Chapter Thirty-Two
_ Endless Incidents
" Lady Karin, there are matters you have not spoken of. "
Raphael's voice was calm and cold due to the hint of sadness in her eyes. Karin, who was sharp at reading the atmosphere, sighed and said:
" Is it alright to speak in the presence of Silas?! "
" The lady is the future Empress, so it is fine. "
Ivan's voice was calm, but he looked at Elliot, whom they had clearly forgotten about entirely. Elliot smiled and said:
" I will take my leave now, Aya... when this is over, send a message to return you home. "
Ariana nodded in affirmation and Elliot departed. Afterward, Raphael signaled for Karin and Ivan to sit; Ivan sat in his mother's place, while she sat on the sofa opposite Ariana and Raphael. Karin sighed and said:
" There are many matters; it would be difficult if they were to get out. "
" It is fine, the lady can speak with complete ease. "
Ariana's voice was gentle and kind, which made Karin smile and say:
" As I said before, I have been in the temple since I was a child and escaped from it when I was pregnant with Ivan. The experiments were as follows: just as animals are crossbred, we witches were crossbred to bear powerful children from a witch and a saint or vice versa. But very few succeeded in this, and often the children born with two powers die. Ivan is one of these successful and very rare experiments—not because of their alleged intelligence, but because I am a potion witch. I tried hard to bear this child dwelling within my womb, which was growing weakly due to the temple's greed... "
" Did you not tell me that my father died when I was an infant? "
" I was forced to lie to you because you were just a small child, but you are strong and can kill that despicable man. "
Ariana coughed because Karin's teachings were somewhat crazy, but Karin smiled with sadness and brokenness at Ariana and said:
" The feeling of being exploited to bear a child and undergo experiments is incredibly painful. They did not care that I had not yet reached seventeen for a child to live inside me, and they began to break me. But, strangely, the child who was a weapon for them was my only hope and family. I decided that I would not abandon him and would not allow them to mess with him as they did with me... "
Karin took a breath and clenched her fist:
" When I was diagnosed as pregnant and they thought they had broken my will, my restraints were loosened, but I had not been broken. I was determined to protect what was mine, so I fled. Much credit goes to Marquis Mark Boris; he was nominally a follower of the temple, but when he found me still holding together, he was able to get me out. After that, I ended up going to Ruano in the far north, to an area belonging to Silas, one of the neutral families. I lived there until Ivan reached nine, and then I was forced to return to the capital for Lady Silas, who was suffering from a massive runaway of holy energy, to the point of destabilizing her soul... "
Ivan looked at his mother, who seemed to feel pain when remembering that day, as her voice began to falter...
" But when I arrived, things had turned into chaos. I placed my child in the inn and went to the Silas estate. I did not reach the Marquis and Marchioness; instead, I found Albin Silas, who, when I told him of the matter, told me to wait. Afterward, men from the temple arrived led by the despicable Rokshan, and I was arrested.... "
She closed her eyes with a deep sense of pain:
" Forgive me, my little one. I could not protect you except in this way. "
She directed the apology to Ivan with warm eyes, as if blaming herself. Raphael sighed and whispered in a voice Ariana could hear:
" This has made me miss my mother. "
" She is watching you and is happy with what you are doing. Surely she is very proud of you. "
She patted the back of his hand and whispered her kind words, which made him smile. Then he looked seriously at Ivan, who was choking back tears in his eyes, and at Karin, who was very warm in her gaze toward her son...
Perhaps Raphael was the one who had seen Ivan's fluctuations the most; these tears were the only thing he hadn't seen, but he was happy for him...
" I will let the lady rest in the outer annex, and you can rest as well, Ivan. Then, when there is a need, we may summon you both. Keep her existence a secret for now. I will allow you to teleport to the location. "
"..."
"..."
" Wait. "
The two nodded in affirmation and Karin stood up with Ivan's help. Before they left, Raphael stopped them and stood directly in front of Karin. He placed his hand on her head and channeled his healing magic, making the scattered bruises and peeling skin from the torture disappear completely...
" Take good care of her. "
Ivan had always felt gratitude, respect, and absolute loyalty toward Raphael, but today he realized he was not wrong. In the past life, despite unconsciously destroying the empire, he would suffer and ache when he returned to his senses. He thought he would never show this kind and warm side to anyone other than Ariana after that, but his master was still that warm and compassionate one, even if he didn't show it. Ivan bowed deeply and said:
" Thank you, Your Majesty. "
Raphael unconsciously patted Ivan's head, then both laughed at passing childhood memories. Then Ivan left accompanied by his mother...
Raphael sat back and rested his head on the back of the sofa, looking at the ceiling. His mind was filled with many, many thoughts. Ariana patted his shoulder and looked at him from above with a gentle smile:
" Everything will be alright. Raphael is a capable Emperor. "
Raphael placed his hand on Ariana's hand and closed his eyes with a sense of comfort and peace. He looked at her silently:
"..."
"..."
Then he pulled her smoothly and settled her in his lap, hugging her tightly. With a sense of being lost, he said:
" Aya... thank you for being in my life. I don't know what my life would have been like. Thank you for coming into this world and protecting me..."
" I am the one who thanks you. "
Ariana smiled and tightened her embrace. If time were to return, she would make this decision over and over again, because she truly loves him.
* * *
" Your relationship with the Emperor resembles that of siblings. "
She spoke while sitting down with his help. He sighed and placed the food tray in front of her, saying as he brought the spoon to her mouth:
" There are many matters I want to understand. "
" I can tell you everything you want, but I must ask you: is there anyone who knows of your possession of magical power? "
" Very few. The Emperor and his fiancée, and the last person is Kayn Boris.."
Karin's eyes gleamed, and she said calmly:
" Has the information reached the temple?! "
" Perhaps it hasn't reached them, but they suspect it. "
" They will know sooner or later. They doubted my words when I told them the child died, but they believed me in the end. Only a few children—about three in a thousand—succeeded. Mothers died, and many women died in those brutal experiments... Do you want to know the identity of your father?! "
" Why do you think I want to know him?! "
" Perhaps out of curiosity, or revenge, or something else.."
" And will you tell me?! "
He placed the spoon in front of her mouth for her to eat as before, but she pursed her lips and looked at him with a complex feeling, opening her mouth to speak. However, he inserted the spoon and smiled at her with a warm feeling...
"..."
" This man had a hand in torturing my mother and depriving me of her. I will be pleased to take revenge on him. "
Karin wiped the tears lingering in her eyes and said:
" I do not want you to be hurt. I will tell you so my conscience may rest... how selfish of me. "
Ivan wiped his mother's tears, refilled the spoon, and put it in her mouth. When she finished swallowing, she spoke calmly and with a complex feeling:
" Perhaps you have realized it, or perhaps he suspected it. He is a powerful man. I don't know why he participated in the experiment. Steve Rokshan... a malicious man. "
" Perhaps malice is the common thing that flows in my blood from him. I will meet cruelty with even greater cruelty. I will place his head between your hands. I will destroy everyone who touched my mother.."
" I felt it. I felt that you were capable of doing that.... my wonderful child. "
Karin patted Ivan's cheek; he was happy and embraced his mother. After the emotional and blood-charged atmosphere, he finished feeding her despite her opposition and helped her go to sleep after she took a bath and wore clean clothes with the help of several trusted maids brought by Raphael.
* * *
Several days passed, and the previous incident that occurred at the Emperor's engagement ended as if it had never happened at all. Philip and Elena returned to the Duchy of Silvano last night, and Ariana was scheduled to return to her residence today. Marian had begun packing her belongings and boarding the carriage before Brian approached them and, in a panting voice, said to Ariana:
" Your Majesty, His Majesty has requested that Her Majesty return to her private suite... immediately. "
" Why would the Emperor request such a thing? Sir Carus, confirm the matter..."
He caught his breath, and before he could open his mouth, a powerful horse arrived in front of Ariana. Elliot was on it and dismounted quickly, checking on Ariana:
" I thought you had already left the palace. Thank God. "
" Brother, what are you talking about?! And why shouldn't I leave... Brother, tell me please. "
" The plague is spreading on the widest possible scale. People whose conditions were supposed to have started stabilizing have taken a turn for the worse. Everyone around them has fallen ill—their families, friends, and doctors. Bodies have begun to fill the streets; no one has been able to pick them up for fear of the disease. The Empire is rotting with the smell of the plague... My sister's body is weak; she won't endure it. "
Ariana felt confused and ran quickly toward the palace—specifically, the meeting room, which was noisy even before entering. She stood before the door, and the guards tried to stop her, but she looked at them sternly and commanded them in a majestic manner:
" Open the door. "
The two knights hesitated, but Brian, who was behind Ariana, nodded to the guard, meaning it was alright. The knight hesitated but opened the door. The hall was noisy with the disapproval of the nobles and those inside. Ariana looked inside the hall, then at Elliot and Brian standing behind her, took a deep breath, and entered calmly...
The noise turned into a dead silence, between those who were indignant, those who were puzzled, and those who were fascinated by the beauty of the future Empress. Ariana bowed facing Raphael...
" I apologize for interrupting the emergency meeting. "
Raphael was flustered and looked at Brian and Elliot with a reproachful gaze. Although Elliot was less affected by Raphael's looks, he felt blamed for not stopping his sister. Raphael hesitated, then asked as calmly as possible:
" Your Majesty, has something gone wrong?! Is Your Majesty's health alright?! "
" I thank His Majesty for his care for me. I am fine..."
She hesitated for a moment. She had rushed in out of her concern for him, to the point that she had overstepped boundaries, which might harm Raphael's pride. She couldn't bring herself to say she was worried. Before she could find an excuse, Raphael spoke:
" Come. "
"...?! "
She looked at him as if to say 'what', but he repeated his words:
" Come. My Empress surely has solutions. "
Ariana's ears turned red, but she moved with steady steps to his side, though she was thanking her luck that she wore a dress rich in layers to hide the trembling movement of her legs...
" Present the report, Marquis Burton. "
The Marquis looked toward the audience and then at the Emperor and said:
" The plague known as 'Wraith' has begun to spread and evolve. It has become stronger and more widespread. It has reached many of our regions and provinces. Even the Imperial Academy has sent a request for help, as many students have been affected, and as you know, there are foreign students from prominent families. "
" All people are equal to me; what matters is knowing how to solve the problem. "
The Marquis felt embarrassed and lowered his head. Before he could continue, a man entered panting and said:
" I apologize for the delay, Your Majesty. Something has caught my attention regarding the patients. "
He was a man in his late thirties with reddish-brown hair and brown eyes. He had shadows under his eyes and seemed to have been running in a hurry to get here..
" Count Renon Theorban, please proceed. "
" I apologize for entering the province. I was tasked with the direct treatment of patients at the Imperial Hospital, and there were many patients. As everyone said, everyone's condition is getting worse..."
" And did you interrupt the meeting just to confirm that? There must be a solution, not a presentation of the problem. "
It was one of the nobles who interrupted Renon. But Renon looked at the Emperor and then at everyone:
" There is only one case that is improving and has not been affected by the evolution of the plague, so perhaps it is an opportunity. "
...... To be continued ......