Chapter 150
150th Chapter
“Good afternoon, Your Highness.”
Diego said leisurely, a smirk on his lips. His expression showed no hint of agitation, and his opaque eyes maintained the usual demeanor he displayed publicly.
“Yes, it seems to be a good afternoon for the Crown Prince. Not for me, though.”
El, who had been leaning against the wall, stood up and walked over to Diego and me with heavy, deliberate steps. Her beautiful, mysterious silver eyes pierced through Diego.
The corners of El’s eyes curved upward.
“Isn’t that a hasty generalization? Let’s think of another greeting. I don’t see how a country’s prince would say that.”
Her smooth, red lips spat words that were far-fetched. While I cast a cold glare at El for her nonsensical remarks, Diego replied with composure.
“Oh dear. Please forgive my mistake. It is a good afternoon for me, Your Highness. Especially since I’m in the company of a wonderful person.”
Diego casually draped his arm over my shoulder. I just blinked. I was accustomed to his touch, so I had no desire to be unpleasant or reject him.
El’s smile widened as she slowly shifted her gaze between Diego and me. It was a smile that seemed dangerously close to causing goosebumps.
“…This is amusing. It seems you do not wish to be crowned in my hands.”
El came to a halt in front of both Diego and me, tilting her head. Her soft, cascading pastel-blue hair fluttered in the air. Despite her gentle voice, the words she uttered were unnervingly menacing.
‘What’s going on? Is there trouble between the royal family and the temple?’
While I was interested in observing the subtle tension between Diego and El, I couldn’t help but ponder.
The real power controlling the Empire lies with the Emperor, yet it is the Pope who crowns that Emperor.
The final stage of the coronation ceremony involves the Pope anointing the Emperor’s head with oil and declaring the coronation in the name of the gods. Only after this ceremony can one truly be called an Emperor.
‘Thus, the Crown Princes must ensure the Pope stays in their good graces.’
If the Pope becomes even slightly displeased and refuses to anoint the Emperor, all royal ambitions would be futile. Even if one were to forcefully ascend to the throne without the inauguration, that Emperor would live a life as a half-hearted ruler, unrecognized by the gods.
‘If El refuses to anoint Diego…it would truly be the end for him.’
If Diego became Emperor, he might overshadow El, but for now, he was undoubtedly lower than her.
While I didn’t know exactly what had happened, I felt pitiful for Diego, who was being threatened with the throne. It felt like watching an employee being blackmailed by their boss.
“Surely not. You speak quite menacingly.”
Diego remained unfazed despite the looming threat to his throne. His gentle smile and soft-spoken words concealed a steely determination in his gaze, showcasing Diego’s unusual cleverness.
“In that case, you shouldn’t show yourself in this manner at least in my temple.”
El replied quietly, casting her gaze toward me. Her piercing, silvery glare felt almost unbearable, making me feel as though I was standing under a blazing sun.
“From your actions, it seems the throne is of no concern to you.”
Her low voice spoke bluntly.
Her words, which might come off as arrogant, sat easily with her. She was the only one permitted to invoke possession within the sacred Sun Temple, the most noble being who honors the gods.
“You should straighten your attitude, Crown Prince.”
The man before me, who wore a forced smile through gritted teeth, was my friend, but he felt unfathomably distant.
Just as mana can overwhelm people, divine power can likewise override human beings. When the divine power radiates from El like an aura, one feels an unfathomable sanctity that mere mortals cannot dare intrude upon.
Even as a Sword Master, the sheer presence of El felt overwhelming, causing me to instinctively tense up. A long, white hand suddenly appeared before me.
“Come here, Shushu.”
The way it beckoned was reminiscent of a devil enticing someone for a feast. Despite being a being close to the gods, El often left a dangerous impression, similar to a deadly siren.
I gazed at his hand and then raised my eyes to meet his.
“I’m exhausted from discussing with the Emperor until the very end. Hug me.”
With eyes as hot as melted silver in a forge, El pouted adorably, creating a mix of feelings that felt both alien and incredibly beautiful.
‘How did I end up tangled in the power struggle between the royal family and the temple…’
I sighed internally.
It was like being ensnared between two boa constrictors entangled in a bloodied battle, both bearing a mask of laughter while they fought.
While it was a tad entertaining to watch, transferring the decision-making power of the situation onto me was quite inconvenient. In this state, it was difficult to stay beside Diego or hold El’s hand.
‘What if my choice here leads to a crisis between the royal family and the temple?’
Both were significant figures representing their respective stances, and both were sincerely committed, making me question whether this was merely their personal quarrel or a real political struggle.
As I quickly glanced between Diego and El, it was Diego who spoke first.
“As the Crown Prince of this Empire and a member of the Sun Temple, I hold the utmost respect for Your Highness.”
His polite tone suggested he was well aware of his position. However, I noticed that his sapphire eyes glimmered ominously cold, akin to a frozen sea, while a victorious smile crept onto his lips.
“However, in the matter of claiming a person, the line of status is irrelevant. Using rank as a reference… might imply an insecurity about winning purely on one’s own merit.”
El’s expression stiffened chillingly. With me trapped between them, fierce silver and blue eyes clashed.
I quietly averted my gaze to the distant sky.
“Could you please refrain from making the political scene about me?”
Following Helios and Caesar, with El and Diego involved now, I wondered why I was being cast into this shark fight. Was it the latest trend in the capital to pit me between them?
While I half-heartedly surrendered to the situation, deciding to enjoy the show, Diego broke the tension.
“Your Highness seems troubled; I should take my leave. After all, I’ve promised to meet Shushu again.”
His voice remained collected. With a soft smile, Diego turned me to face him. Then, he leaned closer.
Smack Smack
Diego’s cheeks brushed against mine in alternating succession, funny sounds echoing in my ears. Though it was just our cheeks touching, it somehow felt as if we had kissed.
It was a greeting that had been broadly used in the past but had nearly fallen out of favor.
“It seems I must postpone seeing you home. I’ll head in first, so take care.”
Diego’s beautiful, radiant face drew near to my ear.
“Expect a ring. I’ll gift you the most splendid one.”
The hushed whispers felt loud enough for anyone to hear.
“Glory to the heavens of the Empire. Now, shall I take my leave?”
With the demeanor of a victorious general after a great war, Diego chuckled heartily, bowing briefly to El before turning back. His steps towards the exit seemed light, as if he were gliding across the sky.
“Hah.”
Not long after Diego left the garden, the silence was broken by El’s derisive laughter. After a few sharp chuckles, she roughly swept her bangs to the side with her hand.
“That bastard really…”
The words she muttered bitterly were evident curses.
Seeing El cursing for the first time made me flinch. For the lips that were supposed to convey the words of the gods to spit venom felt not just sacrilegious but oddly lethal.
“Bastard, damn it!”
TTT-
El, who had been staring at the exit where Diego had left, shifted her gaze to me. While his eyes were still laced with ice, for that fleeting moment directed at me, the atmosphere felt as though winter had turned into spring.
“Will you accept the ring the Crown Prince gives you?”
Her strangely sharp tone felt as though she was compelling me to refuse.
I rolled my eyes.
“I’m about to enter the Swordsmanship Tournament, and he mentioned gifting a token of proof to you…”
“What ring is he offering?”
“Huh?”
Upon my sudden query, El closed the distance swiftly, wrapping her arm tightly around my waist. I looked up at him, realizing just how tall he was compared to me.
“Gold? Silver? A pink diamond resembling your eyes, or perhaps an obsidian reflecting your dark hair? He’s offering something from the royal treasury, perhaps? Shushu, no matter what he presents you with…”
His large, pale hand engulfed my cheek. His silver eyes shimmered coldly.
“I can offer you something far more precious now.”
It was undoubtedly a beautifully radiant silver, yet I saw the familiar darkness within.
El’s hand was similar in size to Diego’s, and at a glance, their appearances seemed alike. However, the scars etched onto his hand dwarfed those on Diego’s by far.
The once nameless, low-born acolyte who had come from a rough background. The weak boy who had escaped persecution from other clerics with my help.
Even as his messy black hair transformed into a noble pastel blue, and his once colorless eyes glittered with brilliance, there remained something unchanged.
Those born in the darkness carry an indelible mark. Since I too had once lived in darkness, I could recognize those traces.
His hands were rougher than those of the average commoner. It was solely those hands that connected our pasts.
“Therefore, I won’t tell you not to accept that ring.”
As the sharpness gradually dulled and his voice turned wet and pitiful, I felt a tickle in my heart.
With droopy eyes, El buried his face in the nape of my neck. He moved with abandon, seemingly aware of my vulnerabilities.
Though I flinched at his touch on my tender skin, I didn’t pull away. The sweet scent of lilies wafted from his long pastel-blue hair.
“Accept mine as well, Shushu.”
Despite speaking with a low growl, El rubbed his cheek softly against my neck, tugging at one’s heart. He struggled to suppress his inherent ferocity, desperately showing his sweetness, like a puppy trying to win affection.
“Our Shushu is remarkably kind, so surely you’ll agree.”
With her head slightly raised, El’s gaze lifted to meet mine, his eyes curving alluringly. In defiance of all natural laws, that enchanting smile bloomed regardless of place or time.
“Though you may not be mine, I belong to you, so even if I cannot have your token, you shall keep mine.”
