RODH Chapter 74

74.

The day of the Holy Festival.

“Who goes there?”

The man who collided with the Emperor’s spy was none other than Seor.

He had been assigned to watch Michael El Hubert—so why was the Crown Prince here?

“Identify yourself!”

The Emperor’s spy, unable to reveal his identity, threw down a smoke bomb and fled.

“Damn it!”

“What’s happening?”

The question came from Ian, disguised as a young noblewoman, his radiant blond hair and emerald eyes glowing even in the night.

Seor, likewise, was attending the Holy Festival in his role as crown prince. But having little interest in religion, he had dismissed his guards and wandered the temple grounds—only to spot Ian in women’s dress from afar and approach him.

“There was someone suspicious,” Seor said.

“Is that so.”

“You don’t seem surprised. What are you hiding, Ian?”

Ian could hardly tell him the truth—that Seor’s father had him under constant surveillance, and would kill him if given the chance.

“It’s nothing.”

“You’re lying.”

“I did not speak a lie.”

It was true that the Emperor’s scrutiny amounted to little—yet, at least for now, nothing had happened.

But Michael had entered the temple’s columbarium an hour ago, and still hadn’t emerged.

“Why are you following Michael? You told me you knew nothing of that incident.”

Seor began to scold Ian, fearing he had once again involved himself in something troublesome.

Then—

Ku-gu-gung.

A heavy crash echoed through the temple.

Ian’s eyes widened and he looked at Seor.

“Did you hear that?”

“My ears are fine.”

“Something is happening inside.”

“You mustn’t go, my lord!”

Bain, who had been quietly holding back, grabbed Ian’s skirt.

“Bain.”

“His Grace told you to keep safe for the time being.”

“If I knew something like this would happen, I wouldn’t have come. There’s definitely something going on.”

“You seem to be forgetting I’m standing right here,” Seor interjected.

“I am the Empire’s little sun.”

His noble bloodline—and the fact that as a sword master, none could touch him—made Seor shine even brighter in his own eyes.

Ian, of course, found it insufferable.

‘I wanted to be a knight too!’

But he swallowed that pathetic thought, listening only to Bain’s awed gasp.

“If you wish, I’ll go with you,” Seor offered.

“Please do! You don’t know how much trouble our young master gets into—”

“Bain, that’s enough.”

“Ah, forgive me, young master.”

At Bain’s words, Seor’s eyes narrowed.

“When this is over, you will explain why you were following Michael El Hubert.”

“…Understood.”

Ian forced the words out. He only hoped to find something—anything.

After reading Seor’s tragic past through the artifact and suffering a headache from it, Ian had dreamt again.

A dream of Michael swallowing a pitch-black mass.

It was something like the Demon Lord… yet not.

But it carried the same ominous air.

‘I can’t exactly say I saw it in a dream.’

Ian insisted they head into the columbarium at once to see what had changed.

Seor pushed Ian behind him and boldly entered first.

And then—

“The stairs have opened.”

A staircase leading down into the underground had appeared.

“Be careful,” Seor warned. “We don’t know what enemies lie ahead.”

“Yes.”

“My lord, I’m scared,” Bain whimpered.

“Then stay here.”

“No! I swore to always stay by your side!”

Bain’s eyes welled with tears.

Ian sighed softly, then gripped Bain’s shoulders with both hands.

“Bain. I don’t know what lies at the end of this path. But with three of us going, what could possibly happen? Don’t worry.”

“If something happens, we run right away. Promise me?”

“I promise.”

When Ian nodded, Bain finally relaxed and followed Seor down the stone steps.

Srrng—

The sharp ring of a drawn blade made Ian tense.

Seor stilled his footsteps, eyes fixed forward.

But nothing leapt out at them.

The long corridor held not the slightest sign of life.

“It’s empty,” Seor said.

“But Michael is missing. He must be somewhere in here.”

“I haven’t said we should turn back yet.”

Ian nodded.

As they walked deeper into the darkness, torches began to appear, lining the corridor and adjoining rooms.

Judging it impossible to search them all, Seor suggested they head for the innermost chamber, where the presence felt strongest.

“Michael must be there.”

“Yes. But I don’t like the feeling of it.”

The strange underground structure displeased Seor.

When he returned, he intended to report all of this to the Emperor.

The very existence of such a suspicious place in the Empire was intolerable.

At last they reached the innermost chamber.

Seor kicked the door open without warning.

The flimsy wooden boards shattered instantly, releasing a cloud of smoke.

“Danger!”

Ian seized Seor by the back of his neck and hurled him backward with all his strength.

The smoke surged forward, engulfing Ian.

“Ian, no!”

“My lord!”

Their cries rang out, but Ian disappeared into the smoke.

* * *

It was only after Seor and Bain grew distant that I realized it.

I had fallen under someone’s spell.

The sensation was the same as when I had touched a magic circle in the North—sharp and unmistakable.

I didn’t stay put. Instead, I searched for anything that could break the magic.

Sitting idly, waiting for Seor to help, wasn’t going to do me any good.

So I just walked.

I walked and walked, until before me stood a familiar manor.

The House of Count Hubert.

The golden eagle above the crossed swords and shield gleamed brilliantly.

Without hesitation, I placed my hand upon it.

At once, a peal of childish laughter rang out, and in the distance appeared the late Count Hubert, his wife, and several children.

—Brother, play with us!

—Peter, play with Alex.

—Waaah, waaah.

—He truly is angelic. Hard to believe he’s of my own blood.

—Allen, would you hold the baby?

—Me?

—Would you refuse to hold such an angel?

—No, I didn’t mean it that way. Very well, I’ll hold him.

As soon as the late Count Hubert took baby Michael in his arms, the scene that had seemed so real turned to ash in an instant.

And then came the sound of frantic whinnying.

“Heeeiiiigh!”

Through the fog, a rider on horseback charged toward me.

I tried desperately to run into the manor, but my legs gave out and I collapsed, turning my head and squeezing my eyes shut.

As if not seeing would make it disappear.

But the sound of its approach didn’t fade.

I opened my eyes at last and lifted my head.

There stood a knight without a head.

“Haaah—!”

I gasped. But then, he reached out his hand.

The seal of House Hubert!

Could this be the late Sir Hubert himself?

At that moment, Bain’s words came back to me.

“Anyone who knows the tale has heard it. They say on rainy nights, the headless Sir Hubert roams the area around the estate.”

“But it’s not raining…?”

Even as I muttered the foolish question, rain began to drizzle down from the sky.

“Heeeiiiigh!”

The headless Sir Hubert rode off somewhere.

This time slower, as though guiding me toward something.

I struck my unsteady legs with my fists and forced myself up.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

I followed the steady rhythm of hooves, until suddenly, even that sound vanished.

I was left alone, in a world of nothing but fog.

“Sir Allen Hubert!”

I called the name of the late Sir Hubert.

“Your Highness Seor!”

Though I hated to, I called Seor’s name as well.

“Bain!”

Lastly, I called Bain.

But to my shock, no one answered.

“Is this a trap?”

I thought to summon Alvis somehow with magic.

But the only skill I had was to interfere with magic circles.

Helplessness washed over me.

And then—somewhere, the faint sound of a music box began to play.

I followed the melody.

There sat Michael El Hubert, crouched against a wall, his back turned. He didn’t look bright as usual.

Suspicion tinged my voice as I called,

“Michael?”

“……”

“Michael!”

“Ah.”

At my raised voice, he finally stirred.

“Michael. Do you know where we are? I’ve lost my way.”

“Ian?”

The eyes that turned to me felt unfamiliar.

It must be the disguise, I thought.

Pushing aside my embarrassment, I said,

“Why I’m dressed like this doesn’t matter. What matters is that we’re trapped here.”

“Trapped?”

Michael’s hazelnut eyes widened, filled with innocent surprise. Did he truly know nothing? Was it really just to honor his late father?

Bitterness swelled inside me.

Had I wrongly suspected him?

“Yes… we’re both trapped here.”

“Hahaha!”

“Michael?”

Michael suddenly burst into laughter, like a man who had lost his mind.

I realized something was wrong and tried to ease back.

But he was faster—he seized my wrist.

“A prophecy has come. A savior will arrive, so I may go on dreaming sweet dreams.”

“What are you talking about?”

His words were like those of some deranged cult. Fear clawed at me.

Up close, his expression wasn’t like the usual Michael at all. His smile stretched unnaturally, almost to his ears.

“You’ll help me, won’t you?”

“Khck—”

My mana began to drain.

It was the same feeling as when I had overused life magic.

Everything inside me was being sucked away.

At this rate, I’d die.

I grabbed Michael’s wrist in desperation.

“No matter how insane you are…”

“Ian?”

“You’ll call me properly. Address me as Young Lord Ruben, you bastard.”

And I slammed my forehead into Michael’s with all my strength.