TAPGB - Chapter 60

TAPGB - Chapter 60

The Abandoned Prince's Ghost Bride

“Ha, ha, ha...”

Lucian gasped and closed his eyes tightly.

He couldn't tell if his heart was shaking because of anger or if it was because he was rushing to run away from there.

"Damn, I didn't mean to do this... "

If he think about it carefully, it's clear that it was a ploy to push himself away, but he couldn't overcome the feeling of a moment.

Lucian calmed down to some extent by taking deep breaths and stood up from where he had been sitting.

"Huh? This place..."

Then suddenly Lucian realized that he was in an unfamiliar place. It was dark so he couldn't see the exact shape, but he could guess it enough from the roughness of the wall and the cool temperature that touched his fingertips.

"... Cellar?"

This is the basement that gave him terrible trauma.

He just wanted to avoid Leah, so he took a step forward, but he had no idea that she would come down here.

Didn't Leah seal the basement?

"Oh, it might have been resolved a long time ago."

It is possible that Leah's magic was broken when someone sneaked into the basement a few years ago.

"Light."

The little Prince from before is no longer there.

Lucian calmly used magic to light up various parts of the basement. Still, he looked around nervously because he had old memories, but looking at it like this, it was an ordinary basement.

"But it must be scary for the kids."

There were black scorch marks all over the walls, floor, and ceiling, as if they were a ghost's play, and dried blood was scattered here and there on the floor.

Lucian looked around with new eyes. The room containing the magic circle, which was the object of most fear, was even more disastrous than before, and the door leading to the tunnel was still so long that it was impossible to tell the end.

"What did Caesar say...." 

Did Caesar say there seems to be some kind of collusion between the imperial family and the temple? 

Lucian remembered what happened back then.

"I'll have to ask hi. later." 

Lucian also examined the magic circle in the room. He is now a 4th circle wizard and has learned high-level magic from Leqh and Caesar, so he can interpret most magic techniques.

After cleaning up the mess, he shined a light made of light onto the magic circle.

"It's just a sacrificial ritual." 

Use magic circles through blood or by granting mana. Other than that, there is nothing special. 

"Oh, isn't it?"

The spell linked to this magic circle is engraved on another door. Sure enough, when he looked at the door in the middle, there was a slightly different spell written on it than the one in the room.

This is a form of converting the sacrifice of the magic circle in the room into a type of energy. It seems that the intention is to give energy to something beyond this door.

Lucian tried everything to open the door. But the door didn't budge. There was no handle, and it didn't open by pushing.

What is it that keeps it so still?

"Has it become stiff because it's been so long?"

Lucian grumbled and examined the door carefully again. Then, when he looked at the bottom of the door, he felt a strange feeling.

"... I think the door and floor are made of different materials?"

The materials used on the wall with the door and the entire basement were clearly different. They both looked similar because they had been neglected for so long.

After learning new information, Lucian took a step back and looked at the entire wall. Then, something in the area where the light was flying was annoying to his eyes. When he looked closely, he saw runes written along the edge of the wall.

It was written in a size smaller than a little fingernail, so it was difficult to find it unless you recognized it and looked.

Lucian slowly stammered the runes. And he found the starting point.

"This is a thorough conspiracy..."

< This is a thorough plot. Otherwise, there is no way I would betray you. Sorry. I also had no idea things would turn out like this. >

"That's this."

Since it was written in rune, he thought it must be some kind of magic formula. But what was written here was a kind of apology.

< When I found out that I had been used by that guy, the person we loved was already at a point where I couldn't save him. Sorry. I wanted to save him somehow. But he asked me for you. >

This is both an apology and a confession. The person who wrote this seemed to have been used by someone and betrayed a loved one.

The writer's anger and sadness could be felt desperately in the runes. Just looking at it makes tears flow.

Lucian didn't realize he was crying and looked at the last phrase written on the floor.

< I will sacrifice my whole body to save you. I will do my best to prevent you from falling into his hands. Even though we part ways like this, there will come a day when we will meet again in the afterlife. Let's all laugh together like we did back then when we were happy. I'm sorry, I love you >

There was a phrase written at the end that appeared to be a name.

Unfortunately, it was damaged due to Caesar's rampage the other day, so it was unreadable. 

Lucian stared blankly at the damaged area, tears falling without realizing it. As tears obscured his vision, he wiped the letters with his hand and touched them slowly. And he opened his mouth without realizing it.

"Ah... Leah..." 

It was an almost unconscious action.

Just seeing this apology broke his heart and filled him with indescribable sadness. 

'I feel like I'm not myself."

A feeling that is assimilated to the owner of this apology. It was very unfamiliar, but at the same time, it was so nostalgic and vague that he couldn't control his emotions.

Lucian knelt down and placed his forehead on the floor. Tears still flowed against his will.

"Who can open this place?"

At that time, an unfamiliar voice echoed in his head. Lucian opened his closed eyes and raised his head.

The blue light was reflected in the gold soaked with tears. Blue light emanated from the small engraved rune words and was engraved on the entire wall and door.

Only those who truly love her.

Lucian instinctively realized this. The owner of this voice is the one who engraved the rune words.

You deserve to open this door.

Paaaaat-!

The blue light became stronger and closer to white. Lucian closed his eyes and opened them in the blinding light.

"The door..."

To his surprise, the door disappeared. It had completely disappeared as if it had never existed in the first place. A secret space was visible beyond the door. Even though it was underground and there was no light coming in, it was as bright as day.

Unlike the basement full of moss and mold, beyond that door was full of green life, like a forest.

Lucian got up as if he was fascinated and went inside.

A room so cute that you can see it all at a glance. All kinds of plants were blooming, and a light that appeared to be light magic was floating on the ceiling. 

But that's not the point. There was something unidentifiable occupying the middle of the room.

"Jewel? Crystal ball?"

It is approximately 2m in size. Sparkling yellow-like topaz. Since we had occasionally seen rare treasures in Caesar's subspace, jr knew how valuable a gem of this size was.

"Caesar will roll his eyes when he sees it."

Lucian muttered as he approached the huge jewel and stopped.

He didn't realize it was reflected in the light. There was something inside this gem. Lucian hurriedly approached the jewel. And he was so shocked that he froze.

".... Leah?"

Lucian, whose legs became weak, collapsed into his seat. The thing inside the jewel was none other than a woman who looked exactly like Leah.

***

"The ritual is simple. On the last day of the coming of age ceremony, you go to the temple and are recognized by the imperial family as coming of age."

A high-ranking priest told us the order of the traditional ceremony that would conclude the coming-of-age ceremony.

A traditional ritual maintained by the imperial family. It is a ritual that must be completed to prove that you have truly become an adult.

The ritual is simple. All you have to do is enter the temple and receive the cup of adulthood from the eldest member of the royal family. The member of the imperial family who handed out the cup of alcohol for the coming of age was different each time, but usually, the Emperor or previous Emperor took on that role.

Since the oldest person at this time was the former emperor, Julius performed Leopold's ceremony.

In some ways, it can be said to be the most important yet not very important procedure. It was such a boring time that Leopold felt like yawning, but he maintained his appearance as a perfect Crown Prince without any distraction.

Of course.

'You have to be able to trust those priests.'

After Leopold found out about Lucian's identity, he decided that he could not easily trust even his parents.

Then, numerous interests that had not been visible before became apparent, and as he took on full-fledged duties as the crown prince, he realized that the collusion between the shrine and the imperial family was deeper than he thought.

'But among them, there are factions.'

One is the previous Emperor's faction, and the other is the current Emperor's faction.

The former Emperor had already handed over the imperial power to the Emperor and retired from politics. He should no longer approach politics or create factions, even for the sake of the current Emperor.

In fact, the previous Emperor, Julius, was quietly sitting in one corner of the imperial palace so as not to disturb the eyes of the current Emperor, Ruber.

However, there was one thing that did not stop the intervention in the temple.

"That priest is Grandpa's man.'

Fortunately, Julius is quite considerate of Leopold. He is a kind grandfather who has never once thought of using himself to enter politics, but rather tries to do whatever he wants.

However, Julius and Ruber's relationship is so bad that it can be said that they are bitter enemies. Leopold didn't know it until he was young, but as he grew older, Leopold started to notice it, and he heard something about what happened between the two.

His father fought over the imperial throne with many brothers until he reached his current position. Among them was His grandfather's favorite Young Prince. He passed away in an unexpected accident.

'Grandfather thinks all of this is because of Father's plan.'

In short, Ruber does not like Julius, who puts his children in danger. Even though he went through many hardships and ascended to the throne.

'Maybe this is why father doesn't give me a younger sibling.'

He always feels uncomfortable when he realizes Ruber's unintentional love for his children. Even if he wants to hate him, he won't Leopold hate him as much as he wants.

"I hope you remember the order I told you. That's all for today."

"Thank you for your hard work. Are you going to Grandfather right after?"

"Yes, that's right."

"How is Grandpa these days? I'm out of my mind and it's been a long time since I've been to see him."

"Although his strength is not as strong as before, it is enough to attend Your Highness's coming-of-age ceremony. You don't have to worry." 

"If that's the case, I'm glad. Take this with you when you go. It's Grandpa's favorite snack."

Leopold handed the priest the snack he had previously requested from the attendant. It was a type of snack that wasn't very sweet, such as scones and biscuits.

"I will deliver it well." 

After the priest left, Leopold stretched and wandered near the window. He solemnly turned his back and looked at the sunny weather, then burst into tears.

"I want to see Lucian."

It's already been a month since he hasn't seen him. All he has to do is hold a coming-of-age ceremony, so there is so much to do.

"Is it because you are preparing for the succession to the throne?"

He hasn't told anyone yet, but after the final coming-of-age ceremony, he will officially announce his succession to the throne.

Of course, it takes at least a year to prepare for the succession ceremony.

"But the highlands are just around the corner."

He wants to proudly show Lucian to the world as soon as possible. He wants to have him safe by his side. Leopold worked hard just for this promise. There isn't much left now.

Knock knock- 

Leopold, who had been imagining a future living with Lucian, opened his eyes. Aether was standing at the window.

"Aether, what's going on here at this hour?"

Pyomh!

When Leopold brought Aeter in, he pointed to his feet with his beak. 

"Lucian sent something!"

Leopold couldn't hide his excitement and hurriedly checked Lucian's letter.

The corners of Leopold's mouth, which had been smiling brightly, subtly lowered. 

"Tsk, you didn't send it because you missed me, right?"

Inside, it was written how a servant named James had helped Lucian. Although it was a random remark, he felt like he knew what Lucian wanted to say.

"It's shameful that you don't look for me, but there's nothing I can't do as it's my only brother's request." 

Leopold burned the note and called his servant. And he decided to reward James greatly, as Lucian requested.

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