”
Bella nodded absentmindedly.
“I hope a new Prophet appears soon.”
“The people would finally have peace of mind.”
Arhen had an ancient legend.
Long ago…
Humanity lost a war against the gods.
As punishment, the gods stole away humanity’s dreams.
Dreams became something forbidden to ordinary humans.
Only the seven children born between the God who ruled dreams and a human woman retained that gift.
According to legend, those seven children lived in the land that would later become Arhen.
For that reason, seven children capable of dreaming were always born somewhere within the Empire.
They were known as the Morpheus—those chosen by the God of Dreams.
Each inherited a different power according to their order of birth.
Their abilities were so precious that they were often called the Empire’s greatest treasures.
Bella’s mother had been one of them.
She possessed the power of the Fourth Morpheus—
The ability to see the future through dreams.
But after her death…
The position of the Fourth Morpheus had remained vacant.
Without a Prophet, both the Imperial Family and the people lived in fear.
For thirteen long years, the Emperor had desperately searched for the next successor.
“If only you had inherited the Fourth Morpheus.”
Bella froze.
She had been halfway into the carriage when she heard Evan’s quiet murmur.
Slowly turning around, she met his blue eyes.
For a long moment…
She couldn’t speak.
“Bella.”
His voice was unusually serious.
“You aren’t hiding anything from me, are you?”
Her heart skipped a beat.
Life with the foxes had been hell.
But it had taught her one valuable lesson.
“…Hiding something?”
She smiled naturally.
“What could I possibly be hiding?”
She no longer felt guilty about lying.
Not anymore.
“You know as well as I do,” she continued, “that having a parent who was a Morpheus doesn’t mean the child will inherit that power.”
“The odds are incredibly low.”
The gift of Morpheus appeared randomly among the people of Arhen.
According to legend, the gods had designed it that way so that no single family could monopolize their power.
At least…
That was what Bella had always been taught.
“I suppose you’re right.”
Evan gave a resigned smile.
Bella climbed into the carriage as calmly as she could.
Outwardly, she looked composed.
Inside…
Her heart was pounding violently.
“And besides…”
She quietly added,
“I hate being a Morpheus.”
“Why?”
He blinked.
“They’re respected by everyone.”
“And if you were one, you wouldn’t have to marry that disgusting old baron.”
Bella slowly shook her head.
“Morpheus aren’t people.”
“They’re property.”
To the Imperial Family…
The Morpheus were treasures of the Empire.
Not human beings.
Every freedom they possessed was stripped away.
They lived under constant surveillance.
Watched every moment.
Protected like priceless jewels locked inside the Emperor’s vault.
“Even so,” Evan said quietly, “wouldn’t that still be better than marrying that old pervert?”
Bella thought for a moment.
“…You’re probably right.”
Being treated like a caged treasure did sound preferable to becoming Baron LeBlanc’s wife.
“But I still hate it.”
She smoothed out the folds of her dress after taking her seat.
Evan smiled helplessly.
“If that’s how you feel… then I won’t argue.”
Bella laughed softly.
“You know this entire conversation is pointless, right?”
“It all started with a hypothetical.”
“Why are you taking it so seriously?”
Evan chuckled.
“I suppose you’re right.”
He closed the carriage door himself.
“Will you come again tomorrow?”
“Of course.”
Bella clenched her fist.
“My search for a husband isn’t over yet.”
At that, some of the gloom finally left Evan’s face.
“Take care.”
“I will.”
She signaled the coachman.
The carriage lurched forward.
Slowly…
It rolled out of the Imperial Palace.
After traveling for some time…
“I’m sorry, Evan.”
Bella gazed absentmindedly through the window.
The magnificent palace that had seemed so enormous moments ago had shrunk until it looked like a child’s toy.
“Haa…”
She sighed and collapsed onto the carriage seat.
Stretching out her legs, she finally began to relax.
Closing her eyes…
She drifted into old memories.
“Bella, listen carefully.”
A warm voice.
Her mother’s.
Holding the little girl in her arms, she smiled gently.
“Never let anyone discover your power.”
“If they do…”
“You’ll become unhappy.”
Bella remained silent.
Her mother stroked her hair.
“But don’t worry.”
“You’ll definitely find happiness one day.”
Those had been her mother’s final words.
Even while dying…
She wished for her daughter’s happiness.
A daughter born with the same curse.
But reality had been cruel.
Bella had never been happy.
Sometimes she thought…
It would have been better if she had died alongside her parents that day.
“What’s so special about this stupid power anyway…?”
Bella possessed a secret.
The same ability her mother, the Imperial Prophet, had once held.
She could see the future.
Not whenever she wanted.
Nor could she choose what she saw.
Most of the visions were random glimpses of events yet to come.
But there was one absolute rule.
Every dream she experienced would become reality…
Within 199 days.
Compared to her mother’s perfect prophecies, her ability was incomplete.
Yet possessing even that much power was dangerous enough.
If anyone ever learned the truth…
She didn’t even want to imagine the consequences.
But now…
She had reached her limit.
She wanted it all to end.
“You said every dream eventually comes true…”
She stared blankly at the carriage ceiling.
As if speaking to the god somewhere beyond it.
“Then why don’t you take me too?”
She no longer clung to life.
If the gods truly existed…
Then they could take her life as well.
After venting her frustration at a being she wasn’t even sure existed…
Exhaustion washed over her.
Maybe I’m just tired from seeing so many people today…
The party must have worn her out.
She closed her eyes.
It would still take hours to reach home.
She decided to sleep until then.
Darkness slowly enveloped her consciousness.
Before she realized it…
Bella was dreaming.
She found herself standing inside a room built entirely of gleaming white marble.
A man stood there.
She had never seen him before.
He had jet-black hair.
Crimson eyes.
An almost supernatural presence.
In his hand…
He held a bloodstained sword.
Blood dripped steadily from its blade, pooling around his feet.
Within that crimson pool…
A woman lay motionless.
She looked exactly like Bella.
There was no need to approach.
Bella already knew.
The woman wasn’t breathing.
Her heart had already stopped.
Bella watched in frozen horror.
Then—
The man’s crimson eyes locked onto hers.
Filled with overwhelming hatred.
“I will never forgive you.”
His cold voice echoed through the room.
He slowly raised his sword.
Then brought it down without hesitation.
Bella realized the truth.
She wasn’t merely watching a dream.
She was witnessing…
Her own death.
A mysterious man would kill her with his own hands.
And because her dreams always came true…
This was the future awaiting her.
