Chapter 57
Memories Flowed and Flowed
Happy memories, painful memories—they all passed by like the flowing waves of the Sehaz River.
But time stopped on one particular day.
The day everything ended.
The day Eslyn died.
“So even the proud princess ends like this.”
One of the first prince’s attendants, who had been watching over her, muttered casually.
Eslyn was lying on the floor of the execution room. She’d been given a sedative, so her mind was foggy. Her usually sharp eyes were dull.
Footsteps echoed in the distance.
“D-Duke Ripherius! Why are you here so early? His Highness the First Prince hasn’t—”
“I brought the poison for the princess. Step aside.”
“But…”
The attendant hesitated. He had heard that Duke Ripherius was the one to carry out the execution—but this was earlier than expected.
“Are you daring to block my way?”
“N-No! Please, go ahead. The person behind you…?”
“He’s my servant. He brought the poison.”
Tebet said vaguely. The man behind him had his robe hood pulled deep over his face. The attendant was suspicious, but didn’t dare question a noble.
After all, Ripherius was known for staying neutral—he assumed it would be fine.
“Damn it.”
As soon as he entered the execution room, Tebet clenched his fists.
Eslyn lay collapsed on the floor.
He wanted to run to her immediately—so much that it nearly made him vomit blood just to hold himself back.
A couple of guards stood watch over her.
He wondered if he could just take out their eyes or slit their throats.
The taste of blood in his mouth finally brought him back to reality.
He took the poison from the mage.
“Eslyn of House Bertania, I’ve brought the poison you must drink.”
His voice stayed calm—thankfully.
But his trembling hands gave him away. A single drop of the black liquid jumped out of the cup.
“…”
Eslyn looked up at Tebet with unfocused eyes.
Her gaze was empty. Dead.
It felt like Tebet’s heart was being stabbed over and over.
This is all because of me.
Eslyn slowly turned her gaze and spotted the man behind Tebet. Her eyes widened in surprise.
“Everything will be fine, Your Highness.”
The mage whispered, responding to her reaction. Tebet could feel the guards watching closely.
“It’s time, Princess.”
Tebet spoke coldly, deliberately.
He leaned close to Eslyn and gave a quick signal behind his back.
The mage moved his fingers.
Suddenly, the air stilled. It was like the world had been separated by a thin crystal wall.
“Hah… Hurry, Your Grace. With my current magic, I can only hold this for one minute at most.”
The mage wiped blood from his mouth.
Tebet immediately pulled Eslyn into his arms. Her wide, blue eyes stared at him.
Her dry lips made his heart ache.
“Eslyn, I’m going to save you now. But to do that…”
He didn’t even know if he was speaking or stabbing her.
“Your body has to die first.”
If not a blade, how else could he explain this pain?
Eslyn didn’t respond. She just looked at him, eyes trembling.
“We don’t have much time. Can you trust me? If not me, then trust your mage.”
Tebet spoke urgently. The mage could only hold the magic a little longer.
Eslyn’s lips barely moved.
“I trust you.”
Her voice was faint, like a candle flickering in the wind.
“Because I want to.”
Tebet’s eyes burned.
“Eslyn… Eshi.”
He pressed his forehead against hers.
“Please remember just one thing.”
He made a vow.
“The one I chose… was you, Eslyn Bertania.”
Only at the very end did he finally realize his true feelings.
“So from now on, I’ll never hide behind the name Ripherius again. I won’t be Duke Ripherius in front of you anymore.”
Eslyn closed her eyes. Even in her hazy state, his words were the only thing that reached her clearly.
The words I wanted to hear most…
She bit her lip.
The person I wanted most…
She had finally held onto him.
Now she could change everything.
But…
It’s too late.
Eslyn screamed inside. She prayed with all her heart.
If there’s a god out there, please—grant my wish.
And then—thunder roared from somewhere.
Eslyn jerked up, startled.
Wait… how can I move?
She had been too weak to even lift a finger just moments ago.
[Poor child.]
A voice echoed somewhere. It sounded like a child and an old person at the same time. She instinctively understood:
This is the voice of a god.
[You go against the natural order.]
The god’s voice was solemn.
[Do you want to live? You were the one who chose death.]
I want to live. I have a reason now.
[But every action has a cost. You’ve broken nature’s law. You must pay.]
A cost…?
[Yes. The ones who completed the forbidden magic… and you, for using it. All must pay.]
The god’s voice was heavy.
[There must be a price.]
Eslyn’s eyes widened.
Mauses! (the mage)
[The mage has already paid—with his magic. So now, the knight.]
No!
[I will take the price from the knight.]
No, take it from me instead! Return Dierian’s magic, too!
Eslyn cried out desperately. This was her fault. They shouldn’t suffer for it.
[That is your choice?]
Yes. I’ll give anything.
[You still don’t choose yourself.]
For some reason, the god’s voice sounded lonely.
[Very well. Then I will take it from you. Just in time—you now have something precious enough to take.]
What is it?
[A bond.]
It was a cruel answer.
[I will take your connection with that man.]
God, no!
[You will lose all memories of Tebet Ripherius.]
No… Eslyn groaned.
[And if—by chance—you ever remember him again…]
Please, no!
[Then he will forget you.]
The god’s voice was unforgettable. It rang loud and clear.
[Without your bond, you two will never truly be connected. That is the price for your choice.]
Light shone around her. A soft breeze wrapped around her body.
[Go, my child. I hope this time you learn—if you do not choose yourself, no one else will choose you either.]
With those final words, Eslyn opened her eyes.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
From her lips, the black poison dripped slowly.
“…Ah.”
She had just drunk the poison Tebet gave her.
At the moment the cup touched her lips, the god had spoken to her.
“Sir Tebet…”
Eslyn murmured, feeling the poison burning down her throat. Tebet quickly leaned close to hear her.
Her voice was so faint, only he could hear it.
“Eshi…”
“I… I’m going to lose my memory.”
She mumbled in his arms. Her tongue was already going numb, making her speech slurred.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m sorry. Because of me… cough”
“Don’t speak. Just hold on a bit longer.”
Tebet’s face twisted in pain. He clenched his jaw so hard that blood dripped between his teeth.
“I have a request. If I lose my memory… don’t tell me anything.”
Let her be the only one lost in confusion. She didn’t want anything to be taken from him by the god.
“What does that mean?”
“The truth… about all this…”
Her breathing was getting harder.
There was no time left to explain more.
“Instead…”
Eslyn said the most important thing.
“Find the Holy Grail.”
Strangely, the words came out easily that time.
She knew the grail had disappeared 100 years ago.
But still—she felt sure.
“If we find it… somehow…”
It might be the key to break this curse.
That thought was like an instinct, written in the blood of Bertania.
She didn’t know if her voice came out clearly.
But she could feel his arms holding her tight. Hot tears kept falling on her pale cheek.
She wanted to see his face again—but her vision faded.
“I…”
I won’t give up.
She wouldn’t let this bond she finally found break apart.
So he must not give up either.
Even if this cruel fate repeats again…
Even if this endless cycle comes again…
Eslyn chose to believe in herself.
And in the man she chose—Tebet Ripherius.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
The cries of pain faded.
Darkness rushed in, like a quiet dawn.
Her body floated—finally free.
From far away, drums began to beat.
They marked the end… and the beginning of something new.
