Chapter 116: It'll Be Okay
- Reira ☾⋆⁺₊✧ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁
- Dec 11, 2025
- 8 min read
Updated: Dec 12, 2025
“Do you dislike the Grand Duke?”
“I hate him. That is why I want him to feel the pain of losing someone he loves.”
“Then why did you eliminate the witch?”
“When I heard people describe the witch, every one of them reminded me of that woman. Thus, I thought it best to affix the label of ‘witch’ to that woman as well.”
“That’s an interesting idea.”
Even if the witch hadn’t been defeated, that woman would have eventually been branded as a witch anyway.
Zerpheus lifted the corner of his mouth, thinking of Herman, who must be furious that his plan had gone awry.
Herman’s plan fell through because of the false God’s representative, but thanks to that, Zerpheus gained the justification to swallow the temple’s entire plan whole.
“In fact, I had no intention of accepting Your Majesty’s proposal.”
“Is that why you kept refusing my proposal?”
“Yes.”
“Then why have you accepted it now?”
“On my own, killing that woman is about all I can manage. But if Your Majesty were to help me, I could completely bring down the Grand Duke.”
James’s eyes hardened with resolve.
Zerpheus leisurely rubbed the corners of his mouth.
“Do you think I would strike my own younger brother?”
“If I were in Your Majesty’s position, I could not help but despise the Grand Duke.”
“...”
It was only for a brief moment, but Zerpheus’s hand that had been stirring the tea froze.
He had never once considered the idea of hating Cabelenus.
Cabelenus was a flawless younger brother, lacking nothing.
The matter related to that woman was merely troublesome; there was nothing to hate.
“Unfortunately, I do not hate my younger brother.”
“For someone who speaks such words, Your Majesty still seems rather intrigued by me.”
“Discipline, by its nature, can only be carried out with affection.”
Zerpheus crossed his legs and nodded.
There wasn’t much to talk about.
After all, the other party had what he wanted.
He could use him to his heart’s content, then discard him when finished.
“I’ll prepare a place for you in the imperial palace.”
“That is not what I want.”
“Then what do you want?”
“Certainty about my revenge. Your Majesty still has not said that you will help me with my revenge.”
“It seems you prefer certainty.”
Zerpheus traced the armrest of the sofa, his eyes narrowing like a snake’s.
“I have risked everything for revenge. Without certainty, I cannot act.”
“Of course, don’t worry about that. As you wish, the Grand Duke of Schwarhan will lose everything.”
‘Naturally, he will end up gaining far more than he loses.’
Zerpheus smiled faintly, keeping the rest of his words to himself.
His younger brother, with golden eyes, was not suited for the humble snowy plains but for the golden throne that everyone revered.
When everything was over, Cabelenus would abandon the title of Grand Duke of Schwarhan and live under the name of Emperor Blanche.
“Is that true?”
“You don’t seem to trust me.”
“A moment ago, Your Majesty said that you do not hate the Grand Duke.”
“So you need a different kind of certainty?”
Zerpheus smiled again.
He was aware of the beads of sweat running down James’s neck.
No matter how much Zerpheus‘s counterpart tried to appear skilled, he was not adept at negotiation.
And usually, such a person could be completely controlled according to Zerpheus‘s will once threats were added.
“Please write it down. A written statement stating that Your Majesty will help me with my revenge.”
“I’m someone who could cut off your head right here and not care in the slightest.”
“Everyone knows that I entered the imperial palace today. If I die, everyone will suspect Your Majesty.”
“...”
Zerpheus furrowed his brow.
The man sitting across from him couldn’t keep his eyes in focus, and his expression was far from good.
By now, he was sufficiently scared, so it was about time for him to cautiously kneel at his feet and beg.
However, the answer Zerpheus wanted did not come from James’s mouth.
"From the moment I entered this place, people must have been talking about Your Majesty and me."
“...”
“Everyone must be amazed, since Your Majesty, whom they thought would be hostile toward me, has willingly received me with great magnanimity.”
“…Do you dare to threaten me?"
Zerpheus’s voice dropped.
“I am telling you that I have staked everything on this revenge.”
“...”
“I know that if I do not show my face to the crowd unharmed, Your Majesty will be put in a difficult position.”
Zerpheus’s eyes, which had been smiling so effortlessly, stiffened for a moment.
By underestimating him as merely a talented con artist, he ended up revealing a flaw of his own.
“They say only a clever person can pull off a con, and that saying is exactly right.”
“I will take that as a compliment.”
“I will write the statement just as you wish. And I will also tell you where you will stay and what you will do from now on.”
Zerpheus rang the bell and called Hans, the servant who had been waiting outside.
“From now on, that child will attend to you, so if anything happens, be sure to tell him immediately.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“No need for thanks. More importantly, you must be exhausted from the long journey, so go in and rest comfortably today. From tomorrow, very busy days will follow.”
No sooner had Zerpheus finished speaking than Hans, sensing his intention, led James outside.
Zerpheus waited until the two had left, and the moment the door closed, he leisurely raised his hand.
“Pelsion.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Pelsion, emerging from behind the curtain, showed proper respect to Zerpheus.
But instead of acknowledging the greeting, Zerpheus merely stared at the door through which James had just exited.
The young emperor was no longer smiling.
“Remember that con artist’s face well. As soon as everything is over, he will be the first one I kill.”
・・・・・
“Think it over again. No matter how I think about it, this isn’t right.”
“But we don’t have time.”
“...”
“If I want to extend what little time I have left, this is currently the only way.”
“But…”
Cabelenus’s face twisted.
He didn’t want Alicia to die either, but that didn’t mean he could let her take poison.
If she took poison in that condition, it truly felt as though everything would come to an end.
“It’s okay. You’ll stay by my side, won’t you?”
“...”
Alicia leaned against Cabelenus’s chest, resting her face against him as she was held in his embrace.
The thumping, resounding heartbeat was extremely welcoming.
“I kept thinking about it. About whether my mother really wanted to kill me.”
“...”
“But even so, I don’t want to believe that my mother tried to kill me.”
Alicia’s gaze landed on the pot that was bubbling vigorously.
The soup, glowing with a strange green hue, did nothing to whet the appetite.
But it was enough to revive old memories.
“I still remember my mother telling me to live. Moreover, the monster said I would die even if I didn’t use my power.”
“...”
“I will believe that my mother made the soup knowing my condition.”
“...”
“Though my late mother wouldn’t be able to say anything now, the mother I remember was like that. She was kind and full of love for me.”
She couldn’t bring herself to take the poison based only on what the monster said.
But when she thought of her mother’s face, her fear vanished.
“Looking back, the days I ate my mother’s soup were the days I was unusually sick.”
“...”
“It’ll be okay — all of it.”
“...”
No matter how painful or difficult it was, she had to stay alive. After all, opportunities belonged only to the living.
Alicia tensed her arms.
She was no longer alone.
・・・・・
“How’s your body? Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m better than before.”
Even just by looking at her face, it was clear her condition had improved, but Cabelenus checked on Alicia’s state out of habit.
Even after ingesting a deadly poison that might have killed an ordinary person instantly, Alicia was fine except for a brief period of illness. Afterwards, her complexion even improved, making her look healthier, yet the man still couldn’t relax.
[Temporary. Not a perfect solution.]
The monster suddenly forced its way between Alicia and Cabelenus.
Cabelenus frowned at the distance that had been imposed on him.
But the monster didn’t care at all and simply rubbed its face against Alicia’s hand.
From the beginning, the monster’s only concern was Alicia.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen a monster behave so obediently.”
Gazeff adjusted his glasses frame several times.
He never imagined it was possible, but to actually tame the monster, it was truly astonishing, no matter how he looked at it.
“They agreed to help us.”
Krrrr—..
“Of course, without Alicia’s help, we wouldn’t be able to understand what they’re saying.”
“Are you saying only the young lady can understand them?”
"It seems like it."
As if waiting for Alicia’s gaze, the monster’s tail swished.
"What about the young master?"
“I don’t know the reason, but Michael couldn’t hear them.”
[It is because the blood is mixed.]
The monster lifted its face toward Alicia.
Hesitating for a moment, Alicia cautiously reached out her hand toward the monster.
The monster, in the form of Rex, looked no more than a large dog at first glance.
“What do you mean by ‘the blood is mixed’?”
[The child. He carries the blood of ‘that man.’]
The monster rubbed its face against Alicia’s palm.
It was a gesture as if showing affection.
“That man? Who is he?”
[I cannot say.]
“Why not?”
[He is a sinner. The name must not be spoken.]
The monster shook its head.
“A sinner? What crime did he commit?”
[He took everything from you. That is why he was exiled.]
The monster turned its head and looked at Cabelenus.
Instinctively, Cabelenus frowned at the hostile look.
Through his furrowed gaze, the man’s irises shone a much deeper gold than the monster’s.
[He appeared one day. The one who carried that person’s blood.]
“That person—”
[I know. He is not ‘that man.’]
“...”
[But his scent is mixed in. The child’s as well.]
The monster’s gaze wavered.
“I don’t want you to misunderstand. That person didn’t gain that power by choice.”
[That is why it is incomplete.]
“Incomplete?”
[He can become stronger.]
“He’s already strong enough as he is now.”
[No. It is still not enough.]
“Can I ask what you’re talking about?”
Unable to hold back, Cabelenus quietly interjected.
What Alicia said could be heard, but by itself, it wasn’t enough to understand the complete conversation.
“Well…”
“Is it a story that’s hard to talk about?”
“It’s not that, but there are many parts I don’t understand myself. I don’t know how to explain it.”
Alicia’s hand stroked the back of the monster’s neck again.
At first, touching the monster felt strange, but after a few times, the soft fur didn’t feel so bad.
“Still, if I summarise just the parts I understood for now, it seems that the monster used in your experiment was a special being.”
“A special being? Who is it?”
“It says it’s a sinner whose name must not be spoken. But…”
“What?”
“It might just be a guess, but I think…”
Alicia’s gaze fell on the monster.
In truth, when she heard the word ‘sinner,’ one name immediately came to mind.
[Ask me anything. I can answer.]
"…The sinner you’re talking about. By any chance, is his name Prime?”
[It is a name I cannot speak.]
“So I was right after all.”
A faint breath escaped between Alicia’s teeth.
“…Prime?”
“Is that what the monster said?”
“No. That’s my thought.”
Alicia gave an awkward smile at the two men looking at her.
“May I ask why you thought that?”
"You said so before. That the temple called your power a sacred power." [1]
“…You remembered that remark.”
“I remember most of what you’ve said.”
A faint smile spread across Alicia’s lips.
Back then, she had always been anxious.
She had to endure, repeatedly reminding herself that she could do nothing except rely on Cabelenus’s interest, which might end at any instant.
That was why every single moment felt so desperate and precious.
She couldn’t bear to miss a single moment, not even the smallest ones, so she forced herself to remember them again and again.
But that was in the past.
There was no longer any reason to be anxious.
Alicia slowly lifted her head.
Translator's Corner:
[1] This was mentioned in chapter 46
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