Chapter 133
The emperor’s secret safe was open. It was a vault that could only be opened with the single key the emperor himself possessed—there was no spare.
But there was something even more important: the document Felix held in his hands.
It was surely the imperial decree that the emperor had shown him—the coronation certificate proclaiming Terhan as crown prince.
“So this was your plan… to stab me in the back like this…”
Felix’s crimson eyes gleamed with rage as he crumpled the document mercilessly.
Cassios was not a father who showed much affection. He would send gifts on birthdays or anniversaries, but the days he actually shared a meal with Felix could be counted on one hand.
Although he had never been the typical father, he never even glanced at Terhan. Felix had taken solace in that comparison, in that difference.
That was why his mother’s words—declaring rebellion—had weighed heavily on his heart at the time.
But not anymore.
Every word his mother had spoken was true.
The emperor would never look at someone like him. If he didn’t seize his position with all his might, leaving no flaws unaddressed, it would be taken from him.
That Terhan had fangs hidden, ready to tear him apart.
That only his mother was truly on his side…
All the unbelievable words he had been told were now confirmed as reality. A profound sense of betrayal consumed Felix’s reason.
“I’ll kill them all!!”
Felix flung the document to the floor and began stomping on it with his boots. Panting heavily, he did not stop his violent kicks.
“Die! Die! I said die!!”
It was as if this document were Terhan himself—or even the emperor. Felix’s red eyes, blinded by betrayal and vengeance, lost focus.
“Pathetic.”
Terhan finally revealed himself, furrowing his brows as he observed the grotesque scene. Felix snapped his head up and glared at him.
“How dare you!!”
Daring to covet what was rightfully his. Felix drew the sword at his waist for the first time.
“So that sword wasn’t just decoration, huh?”
Terhan let out a derisive snort at the sight, mocking him.
“Everything is your fault!!”
Already devoid of reason, Felix swung the sword down and charged at Terhan.
“Die!”
“I said die!”
“If only you weren’t here!!”
“You monstrous brat!!”
But Terhan dodged every strike with the smallest movement.
Felix, eyes glinting with malice, couldn’t even breathe properly as he hurled endless insults at Terhan. And then:
“Hah…hah…you witch’s spawn…how dare you…”
At those words, Terhan’s gaze turned icy cold.
“Your mouth.”
Terhan, who had been retreating, finally stepped forward.
“Shut it.”
Like a massive predator baring its teeth, his ferocity surged in an instant.
Felix’s body trembled uncontrollably at the sheer intensity. Standing just ahead, Terhan’s eyes radiated a chilling aura. Felix froze without realizing it.
“D-die—!!”
But reason had long fled from Felix; only distorted rage remained.
He hurled the sword from his hand and swung a fist toward Terhan’s face in a wide arc.
Thunk—!
Felix was the one who went flying.
He hadn’t even seen Terhan’s hand coming. The next thing he knew, his face was pressed against the ground.
“That filthy mouth… how dare you raise it at anyone.”
Terhan’s grim voice echoed.
“Die along with that monstrous woman! This position has been mine since before you were born! How dare the child of a criminal try to take what’s mine!!”
Now, all that remained in this morally bankrupt human was sheer ugliness.
“….”
Terhan looked down at the struggling Felix.
“I never once tried to take what was yours. Think carefully with that stupid head of yours. Your ruin is entirely the result of your own actions.”
Felix was insignificant—even his life was insignificant. Terhan turned and walked away.
Left alone, Felix would collapse on his own. There was no need for Terhan to soil his hands; the boy would sink by himself.
“You’re my opponent!!”
“….”
“Are you running away in fear, Terhan!!”
Felix continued to provoke him as he walked away, but Terhan did not look back. Not a second of his time was to be wasted on someone like this.
Just as Terhan opened the door to step outside:
“AAAAAAH!!”
Felix charged wildly with his sword.
Clang—!
But the life at stake was Felix’s. The sword in his hand had already flown far away.
“…It’s best not to expect mercy from death if you’ve given up on being human.”
Terhan’s emotionless eyes met his as he calmly retrieved his sword and swiftly stepped outside.
Each step quickened as urgency mounted. He needed to manage the situation—and find Hestia.
Arriving at the scene of the recent carnage, a large hunting dog approached Terhan amid the scattered corpses. The others were nowhere to be seen.
Grr.
Terhan bent one knee, meeting the dog’s eyes. Its sharp yellow gaze glinted as it growled.
Familiar eyes he had seen somewhere before.
“You’re… no way…”
Terhan narrowed his eyes, sizing up the dog. But it snorted and ran off toward a destination.
If his guess was correct, that destination was certain:
“Hestia.”
Terhan quickly rose and ran after the dog.
Where Terhan’s sword left no gaps, Cesar’s sword left no pretense. He simply pierced, slashed, and blocked any obstacle.
“I’ll take over. Go to His Highness.”
Cesar stepped forward, sending Hestia—who had reached her limits—behind him.
Hestia had faced hundreds of enemies alone. Now even her sword trembled in her hand.
Instinctively, she knew it was time to fall back.
“Please.”
Quietly, she entrusted herself to Cesar and ran toward the imperial palace. Her ragged breaths pained her with each step.
Numerous enemies tried to block Terhan’s path, but each time Aindek, Paul, Cesar—and even El—cleared the way.
Just a little more.
Finally, the corridor leading to the imperial palace came into view.
“For the new empire!!”
At that moment, an unexpected sword flew toward her side.
“Ugh!”
Hestia twisted and threw herself to the ground. She swallowed a short scream as pain surged through her body.
Raising her head from the floor, she saw:
“You ruined all our plans.”
Duke Morrison, eyes like serpents burning red, pressed his sword to her neck.
“No. This is all your own doing.”
But Hestia spoke clearly, showing no fear in her gaze.
“Hoo….”
Morrison’s smirk tilted as he stared at her face.
The sword barely grazed her, leaving a red streak on her soft cheek.
“You’re quite pretty, aren’t you.”
The greed in his eyes gleamed.
It was the first time he had been this close to Hestia. Even without magic, her appearance was enough to captivate anyone.
“How shall I play with you?”
Morrison tilted his head, letting out a filthy laugh as if lost in pleasure.
“Just kill me.”
Hestia scoffed and grabbed the sword, guiding it toward her neck.
Blood ran down her hand from the sharp edge.
“Why? No courage to kill?”
Her taunt made Morrison’s face flush red with anger. Hestia sneered and released the sword as if throwing it.
“You insolent woman. I’ll tear that mouth of yours first!”
Furious at her audacity, Morrison raised his sword.
Hestia watched him intently, already too exhausted to stand from her previous collapse.
“….”
No matter how she was cut, she would survive. She was fortunate no one else was here.
Hestia squeezed her eyes shut, preparing for what could be her final death.
In that darkness, her thoughts went to Terhan.
“Teo…”
I’m sorry I couldn’t reach you. I hope you haven’t waited too long.
A sad smile touched her lips as she braced for the incoming pain. But then:
“Ahhh—!”
A short scream, and then:
“Hestia.”
Instead of pain, it was the low voice she had only dreamed of.
She opened her eyes wide, looking up.
It was him. Terhan. So worried, so longed-for. The one who had been the only meaning in infinite time.
“Because you… called me.”
Terhan’s gaze was warm, soft enough to melt all tension from her body.
As he reached out, Hestia grabbed his hand eagerly, rising to fall into his embrace.
Terhan’s heartbeat thumped loudly. He was clearly frozen in surprise, but Hestia had no energy to care.
She only knew that this embrace was too good, too longed for, too warm. Tears streamed endlessly.
“Hhh…hh…”
Her breath, tinged with desperate longing, escaped between sobs.
Pat. Pat.
Terhan’s large hands enveloped Hestia’s back, sending gentle reassurance.
“You did so well. For… not giving up on me. For holding on.”
Once, long ago, Hestia had comforted Terhan with those words.
“You… you really… hh…hh…”
Hestia’s chest rose and fell with raw emotion she could no longer restrain.
Just as she had once given Terhan a reason to live, now Terhan had become Hestia’s reason.
Hestia’s tears soaked Terhan’s shirt as her complex emotions poured out, fading into the air like a ray of light.
