TAPGB - Chapter 65
The Abandoned Prince's Ghost Bride
"Lucian! I'm here!"
Dio's voice was heard. He had already arrived at the agreed-upon location. Happy birthday, bastard! Leave it to Dio today! I'll treat you to a full-course meal!"
Unlike Dio, who was even more excited, Lucian was drooping. Maybe it was because of the fight with Leah, but he wasn't feeling very excited.
However, Dio, who had been waiting only for today, could not see Lucian like that.
"Now, come here quickly! If you're late, you won't be able to see Leopold!"
Dio pushed his way through the crowd and came forward. Today, a parade of sorts is held to celebrate the Crown Prince's coming of age.
Soon, a splendid imperial procession would begin, including the Crown Prince riding in a carriage.
"Wow, I'm still amazed that you and Leopold have the same birthday. Aren't you really like half-brothers? Your face looks the same too."
"Stop talking nonsense and just look around."
"Tch, Leopold would have taken it as a joke, but you're too cold. What are brothers... The two have such different personalities."
Lucian silently listened to Dio's grumbling. He has not revealed his identity to Dio yet. There were many reasons, but the biggest reason was that the royal family's secrets could not be revealed without permission.
'It is said that a bird hears what you say during the day, and a mouse hears what you say at night.'
It's better than having words leak out any time and anywhere, putting both of them in danger. Only he knows about this.
'Never think of telling anyone eIse.'
In particular, Harry, who knew all the circumstances, put so much emphasis on it that he couldn't even open his mouth.
"Ah, Lucian! It's begun!"
Dio's eyes widened when he saw the brilliant performance of the orchestra and the skill of the knights.
"Maybe I can go there someday, right?"
Dio's eyes fell on the knight. Lucian knows better than anyone else that his goal is to become an Imperial Knight.
"It will be okay for you. Even compared to nobles, you have a level of skill. Didn't you say you recently took an entrance exam?"
"I saw it. Wow, I really thought my heart was going to jump out of my mouth. I don't even remember what kind of spirit I was taking the test with at that time."
Dio cried, but as someone who had been watching his efforts, Lucian wasn't really worried about the results.
"Wow! His Highness the Crown Prince!"
"Hurray! Hurray! Long live His Royal Highness Crown Prince Leopold!"
Cheers erupted from all over and people repeatedly chanted "Hurray". In the distance, Lucian saw a gorgeous carriage slowly approaching.
"Keuuu! Awesome!"
As Dio was waving his arms and repeatedly shouting Leopold's name, Lucian also watched Leopold pass by with a smile on his face.
Leopold, who happened to be nearby, instantly recognized Dio and Lucian and smiled brightly.
'Hang in there.'
Leopold opened his mouth slightly so that only Lucian could see him and rolled up his left arm sleeve. He was wearing Lucian's gift properly. Lucian nodded and waved at him.
The carriage quickly passed in front of the two people.
"Leopold really seems like a different person when he's dressed like that. I can't believe the Crown Prince is my friend."
Someday the time will come to tell Dio the truth. If Leopold becomes Emperor and really keeps his promise, there will be no need to hide it anymore.
'I'll wait for that time to come, Leopold.'
Lucian smiled as he watched the carriage moving away.
***
"Your Highness, we have arrived."
After circling the island, Leopold arrived at the Great Hall.
'Ha, I'm tired.'
Since two days ago, he had been waking up early in the morning, getting dressed up, and dealing with people until late at night, so he was very tired.
He had the urge to dive into bed right now.
Well done-
When he changed into his pure white robes, the bracelet Lucian gave him caught his eye.
When Leopold looks at this, his mind automatically feels at ease.
"Your Highness, you must remove all accessories."
"Look at this. It's my favorite. If I cover it with my sleeves, no one will know."
He took off all his necklaces, earrings, and other bracelets, but kept the bracelet Lucian gave him.
The new priest groaned in discomfort and then sighed.
"Please be careful not to get caught. If other people find out, it will be a big problem."
'Well, it'll be okay if it's just a bracelet.'
The priest thought lightly and finished serving the clothes. Soon, high-ranking priests took Leopold to the place where the ceremony was to be held. Because it was a sacred ceremony, only high-ranking priests could participate in it. New priests or regular priests who helped with the clothing must wait in front of the door.
As the Crown Prince entered and the new priest joined the ranks, Javier, the priest who had been waiting next to him, opened his mouth.
"Good job."
"I did what I was taught, but my hands are still shaking. I never thought I would see the Crown Prince in person. There will come a day when I too will participate in the ceremony, right?"
The new priest looked at the tightly closed door with bright eyes. Javier glared at the door with slightly narrowed eyes.
"... Yes, it will come someday."
Javier had been carrying out Caesar's orders well since the basement incident eight years ago. He faithfully followed the orders of the high-ranking priests to uncover as much of the temple as possible, but he was not yet qualified to go beyond that door.
'At least I should have taken care of Your Highness's clothes.'
Wouldn't that be the only way to gain a little bit of trust and go deeper?
Javier straightened his posture as he glanced at the new priest who was in a lingering mood. It was his turn to play the faithful priest.
***
At the same time, Leopold was undergoing his coming-of-age ceremony.
He washed his hands, feet, and face with holy water and received a blessing from the Pope. Now only the last step remained.
"Welcome, Leopold."
Julius was standing on the podium. Leopold is not sure if it's a lie that Julius has been feeling a lot weaker recently, but Julius complexion was definitely pale.
"Are you okay, Grandfather?"
"Then, it's okay. I feel refreshed thanks to our Crown Prince's care. The snack you gave me last time was delicious."
"I'm glad it suits your taste."
Leopold smiled softly and held Julius's limp hand for a moment before his eyes turned to what was behind him.
'Huh? 'What is that?'
There were two things that looked exactly like altars placed side by side.
"... Was there something like this in the temple?"
Leopold wasn't a devout believer, so he didn't visit the main shrine often, but he didn't remember seeing anything like this.
Looking at the altar gave him goosebumps for some reason.
"What are you doing?"
"Oh, sorry."
Leopold suddenly came to his senses and knelt down on one knee in front of Julius.
"The little sunlight that fell on the imperial family 18 years ago has now emerged as a new light for the Empire."
Julius proceeded with the ceremony by touching the top of Leopold's head with his right hand.
"Imperial calendar year 325, July 17th. Starting from today, the small sunlight will be reborn and become a huge sun."
Julius poured fragrant wine into the Saint's cup handed to him by the priest and twirled it over Leopold's head.
"New sun, will you pledge to become the guide of the empire and become a warm sun for its people. Leopold Odelion, I pledge to swear by the commands of Julius Odelion. Get up from your seat."
Leopold opened his closed eyes and stood up.
Julius smiled and handed him the cup of coming of age.
"Drink this and you will now become a new sun."
Leopold poured the wine into his mouth without hesitation. The priests bowed right there and raised their voices.
"Infinite glory to the new sun! May infinite glory be upon the new sun!"
Leopold glanced at them with slightly surprised eyes. Although it was just a simple ceremony, he felt like he was truly welcomed.
"Thank you for your hard work, Grandfather. Now let's go back together."
"Okay, let's go."
Leopold smiled at Julius and moved his feet.
"...?"
At that time, his eyes suddenly felt dizzy.
"Why are you doing that?"
"Oh, it's nothing."
As Julius held his arm in worry, Leopold smiled.
'Is it because I'm tired?'
Leopold rubbed his eyes and moved his feet again. But the nausea got worse again. Everything in front of his eyes was shaking as if he was drunk, and it was difficult to stand properly, let alone move.
"I... Why am I like this..."
He is not so weak to alcohol that he can barely get drunk with a glass of wine. The current situation was very strange.
Before he knew it, his entire body lost strength and he felt dizzy.
"Grand, Grandfather…”
Lucian hastily grabbed Julius who was next to him. At that time, through his flickering vision, Leopold saw Julius looking down at him with an indifferent expression.
'What?'
Why doesn't he help him? His Grandpa is the person who makes more of a fuss than anyone else when Leopold gets hurt...
Leopold tried to open his mouth to ask why, but his entire body, except his eyes, stopped moving as intended.
Leopold couldn't even open his mouth.
"Begin the ritual."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Starting with Julius' unidentified words, the high-ranking priests moved in unison. Soon they grabbed Leopold, who was unable to control his body, and climbed back up onto the stage. Then he laid him down on the altar.
"What the hell is this...?"
Even though he couldn't move his body, his eyes, ears, and consciousness were intact.
Leopold was filled with inexplicable fear and rolled his eyes as he looked at Julius.
"Dear grandchild, please sacrifice yourself for this grandfather."
'... Yes?'
"You look exactly like me. The face, height, and voice all remind me of myself in my prime. It seems like you resemble my son in that your personality is a bit gentle, but you are clearly my descendant."
Leopold couldn't understand what Julius was talking about. A red light kept turning on in his head, and his instincts were telling him that he had to get out of there right now.
'Please... Please someone help me.'
Leopold rolled his eyes and looked around. But no one helped Leopold.
"There is nothing to be so scared of. It just comes back to Me, the Creator. You won't feel any pain."
'Why? Why are you doing this? What on earth are you planning to do to me?'
"Your Majesty, everything is ready."
A priest approached. Only then did Leopold realize that everyone here was Julius's person. Even more so about Yordi, the knight who had been guarding him since he was young.
"Before we begin the ritual, I will tell you the truth, Leopold."
Julius lovingly brushed Leopold's bangs. Leopold looked at him with eyes filled with fear.
"I am not Julius."
'What?'
"My real name is Leon."
Leopold's eyes widened and he was astonished.
"The name Abyss Odelion may be more familiar to you."
Leon Oddrian. The name of the main character of a famous children's book is known to all citizens of the Empire. Leon is the name of the main character in a book depicting the epics story of the first Emperor and is also the name that Abyss Odelion used before ascending to the throne.
That means the person in front of him is not Julius, but Abyss Odelion.
It is said that he is the first Emperor.
"Ah...I see..."
He was so shocked that he could hear air coming out of Leopold's mouth.
"You probably know the story that the first Emperor received infinite power from God. The power I received then was eternal life."
He has lived through successive generations of descendants since the time of the first Emperor.
"Every time I moved the bowl around, there were some seeds in the middle who thought it was strange. So, to avoid suspicion, they perform a soul transfer ceremony, skipping a generation. This traditional ritual was created entirely to transfer my soul."
Leopold could not keep up with what he was saying.
"You've been trying to become Emperor these past few years, right? Thanks to you, I can become Emperor without any major obstacles. Thanks. This is sincere."
Tears kept flowing from Leopold's eyes. Julius gently wiped away his tears, telling him not to cry, but Leopold was horrified by his touch as if bugs were crawling on him.
"It will be over soon, so just wait."
After saying those words, Julius laid down his body on another altar next to him. Then the priests surrounded the two altars and began chanting spells. Leopold trembled when he saw the ominous, flickering jet-black m na.
'Oh mother, mother...'
When Leopold was consumed by fear and his thoughts were not working properly, he thought of his younger brother, Lucian.
'Lucian... Please save me...!'
Darkness came into Leopold's wide-eyed view.
Lucian.
"Hmm?"
Lucian looked back and tilted his head.
"Did I hear it wrong?"
He's sure someone called him.
"Lucian! What are you doing there! Come quickly!"
"Uh! Yes!"
Lucian turned his head forward again at Dio's call.
An unpleasant feeling tickled the back of his head, but he soon thought nothing of it and continued walking.
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