Editor: bodyinthefreezer
Rakshul’s condition quickly deteriorated. His skin beca covered with black spots and he couldn’t even move because of the fever.
I stayed by his side all day long.
I was sure he’d overco this. Rakshul couldn’t die like this.
If I found Ser, I was sure she could cure his disease. But no matter how much I cried to the necklace, Ser didn’t answer .
“Laontel…l
It had been a long ti since he called by my na.
I put my necklace down and held his hands tightly.
“Rakshul.”
“Laontel, thank you for everything.”
He couldn’t open his eyes properly because of his fever, but there was a smile on his face.
My heart sank. Rakshul was saying goodbye.
I barely managed to smile, squeezing the last bit of strength I had left to smile at him for the final farewell.
“Don’t say that!”
“I think I should go now!”
“Where are you going?!”
He stroked my cheeks with his hand.
“I’m sorry. I wanted to be with you all my life. I wanted to grow old together with you. I wanted to share our burdens.”
“Then don’t go! Stay with !”
I wailed.
Even though I knew he was bidding farewell, I couldn’t accept it.
“If only I confessed earlier…I would have said I love you so many more tis. If we have another life and I et you again, I’ll tell you that everyday.”
“You can start now! Tell that everyday!”
“You have to live happily. Always smile and have fun.”
“How can I be happy without you?! Don’t die! If you want to be happy, don’t die!”
“Laontel…”
His eyes started to shut.
“No! Rakshul! Open your eyes! Please open your eyes. Don’t die! Don't leave behind!”
I begged him and prayed earnestly, but Rakshul didn’t open his eyes.
***
I was in the darkness again.
Tears poured down like a waterfall. I sat down on the spot and cried.
Rakshul was dead. The sorrow seed to tear my heart open and strike my whole body like lightning.
Even though the events had already passed a thousand years ago, I couldn’t stop crying.
I couldn’t do anything.
Laontel could only watch helplessly as she lost Rakshul.
But I couldn’t keep being sad like this.
If I didn’t save Serphania, the curse wouldn't go away.
I couldn’t lose him again this ti.
I wiped the tears away.
***
Rakshul passed away. The Crown Prince died but there was no proper funeral held for him.
After his death, the plague spread throughout the capital and even to the Emperor who fled the palace.
People kept getting sick and dying.
The whole capital was in chaos, so how would there be ti to hold a funeral?
I understood, but I was still sad.
My brothers and I prepared the funeral for Rakshul instead of the Imperial family.
“You shouldn’t cry like that at a funeral.”
I wanted to let Rakshul go with a smile but tears just wouldn't stop.
I had too many regrets.
‘Why didn’t I confess earlier? If he didn’t deal with the monster, he wouldn’t have to beco the Crown Prince. If he wasn’t the Crown Prince, we wouldn’t need to stay in the palace, and he wouldn’t have died.’
I stood in the room, seized by despair.
In the anti, many changes happened in the Empire.
The Emperor's position was empty. Not only did all of the Emperor’s children die of the plague, his brothers were all gone too, so we there was no one to choose as the next Emperor.
Suddenly, Phillip appeared.
People cheered him on as he used the Power of Light to treat the plague.
Although he didn’t have the black hair that symbolized the Royal family of Zelcan, he was crowned as the new Emperor with the praise of the people.
I didn’t attend Phillip’s coronation.
The next day, he ca to find .
“Phillip…”
The man who I searched so much for was standing in front of .
“Long ti no see, Laontel. I thought I would see you at the ceremony yesterday, but you didn’t co.”
“I greet the Emperor.”
He was now the Emperor of the Zelcan Empire.
I bowed my head.
“Oh, thank you, but there’s no need. Afterall, our relationship is special, isn’t it?”
The corners of his mouth raised up in a smile as he spoke. My expression remained stiff.
“Are you mad at ?”
“No, why would I be?”
“I heard Rakshul died.”
He said Rakshul’s na without any hesitation.
“Yes.”
“I went to the Valley of Chaos after I left, so I didn’t know that you had been looking for . I should’ve co back earlier.”
“I see.”
The Valley of Chaos was an abandoned place and no one lived there. No wonder I couldn’t find him.
“Do you hate ?”
“No…”
I shook my head. I didn’t hate Phillip. He only left with his beloved and had now co back ho.
And he treated the plague too. He didn’t do anything wrong.
“I just resent myself.”
But I hated myself for not being able to save Rakshul.
“It’s not Laon’s fault!”
I looked back, started by the voice.
At that mont, Ser suddenly appeared in my arms.
“Ser…”
“Sorry Laon, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that happened to Rakshul. I’m sorry. It’s all my fault…”
She burst into tears and cried inconsolably.
They didn’t know it at that ti.
But I resented Ser and Phillip, for not showing up until the last mont and saving only the people.
Of course I knew it wasn’t their fault, but the resentnt accumulated over ti.
“No, don't’ say that.”
“I’m sorry Laon. I’m so sorry. Do you hate ? You hate , don’t you? I’m sure you do. I’m so sorry.”
“I don’t hate you, I’m glad you’re back.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
But the friend I once knew was different.
***
The Zelcan Empire’s na was changed into Asteric Empire. Altar Palace’s na was also changed to Tenlarn Palace.
The plague was completely gone and the Empire gradually recovered.
But the peace didn’t last very long. Phillip went on to build new palaces, make stone plates and statues honoring his achievent and held royal balls everyday.
Each ti, he spent a huge amount of the budget and the commoners had to struggle to bear the huge taxes.
I went to visit Phillip. Rakshul loved this country and wanted to protect it.
It didn’t matter if the na changed, but I couldn’t see the people suffering.
If Rakshul was alive, this wouldn’t have happened.
“How many more royal balls do you plan to hold?”
“Why are you saying that all of a sudden? Don’t you think you’re being rude to the Emperor of this Empire?”
“Do you know how much has to be collected in taxes every ti? The people are starving while you’re also taking away all their crops!”
“What?”
His response was lukewarm, as if he couldn’t care less.
“A lot of people died because of the plague. There are still a lot of dead bodies strewn around everywhere while you’re only making the situation even worse.”
“I am the Emperor of this Empire. Why should I care about every single one of those stupid people?”
His attitude left speechless.
“You’ve changed haven’t you? Or is it that I realized your true colors only now?”
“Watch your words. No matter how close we are, I won’t forgive you.”
He said to arrogantly.
My words didn’t seem to be getting through to him, but I couldn’t back away like this.
“When are you going to announce Ser as the Empress?”
Phillip hid Ser’s existence.
He didn’t make their marriage public and sent her away to live at a shabby annex.
I protested it to him many tis, but he never answered.
“Are you going to start with that again?”
He was saying that again.
“How long are you going to lock Ser in that kind of place? I heard you don’t even visit her these days.”
“If you’re so upset, then take her back with you.”
“You…Ser gave everything she had to you!”
Phillip covered his ears when I yelled at him.
“Yes, Ser gave everything. And now she doesn't have anything left. She lost her power and she has neither wealth nor status. She’s just an incompetent woman. Do you think such a person could beco the Empress?”
Phillip said it so arrogantly that I was left speechless and almost couldn’t find any words to respond.
“…are you crazy?”
“Just accept the reality of the situation.”
“Ser lost all of her strength for you! It was all because of you!”
“What’s the use of the past anyway? Right now, she isn’t fit to be the Empress.”
“What? Have you forgotten how you got your position? It was all thanks to the plague! You cured the disease with Ser’s power! Thanks to her, you beca the Emperor, and yet, you’re just going to throw her away?!”
“Be careful with your words.”
Phillip said to coldly.
“You’re really crazy. Did you get amnesia?”
“I told you to be polite.”
“Ha.”
I snorted at him.
At that mont, Phillip grabbed my wrist.
“Get your hands off ! What is this?!”
I scread in shock but he didn’t let go.
“I’ve decided who will be my Empress.”
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