CHAPTER 22:
That Which Was Originally His
“Did I ever lend you anything?”
Would he really come all this way to settle some long-forgotten debt that Edwin couldn’t even remember?
That too, now that he essentially held real power over the Demon Realm?
“You didn’t come here to collect the ‘life’ I owed you back then, did you? That would be petty and narrow-minded.”
“Hmph. I am petty and narrow-minded. I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Mephisto casually sipped the tea brought by a trembling servant, shaking like a leaf from fear.
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
“Regardless, I urgently need something from you.”
“Are you saying you’ve come to take my life after all?”
Edwin and Mephisto both frowned simultaneously.
It seemed that a direct confrontation with Mephisto was inevitable.
“When did I ever say I wanted your head? I wouldn’t take it even if you gave it to me.”
Mephisto, who normally had no interest in others’ lives, had once—just once—saved Edwin from danger for reasons unknown.
Edwin wondered if that’s what this was about.
“But the Elf Fruit you once wanted wasn’t something I borrowed from you, so you’re not here for that, are you?”
“I don’t need that right now.”
Back when they’d gone to the Dreart royal palace, Edwin had confidently told Leodian not to worry even if Mephisto came. There was a reason for that.
The Elf Fruit was effective in pacifying and controlling demonic beasts of the underworld. Because most of those trees had vanished due to the war between the Celestials and Dragons, Edwin had been carefully nurturing and protecting one with magic.
“Then what are you here for?”
“Have you forgotten? It’s been so long.”
“So long…?”
“Yes. Around 500 years, I believe?”
The moment Mephisto said 500 years, a chill ran down Edwin’s spine.
That had been during the war between the Celestials and the Dragons. It was also when Beelzebub, the Demon King, had been destroyed by four witches.
No way!
“…What do you plan to use that for?”
That dangerous object must never resurface in this world.
“I’ve come to learn that something quite… intriguing has been born in the human world.”
Edwin pressed his lips tightly together and asked.
Something intriguing had been born?
He could only assume Mephisto meant Roziana.
Somehow, news of the Dreart princess had reached even the Demon Realm—and Mephisto had taken interest?
“It’s unlike you to show interest in someone else, Mephisto.”
“Yes. It’s unlike me too. It’s been a long time since anyone has piqued my interest.”
Had the phrase “piqued my interest” always sounded so chilling?
“No. Not a long time—”
The moment Mephisto’s black eyes seemed to change ever so slightly—
“It’s the first time.”
At his words, Edwin shuddered.
Of all people, why did the Dark Sorcerer Mephisto have to fall for the princess of Dreart?
“You lunatic. That girl was only recently born.”
“You’re no less crazy, Edwin. You went and got engaged to her.”
“So you knew about that and still came asking for the Birdcage?”
“Heh. So you did understand. Then hand it over. I’ve no other business here.”
The Birdcage.
It was a structure at the top of the Magic Tower.
A device used to imprison someone completely—to manipulate and violate them as one pleased, like a caged bird.
“That thing originally belonged to the Demon King.”
Mephisto said with a cold, lingering tone.
Roziana was in a great mood after winning the card game.
She had rested well, was feeling good, and had eaten a delicious, hearty meal.
“Oh my, Your Highness! I didn’t go easy on you at all!”
Mari’s eyes sparkled with amazement.
A child barely four years old playing cards this well? It was unbelievable.
“Mari, don’t be so surprised. My poker skill was famous even in the Forest of Witches.”
Hundreds of years ago.
“The forest?”
“Mm-hmm! Anyway, this is way more fun than puzzles!”
Clapping her small, soft hands together, Roziana smiled.
Mari, smiling back, finished tidying up the cards and asked Roziana:
“Since you’ve had your snack, would you like to take a nap now?”
It was almost her usual nap time.
“Nope, not sleepy! My pronunciation is better than yesterday too. Mari, don’t I seem bigger now?”
Her body had indeed grown, and so had her tongue—she could now pronounce most final consonants.
“Do you? I was actually surprised how much you seemed to grow overnight.”
“It must be thanks to Izeph’s healing. Where is he?”
After the card game, Izeph had excused himself and returned to his room.
“He said he had something to do. Shall I call him for you?”
“Hmm… Then tell him let’s go for a walk later.”
Now that she had grown a bit and could move more freely, Roziana was itching to explore.
“A walk?”
“Yeah. Oh! But before that, should I ask As if I’m allowed to go outside?”
She was, after all, still being hidden in the Grand Duke’s estate.
At that moment, as she tapped her forehead with a tiny hand—
A boy’s voice came from nearby.
“No need to ask.”
Asterios entered the room as he spoke. At his glance, Mari understood and left to fetch Izeph.
So that if Roziana wanted to go out for a walk, they would be ready.
“You may go anywhere you wish.”
“Anywhere?”
Roziana’s face lit up at the welcome news.
“Yes, but only if I accompany you.”
“Okay!”
Roziana nodded.
‘She really does act and speak far too maturely…’
Even in a child’s body, her firm gaze, tight-lipped determination, and composed behavior revealed her inner nature and wisdom.
‘Especially those eyes.’
When Roziana met his gaze, his golden eyes seemed to deepen in color.
A mark of royal blood and the power of dragons.
Though a child’s eyes should be pure and innocent, Asterios’s were already filled with something ancient—almost like a weighty memory.
And perhaps it was her imagination, but his gaze seemed to shimmer strangely when he looked at her.
Something rich, deep. A kind of emotion…
‘This feeling… I’ve felt it before…’
“Must the priest accompany you on the walk?”
His quiet question broke her thoughts.
She couldn’t remember what it was, but the expression on his face told her something was weighing on him.
“I was going to. Why?”
“May I request some time alone with you during the walk? There’s something I must tell you.”
Alone?
He must have something to say that couldn’t be overheard.
“Is it urgent?”
Roziana had just decided to find out more about him. And now he said he had something to say. It only piqued her interest further—she wanted to know everything she could about him.
“It’s not urgent, but… it is important to me.”
“Then tell me now.”
“Is now all right?”
“Yeah. We can go for the walk after.”
At her words, the boy began speaking slowly, as if the words weighed heavily.
“Tomorrow, a child will arrive at the Grand Duke’s estate.”
“A child?”
Roziana’s violet eyes widened.
“Yes. And from now on, that child will live as the Young Lord in my place.”
“What?!”
Roziana stood up in surprise—and the world spun dizzyingly.
“Your Highness!”
Asterios, who was right beside her, quickly caught her small body in his arms.
“Are you all right?”
Worried, he checked her condition immediately.
“This is no good. We’ll have to postpone this talk.”
He had thought they had one more day, but for some reason, the divine energy was surging faster than expected.
As he turned to call for Izeph—
“N-No! Don’t call him yet. Finish what you were saying…”
Her swaying body was rapidly heating up.
But Roziana instinctively knew—
What Asterios was saying was something she must not miss.
“That child will live as the Young Lord? Why?”
Even as her vision blurred, she clenched her eyes shut and stared at him.
She could feel her body growing heavier and hotter.
“Forgive me for not being able to tell you everything now… But I promise I will, when the time comes.”
“Th-Then what about you? Are you going somewhere?”
Each word she spoke came with burning breaths.
Asterios narrowed his brow, as though struggling.
“I will…”
As he began to speak, a dark red aura began to pour from his body.
“…live as the younger brother of Duke Cloud.”
Cloud? The former Grand Duke?
But he didn’t say “I am his younger brother,”—he said he’d live as his brother?
“Th-The Duchess went to fetch him, right…?”
Surprise flickered in Asterios’s golden eyes—like he hadn’t expected her to remember that.
Still in his arms, Roziana was now gasping for breath.
“Yes. The rest… please hear later. It’s too much for you now.”
As he finished speaking, he urgently called out for Izeph.
And Roziana slowly closed her eyes.
Or rather, tried to.
Suddenly, a vivid hallucination appeared, and she fought to stay conscious.
‘No… no way!’
Even though her eyes wanted to shut, and shadowy figures danced before her, she couldn’t allow herself to faint.
Whether it was from the fever or the divine surge, what appeared before her was something she couldn’t believe even as she saw it.
“Tenebres!”
The young boy who had been holding her had suddenly transformed into his youthful adult form.
