118 – Generation change
The road back to Dawn Castle was as smooth as if someone had paved it for me.
The mountain range, which had been subject to constant snowstorms, boasted sunny weather as soon as we entered, and there were no attacks from unknown demon beasts.
It was night when we arrived.
Siron returned to Dawn Castle without any blood or even a drop of water on his hands and walked through the frost-covered corridor.
“Yuma. Where is Siriel’s room?”
“I will guide you.”
Although he was covered in dust because he had been camping for several weeks, Siron thought that delivering the holy sword to Siriel was more important than taking a bath right away.
As he walked down the hallway following Yuma, a white door appeared in front of Shiron. Yuma concentrated his energy and realized that Siriel was inside.
“Lady Siriel is inside.”
“I’m glad I didn’t make a mistake.”
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You have to be careful when dealing with a girl in her most sensitive period. Siron took a few deep breaths and knocked on the doors.
-who are you?
“grow.”
Short answer. I guess that was enough to open the door of an adolescent girl. For a moment, I felt a hurried presence beyond the door. Siriel was seen through the gently opened door.
“Uh, when did you get here?”
“just now.”
“…I couldn’t come out to meet you.”
Siriel smiled shyly, as if she was embarrassed. Not only did he laugh, but the way he twisted his hair was very cute, but Siron’s eyebrows actually frowned.
‘Did something happen?’
The expression on Siriel’s face did not look good.
His eyes were dark, and his hair was sticking to his forehead as if he had been sweating. I wanted to give a gift and talk about various things, but what’s the point of caring for a sick person, so I guess I’ll just have to give the gift today.
Siron took out the holy sword from his chest and held it out to Siriel. Siriel’s eyes widened as she politely received the gift.
“……what’s this?”
“What do you think?”
“…”
On the contrary, Siriel, who was asked the question, could not answer and just looked at the Holy Sword and Siron alternately. It would have been clear that it was a gift, as it was packaged with great care, but since there was a burning spear, Siriel couldn’t hastily reply that it was a gift.
“Are you lending this too?”
“What are you talking about? A gift. A gift.”
“……thank you.”
Siriel bowed her head, hugging the large sword tightly. I saw that he was happy, so I’m going to end the conversation. Shiron took a step away from the door.
“Go already? Grab some coffee and go.”
“It’s late, what kind of coffee is it? You look tired, but you should sleep too.”
“Yes… it is.”
“Don’t swing a knife just because you received a present. You don’t look well. Get some rest.”
“Yes. Thank you for your concern.”
Chiron turned her back and walked away, and Siriel slowly waved her hand towards Chiron, who was moving away.
Siriel closed the door, feeling a sense of regret that was heavier than the sword in her arms.
However, it is also true that I was tired because I had not been able to sleep properly for the past few weeks.
Siriel sat down on the bed and untied the leather belt that wrapped the sword.
Then a jewel-like sword appeared.
A beauty that would be good for decoration rather than for actual use. As soon as I touch it, the flow of mana gets sucked in.
“…”
It was a sword so good that even those who didn’t know anything could make people exclaim repeatedly, but Siriel couldn’t do that.
‘…It’s the same as the sword I saw in my dream.’
Siriel lifted the sword with trembling hands. Siron did not give any explanation about the sword, but Siriel was able to clearly state the name of the sword.
spica
The dream that had tormented Siriel so much that she could not sleep properly for the past few days was not just a nightmare.
‘The contents of the dream… became reality.’
That fact alone was enough reason for blood to rush to Siriel’s head.
-Get out of here because it’s disturbing.
Not now, but the sword held by a more adult Siriel.
In my dream, I was a bit more adult than I am now.
-The same seeds were planted, but how can they be so different?
‘I’, an adult, cursed at my older brother who looked older than me now. It’s the same seed, who are you comparing it to?
‘Lucia?’
-Unqualified trash.
-Do I really have to be qualified?
The brother in the dream spoke quietly, but his expression was distorted as if he had been struck by evil, making him look like a ghost. It’s something we can’t even imagine right now. What on earth has he been through that makes him look like that?
The more I looked at the conflict between the two, the worse I felt, I felt sorry for my adult brother, and I even felt like I didn’t want to become an adult…
Siriel hated herself as an adult for being mean to her older brother. Siriel gritted her teeth.
Dalkak-
Click- Click- Click-
Then she turned off the light and lay down roughly on the bed.
To dream, to dream more dreams… To find out why I, an adult, am so mean to my older brother.
‘Only then…’
I sincerely hope to change the future,
Siriel roughly rubbed her heated eyes.
*
The next morning.
Everyone living in the castle gathered in the largest hall of Dawn Castle.
“Lucia Prien.”
Glenn Frien faced Lucia in the center of the room. With his unkempt hair tidied up and his elegant uniform attired, he exuded dignity.
Glenn recalled what he had seen at Prien’s tomb.
Siriel [Lucia]
A name that definitely shines on a huge stone stele.
“You were the brightest person.”
“…yes.”
“The cow gives you.”
clap clap clap-
When Glenn finished speaking, the room was filled with applause. All the maids who guarded the dawn, as if one, crossed their palms, and Shiron and Siriel congratulated Lucia with human feelings.
However, Lucia’s face, which was congratulated by everyone, looked somewhat uncomfortable. Looking at Lucia like that, Glen smiled.
“You don’t look happy.”
“…happy.”
“You can be honest. I, the head of the household, will allow it.”
“…”
Lucia looked back at Glenn’s words.
Siron, who was smiling without any worries, opened his mouth.
‘why? ‘Do you want to go to the bathroom?’
“under…”
Lucia faced Glenn again and opened her mouth.
“Sogaju…is it good?”
“Hmm? Good or bad. It’s better than nothing.”
Lucia hesitated for a moment at Glenn’s answer.
“To be honest, I don’t know what Sogaju is. I don’t even know why I should receive it.”
“hmm…”
Glenn thought about the benefits of sogaju as he stroked his smooth chin. money? honor? The envy of other families? jealousy? Do you feel like a superior human being? The exhilaration of having proved it? If nothing special happens, Lucia will become the head of the Prien family. Is that not enough?
‘Am I, the head of Prien, happy?’
The answer to that is ‘no’.
Glenn decided what to say to the boy who shined like a jewel.
“You are the greatest Prien. The title of Sogaju proves that.”
“…okay.”
“Then finally…”
Glenn took out a piece of paper from his pocket. The old, worn-out paper, with traces of the hands of past generations of the family, was a keepsake that Glenn received from his father.
“Child, you have gained strength. The fate given to you…”
Glenn said, confident that Lucia had gained the power of prophecy. To the brightest child in the world, he said good words while his mouth was dry.
*
The imperial palace of the Lien Empire.
In the palace surrounded by red walls, the emperor faced his subjects as usual.
“A detailed report on this quarter’s expedition has arrived.”
“…Right.”
“Hugo Prien has requested an audience during the funeral.”
“…I refuse to allow it. Isn’t there a palace banquet coming soon? I’ll see you then.”
“Okay then. I will tell you that.”
“Just go away.”
After giving his final report, the emperor waved his hand as if to chase away his subjects.
In the empty throne room, Franz tried to raise his creaking body from the throne.
dump-
Franz could not get up from the throne. My whole body felt heavy, like I was wearing a soaked quilt, as if something was pulling me down. I have no choice but to call the city chamberlain next to me…
“Chamberlain.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Wand, no. Give me some support.”
“yes.”
Franz was in a cold sweat and was supported by the chamberlain.
‘I’m going crazy.’
He was only in his mid-fifties. I’m not old enough to need help even when I’m walking…
‘The symptoms are getting worse day by day.’
The apparent abnormality left Franz with a clouded mind of doubt.
poison? curse?
Who is buying it? Although he received treatment from his doctor every day and received detection magic from Arak, the royal wizard, no poison or curse was detected.
‘Is this normal aging?’
“your majesty.”
In the middle of the corridor leading to the office, Franz heard someone’s voice.
Franz looked back and saw a man who looked exactly like him.
1st prince. Austin Breed de Lienne.
A sickly prince who was lame from birth and suffered from many minor illnesses. I heard that his illness is getting more critical day by day.
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Franz stood up straight, trying to look dignified.
“Okay, what happened, Austin?”
“This is the office.”
“Jim knows this too.”
“You appear to be in very critical condition.”
“Is that why you called me here?”
“As a servant before becoming a child, I was worried about your majesty’s health, so I wanted to offer advice.”
Austin limped towards Franz. The cane in his hand was grayish white, and Austin’s hair, though he was still over thirty, was white.
limp- tak-
limp- tak-
Shouldn’t we hurry up with the appointment of the crown prince… Is that what you’ve come to say? Dark thoughts, including doubts, crowded into Franz’s head.
However, the words that came out of the mouth of 1st Prince Austin were far from expected.
“But, you seem to be full of energy, so I let go.”
“is it.”
Franz faced a subtle smile painted on Austin’s lips.
“Then, I’ll leave my convictions alone.”
“…”
Franz watched his son walking away, then took another step.