CHAPTER 151
Splash, splash.
The once calm river rippled gently.
From the other side, the distant sound of hooves began to echo.
The sound of hooves stepping into the water grew closer and closer.
Veins bulged on the back of the emperor’s hand as he gripped the reins.
A white horse emerged from the thick fog.
The emperor clenched his teeth to keep from blinking.
He feared that he might miss the one approaching him.
Through the dissipating mist, a small, round face appeared.
Soft, light brown hair fluttered in the river breeze.
Large eyes that gazed at him soon folded into crescent shapes and sparkled.
“Hyah!”
At the emperor’s command, the black horse, Maximus, galloped across the river with great strength.
In an instant, the emperor reached his wife and extended his arms to lift Arabelle by the waist.
He pulled his wife into his embrace, thoroughly concealing her within his robe.
His trembling breath fell continuously onto the crown of Arabelle’s head along with his lips.
The emperor’s cold hands, chilled by a day’s worth of river breeze, gently caressed her pink cheeks.
The slight trembling in his touch conveyed just how precious and cherished she was to him, like the world’s most valuable treasure.
“Father and Mother both arrived safely, along with the creatures that accompanied us. Many of them reunited with their families.”
At the sound of Arabelle’s clear voice, the emperor’s heart began to beat once more.
Colors returned to everything around him.
The chilly winter air finally made itself felt against his skin.
“Mother asked me to pass along a message. She’s sorry she couldn’t be with you, but she promised that, just like in the past 25 years, she’ll think of you every moment, without fail.”
When the empress dowager declared she would follow her son into the world of the gods, everyone except the emperor and the empress was shocked.
They had assumed that, as a human, she would remain in this world with her reunited son.
It wasn’t even certain if the gods would accept her.
Nonetheless, she chose to accompany Arabelle.
The emperor understood his mother’s decision.
If he had to send Arabelle to another world, he would have made the same choice.
Arabelle, who understood the empress dowager’s feelings, held her hand as they crossed the river together.
When Arabelle and her group reached the other side of the river, the ancient gods welcomed the empress dowager as if they had been expecting her.
The gods granted her the reward of living in their world for having saved countless beings in the realm of myths.
“The children are all receiving treatment and have regained their true forms. They’ll be healthy soon.”
Not only did the children the crown prince and princess had cared for accompany Arabelle, but so did the three young beasts they had found in the basement of Vescilia.
The moment they crossed the river, the children, who had once howled in pain, found peace.
The emperor couldn’t find the words to speak, as if something was stuck in his throat.
He had never been at a loss for words before, yet with his wife, there were often times when his usually eloquent tongue faltered.
Like now, as he nodded while listening intently to Arabelle’s words.
Arabelle raised her hand to gently brush aside the emperor’s disheveled black hair.
“I thought you resembled your mother, but now I see you take after your father as well.”
It was a sign that Crown Prince Luca had returned to his human form.
When the crown prince arrived in the world of the gods and regained his true form, he was noble and filled with dignity.
The crown prince bore a strong resemblance to his father, so much so that it was easy to imagine what the emperor might have looked like in his younger days.
Arabelle showed a hint of regret at not being able to share with the emperor the image of his father as she had seen it.
As her fingertips touched the emperor’s forehead, the corners of his eyes turned redder than the evening sunset.
The emperor pressed his forehead against Arabelle’s smooth one.
His straight, firm nose brushed against her rounded one, tickling it.
The emperor’s arms tightened around Arabelle.
Although they had been apart for only a short while, he realized just how much he had missed her sweet and pure scent.
Arabelle lifted her head, meeting the emperor’s gaze with a radiant smile.
“I met Mother there. She looked so happy and at peace.”
Tears, sparkling like jewels, gathered at the corners of Arabelle’s eyes.
The first sight of her mother had been dazzlingly beautiful.
Elenya had run to Arabelle, arms outstretched, along with the animals of the mythological world.
Elenya had taken her own life to avoid falling into the hands of the King of Laikanor.
Leaving behind the sorrows of her time in the human world, Elenya was genuinely happy now.
She was also fully aware of what had transpired with Tristini.
‘Tristini is my daughter, too. Just as Kisha is your other mother. Thank you for forgiving her. That child will surely find her light as well.’
Elenya was sorrowful that she didn’t know Kisha’s whereabouts, but she was grateful that Tristini was safe.
“Not only Mother, but I was able to meet many Lumen Saviors there.”
The souls of the Lumen Saviors, who had been massacred due to the betrayal of the Three Kingdoms, joyfully welcomed their descendant.
They also helped Arabelle as she pleaded with the gods to lift the curse on Heltred.
The Lumen Saviors told the gods to forgive the bloodline of the Emperor of Heltred, who had given boundless love to a Lumen Savior.
Arabelle wrapped her arms around the emperor’s neck.
She brought her lips to his ear and whispered joyfully.
“The curse on the Heltred bloodline has been lifted forever, thanks to the forgiveness of the Lumen Saviors.”
Night had already descended on the river where the sun had disappeared.
The waiting white moon softly illuminated their faces.
The emperor’s ruby-red eyes held his heart’s owner and wouldn’t let go.
He lowered his head, bringing his face close to Arabelle’s.
His lips, which had been cool moments ago, were now warm as they pressed against her soft, pink lips.
The twin moons hid the white moon, but the tamed beast remained in the emperor’s form, showering his wife with kisses.
***
Five months later, at the Elenya Orphanage in the capital of Heltred.
“The carriage from the palace has arrived!”
A boy who had been waiting outside rushed into the dining hall.
Inside, about thirty boys and girls, all dressed in well-pressed uniforms, stood in anticipation.
The headmaster looked at their shining eyes and said, “There’s nothing to be nervous about. Just do as you’ve practiced. Don’t worry, alright?”
The children smiled at the headmaster, who was reassuring them not to tremble.
It seemed that the person who needed comfort for trembling hands was the headmaster herself.
“Is everyone here? Let’s see...”
A young female teacher standing beside the headmaster checked the children one by one.
“Wait a moment!”
The dining hall door burst open, and a small girl dashed in.
“Mary...!”
Adel frowned as she saw her younger sister, who was late, emerging from the kitchen.
Mary flinched and hid behind the headmaster.
Once too sickly to even go outside, Mary now had a healthy complexion and plump cheeks, Adel thought as she looked at her.
Now, Mary was always out and about, whether in the capital square or the hills behind the city, causing Adel constant worry.
Adel, who had approached her sister, spoke in a stern tone, trying hard to keep a smile from creeping onto her face.
“If you keep breaking the rules, I’ll have to tell our eldest sister.”
“Big sister? No, please, Adel. She’ll double my homework if you do. I haven’t even finished the work you gave me. You won’t tell her, right? I promise I won’t be late again.”
At the mention of their eldest sister, Mary gasped and grabbed Adel’s arm.
Unlike her soft-hearted younger sister, their eldest sister Millie was strict with Mary.
Since becoming the leader of the second team in the empress’s service, Millie had been particularly concerned with her younger sisters’ behavior.
She worried that they might misbehave or fall into bad company, thinking they could rely on their eldest sister, who had earned the empress’s trust.
“Shall we go, then?”
The headmaster, who was carrying a young girl with a visible limp, led the way.
The children, accompanied by their teachers, followed her outside where the carriage awaited.
Like the headmaster, all five teachers carried children in their arms.
Among the boys and girls walking alongside them, many also showed signs of physical disabilities.
Mary quickly supported a boy her age who was using crutches to walk.
The boy, who wore an eyepatch over one eye, exchanged a bright smile with Mary.
Adel, holding a box filled with bread and cookies, looked at her sister with pride.
The scent of freshly baked bread, prepared for Her Majesty the Empress, the three maids, and her sister, wafted warmly through the air.
Adele was tirelessly preparing for the Imperial Baking Assistant Certification Exam, which was just a month away.
“Wow!”
The children who had stepped outside all cheered in unison.
Six grand and ornate carriages from the Imperial Palace were lined up, waiting for the children.
As soon as the children were spotted, the footmen standing behind the carriages hurried over.
They began helping the children with difficulties walking into the carriages.
Although it took quite some time, no one frowned or rushed them.
Despite their physical challenges, the children’s faces were bright and comfortable as they boarded the carriages.
‘Elenya Academy Dormitory for Boys and Girls.’
It was an orphanage, but any minor could come here to receive free, comfortable lodging, warm meals, and an education.
This was the first official charity foundation established by Empress Arabelle.
Initially built for the children rescued from the basement of the Witch of Vessilkia, the orphanage has since become a sanctuary for all children in need.
The dormitory academy, which started in the capital close to the Imperial Palace, is set to open its tenth branch in the northwest region next month.
The orphanage’s budget, comparable to the facilities of any top-notch dormitory, was covered by the profits from the waterproof textile business.
The waterproof fabric developed by Arabelle became one of the empire's leading industries, providing sufficient funds to operate the Empress's charity foundation.
Today, the children from the orphanage were on their way to the Imperial Palace to sing a celebratory song at the Emperor and Empress's wedding.
The six carriages from the Imperial Palace cut through the bustling square filled with wedding festivities in the capital.
***
Inside the Imperial Palace, in the residence of the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince.
“What is happening?”
The desperate voice of Empress Dowager Natalia seeped through the tightly closed bedroom door.
Her lamenting cries echoed continuously down the long marble hallway.
“Erik! Oh, dear God, what has happened to my son Erik?”
Her only son, Crown Prince Erik, lay on the bed, coughing up blood and writhing in pain.
His complexion was so pale it appeared ghostly, his breath labored as he clutched his chest in agony.
“This morning, he was perfectly healthy! This is undoubtedly a plot to assassinate the Crown Prince! Call the palace investigation team immediately!”
Empress Dowager clutched her son’s limp hand, shouting furiously.
Just then, the door to the prince’s bedroom clicked open.
With no time to notice who had entered, the Empress Dowager pressed her cheek against her son’s increasingly cold face.
“Do not worry too much. He won’t die.”
The last voice she wanted to hear at that moment pierced her ears.
The Empress Dowager snapped her head around to glare at the Emperor, who stood in the center of the room.
Dressed impeccably for the upcoming wedding ceremony, the Emperor looked astonishingly handsome.
The maids and attendants, busy tending to the Crown Prince, momentarily paused, staring at the Emperor in awe.
“What are you all doing? Bring warm water! Change the prince's clothes!”
The Empress Dowager shouted orders at the maids and attendants.
“Tut.”
The Emperor clicked his tongue softly as he slowly approached the bed, a smirk curling one corner of his mouth.
The Empress Dowager wrapped her arms around Erik protectively, as if to shield him.
Erik was now her only hope.
Her son, who would rise to the throne and bring the empire to her feet.
Her homeland, the kingdom of Sebilz, had long abandoned her and Erik.
Her brother, too clever to risk the wrath of the Emperor, had cut ties to avoid further endangering the royal family.
“What have you done to my son? Even if you are the Emperor, the royal family and the elder nobles will not stand by if you harm the late Emperor's son!”
The Empress Dowager raised her voice at the Emperor.
His lips formed a cold smile, though his eyes had already turned icy.
“You think I’m as weak as your husband, who had to worry about the opinions of the royal family and the elder nobles?”
“How dare you speak to me so disrespectfully? I am the Emperor’s grandmother!”
“True enough, but I can’t very well show respect to a traitor, can I?”
“A traitor?”
“Attempting to harm the Emperor and plotting to prevent an heir from being born—what greater crime could there be?”
The Emperor's lips curled into a faint smile, but his crimson eyes had already gone cold.
The Empress Dowager's eyes trembled uncontrollably, her clenched fists growing clammy with cold sweat as she struggled to steady her voice.
“What blasphemy are you speaking? How could I have tried to harm Your Majesty? And to make up such a horrible story about preventing an heir…”
The Emperor walked over to the bedside table and picked up a teacup.
“I’ve been sending a special gift to Uncle for nearly half a year now. Didn’t you know?”
The Empress Dowager eyed the Emperor warily as he spoke of gifts out of the blue.
“An exquisite lady that you, Grandmother, sought with great difficulty to present to your beloved grandson. Belladonna.”
The Emperor’s crimson lips formed the word “Belladonna,” draining all color from the Empress Dowager's face.
“No, no way…”
Her eyes, filled with madness, fixed on the teacup in the Emperor’s hand.
He swirled the empty cup beneath his nose, inhaling its scent.
“Belladonna. Such a fitting name for a fragrant and sweet tea. Of course, it’s also known as Heaven's Night, the tea Uncle sipped so eagerly each night.”
“What are you saying?”
The Empress Dowager's voice cracked as she tried to deny the reality.
“My wife, you see, is the continent’s foremost expert on herbs and botanicals. Did you forget? The Empress can tell where a tea comes from just by smelling its brew.”
“So, that means…”
“Yes, that means the Empress immediately recognized that the tea I’ve been drinking each night contained Belladonna. Thanks to her, I haven’t taken even a single sip of that nerve-paralyzing, mind-twisting poison that would have made me infertile.”
The Empress Dowager’s face twisted into a ghastly mask of fear.
The Emperor lifted Erik’s wrist with a gloved hand before letting it fall limply back onto the bed.
“You conspired with Crown Prince Erik to smuggle in a poison unknown to the empire. I must admit, I was tempted to have you both arrested as soon as the investigation concluded, but I’m not so merciful.”
“What have you done to Erik?”
She asked, though she already knew the answer.
For the past five months, the Emperor had pretended to drink the tea, only to send it to Erik instead.
“Your patience is commendable. Slowly killing the nerves rather than delivering a lethal dose at once to avoid suspicion. You’ve been waiting a long time.”
“Ahhhhh!”
The Empress Dowager shrieked as she lunged at the Emperor.
The guards flanking him grabbed her shoulders and threw her to the floor.
The Emperor peeled off the robe her hand had grazed, letting it fall to the ground as though it were contaminated.
“I said he won’t die. Your son will live the life you intended for me. The poison has accumulated in his body, and now his nerves are starting to die. Soon enough, his limbs will twist, and he’ll become a madman—you know that better than anyone.”
The Emperor’s voice was tinged with pity as he walked out of the bedroom.
“His reproductive organs must be completely ruined by now. I suppose you won’t be getting the grandchildren you so desperately wanted. How tragic.”
As the Emperor exited into the hallway, he nodded to the guards, who surrounded the Empress Dowager.
The commander of the Third Imperial Guard unit began to recite her crimes.
“...Additionally, for the murder of the late Empress Dowager Catherine by the same method…”
The Empress Dowager's animalistic wails faded as the bedroom door shut.
The Emperor and his entourage left the Dowager’s residence and headed toward the grand hall where the wedding would take place.
Kyle, one of the Emperor’s aides, quietly spoke up.
“But Your Majesty, I doubt the Empress will be pleased if she finds out.”
The Emperor raised one eyebrow, prompting Kyle to glance around cautiously before continuing.
“Of course, the Empress likely expects you to punish the Dowager and the Crown Prince. However, she is unaware of what you did to Crown Prince Erik.”
The Emperor’s cold red eyes settled on Kyle.
“She should never know. And making sure the Empress never finds out is your job, along with the rest of the aides.”
Kyle swallowed hard and quickly replied, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor was still a meticulous strategist and a ruthless ruler.
His crimson eyes remained icy as they observed people and objects with a detached gaze.
That is, except for one person.
In the distance, the Empress’s back came into view as she walked toward the grand hall.
Surrounded by dozens of maids and attendants, Arabelle, wearing a white veil, seemed unaware of the Emperor’s presence.
The blood-red eyes that had been darkened by a murderous rage now shone more beautifully and warmly than any ruby as they took in Arabelle.
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