Episode 159
Elonia, dressed in the Imperial purple cloak and formal attire, her bangs completely swept back, looked every bit the ruler.
Her maids felt a strange mix of awe and sadness. They had imagined this day, but it had come too soon.
Gone were the comfortable shirts and pants, the occasional dresses. Today, she wore the Emperor’s formal attire.
A small, heavy crown, specially made for her, rested on her head. Just then, Aaron’s voice came from outside.
“Your Highness, Felix Heilan has arrived nearby.”
Elonia, her preparations complete, opened the door. Garnethia, standing beside Aaron, gasped at her regal appearance.
“No welcoming ceremony. He’s just the king of a vassal state. Bring him directly to me.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Elonia walked towards the audience chamber.
Knights, more heavily armed than usual, lined the hall. She looked up at the empty throne, the throne Artius should be sitting on.
‘I didn’t expect to sit here so soon.’
She ascended the low steps, her heavy cloak trailing behind her.
The throne was too large for her. The weight of the crown pressed down on her, the responsibility of the throne threatening to crush her, but she held firm.
A guard announced,
“King Felix has arrived.”
“Let him enter.”
The heavy doors opened, and Felix appeared.
He walked towards the throne, his expression unreadable, his usual arrogance seemingly unfazed by his surroundings. He bowed.
“Greetings to the noble princess of Ravanta.”
Meanwhile, Lucius received the news of Felix’s arrival. He jumped up from his seat.
“Who? Who arrived?”
“King Felix.”
“His Highness Felix…?”
Ricardo, seeing his reaction, asked,
“Didn’t Her Highness tell you?”
Of course. Elonia always involved Lucius in her plans. Not because he was an apostle, but because she trusted him.
“No.”
So she hadn’t told him…
Ricardo added anxiously,
“You can’t leave this room while Felix is here.”
“Even if Her Highness is in danger?”
“Well…”
Ricardo hesitated. Felix had come alone.
“He came alone, without Tristan. He’s no match for Her Highness.”
Felix was cunning, but he wasn’t a fighter.
A scholar versus a warrior? The scholar would lose, most likely.
And Elonia was a seasoned warrior, a veteran with ten years of experience.
Lucius knew that. But Elonia was vulnerable right now. What if Felix pushed her too far?
“Her Highness plans to eliminate Felix today, doesn’t she?”
“…Yes.”
Everyone knew, even though it wasn’t explicitly stated. Elonia planned to get rid of Felix and install either Olivia or Simon as the new ruler of Heilan.
But,
“Do you really think Felix came alone?”
“What?”
Of course he came alone. The knights who escorted him weren’t blind.
But Lucius wasn’t talking about physical presence.
“Tristan has gained enough power to create phantoms and chimeras. Deceiving human eyes is child’s play for him. If we fail to kill Felix in one blow and reveal our intentions, we don’t know how they’ll react.”
But this was Ravanta. Ricardo, having lived in Heilan, understood the dynamics to some extent.
“This land isn’t blessed by the Calamity God. And Tristan has no followers here anymore. He can’t exert his influence in Ravanta…”
“No, he can.”
Creating something from nothing, manipulating life and death…
That was the power of faith. And Felix possessed a fanatical faith, strong enough to bind a dead soul to the mortal realm.
“Wherever Felix is, Tristan is also there.”
Lucius tried to rush out of the room, but Ricardo blocked his path, restraining him gently.
“Wait! Her Highness must know this! She must have a plan!”
“Do you think Her Highness is thinking clearly right now?”
Philemon was sealed in the ring, and Artius was poisoned. Anger clouded judgment, made people reckless.
Elonia’s mind would be focused on one thing.
Killing Felix as quickly as possible, before any obstacles arose.
Lucius pleaded again,
“Take me to the audience chamber. Now.”
Elonia looked down at Felix.
“So you are Felix Heilan.”
He looked different from her memories. Older, and his features seemed sharper, more cunning.
Felix straightened up, a sly smile playing on his lips.
“Yes. We met once, when you were very young. Do you remember?”
Elonia almost laughed. His intentions were so obvious.
She replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm,
“Of course. Your father died at my father’s hands that day.”
“…”
An unexpected low blow. A vein throbbed on Felix’s forehead.
Elonia continued, twisting the knife,
“And as I recall, your head was bowed quite low back then. Becoming king seems to have lightened the burden.”
“…I’m surprised you remember.”
“A one-year-old wouldn’t remember. I’m just repeating what I heard. You must have bowed your head in front of many people?”
Garnethia, standing beside Elonia, gasped softly. Her Highness was truly skilled at verbal sparring.
Felix gritted his teeth.
Elonia’s eyes turned cold.
“What are you doing? Didn’t I say your head seemed lighter?”
“…You did. My apologies.”
Felix slowly knelt down, bowing his head.
He wanted to summon his god and kill everyone in the room, but he restrained himself.
For the perfect moment.
‘Arrogant princess. Your reign will be short-lived.’
Today would be her last day.
He listened silently as the young voice from above continued.
“I know everything you’ve done in Ravanta.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“…You really don’t know?”
Elonia’s voice turned even colder.
Felix continued to play dumb. Elonia, her voice filled with righteous anger, commanded,
“Bring it.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Aaron left briefly and returned with a red cushion. On it rested a small ampoule.
The last remaining vial of the potion of luck.
Elonia held it up.
“Do you recognize this?”
“I don’t believe I’ve seen it before.”
No one expected him to confess immediately. Elonia ordered Ethan,
“Make him drink it.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Wait…!”
Felix finally panicked.
“How can I drink something I don’t recognize? I am a king, even if I’m from a vassal state!”
“Yes, a king. The king of a defeated nation.”
“…!”
Felix’s face contorted in rage. Two knights stepped forward and restrained him. Ethan opened the ampoule and forced his mouth open.
“Ugh…!”
“It’s good for you. A special tonic prepared by Her Highness for our esteemed guest.”
“Mmph, mmph!”
Felix hadn’t expected her to be so forceful.
He tried to spit it out, but Ethan’s grip was too strong. He swallowed the potion.
Gulp. The sound echoed through the silent audience chamber.
Ethan immediately stepped back. Felix, still restrained by the knights, glared at Elonia, his eyes filled with hatred.
“You don’t seem pleased with my gift.”
“Gift?! This is—!”
Felix knew what he had just ingested.
He had never imagined he would be forced to drink it himself.
He wanted to vomit, to purge the potion from his system. His emotions, usually so carefully controlled, were now clearly visible on his face.
Elonia looked down at him, a cold smile playing on her lips.
“You readily distribute something you wouldn’t drink yourself.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. And even if Heilan is a vassal state, aren’t you afraid of the consequences, Princess of Ravanta? Do you think your empire will last forever?”
Felix, blinded by rage, forgot to use honorifics. That was exactly what Elonia had wanted.
“Why should I be afraid? You, the King of Heilan, were the one who attacked Ravanta first.”
Felix glared at her silently.
He had underestimated her, this young girl. She was even more ruthless than Artius.
It was time. Elonia commanded,
“Everyone, leave. Now.”
Aaron and Garnethia hesitated, but Elonia’s gaze was unwavering. She couldn’t let them witness what was about to happen.
“What are you planning?”
“Your desire to kill me is written all over your face.”
“It’s because of this damn potion—!”
Felix stopped mid-sentence. Elonia smiled again.
“See? You know what you drank.”
Clang.
A sword landed at Felix’s feet. Elonia said,
“You want to kill me? Then pick up the sword.”
Felix quickly assessed the situation.
She was trying to provoke him, to justify killing him in self-defense. That way, the new Heilan leadership wouldn’t be able to protest.
But Elonia had underestimated him.
‘Foolish princess. You only see one step ahead, not the end game.’
It was a woman’s limitation. Felix, without hesitation, picked up the sword and charged towards the throne.
Elonia also drew her rapier.
But their swords didn’t clash. Felix reached out with his hand, and Elonia gathered mana at the tip of her sword and unleashed it.
Boom!
Her mana-infused attack hit Felix directly. But the outcome wasn’t what either of them expected.
“W-why…”
There should have been blood, not dust. Felix murmured, confused.
Elonia was also surprised. The attack had only created dust. Neither of them was harmed.
She had planned to use herself as bait, to finish him off quickly, but her magic hadn’t worked.
‘Felix doesn’t have Holy Power.’
And yet, her attack had been blocked by Holy Power.
Dangerous. She had to end this quickly. Just then,
[Well, well, it seems we both had the same idea.]
“…!”
A strange voice filled the audience chamber. Black mist emanated from Felix, coalescing into a human figure.
Ashen hair, gray eyes, pale skin.
A man who seemed devoid of color. She had never seen him before, but she knew instantly who he was.
“…Tristan.”
“It’s an honor to be recognized, Your Highness.”
Tristan bowed elegantly.
“I am Tristan.”