TAPGB - Chapter 10

TAPGB - Chapter 10

The Abandoned Prince's Ghost Bride

[Ha, Lucian.]

"Why?"

It was funny how he kept answering without even looking at me.

[Do I really want to go through all this trouble just to kick you out?]

Lucian's shoulders trembled.

[If I really didn't like you, I could have scared you away a long time ago. Why should I bother cooking something I can't eat, teaching you how to write, and training you in swordsmanship?]

"That.."

[t's all for your future.]

The mouth that had protruded like a duck's mouth was slightly retracted. Do you know how all the people who lived here died?

Lucian got a little scared when he heard that he was dead and shook his head.

[Everyone died missing someone. I've been lonely here for years.]

There were rare cases where people came to visit, but they only gave us the items we needed to live with and there was no interaction.

The majority of those who come here live a life almost like exile.

[Do you understand? People cannot live alone.] 

"What about the Priest?"

[Huh? Me?]

"Yes. The priest has been here alone for over 300 years."

The words caught me off guard, and for a moment I unconsciously closed my mouth.

"They said they were lonely because they hadn't seen anyone for several years. It must have been very difficult for you, too."

Lucian reached out and touched my face. Of course, it felt like I was stirring in the air, but for some reason, I felt like I could feel his warm body temperature.

As Lucian said, I have been chained here for 300 years.

I've lived alone for so long that I've even forgotten the word loneliness. It's so amazing that Lucian recognizes that long period of solitude.

[A strange child.]

"Yes?"

[Nothing.]

Even when Lucian shouted that he didn't hear me properly, I stood up and ignored him. To be precise, I couldn't show my face to him because I couldn't tell what kind of expression I was making right now.

[Keuhum! Anyway, for your future, you must train your physical strength like you did today.]

"But it's hard."

[Then try it for a month and stop if there is no change in your body. I'll let you earn a living through something else. Instead, for a month, just do as I tell you without saying anything. How is it?]

"Umm...."

He seemed worried because a month was a long time for a child. Isn't it said that in order for a person to develop a habit, one must practice it consistently for at least two weeks? If we do it for a month, Lucian will build up his body to some extent and become more accustomed to exercising.

"If I say no after a month, you won't do it, right?"

Okay, caught.

[Then of course. Promise me.]

Lucian made a promise to me only after repeatedly emphasizing that he would not do it.

Ugh. I don't know if I'll do it even after a month because I hate exercising like that.

***

That evening. After finishing all the work and even brushing his teeth, Lucian lay down on the bed. 

[I'll read you a storybook before going to bed. What do you want to read today?]

I levitated the children's books I had prepared in advance. Lucian carefully examined each storybook. his eyes shining brightly.

Lucian's favorite time was reading storybooks. When he first started seeing me, he suddenly asked me if I could read him a storybook, and from then on, it became a custom to read him a storybook right before going to bed.

"Ang and..."

What?

Even if he learned the alphabet, he couldn't read the text perfectly because he couldn't learn all the words.

I looked at the children's book that Lucian pointed to.

[Are you talking about The King, the Dragon, and the Witch'?]

"Yes, that's right! Isn't this the story of the first Emperor?"

[Yes, that's right. I guess you also know this?]

"Yes! It's my favorite children's book!"

Lucian got so excited that he jumped up from the bed and pretended to swing a knife.

"The first Emperor defeated the evil witch with the dragon and founded the country."

[Huh? Bad witch?]

"Yes! Naughty witch!"

But it seems to be a completely different fairy tale from what I know. According to Lucian's explanation, it was like this.

A horde of evil came to the wide continent and threatened people. They harassed and plundered innocent people, and filled the vibrant land with darkness. When many people lost their loved ones and fell into despair, one person appeared.

With golden eyes as brilliant as the sun, he defeated evildoers, did good deeds for people, and began to purify the continent stained with darkness. By his side was his friend, the Red Dragon. The red dragon became the guardian dragon of the people.

In this way, the group of evil gradually decreased and eventually, they encountered the leader of evil.

The person who leads the evil group is a terrifying witch and the evil group was brainwashed by her to commit evil deeds.

The witch had an outstanding appearance, beautiful speaking skills, and more power than anyone else. However, the hero worked together with the Red Dragon to finally defeat the witch and seal her so that she would never appear in this world.

After that, peace came to the world, and the hero built a castle where he defeated the witch, founding the current Odrian Empire.

They say.

[What on earth did you hear? There's no way a witch is a villain.]

"But don't children's books and everyone say that witches are bad?"

What on earth happened in the outside world? Witches are not villains, but rather I thought it would be better to show them a proper children's book rather than tell them directly while trying to correct the incorrect information.

[Lucian. I don't know where you read something strange, but everything you know is a lie.]

"That's ridiculous!"

[That's ridiculous. Do you know when this book was created?]

I pointed to the year of production used in 'The King, the Dragon, and the Witch'. It was written 'Kingdom Year 1'.

[This is a book published in the early days of the Empire when the Empire was a Kingdom.]

Lucian's eyes wavered at a time beyond imagination. Still, he seemed not to easily believe what I was saying.

[Now, let me read it to you.]

Before he could make a fuss, I quickly took a seat next to him and opened a storybook

***

A boy was born in a winding mountain valley.

His name is Leon. He was an ordinary kid. He grew up in an ordinary village, loved by his parents, and learned hunting skills following his father, a hunter.

He thought that he would soon become a great hunter like his father. But peace did not last long. An evil Lord came into the village.

'I will collect money every month from now on! Anyone who can't pay will be kicked out of this village!'

The Lord asked the people for money equivalent to one month's living expenses. Those who resisted or failed to pay were beaten by the knights, and the women were taken away by the Lord.

Leon's father hunted hard to survive and make money. Nevertheless, It was difficult for him to prepare the money to give to the Lord every month. In the end, people who were dissatisfied with the Lord came together one by one and tried to defeat him. Among them were Leon's father and mother.

They armed themselves and attacked the Lord's castle. However, he was unable to subdue the Lord and was captured.

Leon eventually had to leave his father and mother forever.

'Father, mother...! I will definitely avenge this enemy...!'

Leon left the village, vowing revenge. He learned swordsmanship based on the hunting skills he learned from his father.

And as he wandered around the world, he realized that there were many people just like him.

"Those who have have more, and those who do not have more are being taken away."

Leon thought the world needed to change. He set out to find like-minded people.

However, even though everyone agreed with Leon's words, no one followed him.

'Why? Why isn't everyone coming forward! It's all because I'm used to the current situation.'

As Leon was screaming alone, a woman's voice was heard. She was a very beautiful woman, like an angel.

"Who are you?"

'I am Aria.'

Say she's a witch. Aria was intrigued by Leon. She thought his ideas would change the world in a fun way.

Aria was a great witch with the greatest power among all witches. Seeing her power, Leon offered her company as his own. Aria gladly accepted.

The two went out to find their group again.

A time when they were wandering through various villages and forests. They entered a cave and got lost. There they found a red dragon with wounds all over its body.

'I will help you.'

Aria healed the red dragon's wounds with the power of the great witch. Leon asked the red dragon how he got hurt.

'The damn human was trying to get me. They thought they could live forever if they ate my heart.'

The red dragon had been attacked by a human. It was a nearby Lord who attacked him. The red dragon, who dreamed of revenge on humans, decided to take revenge only on the Lord thanks to the persuasion of Leon and Aria.

As the Red Dragon joined in, people began to gather in Leon one by one.

'This world must change! Let's all work together and change this damn world!'

Everyone shouted at Leon's words and captured the Lord's castle. With the power of the great witch and the red dragon and Leon's brilliant strategy, they were able to easily defeat their enemies. As the Lords were defeated one by one, there was no one to rule the territory.

In order to appease the confused people of the territory, Leon decided to unite all the territories and become king.

'We will help you wherever we go.'

'As long as I'm here, no one will be able to touch you."

Thanks to the red dragon's protection and the great witch's oath. Leon was able to become King. Leone declared a Kingdom centered around the village where he lived.

Leon became the first King and became a castle that embraced all people.

***

[This is the real story of "The King. the Dragon, and the Witch."]

It's very different from what I know. Perhaps because he read it so absorbingly. Lucian's eyes, which were skeptical at first, began to shine brightly.

[Maybe it's because this is an original copy?]

"What is herbal medicine?"

[It means that it is the first book ever made. I think the children's books you know were made to suit children's eye level.]

What I just read was a bit difficult for children to understand. Things like the tyranny of a Lord and the death of people are expressed rather explicitly, so these may have been purified into evil or darkness.

[No matter what, the distortion is too severe.]

The witch, Aria, was purely on the Emperor's side. She has never been in enemy territory, and she always stayed by the Emperor's side and became his dependable right hand.

"But why did what I read say witches are the enemy?"

[Well, I don't know. What did you know?]

"They said the witch was the leader of the enemy, and that the Emperor and the dragon defeated the witch and sealed her away." 

This is also a phrase that is not mentioned at all in the children's books I own. I understand that it changes little by little to suit the tastes of people and children as time goes by, but why did they bother to change the original content?

Previous            Next

Support Novellate!