At the wizard's lab, Rachel and Suhin are working on their computer programming. They were actually on the last phase, and all that is needed to get the apps to work with the operating system is a beta test.

She told Suhin to make useful applications so that the future generations in this world will be able to use this technology. The technological information the Duchess told the prodigy left him speechless. He had never felt so alive in his whole life until he found this new technology. Once the device works, all he has to do is get the master wizard's recommendation, and Adworlf can take it to his Majesty for approval.

Rachel was giving Suhin instructions when the laboratory door abruptly opened with a loud crash. She was surprised as to why her husband was in the castle at midday.

"Husband?"

"Everyone leaves the room immediately!"

Sebastian commanded loudly as he hurriedly approached Rachel, and as he got closer, he suddenly knelt and embraced her waist while breathing heavily.

"Husband? Is everything alright?"

Rachel pats his head tenderly while glancing inquisitively at the knights behind her husband's back.

Sebastian's body is shaking so severely. He then grasps her hands and kisses her palm repeatedly.

"Rachel my sweet baby. Please forgive me, wife... please forgive this husband of yours. It's all my fault. It's all my fault."

He keeps repeating those words over and over again.

Rachel is at a loss since her husband is acting so strangely. She knelt to face Sebastian and lifted his face.

"Husband, what is going on? Please get up and let's talk it over, alright honey?"

Both of them were on their knees on the ground. When Sebastian raises his head, his eyes are filled with tears. A tear of such conflicting emotions.

Then, he cupped Rachel's face and gently kissed her lips. As he dips his tongue into her lips to open it and receive him, he devours everything as if he is afraid, he won't be able to taste his precious wife's heavenly mouth.

Rachel responded with the same passion to make her husband stop acting strangely. As the long kiss came to an end, Sebastian took her hand and put it on his lips.

"Will you forgive me wife? Will you still accept this husband of yours?" A tear ran down his face as he begged his beloved wife for forgiveness.

"Sebastian my husband, you didn't do anything wrong. You have never wronged me, honey. Whatever it is, I forgive you. So, let's get up alright?"

Then, she wipes away his tears before kissing his eyes, nose, and lips.

"This burden will all be mine forever. Wife, I beg you to grant me a lifetime with you to make amends for my wrongdoings. So long as you're with me, I'll make it up to you. As long as you don't abandon me."

Rachel was moved to tears by her husband's heartfelt words. She gives him a tight embrace and nods her head.

"I'm forever yours's honey. I'll never leave your side."

After hearing her affirmation, Sebastian scoops up his wife and carries her back to their bedroom.

Following Sebastian's emotional outburst, she was confined to their chamber for the whole day. The only time he stopped making love to her was when it was her mealtime. When Rachel fell asleep in the midst of their love making, he eventually released her. Her body gave itself to exhaustion, but Sebastian remained wide awake.

As he had been staring at her for several hours, he heard a knock at the door. He was reluctant to leave her, but he had pressing matters to attend to about his wife.

***

In the Duke's office, the strongest knights, including Garaitz and Aldworf, are awaiting his arrival. Sebastian entered with a threatening aura surrounding his presence. Yesterday, the Duke abandoned a military training in the middle of it and hurriedly went to the palace in search of the Duchess. This indicates that something must have happened to them.

"Garaitz, tell me about the situation at Oviedo Forest." Sebastian commanded while he puffs on his cigar. His eye color remains scorching red. This indicates that the Duke is extremely angry.

"Indeed, Your Majesty, the sorcerers' sanctuary is there. The area was heavily protected by these rakshasa monsters."

"Hm... the motherfucker is waiting for me. He knew I'm coming." He cackled viciously as he continued to tap the table and say,

"Don't forget to release the bait. I want him to think that he fooled me."

"Your Majesty, may I say a few words?" Aldworf interrupted, and after receiving permission to continue, he expressed his thoughts.

"I propose splitting your armies and keeping the strongest wizard warriors in the capital, just in case the dark master is using this diversion to seize control of the southern kingdom. As you are aware, he has links to the Carlyle monarch."

"Aldworf, my greatest sorcerer. Your brilliance never ceases to amaze me. This is indeed my intention."

After their meeting, Sebastian dismissed everyone except for Aldworf. Upon recognizing the Duke's disorganized demeanor, the master wizard cast a powerful soundproofing spell.

"Aldworf, are you familiar with the Duchess's illegitimate son?"

The master wizard was perplexed by what he had just heard. 'It can't be... He inherited the role of the late duchess in dark sorcery?'

"Your Majesty. I'm not aware of it, but from what I know, she took care of a boy named Arthur who was about your age. She was your mother's apprentice. Well, the boy wasn't legally adopted but she took him under her care."

"Just as I thought. I want you to create a binding spell capable of immobilizing that fucker. I intend to tame him and make him the pet of my collection."

"Forgive my impudence but this man, is he now the Dark Master?"

"You guessed right. He touched something that belonged to me, and I will never forgive that fucker. Even in hell, I would pursue him and torture him to oblivion." Sebastian's anger rose as the dark mana is visibly seen by Aldworf.

"I'll obey with your command, Your Majesty. For the time being, how's the Duchess condition?"

Sebastian's brow arc. What exactly does he mean? I thought they had already healed my wife.

"Speak at will. I'll grant you one exception."

"Then please forgive me in advance if this information will make you uncomfortable. Recently, I studied the celestial creator's life in heaven. I found a book belonging to my ancestors that details their arrival in this realm and the creation of their species."

Aldworf exhaled deeply and said,

"According to that book, a damaged celestial's core may only be replaced in the tree of life, which is situated in the center of creation. If the damaged core cannot be replaced, I fear that the vessel has a limited lifespan."

Sebastian growled in rage and smashed the table to the point of its collapse. He must kill something, or else he will destroy everything he encounters.

When he managed to calm his anger, he asks Aldworf. "What would you propose we do?"

"This... we have to make a copy of the Duchess core as soon as possible. To do that, we must contact a fallen dragon who has access to the gates of the light celestials. Then perhaps we can ask her heavenly mother to replace it."

So, this is where it goes wrong. A guardian will have to beg to their light dragon creators, who punish them and ask for a core replacement. If this is simple, Sebastian could have gone by himself.

"What about the Dark heaven, do they have access to the Tree of Creation as well?"

"Yes, both creators of light and dark dragons have access to it."

Sebastian chuckled and nodded in agreement. He will ask the Dark Dragon Crown Prince to replace his wife's core during their upcoming meeting.

"Alright, I'll find a way to replace my wife's core. Don't worry about it. You may dismiss."

After the Master Wizard has departed, Sebastian massages his temple. When he remembered his childhood, which had been concealed by a powerful spell, he felt anger and despair.

His mother was the root of all evil. Rachel was always his from the beginning and Catarina destroyed his happiness by banishing Rachel's soul in the lowest dimension. Now, he remembers everything. How he cherished little Rachel and attempted to rescue her from his wicked mother.

When he recalls the time when he was powerless to save her, he feels so enraged that he wishes to punish himself. How could he let her go to that horrible dimension and let his mother do such a thing to her? It was all his fault for not having enough powers to defeat his mother when he was a child.

It was a stroke of luck that Rachel's soul was able to return to their realm. What if he ordered the execution of her vessel before to her exile? Then, she would be unable to return, and her soul would be trapped in that dimension with no chance of ever returning.

In the end, Rachel's life was in his hands, and he thanked himself on making the right choice by banishing her vessel in the north.

He would never forgive himself if he permanently banished her soul. The very concept of that horrifies him to his core.

Now, what he will have to do is to punish those people involved in her confinement.

Arthur, the dark master sorcerer, and the crown princess. Sebastian will make sure to send them both to hell with his own hands.

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*Author's note: If you like this chapter, please don't forget to hit vote. Thanks for all your support 😍 🥰 😘

*Sound track for this chapter: Ellie Goulding - How Long Will I Love You