CHAPTER 30
After Roziana’s private audience with the Emperor, Asterios was summoned by His Majesty.
The Emperor’s command remained unchanged: do not leave Roziana’s side and protect her at all costs. According to their prior discussions, a decoy would be prepared.
Thus, everything proceeded according to the Emperor’s plan.
While Leodian prepared for the worst—an inability to stop Mephisto—he also arranged an escape plan for the princes and the Empress. He left Roziana’s protection to Asterios and her personal knights.
The operation was carried out swiftly and in secret.
On the night of the new moon, when the darkness was at its peak—
Ijeff sat quietly in the princess’s room, dressed in Roziana’s clothing.
It was the Emperor’s order, and the highlight of the baiting strategy.
Though not silver-haired, Ijeff had long, pale hair and a slender frame. Dressed in the princess’s garments and adorned with her accessories, at a glance he looked every bit like a beautiful noblewoman of the imperial court.
The perfect decoy for the princess.
Ijeff was ideal in many ways—his appearance, his abilities, and his composure.
He also possessed divine power, making him perfect for impersonating Roziana. In fact, he had survived the last attack despite confronting the power of darkness directly.
He had been handpicked by the Emperor himself, believing Ijeff could survive even in dangerous moments.
“…Ijeff.”
Roziana stood before him with a guilty expression.
She wore the uniform of a knight, chosen for ease of movement.
“Your Highness,”
Ijeff stood gracefully, lifting the heavy skirts—truly resembling a noblewoman.
Roziana’s expression grew complicated as she saw him standing in her place.
He really looks like someone from the royal family. Even now, he carries himself with the composure of a true priest. How frustratingly perfect.
“I’m honored to serve Your Highness in this way,” Ijeff said with a serene smile.
His peaceful expression made Roziana feel even worse.
“This wasn’t my plan.”
“I know. But I was the one who asked His Majesty to use me.”
As soon as the baiting plan was explained, Ijeff had volunteered, as if he had foreseen it all.
“This was my choice. You don’t need to worry.”
“But…”
Asterios stepped up beside her.
“Your Highness, we must move now.”
“…I understand.”
The Emperor’s strategy was to have Ijeff act as bait and lure Mephisto, while the real Roziana hid in a secured tower, avoiding direct confrontation.
The goal was for Ijeff to be taken in Roziana’s place.
All the towers and palaces in the imperial grounds had knights and soldiers evenly stationed.
Still, only a few—royalty and a handful of elite commanders—had the dragon’s power needed to resist the darkness.
If Mephisto used forbidden spells and dark magic like before, most of the guards and soldiers would fall like paper dolls.
Leodian had concluded that a direct battle would be hopeless. This was the plan he chose.
Roziana, accompanied by Asterios, headed for the outermost tower of the palace.
To the casual eye, it looked like a peaceful night, just like any other.
But then—
At the hour when the moon completely vanished.
The sky lost all its light.
As expected, cold darkness blanketed the entire palace.
Rumble…
An eerie sound echoed through the vast grounds of the imperial palace.
“Kyaaa!”
“Kuaaah!”
As the Archmage had warned, the moment deep night arrived, monsters began pouring in.
With shrieks and howls, demonic creatures from the underworld surged toward the palace.
“Ma—monsters!”
A gate had clearly opened within the palace.
The gate between the underworld and the human world—a horrifying occurrence.
Never before had such a gate opened inside the imperial grounds.
“For Draeart!”
“Everyone, attack!”
With the signal, the knights of Draeart began cutting down the beasts.
Black blood splattered like mud across their golden armor.
Leodian, observing quietly from within the palace, narrowed his eyes.
He, too, was prepared to summon his divine beast if needed.
Thanks to their preparations, the knights held off the monsters with minimal casualties.
They mercilessly slashed through the creatures’ massive bodies and tore apart their jaws.
At this rate, it might be possible to defeat them all.
But… the true attacker hasn’t even arrived yet.
“…Mephisto.”
The Emperor muttered quietly.
Sshhhk—
A dark, overwhelming energy split the sky.
Thick, black liquid—like blood—poured down.
And from within it emerged a figure, walking calmly.
Thud.
Flop.
One by one, living beings collapsed, losing consciousness.
Without even a scream.
“…Roziana.”
The man, cloaked head to toe in black, whispered her name ominously as he walked into the palace and pulled back his hood.
“Princess of Draeart.”
In the pitch-black space, only his pale face glowed faintly.
Too pale—his sharp, cold eyes intensified the chill.
Yet… he was beautiful.
His strong, masculine build was barely hidden by the black cloak.
A terrifying sort of beauty.
Mephisto had an unnerving, dangerous charm.
“Rozie… If you would come to me, no innocent blood need be shed.”
His handsome face twisted into a chilling smile.
“Who said you could call her ‘Rozie’?”
Leodian scoffed in disbelief.
While only those who inherited the dragon’s power could remain standing, Leodian swallowed his words and moved alone.
His body now enveloped in a golden aura, Leodian slowly approached Mephisto.
“Ggh… Y-Your Majesty…”
The four captains—Sudden of the Gold Guardians, Blair of Blaze, Raiden, and Eisner—followed behind.
Each surrounded by their own powerful auras, they still trembled with every step, barely able to hold their swords.
Even as elite knights, they were barely suppressing the overwhelming darkness, not attacking.
Mephisto’s power paralyzed living beings without a sound.
It was the essence of his darkness.
A force truly worthy of being called the aura of death…
Even Leodian felt the crushing pressure growing.
Now it was clear why Mephisto had once been so feared.
There’s no way I’ll let Roziana anywhere near this monster.
Leodian’s glare sharpened.
Mephisto twirled his black cloak and bowed mockingly.
“Oh my, the Emperor of Draeart came out to greet me personally. What an honor.”
“You dare invade my empire with your demons? Do you have a death wish?”
Unshaken, Mephisto’s black eyes widened.
Then he burst into laughter that echoed across the dark skies.
“Hahahahahaha!”
After laughing heartily, he abruptly stopped.
His pale face shifted into a chilling grin.
“I like you, Leodian. And your daughter… I want her.”
“…”
“You know why I’m here, don’t you? So let’s not waste words. Hand her over, and no one needs to die—not even you. Of course, I can kill without spilling blood… it’s easier than breathing.”
With a flick of his fingers, the demons behind him collapsed with grotesque cries.
“As you can see, my power is death. And you ask if I want to die? That’s hilarious.”
Cruel, destructive, and amused.
Even with his handsome face, Mephisto’s laugh was bone-chilling.
The old records were right—Mephisto was the embodiment of fear to all living things.
“So, where is my Roziana?”
Delighted, Mephisto spread his arms wide.
Yes, get excited. That’s how you’ll take the bait without thinking.
Leodian twisted his lips into a grin and stood guard in front of the princess’s palace.
“Zarvatis!”
At his shout, a golden-winged lion the size of the palace gates was summoned instantly.
His guardian beast roared fiercely, mouth wide.
Leodian mounted it swiftly.
The dark sorcerer’s eyes sparkled.
“This might actually be fun.”
With a sharp glint in his eyes, Mephisto soared toward the lion.
Hopefully… he would take Ijeff, thinking he was Roziana, and vanish.
This whole show was for that purpose.
In a dark forest path deep within the imperial palace, a procession of flickering lanterns headed silently toward the tower.
BOOM! KA-BOOM!
Massive tremors shook the earth—explosions from the palace’s center.
“No… it can’t be!”
Roziana turned sharply toward the sounds, sensing something terrible.
“No, Your Highness.”
Asterios grabbed both her arms.
“Please don’t waver. His Majesty’s only goal is to keep you safe.”
