Gerrol chuckled and said.

"No, to be precise, the Temple of Atium. Among them, it belonged to the priest Vescana, who was called a sage.>

Antonio took up the glass as if not interested, and poured all the liquid into his mouth.

Gerald Tedler's eyes were just as strange as a cult.

Gerol, who had been living in Themion Kingdom for quite some time, often uttered strange nonsense.

Gerrol said, patting Antonio on the shoulder.

"Someday you will know. First, Antonio, let's get what you want. My uncle will call you soon.>

Gerald said confidently and disappeared.

Antonio didn't expect it at all, but it was very comforting to hear that he didn't say, 'No.'

"...."

When I thought of Raphine, my body became hot again and I started to choke.

Antonio picked up the bottle and poured the strong drink into his throat.

"Heh heh, heh...."

Perhaps because of the side effects of the drug, Antonio was finding it increasingly difficult to control his impulses.

'Raphine....'

All the rumors about Raphine haunted him.

Raphine is obsessed with Zerkan, and Zerkan is dissatisfied with Raphine like that.

Even while receiving the heart he longed for, he wanted to kill Zerkan who treated Raphine like that.

'Why are you taking my things, why do you keep....'

Antonio struggled in pain and shook his head. The tendons in the temples were wriggling.

The side effects of the drugs calmed his brain, redirecting his thoughts and helping him rationalize in the way he was comfortable with.

'No, Raphine may not love her brother.'

Someone is threatening you, so you're forcing yourself to act like that.

'Yeah, right. Raphine is actually me....'

obviously you liked me you made me smile You accepted my proposal.

Antonio bit his lip. My eyes got hot.

I wanted to find Rafine, who was forcibly sitting there, and rescue her right away.

Something in his chest urged him over and over again. I had no idea how long I would be able to hold out.

* * *

At the edge of the continent, an underground cave beneath a certain snowy mountain.

Not long ago, this place Orphana had been sneaking around was a secret research institute built by some faction in the temple.

A skinny man was walking down the hallway, holding something in his arms.

The man who arrived in front of the door at the end opened the door with a squeaking sound.

Inside, the demonic beasts who succeeded in the experiment were trapped in iron bars and drooling.

'It must be a failure again.'

Without expectation, the man took out one of the magic tools he had in his arms and threw it at the beast inside the cage.

The magic tool, which went through the thin iron bars, made a small tick-tick-tock-tick, then changed to a loud sound and said, 'Bang!' and exploded

The room was enveloped in smoke, and as the smoke disappeared, the man waved his hands in front of him.

"Huh...?"

Soon his expression began to change. A feeling of joy filled his confused eyes.

The beasts who were drooling and growling inside the iron cages fell as if time had stopped in an instant.

"Heh heh heh heh heh heh! Finally, finally...!"

The man shivered and rejoiced.

In the ancient tome of the temple, there was a record of a beast written a long time ago.

At that time, it was not called a beast, but according to records, that existence had special powers.

If it is transformed by infusing it with divine power, it is said that it can possess the same power as a spirit.

So, you have to use that existence to control the spirits.

The man has not doubted since the appearance of the magical beast. He said that he is the hero who will revive the temple again.

He has been immersed in research ever since the appearance of the magical beast, and finally succeeded in making it.

A tool that can neutralize the transformed power of the demonic beast in an instant.

In other words, it was said that it was possible to neutralize spirits by using this.

"Hey hee hee hee hee hee hee!"

The man laughed bizarrely among the beasts whose limbs had hardened.

* * *

A few days later, Zerkan's office.

Chief Adviser Percy glanced at Zerkan with a subtle expression.

Zerkan, who signed the payment documents, was expressionless as usual.

But it was different in Percy's eyes.

'It is clear that you have a problem.'

Percy coughed heavily. Just as I was about to ask what my worries were, Zerkan handed me the payment documents.

"Your Majesty, if you have any concerns...."

"get out."

"Yes?"

Percy closed his eyes, and Zerkan waved his hands. Percy narrowed her eyes and said, 'You want to be alone.' I thought and went out with the papers.

"after...."

Zerkan, who was left alone, wiped his eyes.

As Percy expected, he was troubled. However, it was a question that was not easily answered.

My thoughts come and go a dozen more times a day.

From a young age, Zerkan's biggest goal in life, the goal he reached was the emperor.

To be a great emperor. For that, I learned a lot, endured and persevered.

The responsibility to protect the people of the Empire led him to the battlefield, which ultimately resulted in victory.

He would inherit the throne of course, and it was only a matter of time.

Recently, however, Zerkan has begun to feel skeptical of the emperor's position.

'Should I become an emperor?'

'I wish time passed slowly.'

'It would be good if His Majesty stayed there for a long, long time.'

So, recently, I have been concerned about the health of the emperor, who was not interested in it.

The emperor seemed to be very moved by Zerkan, who asked about his health, but to be honest, it wasn't a worry that was filled with great sincerity.

just... It was because I wanted to keep everything as it is now.

What was behind that heart, now Zerkan knew.

I didn't want to divorce Raphine.

'How can I not get a divorce?'

If you know this feeling, you will think that Raphine has been deceived.

but....

The thought of Raphine leaving her side made me feel anxious and anxious.

I felt like I couldn't stand it when I was alone again.

In this vast imperial castle, Zerkan was always alone. Young Zerkan could not show weakness in the obsession to always protect his mother.

However, it was not difficult to show weakness in front of Rafine.

After visiting the Countess of Niklas, Zerkan's heart lost its center and was greatly tilted.

He came to think of Raffine as the only one on his side. Even if I showed everything, I felt like the only person who would understand me.

So I didn't want a divorce.

If you must get a divorce...

'Isn't there any way to make them stay in Hwangseong even after a divorce?'

Zerkan narrowed his eyes and pondered.

If possible, I wanted to lock the Crown Princess' bedroom with iron bars like a prison.

To prevent Raphine from going anywhere.

When he thought of Raffine, who was locked up there for the rest of his life, and waited only for himself, a comfortable smile was drawn on his own.

However... I wanted to do that, but I didn't want to.

I wanted Raphine herself to choose to stay by his side.

He wanted Rafine to think that she didn't want to get a divorce like she did.

Like acting in front of people... I wanted Raphine to love her.

* * *

At a certain time in the afternoon, Zerkan left the office and headed somewhere.

It was now time for Raphine to go to the Crystal Palace and leave.

Recently, Zerkan took the time to visit Raffine. And I had a conversation with Raphine in a place where there were a lot of people.

It was an act full of selfishness.

Raphine continued to act in front of people even though she was puzzled. Zerkan enjoyed the moment.

It was time to walk through the empty corridor leading to the Crystal Palace.

A familiar and unpleasant face appeared on the other side.

Zerkan, who was in a good mood at the thought of seeing Raphine, suddenly wrinkled his forehead.

"majesty."

Antonio approached with a crooked pace and bowed his head to greet him. His eyes and posture were very poor.

'It's alcohol again.'

The smell of alcohol emanating from Antonio seemed to paralyze his nose.

After Zerkan's marriage, Antonio spent his days drinking only alcohol. The eyes were definitely not normal.

Zerkan scanned Antonio slowly from bottom to top.

While he left for the battlefield, Antonio developed a love for Raffine.

Zerkan's anger surged when he thought that Antonio had seen Raphine from a time he was unaware of.

The fact that he dared to propose to Rafine was also unpleasant.

It was better to hurry up and go to meet Raffine when he was faced with Antonio and engulfed in anger. That was when Zerkan tried to pass Antonio.

"Raphine doesn't love her brother."

"... What?"

At the sudden remark, Zerkan turned around.

Antonio licked his lips. He was embarrassed by the words that came out because he could not contain his impulses.

But Antonio quickly chuckled like a madman and spoke again.

"Raphine is acting now. My brother is being deceived."